Obamanation

The Substance in the Style on Stem Cells

By Justin Katz | March 11, 2009 |

I remember when President Bush made his announcement about the ban on federal financing of embryonic stem-cell research. He held an evening address, at his desk, and took the time to explain some of the science, present the opposing arguments as he saw them, and explain his decision. You can think what you like about…

David Brooks Lulled Back to Doze

By Justin Katz | March 7, 2009 |

Apparently worried that their leg-tingling “conservative” in the New York Times was shedding his cataracts of hope and change (one on each eye, presumably), the Obama team approached David Brooks with a targeted spin campaign, and in his view, they’re almost comfortably moderate again. Boy, that was easy: I didn’t finish these conversations feeling chastened…

Russian Rulers “Encouraged” by the New Tone

By Justin Katz | March 4, 2009 |

I’m sure they are: President Obama said yesterday that he had told Russia that reducing Iran’s pursuit of a nuclear weapon would in turn lessen the need for a U.S.-planned missile-defense system in Eastern Europe that Moscow has opposed. But Obama said he sought no “quid pro quo” with Moscow. Obama also said it was…

Hoping Against Hope for Presidential Wisdom

By Justin Katz | March 2, 2009 |

Curious about how conservative Obama fans are getting along, I checked in with the man whose leg the messiah made tingle with knowledge, David Brooks. Here is a guy who reallly, really wants to believe: If ever this kind of domestic revolution were possible, this is the time and these are the people to do…

Has the Fantasy Died, Yet?

By Justin Katz | March 1, 2009 |

You know whom I haven’t heard from, lately? Those centrists and conservatives who were so sure that Barack Obama’s natural tendency toward dialogue and cooperation would temper — maybe even cancel out — the liberalism of his past. Their silence is understandable; this must be an awful bulk to absorb among the hopes and impressions…

Everything Is Rosy, Now Obama’s Found Rosy

By Justin Katz | February 28, 2009 |

So that two-trillion-dollar deficit? Turns out it might be the optimistic scenario: The administration insists it isn’t so, but some private economists are wondering if the Obama administration has brought “Rosy Scenario” back to town. In unveiling his budget, President Barack Obama pledged to bring “honesty and fairness” back to the budget process by getting…

Obama Doomsayer!

By Justin Katz | February 26, 2009 |

Dick Morris is hit or miss, and I can’t say I’m sure which it is with this column: In addressing this panic, the president of the United States must truly be the leader of the world — showing the way back to confidence. Instead, Obama has been instrumental in purveying fear and spreading doubt. It…

At What Point Do We Begin Using the Phrase “Out of Control”?

By Justin Katz | February 26, 2009 |

Turning debate into bickering over legislation that would increase departmental budgets by eight percent, Rep. James McGovern (D, MA) offered this irrelevancy: “The same people who drove the economy into the ditch are now complaining about the size of the tow truck,” said Rep. James McGovern, a Democrat from Massachusetts, pointing out the large increase…

An Ear to the National Scene

By Justin Katz | February 24, 2009 |

Personally, I’ve never been a fan of state of the union addresses. They’re political speeches dressed up as government updates. A lot of partisan applauding. A lot of commentary as if what the president says sets some bold, unexpected plan for the country. And yet we go on living. The few minute’s of President Obama’s…

The Political Stylings of Barack Obama

By Justin Katz | February 23, 2009 |

With his latest maneuver, Barack Obama has really clarified his approach to politics: President Obama wants to cut the federal deficit in half by the end of his first term, mostly by scaling back Iraq war spending, raising taxes on the wealthiest and streamlining government, an administration official said Saturday as the president worked to…