Presidents with strong nerves are decisive. They don't balk at unpopular decisions. They are willing to make people angry. Bush had strong nerves. Clinton, who passed up a chance to eliminate Osama bin Laden, did not. Obama is a people pleaser, a trait not normally associated with nerves of steel.
Fred BarnesReligion's crucial role in the lives of many people... is rejected out of hand by the political community, especially the press.
Fred BarnesThe only person who was a strong public opponent of the war in Iraq is Barack Obama. The other people weren't. So I can understand why all the left is mad, because they're being shut out.
Fred BarnesThe mainstream media may have trouble resisting the temptation to declare that Karl Rove has been demoted, but the truth is quite the contrary. By giving up his role as deputy White House chief of staff, Rove has been freed to do what he does best: shape big issues and develop strategies to win elections.
Fred BarnesOverreaction is one of the things that congress specializes in. I can't think of anything congress does better than overreact.
Fred BarnesCandidates don't have to deal with reality. They talk about the wonderful things they can accomplish as if advocating them is the same as achieving them. They live in a world of political make-believe in which everything from reconciling conflicting interests to paying for costly programs is easy.
Fred Barnes