John McCain

Republicans jammed together a mess of old, failed and vague schemes and called it a jobs bill. Sen. more »

More »»

It should have been the lead story from coast to coast: A bipartisan panel of senators, including some of that body's most conservative members, released a damning report that slammed bankers, regulators and ratings agencies—and they made it clear that they'd like to see warrants issued against the CEO of Goldman Sachs and other financial executives.

This report was endorsed by all of its Republican members, including conservative co-chair Tom Coburn and Tea Party Senator Rand Paul. Hey, editors, how's this for a headline? "Libs and Tea Party Senators demand: 'Bring me the head of Goldman Sachs.'"

Now that's what I call news!

The media responded with a collective yawn.

Last week also saw yet more coverage of the relentlessly publicity-grubbing "Gang of Six." It's hard to imagine a more stale story. The Gang's just the latest in a series of right-leaning groups that throw a few persuadable Democrats in with Republicans, label them 'bipartisan' or even 'centrist,' then start issuing calls for a conservative agenda that cuts entitlements and keeps taxes low for the wealthy. We've seen that story a thousand times, both in general and specifically about these six senators. What's more, the Democratic Gang members have been bypassed by President Obama and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, so a few more interviews with this over-exposed crowd aren't exactly "man bites dog" stuff.

More »»

In an open letter to the President this week, Sen. Bernie Sanders mentioned "worriesome reports" that the President is planning to cut Social Security. These reports don't come out of the blue. They're the culmination of a months-long campaign. The White House has been privately signalling for months that it was leaning in that direction, and now the sky over Washington is darkening with trial balloons floating up from Pennsylvania Avenue.

Before you make such a disastrous and unwarranted move, Mr. President, there's someone I think you should meet. Actually, you may have run into him before: He's a skinny guy with an keen analytical mind and a gift for brilliant oratory. Sound familiar? He ran for President last time around, and he had some very sensible things to say about Social Security: more »

More »»

This year's presidential campaign has not involved the "urban decline" rhetoric that rallied politicians - and policymakers - to the cause of cities in the mid 1960s and late 1970s. Instead, as Alex MacGillis pointed out in Sunday's WaPo, Senator Obama more »

More »»

Sen. John McCain, meet Joe the plumber. Unlike Samuel Wurzelbacher, Joe’s given name is…Joe.

And, unlike Wurzelbacher, he’s a licensed plumber. more »

More »»

As final preparations for the last presidential debate are made – water glasses weighed and secret memoranda consulted – both candidates have revamped their economic plans for the economic crisis now gripping more »

More »»