Obama and Nobel – 12/10/2009
The Wrong Prize at the Wrong Time
US President Barack Obama speaks after receiving the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo City Hall on Thursday.
Giving the Nobel Peace Prize to Barack Obama could turn out to be an historic error. There were many others who deserved it more — first among them a German chancellor.
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Opinion – 04/30/2009
The Most Expensive President Since 1945
The new US president’s first 100 days in office were expensive, glamorous and often contradictory. Barack Obama has done many things right against a host of intractable problems, but he’s made at least two blatant mistakes.
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West Wing – 11/18/2008
The Speech We Should Have Heard at the G-20
At the financial summit in Washington, the international community was unduly respectful of the United States, neglecting to probe more deeply into the reasons for the crisis. Only one attendee was unruly — German Finance Minister Peer Steinbrück. Here’s the message he didn’t deliver to Bush.
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Obama’s Historic Election Victory – 11/05/2008
The Resurrection of the American Dream
Barack Obama owes his election victory to his art of hitting the right tone. Other candidates were louder, more aggressive, more experienced. But Obama made America a promise at a time of crisis. He must now show that he can keep it.
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West Wing – 09/30/2008
America, Where It Pays to Fail
In the current financial crisis, the model of US capitalism has imploded with a big bang. But the Bush administration is trying to douse the flames with yet more fuel instead of water, and it wants to see Wall Street’s gamblers rewarded for failure.
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West Wing – 09/04/2008
Resuscitating the Republicans with Sarah Palin
Sarah Palin’s presence on the stage at the Republican National Convention in St. Paul was hardly impressive. But her party hasn’t seemed so human in a long time. Palin’s weaknesses may turn out to be her greatest strength.
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West Wing – 08/25/2008
Democrats Divided by an Obama-Shaped Wedge
At the Democratic National Convention this week, it will become clear that the Democrats have a long way to go before they can speak of unity. The party is split into at least three factions.
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West Wing – 08/19/2008
Learning from Kennedy
These days Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin is often compared — unfairly — with Stalin and Hitler.
In truth, Putin is a Russian Kennedy. And Putin’s Cuba is called Georgia.
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West Wing – 07/25/2008
Obama’s Romantic Revolution
Barack Obama’s promises to heal the world were lapped up in Berlin on Thursday. His speech was a masterpiece in the art of political magic — and it was all coolly calculated.
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West Wing – 07/11/2008
The Incredible Shrinking Bush
There is little consensus on whether the G-8 summit can be seen as a success for the climate. What is certain is that US President George W. Bush had little part in the efforts to save the world. He didn’t lead, he only followed — and the American superpower never before looked as small as it did this week.
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West Wing – 06/26/2008
The Shrinking Influence of the US Federal Reserve
Humiliation for Mr. Dollar: Ben Bernanke, the chairman of the United States Federal Reserve Bank, faces a general investigation by the International Monetary Fund. Just one more example of the Fed losing its power.
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West Wing – 06/04/2008
Dick Cheney’s Dollhouse
Only one American politician is less popular than US President George W. Bush: Vice President Dick Cheney. A luncheon at the National Press Club in Washington was meant to highlight the real Cheney. If it was meant to be an exercise in self-incrimination, then it could only be described as a success.
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West Wing – 05/27/2008
From Superpower to Soft Power
America’s foreign policy is changing. After watching the neoconservatives lead the US into war, presidential candidates John McCain and Barack Obama are both interested in returning to diplomacy. Even Bush’s pistol is back in the holster.
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West Wing – 05/20/2008
The World’s Conservatives Head Left
The shift can be seen from Washington to Berlin: Across the Western world, the political middle is shifting back toward the left. Surprisingly, it may be the conservatives who are best equipped to capitalize on the shift.
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West Wing – 05/13/2008
The Media’s Mini-Truths
Barack Obama may be closer than ever to defeating Hillary Clinton in the race for the Democratic nomination, but the real loser of the election campaign is the American people. They have been betrayed by cynical journalists who have constantly opted for style over substance.
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West Wing – 05/07/2008
The End of the Clinton Era
The former first lady bet everything — and lost. Barring some kind of miracle, Barack Obama will become the Democratic Party’s nominee for president. A dramatic finale on Tuesday night brought an end to the Clinton era.
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West Wing – 04/29/2008
Obama the Inevitable
The issue of race has emerged as the key Democratic divide in this year’s primary season. Despite his waning support amongst white voters, though, the superdelegates appear to have no other choice but to vote for Barack Obama. A vote against him could have serious consequences.
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West Wing – 04/23/2008
Will the Democrats Commit Political Suicide?
Democratic voters just can’t make up their minds between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. In Pennsylvania, they denied him victory but spared her defeat. It will be the job of the superdelegates to commit political murder – but will it mean suicide for the party?
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West Wing – 04/14/2008
The Madness of Ben Bernanke
The dollar is in a tailspin, the trade deficit is growing and a recession is on the horizon. The American way of life is in serious danger. But the head of the Federal Reserve keeps on pumping easy credit into the system – a crazy policy that will worsen the crisis.
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West Wing – 04/10/2008
McCain’s Secret Weapon
When two people argue, it sometimes means that a fourth person wins out. The increasingly hostile duel between the Democratic presidential contenders could present a golden opportunity for one of the great talents in US politics: Condoleezza Rice. She could very well end up becoming McCain’s running mate.
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West Wing – 04/02/2008
Why Americans Never Vote for What They Really Want
American voters are a contradictory bunch: They say they want social welfare, but don’t want to pay for it. They claim they are left-leaning, but vote for center-right candidates. Only candidates who can appeal to both sides stand a chance.
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West Wing – 03/18/2008
Why Sex Scandals Are Good for American Democracy
America’s two main parties are suffering from the erotic escapades of some of their top politicians. As embarrassing as they are for those involved, the revelations are good for democracy. They expose a particularly audacious type of politician: the hypocrite whose supposed virtue is nothing but a sham.
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West Wing – 03/11/2008
The Democrats Fight to the Death
The brutal boxing match between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama is threatening the Democrats’ chances in November. The party establishment is nervous, and the likelihood of a negotiated settlement is rising.
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West Wing – 03/05/2008
The Other Side of Barack Obama
Hillary Clinton is back: With triple victories on Tuesday night the fight for the Democratic nomination is tighter than ever. And her opponent’s camp is fighting off a wave of negative publicity.
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West Wing – 02/19/2008
Change You Can’t Believe In
The rise of democratic frontrunner Barack Obama signifies an alarming victory of style over substance. Not unlike the dot-com hype, his campaign promises more than he can deliver. The one thing his voters can count on is that they will ultimately be disappointed.
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West Wing – 02/12/2008
With Enemies Like McCain’s, Who Needs Friends?
It wasn’t that long ago that Senator John McCain’s candidacy seemed dead in the water. Now, though, the Republican senator from Arizona is getting support from all sides – including from the Democrats.
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West Wing – 02/06/2008
Clinton Narrowly Ahead as Obama Fails to Clinch Center Ground
Hillary Clinton’s narrow lead over Barack Obama shows that the center ground of American society is shrinking. She is finding it increasingly hard to clinch majorities. The old campaign adage that many minorities don’t make a majority still applies. But for how long?
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West Wing – 02/05/2008
Obama-Clinton Bickering Plays into McCain’s Hands
The duel between Democrats Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama may be fascinating for the party’s supporters, but it’s jeopardizing a Democratic election victory in November. When two people quarrel, the third often wins – which is why John McCain could end up as president.
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West Wing – 01/29/2008
The Three Myths of the US Election Campaign
“Change” is the buzzword in the US election campaign. Hoping to emulate Barack Obama’s popular success, candidates from both parties are suddenly jumping on the change bandwagon. But some of the things they want to change are in fact sacrosanct – like the Constitution.
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West Wing – 01/22/2008
The End of the Obama Revolution
The euphoria is gone, the friendly fire has started: Barack Obama is suddenly looking less like a superstar and more like just another candidate. His message isn’t hitting home with the three most important groups of voters: women, older Americans and blue-collar workers.
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