President George H.W. Bush once admitted that he was not good at the "Vision Thing." He was not able to convey a broader agenda that outlined the direction in which he wanted to move the country.

President Obama has suffered from the vision thing as well, both on national...

Today President Obama honored the late Senator Ted Kennedy by calling him "the greatest legislator of our time." These were fitting words for a man who demonstrated just how much can be accomplished by learning the ways and means of Congress.

President Obama's words were a reminder that losing the...

One of the most dramatic moments during the 2008 campaign occurred when then-candidate Barack Obama traveled to Germany and spoke before an estimated crowd of 200,000 adoring Europeans. The enthusiasm for Barack Obama and what he promised was overwhelming, and was palpable to anyone who was watching. On the night...

It takes money to build a political movement. But progressive Democrats are not always comfortable with this reality. During the 2008 presidential campaign, Barack Obama's campaign was able to raise massive amounts of cash -- funds that proved pivotal to fending off the Republican attacks in the final month of...

Public works frequently get a bad rap. Ever since Congress and pundits debated the economic recovery legislation that President Obama proposed in January, bipartisanship collapsed. Among their many complaints, Republicans railed against the program as a classic big government spending measure that would fuel pork-barrel projects without doing anything to...

When Reverend Rick Warren handles the invocation at Barack Obama's inauguration next week, the day after we celebrate Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday, many Democrats will be disappointed and hurt, even with the recent announcement that the progressive minister Sharon Watkins will give the sermon at the national prayer service...

There are two myths circulating in Washington. The first is that current economic conditions are too dire for the White House to undertake major initiatives beyond stabilizing the economy. The second related myth is that President-elect Barack Obama will be a political pragmatist and therefore avoid expansive and controversial proposals.

Sean Theriault Party Polarization in Congress (Cambridge University Press)

Can we move beyond polarization in Washington?

Every election season, we ask this same question. Politicians promise that conditions will be different once they are in power, people will get along and civility will be restored. "I work with Republicans and...

Democrats in Washington are juggling their policy lineup. In preparation for January, President-Elect Barack Obama and the congressional leadership must decide which issues to roll out first and which should be left for another time.

The urban crisis should be at the top of their list. Much of this campaign...

Republicans have unveiled their closing argument. Desperate to prevent a huge Democratic landslide, Republicans warn that one-party government under Democrats would surely mean liberal extremism.

Raising the specter of an "Obama, Pelosi and Reid" government, Sen. John McCain refers to the combination of Sen. Barack Obama, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi...

There has been a lot of buzz today that Barack Obama is going too far with his thirty minute television commercial. Reporters have speculated about whether it shows Obama's arrogance, or extravagance, and if this move is just overkill. Will Americans react badly to thirty minutes of Obama? Why is...

In business and government, executives benefit from nurturing strong constituencies so that when times get rough they have enough support to carry them through. This is an obvious point, but it is a lesson too often forgotten, even by U.S. Presidents. Jimmy Carter is a case in point, a powerful...

The current financial crisis has caused American voters to think hard about which party can best deal with the current economic downturn, a decline which has the potential to become a global depression.

Traditionally, voters have tended to trust Democrats more than Republicans when faced with difficult economic times. One...

This has been a terrible week for conservatives. Since the financial crisis began, McCain's support has been plummeting in the polls. The most recent data also suggests that the election might result in a Democratic landslide for Obama and also in the congressional races, potentially giving Democrats a filibuster-proof Senate....

Everyone will be watching the Biden-Palin vice presidential debate. This is an eagerly awaited event, with predictions that Americans will tune in high numbers to see whether Palin can handle the tough questions and if Biden puts his foot in his mouth, once again.

Democrats need to be very careful....

Everyone is scrambling to blame somebody for the collapse of the financial bailout legislation earlier today. Both parties will find plenty of people to blame. House Republicans will blame Speaker Pelosi for making a speech that was allegedly too partisan. Democrats will blame House Republicans for sticking to a dogmatically...

Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.), chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, looks like a giant these days. As the financial markets have plummeted and President George W. Bush is proposing sweeping legislation to bail out Wall Street, Frank is a key point man, attempting to strike a delicate balance between...

Although Congress is now preoccupied by the massive bailout of the financial markets that might cost $700 billion or more, government officials should also be willing to devote some attention and funds to the challenges of the electoral system.

The 2000 election taught us many things. The main lesson...

Although Congress is now preoccupied by the massive bailout of the financial markets that might cost $700 billion or more, government officials should also be willing to devote some attention and funds to the challenges of the electoral system.

The 2000 election taught us many things. The main lesson...

Although Congress is now preoccupied by the massive bailout of the financial markets that might cost $700 billion or more, government officials should also be willing to devote some attention and funds to the challenges of the electoral system.

The 2000 election taught us many things. The main lesson...