When I first heard President Obama announce an increase of US troops in Afghanistan, I had an instinctive "support-America!" response. Despite being critical of the war, as a WW II veteran that was my gut reaction. We have tens of thousands of our troops in that country, sent there by...

Progressives are in a state over Obama's cabinet appointments. Cries of "betrayal," "sellout," and "Clintonian copycat" fill the air. Steve Hildebrand, Obama's deputy campaign manager, just found it necessary to speak out urgently in the Huff Press to defend the cabinet appointments against progressive critics. I agree with him that...

Every four years the Republicans put on a show to spin Middle America into believing that the Grand Old Party is the champion of Joe-the-Plumber, Joe-Six-Pack, and other salt-of-the-earth folks out there. They elbow them under their "big tent" for the nominating convention with a wink (what else?) and a...

The "Open Letter" to Barack Obama in the Nation (posted on the magazine's web site on July 28, 2008) chides him for retreating from his core liberal beliefs and steering toward the center. I think the letter misjudges where Obama really stands in the political spectrum, a miscalculation that...

Has anyone noticed that Hillary is methodically displaying the very stereotypes the right wing has attributed to her all these years? She seems dedicated to prove they were on target all along. Hillary is using the same slash and polarize tactics against someone in her own party that...

Change has been a watchword this primary season. Everyone trumpets change now that the Bush governing regime has crumbled. Obama's has been the strongest and most consistent voice for change, but the change theme has been ubiquitous, though variegated (and confusing), among all the candidates. I think it would give...