US Department of Labor figures on state unemployment brought more gloomy news to the White House.  Among the ten states where unemployment rose significantly in July were the key battleground states of Pennsylvania, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and New Hampshire.  The employment picture was significantly improved in only two battleground states: Colorado and New Mexico.

From the Associated Press, via the Silicon Valley’s MercuryNews.com SACRAMENTO — The state auditor’s office on Thursday added teacher pensions to the list of high-risk issues facing California government.The report by State Auditor Elaine Howle added the nation’s largest teacher pension fund because it can’t meet the costs of retirement benefits beyond the next 30 […]

Wondering why Europe’s two most important leaders seem ineffectual and paralytic confronted with the greatest crisis in the history of the European Union?A recent German opinion poll sheds some light on the problem.  75 percent of Germans polled said they lacked confidence in Merkel’s leadership on the euro; only 22 percent said they backed her.  […]

Besides healing the planet and returning the rising seas to their natural beds, then-Senator Obama promised that his administration would create beautiful green jobs: well paid, stable, abundant jobs, unionized, with full benefits and making the earth healthier and the American people richer. As President, he stayed on message: even after the truther-enabling “green jobs […]

At The American Interest we’ve been commemorating the 150th anniversary of the Civil War with a series of on line and print articles.  The September/October print issue is now out and features an article on the consequences of the war by Allen C. Guelzo at Gettysburg College.  It’s a great read; as a native South […]

There are two weeks left of August and city officials in a number of cities are working to stave off the kind of unpredictable flash mob violence that, worst case, could set off Londonesque street scenes in the US.  Last week came the Philadelphia curfew; a couple of other jurisdictions are feeling nervous now.  After […]

When Democratic governor Dannell P. Malloy told state workers to accept $1.6 billion in cuts and big changes in the pension plan, they balked.  They did more; they formally rejected the contract.Fine, said the governor; I don’t have any money.  If you won’t cut costs, I’ll cut staff — and the state began sending out […]

It appears I am not alone in predicting complications arising from Turkey’s policy toward its eastern neighbors. David Gardner in the Financial Times sees a new polarity arising in the Middle East, pitting Shia Iran against Sunni Turkey: Turkey has now become a head-on rival to Iran across the Middle East. Whereas Tehran backs several […]

Twenty years after the fall of the Soviet Union, the leader who presided over its demise isn’t happy about the Russia he sees.  Said Gorbachev: Our senior management should be updated…There comes a time when you need to get out of this rut….If the regime behaves just to increase its own power then this is […]

Only Israel will benefit from the Arab spring, Iraqi Prime Minister has warned the Arab world.  As reported in the New York Times: “There is no doubt that there is a country that is waiting for the Arab countries to be ripped and is waiting for internal corrosion,” [Maliki]  said in Baghdad. “Zionists and Israel […]