AEI.Org: Scholar: Michael Barone

Obama Bows, but the World Refuses to Bow Back

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Bush did not cause all our foreign policy problems, and Obama's ascension and appeasement do not seem to be solving them.

Delayed Childbearing and Voting Behavior

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100

The correlation between religious and moral values and voting behavior was not operative a generation ago.

Pushing Health Reform When Job Losses Are Rising

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100

The president should embrace the proposal for a payroll tax holiday. It would immediately reduce the cost of job creation.

History Is Calling. Will Obama Answer?

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Anniversaries are opportunities to reflect on the past, and on what it might mean for the future. Obama has no time for such things.

Freewheeling Young Voters Scare Both Parties

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Young voter turnout this year was down two-thirds in New Jersey and three-quarters in Virginia, which has scary implications for both Democratic and Republican political strategists.

Tuesday's Biggest Loser: The Union Agenda

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100

The GOP victories on Election Day reveal fissures in the coalition that elected Barack Obama.

Va., N.J. Races Show Voters Changing Course

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100

As the final votes were being counted, it was possible to draw some lessons from Republican Bob McDonnell's victory in Virginia and the close, three-way governor's race in New Jersey.

Hold the Champagne. Happy Days Aren't Here Again

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100

History does not repeat itself exactly, but polling evidence indicates that Americans today, like Americans in the late 1930s, see big government spending programs as an impediment, not an aid, to job creation.

Four Races Test the Strength of Obama's Majority

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Republicans may find it difficult to convert the increasing unease with Democratic policies into Republican (or Conservative) victories across the board.

Obama at Odds with His Own Vision for the World

Sun, 25 Oct 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Obama, who found time to go on a twenty-four-hour jaunt to Copenhagen on October 2 to seek the 2016 Olympics games for Chicago, apparently cannot find the time for a twenty-four-hour trip to Berlin on November 9 for a celebration of the twentieth anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall.

Obama Hits Opponents with Chicago Brass Knuckles

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Having encountered un-Chicago-like dissent and disagreement in Washington, Obama has responded with classic Chicago brass knuckles.

Unlike Obama, Americans Reject European Model

Sun, 18 Oct 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Last year America elected a president who, in attitudes and policies, is closer to the elites of Western Europe than any of his predecessors.

The Trouble with Health Care Is Paying for It

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Legislators would like to provide generous, gold-plated health insurance coverage to almost all Americans, but no one wants to pay for it.

"Conceptual Language" Hides Health Care's Cost

Sun, 11 Oct 2009 00:00:00 +0100

The headlines that the health care bill sponsored by Senate Finance Committee chairman Max Baucus will cut the federal deficit by $81 billion over the next ten years are not worthy of belief.

Weak Himself, Obama Draws Strength from Bush

Wed, 07 Oct 2009 00:00:00 +0100

If things seem to be moving in an entirely different direction, it's time to discard the narrative and look for another.

A War of Necessity Turns Out Not So Necessary

Sun, 04 Oct 2009 00:00:00 +0100

In his twenty-five minutes on Air Force One, General McChrystal may have used his knowledge and experience to convince Obama that his judgment was better than that of the armchair generals that the president had listened to for three hours the day before.

Democrats Win Lobbyists but Lose Basic Reforms

Wed, 30 Sep 2009 00:00:00 +0100

The Democrats are having trouble passing convoluted and plainly imperfect health care and carbon control bills.

An Immigration Tipping Point?

Tue, 29 Sep 2009 00:00:00 +0100

The U.S. Census Bureau's recent announcement on the nation's foreign-born percentage of the population may prove a landmark in American demographic history.

With Obama, Too Much Nuance, Not Enough Power

Sun, 27 Sep 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Obama has based his policy toward Iran on the hope that its leaders would see the problem as he does--projection--and was apparently discounting contrary evidence like the Qom facility--cognitive dissonance.

Obama's Time Warp: The U.S. Is Still the Bad Guy

Wed, 23 Sep 2009 00:00:00 +0100

As Obama's record emerges his motivating principle seems rooted in an analysis that America has too often been on the side of the bad guys.

Strangers to Dissent, Liberals Try to Stifle It

Sun, 20 Sep 2009 00:00:00 +0100

It is an interesting phenomenon that the response of the left half of our political spectrum to criticism and argument is often to try to shut it down.

Job-Killing Policies Could Doom Democrat Hopes

Wed, 16 Sep 2009 00:00:00 +0100

The administration and congressional Democrats would be well advised to turn their attention back to the economy and ask themselves whether there is anything more to be done to jumpstart job creation.

Republicans and Democrats: A Tale of Two Bases

Tue, 15 Sep 2009 00:00:00 +0100

On Capitol Hill, Democrats are much more beholden to their base than are Republicans.

New York Times Columnist Tom Friedman Hails China's One-Party Autocracy

Sun, 13 Sep 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Be wary when media, university, and corporate elites warn that we must change our ways or face disaster fifty years hence.

The Convenient Fantasies of President Obama

Wed, 09 Sep 2009 00:00:00 +0100

There is an element of convenient fantasy in Obama's health care statements that we are going to save money by spending money.

Obama Cannot Escape Hard Choices in September

Sun, 06 Sep 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Barack Obama is going to have to make some tough choices this month, choices that could antagonize his base.

New Facts Undercut Old Positions on Immigration

Wed, 02 Sep 2009 00:00:00 +0100

The surge of illegal immigrants into the United States, which seemed to be unrelenting for most of the last two decades, seems to be over, at least temporarily, and there's a chance it may never resume.

The End of America's Experiment with Royalty

Sun, 30 Aug 2009 00:00:00 +0100

The royal status the Kennedys temporarily achieved will seem bizarre to future generations--perhaps it already does even for those of us who can remember the 1960s.

Obama's Lyrical Left Struggles with Liberalism

Wed, 26 Aug 2009 00:00:00 +0100

A big government president, Obama is learning, needs to be a war president first.

Ted Kennedy, Liberal Lion of the Senate

Wed, 26 Aug 2009 00:00:00 +0100

While Ted Kennedy leaves the contemporary political stage, the man who served longer in the U.S. Senate than all but two others is now an indelible part of our political history.

Democrats' Colorado Gold Rush Turns into a Bust

Sun, 23 Aug 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Democrats captured both houses of the legislature and a Senate and House seat in 2004, the governorship in 2006, and a Senate and House seat in 2008.

The Netroots Put Winning Ahead of Convictions

Wed, 19 Aug 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Robert Novak, in his half-century of Washington reporting, found that the fondest hopes of optimists usually turned out to be unrealistic and that the astringent analysis of pessimists often turned out to be accurate.

Young Voters Should Take Another Look at Obama

Sun, 16 Aug 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Young voters who voted for hope and change should look at the president and see if his policies are leading to change or entrenching more of the same.

When Liberal Leaders Confront a Centrist Nation

Thu, 13 Aug 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Obama has ignored the fact that in our system neither party ever has all the advantages.

Big Government Becomes the Battle-Line Issue

Wed, 12 Aug 2009 00:00:00 +0100

As the battle over the Democrats' various health care bills takes place in town hall meetings across the country, it's becoming clear that the focus of our politics has changed utterly in the first seven months of the Obama administration.

Video Proof: Obama Wants a Single-Payer System

Sun, 09 Aug 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Public statements by three advocates of single-payer health insurance--including President Obama--explain that a health care bill with a "government option" would move America toward a single-payer government health care system.

Obama Would Stifle Military and Medical Creativity

Wed, 05 Aug 2009 00:00:00 +0100

It is ironic that an administration that promised hope and change is instead pursuing policies that could stifle American creativity.

Beware the High Cost of Unintended Consequences

Mon, 03 Aug 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Cash for Clunkers is a prime example of the unanticipated consequences of hastily drafted legislation.

Obama Has Aura but Doesn't Know How to Legislate

Wed, 29 Jul 2009 00:00:00 +0100

We knew that President Obama was good at aura, at generating enthusiasm for the prospect of hope and change, but it turns out that the president is not so good at argument.

Stumbling Governors Signal Trouble for Dems

Sun, 26 Jul 2009 00:00:00 +0100

With polls showing a drop in Barack Obama's job rating and sinking support for the Democrats' health care plans, there is evidence of collateral damage where you might not expect to find it, in the standing of Democratic governors.

A Month of Gloomy Thursdays for Health Care Plan

Wed, 22 Jul 2009 00:00:00 +0100

This month, Thursdays have been very bad days for the Obama administration's attempt to pass health care bills concocted by House and Senate committee chairmen.

Britain, U.S. Go in Different Directions

Sun, 19 Jul 2009 00:00:00 +0100

A change in government does not always result in major changes in policy.

The Price of Leaving the Stimulus to Congress

Wed, 15 Jul 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Deferring to a Democratic Congress on the stimulus seemed like smart politics--but nothing is free in politics.

Clarence Thomas: The Courage of His Convictions

Sun, 12 Jul 2009 00:00:00 +0100

The likely confirmation of Sotomayor and the possibility of future Obama appointments could change the balance on a court that has been closely divided on many major cases. But that seems unlikely to change the thrust of Thomas' jurisprudence.

A Sociable Man in a Lonely Business

Sun, 12 Jul 2009 00:00:00 +0100

The solitary atmosphere of the Supreme Court runs counter to Clarence Thomas's sociable nature.

Chaos on Capitol Hill: All Politics Is Loco

Sun, 12 Jul 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Disarray--that's one word to describe the status of the Obama administration's legislative program as Congress heads into its final four weeks of work before the August recess.

Obama's America

Sat, 11 Jul 2009 00:00:00 +0100

In the last quarter-century, the United States experienced relatively long periods of trench-warfare politics, during which the divisions between the parties were stable and the political battles were fought along familiar lines.

Economy Has Always Driven U.S. Family Dynamics

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Since the housing bubble burst and the economy tanked, college graduates, with no job offers and not enough money to afford a studio, have found themselves having to make the choice of living with Mom and Dad.

Americans Are Getting Cold Feet over Democratic Proposals

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Voters continue to think pretty highly of Barack Obama, but numbers suggest that they are responding more negatively to Democratic proposals.

The Dangerous Dream of a Zero-Risk America

Sun, 05 Jul 2009 00:00:00 +0100

The proposal to make the Federal Reserve a "systemic risk regulator" is deeply misguided.

Firefighter Case Shows Seamy Side of Racial Politics

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Thanks to Justice Alito for pulling back the curtain and showing the ugly reality of racial discrimination in America.

The GOP's Real Problems for 2012

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 00:00:00 +0100

The Ensign and Sanford scandals are beside the point. The Republican Party is going to have a hard time coming up with a strong presidential nominee in 2012.

No Excuse for Democrats' Sticker-Shock on Health Care

Sun, 28 Jun 2009 00:00:00 +0100

The CBO's cost estimates for health care reform came in higher than Democrats expected, but they might not have been so unpleasantly surprised had they paid attention to the director of the CBO.

The Adolescent Angst of Barack Obama

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 00:00:00 +0100

There is a tendency for newly installed presidents, like adolescents suddenly liberated from adult supervision, to do the exact opposite of what their predecessors did.

Dodge Facts, Skip Details, Govern Chicago-Style

Sat, 20 Jun 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Obama likes to execute long-range strategies but suffers from cognitive dissonance when new facts render them inappropriate.

Thoughts on Obama and Iran

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Obama is giving up a small but nontrivial chance of advancing regime change for a zero chance of achieving a change in regime behavior.

All Politics Is Turnout--and Enthusiasm Is Key

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Over the past decade, voter turnout has been increasing due to rising political polarization, greater organizational activity on the part of the political parties, and enthusiasm in the electorate.

When Detainees Get Rights They Don't Deserve

Sat, 13 Jun 2009 00:00:00 +0100

The extension of Miranda rights is a symptom of two larger maladies that threaten to harm the body public.

Qualms and Questions about Obama's Health Plan

Wed, 10 Jun 2009 00:00:00 +0100

What Democrats want more than anything else is a government insurance program that will tend over the next few years to crowd out private insurance.

Obama Needs to Brush Up on Middle East History

Sun, 07 Jun 2009 00:00:00 +0100

For a man of his impressive educational credentials, Barack Obama has sometimes shown a surprising ignorance of history.

No Bed of Roses for Democrats in the Garden State

Fri, 05 Jun 2009 00:00:00 +0100

The outlook is good for Chris Christie in the New Jersey governor's race.

Advancing Civil Rights by Overturning Old Laws

Wed, 03 Jun 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Two cases likely to be decided this month by the Supreme Court could result in significant changes in our civil rights laws.

GOP Should Run against the Power of the Center

Sun, 31 May 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Republicans are being advised to move to the center, but they should instead run against the center--that is, centralized government institutions being created and strengthened every day.

Will Sotomayor's Style Blunt Her Liberal Views?

Wed, 27 May 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Should she be confirmed, Judge Sonia Sotomayor may not prove an effective advocate for her liberal views on the Supreme Court.

No Time for Tea-and-Crumpet Interrogations

Sun, 24 May 2009 00:00:00 +0100

The war against terrorism, like civilian law enforcement, is filled with no-win choices.

Why the U.S. Should Listen to India's Voters

Tue, 19 May 2009 00:00:00 +0100

India is more important to America than most Americans realize.

Faced with Hard Choice, Obama Puts Nation First

Sun, 17 May 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Step by step, Barack Obama has been reversing himself on antiterrorist policy.

Obama Offers Security at the Expense of Liberty

Wed, 13 May 2009 00:00:00 +0100

The policies of the Obama administration are designed to subject the people to what Alexis de Tocqueville called "soft despotism."

On Guns and Climate, the Elites Are Out of Touch

Sun, 10 May 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Global warming and gun control are two issues that counter the conventional wisdom that elites lead public opinion.

White House Puts UAW Ahead of Property Rights

Wed, 06 May 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Through Chrysler's proposed bankruptcy settlement, the Obama administration is seeking to transfer the property of one group to another group that is politically favored.

Beware of Mandatory Arbitration in Card Check

Mon, 04 May 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Mandatory arbitration would be a major, massive change in American labor law, giving bureaucrats power to determine wages, fringe benefits, and working conditions.

Specter's Party Switch Is All about Winning

Wed, 29 Apr 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Arlen Specter's crossover says interesting things about Specter himself and about the state of the Republican Party.

Moving toward Europe--but Do Americans Want to Go?

Tue, 28 Apr 2009 00:00:00 +0100

To put it in geographical terms, Barack Obama wants to move the United States some considerable distance toward Europe.

The Left's Angry Mob Recalls Madame Defarge

Sun, 26 Apr 2009 00:00:00 +0100

President Obama, it appears, is of two minds on the so-called "torture memos."

Obama Lets Congress--and Lobbyists--Do the Work

Wed, 22 Apr 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Barack Obama spelled out his positions on the issues during the campaign, but he is letting members of Congress do almost all the heavy lifting now that he is in office.

Back to the Future: Obama's Foreign Policy

Mon, 20 Apr 2009 00:00:00 +0100

President Obama has chosen to emphasize initiatives that seem more relevant to the late 1970s and early 1980s than to the threats America faces today.

On Climate and Health, Beware of Easy Formulas

Wed, 15 Apr 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Do not allow a whole system to become hostage to the workings of some geek's formula.

Unions Can't Move the World

Sat, 11 Apr 2009 00:00:00 +0100

The unions thought they had a long enough lever, but now it seems they might not move the world after all.

Obama Abroad: In Some Ways, Much Like Bush

Sat, 04 Apr 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Barack Obama's foreign policy is beginning to take shape, and it is something like a continuation of Bush policies.

Chris Dodd's Sinking Ship

Fri, 03 Apr 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Christopher Dodd has had an easy career as Connecticut's senator, but his political troubles now entail danger for the Democrats.

Former Senator Ted Stevens Deserves Praise from Alaskans

Thu, 02 Apr 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Former senator Ted Stevens was a good senator for Alaskans, and he did service to the nation.

Not Yet Ready for a Welfare State

Sat, 28 Mar 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Barack Obama has been encountering roadblocks on the audacious path toward a European-style welfare state.

The Geithner Paradox: Unregulated Institutions Bailing Out Regulated Ones

Tue, 24 Mar 2009 00:00:00 +0100

I hope Timothy Geithner's plan works, and I fear that it will not.

Republicans Aren't Doing Better--Democrats Are Doing Worse

Mon, 23 Mar 2009 00:00:00 +0100

A significant bloc of voters seems to have soured on the Democrats since Barack Obama took office and the 111th Congress went to work.

Card Check: Good for Unions, Bad for America

Sat, 21 Mar 2009 00:00:00 +0100

The inaptly named Employee Free Choice Act may be the most grievous threat to future prosperity.

Criticism Shows Obama Is Losing Focus

Sat, 14 Mar 2009 00:00:00 +0100

None of the issues addressed in the Obama budget was in any way a cause of the financial crisis.

Crushing Those Animal Spirits

Sat, 07 Mar 2009 00:00:00 +0100

The animal spirits of high earners are going to be directed away from productive investment and toward tax avoidance.

Liberals Turning Blind Eye to Human Rights

Sat, 28 Feb 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Has the United States given up on championing human rights and democracy altogether?

Obama's Threat to Charities and Universities: His Budget and Taxes

Fri, 27 Feb 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Reducing the value of the charitable deduction is a threat to voluntary associations.

Count on the Constitution

Sat, 21 Feb 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Few people thought that controversy would arise in the new administration over the Constitution's census clause.

The Real Lessons of the Great Depression

Sat, 14 Feb 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Those making policy should be careful not to apply New Deal-style policies in an attempt to fix the current economic crisis.

Calm and Cool on a No Good, Very Bad Day

Sat, 07 Feb 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Tuesday, February 3, was a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day for Barack Obama.

The GOP Should Go Upscale

Sat, 31 Jan 2009 00:00:00 +0100

The debate among Republicans is whether to go after downscale or upscale voters.

Barack Obama Smart on Republican Response to Stimulus

Thu, 29 Jan 2009 00:00:00 +0100

You have to give Obama some credit for journeying to Capitol Hill to talk with House Republicans.

So, Who's Unemployed?

Wed, 28 Jan 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Unemployment trends vary nationwide. Job losses have especially affected areas with fast-growing populations.

The Obama-Kennedy Connection

Sat, 24 Jan 2009 00:00:00 +0100

The response to Barack Obama since his victory in November is similar to the response to John F. Kennedy after his narrower victory in 1960.

Is a Change in Migration Patterns at Hand?

Sat, 17 Jan 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Evidence keeps accumulating that the tide of immigration is ebbing.

Obama's Economic Strategy

Sat, 10 Jan 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Barack Obama's presentation of his proposed stimulus package indicates that he will try to separate himself from the Democratic Party and garner support from both parties.

No Permanent Majorities in America

Mon, 05 Jan 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Ignore talk of a new "permanent majority." The more natural state of partisan politics, in this country at least, is something less like party dominance and more like uneasy equilibrium.

Obama May Be an Aloof President

Sat, 27 Dec 2008 00:00:00 +0100

Barack Obama is showing signs that he may keep his distance from the Democratic Party as president.

Expectations of Hope and Change

Sat, 20 Dec 2008 00:00:00 +0100

A new generation is coming to the White House;in time, the rest of us will be making critical judgments on how Barack Obama conducts business.

Who Is at Fault for the Decline of the Big Three?

Mon, 15 Dec 2008 00:00:00 +0100

Taylorism begat the adversarial labor relations that now bedevil the Detroit automakers. Today, hostile labor politics are counterproductive for both firms and unionized employees.

Chicago Politics Stains Obama

Sat, 13 Dec 2008 00:00:00 +0100

The Blagojevich scandal is an unwanted distraction for the Obama team.

Message from Georgia: This Too Shall Pass

Sat, 06 Dec 2008 00:00:00 +0100

Welcome to open-field politics.

Managing Risk in an Unstable World

Sat, 29 Nov 2008 00:00:00 +0100

When you try to reduce risk for individuals too much, you end up making things much more risky.

The Limits of Success--and Failure

Sat, 22 Nov 2008 00:00:00 +0100

American successesand failures are rarely as complete as they may seem.

Detroit Automakers a Relic of the Past

Sat, 15 Nov 2008 00:00:00 +0100

Should the federal government bail out American-based auto manufacturers?

Triumph of Temperament, Not Policy

Fri, 07 Nov 2008 00:00:00 +0100

The Democrats' victory--and Barack Obama's--was overdetermined and underdelivered.

Obama's New New Deal No Better Than the Old One

Wed, 29 Oct 2008 01:00:00 +0100

Barack Obama's supporters are predicting that he will give us a new New Deal. To see what that might mean, let's look back on the original.

A Reality Check on Obama's Wish List

Sat, 25 Oct 2008 00:00:00 +0100

What will an Obama administration and a Congress with increased Democratic majorities do?

Are the Polls Accurate?

Wed, 22 Oct 2008 00:00:00 +0100

Reading polls right is more art than science.

Can Joe the Plumber Turn It Around?

Sat, 18 Oct 2008 00:00:00 +0100

Can Joe the Plumber change the course of this campaign?

The Year of Campaign Chaos

Sat, 04 Oct 2008 00:00:00 +0100

Presidential politics this year has often seemed to resemble what science writer James Gleick described in his book "Chaos."

Inflection Point?

Sat, 27 Sep 2008 00:00:00 +0100

Voters tend to consider only the history they know. They might do well to look back a little further.

The Old Economic Rule Doesn't Work

Mon, 22 Sep 2008 00:00:00 +0100

Our economic problems are concentrated in the finance sector, and that isthe part of the economy the average voter knows least about.

McCain Flies His Campaign Past Obama

Sat, 13 Sep 2008 00:00:00 +0100

InJohn McCain'sselection of Sarah Palin, and in his convention and campaigning since, he has shown that he learned an important lesson from his fighter pilot days.

Theme Parties

Mon, 08 Sep 2008 00:00:00 +0100

Will the arguments established by the political conventions be sustainable?

Outrageous Vulnerabilities

Sat, 30 Aug 2008 00:00:00 +0100

Barack Obama is in danger of causing his campaign as much damage as the furlough ads caused Michael Dukakis and the Swift Boat ads caused John Kerry.

Solve Our Problems, McCain and Obama, Say Two Focus Groups

Tue, 26 Aug 2008 00:00:00 +0100

The field is still open for the 2008 presidentialcandidates to define themselves and their opponents.

Vice Presidents Aren't What They Used to Be

Mon, 25 Aug 2008 00:00:00 +0100

The vice presidency is now an important position and Joe Biden would be no exception.

The Chosen Obama Narrative

Sat, 23 Aug 2008 00:00:00 +0100

Barack Obama will probably get a bounce out of the Democratic convention, but it is unclear whether his narrative can be sustained in the weeks and months ahead.

Echoes of Berlin

Sat, 16 Aug 2008 00:00:00 +0100

There are echoes of history in the Beijing Olympics and the Russian invasion of Georgia.

Barack Obama Has Learned the Clintons Will Never Go Away

Fri, 15 Aug 2008 00:00:00 +0100

There is a long history of political jostling at conventions, and the Democratic confab in Denver will be no exception.

The World of Tomorrow

Thu, 14 Aug 2008 00:00:00 +0100

John Zogby's The Way We'll Be is not a precise national roadmap, but it does offer tantalizing clues about where we are headed.

The Ghosts of Political Leanings

Sat, 09 Aug 2008 00:00:00 +0100

American political alignments are not written on an empty slate. Beginnings matter, and the civic personalities of states tend to reflect the cultural folkways of their first settlers.

Polls Continue to Show an Unstable Presidential Campaign

Mon, 04 Aug 2008 00:00:00 +0100

Nothing about an election is harder to predict than turnout, and experience shows that the balance of enthusiasm can change abruptly and in unpredicted ways.

The Ted Stevens Indictment Is an Earthquake in Alaska Politics

Wed, 30 Jul 2008 00:00:00 +0100

The Stevens indictment is the latest rumble in the Alaskan shakeup that began in 2006.

A Step Back from Enviro Lunacy

Mon, 28 Jul 2008 00:00:00 +0100

Lobbyists and litigators for environmental restriction groups have produced energy policies that future generations may regard as lunatic.

Ghosts of 1976 in Today's Campaign

Mon, 21 Jul 2008 00:00:00 +0100

The 2008 presidential campaign most closely resembles the race between Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter back in 1976.

We're Not Leaving

Sat, 12 Jul 2008 00:00:00 +0100

Just like President Truman and hisdecision to stay in Berlin, President Bush has hadthe foresight to stay committed in Iraq.

Congress and the Next President Should Repeal the War Powers Act

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 00:00:00 +0100

We should repeal the War Powers Act and replace it with a framework for consulting with Congress on extended military action.

Housing, the Subprime Mortgage Crisis, and the Enduring Resilience of the U.S. Economy

Mon, 07 Jul 2008 00:00:00 +0100

A few thoughts on recent research about the resilience of the economy and the need for financial regulation.

Obama's Candidacy Is a Test

Sat, 05 Jul 2008 00:00:00 +0100

There are a lot of Americans who are not willing to vote for Obama for reasons that have nothing to do with race.

Why Vice Presidents Are Important to Governing

Fri, 27 Jun 2008 00:00:00 +0100

The vice presidency has become a useful part of American government.

Are Americans Too Racist to Vote for Barack Obama for President?

Tue, 24 Jun 2008 00:00:00 +0100

The majority of Americans not voting for Obama are doing so because of the issues he stands for, not his race.

The Facts in Iraq Are Changing

Sat, 21 Jun 2008 00:00:00 +0100

Senator Barack Obama has been wrong aboutthe surge policyfrom January 2007 to today.

In Defense of Lobbyists

Sat, 14 Jun 2008 00:00:00 +0100

Lobbyists can help lawmakers understand how the words they write will affect "real Americans."

Clearing the Field

Sat, 07 Jun 2008 00:00:00 +0100

The 2008presidential race will be unlike any other.

The Economy: A Reality Check

Mon, 02 Jun 2008 00:00:00 +0100

The economy matters in politics, but not in the way it used to.

The Rev. Wright Connection Still Haunts Obama

Mon, 26 May 2008 00:00:00 +0100

Barack Obama's campaign is wounded from the fallout of the Jeremiah Wright kerfuffle.

An Unconventional 2008 Election Season

Mon, 19 May 2008 00:00:00 +0100

Much is different in this election than before, from the geographic flavor of the race to the impact of fundraising.

Rethinking the Iraq Critics

Mon, 12 May 2008 00:00:00 +0100

A new book by an architect of the Iraq war exposes the decision-making process leading up to and during the conflict.

Wright Controversy Affects the Polls

Mon, 05 May 2008 00:00:00 +0100

Obama's relationship with his former pastor will be tested in the North Carolina and Indiana primaries.

Popular Vote Gives Clinton an Edge

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 00:00:00 +0100

Hillary Clinton has regained the lead in overall popular votes--and the underlying numbers help her make the case for the nomination.

The Keystone Primary Stakes

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 00:00:00 +0100

It has been a long time since Pennsylvania has mattered in the presidential election.

Il Cavaliere Rides Again

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 00:00:00 +0100

Silvio Berlusconi has won a third term as Italy's prime minister. His victory may have important consequences.

The Rules Are Changing for Obama

Sat, 19 Apr 2008 00:00:00 +0100

The revealing of Barack Obama's relationship with William Ayers left Obama puzzled at the April 16 debate.

No Train Wreck in Denver

Tue, 15 Apr 2008 00:00:00 +0100

The rise of communication has made the old-style of convention a thing of the past.

Uncle Sam Pays? Sure--Whatever

Sat, 12 Apr 2008 00:00:00 +0100

It is not clear on what position millennials will take on issues ofhealth care and the current economy.

Politics May Never Be the Same

Fri, 11 Apr 2008 00:00:00 +0100

Millennials could spark a political realignment; they have already revolutionized campaign and fundraising techniques in ways that may reverberate for years to come.

The Democratic Tribes at War

Sat, 05 Apr 2008 01:00:00 +0100

The Democratic Party has beenseparating into two different tribes with alliances to either Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton.

Missing a Generation

Sat, 29 Mar 2008 01:00:00 +0100

Barack Obama and John McCain have both missed a generation during their lives, but Hillary Clinton has experienced it all.

Will Wright Damage Obama's Millennial Support?

Sat, 22 Mar 2008 01:00:00 +0100

Barack Obama is appealing to younger voters while embracing his radical preacher at the same time.

The Importance of Fallon's Fall

Sat, 15 Mar 2008 00:00:00 +0100

The resignation of Adm. William Fallon affirms the problems that President Bush has had with the relationship between civilian commanders and military leaders.

America's Campaigns Have Not Turned Out as Expected

Mon, 10 Mar 2008 01:00:00 +0100

The presidential election has become a more even race between John McCain and the Democratic candidate that he will be running against in the general election.

One Plausible Path

Sat, 08 Mar 2008 00:00:00 +0100

As the presidential primaries continue, the tension between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton is growing.

General Election Campaign Has Already Started

Sat, 23 Feb 2008 00:00:00 +0100

The general election may have already started because Hillary Clinton has continued to fall farther behind in the Democratic primaries.

Is Our System Working?

Tue, 19 Feb 2008 00:00:00 +0100

The parties' complicated formulas are a mixed bag: the GOP race is settled, but for the Democrats, trouble may be brewing.

A Super Fight Down the Road

Sat, 16 Feb 2008 00:00:00 +0100

BothRepublicans and Democrats have changed into different animals since the Iowa caucuses.

The Verdict of Super Tuesday

Sat, 09 Feb 2008 00:00:00 +0100

Two presidential nominees were expected to emerge fromSuper Tuesday, but the race is too close to decide, especially for the Democratic Party.

Present at the Destruction

Fri, 08 Feb 2008 00:00:00 +0100

The eyewitness story of the 1967 riot: how programs that were supposed to create a heaven turned Detroit into a hell.

Open-Field Politics

Thu, 07 Feb 2008 00:00:00 +0100

The fact that every campaign's experts came up with losing strategies suggests that, in this year's open-field politics, all the old rules may be broken.

The Parties Change Places

Sat, 02 Feb 2008 00:00:00 +0100

Whereas it was thought that the Republicans would have a fractious nominating process, it seems the Democrats have fallen into that fight.

South Carolina Has Set the Stage for General Election

Mon, 28 Jan 2008 00:00:00 +0100

South Carolina does not seem likely to determine either party's nominee this year, but it may have done a lot to shape the fall campaign.

It's the Partisan Economy, Stupid

Wed, 23 Jan 2008 00:00:00 +0100

Americans' views of macroeconomic trends are increasingly a product of their political leanings.

Mostly Decent Politics

Sat, 19 Jan 2008 00:00:00 +0100

After a life observing politics, there is something more noble about our presidential campaigns than popular opinion suggests.

The Political Landscape after Iowa and New Hampshire

Mon, 14 Jan 2008 00:00:00 +0100

The presidential primaries are not building consensus about who the parties' nominees will be.

A Good Starter--but Where's the Meat?

Sat, 05 Jan 2008 00:00:00 +0100

What is missing fromthe 2008 primary elections and caucusesis a rigorous debate on public policy.

The 16-Year Itch

Fri, 04 Jan 2008 00:00:00 +0100

New voters, taking the good things of the present for granted and ignorant of the bad things of the past, are willing to take unusual risks.

A First Cut for the Real Contenders

Fri, 04 Jan 2008 00:00:00 +0100

Two candidates that almost no one in the country had heard of four years ago have emerged victorious in Iowa.

The 16-Year Itch

Fri, 04 Jan 2008 00:00:00 +0100

New voters, taking the good things of the present for granted and ignorant of the bad things of the past, are willing to take unusual risks.

Lessons from the Surge

Mon, 31 Dec 2007 00:00:00 +0100

There are lessons to be learned from the dazzling success of the surge strategy in Iraq.

Looking for Mr. Right

Sat, 22 Dec 2007 00:00:00 +0100

Uncertaintyover theRepublican presidentialnominee could help Democrats in a year when voters already say they would prefer a Democratic president to a Republican.

Taxing Time for Democrats?

Mon, 17 Dec 2007 00:00:00 +0100

An AMT patch would also only patch the tax dilemmasthat will facethe Democrats when the Bush tax cuts expire in 2010.

A Year Later, Signs of Progress around the World

Mon, 10 Dec 2007 00:00:00 +0100

As Christmas approaches, we have more to be thankful for than we did this time last year.

Iowans Start Choosing Favorites

Mon, 03 Dec 2007 00:00:00 +0100

As Iowa and New Hampshire are set to lead off the presidential voting, itis stillunclear how each state will vote.

A Wide Range of Possibilities in the Race for President

Mon, 26 Nov 2007 00:00:00 +0100

The presidential race looks more uncertain than ever.

Teacher Unions' Gain Is Children's Loss

Mon, 12 Nov 2007 00:00:00 +0100

Progress for teacher unions will result in decreased accountability.

A Watershed Moment on Immigration

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 00:00:00 +0100

Immigration is becoming a key issue in presidential politics.

When There's No Life in the Party

Mon, 29 Oct 2007 01:00:00 +0100

Republicans and Democrats have begun attacking the opposing party, losing a sense of their own greater narrative.

We're Not in 2006 Anymore

Mon, 22 Oct 2007 00:00:00 +0100

With the recent improvements in Iraq, Democrats are seeing a decline in support.

Is the Tax Issue Back?

Mon, 15 Oct 2007 00:00:00 +0100

Could conservative successes in Britain and a Massachusetts race have portents for 2008?

Party Mix

Sun, 14 Oct 2007 00:00:00 +0100

A bipartisan, pre-primary presidential debate may be just the ticket to elevate political discourse and draw the interest of independents.

Five Best: America and Britain

Sat, 13 Oct 2007 00:00:00 +0100

Five works that illuminate the shared heritage of America and Britain.

Ivory Tower Decay

Mon, 08 Oct 2007 00:00:00 +0100

Once the most open-minded and intellectually rigorous institutions, America's colleges and universities have become close-minded and dishonest.

GM Strike End of an Era

Mon, 01 Oct 2007 00:00:00 +0100

The General Motorsstrike did not last long enough for any Democratic presidential candidate to walk the picket line.

Return on Success?

Mon, 24 Sep 2007 00:00:00 +0100

The dominant narrative is that we are headed to defeat in Iraq, and George W. Bush’s political adversaries want him to acknowledge that.

Conventional Wisdom

Mon, 17 Sep 2007 00:00:00 +0100

Politics have changed. Even competitive presidential primaries are not going to produce a decisive result

Conventional Wisdom

Mon, 17 Sep 2007 00:00:00 +0100

Politics have changed. Even competitive presidential primaries are not going to produce an indecisive result.

The Overlawyered War

Mon, 17 Sep 2007 00:00:00 +0100

The increasing role of lawyers in recent war policy will hamper the efforts of our current president and his successors in responding to a threat.

The Public Looks beyond Iraq

Mon, 10 Sep 2007 00:00:00 +0100

Will the United States be safer from terrorism if it confronts the countries and groups that promote terrorism or if it stays out of other countries' affairs?

Surge Politics

Tue, 04 Sep 2007 00:00:00 +0100

Is the surge still working in Iraq?

Divest Iran

Mon, 27 Aug 2007 00:00:00 +0100

Divesting from companies doing business in Iran will not stop the regime from threatening America, but it will certainly impede it.

Verdict on the Architect

Mon, 20 Aug 2007 00:00:00 +0100

What legacy will Karl Rove leave behind?

The Looming Free Trade Showdown

Mon, 13 Aug 2007 00:00:00 +0100

Trading in the past.

Perceptions of Iraq War Are Starting to Shift

Mon, 06 Aug 2007 00:00:00 +0100

Evenwar criticsandsurge opponents are coming around.

The Almanac of American Politics 2008

Thu, 30 Aug 2007 00:00:00 +0100

Published every two years, The Almanac of American Politics is the definitive guide to understanding the forces that shape American politics.

Our First Revolution

Tue, 08 May 2007 00:00:00 +0100

This book reveals that, without the Glorious Revolution, the American Revolution may never have happened.

Hard America, Soft America

Tue, 24 May 2005 00:00:00 +0100

This book is a stunningly original and provocative work of social commentary from one of this country's most respected political analysts.

AEI Election Watch

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 08:30:00 +0100

Better Parties, Better Government: A Realistic Program for Campaign Finance Reform

Thu, 04 Jun 2009 17:30:00 +0100

Rendezvous with Destiny: A Panel on Ronald Reagan

Fri, 06 Feb 2009 15:00:00 +0100

Are Conservatives in the Grip of Dead Ideas?

Tue, 03 Feb 2009 10:00:00 +0100

The Poverty of "The Poverty Rate": Measure and Mismeasure of Want in Modern America

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 09:00:00 +0100

AEI Election Watch 2008 (Session 10)

Thu, 06 Nov 2008 13:00:00 +0100

AEI Election Watch 2008 (Session 9)

Thu, 23 Oct 2008 09:30:00 +0100

AEI Election Watch 2008 (Session 8)

Thu, 18 Sep 2008 09:30:00 +0100

AEI Election Watch 2008 (Session 7)

Thu, 31 Jul 2008 09:30:00 +0100

AEI Election Watch 2008 (Session 6)

Thu, 22 May 2008 09:30:00 +0100

AEI Election Watch 2008 (Session 5)

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 09:30:00 +0100

AEI Election Watch 2008 (Session 4)

Thu, 20 Mar 2008 10:30:00 +0100

The Future of Red, Blue, and Purple America

Thu, 28 Feb 2008 09:30:00 +0100

AEI Election Watch 2008 (Session 3)

Thu, 28 Feb 2008 09:00:00 +0100

AEI Election Watch 2008 (Session 2)

Thu, 24 Jan 2008 09:30:00 +0100

Comeback: Conservatism That Can Win Again

Mon, 07 Jan 2008 17:30:00 +0100

AEI Election Watch 2008 (Session 1)

Thu, 13 Dec 2007 09:00:00 +0100

Camelot and the Cultural Revolution: How the Assassination of John F. ...

Thu, 29 Nov 2007 12:00:00 +0100

A Big-Government Generation

Wed, 12 Nov 2008 00:00:00 +0100

One possible consequence of Barack Obama's election is a substantial change in the relationship between government and the private sector in the United States.

Why Vice Presidents Are Important to Governing

Wed, 09 Jul 2008 00:00:00 +0100

The vice presidency--an office that was long the vermiform appendix of American government--has become a useful organ.

A Watershed Moment on Immigration

Tue, 20 Nov 2007 00:00:00 +0100

Immigration is becoming a key issue in presidential politics.