David S. Broder

Recent stories written by David S. Broder

Opportunity on tone awaits Obama (2/7/2010)

It was toward the end of President Obama's riveting visit on Jan. 29 with the House Republicans in Baltimore – a rare 90 minutes of candor on both sides that produced the most fascinating and revealing politics in memory – when Rep. Peter Roskam of suburban Chicago was called on for a question.

Campaign ruling draws quick action (1/31/2010)

The sober, sprawling State of the Union address President Barack Obama delivered last week was marked by one extraordinary moment. It came when the president looked down at six robed members of the Supreme Court, seated directly in front of him, and criticized their recent 5-4 decision that he said "will open the floodgates for special interests, including foreign corporations, to spend without limit in our elections."

Both sides fail bipartisan test (1/28/2010)

On the very same day this week when the Congressional Budget Office warned that the succession of previously unimaginable trillion-dollar- and-more budget deficits could inflict ruin on the United States, the Senate faced a moment of truth.

A big week on two fronts for GOP (1/24/2010)

If you are John Cornyn, the 36 hours from Tuesday night through Thursday morning had to be the best time of your life.

Dodd's gift of gab will be missed (1/10/2010)

During the last three decades that I have been covering politics in Washington, there was never a time when I could not reach Chris Dodd to check what was happening. It didn't matter whether the question was about a House race in Connecticut or someone's presidential chances or the prospects of a big bill in the Senate, the answers always came back – straight, quick and informative.

Left to test Obama in 2010 (12/27/2009)

On the day before Christmas, President Barack Obama found two presents under his tree. One was the health care reform bill passed that morning by the Senate, a historic measure so freighted with promise and problems that it could blow up.

Democrats quick to abandon Obama (12/20/2009)

In the last year or so of George W. Bush's second term, commentators used to talk a lot about the conspicuous scarcity of other Republicans willing to stand up and defend him. I never thought we'd see Barack Obama face the same problem before his first year was over.

To know Obama, study his words (12/13/2009)

One of the things that sets Barack Obama apart from most politicians is how much can be learned from listening to his speeches.

Newbies offer mature tack (12/10/2009)

Finally, there is some good news on the health care front.The headlines went to a possible compromise on the contentious issue of the public option, but the greater victory may lie in less-publicized Senate action that might actually cut the costs of our impossibly expensive health care system.

Obama leaves party behind on war (12/6/2009)

On the same evening last week that President Barack Obama went to West Point to outline his plans to send 30,000 more U.S. troops to fight the Taliban and al-Qaida in Afghanistan, the four Massachusetts Democratic candidates hoping to win Ted Kennedy's Senate seat met in a televised debate.

Cost still test of health plans (11/22/2009)

It's simply not true that America is ambivalent about everything when it comes to the Obama health plan.

Playing what's dealt in Afghanistan (11/15/2009)

The more President Barack Obama examines our options in Afghanistan, the less he likes the choices he sees. But, as the old saying goes, to govern is to choose – and he has stretched the internal debate to the breaking point.