It is downright ludicrous to say that a Nobel Prize-winning economist is somehow not qualified to get a job running economic policy for the government. Until Sen. Richard Shelby realizes this, Obama and the White House should point it out.

If Republicans continue their tantrum once the Senate passes the reconciliation bill, it's going to be a lot easier for Democrats to convince independents that they, the Democrats, are the adults in the room.

As the dust settles on the aftermath of the health reform summit, not much has changed. Not that anyone really expected anything to change, much, to be honest.

President Obama this week has successfully put the Republican Party on the defensive. This could be a fleeting thing, or it could be the start of a whole new way for Obama's administration to operate.

There are two yardsticks for success. The first is to actually get something done, and get something passed; the other, to position the Democrats politically for the midterms, whether a bill gets passed or not.

Democrats need to realize that they still have the biggest majority in both houses of Congress that they are likely to see in their lifetimes.

Obama followed up Wednesday night's speech with a town hall meeting in Florida, and then a truly stunning performance today, managing to "bell the cat" in the Republican lion's den.

I have little sympathy for Baucus at this point, when he complains that his adversaries have had time to put out a report attacking his bill. Because there is one reason that they've had all that time.

Obama's legislative style has been to vaguely define what he's for, introduce a plan that is quite obviously open to lots and lots of negotiation, and then sit back and let Congress work it out.

Barack Obama continues to ride a wave of public support as we approach the magic "100th day" of his presidency. Since I wrote about his 100 days (94 ...

Senator Bayh announced today the formation of a "Moderate Dems Working Group", or to put it in layman's terms, a group of 15 or so Bush Dog... I'm sorry... Blue Dog conservative Democratic Senators.

A little-known rule in the Senate may dramatically change the balance of power between the parties during the upcoming budgetary process.

These Republicans have relegated themselves to be the roadblocks on the path to a prosperous democracy; and as such we need to do whatever is within our power to get passed them.

What a week! With Congress back in session, with the excitement of newly-elected members being sworn in (or barred at the door, as the case may be), ...

Nobody seriously annoyed me this week, but I will launch a pre-emptive finger-wagging, to anyone on the left who can't resist the urge to be disrespectful of Tim Russert's memory right now.