Wisdom seems a precious and rare commodity these days. And yet, we have a heritage, to paraphrase the late William F. Buckley, the founder of National Review, to call upon. Even, as it happens, in newspaper columns. The year was 1976. An incumbent congressman in Utah had “committed political suicide,” as one Salt Lake City […]

Any way you look at it, Bill and Hillary Clinton are among the incomprehensible wonders of the political world. Reading my friend and former coauthor Joe Conason’s new book, “Man of the World: The Further Endeavors of Bill Clinton,” one thought recurred: Is it even possible to grasp the essence of this brilliant, mercurial, many-sided […]

Since a video surfaced revealing Donald Trump’s demeaning and despicable attitudes toward women, a raft of Republicans have abandoned their own nominee. Even Speaker Paul Ryan, a profile in cowardice this whole campaign, said he would no longer defend Trump or campaign with him – although he did not rescind his formal endorsement. Trump insisted […]

I n picking a president and Congress this year, voters will also be picking a Supreme Court. After the unexpected death of Justice Antonin Scalia, the court consists of eight justices, four appointed by Democratic presidents and four by Republicans. President Obama nominated a moderate lower court judge to fill the vacancy, but the GOP […]