Obama: The Arrogance of Hope

Not only is Obama caving to the GOP—he's 'celebrating' it, writes Paul Krugman

(NEWSER) - Barack Obama has left the building. Granted, with Republicans running amok, all Obama really has is “the bully pulpit,” but incredibly, “he’s using it to reinforce his enemies’ narrative,” writes Paul Krugman in the New York Times . Maybe he did have to make big concessions to avoid a government shutdown, but did he “have to celebrate his defeat,” applauding it as “the largest annual spending cut in our history”? Looking back at 2008, one has to wonder: “Who is this bland, timid guy who doesn’t seem to stand for anything in particular?” More»

'Anti-colonialist' accusations misunderstand father and son

(NEWSER) - Those who suggest Barack Obama is a “rabid anti-colonialist” based on impressions of his father are way off the mark about both father and son, writes Bruce L.R. Smith in the Washington Post . Dinesh D’Souza recently argued that “the president inherited political radicalism from his father.” But Obama Sr.—whom Smith knew personally—“was, in fact, an urbane, Western-oriented intellectual” of an only “modestly leftist bent.” More»

You can forget all those comparisons to Jimmy Carter

(NEWSER) - Barack Obama earned a historic victory when the House passed health care reform last night. How did he do it and what does it mean? Here’s what people are saying:

• “Obama didn't just work harder to clear this hurdle. He worked deeper,” writes John Dickerson of Slate . For the first time he made a cause personal, framing it in moral terms, and urging lawmakers to risk sacrificing their jobs to do the right thing.

A year later, George W. doesn't look so bad

(NEWSER) - George W Bush isn't looking so bad these days. Sure, "his post-presidency resume is still thin," writes Stanley Fish in the New York Times , but he's about to make a comeback—just as we're starting to miss him. Bush nostalgia abounds: Pictures of a Minnesota billboard featuring George W and the caption "Miss me yet?" have gone viral. This week's cover of Newsweek, meanwhile, suggests that the Iraq mission has, in fact, been accomplished. More»

Squandering a full year on health care reform doesn't cut it

(NEWSER) - The Democrats need to be quicker, or they'll be dead, writes Harold Meyerson. "A president with an activist agenda met a Senate all but incapable of action," and the results, Meyerson says, have been deadly. Almost a year spent haggling over health care is killing them at the polls—and certainly didn't help the "Democratic meltdown in Massachusetts," either. More»