(Flickr/Dan Nguyen) My Plum Line post today is about what looks like a growing sentiment on the right that we should indeed be in a clash of civilizations, between the Christian West and Islam. When Bill O’Reilly is literally calling for a “holy war,” practically every Republican is complaining that President Obama doesn’t call terrorism […]
Obama Administration
Posted inAmerica and the World
Why Did Ronald Reagan Hate America?
Just a couple of America-haters pretending to be cowboys. (State Department photo) Ronald Reagan has been dead for more than a decade, but it’s long past the time for us as a nation to come to grips with the fact that this two-term president really didn’t love America. Scholars will have to debate whether he […]
Posted inAmerica and the World
Netanyahu’s Curious GOP Connection
The Israeli prime minister’s alliance with U.S. Republicans defies the politics of most American Jews.
Posted inMoney, Politics, and Power
‘Obama Never Praises America’ May Be the Single Dumbest Criticism Republicans Have
View image | gettyimages.com Not that you needed a reminder that Rudy Giuliani is a contemptible jerk, but the former New York mayor has managed to find his way back in the news in the only way he can, which is to to say something appalling. I’m going to try to take this opportunity to […]
Posted inAmerica and the World
The War Authorization Farce
View image | gettyimages.com Every parent has had this experience: You catch your kids doing something problematic. They say, “Is it OK if I do this?” You reply, “How can you ask me permission? You’re already doing it.” They respond, “Yeah, but is it OK?” That’s kind of what Barack Obama did yesterday, by sending […]
Posted inMoney, Politics, and Power
On Obama’s ‘Evolution’ on Same-Sex Marriage
View image | gettyimages.com In Obama adviser David Axelrod’s new book, he reveals that in 2008 the future president did indeed believe in marriage equality, but he was persuaded by Axelrod and others that it would be too risky to say publicly. So he took the standard Democratic position at the time, in favor of […]
Posted inMoney, Politics, and Power
Is Polarization Barack Obama’s Fault?
View image | gettyimages.com Yesterday, Vox published its interview with President Obama, in which Ezra Klein asked him about partisan polarization and whether any president can bridge the divide between the parties. While few deny the existence of polarization, Republicans often assert that it is Obama’s fault: the politician who came into office pledging to […]
Posted inLaw and Justice
Will the Recovery Finally Translate into Better Wages?
The creation of 257,000 new jobs in January is surely good news, but it’s been a long time since most workers have seen substantial raises.
Posted inEconomic Policy
A Needless Default
The administration’s foreclosure relief program was designed to help bankers, not homeowners. That disgrace will haunt Democrats.
Posted inMoney, Politics, and Power
If Only Republicans Could Get Bored With Health Care Again
By now, Republicans are surely tired of talking about health care. After all, as policy areas go, it really isn’t their thing. Ask them about tax reform and they’re happy to talk for hours about all their ideas to free job creators from the unfair burden of taxation, but health care? Dullsville, as far as […]