National Democrats
Bombs Away!
That old bomber pilot John McCain dropped a blockbuster on both parties this week with his pick of Sarah Palin. He shook the Republicans back to life, and he shook up the Democrats. He also shook up the race. But it will take a while to figure which targets suffered the most collateral damage. If…
Read MoreAn Otherworldly Debut
Watching Sarah Palin’s speech, I could not help but think two things.First, I thought I was watching the rise of a great future star of the Republican Party. She handled herself well, and had a real fire and energy that the ticket previously lacked. Regardless of the outcome of the election, this is someone who…
Read MoreRepublican Meltdown
It’s an iron law of politics: Stay out of the way when your opponent is busy destroying himself. So Barack Obama is smart to lay low this week. John McCain’s VP pick shows us what kind of President he would be. He would make rash, risky and reckless decisions. Without waiting for the intelligence reports.…
Read MoreGrand Slam
Barack Obama’s speech was in a big park, and he hit it out of the park. He did three things at once: Delivered the soaring, inspiring rhetoric that Democrats love and Republicans mock Showed middle-class Americans he is one of them Challenged McCain forcefully and directly, without sounding nasty and negative. Expectations were ridiculously high.…
Read MoreThe Clinton-Slayer
It was a remarkable scene: Bill and Hillary Clinton sitting up in the stands, watching as Barack Obama took over their Democratic Party. The Clintons stepped aside with good grace. For Bill especially, ceding the spotlight has never been easy. But here is the real lesson of last night: Barack Obama is a tough, canny…
Read MoreReality Check
Political insiders always overestimate how much attention voters are paying to campaigns. Here was my reality check this week. I was talking to a fellow who does some work at my house. He’s a bright guy, a hard worker, successful in his trade, devoted to his family and his dogs. He knows I do something…
Read MoreThe Year of the Woman
Michelle I’ll go out on a limb and agree with Gary and praise Michelle Obama. Even odder, Albert the Pollster, a died-in-the-wool Republican, says she hit a home run. Albert says undecided voters are set-in-stone determined to get shed of Bush-McCain – and all that’s holding them back are their doubts about Obama. That, ‘He’s…
Read MoreTo All the Young People on Shore
To all the young people on shore thinking Barack Obama’s the political savior who’s going to lead them to the Promised Land and change America – watch out. This is politics. You don’t remember, but President Nixon promised change – and gave us Watergate. President Reagan – a great president – promised change and whipped…
Read MoreRemain Calm. Attack.
Some Democrats are in despair. The national polls are even! The Republicans are up to their usual dirty tricks! Obama has to do something! Relax. But not too much. Of course the polls are even. No surprise. The country is evenly divided between Democrats and Republicans. And Obama is a fresh new face, with all…
Read MoreKeystone Kops
Letâs forget about who first slept with whom when and whether they stopped two years ago or last month â and talk about John Edwardsâ sheer incompetence. How on earth did he get struck so dumb he convinced himself he could keep a blonde in the closet for two years â with every other political…
Read More