The American Enterprise Debates delve deeper into the core issues at the heart of our societal fabric. The series aims to challenge conventional wisdom and inform policy in a sequence of one-hour debates that center on simple yet provocative questions.

We have been studying Washington politics and Congress for more than 40 years, and never have we seen them this dysfunctional. In our past writings, we have criticized both parties when we believed it was warranted. Today, however, we have no choice but to acknowledge that the core of the problem lies with the Republican Party.

This week's developments have been notable--less because the reauth effort is likely to go anywhere, and more because they offer a clarifying look at where things stand.

Far from enhancing the Putin regime's legitimacy, the election will diminish it further in the eyes of a significant part of the Russian population.

Earlier this month, the left-wing magazine the Nation highlighted Joe Therrien as a symbol of the Occupy Wall Street movement. A New York City public school drama teacher, Therrien was frustrated with the shortcomings of the school system. So he quit his job and "set off to the University of Connecticut to get an MFA in his passion — puppetry."

Although many of President Obama's opponents have smeared him as a radical and a "socialist," he is actually a moderate operating in the center of American politics.

President Obama’s Mexico strategy picked up where the Bush-era “Merida Plan” package left off. In 2012, if Mexicans choose a new president who decides to end the anti-drug offensive, we may wish that we had done more to support our Mexican allies when we had the chance.

Elections in Turkey come at a crucial time. In this election, the Turks will decide if the AKP will win again. If they do, Turkey could slip further in to autocracy.