Commentary by Michael Barone

Obama's Unfulfilled Promise Change By Michael Barone

"The most important lesson I've learned is that you can't change Washington from the inside," Barack Obama said in an interview Thursday on the Spanish-language Univision network. "You can only change it from the outside."

A better way to put it is that Barack Obama has proved he can't change Washington from the inside.

One case in point is the comprehensive immigration legislation Obama promised to steer to passage in his first term. The Univision interviewers, who asked tougher questions than the president has been getting from David Letterman or various rappers, zeroed in on this issue.

Obama's First Term Is Like Roosevelt's Dismal Second By Michael Barone

People, not least himself, have often compared Barack Obama to Franklin D. Roosevelt. You know the narrative. He came to office in a financial crisis and proceeded to take government action to revive the economy and expand government to help the little guy.

The Consequences of Obama's Bungled Mideast Policy By Michael Barone

In Libya, U.S. Ambassador Christopher Stevens and three colleagues were murdered Tuesday. Earlier that day, protesters in Egypt stormed the U.S. embassy and tore down the American flag.

Obama Could Be the Odd Man out on Tax Reform By Michael Barone

One of the services of the Simpson-Bowles Commission was to set out a path for tax reform, with lower income tax rates and removal of many tax preferences -- or, to use the commission's term, tax expenditures.

Magic of 2008 Eludes Obama After Flat Convention By Michael Barone

The consensus on Barack Obama's acceptance speech Thursday night, and in effect on the Democratic National Convention as a whole, is that it was a bust.

One reason may be optics. Obama was scheduled to deliver the speech in a stadium seating 64,000 people. But on Wednesday, after Charlotte, N.C., had been pummeled by periodic rainstorms all week, organizers moved the event to the convention hall.

Obama Hobbled by Record, Slumping Democratic Brand By Michael Barone

"One question, Mr. President," read the words on the front cover of this week's Economist, behind a silhouette of the back of Barack Obama's head, "just what would you do with another four years?"

Inspiring but Not Slick, Romney Showed Right Stuff By Michael Barone

The 40th Republican National Convention is now history, and political strategists and pundits are poring over the poll numbers to see whether Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan are getting a post-convention bounce in what have been very closely divided polls.

Romney Pins Hopes on Being Different From Obama By Michael Barone

TAMPA, Fla. -- The Republicans who are assembled here have been told time and time again that Barack Obama's great advantage over Mitt Romney is likability.

GOP Convention: No Suspense, Little Drama, Lots of Show By Michael Barone

Today, the 40th Republican National Convention assembles in hurricane-threatened Tampa, Fla. Seven days later, the 46th Democratic National Convention will assemble in presumably non-hurricane-threatened Charlotte, N.C. Thousands of delegates, many thousands more press personnel and even more political enthusiasts will be on hand.

GM Goes From Bad to Worse Despite Obama Bailout by Michael Barone

Readers with long memories may recall that Charles E. Wilson, president of General Motors and nominee for secretary of defense, got into trouble when he told a Senate committee, "What is good for the country is good for General Motors, and what's good for General Motors is good for the country."

Romney and Ryan Turn the Tables on Obama By Michael Barone

Mitt Romney's selection of Paul Ryan was supposed to be a problem for the Republicans. So said a chorus of chortling Democrats. So said a gaggle of anonymous seasoned Republican operatives. All of which was echoed gleefully by mainstream media.

Romney-Ryan Ticket Puts Entitlement Crisis at Center of Campaign by Michael Barone

On the USS Wisconsin in Norfolk harbor, a coatless Mitt Romney named a tieless Paul Ryan as his vice presidential nominee.

More Scared of History Than Destined To Repeat It by Michael Barone

Traumas suffered by a society generations ago can still have a negative effect centuries later.

Supporters of Ted Cruz and Chick-fil-A Break News by Michael Barone

Americans keep behaving in ways that baffle the liberal mainstream media. Two examples figured prominently -- or should have -- in last week's news.

Partisan Divide: Eggheads Get What They Wished For By Michael Barone

"Answered prayers," Saint Teresa of Avila is supposed to have said, "cause more tears than those that go unanswered." Especially, I fear, the answered prayers of political scientists.

2012 Campaign Very Different Than Kerry vs. Bush by Michael Barone

Does the 2012 campaign look a lot like the 2004 campaign? Many Democrats think so.

Conservatives Backtrack on Long Prison Sentences By Michael Barone

Only a few lonely media outlets responded to the Aurora Mall murders by calling for stricter gun control measures. President Barack Obama and Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper made eloquent statements, as did Mitt Romney, but neither the two Democrats nor the Republican called for changes in gun laws.

Booming North Dakota City Shows Wisdom of Markets By Michael Barone

This is a tale of two cities. No, not Dickens' phlegmatic London and passionate Paris. Nor the two neighborhoods Charles Murray contrasted in his recent bestseller "Coming Apart" -- prosperous but isolated Belmont (actually, Mitt Romney's home for decades) and needy and disorganized Fishtown.

Obama Believes Success Is a Gift From Government by Michael Barone

Perhaps the rain made the teleprompter unreadable. That's one thought I had on pondering Barack Obama's comments to a rain-soaked rally in Roanoke, Va., last Friday.

Like Charter Schools, Britain's Academies Aim High by Michael Barone

1776 is a number with great resonance for Americans, but not one you expect to be featured on a British government website.