The Fall of One Wall

It is an anniversary that should rank among the greatest we recognize: the fall of the Berlin Wall and, with it, the end of Soviet Communism and a successful conclusion to the Cold War. And yet it passes with very little attention, as almost an afterthought. It is an astonishing oversight on our part.

Some Thoughts on Barack Obama's Awful Evening

1. The outcome of the New Jersey governor's race and the magnitude of the victory by Bob McDonnell and other Virginia Republicans will have unusually far-reaching ramifications for a off-year election, including on the health-care debate. I have said before that while politicians follow polls carefully, they really follow election results carefully. And the results in New Jersey and Virginia will send a message to many Democrats: Obamaism in general – and ObamaCare in particular – can be hazardous to your political health. That is, I think, the most immediate impact of what happened last night. The results might be leveraged in a way to defeat health-care legislation that helped fuel last night’s anti-Democratic uprising.

Obama's Enemies List

I have argued before that tone and manner in which one practices politics are undervalued commodities, especially at a presidential level. Among the things the public looks for in its leaders are those who are large-minded rather than petty and peevish, who engage in public arguments rather than in personal attacks, who want to solve problems rather than settle scores. Tone and approach are important not simply for the aesthetics of politics, but because of what they reveal about people's predisposition and attitude, their temperament and spirit.

The Path to Republican Revival

Obama’s overreach and a sustained commitment to policies of growth and reform offer a way forward for a damaged party.

The Path to Republican Revival

Obama’s overreach and a sustained commitment to policies of growth and reform offer a way forward for a damaged party.

Obama’s Summer of Discontent

Pete Wehner analyzes the shifts in public opinion since President Obama took office and elaborates on what they portend for the future of his administration.

Our Sophist-in-Chief

Peter Wehner dissects the meat of Obama's rhetoric and concludes that despite claiming the philosophical high-ground, the President's ideology is ultimately ingrained in sophistry.

An Important Milestone in the Iraq War

WEB EXCLUSIVE. As U.S. troops withdraw from Iraqi cities, Peter Wehner contemplates the progress made in Iraq and recounts the numerous anti-war arguments now proved wrong by history.

"Never Mind"

Decoding Obama

Barack Obama promised to usher in a new age of transparency. Yet the clearest thing about his presidency so far has been the contradiction between his words and his deeds.

The Not So Golden Mean

Barack Obama's Cairo speech highlights the dangers inherent in the president's tendency toward forced even-handedness.

Judge Sotomayor, in Her Own Words

Peter Wehner looks at Sonia Sotomayor's UC Berkeley lecture and finds the context of her controversial remarks less than exculpatory.

By Your Fruit Ye Will Be Known

America's political climate shifts as Americans see the results of policies. It is too early in Barack Obama's presidency to weigh the the products of his actions.

Morality and Enhanced Interrogation Techniques

WEB EXCLUSIVE. Critics of enhanced interrogation treat the morality of the issue as self-evident. But that position crumbles when interrogation is debated in its rightful context.

America the Apologetic

Peter Wehner outlines the shortcomings of Barack Obama's doctrine of atonement.

Responding to the Obama State

WEB EXCLUSIVE. The way to stem the tide of high taxes and big government is to make a philosophical appeal for a better alternative.

An Agent of Cynicism

No Criticism Allowed

WEB EXCLUSIVE. The New Yorker's George Packer has accused Peter Wehner and others of prejudging President Obama. Wehner responds to Packer's call for a six-month moratorium on criticizing the president.

Where Are We Heading?

WEB EXCLUSIVE. The first weeks of the Obama administration have offered up some of our new president's characteristic gifts, but also showcased several surprising and alarming deficiencies.

Revising Settled Judgments

WEB EXCLUSIVE. With the success of Iraq's provincial elections, some calcified assumptions about Arab governance, Muslim democracy, and America's regional influence have come due for reevaluation.

The Phenomenon as President

WEB EXCLUSIVE. The wave of adoration that sustained Barack Obama's campaign has followed him into the White House. So too have the crises of the real world.

What's Next for the GOP

Some thoughts on how a party in turmoil should re-orient itself. Not recommended: blaming the media, unleashing political aggression, or losing hope.

Liberals and the Surge

Leading liberals have denounced the surge at every point. Why?

Petraeus on the Move

Can General David Petraeus repeat his Iraq success in Afghanistan?

The Great Unmasking

WEB EXCLUSIVE. The fury of news and opinion commentators over Sarah Palin reveals a great deal about the candidates, the media, and the future of the election.

Woodward on the Surge

WEB EXCLUSIVE. Bob Woodward--one of the most influential journalists in American history--does not think the troop surge was the primary force behind the drop in violence in Iraq. What, then, was?

The Significance of Sarah Palin

Sarah Palin may represent a step forward for the conservative movement on the national stage.

Sullivan's Travels

Andrew Sullivan thinks the U.S. has no standing on the Georgia question. But he's wrong--by his own reasoning.

Obama In Iraq's Quicksand

WEB EXCLUSIVE. Barack Obama is trying to cover dishonesty with dishonesty as he defends his stance on Iraq.

Maliki's Gift

Rightly or wrongly, Iraq's PM has given Barack Obama a gift. What will the he do with it?