44: The Obama Presidency

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Thursday, March 12, 2009

The administration's latest failed nominee peddles a conspiracy theory

FORMER ambassador Charles W. Freeman Jr. looked like a poor choice to chair the Obama administration's National Intelligence Council. A former envoy to Saudi Arabia and China, he suffered from an extreme case of clientitis on both accounts. In addition to chiding Beijing for not crushing the... Sign in to see full entry.

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Hillary Clinton undercuts the State Department's own human rights reprting

SECRETARY OF STATE Hillary Rodham Clinton continues to devalue and undermine the U.S. diplomatic tradition of human rights advocacy. On her first foreign trip, to Asia, she was dismissive about raising human rights concerns with China's communist government, saying "those issues can't interfere"... Sign in to see full entry.

Monday, March 2, 2009

Why Obama Is Right About Inequality

Our political system adjusts badly when the familiar landmarks erected during controversies of the past are swept away and prepackaged arguments become obsolete. Starting with this week's congressional budget hearings, it will be imperative to recognize the extent to which President Obama's fiscal... Sign in to see full entry.

Friday, February 27, 2009

The Senate offers the city a vote in the House -- at a cost.

THE SENATE voted yesterday to give the people of Washington, D.C., a voting representative in Congress. It was a historic moment and should have been a moment for pure celebration. But both moment and measure were tarnished by a dangerous amendment that would strip D.C. officials of their rightful... Sign in to see full entry.

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Mr. Obama lays out a bold agenda. But the economic crisis has to come first

FACING AN economic crisis, a banking crisis, a housing crisis and an auto industry crisis, President Obama used the opportunity of his address to a joint session of Congress Tuesday night to load his plate with even more. Mr. Obama said he would press ahead with plans to overhaul the nation's... Sign in to see full entry.

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

The secretary of state underestimates the power of her words.

HILLARY RODHAM Clinton says she was only "stating the obvious" when she played down the importance of U.S. pressure on China about human rights issues during a visit there over the weekend. In fact, her comments understated the significance of what a secretary of state says about such matters, and... Sign in to see full entry.

Friday, February 20, 2009

Is it time for the United States to reach out to Burma?

PRESIDENT OBAMA'S inaugural address made the world's tyrants a proposition. "We will extend a hand," Mr. Obama said, "if you are willing to unclench your fist." It now appears that Burma could be one of the first test cases for this approach. For decades, a small group of military officers has ruled... Sign in to see full entry.

Thursday, February 19, 2009

President Obama's cautious plan to help homeowners.

ANY PLAN to shore up the U.S. housing market and prevent foreclosures confronts a basic dilemma. To maximize a plan's effectiveness, the government must confer significant benefits on a large number of homeowners. To maximize fairness and conserve funds, the government must not confer benefits on... Sign in to see full entry.

Monday, February 16, 2009

Will Barack Obama unconditionally embrace the Middle East's autocrats?

IT'S BEEN nearly five years since Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak visited Washington. The strongman boycotted President George W. Bush's second term because of Mr. Bush's efforts to promote political liberalization in Egypt. Now, with the advent of an administration that seems skeptical of its... Sign in to see full entry.

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

A Fine Start for Common Ground Abortion Reduction

The first weeks of the Obama administration have been a whirlwind of appointments, and as advertised, “change,” but the aspect most in evidence is the president’s efforts at finding common ground. One of the most important agents in this effort will be the president’s new Office of Faith-Based and... Sign in to see full entry.

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