At the start of his second term, one wonders less about Obama's fitness than his willingness: Why doesn't he do more to build and maintain the relationships required to govern in era of polarization?

Like a cowboy saddling a bucking stallion, Republican leaders tried to tame the Tea Party while riding it to victories.

It's a deft trick to turn American exceptionalism into an exceptional political tactic.

We're living in an era of unprecedented change, and I want to be a part of documenting it.

Palin seems to have forgotten that her poll ratings have plummeted since the summer of 2011.

Climate change was a point of division between Obama and Republican rival Mitt Romney. The president declared climate change a global threat, acknowledged that the actions of humanity were deepening the crisis, and pledged to do something about it if elected.

Clearly, the Obama presidency hasn't wiped out racial prejudices.