I usually don't agree with Will, but he is a principled writer. He generally stands for original constitutional principles, particularly The Bill of Rights, so it's no surprise he is critical of McCain's condemnation of the Court's affirmation of habeas corpus rights for the Guantanamo prisoners. He seems fair in criticizing McCain's statement of Boumedienne as "one of the worst decisions in the history of this country" as political hyperbole when compared to Dred Scott, Plessy and ... More »

I learned a lot from this article. I've criticized McCain for not supporting a generous version of a new GI Bill, as well as for his unstinting support of each Bush budget request for Iraq and his '100 years' casual-seeming comment. As a former military officer, I have nothing but the highest respect for McCain's conduct as a POW, especially his refusing special treatment by his captors as his father was CINCPAC at the time of his captivity. I also knew some groups opposed to McCain ... More »

McCain has lived by the media, can die by the media, and knows it. The 'historic' nature of Obama's candidacy is way too tempting for the mainstream media at this point in the campaign and McCain and staff evidence real frustration. They seek to regain the initiative by aggressive attacks on Obama's experience and judgement but have not yet gained traction. The reporting from within McCain's inner circle is extensive and signals their intent to provoke Obama, a tactic that has not ... More »

Barone argues persuasively this election will hinge on different combinations of key states that those familiar from 2000 and 2004. Both sides intend to lengthen the playing field, seriously competing in opposing color states and forcing the opposition to expend resources in supposedly safe states. He also illustrates the possible negation of the 'old rule' that hard economic conditions favor the Democrats, an observation backed by polling data and in a way I had not seen a national ... More »

Outstanding reporting! I've read a lot recently about Obama's need to stretch the electoral map, particularly in the Rocky Mountain West and border states, but this was the first article I've seen connecting this objective to Dean's 50-state strategy. Stein methodically laid out the evolution of Dean's plan, gave an excellent example of Colorado as a nexus between the 50-state strategy and Obama's road to victory, and provided interesting facts concerning the added-votes-per-precinct ... More »

Harding's story left me wondering how the newly formed West Point Grads group was free to fund the billboard (were there others?) without receiving a 'cease and desist' order from The Point. Did Harding attempt to query West Point authorities? Only upon reading comments did I learn the Director of Communications did attempt to take action. Harding then raised a good series of questions as to the efficacy and seriousness of the action, but he could have tried to do so from the start.

Kelly incites us to want to know more about Gov Palin, but in perhaps the strongest policy area she can help McCain in, economic policy, he only offers she is 'a strong fiscal conservative.' I believe she was in the Alaskan Legislature before becoming Governor, and Kelly should have given us examples of why she apparently earned this reputation. We learn quite a fair bit more about "Miss Wassila," "Miss Congeniality," and "Sarah Barracuda, the Basketball Player." Also, just how was ... More »

Speeches about 'judicial philosophy' can be numbing to the average voter and can thus be designed to float under the radar of the mainstream media, as this one mainly did. But McCain personally and repeatedly referred to Roberts, Alito and Rehnquist and the video fairly hoists him on his own petard. It provokes the viewer to think about what 'judicial restraint' and 'judicial activism' really mean in the political context of the Court, is suitably funny and snarky, and most of all ... More »

Toobin is very astute and has been fair in the past. He asserts there is no reason to believe McCain will be a 'maverick' in his Court selections, as his support for previous strict constructionist justices indicates, and as he would probably like to satisfy the right-wing of his party here. In discussing Roper, and using the codewords 'penumbras' and 'emanations,' McCain implies, according to Toobin, he will appoint justices who look poorly on Warren Court precedent back to ... More »