This event discussed the current state of U.S. counterterrorism policy and what can be done to address emerging threats to our security.

Let’s start with the stark reality: Second presidential terms rarely result in major accomplishments. Presidents have few new ideas that have not been posed in their first two years, and already met with success or failure. And second-term presidents face even more obduracy from the opposition, bitter at a second loss of the big prize. 

The tension between Congress and the president is palpable, and nowhere is that more true than in the controversy over recess appointments.

The satisfaction from the show of bipartisanship on the Eisen confirmation lasted a good five minutes.

The stunning news about Osama bin Laden will help Obama in the short term and the long term. But the triumph over bin Laden will not solve the problems of a looming debt ceiling deadline or set of deadlines, difficult negotiations over debt and deficits, not to mention the fundamentals of health care, a sluggish domestic and global economy, Libya, Afghanistan, Pakistan (now even more complicated) or soaring oil prices.

A Scott Brown victory would leave Democrats with three unappealing options to get their health reform plan enacted.

Political contributions should never be considered by any procurement officer when making contract decisions — so why would the Obama administration want to require businesses to disclose those contributions to procurement officers when applying for government contracts?

While the media has focused on the rise of the Tea Party movement and the success of conservative insurgents in GOP primaries, there is a quiet insurgency taking place under the radar of more moderate Republicans for whom fiscal discipline is not a top priority.