The New Republic

After Michelle Obama’s moving pyrotechnics of Tuesday, and Bill Clinton’s droll evisceration of the Republicans on Wednesday, it would be easy to declare the Democratic Convention a political success. Key goals have been met, powerful themes articulated. Easily, President Barack Obama could reprise those powerful notes, stir the crowd, and head home. READ MORE >>

Yes, we know we’re tempting fate. But we figure there’s a 50 percent chance Obama will get reelected, and in any case he needs an agenda to campaign on. So we’ve asked a number of TNR writers to explain what they think Obama should focus on for the next four years if he wins in November. Click here to read the collected contributions. READ MORE >>

Are Senate Democrats really foolish enough not to line up behind President Obama's jobs bill?  Quite possibly. On Tuesday night, Majority Leader Harry Reid will try to bring the newly revised package to a vote. He won't succeed, because the chamber's 47 Republicans will vote unanimously to filibuster it. And it takes only 40 to succeed. READ MORE >>

Did Obama say enough about health care reform last night? I suppose I'm one of the very few people who would even ask that question. Most Americans would probably think, "More health care? Lord no." And I think Obama and his speechwriters sensed as much. Although his defense of the Affordable Care Act was clear--he's not going to sign a bill repealing the law--it was also short. That portion of the speech was just two brief paragraphs, by my count.  READ MORE >>

Presidents frequently use the State of the Union address to introduce new ideas or try out new political themes. Not tonight. The Barack Obama you heard speaking to Congress was the Barack Obama who ran for president in 2008. And I think he's here to stay this time. READ MORE >>

--Karl Rove's list of Republican health care cost controls debunked --Stanley Greenberg on how to avoid another 1994 --An argument against torture published at National Review   READ MORE >>

In October, when Tzipi Livni, who had won the race to succeed outgoing Prime Minister Ehud Olmert as head of Israel's ruling Kadima Party, announced that she was unable to form a governing coalition, you could almost hear the groans coming from across the Atlantic and from European capitals. The reason? Livni's failure to assemble a government means new elections will take place in February. READ MORE >>

Bill Clinton was being treated to the good side of Newt Gingrich. When congressional leaders gathered at the White House in July for a dinner devoted to foreign affairs, the Speaker was, recalls a top Clinton official, like Wellington opining on world affairs. Gingrich lamented those Republicans who would slash contributions to the U.N. "We have to find a way to get more of them to travel abroad," Gingrich said. READ MORE >>