Obama and Democracy in Africa

Larry Diamond, 07.11.2009

Senior Fellow, Hoover Institution and Freeman Spogli Institute

No American president has ever spoken so candidly on African soil about the real roots of Africa's development malaise.

Obama's Health Care Reform Won't Fly: But This Will

Nelson Montana, 07.11.2009

Author, Musician, Actor

It's time to pull the plug. Call off the resuscitation team. Bring in the coroner. Health care reform is dead. Obama gave it a good shot, but it was doomed from the start.

Is the World Getting Saner? Consider These Rational International Developments

Steven Crandell, 07.11.2009

Nuclear Age Peace Foundation

There is no doubt that the time is right for our President to assert the importance of working through global cooperation to achieve the mutally-desirable goal of planetary survival.

Why Did President Obama Choose Ghana as His Africa Destination?

Allison Kilkenny, 07.11.2009

radio host, writer, allisonkilkenny.com

A quarter of US oil imports are expected to come from West Africa by 2015. That could explain why Obama chose Ghana over, say, his father's homeland of Kenya.

Ghanaian Media Awaits Obama

Sena Atoklo, 07.11.2009

Sena Atoklo is a broadcast journalist and resident of Ghana.

Sena Atoklo is a broadcast journalist and resident of Ghana who has worked with the BBC and ITV in the UK, and ETV South Africa. Over the next week, h...

Former Insider Shatters Credibility of Military Commissions

Andy Worthington, 07.11.2009

Journalist and author of "The Guantanamo Files"

Lt. Col. Vandeveld said, "I simply could not in good conscience continue to work for an ad-hoc, hastily created apparatus whose evident resort to expediency and ethical compromise were so contrary to my own."

What Obama's Trip to Ghana Really Means

Josh Ruxin, 07.11.2009

Public health and economic development expert based in Rwanda

Part of Obama's message is most assuredly that US assistance, heretofore strong and, at times, unquestioning, may in the future be linked to a compelling proof of democracy, openness and good governance.

Friday Talking Points [85] -- Roll Up! See The Show!

Chris Weigant, 07.10.2009

Author, Political Commentator, and Blogger (ChrisWeigant.com)

"Welcome back, my friends, to the show that never ends..." All week long, this line has been running through my head. It's from an Emerson, Lake, and...

Well, You Wanted Bipartisanship: House Awakens, Votes 429-2 For Oval Office Accountability

Rob Warmowski, 07.11.2009

Chicago-based freelance writer, animation producer and educator

Why now? Why did the House allow hundreds of dubious, abusive Bush signing statements in eight years without such an amendment, but can find its courage and love of accountability today?

Will Obama Set a New Tone in Africa?

Cynthia Gordy, 07.10.2009

Washington Correspondent, Essence magazine

Amid the anticipated media narrative, of Ghana excitedly welcoming the first Black President on his first trip to sub-Saharan Africa, many are also wondering about the substance.

Obama's Favorite TV Series Returns This Weekend

Bill Mann, 07.10.2009

TV-Radio Critic www.dcweasels.com

President Obama obviously doesn't have enough time to watch TV regularly. But when he does, he's said in several recent interviews, he tries to catch HBO's Entourage.

Obama in Ghana: Time to End Tied Aid

David Gartner, 07.10.2009

Fellow in the Global Economy and Development Program at the Brookings Institution

Virtually all food assistance provided by the United States to Africa is required to be produced and packaged here and shipped on U.S. flagged vessels halfway around the world.

I Came Out of Rehab Because Sean Hannity's A Liar

Dave Hackel, 07.10.2009

Taking someone's words and rearranging them to tell a completely different story is wrong. It's not journalism, reporting or even commentary. It's lying. So why isn't this front page news?

Weekly Foreign Affairs Roundup

Christopher Herbert and Victoria Kataoka Rebuffet, 07.10.2009

Editors of Simple Intelligence

The Week's Top Stories in Foreign Affairs : Re-Settling of US-Russia Relations Facts:US President Barack Obama traveled to Russia this week and met wi...

O'Reilly Needs To Get His Facts Straight About Flyover Denial

Chris Rodda, 07.10.2009

Senior Research Director, Military Religious Freedom Foundation; author, "Liars For Jesus"

Right, Mr. O'Reilly, an event whose mission statement begins with "Our mission is primarily about spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ" doesn't have any "specific religion in play."

Obama: the Natural Born Leader

Michael J. Berland, 07.10.2009

As the representative of GM's new majority owner, and as chief officer of the major banks in the US, Obama has become a de facto chairman of sorts and can now add 'Captain of Industry' 'to his resume.

Obama in Ghana: Pay Attention to Africa

Catholic Relief Services, 07.10.2009

President Obama should fulfill the promise of candidate Obama by engaging with the people of Africa and doubling foreign aid to $50 billion a year by 2012.

G-8 Promises $20 Billion in Agricultural Aid: Real Change or Business as Usual?

Paula Crossfield, 07.10.2009

Managing Editor of civileats.com

One can't help but wonder if by requesting this money from the G8 in the name of charity we are instead trying to promote our own economy.

U.S. Hispanic Chamber Challenged on Its Small Business Credentials by ASBL

Chris Gunn, 07.10.2009

The U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce has shown no commitment to removing corporate giants from small business contracting programs.

What the Neocons Don't Get about Freedom

Mike Signer, 07.10.2009

Author and National Security Consultant

A key aspect of constitutionalism is that it begins and ends with the people, rather than rhetoric, institutions, or leaders. Thus the genius of Obama's policy of actual democracy promotion.

The Fed Under Fire (VIDEO)

Harry Hanbury, 07.10.2009

Senior Producer, American News Project

As details emerge of how the Fed secretly doled out more than a trillion dollars during the financial crisis, a rare bipartisan movement in Congress demands that the Fed be held accountable.