What Questions About Benghazi Say About Today’s Political Climate

For political analysts—or at least those who try to be independent and nonpartisan—an occupational hazard is that at almost any given time, one side or the other will be angry about what you say and write. … Another occupational hazard is cynicism. Elected officials and candidates, along with their handlers, […] Read more »

Americans Don’t Believe Christie on Jam, Clinton on Libya

Americans aren’t buying the explanations offered by Chris Christie and Hillary Clinton about controversies that could stand between them and the White House if either runs for president in 2016. Sixty-three percent say they don’t believe the New Jersey governor’s claims that he knew nothing of a plan by his […] Read more »

Mark Mellman: Where I went right and wrong

I believe in accountability; and I believe there is far too little of it in our world. People say anything they please, with little or no consequence for crazy talk. Attempting to adhere to a higher standard, each year I try to review what I’ve written here and assess the […] Read more »

Public opinion and intervention in Syria: 60 years of Gallup polling on U.S. military actions

Public opinion polls have shown that the U.S. public has been consistently wary about military intervention in Syria. … So how does the current sentiment of U.S. residents compare with public sentiment on the eve of — or at key turning points during — prior conflicts? The results can provide […] Read more »