Bob Keefe - The Japan Times

COMMENTARY / WASHINGTON UPDATE

Jan 12, 2006

WASHINGTON -- The American political landscape continues to be dominated by U.S. President George W. Bush. He had his ups and downs in 2005, and while he has gained about seven points in the various polls since he hit bottom in late November, his approval ratings remain in the low 40s, according to various...

COMMENTARY / WASHINGTON UPDATE

Dec 25, 2005

Political 'capital' like dust in the wind

WASHINGTON -- What a year! When 2005 began, there was so much hope and optimism in Washington, even among us Democrats.

COMMENTARY / WASHINGTON UPDATE

Sep 25, 2005

Storm surge of deficit spending forecast

WASHINGTON -- When things go wrong, they all go wrong for U.S. President George W. Bush. We have watched his approval ratings sag through the summer as his policies in Iraq and elsewhere have begun to unravel. Then came Hurricane Katrina nearly four weeks ago, and it appears that the bottom has fallen...

COMMENTARY / WASHINGTON UPDATE

Jul 9, 2005

Brace for more bipartisan battles in wake of Supreme Court justice's retirement

WASHINGTON -- The July 1 announcement by U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor that she is retiring marks the end of a distinguished 24-year career, and the beginning of a crucial struggle by President George W. Bush to find a replacement.

COMMENTARY / WASHINGTON UPDATE

Jun 25, 2005

No easy fix for reapportionment wrongs

WASHINGTON -- Among the issues that California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger will take to a special referendum election next fall is that of reapportionment. Specifically, the Gubernator wants to change the way California draws its district lines for representation in the state legislature and in the Congress....

COMMENTARY / WASHINGTON UPDATE

May 7, 2005

Bush finds social security plan a hard sell

WASHINGTON -- One hundred days into his second term, President George W. Bush seems a bit adrift. He has dipped below the 50-percent level in approval ratings (47 percent). His "60 stops in 60 days" campaign to promote his program to reform Social Security has boomeranged, with fewer people supporting...

COMMENTARY / WASHINGTON UPDATE

Jan 6, 2005

Lessons from last year's landmark U.S. election

WASHINGTON -- The last election that we just endured is still being quantified and dissected. From the seemingly endless forums and reviews that have flowed since Nov. 2, we are learning a bit about how our elections are run and won.

COMMENTARY / WASHINGTON UPDATE

Dec 23, 2004

President had a better year than most

WASHINGTON -- As this supercharged political year of 2004 comes to a close, it seems appropriate to take a look at where Americans stand, and what they decided and changed in the past year.

COMMENTARY / WASHINGTON UPDATE

Dec 6, 2004

Battle looms over Supreme Court justices

WASHINGTON -- The recently announced illness of U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice William Rehnquist confirms the prospect of turnover soon at the court. Rehnquist turned 80 last month and seems to have a serious, debilitating cancer. He continues to be absent from the court.

COMMENTARY / WASHINGTON UPDATE

Nov 18, 2004

Bush-Kerry presidential contest was one for the textbooks

WASHINGTON -- President George W. Bush's re-election victory was a masterpiece of political strategy and execution by the Bush campaign team. There has been a feeling of relief throughout the nation that:

COMMENTARY / WASHINGTON UPDATE

Oct 21, 2004

Candidates focus on battleground states

WASHINGTON -- Regardless of what you thought of the idea before the debates came off, chances are you will have to admit that the 2004 U.S. presidential debates provided a rare and welcome opportunity to get a better understanding of the two candidates, U.S. President George W. Bush and Massachusetts...

COMMENTARY / WASHINGTON UPDATE

Sep 25, 2004

Senate control up for grabs on election day

WASHINGTON -- The meandering pattern of the presidential race has captured the attention of most Americans. But there are other important stakes that will be decided on Nov. 2, including 33 seats in the U.S. Senate and all 435 members of the House of Representatives.

COMMENTARY / WASHINGTON UPDATE

Sep 6, 2004

Presidential race promises to be a thriller

WASHINGTON -- In polling completed just as the Republican National Convention convened, the two candidates continued to run neck and neck. The result was a slight gain for President George W. Bush and a disappointment for his challenger, Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry. (Kerry had gotten a bit of a bounce...

COMMENTARY / WASHINGTON UPDATE

Aug 8, 2004

Happy Democrats suffer some nostalgia

WASHINGTON -- A lot of Democrats arrived home from the 44th national convention of their party happy that the performance of their new nominee exceeded their expectations and that the entire presentation was positive and error-free.

EDITORIALS / WASHINGTON UPDATE

Jul 30, 2004

Taking care of business

The extraordinary Diet session that opens Friday should be an occasion to review the outcome of the July 11 Upper House election. This is true especially for the Liberal Democratic Party, which failed to win its targeted number of seats. Yet neither the LDP nor the administration of Prime Minister Junichiro...

COMMENTARY / WASHINGTON UPDATE

Jul 7, 2004

Bush's financial edge fades as Kerry's coffers grow fat

WASHINGTON -- Throw away all of those crying towels that have been held in reserve to sop the tears of Democrats whining about the financial superiority of the Great Bush Money Machine. John Kerry just beat the record for fundraising by a presidential challenger, and he has a month to go to keep piling...

COMMENTARY / WASHINGTON UPDATE

Jun 26, 2004

Internet revolutionizing American politics

WASHINGTON -- The campaign of 2004 is different from any that came before. The reason is the Internet. For the first time, we have Meetup, MoveOn, Right March, Bloggers, E-Voting and political Spam. Good, bad or indifferent, the Internet is proving to be a major player in the prosecution of the presidential...

COMMENTARY / WASHINGTON UPDATE

Jun 7, 2004

Frustrating times for left and right alike

WASHINGTON -- It is frustrating being a fan of one of the two main contenders for U.S. president. I find the level of disgruntlement at an all-time high among both Republicans and Democrats.

COMMENTARY / WASHINGTON UPDATE

May 30, 2004

Bush could use a streak of good news

WASHINGTON -- It has not been a good two months for President George W. Bush. In mid-March, the president's men took the rubber band off their enormous roll of cash and went to work with media designed to present a softer, gentler, yet strong president while painting their prospective opponent, Sen....

COMMENTARY / WASHINGTON UPDATE

Apr 25, 2004

Bush ads make little dent against Kerry

WASHINGTON -- The continuing reports of tumult and casualties from Iraq and contentious hearings by the Presidential Commission to Investigate September 11th have sucked the oxygen out of the media pipes this month.

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