Republican Talk of the 'Sensible Middle' Makes No Sense By Froma Harrop
We keep hearing that "Obama should move to the center." A variation on this theme is that the president should find the "sensible middle" on policy.
Political Commentary
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February 18, 2010
February 17, 2010
Tea Party Optimism vs. the Gold Rally By Lawrence Kudlow
Money and politics is about my favorite topic (apart from spiritual faith, of course). And we had plenty of both in the last day or two.
February 16, 2010
The Coolness of Old Florida By Froma Harrop
California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's recent dig that Florida is "for the old people" cut locals here to the quick.
February 15, 2010
Under Obama, Crony Capitalism Again Rules the Day By Michael Barone
In his bestseller "Inside U.S.A.," the hugely readable journalist John Gunther described America as it was in the last year of World War II. He interviewed hundreds of politicians, businessmen and journalists, but only four men rated a separate chapter -- three politicians and Henry J. Kaiser, the California construction magnate who built dams and ships and manufactured concrete and steel and aluminum.
February 14, 2010
A Sure-Fire Legal Recipe for Airport Insecurity By Debra J. Saunders
Last August, Nicholas George, 22, was getting ready to fly from Pennsylvania to Pomona College in Claremont, Calif., when TSA agents found Arabic-English flash cards in his pocket -- the 200 cards included such words as "bomb" and "explosive" -- two stereo speakers in his carry-on bag, a Jordanian student ID card and a passport that showed he had visited Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Malaysia and Sudan.
February 13, 2010
The Washington, D.C., Disconnect By Lawrence Kudlow
The disconnect between Washington and the rest of the country has never been greater. Why can't the political class in the District of Columbia produce a fiscal product that voters, taxpayers and investors are willing to consume?
February 12, 2010
Valentine's Blues By Susan Estrich
At least it's on a Sunday. Friday and Saturday are the worst.
Second only to New Year's Eve, Valentine's Day is a surefire downer for those of us who find ourselves alone on a day when it seems that everyone else is happily in love. Of course, it's all silliness. Compared to cancer and earthquakes, compared to not having a job or a place to live, who cares about silly red hearts full of chocolates, or frilly cards and bouquets? Let Hallmark have its day. Let the florists' registers ring. Why should the rest of us care?
February 11, 2010
Slobs and the American Civilization By Froma Harrop
Had George Washington joined me outside a Chili's at Chicago's O'Hare Airport recently, he would have shuddered at the sight.
February 11, 2010
With Absolute Power, Team Obama Grows Stupid By Michael Barone
How could such smart people do so many stupid things? That question, or variations on it, is being asked in Washington and around the country about the Obama administration.
February 10, 2010
A Health Care Plague on Both Their Houses By Susan Estrich
My friend Ethel is mad as hell, but she has no choice but to keep taking it. She's mad at her health insurance company, and she's mad at the administration and Congress. She's equally mad at Democrats and Republicans. It's not partisan; it's personal.
February 10, 2010
Palin Delivers Sparkle, Warmth By Tony Blankley
"No new ideas." That was the most prominent of the criticisms of Sarah Palin's speech at MSNBC's too-cool-for-school "Morning Joe" on Monday.
February 9, 2010
Age Discrimination for the Young By Froma Harrop
The age of adulthood -- and the rights and responsibilities that come with it -- is largely a matter of opinion. Age 18 traditionally separates minors from adults. But one can't legally buy a drink in America until age 21. Meanwhile, many states are now sending minors into the adult criminal justice system, even for nonviolent crimes.
February 9, 2010
Does Judge Walker Have a Conflict? By Debra J. Saunders
In the circle of lawyers and judges I know, U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker is a giant. He is a brilliant jurist, legal eagles will tell you, who has insightful, and often unexpected, opinions. He's funny and charming -- and he's gay.
February 8, 2010
Public-sector Unions Bleed Taxpayers to Help Dems By Michael Barone
Growing up in Michigan in the heyday of the United Auto Workers, I long assumed that labor unions were part of the natural order of things.
February 7, 2010
Holder's Premature Mirandization of Suspect By Debra J. Saunders
Republicans have been hitting the Obama administration for Attorney General Eric Holder's too-quick decision to Mirandize accused Christmas bomber Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab after a mere 50 minutes of what has been described as valuable interrogation. After the Miranda moment, the would-be bomber clammed up.
February 5, 2010
The Massachusetts Miracle By Susan Estrich
Everyone knows that what doesn't destroy you makes you stronger. That is particularly true in politics, where a hard kick either knocks you down or wakes you up.
February 5, 2010
Obama’s Budget: Fiscal Armageddon By Howard Rich
“We’re not going to save our way out of this recession. We’ve got to spend our way out of this recession.” – U.S. Majority Whip Jim Clyburn
February 5, 2010
The GOP's Dubious Populism By Joe Conason
The most revealing moments in President Obama's State of the Union Address were not in his remarks, but the reaction to them by those listening on the Republican side of the aisle.
February 4, 2010
Poizner Unhinged, Whitman Unavailable By Debra J. Saunders
At first, it seemed like a bonehead move. On Monday morning, the campaign for Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner's bid for the governor's office sent out an e-mail announcing that the candidate would hold a news conference at its headquarters. I was not the only journalist to wonder: Does this mean that Poizner is getting out of the race -- leaving the GOP primary to Ms. Moneybags, former eBay CEO Meg Whitman?
February 4, 2010
How Climate-Change Fanatics Corrupted Science By Michael Barone
Quick, name the most distrusted occupations. Trial lawyers? Pretty skuzzy, as witness the disgraced John Edwards, kept from the vice presidency in 2004 by the electoral votes of Ohio. Used car dealers? Always near the bottom of the list, as witness the universal understanding of the word "clunker."
