Pelosi’s Not-So-Robust Public Option Pelosi’s Not-So-Robust Public Option
The public option was always a compromise for serious supporters of health-care reform, who -- like Barack Obama when he was running for the Senate in 2003 -- knew that a single-p...
Oct 29, 2009 / John Nichols
Warrior-Diplomat Asks of Afghan War: “Why and to What End?” Warrior-Diplomat Asks of Afghan War: “Why and to What End?”
About the U.S. occupation of Afghanistan -- not merely the proposal to surge more troops into the quagmire but the occupation itself -- he says: "I want people in Iowa, people in ...
Oct 28, 2009 / John Nichols
What If, Instead of Fox, Team Obama Tackled Insurance Profiteers What If, Instead of Fox, Team Obama Tackled Insurance Profiteers
Suppose President Obama and his aides had decided to take on the worst offender among the big insurance companies this fall. Suppose the White House had highlighted the failure o...
Oct 26, 2009 / John Nichols
A “Premature Antifascist” — And Proudly So A “Premature Antifascist” — And Proudly So
Clarence Kailin, a son of the Midwest whose lifelong commitment to social and economic justice led him to become one of the first Americans to take up arms against the fascist for...
Oct 26, 2009 / John Nichols
Byrd’s Wise Warning: Afghanistan is the Grave of Foreigners Byrd’s Wise Warning: Afghanistan is the Grave of Foreigners
West Virginia Senator Robert Byrd refers to himself as "a student of history." In fact, he is history. The longest serving senator in the history of the legislative branch of th...
Oct 24, 2009 / John Nichols
Roger Ailes for President? Er, Maybe Not So Much Roger Ailes for President? Er, Maybe Not So Much
It would be difficult to concoct a Washington fantasy more delicious than this one: Barack Obama declares "war" on Fox News and Fox boss Roger Ailes counters by signaling that he ...
Oct 23, 2009 / John Nichols
Congressman Grayson Wins Another Round Congressman Grayson Wins Another Round
Florida Congressman Alan Grayson keeps provoking congressional Republicans and their media allies with fact-based challenges to the lies being used to block health care reform. T...
Oct 21, 2009 / John Nichols
Obama to Karzai: Thanks for Recognizing Your Illegitimacy Obama to Karzai: Thanks for Recognizing Your Illegitimacy
Barack Obama will have to do some awfully embarrassing things as president. The whole pardoning the turkey thing on the eve of Thanksgiving comes to mind. And then there's the tak...
Oct 20, 2009 / John Nichols
Ending Federal Lawlessness: DOJ Eases Off Medical Pot Ending Federal Lawlessness: DOJ Eases Off Medical Pot
During the 2008 campaign, one of candidate Barack Obama's best applause lines was a promise to restore respect for science when it came to federal policy making. On Monday, Presi...
Oct 19, 2009 / John Nichols
Better a Disappointing Dem Than a Savvy Theocrat Better a Disappointing Dem Than a Savvy Theocrat
Creigh Deeds has been a disappointment as the Democratic nominee for governor of Virginia. While he was preferable to one of his Democratic primary foes -- veteran party bagman T...
Oct 18, 2009 / John Nichols