… We tend to associate wars with “rally-around-the-flag” effects, in which conflicts lead to popularity bumps for presidents and their parties. Such effects may have been true during WWII, but 21st century military interventions are long, drawn out affairs — and political losers. This is due to what I’ve identified […] Read more »
Americans back end to Afghanistan war but fault Biden’s execution
When President Joe Biden formally announced the end of America’s longest war on Tuesday, he did so with a majority of voters supporting its conclusion, polls show. But those same polls suggest his execution of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan is broadly unpopular, which has forced him to absorb a […] Read more »
RIP, rally ’round the flag
Less than 12 hours after Flight 75 crashed into the South Tower of the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001, close to 150 members of Congress, Republicans and Democrats, stood together on the steps of the U.S. Capitol to sing “God Bless America.” Unfortunately, that act of bipartisanship won’t […] Read more »
Majority of U.S. public favors Afghanistan troop withdrawal; Biden criticized for his handling of situation
With the U.S. military evacuation of Afghanistan completed – bringing America’s longest war to an end – 54% of U.S. adults say the decision to withdraw troops from the country was the right one, while 42% say it was wrong, according to a Pew Research Center survey conducted Aug. 23-29. […] Read more »
How the White House and Democrats hope to survive Biden’s political bruises
President Joe Biden was likely to lose Democratic control of Congress before last week’s carnage in Afghanistan. That’s more likely now. But the imminent loss of power makes politicians act with greater urgency. For Biden and his party, that just happens to represent their best hope of ultimately not losing […] Read more »
When Will Biden Join the Fight for Voting Rights?
Don’t look now, but the Senate is quietly becoming what it used to be: an institution ruled by a simple majority. At least, for certain kinds of legislation. Despite his institutionalist reputation, President Biden is on track to become the most productive Democratic president in a generation, not because he […] Read more »