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Economy Is Weak, Voters Are Angry — Time for Third Party?

Nov. 19, 12 a.m.

“The mood of America is glum. Two-thirds of the public is dissatisfied with the way things are going in the country” and voters’ anti-incumbent mood is approaching 1994 and 2006 levels, when control of Congress changed hands.

Will Reid Decide on Reconciliation to Get Health Care Bill?

Nov. 11, 3:18 p.m.

Voters are shouting at Democrats to head back toward the political center, but they keep plunging on left — to the point where I wouldn’t put it past Majority Leader Harry Reid (Nev.) to blow up the Senate in order to pass a health care reform bill.

GOP Ducks Role as ‘Party of Yes’ on Health Reform

Nov. 5, 12 a.m.

Late in the game, Republicans are proposing alternatives to Democratic health care reform, but they’re certainly not being bold.

Congress Should Find ‘Third Way’ on Legal Reform

Oct. 29, 12 a.m.

There’s an important task that Congressional moderates can perform on health care reform besides fighting the public insurance option and containing costs: find a middle ground on medical malpractice.

Party Polarization Menaces Efforts To Control Debt

Oct. 22, 12 a.m.

Suddenly, it’s occurred to liberals as well as wonky budget hawks that the nation’s fiscal future is “unsustainable,” but the chances of action — short of a crisis — are near zero.

Obama Should Weigh In Now on Health Debate

Oct. 15, 12 a.m.

Having let Congress have its way in writing health care reform legislation up to now, President Barack Obama needs to weigh in heavily if he wants to sign a bill by Christmas.

Obama May Stick to Current Afghan Strategy — a Loser

Oct. 8, 12 a.m.

More and more, it looks as if President Barack Obama is going to adopt a “split the difference” policy on Afghanistan that will basically continue current strategy — and likely lead to catastrophe.

Will Reform Cut Health Care Costs? Don’t Bet on It

Oct. 1, 12 a.m.

The good news about health care reform is that, if it passes, the ranks of the uninsured will be reduced. The bad news is that reducing the surging cost of health care in the United States will remain iffy, at best.

Congress Should Look Overseas for Health Models

Sept. 24, 12 a.m.

It’s amazing to me that deliberations over U.S. health care reform involve next to no discussion of health plans in other industrialized countries, where everybody is covered, costs are lower and health outcomes are better.

Congress Should Advance the Notable Success in Pakistan

Sept. 17, 12 a.m.

From China to Russia to Afghanistan and Iran, it’s a time of woe for U.S. foreign policy. But there’s an exception — Pakistan — and Congress can keep the progress going.

Health Reform Should Include Diabetes ‘War’

Sept. 10, 12 a.m.

It would be entirely fitting for Congress to rekindle the “war on cancer” in response to the death of Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.), but another disease worthy of a war is diabetes.

Congress Should Reform Health Care Kennedy’s Way

Sept. 2, 4:02 p.m.

Among the most common themes in the tributes paid to the late Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) was his willingness to negotiate across party lines and achieve his liberal goals incrementally, if necessary.

Kondracke: Congress Should Reform Immigration to Honor Kennedy

Aug. 26, 1:20 p.m.

Along with a health care reform bill, it would be a fitting tribute to the late Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) if Congress could act on his other great unfinished cause: immigration reform.

Sportscasters, Airlines, Telecoms, Automakers — Here’s How to Do Better

Aug. 19, 2:25 p.m.

I’m taking my annual one-column breather from the nation’s political storms to promote not-exactly-earthshaking ideas that have been bugging me and, maybe, you.

GOP Has Health Care Ideas but Prefers Attacks on Obama

Aug. 12, 10:35 a.m.

There’s no question that Republican criticism has helped undermine support for President Barack Obama’s health plan. But it hasn’t done much to help Republicans.

Obama Must Get Liberals to Support Senate Health Plan

Aug. 6, 12 a.m.

'Too big to fail” is the tagline that health lobbyist Fred Graefe applies to the health care reform effort, and he’s got it dead right.

Obama Unfairly Targets Insurance as Enemy of Reform

July 30, 12 a.m.

For one supposedly dedicated to bringing parties together for health care reform, President Barack Obama shows unremitting hostility toward one of them: the health insurance industry.

Obama, Congress: Take A Look at the Swiss Answer to Health Care

July 23, 12 a.m.

If Congress and the Obama administration aren’t too far down the road to big-government health care to rethink, they ought to read “Who Killed Health Care?” by Harvard business professor Regina Herzlinger.

Who Will Congress Put First — Children or Teachers Unions?

July 16, 12 a.m.

If any story this year deserved Page One coverage — but didn’t get it — it was Education Secretary Arne Duncan’s challenging speech July 2 to the nation’s largest teachers union.

Sarah Palin (Gulp!) Still Could Become GOP 2012 Nominee

July 9, 12 a.m.

It used to be easy to predict who the next Republican presidential nominee would be. It was decided by primogeniture: The next oldest guy in line got to be the king.

‘Reconciliation’ to Pass Health Bill Won’t Work

July 1, 1:28 p.m.

Liberal health reform advocates have talked about ramming a reform plan — including a Medicare-like public insurance option — through the Senate with only 51 Democratic votes. But a leading Senate player says it won’t work.

Obama Rides High at Five Months, but Clouds Gather

June 25, 12 a.m.

The political verdict on President Barack Obama’s first five months in office has to be “so far, so good,” but it also must include trepidation about clouds on the horizon.

Iran Elections Make Nuclear Talks Harder

June 18, 12 a.m.

President Barack Obama went easy on Iran in his big June 4 speech in Cairo so as not to become an issue in last weekend’s elections.

Medicare Drug Plan Ought to Be Model for Health Reform

June 11, 12 a.m.

As they work on comprehensive health reform, Congress and President Barack Obama ought to look to the most successful model yet: the 2003 Medicare prescription drug law.

Obama Confronts Bush’s ‘Axis of Evil’ — Can He Do Better?

June 4, 12 a.m.

The Obama administration is confronting what’s left of the “axis of evil” this week, with the president in the Mideast talking about Iran and top aides in the Far East dealing with North Korea.