One can debate whether America should insert itself militarily into the Syrian conflict. It is far less debatable that by selling weapons to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Russia has precipitated President Obama's recent decision to arm the Syria rebels, initiating an American role in this military conflict.

Since 2001 Americans have experienced two wars, including the longest in the nation's history. The public is weary of conflict and wary of another engagement in the Middle East, as are countries in the region and our allies. President Obama's move to participate in another conflict there by providing military...

Can lightning strike twice in one place? Not according to folklore, but when did Massachusetts ever comply with convention? When it comes to special elections in the Bay State, anything is possible.

Based on current polling and demographic data, the Republican candidate for U.S. Senate, businessman and former Navy SEAL...

An internal battle is brewing amongst Republicans on immigration that is about to come to a head as the Senate immigration bill moves onto the floor. This can be best understood as a conflict between micro and macro perspectives on the issue. The fates of immigration reform this year and...

Clearly his own November 2013 re-election was on New Jersey Governor Chris Christie's (R) mind while deciding when to call a special election to replace late U.S. Senator Frank Lautenberg (D). His decision to proceed with a special election this October will also impact his 2016 presidential prospects. The governor's...

Now that senators have finished their public castigation of Apple, a national icon that has done more to advance America than most recent legislative gatherings, a more thorough discussion of the tax issues at hand can occur.

Lost in the U.S. Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations' skewering...

What's in a name? If it's a bill in Congress, it turns out there's quite a bit.

The Gang of Eight's immigration proposal, the "Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act," clearly lays out what -- and in what order -- an overhaul must do.

There is...

In an increasingly interconnected global economy, the need to develop a global advocacy strategy has become essential to businesses and NGOs alike.

Effective advocacy efforts must ensure that the big picture doesn't inhibit actors from tailoring their efforts to the discrepancies of individual markets. After all, if you don't...

This piece co-authored by Graduate School of Political Management adjunct professor Mary Crannell

According to a recent Gallup poll, 65 percent of Americans believe the government should use drones to target suspected terrorists abroad. Politicians tend to support things that the electorate supports, so the policy should continue...

This piece was co-authored by Patricia Phalen

It's a new era in video entertainment -- the birth of a network-free first run television drama streamed directly into homes on Netflix. By now most TV fans have either heard about or watched House of Cards , the 13-part series...

Much has been said about Pope Francis being the first papal selection from the New World or the first to be selected from the ranks of the Jesuits, but most amazing to me is that he is the first to select the name of Francis. This speaks volumes as to...

The path to ending the divide in Washington falls upon "We the People." Unfortunately, we are at least as divided as Washington. Today's digitally fueled divide creates alternative realities that allow us to see the same picture differently. People need to see both sides in order to find a way...

Americans are much more unified in their aspirations and worries than they are about how to address them. An effective political leader must be bilingual -- speaking to the anxieties and desires of both the left and the right. Those seeking to build a broad coalition to spur action must...

With Pope Benedict XVI's surprising resignation announcement, the world will soon be fixated on a selection process unlike any other. The papal selection process is the opposite of the congressional decision-making process with which most Americans are familiar. Rather than taking an eternity to make a political decision that is...

Just as whether the groundhog sees his shadow is thought to forecast whether spring will be over the horizon, so too will the outcome to a select set of questions about the upcoming State of the Union Address (SOTU) determine whether it will soon be springtime in America or whether...

When President Obama delivers the first State of the Union address of his second term next Tuesday, he will be riding a wave of political victories into the coral lined shores of the United States Congress. A tumble into the rough waters of legislative gridlock in the months ahead could...

Serious immigration reform will be addressed later and will be narrower than some may hope.

The sparse result of months of partisan wrestling over the fiscal cliff portends a reduced likelihood that any of President Obama's second-term priorities, including immigration reform, will be addressed in the manner he outlines in...

President Obama's effort to pivot America's foreign policy to Asia -- as highlighted by his selection of Southeast Asia for his first foreign trip since his reelection -- offers not only ample economic opportunities but also many foreign policy pitfalls.

Several realities have emerged that...

Our leaders -- and our nation -- are in a precarious position.

Post-election 2012, Democrats and Republicans are claiming competing mandates and political capital. President Obama is emboldened to raise taxes on the wealthy in an attempt to avoid the fiscal cliff. Former Tea Party freshmen who are...

The Obama administration should say "yes" to the European Union's (EU's) invitation to do some nation-building here in America while at the same time helping our indispensible ally--Europe--and boosting family incomes.

Where would this nation-building come from? The answer today is the same as it was in the postwar...