Whither Hagel By Robert D. Novak
Friends of Sen. Chuck Hagel, the Senate's sharpest critic of President Bush's Iraq policy, say there is no chance he will endorse a Democrat for president this year.
Political Commentary
Most Recent Releases
April 19, 2008
April 17, 2008
Whose Elitism is Worse? By Joe Conason
It is hard to blame John McCain for mocking Barack Obama as an "elitist" following that silly remark about bitter folks who cling to guns and religion.
April 17, 2008
What Price Freedom? By Lawrence Kudlow
Surprise, surprise. Having failed to puncture Gen. David Petraeus' story about great improvements on the ground in Iraq, liberals are now saying the cost of the Iraq war has somehow undermined the economy -- even caused the current slowdown. What complete nonsense.
April 17, 2008
McCain's Economics: Pass the Dramamine By Froma Harrop
John McCain admits that economics are not his passion, and that's fine. His past instincts were mostly good. He voted against tax cuts not paid for by savings elsewhere. He fought earmarks, earning the wrath of big-spenders in his own Republican Party.
April 17, 2008
Bush: Don't Shield Journalists By Robert D. Novak
The bad news last week for conservative Republican Rep. Mike Pence was private confirmation that his proposed law protecting journalists from runaway judges was opposed by President George W. Bush himself, not just inflexible Justice Department lawyers.
April 14, 2008
Hillary's Strategist By Robert D. Novak
Immediately after Mark Penn resigned as Hillary Clinton's chief strategist a week ago, he was on the phone with at least two prominent Democrats to assure them that nothing had changed.
April 12, 2008
Making Joe Go By Robert D. Novak
Sen. Joseph Lieberman's friends are certain that if Democrats expand their one-vote Senate edge in this year's elections, they will kick him out of the Senate Democratic caucus and, therefore, oust him as Homeland Security Committee chairman.
April 12, 2008
Uncle Sam Pays? Sure, Whatever By Michael Barone
"It's the economy, stupid." Those immortal words of the political philosopher James Carville in 1992 have been reverberating increasingly in the 2008 campaign. Polls show the economy as the top issue for voters, far ahead of Iraq.
April 11, 2008
Trying to be Safe By Susan Estrich
Every time I leave for a trip, my son makes me promise to come back safely. I try to hedge because I know it's not within my control, but even three-quarters asleep, as he usually is when I leave, he is never mollified. "Say you'll be safe," he says to me, and I usually do.
April 10, 2008
The Democratic End Game By Rhodes Cook
One of the basic themes of the long-running Democratic nominating campaign between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton speaks to the need for a new era in American politics.
April 10, 2008
Score One for Consumers By Froma Harrop
To anyone who has felt trapped in a circle of bad service: If you haven't heard the story of Mona Shaw, pull up a chair.
April 10, 2008
Are We Closer to "Victory"? By Joe Conason
Gen. David H. Petraeus, commander of the American forces in Iraq, is more candid than his publicity agents.
April 10, 2008
The Cleansing Power of Recessions By Lawrence Kudlow
Recessions are part of capitalism. They happen every so often. We've had two in the last super-prosperous 25 years. And it looks like we're entering a third one after Friday's jobs-loss report.
April 10, 2008
Wall Street in D.C. By Robert D. Novak
At last Thursday's Senate Banking Committee hearing on the government's historic bailout of Bear Stearns, two questions were expected.
April 9, 2008
Obama's Weakness is Weakness By Dick Morris
The USA Today/Gallup Poll of late March suggests a strategy for Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) in the general election. The poll compared Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) and McCain on certain key variables.
April 8, 2008
How Green Was NAFTA? By Froma Harrop
About 17 years ago, a New England business reporter answered the phone and found a friendly Texan on the other end. She had recently written about how local manufacturers were coping with Environmental Protection Agency rules that sharply curbed what they could throw down their drains. Compliance was costing them.
April 7, 2008
Obama's Gun Dance: A Commentary By Robert Novak
Barack Obama, who informs campaign audiences that he taught constitutional law for 10 years, might be expected to weigh in on the historic Second Amendment case before the U.S. Supreme Court.
April 5, 2008
GOP vs. Paulson: A Commentary By Robert Novak
Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson's plan for curing ailing financial markets received poor grades privately from House Republican leaders, though they mostly refrained from public criticism that would give Democrats ammunition in an election year.
April 5, 2008
The Democratic Tribes at War: A Commentary By Michael Barone
Exit polls have shown that the contest between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama has produced deep divisions among Democratic constituencies. It looks something like tribal warfare.
April 3, 2008
Obama and the Skeptic-Free Campaign By Froma Harrop
Big-time political writers are busy people. With all the blogging, the parties and appearances on TV, skeptical examination of widely accepted beliefs seems a waste of time.
