Politics Stinks

There’s no doubt about it, our political culture is pretty horrible.

Shocking Audio From 1998 Reveals Barack Obama Is A Democrat

Republicans think they found the smoking gun of the 2012 election. They’re kidding themselves.

Romney’s Critique of Obama’s Foreign Policy Record Is Incredibly Weak

The Romney campaign’s critique of the President’s foreign policy record is weak, and based on bad history.

Federal Reserve Announces Another Round Of Stimulus Creating Money Out Of Thin Air

Ben Bernanke thinks doing more of the same is just what the economy needs.

August Jobs Report Shows Continued Weakening Of Labor Market

Another bad jobs report threatens to undermine whatever good will the President had coming off the Democratic National Convention.

Obama Campaign Dodges Reagan’s Question

The Obama campaign clearly does not want Americans to consider whether they are better off now than they were four years ago.

Romney’s Closing Speech Was Good, But Was It Good Enough?

Mitt Romney’s speech last night was the best he’s ever given, but it’s impact may have been undercut but several odd production decisions that preceded it.

Interest Rates and Hacky Political Analysis

Seniors face a variety of economy-based difficulties–but let’s criticizes the media!

Maybe We’re Getting Exactly The Political Culture We Deserve

We have met the enemy, and it’s most likely us.

Is The Current Economy The “New Normal?”

What if things don’t ever get better?

2012: An Election About Nothing

Neither Romney nor Obama are running on policy; rather, they’re trying to persuade people the other guy would be even worse.

LIBOR Scandal, Bad Law, and Bad Law Enforcement

Stephen Bainbridge argues that corporate governance regulation in the wake of scandals and bubbles is almost uniformly bad.

No Mr. President, The Private Sector Isn’t Doing Fine

The President seems to think the private sector is doing fine. He couldn’t possibly be more wrong.

Does A President’s Cabinet Even Matter Anymore?

The President’s Cabinet is less a Team Of Rivals and more a Team Of Managers.

Do Businessmen Make Good Presidents?

The Oval Office is nothing like a corporate boardroom.

April Jobs Report Disappointing To Say The Least

Once again, the jobs market appears to be slowing.

War Against Youth?

The old have most of the money and power in our society, a trend that is accelerating.

How Do You Defeat An Incumbent President?

The odds are against anyone who challenges an incumbent President. So, how do you do it?

February Jobs Report: Slow But Steady Employment Growth

Another good monthly jobs report

Time Running Out For GOP?

2012 may be the last chance for the current Republican Party to win the White House.

State of the Union Post Mortem

The speech did exactly what it was supposed to do: kick off Obama’s re-election campaign while disguised as a call for unity.

Bush To Blame For Weak GOP Field?

Is George Bush to blame for a weak Republican field almost four years after he left office? Not entirely.

Why The GOP Is Likely To Lose The Political Fight Over The Cordray Appointment

The GOP is at a distinct disadvantage in the political fight over President Obama’s Recess Appointment of Richard Cordray to head the CFPB.

Krugman’s Fear Mongering

Paul Krugman’s latest column, “Depression and Democracy,” is simply bizarre.

Barack Obama Tries To Channel Teddy Roosevelt

Barack Obama now looks to the Rough Rider himself for inspiration. Can’t he find it himself?

Trying to Understand OWS

Pondering Tea Party comparisons as well as the “does it matter?” question.

American Trust in Government at All-Time Lows

The latest Gallup poll shows a record 81 percent of Americans are dissatisfied with the way the nation is being governed.

Thoughts About The Constitution On Constitution Day

Where do we stand after 224 years?

US Poverty at Record High

A record 46 million Americans are living in poverty.

Timing is Everything

It’s not a given that we’ll have a massive recovery during the next presidential term but it’s a pretty decent bet. And the party in power will get too much credit for it if it happens.

Is Social Security A Ponzi Scheme?

Whether it’s a “Ponzi Scheme” or not, Social Security has serious systemic problems that must be addressed.

Productivity Killing American Economy?

Derek Thompson argues that “the real reason Americans fell so squeezed” is our obsession with productivity.

Political Fantasy World

It never ceases to amaze me how many smart people manage to believe, against all evidence to the contrary, that their political philosophy has massive support.

Post Hoc Ergo Propter Hoc

Did World War II teach us anything about spending-as-stimulus? Not really.

Majority Still Hold Bush Responsible For Poor Economy

He’s been out of office for more than two years, but George W. Bush is still being blamed for the state of the economy.

Is 2011 Another 2008? Or Another 1931?

Dan Drezner believes those worrying that we’re seeing the global meltdown of 2008 repeat itself are kidding themselves.

Michele Bachmann: Still A Debt Kamikaze, Still Completely Wrong

Michele Bachmann is claiming that the debt downgrade proves she was right about not raising the debt ceiling.

July Jobs Report Better Than Expected, But Still Not Very Good

There is little to cheer in the jobs report released by the Labor Department today.

The Second Great Contraction

Harvard economist Kenneth Rogoff says we’re undergoing much more than a mere recession.

The Impact of the U.S. Defaulting

Christine Lagarde believes the impact could be large and global.

Moody’s Is Right, Eliminate The Debt Ceiling

Moody’s is on the right track. The current debt ceiling law has done more harm than good.

White House To America: Pay No Attention To Those Bad Economic Numbers

The White House would really appreciate it if you didn’t pay attention to all that bad economic news.

Plurality Of Americans Say They’re Worse Off Since Obama Took Office

Are you better off than you were three years ago? 44% of Americans say no.

Jobs Situation Worse Than It Looks

US News editor-in-chief Mort Zuckerman explains “Why the Jobs Situation Is Worse Than It Looks.”

Austan Goolsbee Stepping Down

Austan Goolsbee is resigning as chairman of the Council of Economic Advisors to return to the University of Chicago.