Elections have consequences. The consequences of the November 2010 elections -- and one might add the November 2009 elections in New Jersey and Virginia and the January 2010 special Senate election in Massachusetts -- became clear as lights shined over the snow at both ends of the Capitol on Thursday night. Read More

President Obama's mixed self-assessment of the war in Afghanistan drew a muted response Thursday despite the president's warning that the costly, unpopular conflict will go on until 2014. "In many places, the gains we've made are still fragile and reversible," Obama said. "But there is no question we are clearing more areas from Taliban control and more Afghans are reclaiming their communities." Read More

Reading"Masters and Commanders," Andrew Roberts' magnificent account of British and American leaders in World War II, I was struck by how many of them, working prodigious hours and under great strain, were struck down by heart attacks while in their 60s. This doesn't happen anymore, I thought, with the blood pressure and cholesterol medicines many of us routinely take. Read More

Obama in court Health care reform is not the only Obama administration policy tied up i Read More