Star Spangled Staggers

Next week will see primaries in Arizona and Michigan on 28 February and the Washington caucuses on 3 March. The final debate before Super Tuesday on 6 March is tonight in Phoenix, Arizona, making it arguably the most important debate to date.

This week's campaigning may prove to be make-or-break for Mitt Romney. If he wins in Arizona and Michigan, he once again cements himself as the frontrunner in the GOP ... read more

1. Rick Santorum cries Nazi (Washington Post)

Rick Santorum sees Nazis everywhere: in the Middle East, in doctor's offices and medical labs, in the Democratic Party, and now in the White House, says Dana Milbank.

2. Where's the change behind rhetoric? (Politico)

As the campaign season heats up, I can't help but notice President Barack Obama is dusting off the same old sweeping ... read more

Rick Santorum has had a lot to say about the rights of gay people. He has openly denounced homosexuality, strongly opposed gay marriage and called for gay people to be excluded from the American military.

According to the sweater-vest-wearing Republican candidate, marriage and military service is a privilege not a right, and therefore only those who deserve those privileges can have them. And in Rick's world, being gay means you don't ... read more

Following on from his version of Al Green's Let's Stay Together in New York last month (see below), President Obama has now moved on to the blues. Last night at the White House he gave us another impromptu song, performing Sweet Home Chicago with B.B. King and Buddy Guy. Can anyone imagine Mitt Romney doing ... read more

1. Pain without gain (New York Times)

We could actually do a lot to help our economies simply by reversing the destructive austerity of the last two years, writes Paul Krugman.

2. Iran as continual regional menace (Politico)

Tehren is likely to increase these terrorist activities, based on the belief that nuclear weapons could provide an umbrella and that its regional enemies are ... read more

The re-election of Barack Obama may well be back on. After watching the economy tank and the president struggling to make his promised sweeping reforms, many American swing voters were in a state of intense deliberation -- Obama 2.0 or something new?

But the economic picture is improving - and while jobs continue to be created and unemployment falls, the Republicans are involved in bitter exchanges and political gaffes, leaving Obama's ... read more

1. Mitt Romney: Campaigner without a cause (Washington Post)

Santorum is his most serious challenger yet, says Michael Gerson.

2. From Bad to Worse in Egypt (Wall Street Journal)

The repression of civil society is far worse than anything seen under Hosni Mubarak, writes Daniel Calingaert.

3. The many faces of marriage in America (Los Angeles Post)

The same shift ... read more

Ron Paul is defying the notion that winning early GOP primaries is essential to continued fundraising success. The fiery Texas congressman who wants to abolish the US Federal Reserve and re-peg the dollar to the gold standard has yet to win a GOP primary or caucus - although votes are still outstanding in Maine - yet he continues to raise large amounts of cash and draw throngs of enthusiastic supporters.

Just ... read more

1. This War Is Not Over Yet (New York Times)

President Obama can't have it both ways: if the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are ending, the detention of enemy prisoners without charges must end, too, argues Mary L. Dudziak.

2. The super PAC arms race (Oregonian)

The Obama campaign's move goes beyond unilateral disarmament. It amounts to dangerous proliferation in the nuclear ... read more

Sarah Palin has thrust herself back into the spotlight by claiming she could yet play an integral role in the Republican presidential nomination race. What exactly that role will entail is unclear but it seems Palin may be willing to run at a later date.

She said that in the event of a brokered convention, a situation whereby no candidate amasses enough delegates to win outright, she would "do whatever she ... read more

1. Iran is ready to talk (New York Times)

With Iran reeling from sanctions, the proper environment now exists for diplomacy to work, writes Dennis Ross.

2. The health care law in red and blue (Politico)

Many GOP congressional districts have much to gain as the new heath care coverage rolls out, say Larry Levitt, Drew Altman and Gary Claxton.

3. read more

1. The do-over derby (New York Times)

Rick Santorum is attempting to distance himself from his 2005 book, "It Takes a Family," by suggesting that his wife helped him write parts of the book that dicuss "radical feminists," writes Frank Bruni.

2. Is Mitt Romney's manager cred losing its value? (Politico)

Mitt Romney has built his presidential bid largely on his business background, ... read more