It's the economy, stupid. In fact, when it comes to presidential elections, it's always the economy, stupid. Relative economic strength or weakness is perhaps the best gauge of whether an incumbent president is reelected or falls to a challenger promising a "change" to greener future pastures. Published May 1, 2019
There is one lesson from President Nixon that applies not to President Trump, but to his adversaries on the left and in the media. "Always remember," Nixon said during his 1974 farewell address, "others may hate you, but those who hate you don't win unless you hate them, and then you destroy yourself." Published April 24, 2019
America's socialists are having a moment. With assistance from their fellow travelers in the media, they've rebranded one of history's most cataclysmic ideologies as both "just" and hip. Like all Big Lies permitted to bubble along, this one is causing grievous damage. Published April 17, 2019
President Trump's reelection effort will hinge on many elements, some of which he will be able to control (his message, strategy, first-term record) and some of which he will not be able to control (congressional investigations, an unforeseen jolt to the economy, external events). This time, his appeal will be directed both to and beyond the 63 million people who voted for him in 2016 as he seeks to expand his margins of victory. Published April 10, 2019
The best defense, the saying goes, is a good offense. Published April 3, 2019
Where does Donald Trump go to get his presidency back? Published March 27, 2019
Upon arrival in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, the first thing you notice is the boomtown feel. Construction cranes reach high into the sky. New building is underway as far as the eye can see. The vibe is energetic, youthful, optimistic. It resembles Texas at the turn of the 20th century, albeit with iPhones, Starbucks and Uber. And instead of American wildcatters, international oil executives roam Baku. In this new Gusher Age, they know that Azerbaijan is one of the next big frontiers. Published March 20, 2019
As Scripture puts it, suffer not the little children. Unless, of course, they can be weaponized for political gain. Published March 6, 2019
Fifty years ago, an American president prosecuted a war against North Vietnamese communist forces aided and abetted by its powerhouse ideological bedfellows, the Soviet Union and China. Today, another American president visits a reunified Vietnam where full-throated capitalism is delivering an economic miracle to a once poverty-torn communist hellscape. Published February 27, 2019
Socialist revolutionaries are usually in a hurry. They ram through radical political, economic and social change, lest progressivism's march slows or halts completely. Published February 20, 2019
In polite company, the saying goes, one should never discuss sex, politics, race or religion. In the Commonwealth of Virginia, all four topics are roiling the state at the same time. And what hangs in the balance are fateful turns for the major political and cultural movements of the moment. Published February 13, 2019
Of the many expectations President Trump has blown to smithereens, perhaps the most basic is that a candidate has to be someone they're not in order to win over voters. Don a mask of politesse, flash endless forced smiles, go fishing, dance awkwardly on "Ellen," eat a corn dog at a state fair and pray that it all translates to "relatability" and its even more valuable cousin, "likability." Published February 6, 2019
With dozens of potential candidates, the Democratic presidential primary race promises to be a hot mess. Given the last Republican presidential primary cycle with its endless parade of candidates, it will be refreshing to see the hot mess happening on the other side for once. Published January 30, 2019
What does a president have to do to get a fair shake from the press? Published January 23, 2019
A funny thing happened to Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, New York Democrat, on her way to political stardom. She ran into Tall Poppy Syndrome. Published January 16, 2019
The Trump economy is firing on all cylinders, which means only one thing: The left is petrified. Published January 9, 2019
As President Trump enters his third year in office, significant opportunities — and challenges — await. Published January 2, 2019
Our long national nightmare is over. At least temporarily. Published December 19, 2018
The death stare gave it away. As President and Mrs. Trump greeted the Obamas and Clintons at the funeral of former President George H.W. Bush, Hillary Clinton nodded coldly to the first lady and then glared straight ahead rather than acknowledge Mr. Trump. Two things became immediately evident: 1) she's still in bitter denial about losing to him; and 2) she's back. Published December 12, 2018
When Donald Trump glided down the golden escalator in June 2015 to announce he was running for president, little did he know that he was about to become the most hunted political figure in recent history. Published December 5, 2018
