In this age of ballooning U.S. debt, it’s hardly surprising that many Democrats and Republicans are pushing to reduce American military spending. But a closer examination of what’s at stake reveals just how troubling the embrace of defense austerity will prove to be.

This has been the strangest battle for a major party presidential nomination that I have ever seen. One of the most striking features of the pre-primary stage of the past six months or so has been the primacy of debates. 

McCain's sense of honor reaches a high pitch when he takes on lawmakers.

The reality of the health care bill will be shaped by the implementation of the program, and that in turn will be shaped by the people in charge of implementation.

Being in the minority is not desirable, so many Republicans are retiring. This makes it all the more difficult for the GOP to regain the majority.

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.

Both Republicans and Democrats have chosen cities for their conventions in regions that they hope will break them out of the current stable red-and-blue map.

RepublicanPartyprospects in the 2008 Senate races have gone from dim to dismal.