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Making The Case That McCain Isn't 'Ready To Lead' on National Security
What I'm really hoping is that Obama will use this downtime to regroup, recharge, and come back ready to relentlessly make the case to the American people that McCain isn't "ready to lead" on national security. Voters trust McCain on the war on terror; Obama needs to show them every day why they shouldn't.
"Swing Vote": What It Tells Us About the Race, and Why Obama Needs to Put Kevin Costner on His Ipod
The makers of Swing Vote, the new film starring Kevin Costner, have pulled off a rare double play, producing a smart political satire that is also heartfelt and moving. It's also a film that turns out to be remarkably relevant to the 2008 race.
Obama's Trip Bounce - Media Obsession With Polls Leads to a Bad Case of Premature Pontification
Isn't it strange that Barack Obama didn't get a bounce from his wildly well-received overseas trip? Of course, almost all of this analysis is based on polls taken before the end of Obama's trip -- a serious case of premature pontification.
Tell Me Again, Why is Obama's Popularity With Our Allies A Bad Thing?
I understand why John McCain's campaign is desperately looking for negatives in Obama's overseas trip. But why have so many in the media internalized the McCain campaign's claptrap?
The Latest Media Blind Spot: Viewing All Criticism of Obama Through a Right-Left Prism
In the last two weeks, there has been a flurry of stories that has tried to portray criticism of Barack Obama's recent stands as the sole province of disenchanted members of "the left" -- also referred to as "the far left", "left-winger bloggers", ...
Surge Amnesia : The Media's Newest Affliction
John McCain, aided and abetted by his loving protectors in the media, is running a victory lap on Iraq. Buoyed by a reduction in violence in Iraq, war supporters are crawling out from the shadows and beating their chests
Memo to Obama : Moving to the Middle Is For Losers
I looked at the Obama campaign not through the prism of my own progressive views and beliefs but through the prism of a cold-eyed campaign strategist who has no principles except winning. From that point of view, and taking nothing else into consideration, I can unequivocally say: The Obama campaign is making a very serious mistake. Tacking to the center is a losing strategy.
McCain's Campaign Funding Hypocrisy: Why are the Media Looking the Other Way?
Isn't it interesting how, after largely ignoring the issue for the last 30 years, during which the GOP consistently outfundraised and outspent Democrats in election after election, the media are suddenly all atwitter about whether the campaign finance system is "basically fair"? How dare Obama inspire 1.5 million donors, giving an average of $197 apiece, to help him raise more money than McCain?
John McCain: The Second Coming of Bob Dole
"Prominent Republicans . . . have been for the first time openly critical" of John McCain's "floundering campaign."
An NBC/Wall Street Journal poll released last week asked the question, "Who do you think will win?" The answer: Barack Obama 54; John McCain 30. Obama is unlikely to win in such a landslide, which means that millions planning to vote for McCain expect him to lose -- as was the case with Dole.
Scotty Come Lately - Seven Takes on Scott McClellan's New Book
In his book "What Happened: Inside the Bush White House and Washington's Culture of Deception," Scott McClellan offers withering portraits of George Bush, Karl Rove, Condi Rice and Scooter Libby, confirms that we went to war in Iraq under false pretenses, and that we were serially lied to about the outing of Valerie Plame.
Unmasking McCain: His Reactionary Record on Reproductive Rights
We've seen the exit polls. I get the anger and the disappointment. Really? In Clinton vs. McCain. And nowhere is the difference more profound than with reproductive rights.
Hillary Clinton's Defeat: A Historic Triumph
A front page story in Monday's New York Times wonders whether Hillary Clinton's flagging run for the presidency is "a historic if incomplete triumph or a depressing reminder of why few (women) pursue high office in the first place."
Political News Commentary and Opinion by Arianna Huffington
Political Commentary and Opinion by Arianna Huffington
'Boss' Fans Share Tips On Rockin' A Political Party
Barack Obama will accept the Democratic presidential nomination in an outdoor stadium with 70,000 screaming onlookers, a light show and music. It'll look like a rock concert rather than a political rally. Bruce Springsteen concertgoers give advice on how to keep your cool and not look like an Obama poseur.
Democrats Make Historic Pick: It's Obama
Barack Obama sailed into history Wednesday as the first African-American to head a major-party presidential ticket. Prompted by Hillary Clinton, the party nominated him by acclamation. And after VP pick Joe Biden spoke, Obama joined him onstage.
The McEnroe Rule: Less Punditry Is More
Sportscaster John McEnroe, who as a tennis champ was known for his temper tantrums, has declared that in covering a great match, sometimes the key is to withhold comment till things play out. If only his brethren in the cable news world followed suit more often in covering politics.
Transcript: Joe Biden's Acceptance Speech
Joe Biden accepted his nomination Wednesday as Barack Obama's running mate on the Democratic ticket. In his speech, he said Obama was the great American success story.
Transcript: Bill Clinton's Prime-Time Speech
In his speech at the Democratic National Convention Wednesday, Bill Clinton said Barack Obama is ready to be president. The former president also praised Obama's choice of Joe Biden as a running mate, saying, "He hit it out of the park."
Eyes On The Pride
The Democratic Party, as assembled and packaged at its national convention, does not seem especially proud that it is about to become the first major American political party to nominate an African-American to be president.
Strange Bedfellows Behind Anti-Obama 'Turban' Ad
Who was behind the inflammatory ad that showed Obama wearing a turban? The answer could be the start of a joke: a hypnotherapist, an apolitical wedding videographer, and a felon now on the run. And they still haven't paid for the ad.
Postcard From Outside The DNC
Each night, delegates from the Democratic National Convention encounter a raucous scene outside the arena. Street vendors peddling Obama buttons and Hillary Clinton T-shirts, evangelists and anti-abortion protesters are all part of the chaos.
New Ads Rip Obama, But Democrats Fight Back
A new ad linking Barack Obama to a former member of the Weather Underground is playing in key swing states. It's being sponsored by the American Issues Project. Obama's campaign is fighting back with its lawyers and a counter-ad targeting John McCain.
Democrats Confuse Joe, Eugene McCarthy
A tribute Tuesday at the Democratic National Convention to members of the party who died over the past four years included the name of former Wisconsin GOP Sen. Joseph McCarthy. It seems the party confused him with former Minnesota Sen. Eugene McCarthy.
Mark Warner's 'Value-Add' Politics
In an interview with All Things Considered on Tuesday, U.S. Senate candidate and former Virginia Gov. Warner used the term "my value-add." Though it's a business term, he was referring to his ability to forge a bipartisan consensus.
Democrats To Focus On Foreign Policy Vision
Wednesday's speeches are designed to show how Biden and Obama will mesh in their approach to America's role in the world. But some question how closely their ideas align.
Was Clinton's Speech Enough?
In her speech Tuesday at the Democratic National Convention, Hillary Clinton called Sen. Obama "my candidate" and "our next president." Some of her followers are listening and others are not. Mark Friedland, a delegate from North Carolina, explains why he plans to vote for Clinton in this week's roll and for Obama in November.
A Clintonite Who Won't Vote For Obama
Hillary Clinton is pushing hard to unite the Democratic party behind Sen. Barack Obama. Her speech Tuesday night did not convince Will Bower to vote for Sen. Obama, however.
And The Undecided Superdelegates Go To ...
The Democratic primary season boiled down to one thing: superdelegates. Last time we spoke with superdelegates Eileen Macoll and Jennifer DeChant, they hadn't endorsed a candidate. We check in with them again at the DNC.
NPR Topics: Politics & Society
NPR coverage of national and world politics, the latest news from Congress, the White House, and election updates. Subscribe to podcasts and RSS feeds.
Credit Crisis: Government role?
P-I Editorial: How far should the government go when it comes to bailing out the housing mess?
Global Warming: Soot-covered gold
P-I Editorial: China is taking the soot-covered gold. A new report says the electric utilities of the Olympics host will emit more greenhouse gases this year than any other country, including the United States.
High anxiety in the Mile High City
Hillary Clinton offered the electrifying fight that the limpid Obama has not -- setting off paranoia among some Democrats that they had chosen the wrong nominee or that Obama had chosen the wrong running mate.
Michelle Obama's winning ways
Michelle Obama portrayed herself as the appreciative product of the American Dream, someone the average American can look at and say, yes, she may be of a different race, but her values are the same as mine.
Hillary's pledge for Obama as neon as her tangerine pantsuit
Whatever their private feelings, the Clintons are now publicly full-square behind the party's nominee.
So is Obama the savior of his party?
Angst hangs over the Democratic Party, as tangible as the mountains etched on Denver's western horizon. The foreboding is simple: have we picked the wrong person and is it possible we will lose the most winnable election in a generation.
Obama as an advocate for change
The man who, four years ago, briefly fired the imaginations of Americans tired of the extremes of partisan politics has left and gone away -- if he ever really existed.
Mavericks don't have to remember how many houses they own
McCain, the presumptive Republican nominee, has lately been the subject of some unfair criticism that demands a more vigorous rebuttal. It seems that he couldn't remember how many houses he owns.
We need an old approach for the new global politics
When history is written, Georgia will figure as a defining moment. But a defining moment for what? Russia has broken the rules by its actions. But then so did the U.S., Britain and the rest of the world that recognized Kosovan independence.
A biblical seven years
Obama got this far because many voters projected onto him that he could be the leader of an American renewal. They know we need nation-building at home -- not in Iraq, not in Afghanistan, not in Georgia. Obama cannot lose that theme.
Iraq: Whose law must private contractors obey?
The U.S. agency that monitors progress in rebuilding Iraq recently gave warning to Congress that proposed changes in Iraqi law could provoke an exodus of private contractors, who remain a crucial part of the American presence there.
Un-diplomatic Cheney off to Russia's hot spots
The White House is sending Dick Cheney, whose diplomatic skills are not famous, to Georgia, Ukraine and Azerbaijan, all to varying degrees, under the gun of Russian intimidation. Is Washington taking this confrontation at all seriously?
Musharraf's Pakistan had true potential
Musharraf was sincere about wanting a secular, moderate Pakistan free of extremism, and that he might have been the best person to restore democracy. But his tragedy was that he began to believe that the state was him and he was the state.
City Council: Digging loopholes
P-I Editorial: If you're in a hole, stop digging. Heeding such mundane advice would apparently be beneath Seattle City Councilman Richard McIver, who has decided to make use of what may be a loophole in city law to refuse to pay an ethics fine himself.
Obama still stumbling in polls
Bonnie Erbe, guest columnist: The race is far from over, but Obama has a bare two months to convince Middle America he is not as liberal as his record shows him to be. In the process, he has to manage the very tricky track of not being accused of flip-flopping.
Guest Columnist: Online schools simulate real world
Lisa McClure, guest columnist: Online schools provide the very benefit that most point to as a pitfall of online education -- a social atmosphere and teamwork skills.
Soul missing from Chinese Olympics
Chi-Dooh Li, guest columnist: Something was missing from the spectacular Summer Olympics. Not from the athletes, or the Chinese people, but from the Chinese government that managed to put on the greatest of shows ever seen. Some would call it heart. I call it soul.
Setting priorities a must for Sound
John Lombard, guest columnist: Kathy Fletcher's Aug. 21 Op-Ed, "Puget Sound: Treat the whole patient," argues against an approach "that focuses protection and restoration resources in certain areas at the expense of the rest." Would setting no priorities be better?
Obama must address Russian crisis in acceptance speech
George F. Will, syndicated columnist: When Barack Obama feeds rhetorical fishes and loaves to the multitudes in the football stadium Thursday night, he should deliver a message of sufficient particularity that it seems particularly suited to Americans.
Initiative 1000
Shopping Bags: It's a worthy fight
P-I Editorial: Brought to you by business interests: an election to decide whether Seattle will deal with the waste of an endless stream of plastic shopping bags. The manipulation makes sense when you consider other cities' interest in Seattle's plan
Health Care: It's time to rock
P-I Editorial: It's time for an honest debate. We already have a government-funded health care system; we only pretend that we don't. And what do we get for our extravagant spending? A total mess.
Food Safety: Burden of trust
P-I Editorial: The Food and Drug Administration is willing to ease some of the restrictions on Chinese seafood imports. We would rather see the FDA focused on strengthening its entire system than lifting burdens on some producers.
Legacy of LBJ endures 100 years after his birth
LBJ's larger-than-life traits, from legislative acumen to leadership on civil rights and faults as a war leader, are being assessed anew in the centennial year of his birth.
Tarnished gold: Questioning China's sporting triumph
Supporters of juguo argue that without it China might end up like India, which this year won its first individual gold medal. But an article in a Shanghai paper argued China should give up sporting elitism even if it meant fewer medals.
A sore loser or a potent advocate, it's time for Bill to make up his mind
It'll be terrific on Wednesday night. With Bill Clinton it always is. Far less certain is whether his convention speech will lay to rest the lingering uncertainties about his involvement in the Obama campaign this autumn.
I'd love to think the U.S. is ready for a black president
An increasingly color-blind America, many Democrats insist, is ready for a black president. Well, I'm sorry to spoil the party in Denver, but I don't believe them. Race is a problem for the Obamas, however model their all-American family.
Editorial Commentary: Echoes from another era of American liberalism
Like Obama today, candidate John F. Kennedy was widely seen as inexperienced and untested. But Americans took the chance, and the gamble paid off. With his very presence on stage, Ted Kennedy was promising that the same can happen now.
P-i Editorial Cartoonist: Michelle Obama proves she's all-American
It may be that Michelle Obama's speech will be seen as the equivalent of her husband's convention keynote address four years ago -- a pivotal moment that moved voters to look at this unfamiliar political figure in a new and positive light.
Obama must recover core focus
Obama is being pulled by his party in a thousand directions. The Dems are in danger of doing to him what they did to their last two nominees: burying authentic individuals under a layer of prefab themes.
Obama's first big mistake
It looks as though Obama simply didn't have the courage to compete any more against the star power of his chief rival -- and her husband. This is not a good omen for standing up against tough world leaders and congressional leaders.
Going for gold in India
It is not that India does not care about sports, as any cricket fan knows. But it is also interesting that the nation's first individual gold medalist happens to be the CEO of a company that makes controllers for computer games.
Race -- the dog that isn't barking
After many years of watching black candidates run for public office, and paying especially close attention to this year's Democratic primary race, I've developed my own (very arbitrary) rule of thumb regarding the polls in this election.
And now, the Democrats turn the page
18 million primary voters felt more comfortable with the known Clinton than unknown Obama. That's why the Clintons are getting prime-time speeches on consecutive nights. The Clintons must get their "propers" as they give up center stage.
'RomneyCare' should keep Mitt off McCain ticket
McCain would be wise to keep Romney at arm's length. Choosing him for VP would infect McCain with the worsening symptoms of RomneyCare. The former Massachusetts governor's signature "achievement" already looks destined for the ER.
Scared of flying? Don't sit next to a pilot at dinner
The fate of flight JK5022 was hideous and pitiful but not unimaginable. Every nervous flyer will have empathized with the man who sent a text on the runway to his wife: "My love, there's a problem with the plane ... They won't let me off."
P-i Editorial Cartoonist: Michelle Obama proves she's all-American
David Horsey, P-I editorial cartoonist: It may be that Michelle Obama's speech will be seen as the equivalent of her husband's convention keynote address four years ago -- a pivotal moment that moved voters to look at this unfamiliar political figure in a new and positive light.
Who's the most common one of all?
Joan Vennochi, guest columnist: Who has the most common touch, Barack Obama or John McCain?
Guest Columnist: State more diverse, less safe
Marc Brenman, guest columnist: From a business and community perspective, hate incidents and hate crimes generate fear and are a drag on communities and local economies.
Lower the national drinking age
John Young, guest columnist: It's amazing that this nation could trust an individual to tote an M-16 and fly a gunship but not allow him to lift a beer to his lips. A group of college presidents is urging the national drinking age be lowered.
Letters to the Editor
Letters to the Editor
Seattle Post-Intelligencer: Opinion
Read editorials, letters and op-eds from seattlepi.com
Editorial: Something of a coup for Zardari in Pakistan?
The editors claim the nomination of Alif Zardari for
the Pakistan presidency is a surprise and a political coup for
him. Given his corruption and problematic past, the path to the
presidency will not be easy. The editors describe the nomination
as due to Zardari's "Machiavellian maneuvering" which
caught his opponents unawares. The nomination spells further
instability for Pakistan, and the failure to restore the judges
dismissed by former president Musharraf is ominous.
Mark Your Calendars: June 2009 in Iraq (Updated)
US and Iraqi negotiators have agreed on a text for a
Memorandum of Understanding that US troops will be out of Iraqi
cities by June, 2009. The author notes that this is also the same
date when the Sunni militia group, The Sons of Iraq (SOI), will
come off the US payroll and go onto the state of Iraq. Maliki and
the governmet do not favor these developments. Maliki may well
crack down on the SOI when he gets a chance.
Will the Afghanistan Surge Doom Pakistan?
A US-led military surge into Afghanistan might
forestall the collapse of the Karzai regime, but it could also
doom Pakistan, writes the author. The salient development in
Pakistani politics in 2008 has been the collapse of the political
fortunes of two would-be American clients--Pervez Musharraf and
the leader of Benazir Bhutto's PPP, her widower Asif Zardari--and
the political ascendancy of Nawaz Sharif of the opposition PML-N,
whose conservative, non-aligned policies have resonated with
Pakistani voters since his return from exile last November.
Musharraf's Resignation and Beyond
Musharraf's departure is just one step in the process
of democracy for the continuation of which Pakistan and its allies
will need all the patience they can muster. For the time being
there would be no dramatic change. Inflation would continue to
break people's backs, violence in the name of religion would
continue to take lives, unprincipled forces would continue to try
and sabotage the democratically elected government, and the
lawyers would continue to agitate for restoring the judiciary,
says Sarwar.
Obama listens to marbury
Although the author says Biden will cause Obama a few
problems during the campaign--his past is too long and his mouth
too big not to--he is glad Biden has been picked. He is, as even
his opponents would admit, a big-hearted guy and somebody who
really knows his stuff when it comes to foreign policy. It says
that Obama's a realist when it comes to bringing change to
Washington. He knows he can't just sweep in there, light up the
city with his beautiful words, and smile beatifically as Congress
passes a comprehensive health care plan. He needs somebody who
knows every lever and string to pull in that town, and Biden's the guy.
Thoughts on Musharraf's Resignation
The author speculates on what Pakistan's future will
look like without a military dictator to keep peace and security.
Already there have been several suicide attacks since Musharraf
stepped down and it will probably only get worse. Thurston hopes
the US will stand by the civilian government as it did the
dictator. However, the US has its own interests in the region and
might take matters into its own hands.
Pakistan: Musharraf Resigns - What Is His Legacy?
Morgan gives a summary of Pakistani history and the
tensions between the army and civilian rule. With Musharraf
resigning, the glue that holds the coalition government together
could easily, under enough pressure, split apart. While there will
be a semblance of unity, there will be handouts from the
international community. However, sooner or later the government
must fulfill its pledge to deal with Pakistan's almost
insurmountable domestic, social, and religious problems. There are
no guarantees that it can deliver on this promise.
BCL Sells Lands to Singaporean Investor
Beijing Capital Land revealed that it will sell several
of its real estate projects to overseas interests. Strained by
tightening credit, many real estate companies in China have begun
courting foreign investors to help develop current holdings. An
industry insider said that a number of foreign investors including
Morgan Stanley, Blackstone, RZP, and the Singaporean firm
Capitaland are vying for bargain-basement real estate deals while
the market is in the doldrums.
Hua Guofeng, Mao's Successor, Dies at 87
Hua Guofeng, former Chinese leader, died August 20 in
Beijing. Joining forces with senior leaders such as Ye Jianying,
Hua ended the Cultural Revolution by jailing the so-called Gang of
Four. Hua promoted his doctrine called "Two Whatevers"
in an effort to continue Mao Zedong's legacy. But the doctrine was
heavily criticized by other senior leaders, including Deng
Xiaoping, who later replaced Hua as the top leader and ushered in
a three-decade economic reform movement that continues today.
Economists Doubt JPMorgan's Stimulus Estimate
According to Frank Gong, head of JPMorgan Chase &
Co's China research, China's policymakers are carefully
considering an economic stimulus package of at least 200-400
billion yuan. "It is only a guess, but I agree with the point
of saving the market," said Liu Xiahui, an economist with the
Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. The government has the ability
to help stabilize the market through funding or other channels,
said Liu.
Touch Your Heart, Touch Your Soul
The Olympic moments that touch your heart belong to
those who are fighting destiny, triumphing over adversity, or
proving to the world that love can be as deep as ocean. Gold
medalist Matthias Steiner of Germany holds a photo of his deceased
wife as he poses with his gold medal during the victory ceremony
of the men's weightlifting competition at the Beijing 2008 Olympic
Games. "I'm not the superstitious type, don't believe in
higher powers, but I hope she saw me. I wish," he said. Van
der Weijden's win at the grueling swimming marathon is one of the
greatest triumphs over adversity. The Dutchman compared his 10
kilometers swim victory to his personal fight against cancer seven
years ago. His conquest of extreme adversity is as inspiring as
that of South Africa's Natlie du Toit, an amputee swimmer who
completed the women's open water race one day earlier.
ICBC Becomes most Profitable Bank in World
The Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC),
China's largest lender, said its first half after-tax profit
totaled 9.47 billion US dollars, which made it the world's most
profitable bank. The bank said the biggest profit came on greater
fee income and better operations to evade risks from the US
subprime crisis, which had ravaged profitability in many of ICBC's
international competitors. HSBC, the world's most profitable bank
last year, said its net profit in the first half was 7.72 billion
US dollars, down 29 percent from a year earlier. China's economy
maintained a growth of 10.4 percent in the first half, boosting
earnings in banks, analysts said.
Towards a stronger nation
India's emergence as a modern nation owes greatly to
the mass popularity of the patriotic sentiment. Without it, people
wouldn't have stood behind the Indian National Congress in the
numbers they did. Other political parties from the communists to
the BJP also benefited, but only in decreasing degrees. Partition
greatly tampered with the process of transforming the patriotic
spirit of the national movement into a consensual consciousness of
the independent nation, says Sinha.
To Sharif and Zardari
Pakistan does not have the luxury of time to embark on
an impeachment move. Neither is it the time to focus on such
divisive issues. It is a country where a lot of sacrifice has been
made. It is important that a mockery not be made of the thousands
of martyrs who gave their blood for a homeland for the Muslims of
the Subcontinent. What are needed are leaders who do not leave a
legacy of fire and blood but rather of peace and prosperity, says
Almaeena. Sharif and Zardari possess the qualities of statesmen
and have the interests of Pakistan at heart.
Candidates offer few nuclear energy specifics
John McCain wants the US to build 45 new nuclear energy
plants by 2030, a plan Barack Obama vows to oppose until the
nation can figure out how to dispose of nuclear waste. Mr.
Obama's stand is particularly troublesome because he speaks about
safety and security issues as if nuclear power has never been used
in this country or anywhere else in the world. While Mr. McCain
clearly gets the urgency of this issue much more clearly than Mr.
Obama, the nation deserves many more specifics from him. The
typical nuclear plant costs $6 billion to $8 billion to build, an
investment many utilities will not make without assurances that
the federal government won't pull the financial rug from beneath
the industry. Mr. McCain should be proposing tax incentives,
regulatory changes, or other measures to encourage utilities to
make these sizeable investments. The industry also needs a
commitment to build a storage facility to handle the waste, an
issue that should have been resolved a decade ago.
Reign of error
Musharraf's has been a reign of error from the word go,
as it were. It started with high drama in the skies and ended with
a very reluctant, dragging drop scene under the media's glare,
says Razvi. There was an uncanny contrast between the speech he
made in 1999 and the last one. The only constant in all these
years that he stuck to was his penchant to hog the limelight. He
was the least camera-shy of leaders and predictable only in his unpredictability.
ISI's role in Pakistan: Dangerous games
Destabilising India is on the top of the ISI's agenda,
says Nayar. It does not matter to them that good relations between
India and Pakistan are essential to combat the militants who were
striking in the subcontinent. Its policy for years is to have
Afghanistan under it on the conviction that it will give Pakistan
a strategic depth. ISI's anger against New Delhi stems from
India's close relations with Kabul. In fact, the militancy in the
region cannot go until the ISI gives up its policy on having
Afghanistan in Pakistan's backyard.
Why Obama looks vulnerable
The horrible truth that Barack Obama is a weak
candidate for the presidency is beginning to dawn on the
Democrats, writes Rachman. The fact that Obama is a northerner, a
liberal, a former college professor, and black makes him a bold
choice, especially when the poor overall record of the Democrats
in the last ten presidential elections is taken into account.
There is a cynical brilliance behind John McCain's accusation that
Obama is "playing the race card." Rachman says this
challenges the idea that Obama is a post-racial candidate, yet the
Obama camp will have to think twice before responding as they
could end up putting race right at the center of the election
debate, which is something that can only help the McCain campaign.
An answer at last to the Heathrow horrors
The Competition Commission's recommendation that an end
be brought to the British Airport Authority's monopoly of London's
airports is as worthy of a celebration as the homecoming of the
country's hugely successful Olympic athletes, writes Stephens. Not
content with making passengers' lives a misery for the past two
decades, the BAA is even pleading for special dispensation to
increase the capacity of Heathrow and further increase its
profits. Stephens says that Heathrow's problem is not one of
capacity but of being run purely to satisfy greed. Real
competition between London's three airports is the best way to
improve any capacity problems the UK capital may face.
A word in your ear: Keep it slow and simple
Skapinker comments on the increasing use of
"Special English" around the world. Despite a challenge
from Spanish and Mandarin, English is likely to remain the
international language of choice for the foreseeable future. It is
imperative that those in the air traffic, maritime, and other high
risk sectors be capable of communicating effectively, but the
vocabulary of most non-native speakers of English is limited. This
has led to simplified forms of English being developed whose ease
of use ensures that workplace safety is not compromised. Such
forms of English tend to have a soporific effect on native
speakers, but as their use will undoubtedly increase, we need to
start getting used to them.
Russian embrace of Syria tightens, but for what purpose?
Stern examines the reasons for growing Syrian-Russian
ties. Some believe it is due to Syrian requests for advanced
weaponry--the Panstyr-1 defense system and other weaponry--aimed
at indirectly pressuring Israel in the negotiations. Some believe
Israeli concern is being used by Syria to send a message to
pressure the US into better ties with Syria. Others assert that
despite jockeying for position with better weapons systems, Syria
is sincere about the peace process.
Attack isn't the answer
Sadjapour examines Israeli policy options regarding
Iran. Ayatollah Khamenei certainly wants to destroy Israel, but
not through war. He has stated on many occasions that that is not
his preference. He wants to vote Israel out of existence through a
referendum. Attacking Iran to destroy its nuclear weapons project
will only exacerbate anti-Israel feeling in Iran and in Muslim
countries and is therefore not an option.
A Jihad Grows in Kashmir
The author looks at the problems in Kashmir between
Muslim extremists and the Indian government since the Clinton era.
He says there is a misconception that there is peace in India and
Kashmir these days. The area is militarily occupied, curfews have
been imposed, non-violent protests have been suppressed through
force, and India has not taken steps to resolve Kashmir's
long-disputed status. He predicts that a generation of politicized
Kashmiri Muslims may grow up to become the next international terrorists.
The Myth of Biden v. Bork
The author worked with Senator Biden on the Senate
Judiciary Committee during the Supreme Court confirmation hearings
of Robert Bork and Clarence Thomas. He says Biden tried to keep
the focus of the hearings on the candidates' professional rather
than personal lives. Biden's experience and decency will make him
ideal for shepherding Supreme Court nominees through a politically
polarized Senate as vice president, he says. However, he predicts
political fights will be fiercer than those in the past with
abortion rights at stake.
A Biblical Seven Years
Seven years of planning, investment, and hard work went
into China's hosting of the Olympics, Friedman says. America
should take note of this. Infrastructure there has been souped up
and is state-of-the-art, while America's is crumbling and
"dumpy." China has been spending its money to build a
nation, while America has been spending its money to fight wars.
He says the lesson from China is that the next president must be
strong and creative enough to rebuild America rather than spending
time "nation-building" abroad.
High Anxiety in the Mile High City
Dowd says the mood at the Democratic National
Convention is strained because of Hillary's supporters, who fear
that the party chose the wrong candidate. In addition, she says
Democrats were nitpicking Obama's appearance on satellite Monday
night, Michelle's dress, and more, and many Hillary supporters
threatened to leave before his acceptance speech.
Jordan's behavior, a harbinger of change
Jordan has hitherto been careful to support the cause
of moderate Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas, notes Khouri.
However, it has recently begun to approach the rival Hamas as
well. Jordanians are good at reading public opinion in Palestine
and assessing political options. They understand that Abbas is
weak and that a Hamas takeover is on the horizon.
Exit of a military dictator
Musharraf's departure validates the opinion that two
very important factors--the army and the US, both of which have
been key to Pakistan's existence as a state and to the formulation
of its domestic and external policies--continue to play a vital
role in its politics. His regime was called a period of controlled
democracy guided by enlightened moderation, says Khan. And he will
perhaps go the way his predecessors have, to oblivion for the so
called "good acts" he is supposed to have done for his
country during his nine-year rule.
Ignite lignite
The Civil Nuclear Agreement (CNA) is being celebrated
as a solution to India's poverty of power. The most optimistic
forecast of nuclear power's contribution to the total commercial
energy requirement of India in 2038 is 10%. That by itself is a
400% increase from today's contribution, calculated on installed
capacity which is double the actual generation, says Raha.
Pakistan After Musharraf: What's New...?
The author says Pakistan's democratically-elected
government is functioning no better or worse than under the
military dictator Pervez Musharraf's regime. However, the
difference between a democratically-elected government and a
dictatorship is that democracy has a moral and popular platform to
wage a war on terror. Fighting the Taliban and the ISI inside
Pakistan is going to be a tough job. The author hopes that General
Petraeus can aid Pakistan with the same counterinsurgency
techniques he used in Iraq.
Getting rid of a President
One of the hopes being entertained in Pakistan is that
the manner of Musharraf's departure will stop any future imposer
of military rule. His exit differs from his predecessors in being
an oddly civilian one. He proved politically astute in his
departure by making a confusing speech, says Niazi. It was
confusing in his refusal to admit any responsibility for the
shambles the economy was in and was probably the main reason why
so many want him tried.
An Unsettling End
Musharraf's exit is not a calamity for India, but the
UPA government's handling of the events that led to a change of
government in Islamabad is a disaster, says Nayar. Since India's
Pakistan policy at this time will have an impact on the
deteriorating situation in Jammu and Kashmir, it is a crisis that
is, in real terms, far more serious for the country than the
cosmetic crisis that was precipitated by the possibility of a
change in government in New Delhi last month on account of the
Indo-US nuclear deal.
Don't Give In To Them
Secessionism on the basis of religion from a federal
democratic republic, which has assured autonomy to Kashmir, is an
irrational act, says Subrahmanyam. Such irrationality is
unfortunately not the exclusive privilege of one faith only. India
has seen the repercussions of events in the Kashmir valley, in
Jammu ,and in other places in India. There are forces in India
that are likely to take advantage of such secession to unleash
massive ethnic cleansing elsewhere in the country.
Why Fannie and Freddie Will Survive (Alas)
Jenkins argues that as long as Fannie and Freddie's
debt is backed by the full faith and credit of the US government,
they don't need to be solvent. They can continue to function
because the world's lenders will continue to lend to them. Jenkins
says that perceptions of political risk is the factor presently
inhibiting the recovery of their share price, but that may change
as politically astute capitalists realize that their privileged
existence can be secured by putting the necessary money into them.
Fannie and Freddie will, Jenkins thinks, likely survive and,
tragically, America will have missed a rare opportunity to get rid
of them.
Obama Should Find His Inner Kansan
Frank relates the lessons of his journey across Kansas.
He notes that everywhere he stopped while crossing the perennially
red-state he met voters who expressed dismay with the GOP and are
considering leaving it. Last year, the Kansas Republican Party
went as far as establishing a "loyalty committee" to
stamp out dissent in the ranks after a series of defections rocked
the organization. Frank believes Republicans might just listen to
a Democrat this year if they were to speak the way liberals used
to. America is in the midst of a populist moment, he says, and to
capture it Obama will have to find his own inner Kansan.
We Need a National Market for Health Insurance
Turner considers a new study suggesting that we could
insure 12 million more Americans. She says freeing Americans to
buy health insurance across state lines would give people more
choices in health care. And giving individuals a direct tax break
for purchasing coverage would put armies of consumers to work to
find affordable policies. That would force states to lighten their
regulations or lose out to other, less regulated states. Turner
concludes that the complex problems in our health sector are best
cured by a bigger dose of market competition, not more government intervention.
Russia Is Brazen, Europe Weak
Lévy asserts that the Kremlin is shameless about
twisting law and principle. In the post-Soviet era, Russian power
has been exercised in a brutal fashion, as its actions in Chechnya
demonstrated. Moscow is also indifferent to international
protests, admonishments, and warnings. Lévy notes that Western
public opinion is too easily swayed by the thesis advanced--from
the very first day--by the Kremlin's propaganda. He concludes that
we must analyze in greater depth the mechanisms of a blindness
that may, if ignored, perpetuate the Western "decline in
courage" denounced in his time by Alexander Solzhenitsyn,
which we thought belonged to the past. Reason, if not honor,
demands that we go to the rescue of Europe in Tbilisi.
Lieberman Would Be a Bad Veep Choice for McCain
The possibility that McCain might choose Democratic
Sen. Joseph Lieberman as his running mate has sent the right into
a tizzy, writes Olsen. He believes a McCain-Lieberman party would
have so many disagreements on so many issues that it would be
defined by one issue only: war. As Lincoln showed, a "war
ticket" isn't the formula for lasting success. Olsen says
that although McCain's personality is sufficient to inspire
loyalty, he must ensure that his vice presidential selection
cultivates support among party members.
Obama Should Just Be Himself
Gerstein says there is no reason for Obama supporters
to panic about the polls and is convinced that Obama does not need
to fundamentally change his message or strategy to win over
undecided voters. He just needs to be himself or, to be more
precise, to be more of himself. No need for reinvention and
repositioning--he only needs to recount the tough stands and
political risks he has already taken and reinforce those points
for the next three months. Although it could be argued that the
Obama campaign should have emphasized these points earlier,
Gerstein concludes that the general election campaign is now
moving into high gear and Obama's acceptance speech tomorrow night
will be an ideal time to begin closing the strength gap.
Wind Jammers
The greens are blocking the transmission network needed
for renewable electricity to move throughout the economy. The best
sites for wind and solar energy happen to be in the sticks: the
desert Southwest where sunlight is most intense for longest or the
plains where the wind blows most often. To exploit this energy,
utilities need to build transmission lines to connect their
electricity to the places where consumers actually live.
Transmission lines have become disputed in Indiana, California,
and Oregon. The liberal push for alternatives has the look of a
huge bait-and-switch. Washington responds to the climate change
panic with multibillion-dollar taxpayer subsidies for supposedly
clean tech. But then when those incentives start to have an effect
in the real world, the same greens who favor the subsidies say
build the turbines or towers somewhere else. The only energy
sources they seem to like are the ones we don't have.
First Yukos, then Georgia
Few in the West appreciate the degree to which Vladimir
Putin and the Russian elite subscribe to a prewar view of power
relations and national greatness. The Republic of Georgia, transit
territory for two important energy pipelines, is a challenge to
Mr. Putin's pursuit of power through control of energy supplies,
especially for home heating, to Western Europe. Western
governments and oil executives have played an unwise role in
Putin's plan. No amount of contract abrogation, outright seizure
of property, or subsidiary mayhem by Russian authorities seems
able to dissuade them from throwing good money after bad in
pursuit of Russian resources. Over time, Putin will find he has
created conditions for the emergence of a coalition to contain
Russian energy power. Dropping our trade barriers to Brazilian
ethanol and opening up our domestic resources to development would
be good places to start.
'Snake Oil'
The paper debunks three "truths" about
offshore drilling. The first is that drilling is pointless because
the US has only 3% of the world's oil reserves. This is misleading
because it refers only to known oil reserves. The Minerals
Management Service (MMS) has estimated that there are 18 billion
barrels of oil in the Outer Continental Shelf, but the data was
collected before 1981. In 1987 the MMS estimated that there were 9
billion barrels of oil in the Gulf of Mexico. By 2006, after major
advances in seismic technology and deepwater drilling techniques,
the MMS estimate is 45 billion barrels. Second, oil companies
aren't using the leases they already have. According to the MMS,
there were 7,457 active leases as of June 8. Of those, only 1,877
were classified as "producing." Only when a lease starts
pumping the equivalent of an estimated 130,000 barrels of oil a
day at the end of the decade will it be deemed "active."
Third, drilling is environmentally dangerous. Between 1993 and
2007, 1 barrel of oil was spilled per 156,900 barrels produced.
The strongest argument against drilling is that it could distract
the country from a pursuit of alternative sources of energy.
Opinion Source: Delivering summaries of editorial and op-ed
pieces from major papers by email.
OpinionSource is dedicated to bringing you national and
world opinion
Impeachment? Truth and Reconciliation Commission?
Never mind that, says Vincent Bugliosi, haul George Bush into a court of law.
Renew America's Promise -- or Cancel Our Future Altogether?
Never mind ignoring low blows or pulling punches in response, there's a third way for Obama to respond to smears.
President Bed-Rest
Do we really want another president whose main concern is his rest and relaxation?
Spare the Rod, Spoil the Headline
Like his pal Madonna, A-Rod shape-shifts, but the name remains the same.
Blow Myself Up or Study Engineering at Caltech?
What's an al-Qaeda sympathizer to do?
Hey Pentagon, How Are Nuclear Weapons Working Out for You?
The path to peace may lie in talking to the defense establishment in its own language.
Seven Words You Can't Say In Heaven
George Carlin has been bumped for a summer replacement series.
Iran Attack Not a Problem, Say War Wonks
Hey, what's a lost ship or three and the bloated bodies of a few hundred US naval personnel bobbing on the surface of the Persian Gulf?
Politicians Play General, Generals Play Politics (Part 2)
More from Military.com analyst and novelist Jeff Huber.
Politicians Play General, Generals Play Politics (Part 1)
Neither the military nor the administration escape criticism in Jeff Huber's Military.com column and his new novel, Bathtub Admirals.
Hell on Earth? How About Hell in Heaven?
Suffocated by your family? It could be worse in the afterlife.
Nunn of the Above
Imagine a secretary of state whose idea of foreign policy is abolishing nuclear weapons?
Genius: Hidden in Plain Sight
The breathtaking work of Santiago Calatrava is seen by many, known by few.
There Will Be Krov
Blood, oil, and Borat in Azerbaijan.
Freezerbox Magazine
Freezerbox is an independent, opinion-based magazine about political, cultural and social life as it pertains to the global community. It maintains that understanding and defining the boundaries of our surroundings within a progressive perspective is paramount to improving our contemporary circumstances.
Darfur's Real Death Toll
THE BUSH administration's challenge on Darfur is to persuade the world to wake up to the severity of the crisis. On his recent visit to Sudan, Deputy Secretary of State Robert B. Zoellick took a step in the opposite direction. He said that the State Department's estimate of deaths in Darfur was 60,000 to 160,000, a range that dramatically understates the true scale of the killing. If Mr. Zoellick wants to galvanize action on Darfur, he must take a fresh look at the numbers.
The Senate's Hypocrisy
CONGRESS IS spitting fire about China's allegedly unfair trade practices, which it blames for the enormous U.S. trade deficit. But that deficit is as much a reflection of Congress's habit of spending more than it raises in taxes, which contributes to the dearth of national savings. For the latest example of shameless congressional pork, consider a bill recently marked up in the Senate to lavish at least $10 billion on the Army Corps of Engineers.
Viewer Beware
PRODUCT PLACEMENT has become a cynical fact of modern life. When you see a store logo in a movie or a character with a brand-name beverage, you can be pretty sure it didn't get there by chance: Money changed hands. What you might not know is that a similar but more insidious transaction takes place in television news.
washingtonpost.com - Opinion
Opinion
Franz Kafka would have been shocked by our lack of privacy
What item could Franz Kafka have been so ashamed of that he kept it in a locked safe on his bookshelf - even taking the key on holiday with him, asks Glenda Cooper.
David Cameron and John McCain are best suited to defy Russian aggression
As Gordon Brown lies low and Barack Obama looks increasingly insubstantial, their opponents are coming to the fore, says Janet Daley.
Senseless red tape leaves society poorer
Volunteers are the latest victims of this Government's stubborn obsession with needless bureaucracy, says Philip Johnston.
The real hero of the Olympics is John Major
The former prime minister's achievements may not be too memorable, but he did launch the Lottery, which helps to fund our medal-winners, says Jim White.
Yesterday Russia, today the world
Dostoyevsky's insight into the mindsets of psychotic mass killers seems miraculously relevant and up to date, according to A.N. Wilson.
We've not saved the whale yet
While hunting bans have helped protect these magnificent creatures, their future is far from secure.
Four days of silence that condemn Britain
How the West reacts to Russia's action in Georgia will determine how far Russia is prepared to go.
Water liberty
Despite plans to increase water bills, water companies still fail to deliver
Shear exuberance
Summer pruning is a productive chore for the Bathursts of Cirencester
Why can't we tell teenagers what to study at school?
What a pity it is no longer the point of education to open up new avenues, says Melissa Kite
Pakistan's deadly vendetta
Musharraf's life may not be in danger, but few of his countrymen can say the same, writes David Blair
Barack Obama becalmed
Obama's European grand-standing hasn't gone down well with blue-collar voters in middle America.
Lambeth Conference Diary: Sex, drugs but no rocks or rolls
Nick Baines, the Bishop of Croydon, reflects on a dramatic week spent with fellow bishops at the Lambeth conference discussing the future of the Church of England.
Katie Couric is right to criticise sexist US
All women in the American public eye are subjected to savage scrutiny of her appearance, wardrobe and personal life., writes Catherine Elsworth.
Come in Number 16
As a New Zealand judge issues a list of banned names we ask why, save for brute sadism, would anyone call their child "Number 16 Bus Shelter"?
Blood, sweat and tears - but I regret nothing
Lt Col Stuart Tootal explains that the Ministry of Defence's shortchanging of Servicemen contributed to his decision to resign from the Army
I've stolen a march on time, thanks to my Oxford Knee
I like to think I just crack on with life, but running a mile round the village every day for nine months destroyed the cartilage in one of my knees, writes Candida Lycett-Green.
Glasgow no longer belongs to Labour
With Thursday's by-election on a knife-edge, Andrew O'Hagan asks how the party lost the loyalty of a city tied to its socialist foundations
Oh, how I hate the Beautiful Game
Craig Brown hates football and he sometimes feels as lonely as the sole survivor in the last reel of a Zombie film because of it.
Gender pay audits: more inane gibberish
This lot just don't get it, do they? We want fewer laws, not more. And we certainly don't want Harriet Harman of all people telling companies who they can and cannot employ, says Andrew Pierce.
The Archbishop of Canterbury is not the Empress of India
The row that threatens to split the Anglican Communion is about imperialism more than homosexuality, argues Charles Moore.
Go on, have a chuckle... it's by-election time
Oddballs, loonies and red-faced politicians are the essential ingredients of a great British event, says Philip Johnston.
America really has changed for the better
It's not so long ago that innocent black men could be sent to the electric chair just because their accusers were white, says Lionel Shriver.
The riddle of the golden syrup tin
There must be quite a few children pouring golden syrup on their suet pudding who do not realise that the quotation on the tin comes from the story of Samson in the book of Judges in the Bible, writes Christopher Howse.
Zimbabwe: Leftists to blame for Robert Mugabe's blood-letting
A few years ago, when the tyrant of Zimbabwe was moving from being wicked to being downright evil, Simon Heffer wrote that we should invade Harare, depose him, and supervise free elections.
Sean Langan was tested to the limits - but he came out smiling
It takes quite a lot to cheer Toby Young me up these days, but a phone call he got last Saturday did the trick as it was his best friend, Sean Langan, calling to say he had been released by the Muslim extremists who had been holding him hostage.
Conquering the wild west of internet domains
Icann's decision to open up more web addresses will tame the scramble for internet domains, says Ian Douglas.
Liberal Democrats must hone their national message
The Liberal Democrats have yet to develop a compelling narrative to deal with the threat posed by Cameron, argues Mark Littlewood
David Cameron should slash the public payroll
Questioning the size of the state is not a betrayal of the public services, argues George Bridges.
Will Thabo Mbeki ever find the courage to tell Robert Mugabe where to get off?
Zimbabwean tyrant Robert Mugabe will declare victory after the election run-off, but no one will believe him, writes David Blair.
Gordon Brown can lay the ground for Labour's next generation
The vacuum created by Gordon Brown's weak leadership has opened up an interesting space, into which younger, ambitious ministers are leaping, writes John Kampfner.
Baby photos that fall foul of the PC police
How has a naked child become something to censor rather than protect? Lesley Thomas is perplexed.
Wendy Alexander silenced by a sore throat and political rivals
Alan Cochrane couldn't believe his luck when he heard that Wendy Alexander had lost her voice and wouldn't be up for her joust with Alex Salmond.
Terry Wogan's World
Terry Wogan's spy in the far-off Fens reports that a ne'er-do-well there has been hauled before the beak, for not one, but two staring offences.
The Lisbon Treaty has not yet been formally ratified
Gordon Brown has been forced to concede that the Treaty's formal ratification cannot happen until Lord Justice Richards has made his ruling next week, writes Philip Johnston.
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