Democrats are sure—absolutely sure—that a government shutdown stemming from a budget fight will play right into their hands. But with a president whose polls are dropping just as fast as his ability to sell an agenda, Dems are wrong to accept any argument that boils down to "Well, that’s the way it always works."

The conventional wisdom, especially in the US military, is that the IDF erred in several key areas during the Second Lebanon War. The wisdom that has coalesced in America around IDF operations comes from a superficial understanding of the IDF and of its performance in the two conflicts.

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.

Ahandy guide to America's political conventions, both past and present.

Politics have changed. Even competitive presidential primaries are not going to produce a decisive result

Politics have changed. Even competitive presidential primaries are not going to produce an indecisive result.

In "It’s Even Worse Than It Looks," congressional scholars Thomas Mann of the Brookings Institution and Norman Ornstein of AEI identify two overriding problems that have led Congress — and the United States — to the brink of institutional collapse. Mann and Ornstein call on the media as well as the public at large to focus on the true causes of dysfunction.

To the surprise of most Japan-watchers, the Japanese economy continues to recover.