Political Commentary

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April 11, 2013Her Tea Party: What Margaret Thatcher Really Meant to England and the World By Joe Conason
Amid all the suffocating claptrap celebrating Margaret Thatcher in the media, only the British themselves seem able to provide a refreshing hit of brisk reality. Over here, she is the paragon of principle known as the "Iron Lady," devoted to freedom, democracy and traditional values who bolstered the West against encroaching darkness. Over there, she is seen clearly as a class warrior, whose chief accomplishments involved busting unions and breaking the post-war social contract.   
April 11, 2013Thatcher Insisted on Facing Hard, Uncomfortable Truths By Michael Barone
"Divisive." That's a word that appeared, often prominently, in many news stories reporting the death of former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.
One senses the writers' disapproval. You're not likely to find "divisive" in stories reporting the deaths of liberal leaders, although every electoral politician divides voters.
"Divisive" here refers to something specific. It was Margaret Thatcher's special genius that she systematically rejected the conventional wisdom, almost always well-intentioned, of the political establishment.
Instead, she insisted on hard, uncomfortable truths.
British Conservatives like Harold Macmillan accepted the tyranny of trade unionism because they had guilty memories of the slaughter of the working-class men who served under them in the trenches in World War I.
Thatcher, who as an adolescent before World War II saved money to pay for a Jewish girl to escape from Austria to England, felt no such guilt.
April 10, 2013Government Plays Favorites By John Stossel
People say government must "help the little guy, promote equality, level the playing field." 
April 9, 2013The Moderation of Margaret Thatcher By Froma Harrop
In honoring Margaret Thatcher, some of her greatest fans complain, "They don't make conservatives like that any more."   
April 8, 2013Mexico Becomes a Stable, Politically Diverse Neighbor By Michael Barone
We Americans are lucky, though we seldom reflect on it, that we have good neighbors.
In East Asia, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and the Philippines face challenges from China over islands they have long claimed in the East China Sea.
In Europe, Germany and other prosperous nations face demands for subsidies from debt-ridden nations to avoid the collapse of the Euro.
When Southern Europeans look across the Mediterranean, they see Muslim nations facing post-Arab spring upheaval and disorder.
April 5, 2013Long Before Hillary Decides for 2016, Scandal Trolls Are Coming Back By Joe Conason
By all accounts, Hillary Rodham Clinton has not yet decided whether to seek the 2016 Democratic presidential nomination. But the prospect of her candidacy, combined with her undeniable popularity, is agitating certain commentators so deeply that they simply cannot withhold their bile.  

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
                                
                
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                            April 5, 2013To Fight Inequality, It's Time to End the College Admissions Scam By Scott Rasmussen
There's a strong desire among many Americans today to address a growing problem of income inequality. That desire helped President Obama raise taxes on upper-income Americans a few months ago. It's reflected in the fact that just 35 percent believe the U.S. economy is fair to the middle class, and only 41 percent believe it's fair to those willing to work hard. Still, it's not really the inequality that bothers people. After all, 65 percent believe that it's fair for those who create very successful companies to become very rich. The problem comes when some people earn big bucks simply because they can game the system in ways that aren't available to most Americans.
April 4, 2013Stop Asking, 'How Did You Like ...' By Froma Harrop
I'm shopping for a sweater online, and as so often happens, up pops a "tell us what you think" box. Or I'm on social media, and another social media company hijacks the screen, trying to sell me another product. Then there's:
April 4, 2013Hard Targets? By Kyle Kondik
One needs little more than just fingers and toes to count the number of House members who represent districts won by the other party’s presidential candidate in 2012. As mentioned here previously, just 25 House members — nine Democrats and 16 Republicans — hold such “crossover” districts. Compare that to 2004, when there were 59 such seats, or 2008, when there were 83.
April 3, 2013Green Tyranny By John Stossel
Environmental activists and politicians would like you to think that we must love their regulations -- or hate trees and animals.
April 2, 2013Do Groups Really Foster Creativity? By Froma Harrop
We're not done with the Yahoo story yet. Much has been said about whether workers produce more at home and whether CEO Marissa Mayer had slowed women's progress by denying working mothers the opportunity to telecommute. That is not today's topic.    
April 1, 2013Why Freight Rail Pays and Passenger Trains Flunk By Michael Barone
Forty years ago, American railroads were in trouble. The Penn Central, the largest railroad, had recently gone bankrupt.
March 29, 2013Cats vs. Dingoes By Froma Harrop
The fight goes on. Whether cats are bird-killing machines or soft balls of love (for themselves, anyway) remains a subject of painful debate.    

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
                                
                
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                            March 29, 2013What Happens After Immigrants Arrive Is Important, Too By Scott Rasmussen
Sixty-eight percent of voters believe that, when done legally, immigration is good for America. Most voters for years have favored a welcoming policy of immigration. Unlike many issues these days, there is virtually no partisan disagreement.
These facts raise a question that should make everyone in official Washington uncomfortable. If immigration is good for America and there is support across party lines, why can't the politicians figure out a way to come up with something that works?
March 28, 2013Without Fear or Favor: the Heresies and Vindications of Anthony Lewis, 1927 to 2013 By Joe Conason
Anthony Lewis, the former New York Times reporter and columnist who died Monday at the age of 86, shaped the American conscience on a broad range of issues, from civil liberties and civil rights to war and diplomacy, for almost 50 years. During his long career, Lewis won numerous awards and published several important books. Unlike many men of his generation who rose to high positions in journalism, he was a charming and thoughtful man who could listen as intently as he talked.   
March 28, 2013Republicans Grow Less Hawkish in Wake of Iraq War By Michael Barone
Are Republicans no longer the party more inclined to military interventions and an assertive foreign policy?
March 27, 2013Imperial Washington By John Stossel
The Senate did something this past weekend it hasn't done in four years: passed a budget. The law requires the Senate to pass a budget, but Congress often ignores its own laws. For most of Barack Obama's presidency, a series of continuing resolutions kept the money -- your money -- flowing. Now the Senate wants to add a trillion dollars of new taxes, even more than President Obama seeks. Despite our growing debt, the Senate wants to fund things like the Senate barbershop, which loses a third of a million dollars every year.
March 26, 2013Often You Don't Need a Doctor By Froma Harrop
You want a routine checkup. Or your throat is sore. It's probably nothing, but you're concerned. Do you need a full-fledged MD with all those certificates and perhaps a God complex?   
March 25, 2013New Census Data Show People Go Where the Money Is By Michael Barone
What parts of America have been growing during these years of sluggish economic growth?    
March 22, 2013Probing Intentions in the Cyber-fog By Froma Harrop
Two Ohio girls stand accused of saying vile, menacing things on Twitter --seriously accused. The high schoolers, ages 15 and 16, were arrested and face a possible six months in juvenile detention. They are charged with threatening a 16-year-old rape victim in the celebrated case involving Steubenville High School football stars. Two boys were convicted of the rape this week.

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If it's in the News, it's in our Polls. Public opinion polling since 2003.

Political Commentary

Most Recent Releases

Her Tea Party: What Margaret Thatcher Really Meant to England and the World By Joe Conason

Thatcher Insisted on Facing Hard, Uncomfortable Truths By Michael Barone

Government Plays Favorites By John Stossel

The Moderation of Margaret Thatcher By Froma Harrop

Mexico Becomes a Stable, Politically Diverse Neighbor By Michael Barone

Long Before Hillary Decides for 2016, Scandal Trolls Are Coming Back By Joe Conason

To Fight Inequality, It's Time to End the College Admissions Scam By Scott Rasmussen

Stop Asking, 'How Did You Like ...' By Froma Harrop

Hard Targets? By Kyle Kondik

Green Tyranny By John Stossel

Do Groups Really Foster Creativity? By Froma Harrop

Why Freight Rail Pays and Passenger Trains Flunk By Michael Barone

Cats vs. Dingoes By Froma Harrop

What Happens After Immigrants Arrive Is Important, Too By Scott Rasmussen

Without Fear or Favor: the Heresies and Vindications of Anthony Lewis, 1927 to 2013 By Joe Conason

Republicans Grow Less Hawkish in Wake of Iraq War By Michael Barone

Imperial Washington By John Stossel

Often You Don't Need a Doctor By Froma Harrop

New Census Data Show People Go Where the Money Is By Michael Barone

Probing Intentions in the Cyber-fog By Froma Harrop

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If it's in the News, it's in our Polls. Public opinion polling since 2003.

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