The most important difference between America's Democratic left and Republican right is that the left has ideas and the right has discipline.
Addressing Congress is a good idea, but Obama can't rely solely on his exceptional rhetorical skills. He'll need to twist arms, cajole, force recalcitrant members to join him, and threaten retribution if they don't come along.
I keep hearing that the economic meltdown has taken a huge toll on the stock portfolios of the rich. That's true. But the rich haven't lost nearly as much of their assets, proportionately, as everyone else.
With Congress returning from recess to consider health care legislation and the President set to deliver a major address on the subject to both houses of Congress tomorrow, a bit of history may be in order.
When the mainstream media start naming something as "centrist" the game is almost over because just about everyone with any authority in our nation's capital wants to be at the "center."
The real political race for health care has just begun. Obama's speech should be seen as the starting gate of a two-month sprint between two competitors -- and they're not Democrats and Republicans.
Let's be clear: Wall Street today is up to the same tricks it was playing before its near-death experience. The only difference now is that its biggest banks know for sure they'll be bailed out if their bets turn sour.
Here's what's likely to happen if Snowe signs on to the Baucus bill, and if she doesn't. The next few weeks are crucial.
Regardless of what you call it -- Keynesianism, socialism, or just pragmatism -- government's expansion is doing wonders for business, especially big business and Wall Street.
The public option lives on. It's still in the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pension bill. It still headlines the House bills, and Speaker Nancy Pelosi says she's still committed to it.
