US Opinion and Commentary

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Trump Triumphant

Posted November 9th, 2016 at 5:08 pm (UTC-4)
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At 6:21 am Eastern Standard Time on November 9, 2016, the sun cast its first light on the United States atop Maine’s Cadillac Mountain, and a new day began in America with Donald Trump as it’s next president.

Pollsters, pundits and political junkies are left trying to explain how they so badly missed seeing the strength of Trump’s support. So far, Hillary Clinton has a slight lead in the overall popular vote, but she was unable to attract enough votes in the usually reliable Democratic strongholds of Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin to win the Electoral College.

Americans spoke loudly Tuesday in favor of change. They gave Republicans control of the White House, Congress and the opportunity to stack the Supreme Court with like-minded justices. Expectations are high. Can Trump and his political party meet those expectations? And what kind of change will we see?

Republicans Stress Threat of ISIS in Final Debate of 2015

Posted December 16th, 2015 at 4:52 pm (UTC-4)
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By Barbara Slavin Republican presidential candidates at their debate last night in Las Vegas focused on terrorism as a major threat to the American way of life. New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie was the most dramatic, accusing President Barack Obama and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton of “betraying” Americans through “weak” and “feckless” leadership. “People […]

An Agnostic Ted Cruz Supporter Responds

Posted November 12th, 2015 at 11:54 am (UTC-4)
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I am a Republican political consultant in Texas and openly agnostic … Earlier this year I endorsed Ted Cruz for president … I share most of his core philosophical beliefs … I was staggeringly disappointed when I read his comment that atheists are not fit to be president.

Chaos Is the GOP’s New Normal

Posted October 9th, 2015 at 8:37 am (UTC-4)
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The insurrection that propelled billionaire Donald Trump into the lead for the GOP nomination and ultimately made House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) surrender his gavel in frustration rages on unabated. This was no mere summer skirmish. If anything, the rebellion is gaining strength.

Hillary Clinton’s Sweeping Executive Power Agenda is Unprecedented

Posted October 9th, 2015 at 8:28 am (UTC-4)
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The scope of what she’s promising to do by herself is unprecedented from a top candidate for the presidency.

Carly’s Rise

Posted October 8th, 2015 at 4:08 pm (UTC-4)
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It’s hard to stand out in this year’s overly crowded field of Republican presidential hopefuls, especially when business mogul Donald Trump is among them. But during a televised debate last month in California, former Hewlett Packard CEO Carly Fiorina did just that when she answered a question about abortion. The slight, petite and well-coiffed corporate Carly came out swinging hard, condemning the harvesting of organs from aborted fetuses. Suddenly, Trump wasn’t the only one in the room. But being on the radar screen isn’t always what it’s cracked up to be. The spotlight, as Fiorina certainly knows, brings with it tough scrutiny.

Trump and Fiorina’s Snake Oil Sales

Posted September 22nd, 2015 at 11:49 am (UTC-4)
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They’re both right. Fiorina’s tenure at HP was indeed a disaster, and Trump’s casino interests did indeed file for bankruptcy multiple times. Now that Trump and Fiorina are number one and number two in a recent poll — oy! — it’s worth taking a closer look at their business records.

Donald Trump Is a Counterfeit Republican

Posted August 13th, 2015 at 10:48 am (UTC-4)
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He is an affront to anyone devoted to the project William F. Buckley began six decades ago with the founding in 1955 of the National Review — making conservatism intellectually respectable and politically palatable.

John Kasich, Nightmare for Partisans

Posted July 29th, 2015 at 10:09 am (UTC-4)
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Ohio Governor John Kasich, who on Tuesday became the latest and perhaps last major Republican figure to enter the presidential race, may well be the Democratic Party’s worst nightmare. The question is whether he is also a nightmare for Republican primary voters.

Donald Trump’s Festival of Narcissism

Posted June 17th, 2015 at 10:05 am (UTC-4)
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“I’m really rich,” Donald Trump informed supporters at his presidential campaign announcement. “I’m proud of my net worth. I’ve done an amazing job.”

Pols And Polls Say The Same Thing: Jeb Bush Is a Weak Front-runner

Posted June 15th, 2015 at 2:52 pm (UTC-4)
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Money isn’t everything, and it certainly isn’t the only thing in presidential campaigns…  Bush’s problem is that he doesn’t hold a large lead.

Poor Judgment

Posted June 10th, 2015 at 4:29 pm (UTC-4)
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An attack on Rubio’s personal spending is as likely to help the Florida senator as hurt him. Rubio is a former working-class kid, and his money problems are as much a chance to connect—he understands how hard it is to be broke, or navigate boom and bust times—as they are a burden.

Marco Rubio: A Rags to Riches Republican

Posted June 10th, 2015 at 4:16 pm (UTC-4)
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In the second of our series of the 2016 presidential candidates, we turn to Republican Marco Rubio, the son of Cuban immigrants with a quintessential American story. Having worked his way up from humble beginnings, Rubio has risen to become a Florida senator and a serious presidential prospect.

The GOP’s Shifting Goal Posts

Posted June 5th, 2015 at 9:41 am (UTC-4)
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It’s said that if you’re not liberal when you’re young, you have no heart, and if you’re not conservative by middle age, you have no brain.