241 Articles

Friday, November 20, 2009
Creating the Jobs America Needs
(1 comments) While financial markets believe the great recession is over, millions of Americans continue to struggle. Unemployment is 10.2 percent and the more inclusive measure, underemployment, is at 17.5 percent. America's jobs crisis is both a short-term and long-term challenge.

Friday, November 13, 2009
Get Tough, Obama
(2 comments) A year after Barack Obama won the presidential election, it's apparent the change he promised isn't going to come easy. The November 3rd election results indicate a rising level of discontent with Obama and Democrats, in general. Confronted by massive problems, Washington is moving at a glacial pace. What should be done to quicken the tempo, to make change happen more rapidly?

Friday, November 6, 2009
What if McCain Had Won?
(11 comments) So far, no "Obama Sucks" bumper stickers have shown up in Berkley, but it's clear that Democratic partisans are significantly less enthusiastic than they were a year ago. Many display classic signs of depression: sadness, insomnia, restlessness, irritability, hopelessness and so forth. Get a grip Dems: how would you feel if John McCain had won the election?

Friday, October 30, 2009
Reform We Can Believe In
(1 comments) Prudent homeowners recovering from pest or water damage remove all compromised material before they rebuild. Similarly, surgeons prepare wounds for sutures by excising diseased tissues and sterilizing the damaged area. Nonetheless, as the US struggles to restart its economy, we're not identifying what caused the financial crisis or cleansing compromised institutions.

Friday, October 23, 2009
Grading Obama on Domestic Policy
(5 comments) It's been nine months since Barack Obama was sworn in as the 44th President of the United States. Time enough to grade the job he's done and consider what we can expect over the next few months.

Friday, October 16, 2009
The Dumbing of America
(6 comments) n 1994, when Forrest Gump famously observed, "stupid is as stupid does," no one expected that Forrest would become the poster boy of the Republican Party. Nonetheless, as an integral component of its "just say no" strategy, the GOP is steadily dumbing down the level of American political discourse. Meanwhile, the US is faced with numerous challenges that require our citizens to use their brains.

Thursday, October 8, 2009
The Problem With Capitalism
(9 comments) That earthquake you felt wasn't caused by the massive shifting of the earth's crust, but by something equally impressive: David Brooks agreeing with Michael Moore. Joining other pundits, the reactionary New York Times columnist and the trenchant documentary filmmaker believe American capitalism has a problem.

Friday, October 2, 2009
Boarding China's Economic Elevator
(2 comments) There's a growing consensus that the great recession is over, but the pace of US recovery will be slow. Meanwhile, China's economy is speeding up. A comparison of economic policies in the two countries indicates the White House must be more aggressive.

Friday, September 25, 2009
Healthcare Reform's Abortion Dilemma
There's no doubt the Obama Administration's healthcare reform plan represents a historic step forward for women. At long last, the vast majority of females will have access to affordable care that protects their maternity and reproductive health. But this progress may exact a dreadful price, as many women could lose insurance coverage for abortions.

Friday, September 11, 2009
Obama Calls Out Republicans
(1 comments) President Barack Obama's September 9th healthcare address to Congress was notable not for his oratory - which was superb - but for his manner. Obama shelved his professorial demeanor and displayed the cool determination that has characterized his best speeches. As he threw down the gauntlet to his Republican detractors, "We will call you out," the GOP responded with a startling display of churlish behavior.

Friday, September 4, 2009
Afghanistan: What are We Fighting For?
(7 comments) The delivery of a status report from the commander of Allied forces in Afghanistan, Lt. General Stanley McChrystal, is certain to rekindle a debate about the objectives, resource requirements, and duration of US involvement. After eight years in Afghanistan it's unclear what we are fighting for.

Friday, August 28, 2009
Healthcare: 2009's Political Super Bowl
The arrival of football season is a reminder that the debate over healthcare reform is actually a perverse sporting event. Conservative columnist George Will observed, "Football combines the two worst features of American life: violence and committee meetings."Certainly, the healthcare debate involves violence and many, many committee meetings.

Friday, August 21, 2009
At Last Liberals Get Angry
(9 comments) The 1976 movie classic Network is best known for the scene where deranged newsman Howard Beale (Peter Finch) persuades his viewers to join his rant, "I'm as mad as hell, and I'm not going to take this anymore!" 33 years later, faced with the news that the Obama Administration was considering dropping the public option for healthcare, Liberals finally invoked their inner Howard Beale and got angry.

Friday, August 14, 2009
The GOP Chooses Fascism
(7 comments) After Barack Obama's convincing win over John McCain, it was clear the Republican Party was at a crossroads. The Grand Old Party had to decide what ideology was going to guide it in the post-Bush era: a philosophy rooted in conservative ideas or a credo based upon fear and anger. Unfortunately for America, Republicans turned to the dark side and chose the road to fascism.

Friday, August 7, 2009
Ten Telltale Signs of Republican Disease
(10 comments) A recent Daily Kos poll indicated 58 percent of Republicans either believe President Obama isn't a US citizen or aren't sure. Out here on the left coast, we don't know many Republicans, so it's hard for us to understand how they can be that stupid.

Friday, July 31, 2009
Fixing California
(1 comments) Now that the dust has settled and Californians can see the drastic consequences of the state budget train wreck, it's time to consider ten actions to fix California.

Friday, July 24, 2009
Obama's Defining Moment
(6 comments) After six months in office, the Obama Administration has arrived at a defining moment: the battle over healthcare reform. The outcome will shape future White House initiatives, the 2010 mid-term elections, and the future of the Republican Party.

Friday, July 17, 2009
Overcoming Pottery Barn Foreign Policy
After six months as President, Barack Obama has put his own imprint on US foreign policy. That's fortunate because George Bush broke everything he touched.

Friday, July 10, 2009
The Republican Death Spiral
(2 comments) ut here on the left coast, we're not big fans of the Republican Party. So we've taken a perverse delight in the events of recent weeks – the sordid Sanford/Ensign affairs and the awkward resignation of Sarah Palin. To these jaundiced eyes, it appears the Grand Old Party is locked in a death spiral, gathering speed as it plummets downward.

Friday, July 3, 2009
Where Are the Jobs?
(3 comments) 14.7 million people are unemployed in the United States, 9.5 percent of the workforce. While there are a few signs of economic recovery, employment isn't one of them. The Obama Administration must address the jobs' crisis.

Friday, June 19, 2009
Obama's Two Step Healthcare Strategy
(5 comments) After five months, President Barack Obama's managerial style has become obvious. He's focused on his top priorities and he's collaborative and pragmatic; his operating instructions are "never let the perfect be the enemy of the good." This summer, Obama's leadership will put to the test as he struggles to get Congress to pass comprehensive healthcare legislation.

Friday, June 5, 2009
Triage Economics
(1 comments) America's economic health continues to be marginal. While the Obama Administration suggests the worst is behind us and mentions signs of economic progress, unemployment remains high and businesses continue to close. How can we tell if we are at the bottom of the economic decline? And what should we expect over the next twelve months?

Friday, May 29, 2009
The GOP vs. Pelosi: Where's the Outrage?
(6 comments) As the Grand Old Party declines in popularity, they're resorting to increasingly desperate measures. After months searching for an issue that resonates with voters, Republicans have trained their sights on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

Friday, May 22, 2009
The Republican Dilemma
(2 comments) After Barack Obama's victory in the November Presidential election, the Republican Party attempted to re-brand itself, but hasn't come up with either compelling ideas or attractive leaders. So far, the GOP has been unwilling to modify its conservative credo. That's good news for Democrats.

Friday, May 15, 2009
Global Warming: Through a Glass Darkly
(6 comments) The Washington DC Sierra Club Symposium on Climate Recovery brought more alarming news about global warming. Humans are threatened with extinction. The question that vexed the symposium participants was how best to convey this horrendous information to the Obama administration; how to get them to take action when they are consumed by other problems.

Friday, May 8, 2009
Arlen Specter's Legacy
For many Democrats, Pennsylvania Senator Arlen Specter's change of Party affiliation was a mixed blessing. However, Specter views this political move as an opportunity to cement his legacy: reining in Presidential power and restoring the constitutional checks and balances destroyed by the Bush Administration.

Friday, May 1, 2009
Obama's Off Probation
(6 comments) On November 4th Barack Obama won 53 percent of the Presidential vote. His 7-point margin reflected lingering doubts he had the right stuff to be President. Over the past six months, Obama has convinced the vast majority of Americans he can do the job. He's passed his probationary period.

Friday, April 24, 2009
Dubya's Ghosts
(2 comments) Our long national nightmare isn't over. Three months after Barack Obama's inauguration, the ghosts of the Bush era continue to haunt the United States. We're tormented by Bush's nightmare economic policies and his horrific "war" on terror. And Dubya's version of Freddy Krueger, Dick Cheney, has returned to scare Americans with his tales of torture and imminent terrorist attacks.

Friday, April 17, 2009
Dividing America with Hate
(18 comments) Six months after a sweeping defeat in the Presidential election, Republicans have taken on an unlikely political persona, Oscar the Grouch. And judging from their muddled "Tea Parties," the GOP has adopted their new Ideology from a familiar Sesame Street Song: We're mad. Very angry, very, very angry. Real mad. Very angry, very, very angry.

Friday, April 10, 2009
Is the Recession a Teachable Moment?
(1 comments) The financial crisis has raised public awareness that corporations deemed "too big to fail" have to be broken into manageable units. And there is widespread anger about colossal CEO salaries. Clearly, big is no longer beautiful. What remains to be seen is how far this understanding will extend. Whether this is a teachable moment where Americans will embrace major social changes.

Friday, April 3, 2009
Nationalizing Citi
(1 comments) On Monday, March 23rd, Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner revealed his plan to deal with toxic bank assets: a Public-Private Investment Program. While Geithner's strategy was well received by the stock market, leading economists fear Geithner is avoiding the inevitable – "nationalization" of large banks – and the longer the delay, the bigger the problem. What would it mean to nationalize a bank as large as Citigroup?

Friday, March 27, 2009
Employee Choice: Which Side Are You On?
In 1941, The Almanac Singers made famous the thirties protest song, "Which Side Are You On." n the face of debilitating recession, more and more workers understand they don't have a chance unless they organize. The Employee Free Choice Act guarantees this right.

Friday, March 20, 2009
Obama's Bank Problem
(3 comments) Despite many accomplishments during his first two months in office, President Obama hasn't persuaded the American public that he knows how to repair our troubled banks. There are striking parallels between the banking morass and the judicial quandary surrounding prisoners of war. Studying these quite different problems clarifies how we got here and what Obama should do.

Friday, March 13, 2009
The Second Shoe Drops: Worsening California's Budget Crisis
(1 comments) Californians breathed a sigh of relief on February 19th, when the state legislature ended months of political gridlock and agreed upon a $144.5 million budget. It's likely that many Golden State residents turned their attention to pressing financial concerns such as holding onto their job. Nonetheless, Californians' behavior is problematic because another serious problem has emerged: the possibility an immutable spending cap.

Friday, March 6, 2009
Is Afghanistan Obama's Weakness?
(9 comments) So far, President Obama has kept his campaign promises by addressing the economy, Iraq, healthcare, civil liberties, and a host of other issues. Nonetheless, liberals fear Obama is about to make a big mistake in Afghanistan.

Friday, February 27, 2009
How Bad Is It?
In the midst of the worst recession of the last fifty years, many Americans worry about how bad economic conditions will get before there's a recovery. Paul Krugman observes, "this isn't your father's recession. It's your grandfather's, or maybe even... your great-great-grandfather's." 2009 will be difficult; expect things to get worse before they get better.

Friday, February 20, 2009
The Future of Bipartisanship
(2 comments) Although President Obama tried to include Republican ideas in his economic stimulus legislation, only three GOP Senators and no Representatives voted for the final bill. Because Obama promised to change the tone in Washington, his failure to gain Republican support led many pundits to suggest that bipartisanship is dead. What can our new President do to revive comity and develop a more conciliatory spirit on Capitol Hill?

Friday, February 13, 2009
Marriage or Civil Union?
(9 comments) On November 4th, while many California progressives were out of town working for Obama, golden state voters passed Proposition 8, which denied same-sex couples the right to marry. As the California Supreme Court debates the legality of this proposition, the key issue is the role of government in marriage.

Friday, February 6, 2009
Obama's Foreign Policy
(10 comments) During his first 100 days in office, the deteriorating economy will occupy most of President Obama's attention. Nonetheless, he will have to attend to a host of international problems. By May 1st, his foreign policy should be apparent.

Friday, January 30, 2009
Grading Obama
During his first 100 days in office, President Obama faces daunting problems, including a deteriorating economy and two wars. On May 1st, how can we tell whether he is doing a good job, given that Bush set the bar so low?

Friday, January 23, 2009
Heroes of the Resistance
(15 comments) He's gone. George Bush has left the White House; it's safe to come out of hiding. But, before progressives take a deep breath and begin attacking Barack Obama for not pursuing our pet issues vigorously enough, let's stop and applaud those of us who, for the last four plus years, have fought the good fight against Bush's fascism: the heroes of the resistance.

Friday, January 16, 2009
It's The End of California As We Know It
(7 comments) Worrying about California's budget crisis, I've been humming REM's "It's the end of the world as we know it (and I feel fine)." As a golden state native, I always imagined the end would arrive with a massive earthquake plunging everything west of the Sierras into the sea. Now I realize that California is dying the death of a thousand cuts.

Friday, January 9, 2009
Bush's Day of Reckoning
When Barack Obama becomes the 44th President of the United States, he'll face daunting challenges: a shattered economy, wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and global climate change, to mention only three. Nonetheless, many Americans feel Obama should immediately address the improprieties of the Bush Administration, particularly authorization of the use of torture. There's increasing support for a day of reckoning for George Bush.

Friday, January 2, 2009
Ten Progressive Policies Whose Time Has Come
(14 comments) Among the Obama Administration's highest priorities should be these ten progressive notions.

Friday, December 26, 2008
2008: The Worst and Best
(2 comments) In a tumultuous year, ten political events stood out.

Friday, December 5, 2008
Obama's First 100 Days: The Economy
When Barack Obama becomes the 44th President of the United States, he will face a daunting set of economic problems. Incoming Presidents usually have a honeymoon period of 100 days when positive public sentiment insures passage of key components of their platform. Given a narrow window of Congressional bipartisanship, Obama's economic priorities are clear.

Friday, November 28, 2008
Bush's Recession, Rooted in Self-Interest
(6 comments) While there are many technical explanations for the current recession, the underlying cause is the pervasive ideology of self-interest that has guided President Bush's Administration and permeated mainstream American ethics.

Friday, November 14, 2008
Obama's First Challenge
(7 comments) Even though Barack Obama's inauguration is two months away, Americans already look to him for the leadership required to steer us out of a yawning recession. Obama's first press conference came less than a week after he'd been elected the 44th President and most of the questions concerned the economy. There are five things he should immediately work on.

Monday, November 10, 2008
The Obama Moment
On election night, Barack Obama's magnificent acceptance speech felt like a defining moment in American history. Adding to the elation many of us experienced for having supported the winning candidate in a twenty-two month Presidential marathon was our sense that America had turned a page and headed off in a new direction. But what exactly is the Obama moment?

Friday, October 3, 2008
Palin Wins, Sorta
The second debate of the 2008 general election pitted the vice-presidential candidates: Democratic Senator Joe Biden and Republican Governor Sarah Palin. Palin won the contest because she didn't appear to be out of her league. Nonetheless, Palin's performance is unlikely to change the national polls; she didn't lose, but neither did Joe Biden.

Monday, September 29, 2008
Final Thoughts on the First Presidential Debate
(2 comments) s the dust settles and the spin diminishes, the verdict is clear: while pundits called the first presidential debate a tie, voters thought Barack Obama won.

Saturday, September 27, 2008
Obama Wins First Debate
(5 comments) 2008's initial presidential debate was one of the best contests in recent memory. There were no memorable bon mots or gaffes, and both candidates had convincing moments. Overall, Barack Obama had the stronger performance.

Thursday, September 18, 2008
Obama's Winning Strategy
(3 comments) There are less than 50 days before the presidential election. The selection of Alaska Governor Sarah Palin has energized John McCain's campaign and some national polls show him ahead of Barack Obama. What should the Democratic candidate do to shift political momentum in his favor?

Thursday, September 11, 2008
Fool Me Once, Fool Me Twice
(2 comments) A familiar American aphorism is "Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me." In 2000, Karl Rove convinced Americans that a relatively unknown Texas Governor could be a competent President. In 2008, John McCain's Rove, Steve Schmidt, argues that an even more obscure Alaska Governor will make a credible Vice President and likely 45th President. Are Americans about to be fooled again?

Friday, September 5, 2008
Schizoid John
Before he became the Republican presidential nominee, John McCain suffered through five and a half years as a POW and eight years of the Bush Administration. Sadly, these horrific experiences eroded his mental faculties and when the Arizona Senator finally took the stage at the St. Paul Republican Convention he flubbed his big chance. McCain's speech was like biting into a chocolate candy and inside finding a turd.

Thursday, September 4, 2008
Three Elephants in the Room
(4 comments) As the 2008 presidential campaign enters its final two months, there are several big issues being ignored. One is race; the fact some Americans won't vote for Barack Obama because of his skin color. Another is John McCain's health; the reality he's likely to become senile or die if elected President. The third is the truth that McCain and his running mate, Sarah Palin, represent the worst kind of family values.

Monday, September 1, 2008
Wrapping Up the Democratic Convention
As Democrats left Denver, there was an overwhelming consensus that the 2008 Convention was extraordinarily successful. Dems united behind Barack Obama and Joe Biden. Here are a few final thoughts about the week.

Friday, August 29, 2008
Obama Takes Off the Gloves
(2 comments) Thursday – The fourth night of the Denver Democratic Convention was the night Democrats had been waiting for. Monday's theme was that Barack and Michelle Obama are uniquely American. Tuesday's was Unity when Hillary Clinton implored Dems to support Obama. The theme Wednesday night was We're the Party that supports the troops.And the theme of Obama's climactic Thursday night address wasEnough!.

Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Hillary Hits a Homer
(1 comments) Tuesday – As she took center stage at the Denver Democratic convention, there was a huge amount of pressure on Hillary Clinton. Many Dems felt Senator Clinton's presentation would determine whether or not Democrats united behind presidential nominee Barack Obama. Clinton proved equal to the task, responding with the best speech of her career.

Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Who is Barack Obama?
(2 comments) Monday – Much of the opening night of the Denver Democratic convention was devoted to a reintroduction of Barack Obama. There are still a substantial number of Americans who don't know the Illinois Senator; who are worried about him because they've heard he's a Muslim or wonder what they have in common with a brown-skinned intellectual from Hawaii. This night was for them.

Monday, August 25, 2008
The Return of Joementum
(1 comments) Sunday – As Democrats trooped into Denver, they breathed a collective sigh of relief. After a roller-coaster week, the collective wisdom was that Barack Obama's campaign had gotten back on track. And that the selection of Delaware Senator Joe Biden had greatly strengthened the ticket.

Thursday, August 21, 2008
McCain's Surge, Obama's Challenge
(2 comments) Over the last six weeks, John McCain's campaign has gotten its act together. The latest Pew Research Poll indicates the 2008 presidential contest has tightened and Barack Obama's lead is now within the statistical margin of error.

Thursday, August 14, 2008
It's the Water, Stupid!
(9 comments) It's said our primeval ancestors had a simple arithmetic system: "One, two, three, many". That describes the focus of many 2008 voters, whose concerns are the economy, energy prices, Iraq, and "those other problems." As we get closer to the presidential election, most Americans aren't worried about global warming. Maybe they will be when they turn the tap and no water comes out.

Thursday, August 7, 2008
Framing the Election
(6 comments) Three months before the 2008 Presidential election, we know the parameters of the contest. McCain's fear campaign will be relentlessly negative. Both sides will spend obscene amounts of money. Roughly half the states will be in play. And, the frames will be simple: age, continuity, and scope of vision.

Thursday, July 31, 2008
The Trash Talk Express
Once upon a time, John McCain merited his reputation as a "truth teller." Reporters fought to get on his campaign bus, "the straight talk express," expecting to hear the Arizona Senator spew uncensored opinions. Alas, those days are over. Three months from the presidential election, McCain has decided his only hope of besting Barack Obama is to wage a negative campaign. Get on board the trash talk express.

Thursday, July 24, 2008
McCain's Last Issue
(3 comments) During the week of July 20th, Barack Obama visited Afghanistan, Iraq, and several other countries, strengthening his claim to be commander-in-chief material. John McCain spent the same period firing off a barrage of negative ads and comments: "Obama would rather lose a war than an election." The Arizona Senator fears Obama is stealing the issue of national security.

Thursday, July 17, 2008
Why is McCain Close?
(5 comments) Five weeks after Barack Obama clinched the Democratic nomination, the parameters of the 2008 presidential contest have been established. The battle will be waged in roughly 33 states and cost more than a billion dollars. The central issues will be gas prices, the economy, and Iraq. And, despite John McCain's ineptness as a candidate, the race will be disturbingly close.

Thursday, July 10, 2008
Obama's Southern Strategy
Barack Obama's 2008 campaign strategy aims for more than winning the presidency. f he holds the twenty states John Kerry won in 2004 and adds Ohio, Obama will have a majority of the electoral vote. But he's not satisfied with that: Obama will contest more than a dozen states Bush won easily four years ago, including many in the south.

Monday, July 7, 2008
Seeking 60 Seats
(4 comments) Democrats have a 51-49 majority in the Senate that depends upon the support of independents Joe Lieberman and Bernie Sanders. However, Lieberman supports John McCain for President, which suggests the Connecticut Senator may vote with Republicans in a new Congress. If Democrats want to increase their majority to 60, so that Obama's agenda would not be held hostage by Republican filibusters, they will have to add 60 seats.

Thursday, July 3, 2008
Obama's Oil Opportunity
(1 comments) It's the price of oil, stupid! The most recent Gallup Poll shows three issues dominating the 2008 presidential election: "energy, including gas prices," "the economy," and "the situation in Iraq." Oil connects these concerns and also the prospect of global climate change. To win in November, Barack Obama has to focus on America's oil problem.

Thursday, June 26, 2008
Obama-McCain: Lincoln vs. Rambo
(6 comments) Four months out from the 2008 presidential election, it's obvious that Barack Obama and John McCain offer a stark contrast on their positions on the key issues, their personalities and, most tellingly, their worldviews.

Thursday, June 19, 2008
Obama's Challenges
(2 comments) Now that Barack Obama has finally secured the Democratic nomination for President, it's time for a candid assessment of his chances. To defeat John McCain in November Obama must respond to three challenges.

Thursday, June 12, 2008
Obama's Victory: Three Key Endorsements
After Barack Obama secured the Democratic nomination for President, his campaign immediately segued into the general election. Before we're totally submerged by Obama-McCain comparisons, it's informative to consider turning points in Obama's brilliant campaign: three critical endorsements.

Thursday, June 5, 2008
Hillary's Judgment
(2 comments) On June 3rd, at the end of an epic contest, Democrats nominated Barack Obama as their presidential candidate rather than Hillary Clinton. While many factors contributed to the outcome, the grueling campaign highlighted a critical difference between the candidates: Obama demonstrated better judgment than did Clinton.

Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Campaign 2008: The Electoral College
(3 comments) t's painful to recall, but in 2004 John Kerry could have won the Presidential election if he had carried Ohio. Ultimately, Kerry got 252 electoral-college votes and Bush 286, with Ohio providing the decisive 20 votes. In 2008 it's possible Barack Obama could win the popular vote but lose the electoral vote much as Al Gore (allegedly) did in 2000. That's because many of the same familiar swing states will again be in play.

Saturday, May 24, 2008
John McCain and the Death of Conservatism
(4 comments) As the primary season grinds to a close, many Democrats expect a decisive victory in the November general election and look forward to four years of a Democratic President working with a partisan Congress. But, the smashing defeat of John McCain and the Republican Party should also signal that Americans reject the inept conservative ideology that's dominated U.S. politics for twenty-eight years.

Thursday, May 15, 2008
Broken America
(4 comments) In 1989, Bob Dylan wrote "Everything is Broken." At the time, Dylan was referring to the aftermath of the Loam Prieta earthquake, but his prophetic words now describe the overall condition of the USA. George Bush's legacy is a broken America.

Thursday, May 8, 2008
Clinton's Last Stand
(2 comments) Tuesday, May 6th, was the decisive night in the struggle for the Democratic nomination. It provided new insight into the character of the two competitors.

Thursday, May 1, 2008
The CEO Presidency
(7 comments) In 2000, when George W. Bush first ran for President, one of his selling points was the claim he would be America's first "CEO President." Of course, Bush's assertion was far from the truth, but for most voters the notion of an effective executive running the White House has enduring appeal. Looking at Clinton, McCain, and Obama, who would be a CEO President?

Wednesday, April 23, 2008
After Hillary: Bitterness?
(1 comments) n the six weeks between the Mississippi and Pennsylvania primaries, the campaign for the Democratic Presidential nomination deteriorated into trench warfare. When the dust cleared, Hillary Clinton won a single-digit victory in Pennsylvania, one that moved her no closer to securing the nomination. And, the struggle between Clinton and Obama left a trail of bitterness.

Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Why Should We Care About Iraq?
(4 comments) On April 8th, General David Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker told the Senate the President's Iraq surge strategy has "worked" and, therefore, current troop levels should be maintained. The hearings came at a time when public attention has shifted from the occupation to the economy. Given the looming recession, why should Americans care how long our troops stay in Iraq?

Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Hillary's Last Charge
(10 comments) The battle of Gettysburg was the turning point of the Civil War. On July 3, 1863, the Confederate Army's failed assault on the Union forces massed on Cemetery Ridge – Pickett's Charge – marked the end of the struggle. Many observers believe the April 22nd Pennsylvania Primary may prove to be the decisive battle in the struggle for the 2008 Democratic Presidential nomination. Will this be HIllary Clinton's last charge?

Thursday, April 3, 2008
Obama and Lincoln
(2 comments) In his remarkable March 18th speech, "A More Perfect Union," Democratic Presidential candidate, Barack Obama, directly addressed the racial aspect of his campaign that, up until the preceding week, had largely been in the background.

Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Meltdown Politics
(5 comments) According to the latest Gallup poll three quarters of Americans believe the economy is in a recession. How will the recession play out in the 2008 Presidential campaigns?

Wednesday, March 12, 2008
2008 Senate Races: Which Candidate Has Coattails?
(1 comments) No matter who is elected President in November, the battle for control of the Senate will be pivotal. If Democrats do not substantially increase their majority from 51 to at least 56, then most significant legislation will die in the Senate. As Dems consider candidates Clinton and Obama, they would do well to ask: Who will be best for the Party overall? Who ill have the strongest coattails?

Wednesday, March 5, 2008
The Great Debate of 2008
(4 comments) So far there have been many surprises in the contest for the 2008 Presidential nomination. Six months ago, it appeared the probable candidates would be Rudy Giuliani and Hillary Clinton. After Tuesday's primaries they will be John McCain and either Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama. Last year it appeared the leading issue would be the war in Iraq. Now it's likely the great debate will be about the economy.

Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Goin' Down Slow
A memorable blues song goes, "I have had my fun, if I don't get well no more...my health is failing and I'm goin' down slow." The songwriter, St. Louis Jimmy Oden, probably had in mind the rough life of bluesman, but his lyrics could easily be used to describe the current state of the American economy.

Friday, February 22, 2008
The Politics of the Oscars
(3 comments) It's always dangerous to read too much into trends in popular culture. Nonetheless, there seems to be a strong relationship between the five movies nominated for best picture of 2007 and polls showing 70 percent of Americans believe the U.S. is headed in the wrong direction.

Saturday, February 9, 2008
Assessing Super Tuesday
Tuesday afternoon, driving around Berkeley and Oakland and seeing the number of "Obama for President" signs, it was easy to believe the predictions that he was going to win the California Democratic primary. Nonetheless, sixty minutes after the polls closed, the TV networks declared Senator Clinton the winner. Despite this setback, the Obama campaign continues to gain momentum.

Monday, February 4, 2008
Why Not the Best?
(2 comments) On February 5th, "Super Tuesday," millions of Americans will select either Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama as the Democratic candidate for President. Both carry historic liberal values and are capable of doing an excellent job as president. The question voters will have to decide is not who can do the job "on day one" – they both can – but rather who would be the best fit for these tumultuous times.

Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Crawling From the Wreckage
(5 comments) "Who would want to be President?" That's the comment I've heard recently, whenever I've discussed the presidential primaries with my Berkeley friends. Noting the mess George W. Bush has made, they shake their heads, and say, "The next President will have to spend four years working 24 hours per day repairing the wreckage."

Wednesday, January 23, 2008
What Do Liberals Believe?
(25 comments) As we sail into the murky political waters of 2008, it's useful for liberals (progressives) to remember our core beliefs. Two elemental American narratives illuminate these values: the triumphant individual and the benevolent community.

Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Gender Backlash
On January 9th, Hillary Clinton won the New Hampshire Democratic primary, much to the surprise of political pundits who had spent the previous few days gloating over the demise of her presidential bid. Some observers suggested there had been a gender "backlash" as a result of her treatment by the media and the other (male) candidates.

Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Steroid America
Throughout 2007 Americans were warned of a looming steroid scandal in major-league baseball. Nonetheless, many fans were surprised when Barry Bonds and 88 other players were identified as steroid users in the Mitchell Report. Sadly, indications are this is only the tip of the drug iceberg, as steroids are said to be an issue at all levels of American sports.

Monday, December 31, 2007
2007 - Political Winners and Losers
(1 comments) 2007 wasn't a happy year, as the major political stories were mostly downers. Here are my ten choices for the big winners and losers.

Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Divided America
2007 was a year with many negative news stories. The war in Iraq dragged on, as did the less-publicized war in Afghanistan. The US economy began a decline precipitated by a crisis in the housing market. And, there was increasingly bad news about the environment, the rapidity of the changes wrought by global warming. Nonetheless, the most disturbing news was barely mentioned by the media: the polarization of America.

Wednesday, December 12, 2007
2007: Another Year of War
(1 comments) During 2007, the major news item continued to be the war in Iraq. Many of us expected a Democratically controlled Congress would produce a shift in Iraq policy, a real plan for withdrawal of US troops. Sadly, this didn't happen; the war not only continued, but President

Tuesday, December 4, 2007
Is the Surge Working?
(5 comments) According to the latest reports from the civil-war zone, the addition of tens of thousands of US has caused the level of violence to diminish. A recent Pew Research Poll found that roughly half of the public (48 percent) believe the military effort is "going well or fairly well." Has the situation in Iraq really turned around or has the surge merely postponed the messy end of the conflict until after Dubya leaves office?

Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Cloning Dubya
(3 comments) While George Dubya Bush will be in office for fourteen more months, many have already labeled him the worst President in modern American history. Bush's most lasting negative legacy is his autocratic leadership style, which has inspired other politicians to emulate his tactics and ethics. As a result, we see mini-Dubyas running for President and Dubya clones ruling other countries.

Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Waterboarding America
(4 comments) During his confirmation hearing for Attorney General, Michael Mukasey equivocated on the legality of waterboarding. Nonetheless, it's apparent that waterboarding is illegal torture. It's also clear why the Bush Administration defends the practice: for 6 years they've been waterboarding America.

Tuesday, November 13, 2007
The 2008 U.S. Election
(4 comments) The presidential election will occur on Tuesday, November 4th, 2008, less than a year from now. Because the candidates have been campaigning for eleven months, we already know quite a lot about the likely outcome.

Tuesday, November 6, 2007
The Left Coast Menace
(2 comments) Last week, President Bush warned America about the left coast organizations Moveon.Org and Code Pink: "some in Washington should spend more time responding to the warnings of terrorists like Osama bin Laden and the requests of our commanders on the ground, and less time responding to the demands of MoveOn.org bloggers [sic] and Code Pink protesters." I disagree: MoveOn and Code Pink are revitalizing democracy.

Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Depressed America
(1 comments) These are hard times in America. There's broad agreement our nation has lost its way and the U.S. is no longer "the shining light on the hill." We don't trust our leaders or believe national politicians care about the common good. Americans are uncertain and depressed.

Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Playing the Hate Card
(20 comments) After Iraq, healthcare, the economy, and trust, Americans rank immigration as the number five problem facing the United States. "Immigration" has become a simulacrum for "race relations" in the U.S. It's no longer politically correct to vilify folks for the color of their skin but, in some quarters, it's okay to bash them for their immigration status.

Tuesday, October 16, 2007
The Politics of Trust
(11 comments) Most Americans don't trust their government. A recent Gallup poll found "Americans generally express less trust in the federal government than at any point in the past decade, and trust in many federal government institutions is now lower than it was during the Watergate era." Only 43 percent of poll respondents trust President Bush and 50 percent do not trust Congress.

Tuesday, October 9, 2007
It's the Economy, Stupid
(1 comments) During Bill Clinton's 1992 presidential campaign, a sign in Clinton's campaign headquarters reminded the candidate "the economy, stupid." The same sign would work for the Democrats' 2008 presidential candidate. After Iraq and healthcare, Americans see the economy as the number three problem facing the United States. In fact, they rate economic problems in the aggregate almost as highly as they do Iraq.

Thursday, October 4, 2007
The Politics of Healthcare
(4 comments) After Iraq, Americans see Healthcare as the most important problem facing the United States. It's not difficult to see why with one in six Americans having no insurance. Like Iraq, healthcare is an issue where Democratic and Republican proposals differ dramatically.

Tuesday, October 2, 2007
"In the Valley of Elah"
Judging from the small audience at the screening of "In the Valley of Elah" I attended, and its limited release – 326 theaters, Paul Haggis's masterpiece isn't going to be around very long. But don't worry, if you don't get to see "In the Valley of Elah" before it closes, you'll probably get another chance early in 2008, after the Academy Award nominations are announced.

Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Iraq's Political Consequences
(1 comments) Americans continue to see Iraq asthe most important problem facing the United States. However, attitudes about Iraq are dramatically skewed by Party affiliation. 67 percent of Republicans feel the "U.S. is making progress in defeating the insurgents," while only 16 percent of Democrats and 31 percent of Independents share this sentiment.

Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Iraq: Where's the Strategy?
(2 comments) On September 13th, George W. Bush spoke to the United States about Iraq. The President claimed the surge has achieved modest results and a few troops can return home. He implied that large numbers of Americans would remain in Iraq throughout the remaining 17 months of his presidency. He didn't present an exit strategy, but rather a profession of faith: U.S. troops can "win" in Iraq.

Wednesday, September 5, 2007
Iraq and Vietnam
Since the invasion of Iraq, in March of 2003, George W. Bush's rationale for the occupation has continually shifted. On August 22nd, the White House once again changed its criterion for success. As disturbing as this is, what's more disturbing is the new justification: keep Iraq from becoming another Vietnam.

Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Iraq: Act Without Thinking
(1 comments) Berkeley residents have made two superb documentaries about the long-term impact of the war in Iraq. No End in Sight asks Why did the occupation fail? Soldiers of Conscience asks What is this war doing to us?

Thursday, August 9, 2007
Giuliani: "It's great to be rich"
(3 comments) On July 24th, Rudy Giuliani, the leading Republican presidential candidate, gave a campaign speech in San Francisco. It's illuminating to study the former New York City mayor's remarks because they reveal a lot about him and the prevailing philosophy of the GOP. He asserted that Democrats "do not understand a capitalist economy... they think it's bad to make money. They think it's bad to be rich... I think it's great."

Tuesday, July 24, 2007
George Bush: Moral Termite
(1 comments) For many of us on the left coast, President Bush's pardon of Scooter Libby was a non-event; we've grown blasé about Bush abuses. Nonetheless, while it's comforting to bask in self-righteousness, that won't fix our common problem: Bush will be President for another 18 months and the immorality of the Bush Administration infects us all. The President is a moral termite.

Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Faith and Politics
(2 comments) How important is it that presidential candidates tell us whether or not they are Christians? For many progressives it's not important at all; most of us feel that religious belief is a personal matter: what matters most is that candidates adhere to high ethical standards and honor the US constitution. But for many Americans, identifying as a Christian is short hand for being on the "right" side.

Thursday, June 28, 2007
Barack and Hillary
(2 comments) In the sixth month of the campaign for the 2008 Democratic Presidential nomination, the race has narrowed to New York Senator Hillary Clinton and Illinois Senator Barack Obama. Obama and Clinton are very different people and which one of them carries the day, at the Denver Democratic convention in August of 2008, will hinge on which campaign is best able to utilize the unique strengths of their candidate.

Tuesday, June 12, 2007
Good Bill, Bad Hillary
(18 comments) Hillary Clinton remains the favorite to be the Democratic presidential nominee at their August 2008 convention in Denver. However, while most Dems view her positively, she's unpopular with Independents and Republicans. This is called "the Hillary problem," but it's really "the Bill problem."

Tuesday, May 15, 2007
Reconsidering Impeachment
(4 comments) In Berkeley, it's difficult to travel more than a few blocks without seeing an "Impeach Bush" bumper sticker. And whenever I write a column about the 43rd President, I receive emails suggesting that the simplest solution to America's problems is his impeachment. Nonetheless, I'd never taken the possibility of impeachment seriously until this week, when I realized I've had enough: I want Dubya to go down.

Friday, May 4, 2007
Dubya Disease
(8 comments) It's getting hard to poke fun at President Bush. As his approval ratings have plummeted, the frequency of Bush's malapropisms, hyperboles, and outright lies has increased; as has his propensity for gauche behavior and buffoonery. It's become clear that he's contracted incurable Dubya disease.

Wednesday, April 25, 2007
On the Killin' Floor
(1 comments) In his most famous blues song, Howlin' Wolf sang I should'a quit you, long time ago...and I wouldn't've been here, down on the killin' floor. The mass killings at Virginia Tech demonstrated that all Americans are "down on the killin' floor."

Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Triage Time in Iraq
(1 comments) There's a wide split in US public opinion about what should be done in Iraq. The latest Gallup Poll reveals that twenty percent of respondents say "withdraw immediately," thirteen percent insist "send more troops," and the remainder believe we should leave sometime in the future: thirty-eight percent want withdrawal "within twelve months," and twenty-six twenty-six percent say we should "take as many years as needed." The be

Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Accountability in Iraq
(1 comments) What's been ignored in the bitter debate about Iraq is the issue of political stability: how long should the United States stay in Iraq if the elected government fails to meet its commitments? Most Americans believe that while US should bolster Iraqi security, the government of Iraq must function on its own. The key to the future of Iraq is the Bush Administration's willingness to hold the Iraqi government accountable.

Wednesday, April 4, 2007
Dubya At the Bat
(1 comments) It's the bottom of the ninth inning and the home team is losing 4 to 0. There are two outs and George Bush is at the plate. The count is two strikes and no balls. The opponents' closer fires a high hard one to the President. "Strike three," the umpire yells. The game is over. But, Bush disputes the call; claims that as President of the United States he gets more strikes; the game isn't over until he says it is.

Friday, March 30, 2007
Bush vs. America
(2 comments) Thursday's Senate vote on funding for Iraq sets the stage for an epic battle between Congress and President Bush; a struggle with the dramatic elements of a Shakespeare play: a headstrong emperor who claims God gave him absolute power battling a stalwart band of democratic solons.

Monday, March 26, 2007
Pelosi's Triumph
(3 comments) Friday's vote against the war in Iraq was a double triumph: A landmark vote to put an end to the mad policies of George Bush and an unusually unified stand by a Democratic Party often distinguished by its disunity. The leader who brought Democrats together was Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi.

Wednesday, March 21, 2007
Bush's Politics of Betrayal
(1 comments) What do the conviction of Scooter Libby, the revelation that wounded Iraq veterans are receiving poor treatment at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, and the firing of eight US attorneys have in common? They're further proof the Bush Administration has betrayed America.

Thursday, March 15, 2007
Nuclear Terrorism
(1 comments) It's been five and a half years since 9/11. With each passing day, it's more likely the United States will suffer from an attack featuring nuclear terrorism.

Friday, March 9, 2007
The Environmental Holocaust
Recent Polls indicate most Americans are concerned about global climate change. Yet, twenty to forty percent remain skeptical. Many conservatives disdain environmentalism and urge a cautious response to global warming. They mirror the tragic response to the plight of German Jews, seventy years ago. Then, as now, urging caution in the face of overwhelming factual data set the stage for a holocaust.

Thursday, March 1, 2007
A Liberal Foreign Policy: Ten Maxims
(4 comments) The catastrophic occupation of Iraq is evidence of far more than the incompetence of the Bush Administration; it is proof that the conservative worldview is fatally flawed. As the 43rd Presidency staggers to an ignominious finale, liberals must prepare not only to govern America, but also to proclaim a new vision. Liberal foreign policy should be based upon ten elemental concepts.

Friday, February 23, 2007
Support Our Veterans
(3 comments) In one of the great ironies of American politics, it's Democrats who demand that the Bush Administration provide our troops with training and equipment before they go into battle and guarantee adequate veterans' services when they return. Given that Republicans have carefully sought to build up support among military families, it comes as a shock that the White House has not kept its commitments to veterans.

Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Support Our Troops
(7 comments) American politics are at a tipping point. Since the Reagan era, Republicans have claimed to be the national security Party, labeled Democrats "liberal pacifists," and garnered the votes of most of America's military. At long last, public perception is changing. The debate over Iraq gives Democrats a golden opportunity to take back the mantle of national security. The pivotal issue is which Party truly supports our troops.

Thursday, February 15, 2007
Just Say No
(3 comments) There's new evidence that the Bush Administration's "abstinence only" approach to sex education is not proving effective at preventing unwanted pregnancies or the spread of sexually transmitted disease. However, George W. Bush continues to believe that the maxim, "just say no," solves a variety of social problems ranging from pre-marital sex to terrorism.

Friday, February 2, 2007
Grandma Goes to Baghdad
(3 comments) This past weekend, Speaker of the House and six-time grandmother, Nancy Pelosi, traveled to Iraq, Pakistan, and Afghanistan to get a personal view of George Bush's "war" on terrorism. Judging from her initial comments, the trip hardened Pelosi's opposition to Bush's escalation of the war in Iraq. So, what should we expect the Pelosi-led Dems to do about Iraq?

Friday, January 26, 2007
Democrats on Steroids
(3 comments) Will Rogers famously quipped: "I belong to no organized party. I am a Democrat." For the past six years of the Bush Administration, this has been a common lament among Democratic loyalists. But the times they are a changing. The ferocious response of Democratic Senator Jim Webb to the President's lame State-of-the-Union address indicated that Dems have taken steroids, muscled up, and decided to duke it out with the Bus

Thursday, January 25, 2007
For Dubya, Down Looks Like Up
Been down so long it looks like up to me goes the Blues song. In his 2007 State-of-the-Union address President Bush sang these blues. His January 23rd performance was somber and, ultimately, disoriented.

Friday, January 19, 2007
The Politics of Sacrifice
(2 comments) On January 16th, PBS News Hour host Jim Lehrer interviewed President Bush. This encounter told us a lot about Bush's brand of conservatism, in particular, his feelings about sacrifice.

Wednesday, January 17, 2007
The Bush Who Cried Wolf
In his speech announcing an escalation in Iraq, President Bush suggested Al Qaeda leads the Iraqi resistance to the occupation and, therefore, if America leaves without achieving "victory," Al Qaeda will establish a caliphate in Iraq. Once again, Bush cried Wolf.

Friday, January 12, 2007
Ten Problems With Bush's Latest Iraq Plan
On January 10th, President Bush presented his "new plan" for Iraq. Bush's proposal has ten serious problems.

Wednesday, January 10, 2007
Will Democrats Tackle Class Warfare?
(10 comments) The latest Gallup Poll indicated that Americans have two fundamental concerns: Iraq and the economy. We know that most Congressional Democrats believe we should bring our troops home from Iraq this year, but what do they think about our economy? Are the leaders of the 110th Congress prepared to tackle class warfare?

Saturday, January 6, 2007
Speaker Pelosi: "We're Here For the Children"
On January 4th at 1:44 PM (EST), Nancy Pelosi was sworn in as the first female Speaker of the House of Representatives. Besides the historic significance, what difference will this make in American politics? A lot, I believe.

Thursday, January 4, 2007
2007 - Five Challenges
The first week of 2007 is a good time to take a look at a few of the challenges the United States faces as it recovers from the Bush Administration. Underneath the concerns of the average American lurk five systemic problems.

Saturday, December 23, 2006
All I Want For Christmas is...the Truth
(8 comments) This is the time of year when many of us take time out to count our blessings and, perhaps, say a few prayers for peace on earth. Of course, I want peace on earth, too. But what I want first is the truth.

Wednesday, December 20, 2006
Why Can't Bush Admit We've Failed in Iraq?
(8 comments) President Bush delayed announcement of his "new" Iraq strategy until January. He's having trouble coming to grips with the reality that our troops are caught in a full-scale civil war and, therefore, there's nothing the US can do but get out. Why can't Bush admit we've failed?

Friday, December 15, 2006
Iraq? The Next Six Months
It's clear that President Bush isn't buying into the major recommendations of The Iraq Study Group. Over the next six months, we're likely to see his intransigence go through three stages: Obfuscation, Escalation, and Confrontation.

Wednesday, December 13, 2006
Ten Suggestions For the First 100 Days
(6 comments) On January 4th, Democrats begin leading the 110th Congress. They've already announced an agenda for the first 100 hours. Here are ten suggestions for their first 100 days.

Friday, December 8, 2006
Killing Conservatism
(3 comments) With conservatives still reeling from their losses in the mid-term election, for the first time in six years liberals have something to cheer about. Rather than gloat about President Bush's ineptness, or the failure of the GOP-controlled 109th Congress, liberals should focus on their opportunity to sink the conservative ideology that has dominated American politics for twenty-five years.

Wednesday, December 6, 2006
Making the Connection Between Iraq and Israel
(1 comments) As the Bush Administration searches for a way out of Iraq, they've been forced to use diplomacy. In the past few weeks, President Bush and Secretary of State Rice asked Iraq's neighbors to help end the Iraqi civil war. Our Arab allies told Bush they won't help with Iraq until he agrees to broker a meaningful Israeli-Palestinian peace accord.

Friday, December 1, 2006
The Politics of Triage
The Bush Administration has proved incapable of triage: "the determination of priorities for action in an emergency." Unfortunately, this is an inadequacy whose consequences extend far beyond their failure in Iraq.

Wednesday, November 29, 2006
Iraq Options: Go Big, Go Long, Go Home, Go Figure
When the dust settled from the mid-term elections, Americans heard from a wide variety of Washington "experts" with strong opinions on the war in Iraq. The Washington Post reported that a top-secret Pentagon task force is reviewing strategies for Iraq. Insiders have dubbed the main options as: "'Go Big,' 'Go Long,' and 'Go Home.'" To these might be added a fourth option: Go Figure.

Wednesday, November 22, 2006
Failed Leadership, Failed Security
(1 comments) The new Democratically-controlled Congress will be under enormous pressure to do something about Iraq. Dems should resist the temptation for quick fixes. They must step back and take a broader view: acknowledge America has lost the war in Iraq and is in danger of losing the "war" on terrorism.

Friday, November 17, 2006
No Middle Ground
The 2006 elections are over and the punditocracy has ruled: "The Center is the New Place to Be" trumpets TIME magazine. "The Middle Muscles In" writes David Brooks in the NEW YORK TIMES. It's a classic example of the mainstream media totally missing the point: there was no middle ground in the mid-term elections. There was a reality check.

Wednesday, November 15, 2006
Campaign 2006: Dirty Tricks, Undecided Races
The elections in 2000, 2002, and 2004 featured Republican dirty tricks: extensive voter suppression and iniquitous vote count manipulation. While 2006 saw some of the latter, the main GOP tactic was once again voter suppression: either directly by purging valid names from voter rolls or indirectly by harassing and misleading phone calls. GOP dirty tricks were an important factor in seven of the eleven Congressional races whos

Saturday, November 11, 2006
Campaign 2006: Winner and Losers
(1 comments) As the dust settles from the tumultuous 2006 mid-term elections, let's consider the big political winners and losers.

Thursday, November 9, 2006
Democrats' Top Priority: Stop the Looting
When Democrats stop celebrating their victory in the mid-term elections and begin to consider their priorities for the 110th Congress, they need look no further than Iraq. Due to a devastating combination of managerial ineptitude and ideological inflexibility, the Bush Administration has lost Iraq and severely damaged the US. They couldn't stop the looting there and refuse to stop the looting here.

Friday, November 3, 2006
Campaign 2006: The Swing States
A useful perspective on the 2006 mid-term election is gained by asking: how are Democrats doing in the swing states? How are they faring in the relatively few states in play in 2004? The answer is: Democrats are doing surprisingly well.

Wednesday, November 1, 2006
Bush Losing Support of Military
One of the most memorable Iraq war images was President Bush's "Mission Accompished" speech made on May 1, 2003, from the deck of the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln. At the time, it would have been hard to predict that three years later major combat operations would not have ended, the mission would not be accomplished, and Bush would be losing the support of the military.

Saturday, October 28, 2006
One, Two, Three, What Are We Voting For?
(1 comments) When we go to the polls on November 7th, many of us will be voting against George Bush and a subservient Republican Congress. Yet, it's always healthier to cast a positive vote: to be for something. So, what are we voting for?

Friday, October 20, 2006
In Dubya We Trust?
As November 7th draws near, we'll read a lot about the issues. But, there's only one issue: Do you trust George Bush? After six years of failure, the majority of American voters have finally decided they don't trust Dubya.

Tuesday, October 10, 2006
Savage America
Our French friends ask: What happened to America? We respond defensively: Say the U.S. is a wonderful country. Claim the media emphasizes the negative, where there are many positives. Argue that President Bush does not speak for all Americans. But they know he represents a large segment of American society. And his base believes in him. Supports his vision of savage America.

Tuesday, October 3, 2006
Xen and the Art of Empire Maintenance
The game the developed world is playing has changed. And the U.S. hasn't adapted. We're still playing checkers while most everyone else is playing chess. The impact becomes clear when you compare the United States and France.

Tuesday, September 26, 2006
Rock 'n' Roll: Art or Politics?
Like most Tom Stoppard plays, Rock 'n' Roll operates on multiple levels. The narrative tracks Czechoslovakian political history over a twenty-two year period: from the Russian occupation in 1968 to the withdrawal of Soviet troops and the election of Vaclav Havel. Stoppard focuses on the key roll played by sixties rock 'n' roll music.

Tuesday, September 19, 2006
Frost/Nixon, Nixon/Bush
It's impossible to see Peter Morgan's brilliant new play, Frost/Nixon, and not consider the similarities between Dick Nixon and George W. Bush. Wonder: did Americans suffer through the agony of the Watergate era only to forget the hard lessons we learned?

Monday, September 11, 2006
The Legacy of 9/11
Perhaps we've gotten enough distance from 9/11 that it's possible to consider what its enduring legacy is. What lesson America learned. Over the past five years there've been six changes to the culture and consciousness of the United States. This sad day is an appropriate time to consider these.

Wednesday, September 6, 2006
Campaign 2006 – Top 10 Senate Races
(4 comments) Voters will determine 33 Senate seats in 2006. In order to regain control of the Senate, Democrats will have to win at least six of the eight Republican seats that are in play and retain all eight of the contested Democratic sets.

Thursday, August 31, 2006
Campaign 2006 – Sweet Sixteen Congressional Races
(1 comments) Democrats continue to gain momentum in their bid to wrest control of the House of Representatives from the Republicans. There are now 46 House seats in play. In order to prevail, the Democrats will have to win 15 of the 36 tenuous GOP seats. And hold onto 10 shaky Democratic seats.

Friday, August 25, 2006
Defeating Bush, Defeating Terrorism
(2 comments) The latest polls indicate Americans no longer see a connection between Iraq and Bush's "war on terror." The tide of public opinion has shifted: voters see Democrats as capable as Republicans on national security. Two and a half months before the mid-term congressional election, Democrats have an opportunity to convince Americans of a somber truth: continuing Republican hegemony weakens the U.S. and strengthen terrorism.

Wednesday, August 23, 2006
Who are the Terrorists?
(2 comments) President Bush's Monday press conference made two things clear: He's not about to withdraw troops from Iraq. And, he's locked into a definition of "terrorist" that's so general that it's meaningless and, therefore, dangerous. It's time to reconsider: Who are the terrorists? Why are we fighting them? How can we defeat them?

Friday, August 18, 2006
The End of the War on Terror
(5 comments) The failure of the Bush Administration's foreign policy has discredited the notion that America is engaged in a war on terror. It raises the questions: Who are the terrorists? And, what is the best way to fight them?

Tuesday, August 15, 2006
A New Liberal Foreign Policy
Conservative foreign policy has failed and taken with it their dream of a new American empire. It's accomplished an ignominious "twofer:" It's made the US less safe and mocked the cooperation and collaboration required to deal with the world's problems. It's time to ask: what does liberalism suggest?

Thursday, August 10, 2006
The Death of American Empire
Conservatism hasn't strengthened America's position in the world, produced the Pax Americana that conservatives expected. It's done the exact opposite; weakened the United States across the board. As a result, we're witnessing the death of the conservative dream of American empire.

Tuesday, August 8, 2006
Brain Damage Ravages White House
(1 comments) As the Middle East deteriorates, the behavior of the Bush Administration brings to mind the signature Pink Floyd lyrics: The lunatic is on the grass...Got to keep the loonies on the path. The question that vexes many of us is: how do we get the White House loonies on the path to lasting peace in the Middle East?

Thursday, August 3, 2006
The Liberal Response to the Failure of Conservatism
(2 comments) History will record that the Bush Administration was the high-water mark of conservatism, note that during Dubya's reign conservatives had their chance and failed. This represents a golden opportunity for liberals.

Tuesday, August 1, 2006
The Failure of Conservatism... and of A Cogent Liberal Response
The dominant conservative ideology has clearly failed. What is needed now is a fresh formulation of what liberalism stands for: how does it propose to solve America's problems?

Thursday, July 27, 2006
He's Got the Whole World In His Hands
(3 comments) As the situation in the Middle East spirals out of control, as it becomes ever more apparent that we have lost the war in Iraq and are losing the war on terror, it's vital that we understand this strange man who's our 43rd President. Why did George make the dreadful decisions that have brought us to the brink of chaos? Why is George Bush playing with the whole world in his hands?

Tuesday, July 25, 2006
Bush and Israel: It's Politics, Stupid
(4 comments) Many political observers wonder at the wisdom of Bush's Israel policy. But the White House has no doubts, because they believe that Israel's actions work to the political benefit of the Republican Party.

Thursday, July 20, 2006
Bush's "Pottery Barn" Legacy
George Bush's inept handling of Iraq and Israel has established his legacy: The "pottery Barn" disorder.

Tuesday, July 18, 2006
Take Me to Our Leader
(2 comments) Given the extremity of the crisis it the Middle East, and the dreadful track record of President Bush, it's important to ask who else can provide this leadership? The answer is Al Gore.

Thursday, July 13, 2006
Winning the War on Terror
(2 comments) If George Bush and his Republican lapdogs are not winning the war on terror, what the Democrats would do differently?

Tuesday, July 11, 2006
How to Lose the War on Terror; Bush's Ten Rules
In a recent survey foreign-policy experts, 84 percent said that the US is not winning the war on terror. How is it possible that the United States, which annually spends nearly as much on defense as all the other nations of the world combined, is losing the war on terror? Here's how, you follow George Bush's ten "rules".

Friday, July 7, 2006
Iraq - The Closed Window of Opportunity
On July 4th, President Bush reiterated that US troops would stay in Iraq until "the job is done." But what is "the job?" Can it be "done?" Is there still a window of opportunity in Iraq?

Wednesday, July 5, 2006
Iraq – What Would the Dems Do?
On June 15th and 16th there was a fractious debate in the House of Representatives on the subject of Iraq. Anyone watching the debate might have wondered: if the Democrats were in control of the house, what would they actually do about Iraq?

Thursday, June 29, 2006
Derailing Dictator Dubya
(1 comments) The critical issue to be decided on November 7th is whether or not Congress will stand up to Dictator Dubya.

Tuesday, June 27, 2006
Another Look at the Democratic Agenda
How cogent is the Democratic agenda: "A New Direction for America" and "Real Security?"

Thursday, June 22, 2006
Democrats Rediscover The Common Good
(1 comments) Heading into the November elections, Dems have seized on the common good as a unifying theme.

Tuesday, June 20, 2006
The Schizophrenic Republican Agenda
When we poke at the GOP ideological agenda we find that itÂ’s schizophrenic. Republicans say one thing and then consistently do something else.

Wednesday, June 14, 2006
Campaign 2006 – Top 10 Senate Races
In order to regain control of the Senate, Democrats will have to win at least six of the eight Republican seats that are in play and retain all nine of the contested Democratic sets. Here are the ten most interesting Senatorial races.

Thursday, June 8, 2006
Campaign 2006 - Sweet 16 Congressional Races
(1 comments) Democrats appear to be gaining momentum in their bid to wrest control of the House of Representatives from the Republicans. In order to prevail, the Democrats will have to hold onto 10 shaky seats and win 15 of the 36 tenuous GOP seats.

Tuesday, June 6, 2006
Iraq - How Do You Spell LOSER?
Why can't the American public recognize that the war in Iraq is over? The US lost.

Thursday, June 1, 2006
Campaign 2006 - I'm With Stupid
(1 comments) As President BushÂ’s poll numbers continue to plummet, many Democrats assume that their Party will recapture Congress. Dems tend to overlook the fact that when they vote on November 7th, the person voting in a similar booth in Colorado, Michigan, Ohio or Pennsylvania is marking their ballot for reasons that are not in their best interests. Following logic that most of us regard as stupid.

Wednesday, May 31, 2006
If Not Hillary, Then Who?
(1 comments) At the moment, Hillary Clinton is the odds-on favorite to be the presidential nominee. She has by far the most money and has cornered the market on big-bucks donors. Nonetheless, sheÂ’s not the favorite of the Democratic rank-and-file, whoÂ’ve united in opposition, if not an alternative.

Friday, May 26, 2006
Enemy of the People - Al Gore or George Bush?
(1 comments) ItÂ’s impossible to see this 96-minute film about Al GoreÂ’s single-handed fight to educate America about the dangers of global climate change and not wonder how different things would be if he had won in 2000.

Thursday, May 25, 2006
Bush Prepares to Cut and Run in Afghanistan
(4 comments) In Afghanistan the Administration is pursuing the very same cut and run policies that the accuse others of espousing in Iraq.

Monday, May 22, 2006
If You're Black, Get Back
(1 comments) Recent events indicate that Jim Crow didnÂ’t die, it mutated. As a result many black citizens still find themselves sitting at the back of the opportunity bus.

Friday, May 19, 2006
Islamophobia
(3 comments) The Bush Administration fueled a new wave of bigotry: first against gays and lesbians. Then it extended to the poor who were demonized as shiftless, “irresponsible.” More recently it has focused on Muslims.

Wednesday, May 17, 2006
Bush's Desperation Agenda
(1 comments) The Bush Administration has abandoned their plans and offered America a desperation agenda.

Monday, May 15, 2006
2006 - Another Year of the Woman?
2006 Is shaping up as another historic year for women, as Democrats are poised to take back the House of Representatives and make Nancy Pelosi the first-ever female Speaker of the House. At least, that was the prevailing opinion at the annual EmilyÂ’s List gathering May 11th and 12th.

Friday, May 12, 2006
Nation Building, Obama Style
(1 comments) Thursday, speaking to the Emily's List PAC, Illinois Democratic Senator, Barack Obama, asked whether Democrats are prepared to engage in nation building.

Wednesday, May 10, 2006
California Congressional Corruption
In the spring of 2005, no one forecasted the dramatic political changes that have taken place in California in the past twelve months. Because of the fallout from various scandals, six supposedly safe GOP Congressional seats are in jeopardy.

Monday, May 8, 2006
Zen Mind, Bush Mind
The unique Bush decision-making process is best understood by contrasting it with that of the Zen masters. For the first time, here are the secrets of the Bush master.

Saturday, May 6, 2006
What Can We Do About Iraq and Iran?
Many Americans ask, “What can we do?” to restore sanity and democracy to the USA. The answer is nonviolent direct action.

Wednesday, May 3, 2006
Iraq - Seeking a Way Out
The Biden-Gelb "three-state solution" gives the American people Iraq an additional option for Iraq, for a total of four.

Tuesday, May 2, 2006
Iran - Inside Bush's Brain
While pundits have explored the policy and political consequences of an attack on Iran, theyÂ’ve ignored an equally important consideration: How does President Bush actually make decisions? And, what does this suggest that heÂ’s going to do about Iran?

Friday, April 28, 2006
George Bush and The Cat in The Hat
(1 comments)

Wednesday, April 26, 2006
Iraq - Three Options, Three Problems
Whether you are sanguine about Iraq depends upon whether or not you trust George Bush. However, personalizing AmericaÂ’s dilemma in Iraq bypasses the reality that we actually only have three options. And, each of these has problems.

Monday, April 24, 2006
Iraq - What's Next?
(1 comments) Given what we know about George W. Bush, whatÂ’ll he do next in Iraq? And what can we do about it?

Friday, April 21, 2006
Fear of Flying With George Bush

Wednesday, April 19, 2006
Global Warming? Not in My Backyard
The April 7th Gallup Poll indicated that while 62 percent of Americans worry about global warming, only 36 percent think it will be a big deal during their lifetimes. What explains this? Why do so many Americans remain sanguine?

Monday, April 17, 2006
The Katrina Blues
If you study George W. BushÂ’s Presidency, youÂ’ll notice a consistent pattern: he makes grandiose promises and then walks away from them. That's what's happening once again in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

Friday, April 14, 2006
This Just In - Sperm Have Rights
Republicans are not only the Party of "life," they are the Party that supports the rights of sperm. President Bush indicated this in his State-of-the-Union address, “Human life is a gift from our Creator -- and that gift should never be discarded.”

Wednesday, April 12, 2006
George Bush - Failed Christian, Failed CEO
(2 comments) Given his teerrible track record, why do Americans believe anything that the President says? Why canÂ’t they see that heÂ’s a failure?

Monday, April 10, 2006
Campaign 2006 - The Issue of "Rot at the Top"
Although the big issue in the November elections will be Iraq, the secondary issue will be corruption in government. Many races will hinge on whether or not the public believes that Democrats will end rot at the top.

Friday, April 7, 2006
2006 Senate Races - First Look
(1 comments) Unless Democrats win control of either the House or the Senate, nothing is going to change in Washington. According to veteran DC prognosticator, Charlie Cook, there are 7 Senate seats in play. In order to prevail, the Democrats will have to win at least six.

Wednesday, April 5, 2006
2006 House Elections - First Look
(1 comments) According to veteran DC prognosticator, Charlie Cook, there are 36 House seats in play. In order to prevail, the Democrats will have to hold onto 11 shaky seats and win 15 of the 25 tenuous GOP seats. HereÂ’s my look at how the Dems are doing in close races.

Monday, April 3, 2006
Iraq - Finally, the Democratic Position
(2 comments) On March 29, Democratic leaders finally unveiled their plan for Iraq. If the Dems get some media time, the public wll be able to tell the difference between Democrats and Republicans.

Wednesday, March 29, 2006
Why Don't Men Write About Abortion?
On March 6th, South Dakota enacted AmericaÂ’s most stringent abortion statute. It makes it a felony to perform any abortion except where the pregnant womanÂ’s life is endangered. This law is another step by the Religious Right to limit reproductive rights. Yet, in terms of the media, only women seem to care.

Monday, March 27, 2006
America's Debt Wish
Late on the evening of March 16th, the Senate passed a record $2.8 trillion budget and increased our national debt limit to a tad below $9 trillion. So what if our national debt is trillions of dollars and each citizenÂ’s share is $27,981?

Friday, March 24, 2006
Ten Telltale Signs of GOP Disease
(1 comments) As a public service, here are the ten telltale signs of Republican plague.

Wednesday, March 22, 2006
Who Killed Tom Fox? Why and What's the Reason For?
(2 comments) Tom Fox was a 54-year-old Virginia Quaker whose body was found in Iraq on Friday, March 10th. Tom died from gunshot wounds to his head and chest. His hands had been tied and there were cuts on his body and bruises on his head.

Monday, March 20, 2006
Iraq - Ain't But One Way Out Baby
(1 comments) Like the great Elmore James blues song suggests, thereÂ’s just one reasonable way out of Iraq.

Friday, March 17, 2006
Iraq - One. Two, Three, What Are We Fighting For?
(1 comments) When we step back and take a dispassionate look at what the war in Iraq has accomplished, we see that it is far more than a disappointment. It is a catastrophic blunder that has weakened the United States and threatens the foundations of our Democracy.

Wednesday, March 15, 2006
Ready or Not, Here Comes HIlary
(1 comments) The most likely 2008 Democratic presidential candidates are Hillary Clinton and John Kerry. Note that I am not suggesting they are the best the Dems have to offer; merely pointing out what the word on the Democratic “street” is: Clinton and Kerry have the money and no one else does.

Monday, March 13, 2006
Rethinking the Democratic Agenda
(1 comments) Rather than a narrowly defined issues-based agenda, why donÂ’t the Dems propose a platform that highlights their historic values?

Friday, March 10, 2006
Osama and George
(1 comments) Today is Osama bin LadenÂ’s birthday, his 49th. An appropriate time to consider the strange similarities between the worldÂ’s most notorious fugitive and the President of the United States.

Wednesday, March 8, 2006
Busting the Clinton Ghost
(2 comments) Democrats have to put the Clinton era behind them and move on. ItÂ’s time to reassert core Democratic values and purge Bill ClintonÂ’s ghost.

Tuesday, March 7, 2006
Remembering Winston Churchill
(1 comments) If Churchill were alive today, undoubtedly he would deliver another stirring oration warning of the desperate circumstances we find ourselves in—the prospect of global Jihad.

Friday, March 3, 2006
George Bush - Orphaned by Failure
Roughly two-thirds of Americans realize that George Bush is a fraud and a failure. Now we need to take corrective action.

Wednesday, March 1, 2006
George Bush - Nowhere Man
(2 comments) How scary is it to have the nowhere man as our commander-in-chief? To know that this is a President whose attitude about decision-making is “I don’t want to hear information that contradicts what I already think?”

Monday, February 27, 2006
Searching for the Democrats - Telling the Truth
Democrats canÂ’t win by becoming Republicans, by placing tactics ahead of heartfelt values. They must return to the morality that representa the historic Party and the vast majority of rank-and-file Democrats. They must tell the truth.

Friday, February 24, 2006
Searching for the Democrats - Blue Clues
(1 comments) Looking at Democrats from the standpoint of their beliefs suggests that the "liberal" and "moderate" labels no longer work. The real distinction is between Dems who are value-based and those who are tactics-based.

Wednesday, February 22, 2006
Searching for the Democrats - Show Me the Values
There is a fierce fight for the heart of the Democratic Party. A battle between tactics-based apparatchiks and values-based loyalists.

Tuesday, February 21, 2006
Why America Fights?
Given all the advance publicity and considering the importance of its primary subject, the dominant role of the military-industrial complex in the American economy and worldview, the documenary,Why We Fight, is surprisingly disappointing.

Monday, February 20, 2006
Searching for the Democrats -- The National Security Rap
(2 comments) Americans believe Democrats are weak on national security and on moral values. For this reason, many voters donÂ’t trust what Dems say about national security, they donÂ’t believe their reports that Emperor Bush wears no clothes. Americans cling to the belief that Bush is acting on principle, because they donÂ’t understand the DemocratsÂ’ values.

Friday, February 17, 2006
Searching for the Democrats -- The Leadership Issue
(1 comments) Democrats are floundering because they don't have a charismatic leader to unify them.

Wednesday, February 15, 2006
Searching for the Democrats -- The View from 50,000 Feet
There are elemental differences between the two Parties: Republicans are cows and Democrats are cats. Of course, cats are notoriously difficult to herd.

Monday, February 13, 2006
Iran - Deja Vu All Over Again
The Bush Administration appears to preparing a massive air attack on Iran conveniently timed to occur just before the mid-term elections.

Friday, February 10, 2006
Bush Eavesdropping - Why do We Care?
If the Bush-sponsored NSA-surveillance operation keeps us safe from terrorists, why do we care how it's done?

Wednesday, February 8, 2006
Bush Eavesdropping - Is It Legal?
Does the Bush domestic surveillance program have a sound legal basis?

Monday, February 6, 2006
Bush Eavesdropping - How's it Done
Aging techie explains how NSA "data mines" thousands of unsuspecting Americans

Thursday, February 2, 2006
The Democrats' Response - Welcome to Weenie World
(2 comments)

Wednesday, February 1, 2006
My President is an Alien
Bush's SOTU speech demonstrated that he is an alien life form.

Monday, January 30, 2006
Iraq - The Failure of the Press
The American press is failing to report the true nature of the war in Iraq