A blog is not a book, not even the facsimile of a chapter. At best (and worst) it is a strong conclusion and a terse abridgement of the facts, premises, analogies and values on which that conclusion rests. So it's an awkward medium for an academic like me who cherishes...

In my first blog on the recent Gaza catastrophe I drew an unintentionally inflammatory analogy between what I see as the indefinite detention or incarceration of the inhabitants of Gaza and Nazi treatment of Jewishness beginning as soon as Hitler seized power as a crime justifying incarceration (which, of course,...

According to the latest approximations of Amnesty International, 400 Palestinian residents of Gaza have been killed and 2,000 wounded by Israel's air and sea bombardment. Meanwhile, mainstream media outlets report that rockets from Gaza have killed 4 Israelis (15 had been killed in previous rocket attacks beginning after Israel's withdrawal)...

Explaining Barack Obama's circumspect reaction to the bombing of Gaza, his chief political advisor, David Axelrod, correctly noted that "we can only have one President at a time." But in three weeks that temporary pass for Obama will expire.

Hearing, like the rest of us, the great sucking sounds American...

Dear Joe,

Exposing Palin's disqualifications will be difficult. For she will deliver from memory non-toxic, formulaic "answers" crafted by her handlers, deliver them along with an occasional stiletto wrapped in carefully rehearsed Reaganesque good humor. And the PBS moderator, frantic to demonstrate her impartiality, won't press Palin when her...

Why did Obama, superior in intellect and character, jab lightly and otherwise play rope-a-dope rather than delivering decisive blows to McCain's inviting jaw? Here are two among a half-dozen samples of opportunities foregone:

1. McCain: We have got to get spending under control.

Obama [what he could...