Barack Obama

Latest Articles

'It's Halftime in America'

Plus, same-sex marriage's latest boost
Karl Rove is pissed off, and for once we can understand why.
By EDITORIAL | February 08, 2012

Obama's Vision: ''An America Built to Last''

Plus, Deval Patrick
By any measure, President Barack Obama's State of the Union speech would have been considered a political winner, but coming just one day after the Republicans' constipated Florida-primary debate, Obama scored an undeniable triumph.
By EDITORIAL | January 25, 2012

Obama responds to the 99 percent

Band-aids or benefits?
In announcements that could be interpreted as gifts to the Occupy movement, President Barack Obama recently introduced three measures to help struggling students, veterans, and homeowners.
By DEIRDRE FULTON | November 09, 2011

Obama’s jobs plan is a step in the right direction

Notes on class warfare
President Barack Obama's September 8 speech outlining his new jobs program — and the tax policies needed to finance it — was a sign of hope.
By EDITORIAL | September 22, 2011

A Statesman Too Late?

John Kerry heads to work on the debt ‘super committee’ with his usual earnestness and high hopes — despite the circus that surrounds him
The congressional debt "super committee" has begun its work, and already there are signs that its task is hopeless.
By DAVID S. BERNSTEIN | September 21, 2011

Maine sneaker-maker could provide military footwear

Born in the USA
As the only remaining manufacturer of athletic shoes in the United States — with three factories in Maine and two in Massachusetts — New Balance wants government assurance that military servicemembers wear American-made sneakers, not ones that are made overseas.
By DEIRDRE FULTON | September 21, 2011

By | January 01, 0001

First Amendment battle in the Bucket

A Catholic controversy; Taibbi’s straight talk; dandy Don; wisdom from Warren
As regular readers of this column know, Jorge is a native of Pawtucket. It was with great pride that I attended the celebration at McCoy Stadium this past Tuesday evening, commemorating the 125th anniversary of the city's incorporation.
By PHILLIPE AND JORGE | August 24, 2011

Does Obama have the cojones to win?

This WTF moment
To make sense of this bizarre and dispiriting moment in American politics, here are the things one needs to appreciate.
By EDITORIAL | July 27, 2011

By | January 01, 0001

Romney rides again

To win the GOP nomination, Mitt will need to do things differently this time. Here's how.
Mitt Romney has been running for president more or less nonstop for the past seven years — and still hasn't figured out how to do it.
By DAVID S. BERNSTEIN | April 14, 2011

Is same-sex marriage the 2012 comeback kid?

Crystal ball
A few years ago, the Gay and Lesbian Advocates and Defenders — a Boston-based legal advocacy organization — launched a "6 x 12" campaign to secure marriage rights for gay couples across New England by 2012.
By DEIRDRE FULTON | April 14, 2011

By | January 01, 0001

Libya: Why Obama is right

What's wrong with saving lives?
That the nation is apprehensive and ambivalent about President Barack Obama's military intervention in Libya is natural, even healthy.
By EDITORIAL | March 31, 2011

Give Malalai Joya a visa

Plus, Obama's Libyan War
In a display of mendacity worthy of the days when the late Senator Joseph McCarthy stifled free speech from coast to coast, the United States Department of State has denied a visa to Afghanistan's most internationally recognized activist, Malalai Joya.
By EDITORIAL | March 25, 2011

After Clinton

The State of State
With a world full of crises in full flower, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton surprised a lot of people last week by declaring, in an interview with CNN's Wolf Blitzer, that she will not continue to serve beyond 2012, should Barack Obama win a second term as president.
By DAVID S. BERNSTEIN | March 23, 2011

By | January 01, 0001

The GOP's top dog? It's T-Paw, not Mitt.

Pawlenty tops our list
Whatever the reason, the field of Republican presidential candidates is failing to form, just a year away now Iowa and New Hampshire voting in the nation's first presidential caucus and primary.
By DAVID S. BERNSTEIN | February 05, 2011

By | January 01, 0001

Reed on the Arizona shootings, the Tea Party, and why Bob Gates might stick around

Ask the Senator
Just days after the Arizona tragedy, the Phoenix sat down with Senator Jack Reed for a Q+A about the shooting, the Tea Party, and some troubling news out of Pakistan.
By DAVID SCHARFENBERG | January 12, 2011

The Kennedys will rise again!

Dynasties
As you've probably heard a couple thousand times by now, Rhode Island Representative Patrick J. Kennedy's retirement means Washington is without a member of Team Camelot for the first time in 64 years.
By DAVID SCHARFENBERG | January 12, 2011