Team Obama Blames Washington
A new Vanity Fair article, describing how Rahm Emanuel hopes to transcend partisan politics, should score high on the unintentional comedy scale. Bill Simmons, "The Sports Guy," made a major contribution to American culture when he established the Unintentional Comedy Rating scale to rank "those …
Missouri's Blow Against Obamacare
Last week's vote in Missouri is further proof that while Obamacare may not be doomed, the health reform bill is incredibly unpopular with much of the public. What’s the matter with Missouri? Last week, voters there approved Proposition C, annulling the “individual mandate” – that is, the …Gibbs on the Left
This morning, in an interview with The Hill , White House press secretary Robert Gibbs took on the President's critics from the Left. I have to say, Robert Gibbs made me laugh aloud this morning: During an interview with The Hill in his West Wing office, White House press secretary …Is the 9/11 Mosque a Publicity Stunt?
The 9/11 mosque has provoked many doubts and suspicions. Here's mine: the whole thing is a phony-baloney publicity stunt by a developer in search of financing. The lower Manhattan mosque has provoked many doubts and suspicions. Here's mine: the whole thing is a phony-baloney publicity stunt by a …Obama Hits Bush Country
Tuesday in Texas, President Obama met with GOP governor Rick Perry. Democratic gubernatorial candidate, Bill White, however, kept out of sight. When President Obama looked at the schedule of his trip to Texas, he can be forgiven if he might have believed there to be a mistake. The president will …Pseudonyms on the Web
Stanley Kurtz has taken issue with FrumForum allowing contributors to post under a pseudonym. Stanley Kurtz puts a question directly to me in his reply to Eugene Debs : What do I think of pseudonyms on the web? I offered a partial answer to that question some months ago in conversation …Ever Meet a Jimmy Carter Republican?
Carter's presidency was an instance of uniform partisan swing: attitudes about him were negative among just about every group. A recent assessment of the Carter Presidency by Tyler Cowen reminded me that, in 1980, I and just about all my friends hated Jimmy Carter. Most of us much preferred him …Forget Prop 8... Marriage is Already on the Rocks
Regardless of whether or not same-sex marriage is accepted, many Americans have already rejected the norms of traditional marriage. Same-sex marriage opponents argue that it threatens traditional marriage. In my latest CNN column, however, I argue that regardless of whether or not same-sex …Why Obama is Still the 2012 Favorite
Republicans are starting to feel confident in light of Obama's current troubles; however, the president is still in strong position for 2012. Given his current poor poll numbers, some have concluded that President Obama has little to no chance of re-election. Recent Michigan history is just one …Our National Polling Obsession
Media-sponsored public opinion polls have become the domestic equivalent of WMDs -- weapons of mass disillusionment. I am a worrier, and I have been one for as long as I can remember. It is a trait inherited from my parents and grandparents. I worry about loved ones and friends. I worry about my …Petraeus Sticking With McChrystal's Strategy
General Petraeus’s new guidelines for troops confirm that McChrystal's counterinsurgency strategy is still the best plan for victory in Afghanistan. General Petraeus’s new Counterinsurgency Guidance and Tactical Directive confirm what most knowledgeable and informed observers have long …Do Americans Still Think Their Kids Will Be Better Off?
Americans have always tended to be optimistic about their children's future. But in the midst of our current, long recession, does that still hold? Kevin Drum at Mother Jones notes my last post and then wonders, “What I'm more curious about is what this looked like in the 50s, 60s, and 70s. …Losing the Fight Against Loitering
The judicial campaign against anti-loitering laws has often been heedless of the public’s interest in being free from chronic public nuisances. New York finally got around to repealing provisions of its anti-loitering statute long ago declared unconstitutional. It’s about time. Only recently, …Obama Spins the Spill
President Obama is wrong to downplay the Gulf oil spill's lasting and long-term consequences — especially for what appear to be purely political reasons. In its quest to put the oil spill in the rear view mirror before the mid-term elections, the Obama administration just put out a report …
How Reid Pulled the Plug on Energy Reform
Harry Reid is hinting that he will bring up a new broader energy bill in September. But after the last year, can anyone in a rational frame of mind believe him? Harry Reid is hinting that he will bring up a broader energy bill when Congress returns in September. Yes, of course. Right about …The Fat Diaries: Resisting the Buffet Temptation
Buffets used to be the one kind of restaurant where I could eat until I was full. I was a 3-plate-minimum woman and I ate until I got my money’s worth. Since it’s still vacation time I thought I’d cover another jolly-holiday obstacle to the waistline. Wherever people are traveling to – beaches, …