American Politics

Civility is dying in American politics and a destructive meanness has taken hold, said panelists opening a two-day conference Tuesday at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library near Simi Valley. "There is, I believe, a new nastiness in politics, a venom that is loose that exceeds anything any of us old-timers in Washington can remember," said David Gergen, a key adviser to President Clinton and keynote speaker at the conference titled "What's Wrong With American Politics?"

The HBO movie “Game Change” may not be the whole story, but it is a true story about Sarah Palin and the power of ineptitude in American politics. Palin and her partisans have trashed the movie for one very good reason: no matter how sympathetic to Palin's personal predicament the film may be, the central plot point is that John McCain and his campaign team picked a shockingly unprepared person to be his running mate. Steve Schmidt, McCain's senior political advisor, and other top campaign operatives were primary sources for the book on which “Game Change” was based.

Mayor Tom Bradley. Gov. George Deukmejian. Sens. Alan Cranston and Pete Wilson. Presidential candidates George Bush and Michael S. Dukakis. Three Democrats and three Republicans. All hard-working, conscientious public servants. But if you were having a dinner party and wanted witty, lively, charismatic guests--rather than merely famous, powerful guests--to ensure an evening of sparkling conversation, it's not likely that any of these gentlemen's names would be on your invitation list.

The writings of John Jay Chapman deserve a place in public esteem and have not received it, even though Edmund Wilson proclaimed that he is a figure of importance. From "Practical Agitation" in 1900, which deals astutely with American politics, to the volumes of collected essays about American culture and world literature, Chapman contributed a vision of life and letters not found elsewhere.

"Yitzhak, this is the last speech. There will be no others." --Eitan Haber, long-time Rabin political aide and speechwriter **** "He'll be remembered both for his courage in war but even more for his courage in peace. He's an amazing man." --Former President George Bush **** "This loss is not only a loss for the Israelis and the Palestinians, but the whole world because it is a loss for the peace. And I hope Mr.

Many months ago, when I first started writing this column, I, like many political analysts, would have predicted a rather dull political season, with the end result being George Bush reelected by a narrow margin. All that has changed. Practically everything I have learned in the 30 years I have been around American politics is irrelevant to this election year. I think Americans are going to have one of the most fascinating elections they have ever experienced.

What is it that drives someone to these lengths? It's nuts, right, to shave your head and strip down to Speedos to go to a Wisconsin football game in winter? So why is it cool to dress up in a stifling pig suit to be arrested in the muggy heat of a Los Angeles summer to upset delegates at the Democratic convention? Passion for a point, apparently, whether it's a sharp or dull one. Or maybe a case of PAMD (Pay-Attention-to-Me Deficit).

"Politics and government cannot raise children, write love songs, create computer languages, invent the technology after the microchip or discover a cure for cancer. But politics and government do shape the conditions under which such acts of creativity are made easier or harder, more likely or less likely. Politics has everything to do with building a more just, more civil, more open society.