US Republican party has serious choices to make

My latest from the Guelph Mercury
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It’s become the lead question for morning show and political talk shows all over the United States — what must the Republican party do to get competitive again?
Barack Obama’s thumping of John McCain in November was merely a ratification of a much deeper trend in American political life. The conservative [...]

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Obama Doctrine starting to take shape

My latest from the Guelph Mercury, printed today, 19 March.
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After the terrorist attacks of September 11th, 2001, the George W. Bush administration embarked upon what many have called nothing less than a revolution in foreign policy. Counselled and encouraged by his inner cadre of hawkish, ideologically driven advisors, George W. Bush made US global military [...]

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Experience Must be Matched with Grit, Vision, Principle

The title of my latest column printed today in the Guelph Mercury.
Cheers,
M

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Obama as a Major Ideological Departure

Fouad Ajami had an interesting piece recently in the WSJ. He made the case that the prospect of an Obama presidency represents the most profound ideological shift in American foreign policy since WWII.
So the Obama candidacy must be judged on its own merits, and it can be reckoned as the sharpest break yet with the [...]

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On Palin

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Analysis
Pros

She’ll help McCain appeal to “disenfranchised” Clinton Democrats. Probably in a big way.
She’ll re-enforce McCain’s maverick image, being a corruption-fighter, an outsider, etc., etc…
She’ll energise the conservative base of the GOP.
Every time the Democrats question her experience, Republicans can remind Americans that she has at least as much professional political experience than Obama. She’s actually [...]

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Meet Number Two

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No, seriously.
Bio here.
Commentary later.

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McCain Veep Watch

Well, it’s not Pawlenty.
As I said before, I think Romney’s the guy. He’s polished, capable, bright and has presidential bearing. Of all the names that have made their way onto the Republican VP short-list, Romney’s the one I’d trust most with the presidency.
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UPDATE: Check out McCain’s campaign website. Is it just me, or does it [...]

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John McCain on Leno

Part 1:

Part 2:

(h/t: RCP)
This is one of the best “night show” performances I’ve ever seen a politician give. Home run.
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And for what it’s worth, here’s Mitt Romney (R-Massachusetts) on Morning Joe looking awfully vice presidential. I think he’d make the best no. 2.

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Michelle Obama’s Speech

The above is the opening few minutes of the keynote address to the Democratic Convention on Monday night by Mrs. Michelle Obama. She is to be congratulated on her delivery.
The rest is available, of course, on YouTube. Text available here.
Let’s take a look under the hood.
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Purpose and Theme
It appears [...]

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Obama’s Ideology

Michael Powell has written a great piece which appeared today in NYT and the International Herald Tribune, entitled Obama’s Ideological Elusiveness.
In his article, Powell discusses the dynamic nexus of ideological impulses that drives Obama’s policy and rhetoric.
Obama, an intellectually curious man, is nothing if not pragmatic in the application of philosophy to politics, temperamentally inclined [...]

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