Julian Assange creates problems. The Wikileaks founder does it not only by releasing stolen documents, but also by his own release from the Ecuadorian embassy in London. Assange enjoyed Ecuador’s diplomatic protection, because he feared the British would send him to the U.S. to be tried for releasing secret documents. The former Ecuadorian president shared […]
Remember the Great Recession of 2008? Thanks to prosperity since then, memory may have faded. The steady growth in the American economy is largely the result of two-fisted government action by the president and the Federal Reserve. They each used different tools. Increased spending on public projects can help turn the economy around. It pumps […]
The country has been treated to a classic case of political theater, and few even knew about it. People missed the cynical drama staged by Senate Republican Majority Leader Mitch McConnell mainly because much of the media spread what amounted to “fake” news. The story began in January when some newly elected House Democrats launched […]
Whatever the polls say, Donald Trump could be re-elected. Both he and the Democrats have focused great attention on the Mueller report. By finding that the Trump campaign did not collude with Russian meddlers, it may end up absolving Trump of many other charges or complaints. Some voters are sure to see it that way. […]
The 2016 presidential vote and Brexit have something in common. In both cases, many voters found the result was much different than their expectations. In recent months, the British Parliament has been grappling with putting into effect the closely decided referendum vote to leave the European Union. It proved easier to say “Leave” than finding […]
Many voters consider themselves to be political moderates, not partisans on the right or left. To appeal for their votes, candidates claim they can “work across the aisle.” But do voters really favor political leaders who will sometimes vote in line with their wishes and sometimes against them? Is it possible to be a moderate […]
The country has found a politician who is honest, speaking the truth as he sees it, no matter the consequences. Paul LePage, the former Republican governor of Maine, has spoken out against the proposal for popular election of the president of the United States. “It saddens me that we’re willing to take everything we stand […]
In the 2020 election campaign, healthcare looms as a major issue. Many Republicans want to repeal the Affordable Care Act and slash Medicare. Eliminating Obama’s signature policy and reducing Medicare are centerpieces of their effort to end Democratic “big government.” They like the traditional system based mainly on insurance provided by employers. Many conservatives believe […]
Declaring a national emergency, President Trump’s way of rounding up funds for the Wall, is either a national scandal or a routine political maneuver. Voters may get to make their choice. Whatever it is, the fault for the latest crisis is squarely owned by Congress. By blithely passing off its constitutional powers to the president, […]
The Supreme Court has stirred controversy with two procedural orders. They revealed much about the state of our political world. In one case, the Court decided to suspend a Louisiana law that requires doctors performing abortions to be admitted to practice at a hospital. The law could have the effect of eliminating all but one […]
