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Stark Ravings

Spare Change?

At the 100-day mark, Barack Obama still doesn't have a clear mandate for sweeping reforms
A tension lies at the heart of the Obama presidency. After 100 days in office, the public still seems uncertain how to interpret the historic nature of the election last November.

By STEVEN STARK | April 28, 2009

Man bites newspaper

The genesis of the newspaper problems can be traced to Richard Nixon.
It's not news that newspapers are in huge trouble — victims of technological change and a mini-depression. What is news is the unadorned glee that is greeting the demise of newsprint.

By STEVEN STARK | April 19, 2009

Blue Balls

The word on the street is that sports are recession-proof — think again
It's one of the great myths of modern American life that, no matter what travesties befall us, sports will carry on unfazed.

By STEVEN STARK | April 15, 2009

Gen Jones rules

But will they be practical problem solvers or scatterbrains on steroids?
One of the major themes of Barack Obama's political philosophy has been that it's time for America to move beyond the Baby Boom Generation's petty partisanship.

By STEVEN STARK | March 19, 2009

Crimson tied

A new battle threatens to disrupt the American political landscape, and it's hardly academic
Barack Obama's presidential campaign was successful in part because he was able to cleverly negotiate and navigate the battles that have plagued the United States the last few years.

By STEVEN STARK | March 16, 2009

Appearing Act

Obama's 'personal presidency' is overexposing the Commander in Chief, and painting him into the corners of the Oval Office.
Barack Obama is ubiquitous.

By STEVEN STARK | March 10, 2009

The elephant also rises

The GOP has a bumpy road ahead of them, but if they're savvy they'll be back in power sooner rather than later.
Four months ago, the Republican Party seemed headed for the scrap heap. Today, things don't look quite so bad.

By STEVEN STARK | March 03, 2009

Wish upon a czar

Paul Krugman could be Obama’s economic dream come true
Paul Krugman could be Obama’s economic dream come true

By STEVEN STARK | February 18, 2009

Revenge of the nerds

For the first time since JFK, 'the best and the brightest' are back in the White House. Will Ivy-League intellect be enough to set the country straight?
Barack Obama's new administration has been characterized many ways — as a return to liberalism, a Chicago Mafia, and the harbinger of a new age.

By STEVEN STARK | January 21, 2009

Inauguration daze

If a presidential speech is made outside of prime-time TV-viewing hours, does it make a sound?
For the next week, the press and pundits will talk all about the historical importance of Barack Obama's inaugural address. And, based on his past rhetorical performances, it should be a great one.

By STEVEN STARK | January 19, 2009

BHO's no FDR

Nor should he aspire to be because, trite but true, things are very different now
As we enter a new year, a new administration, and indeed a new era, the advice most given to Barack Obama is model your presidency after that of Franklin D. Roosevelt's.

By STEVEN STARK | December 31, 2008

Money matters

Obama's victory was bought and paid for — with change
Conventional wisdom dictates that Barack Obama was swept into office on the winds of change.

By STEVEN STARK | December 24, 2008

Lou Dobbs in 2012?

As the GOP implodes, the financial crisis may present a white-hot moment for a third-party voice to enter the fray
On November 4, the United States will elect a new president. And, on November 5, in this era of the permanent campaign, the Road to the White House 2012 will begin in earnest.

By STEVEN STARK | October 16, 2008

Hoover? Damn!

George W. Bush’s failures may have set off a tectonic shift in US presidential politics, commencing a Democratic Party reign
It doesn't matter how many negative ads are broadcast or how many moose are slain on the tundra, candidates and their actions don't transform our politics nearly as much as outside events and circumstances do.

By STEVEN STARK | October 09, 2008

Captain chaos

Steering a suddenly lost GOP ship,
The past two weeks or so have seen at least one historic meltdown.

By STEVEN STARK | October 02, 2008

Sarah, get your AK-47

The Alaska governor is dominating the election as we head into the fall — Why that is bad news for the Obama campaign
Ever since John McCain selected Sarah Palin to be his running mate, she has been the focus of the campaign.

By STEVEN STARK | September 17, 2008

Peacock problem

MSNBC is in Barack's corner, which may cause an electoral backfire for the Democrats
A recent Rasmussen Report poll shows that about half the country thinks the press is out to get Sarah Palin, with a full quarter saying this makes it likelier they’ll vote Republican.

By STEVEN STARK | September 10, 2008

The reign of Spain

Never mind the Olympics — the Spanish are the big winners of 2008. Are Obama and McCain aware of this new European powerhouse?
The winner is (drum roll, please) . . . Spain.

By STEVEN STARK | August 08, 2008

Soccer punch

There are, believe it or not, more hated Yanks overseas than George W. Bush: the Americans who own European football teams
When Barack Obama arrives in England in a few weeks on his celebrated European tour, he’ll probably disembark assuming that George W. Bush is the most despised American in Britain. If so, he'll be wrong.

By STEVEN STARK | July 16, 2008

Is this thing on?

Rather than get a bounce from his convention, Obama might actually be hurt by the Democratic nominating event
In the modern age, America’s major-party conventions are love fests, feting their preselected nominees. But that may not be the case this year for Barack Obama.

By STEVEN STARK | July 09, 2008

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