Birthdays By Susan Estrich
By the time you read this, it won't be my birthday anymore. Thankfully. But it is right now, and birthdays don't get easier as you get older.
Political Commentary
Most Recent Releases
December 17, 2010
December 16, 2010
How A Health Care Defeat Might Help Obama's Reelection Chances By Scott Rasmussen
The politics of President Obama’s health care law have been fascinating from the start. Hailed as fulfillment of a popular campaign promise when introduced, the law proved to be a major drag on Democrats in the 2010 election. An issue on which Democrats once overwhelmingly trusted Democrats over Republicans has become a toss-up between the parties as 2011 approaches.
December 16, 2010
So You Thought Health Care Was Fixed ...By Froma Harrop
So you thought health care was fixed. Well, maybe not "fixed," but you assumed that the new law had put us on the path to solving one of America's most pressing problems -- spiraling health care costs amid surging numbers of uninsured citizens.
December 16, 2010
Larding the Path to Economic Recovery By Debra J. Saunders
When former GOP House Speaker Newt Gingrich proclaims a measure to be "good for the country," that usually means it's good for Gingrich. When President Obama tells the media that his $858 billion compromise tax package is the fruit of negotiations with GOP "hostage-takers," you have to wonder if he even wants it to pass.
December 16, 2010
The GOP Strategic Advantage By Bill Connelly
The measures of Republican success in the 2010 midterm are familiar. The GOP gained: (1) a House majority, with a net pickup of 63 seats, (2) six Senate seats leaving Democrats facing a more challenging Senate playing field in 2012 and 2014, (3) seven governorships, and (4) twenty legislative chambers, giving Republicans control of both legislative chambers in 25 states—an increase of 11. Republicans now control more state legislative seats than any time since 1928.
December 15, 2010
Real Academic Accountability Requires Real Choices By Howard Rich
With fresh data showing that students in the United States are falling further behind their international peers, a commitment to universal parental choice at all levels of government is needed now more than ever.
December 15, 2010
"Jackals Snarling Over a Dried Well" By Tony Blankley
In the spirit of the Christmas season, let me highlight from last week's confusing Washington rhetoric a statement by the president that was shrewd -- even wise. On behalf of the spirit of compromise, he pointed out that even though, under the original constitutional compromise, he (implicitly, as a black man) "could not have walked through the front door" -- it was worth it because otherwise we would not have gained a union.
December 15, 2010
Holbrooke's Blessing By Susan Estrich
Richard Holbrooke was a legend, the high priest of what we used to call the "priesthood" (even though they finally did let Madeleine in), the foreign policy elite that played musical chairs whenever a Democrat was running for or elected to the presidency. Arrogant? You bet. Frustrated with those who didn't get it, wouldn't do it, didn't push themselves as hard as he did? Absolutely.
December 14, 2010
Madoff's Saddest Victim By Froma Harrop
Bernard Madoff went to jail for his stupendous financial con. His eldest son, Mark, has gone to oblivion, having hung himself from a dog leash on the second anniversary of his father's outing as perpetrator of a $20 billion con.
December 14, 2010
Kevin Cooper Is Guilty of Murder By Debra J. Saunders
Federal judge William A. Fletcher recently told the Gonzaga University School of Law that Kevin Cooper, who was convicted and sentenced to death for the brutal 1983 slaying of Chino Hills, Calif., chiropractors Doug and Peggy Ryen, their 10-year-old daughter Jessica and 11-year-old house guest Christopher Hughes, is "probably" innocent. Cooper, Fletcher added, is "on Death Row because the San Bernardino Sheriff's Department framed him."
December 13, 2010
Obama Riles Dems by Spurning New Deal Complacency By Michael Barone
"The single most important jobs program we can put in place is a growing economy." So said Barack Obama at his surly press conference last week defending the tax deal he made with Republicans.
December 11, 2010
A Guy on a Bike By Susan Estrich
For weeks now, speculation has been rampant about who killed well-liked publicist to the stars Ronni Chasen and why.
December 10, 2010
Sell Bonds, Buy Stocks By Lawrence Kudlow
For once, top Obama economic advisor Larry Summers got it right. Warning opponents of the big tax-cut deal, Summers told reporters, "Failure to pass this bill in the next couple weeks would materially increase the risk that the economy would stall out and we would have a double-dip recession."
December 10, 2010
GOP Makes Historic State Legislative Gains in 2010 By Tim Storey
Late last week, a state judge on Long Island in New York certified that Mineola mayor Jack Martins, a Republican, had won the race for state Senate District 7 by a mere 451 votes out of the more than 85,000 cast.
December 9, 2010
The Blue-State Tax Blues By Froma Harrop
The political lineup for and against the controversial tax deal evokes great bemusement. Once again, Republicans representing the poorer conservative states are pounding the table for the lower taxes that benefit the richer, liberal ones.
December 9, 2010
While His Base Rages, Obama Faces Tax-cut Reality By Michael Barone
Reality strikes. Barack Obama spurned the advice of columnists Paul Krugman and Katrina vanden Heuvel and agreed with Republicans to extend the current income tax rates -- the so-called Bush tax cuts -- for another two years.
December 8, 2010
President Obama's Next Two Years By Tony Blankley
In the last week or two, an eccentric debate has been dividing Democratic Party pols and commentators in Washington: In 2011, should President Obama strive to be more like Harry Truman in 1947 or Bill Clinton in 1995?
December 8, 2010
What a Dame By Susan Estrich
I don't care what they said about her in "Game Change." Bitchy? Who wouldn't be? Difficult? She had a right to be.
December 7, 2010
Don't Ask, Don't Tell, Don't Care By Froma Harrop
Don't ask, don't tell -- don't know why we're still talking about this. "Don't ask, don't tell" is the rule barring openly gay soldiers from serving in the U.S. military. This relic of the culture wars is so past its prime that even Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh don't spend much time whipping it up.
December 5, 2010
'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' on the Way Out By Debra J. Saunders
On Tuesday, Defense Secretary Robert Gates released a long-awaited Pentagon working-group report on the repeal of the "don't ask, don't tell" policy enacted under President Bill Clinton. Most troops, the review found, would not object to a repeal.
