The controversy over the seating of a new United States Senator to replace Barack Obama to represent the State of Illinois has reinforced some old core issues in America from Tip O'Neil's "all politics is local" to the adage that "race is always a factor."

But one thing is clear,...

The Presidential victory of Barack Obama now seems to have settled in, and we are in the midst of a kind of Presidential "lull" as much of the country waits impatiently for one president to leave (and he seems quite anxious to do so), while they wait equally as impatiently...

As we move into this week of the first Presidential Debates, it may be helpful to review how the two candidates for President have fared in the first half of the main fall campaign. In many ways, they have not fared well. And if we are passing out failing grades...

Enough already. All through the weekend and throughout the first day of the Democratic convention, we seem to have heard nothing but commentary on "What Hillary has to do in her speech" and "What Bill Clinton has to do in his speech" and how much pressure is on Hillary and...

Just before Senator Obama left for his overseas tour, new poll numbers came out that provided us with some interesting new trends, particularly given the state of the nation's economy and readings of how many Americans think the country is on the wrong track (73%). Question for you. In the...

In the aftermath of the Unity event in New Hampshire with Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, much of the media coverage over the weekend focused on the absence of Bill Clinton from the event, and whether Bill Clinton was deliberately holding back his support because of "bitter feelings" over Hillary...

As we wrap up the nomination process for the Democrats, and Barack Obama assumes the mantle for the Party and for its hopes and dreams for "change," most of the attention is now focused on the Vice Presidential choices to be made by both John McCain and Barack Obama.

Ohio and Texas have spoken, and what they said is that the road to Denver cannot be a single lane express drive for just one vehicle with no road blocks or toll stops to revalidate the trip. The Obama bus was on that express drive, and the voters said let's...

In the quick fire succession of recent primaries from Maine to Washington State and back to the Potomac, the voters have spoken. Republicans, although with indigestion and heartburn, have said "McCain's the one." With almost double the number of voters, most Democrats have said "yes we can" for Obama, almost...

In the aftermath of the Michigan primary, where two of the top three Democratic nominees weren't on the ballot, where the State Democratic Party played "chicken" with the National Democratic Party and lost, where for the first time in any primary Hillary Clinton received more votes than the other Dem...

The major media focus this past week has been on the re-surging Barack Obama campaign for the Democratic nomination for President, and the role that Oprah Winfrey's public and active support for the Obama campaign will have on the final selection process.

It is interesting that the PR frontal...

Is there anyone out there who did not expect General David Petraeus to ask Congress for more time in Iraq based on surge results that, while mixed, give us some encouragement that the situation in Baghdad has improved in a measured way? No one? Not surprising.

The distinguished general...

It is striking to me that so many people, listeners, viewers, talk show hosts, and even commentators -- particularly those oriented on the "left," have been attacking the Democrats as having "caved in" on the war spending bill recently approved by Congress without any timetables or deadlines for withdrawing our...

As we now roll into this new year, its hard to imagine that the year is only three weeks old. It seems like New Year's was six months ago. The President has given us a State of the Union address that seemed less impactful than the one he gave a...

Even though they are still counting votes in at least five congressional races, everyone seems to have already moved on to the 2008 Presidential campaign. Not so fast. There are some aspects of this recent 2006 election which still deserve more scrutiny precisely because they will affect the 2008 Presidential...

Ever since the 2000 Presidential election, no election cycle passes without warnings from either political side of an ominous "October surprise" coming in the last week or ten days of the campaign. And this year has been no different - or has it? As a rule, there usually is one...

The anniversary of 9/11 has focused everyone's attention on the war on terror and the role the Iraq war has played in that effort. Maybe that's why the President chose to use 9/11 to justify the war in Iraq, although many think that project is unrelated to the war on...

No hotspot world issue of tension is more complicated with more incendiary repercussions for the entire world than the Arab-Israeli conflict. And even with the backdrop of the recently signed cease fire, one can still reflect on the ongoing potential for more violence and continuing conflict. In fact, before we...

Americans are now in the midst of the July 4th summer driving season with the backdrop of the highest gasoline prices ever. And to top it off, we were recently treated to the pronouncement by Republican Chairman Ken Mehlman and other Republican spokesmen that if the Democrats take control of...

Just in the last week, British Prime Minister Tony Blair initiated a major shake-up of his cabinet, and one of the most prominent victims was Foreign Secretary Jack Straw, who Blair removed apparently over differences in determining what options to consider in responding to Iran's plans to continue their nuclear...