- Social:
University of Southern California
Professor of Law at the University of Southern California, syndicated columnist and political commentator for Fox News; campaign manager for Michael Dukakis' 1988 presidential campaign
PROFILE
Susan Estrich
Guest
FROM Susan Estrich
Which Way, L.A.?
Taking Stock of the First Debate In last night's debate , Mitt Romney was an aggressive challenger, not afraid to accuse a sitting President of not telling the truth. The consensus is that an aggressive Romney won the debate against Barack Obama , a President who was defensive and lacking in energy. We sample early reaction and ask how it might influence the remaining month of a close and hard-fought campaign.
To the Point
Will Last Night's Debate Change the Momentum? In Colorado this morning, President Obama gave an energetic stump speech, but even Democrats agree he was uninspired in last night's debate compared to Mitt Romney . Republicans are cheering Romney's aggressive performance, and both sides are wondering why the President failed to seize several obvious opportunities. Was he out of practice? Was it part of his campaign strategy? Will a different Obama turn up the next time around? In the meantime, can Romney use positive news coverage to establish a lead among potential American voters?
Which Way, L.A.?
Is Newt Gingrich Another Flash in the Pan? It's only January, and already the race for the Republican presidential nomination feels like it's gone on forever and that it might never end. Newt Gingrich clobbered Mitt Romney Saturday in South Carolina , and it turns out that Romney didn't really win Iowa after all. The Florida primary is just nine days away, with candidates raising the rhetorical volume before tonight's 18th debate in Tampa. There are four candidates left ( Rick Santorum and Ron Paul are the other two) and no real front-runner. We get the latest.
To the Point
Mitt vs. Newt: Establishment vs. Grass Roots Insurgency South Carolina demonstrated there's no real front-runner in the GOP race for the Republican nomination. Maybe there never was. Newt Gingrich now leads Mitt Romney in Florida polls with nine days left until the next primary and with candidates raising the rhetorical volume before tonight's 18th debate in Tampa. Gingrich is still calling Romney a "Massachusetts liberal" and, in a message to voters old enough to remember Gingrich as House Speaker, Romney says Gingrich "had to resign in disgrace." Rick Santorum and Ron Paul are still nipping away, but how much longer can this go on, as establishment Republicans try to cope with right-wing populism?
To the Point
Hillary Clinton and the Democratic Convention The latest foreign policy challenge comes amid talk of " Obama fatigue " and new attention's being paid to the role of Hillary Clinton at the Democrats' nominating convention in Denver. Clinton has not taken steps to quash a move to place her name in nomination two weeks from now in Denver. The result would dramatize that the Democratic Party is still divided.
Recommended
To the Point
Terrorism and tweets, hate speech and murder Just days before an election, Britain is coping with a rash of deadly terrorism, and Prime Minister Theresa May is on the defensive. And again today, President Trump has tweeted criticism of the Mayor of London. Later, a double murder in Portland, Oregon has revealed the ugly past of a supposedly “progressive” city. One immediate question: is “hate speech” protected by the First Amendment?
Left, Right & Center
President Trump: US to withdraw from the Paris Climate Accord Trump says he was elected to serve Pittsburgh, not Paris.
To the Point
Ex-FBI Director Comey tells his side of the story Today, former FBI Director James Comey came close to calling the President who fired him a liar. The White House denied the claim and called it insulting, but Republican Senators did not challenge Comey’s truthfulness. Many questions remain: did the President try to obstruct a federal investigation? Later, we’ll go behind the “velvet rope” for a look at 5-Star health care for the richest Americans.
To the Point
The longest US war: Will Trump send more troops to Afghanistan? The Trump White House is divided over the Pentagon's request for more troops in Afghanistan—where the US has been fighting for the past 16 years. Is there a formula -- either for "victory" or a political settlement? Is there an end in sight for America's longest war?