Ahh, the pundit-driven presidential boomlet. Every so often, a Washington prognosticator like David Brooks will latch on to an obscure figure--someone like the attractive, socially-conservative nonentity Senator John Thune--and extol his (or her) virtues to the heavens, explaining why only this person can redeem the party and become the next president. Admittedly, it sometimes works, but it's often just a passing fantasy.
This week, "Sesame Street" kicks off its fortieth season on air. But the TV show's transition to middle age hasn't been entirely smooth.
Where have all the RINOs gone? Not long ago, the GOP contained a number of recognizably liberal politicians, often identified as RINOs (Republicans In Name Only). But they've been hounded out of the party by movement conservatives, who have campaigned relentlessly against what they consider ideological apostasy. Click through today's TNR slideshow to see the last few members of this vanishing species.
President Obama's choice about Afghanistan isn’t getting any easier. Last week Matthew Hoh, a senior State Department official in the country, resigned to protest U.S. policies there. Hoh said he didn't "see the value or the worth in continued U.S. casualties or expenditures of resources in support of the Afghan government in what is, truly, a 35-year old civil war." This is not the first time a policymaker stepped down over choices made in Washington. Click through this TNR slideshow to see some historical wartime resignations.
James Gardner, formerly the architecture critic of the New York Sun, now writes on culture for several publications.
It must be nice to be the president. In addition to having helicopters, jumbo jets, and motorcades, you get to rifle through the cellars of the National Gallery and the Hirschhorn for artistic masterpieces to adorn your home for the next four to eight years.
Dick Cheney is not one to hold his fire. After leaving the White House, he's eschewed the low profile taken by past vice presidents in order to blast the Obama administration's national-security decisions frequently and openly. Click through this TNR slideshow to see the top ten most combative statements made by Cheney since January 20, 2009.
Yikes! Sarah Palin is slated to appear on "Oprah" next month to promote her new book, Going Rogue. It almost feels like an absolution for Palin, after Oprah's endorsement of Obama and her very public snub of Palin during the campaign. Of course Oprah has long held sway over politicians. Click through this slideshow to see other pols who have sat down with the daytime talk queen.
In a world without third-party candidates, Jon Corzine would be losing New Jersey's gubernatorial election. He's not an inspiring figure and his poll numbers have been stalled around 40% since April. Yet, ever since independent candidate Chris Daggett joined the race, he has been merrily siphoning votes off of Corzine's opponent. Now it looks like Corzine could win.
The saga of "Balloon Boy" is not yet over. The child captured the nation's attention when he was thought to be floating away in a large silvery balloon; but then he was subsequently discovered hiding in an attic and remarked that he did it “for the show.” Since that remark, there has been speculation that the mysterious antics of "Balloon Boy" were actually a publicity stunt.
It's fall in Washington, and the smell of fear is wafting through the halls of Congress. Economic dissatisfaction, anti-incumbent rage, and plain old fatigue are endangering legislators who know the next election is just thirteen months away. Click through this TNR slideshow to see profiles of the members of Congress who are most vulnerable in 2010.
As the New Jersey and Virginia governor's races head into the November 3 election, the ads are flying. Some are slick, some are stupid, and some are downright sleazy. Click through this TNR slideshow for a collection of spots from each race.
According to Obama administration officials, Al Qaeda's capabilities have been severely degraded by a deadly combination of U.S. intelligence operations and unmanned aerial drone strikes. Now, the White House is reportedly considering a strategy that relies on these targeted assassinations over a troop increase in Afghanistan. Click through this slideshow to see some of the militants who have been killed by U.S. drones.
This week, the District of Columbia's city council introduced a bill that would authorize same-sex marriages within its boundaries. According to the Associated Press, the measure "appears unstoppable"—garnering support from most council members, the mayor, and a lack of opposition from the Democratic Congress. Depending how you count, that would make D.C. anywhere from the fifth to the eighth U.S. jurisdiction to legalize gay marriage.
In the health care debate, there is no escape from Betsy McCaughey. In 1994, the tenacious policy wonk wrote an inaccurate TNR piece that killed Hillarycare; today she's the originator of the "death panels." But there's much, much more.
On September 26, Academy-award winning director Roman Polanski was arrested by Swiss authorities. A warrant had been pending against him since 1978, when he fled the United States after being charged with rape and pleading guilty to engaging in unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor. Now, film luminaries are leaping to his defense. Click through this TNR slideshow to see what they're saying.
Nine months into Barack Obama's administration, a few of his appointees still haven't been confirmed by the U.S. Senate. What's the hold up? Click through this TNR slideshow for a rundown on some of the remaining people who haven't been confirmed, and why
It seems like everyone involved in Afghanistan policy is pulling a different direction. To name just a few: General McChrystal wants a major troop increase, Robert Gates has flipped positions, Biden is skeptical, and Hamid Karzai is preoccupied with the fate of Hamid Karzai. Click through this TNR slideshow for a catalogue of who wants what in Afghanistan
President Obama and Defense Secretary Robert Gates have announced a dramatically-altered approach to deploying U.S. missile defenses. Click through this slideshow for a look at the current deployment of our missile defense systems, and how they'll change.
In less than 24 hours, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) will choose a city to host the 2016 Summer Olympics. There are four competitive bids: Chicago, Tokyo, Rio de Janeiro, and Madrid. Each bid has its own assets and weakness--including the heads of state and celebrities that are in Copenhagen, desperately spinning on behalf of their metropoles. Click through for a rundown on each candidate city.
Yesterday, facing public discontent over the war in Afghanistan, President Obama held a private meeting with one of Washington's venerable "wise men"--former Secretary of State Colin Powell. In doing so, Obama was participating in an age-old tradition. Click through this slideshow to see some notable "wise men" who have been summoned to the Oval Office.
The U.N. General Assembly opens today for its 64th session--and it looks like it will be more exciting than most. Obama is planning theatrics to advance his ambitious international agenda, while everyone from Muammar Qaddafi to Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will be maneuvering for maximum effect. Click through this slideshow for a look at some of this session's must-see events.
A year ago on September 15, 2008, the financial crisis took a drastic negative turn. The Lehman Brothers investment firm declared bankruptcy, causing a 1,000-point slide in the Dow and triggering a cascade of bank losses that threatened to topple the entire financial system. Click through this slideshow to see scenes from the crash.
Republican Rep. Joe Wilson of South Carolina is in hot water. Last night, during President Obama’s speech to a joint session of Congress, he interrupted to shout, "You lie!" Wilson soon found himself calling the White House to apologize, and issuing a written statement describing his own comments as "inappropriate and regrettable."
Earlier this week, conservatives attacked President Obama for addressing the nation's schoolchildren--accusing him of foisting a sinister agenda on impressionable minds. But was there really any cause for worry? Well… if one looks very closely at the history of presidential addresses to school kids over the last twenty years, one might find reasons for concern.
Click through this slideshow for a close look at the most frightening elements of past presidential speeches to the nation's children.
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