Washington Post (October 19)
“Not a word has been said in the presidential debates about what may be the most urgent and consequential issue in the world: climate change.”
Tags: Climate change, Obama, Presidential debates, Romney, U.S.
Chicago Tribune (May 2)
“Tuesday marked the first anniversary of the last time Americans agreed on anything.” One year ago, Osama bin Laden was killed in a “gutsy” raid. For a brief shining moment, everyone rejoiced. Since then, partisan politics has split the country and impasse has reigned supreme. Still, it’s worth remembering that, in ordering the raid, President Obama “made a tough call and won.”
Tags: Obama, Osama bin Laden, Partisan, Politics, U.S.
Time (March 26)
“The Supreme Court should uphold the Health Care Law 9-0.” In contrast to many developed countries, the U.S. does not yet offer universal health care. But under President Obama…it has plans. The Supreme Court is currently examining the constitutionality of the planned healthcare law, which would require every citizen to have a provider.
Tags: Health care, Obama, Supreme Court, U.S.
Washington Post (March 6, 2012)
“In our view, Mr. Obama’s arguments against an early attack on Iran…were persuasive.” While Iran has not decided to work toward a diplomatic settlement, there is still time. As President Obama pointed out, there will still be considerable lead time before Tehran is “in a position to obtain a nuclear weapon” and the U.S. will know when Iran first attempts this.
Tags: Diplomacy, Iran, Nuclear weapon, Obama, War
New York Times (February 13, 2012)
“The president’s budget calls for long-term deficit reduction, but its immediate priority is to encourage the fledgling economic recovery. Instead of trying to stabilize the budget on the backs of the poor, it would raise taxes on the wealthy and on big banks and eliminate many corporate tax loopholes.” Congress should pass this budget. Alas, Congress is “dysfunctional.” “The proposal will go nowhere, largely because of the Republican refusal to raise taxes on the wealthy and to spend money on vital programs.”
New York Times (January 6, 2012)
“President Obama has begun to bring more rationality to military planning.” The Times broadly approves his plans to scale back the military “With his new defense strategy, President Obama has put forward a generally pragmatic vision of how this country will organize and deploy its military in the 21st century, while also addressing its deep fiscal problems.”
Tags: Fiscal crisis, Military, Obama, U.S.
Washington Post (January 2)
The economy may very well determine if President Obama is reelected in 2012. But “given all the possibilities, handicapping the election based on the economy is nearly futile.” Even omitting outside factors like the euro zone crisis or the bubble in China, the U.S. economy remains too hard to call, making it “2012’s political wild card that — when played — may prove decisive, if accidental.”
Boston Globe (December 20)
“The passing of Kim Jong Il…could provide a glimmer of hope for the North Korean people.” The Globe urges President Obama to send “a carefully worded message to the North Korean people acknowledging their leader’s passing.” The good will of this gesture and “the transition to a new leadership gives a small chance for a new beginning.”
Tags: Kim Jong Il, North Korea, Obama, Transition
The New York Times (October 22)
President Obama announced that all U.S. troops will be withdrawn from Iraq by the end of 2011. This “signals a welcome end to a war that was started under false pretenses and went on far too long — killing more than 4,400 Americans and many more thousands of Iraqis and costing $1 trillion over nearly nine years.”
President Obama announced that all U.S. troops will be withdrawn from Iraq by the end of 2011. This “signals a welcome end to a war that was started under false pretenses and went on far too long — killing more than 4,400 Americans and many more thousands of Iraqis and costing $1 trillion over nearly nine years.”
Economist (October 15)
The Currency Exchange Rate Oversight Reform Act threatens a trade war with China and would, in all likelihood, be found to contravene WTO rules. On October 11, the U.S. Senate passed the legislation. The House should not pass the bill, and President Obama should promise a veto. “The global economy is sicker than a man with a bellyful of bad oysters. The last thing it needs now is a trade war.”
The Currency Exchange Rate Oversight Reform Act threatens a trade war with China and would, in all likelihood, be found to contravene the WTO’s rules. On October 11, the U.S. Senate passed the legislation. The House should not pass the bill, and President Obama should promise a veto. “The global economy is sicker than a man with a bellyful of bad oysters. The last thing it needs now is a trade war.”
