Published for The Corner at nationalreview.com, March 28th, 2011:

Setting aside the swipes at his predecessors . . .

From a communications standpoint, I think Obama’s speech tonight fell short of its needs and expectations. I know he reads a speech well, but the cadence is always the same — it’s as if you could take any of his major addresses and guess exactly how they are going to go. And the sentences often lead to head-scratching: the mind wanders — thinking, did he really just say that? Do they really believe those words?

I agree strongly that people who long to be free will look to the United States, and I’m glad he gave voice to that sentiment. I don’t think I heard a clear distinction about why we need to protect Libyans but not others — but perhaps reporting on the speech will make that clear.

Alas, this speech is like others the president has given that call to mind the old saw about Chinese take-out: at first you’re full — but an hour later you’re thinking, I’m still hungry.

Post published here

Published for The Corner at nationalreview.com, February 2nd, 2011:

Does anyone else see the irony of the president last night calling on a country in the middle of a political crisis to allow for open access to information and a free media … and then today holding a stills-only event in the Oval Office for a bill signing?  A bill signing?!  And for a treaty that they called a major signature foreign-policy achievement? C’mon.

Post published here

Published for foxnews.com, January 24th, 2011:

As relationships go, America’s “marriage” to her president seems to have calmed down a bit. The tension ebbed after the lame duck Congress went home. A kind of truce was called over the holidays, of course. And it continued while citizens around the country mourned the loss of life in Arizona and marveled at the heroic strength of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords.

But a “truce” is not the same as a good marriage. Let’s be honest, to keep things interesting in any union, you need a little spark. Relationship advisors tell us one of the most important things we can do to keep from getting divorced is to keep the embers hot.

Things started cooling off when America began to feel she’d married the wrong guy. In addition to frustration over the policy proposals, America also felt unclear about what her president really believed. Some on the right think President Obama is the most left wing president we’ve ever known, while some on the left think he isn’t delivering on his campaign promises to them. And then there are the independents who voted decisively against him in the midterms — they just don’t know what to think about him.

* * *

Before every commitment, there’s a moment when you look at your partner and think, “Do I really know you?” When the answer is settled in your heart, that’s when you decide that you’re all in. But if you’re still asking that question after the wedding, there are sure to be troubled waters ahead.

Just this past week, 2 years after his inauguration, USA Today’s cover story asked, “Who is President Obama?”

Shouldn’t we know that by now?

Full post here

Published for The Washington Post’s Topic A, January 2nd, 2011:

I predict the new Congress will do something useful right away: Reverse the ban on good, old-fashioned and ordinary incandescent light bulbs. Since the ban passed in 2007, some – and I’m not naming names – have been stockpiling the old bulbs, picking up a pack every time they pop into a store before the phaseout is complete in 2014.

The new bulbs give off a blue-ish tint that casts living rooms in cold tones, not warm glows, and their high levels of mercury can be harmful if a bulb is broken. The timing of the ban comes just when Americans have had it with Washington meddling in their lives – they draw a line at their lamps.

While sold as a way to create jobs and save consumers money, neither of those claims have come true. In fact, 200 people in Virginia lost their jobs after a major manufacturer of incandescent bulbs closed. Where are the newfangled bulbs made? China, of course.

A bill to repeal the ban was introduced in the House in the fall. After another holiday of blue-ish-looking Christmas lights and trying to read under their so-called environmentally friendly bulbs, Americans will be grateful when the incoming chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, Rep. Fred Upton (R-Mich.), flips a switch to reverse the ban.

Piece published here

Published for The Corner at nationalreview.com, December 22nd, 2010:

Is it just me, or does the fact that our DNI didn’t know about a major terrorism-ring bust in the U.K. — that happened two days ago, by the way — really inspire dread about who’s minding the store during the holidays? Is it so commonplace in the U.K. for a dozen suspected terrorists to be arrested that no one thought to tell the very person entrusted with ensuring all of our intelligence offices are coordinated and communicating to make sure we’re connecting all the dots to prevent an attack?

The fact that he hadn’t been briefed is one thing — that he hadn’t even seen it in the news is another. You can be sure that had this happened while President Bush was in office someone on the Hill would be calling for heads to roll — but I suppose they’re so ready to get out of town that people are just putting this behind them. I’m not sure that’s a good idea. America deserves some answers and reassurances on this.

Post published here

Published for FoxNews.com, December 10th, 2010

Published for FoxNews.com, November 3rd, 2010:

America’s relationship with President Obama is strained, to say the least. In the midterm elections on Tuesday, America told him that it’s time to take a break and see other people. Call it a trial separation.

Across the country, in nearly every demographic, nerves are frayed and tempers have flared. The passion from the first days of dating has cooled and some people can’t remember what they saw in him in the first place. And so they’ve decided to send a message – loudly.

There’s not even a courtesy thrown his way to soften the blow, as in “It’s not you, it’s me…” because it is, actually, about him – his policies, approach, tone and agenda.

Every midterm election is about the president. That was true of President Bush when he won seats in the 2002 midterms, and when he lost seats — and his majority — in 2006.

The sooner President Obama and his team recognize that, the better the chance is of reconciliation. If not, we could be headed for a permanent break-up.

So, as I asked here in Fox News Opinion in September, can this relationship be saved?

In a country where slightly more than 50 percent of marriages end in divorce, it’s unlikely. But if there’s any hope of getting back together, here are 3 suggestions on what President Obama can do to repair the damage:

1. Lead

The election rhetoric in 2010 has been heated, but no more so than other elections. What has been different this time is the very personal attacks the president himself has leveled at others, which is one of the reasons this election is assuredly all about him – he helped make it so.

Contrary to what some Democrats are spinning, the onus for cooperation is not on the Republicans – that responsibility rests with the commander-in-chief.

Full post here