Sunday punditry.
NY Times editorial: In case no one has noticed, Obama is better than Bush.
Not only are Mr. Obama’s words and tone better, his policies are better. He opposed the Iraq war and has begun planning an orderly withdrawal of American troops. He is trying to engage Iran after 30 years of mutual isolation. And he has promised an active effort to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and reaffirmed support for a two-state solution — a goal that Israel’s newly elected prime minister says he does not share.
Frank Rich:
No one is better placed or more philosophically suited than Obama to construct the new counternarrative as we go forward in our new New Deal. But many masters of the old universe, including quite possibly his chief economic adviser, can’t recognize that the world has changed or should change. Even at the cratered Citigroup, a technical analyst was moved to write a report last month urging his peers to stop living in “denial” and recognize that we are witnessing the end of “25 to 30 years worth of excess.” The “new normal” in lifestyle, wealth creation and profitability of companies, he wrote, “may be a shadow of the past.”
Maureen Dowd: Can we talk about gays? And that Iowa is cooler and more progressive than California?
Thomas Friedman: Costa Rica, baby. Learn to be like them (eco-energy friendly) before it's too late.
David Broder: Since data has shot to hell my ideas about bipartisanship and a George Bush resurgence, let me restate myself. It's all about independents and it behooves Obama to appear to be bipartisan because independents like it when he does. They just about outnumber Republicans, you know. And even though "these political independents are now as numerous as self-identified Republicans and are closing the gap on the Democrats" precisely because they are leaving the Republican party in droves, I'll say nary a word against Republicans. It all must be bad for Democrats. Somehow. Come back next week and I will have thought of why. (P.S. Apparently I have never heard of leaners.)
Pew:
R2K:
Larry Sabato:
Pardon this parochial comment, but I’m especially proud that the University of Virginia does not award honorary degrees. Why? Because two centuries ago, our founder, Thomas Jefferson, perceived the unbecoming nature of such degrees, and he forbade them. This is yet another reason to celebrate the 266th anniversary of Jefferson’s birth this Monday, April 13.
Terence Samuel:
Conservative critics used Obama's recent diplomatic trip to demonize the president. Unfortunately for them, their histrionics don't seem to be working...
More Republicans need to realize that point before they turn themselves into the big dog's political fire hydrant. If they don't, that's the very best they could hope for.
George Rede:
Last week, the White House named four progressive religious leaders mentioned in Jones' book -- a rabbi, a gay former Methodist minister, an Indian American Muslim and a progressive evangelical -- to Obama's Advisory Council on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships. The addition of these four literally gives a seat at the table to those whose views have been muted or simply overlooked by the mainstream media.
Connecticut Post Staff:
Note to Roger Pearson: By all means; bring it on.
Mr. Pearson, one of the rare Democrats to ever hold the position of Greenwich first selectman, has hinted that he might challenge U.S. Sen. Christopher J. Dodd in a party primary election in 2010.
Pollster.com: The final word on polarization.