With an economy seemingly on the precipice of a renewed recession, an angry conservative movement, and a disillusioned liberal base disappointed in his first term, Barack Obama's bid for reelection next year will, by all indications, be a tough, maybe even uphill fight. But the President can at least take some solace in a precedent from 64 years ago: Harry Truman's campaign for reelection in 1948.

This is no time for conciliation. Wars happens neither because America talks tough nor because the White House makes it clear that it will spare no effort to defend its allies against external threats.

Everyone knows presidents have larger-than-life size egos. It goes with the job. But changes on the official White House website reveal that we've never had a self-regarding narcissist quite like the oval Office's current occupant.

The presidencies of Harry Truman and George W. Bush are looking more and more similar every day.

Pundits have lately been comparing Barack Obama to Jimmy Carter, suggesting he is a likely loser in 2012. It's always helpful to be reminded that early polls may not be predictive and that opinion can change, as was the case when Truman won in 1948 and when Carter lost in 1980. But we should also keep in mind that today's polls are better and more frequent than they were 63 years ago.

The Democrats have never been further estranged from the tradition of Harry Truman, andthe cause of international liberalism is no longer theirs.

Big-ticket litigation is a way of life in this country; but something new is afoot.

From one of America's embedded journalists--a riveting first-person account of the men who fought and the high-tech munitions that are changing the face of warfare forever.