I wrote this book because in my view leading American historians have committed the anachronistic fallacy of removing Washington from the context of his life. They have done so out of protest against racial injustice--an understandable motive, but one that casts the Tuskegeean as a foil to African-A...

I wrote a lot last week about Orual and about self-deception. This week, I want to let other words stand in this space instead. I don't think I have much to add to either of these quotes. The first is from the last chapter of Till We Have Faces, after Orual describes the series of dreams near the en...

Greg and I will just have to disagree about whether the economic collapse did more to doom McCain's candidacy than the nomination of Sarah Palin. (Though while we are on the subject of V for Viral I have to personally plead guilty to sending everyone I know of voting age a link to this video which I...

I salute Greg Mitchell both for the clarity of his argument and the boldness of his claim. What were the key moments in the campaign: Bill Clinton's plunge into campaigning for Hilary and John McCain's decision to pick Sarah Palin as his running mate. Why did Obama win? Because he alone understood t...

I agree with the importance to Obama's election of the "new media" but it seems to me that, however it is delivered, it is the message itself that determines whether or not any media is effective in delivering it. If a candidate knows what it is he wants to do, what he believes is best for the count...

Iran's nuclear ambitions are on the minds of every world leader -- including President Barack Obama, who tried to cut a deal with Russia to help disarm Iran. Strategist and Pentagon consultant Tom Barnett's view? Get over it. "I make the argument -- and I get into all kinds of fights over it --...

Hello readers, and thanks to all for participating in this weeklong discussion on the 2008 race for the White House - and what it means for the future of politics and political campaigns in America. My new book, Why Obama Won , is my third on historic campaigns. A few years ago I wrote books for Ran...

I'll admit to having a great deal of sympathy for Orual's complaints against the Gods. This, as I read it, is the substance of the complaint: she is angry that the gods do not show themselves more plainly, that they do not answer questions with clear words and deal with man in daylight. Her constant...

Next to knowing your swim times in a set like swimming 10x100's a swimmer should know his/her heart rate.  By knowing your heart rate  you will be able to know your training intensity and spot changes in your overall physical condition.  In training one should know the four cat...

So I spent the weekend immersing myself in cultural activities of various kind. Yesterday, while stuck at home trying to recover from the annoying cold that just doesn't seem to go away, I made it an Italian Day. I turned on my beloved Andrea Bocelli CDs, (yes, he's a fellow lawyer!), while eating I...