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ARTICLE Radical, Moderate, and Necessary E. J. Dionne Jr. Social Catholicism must rise to the task of our perilous moment. Catholicism is underperforming in American public life. Its social...

A New Left? (August 2018)

COLUMNIST E. J. Dionne Jr. A New Left? WHAT ALEXANDRIA OCASIO-CORTEZ'S SURPRISE VICTORY MEANS FOR DEMOCRATS ocialism has known increments of success, basic failure, and massive betrayal. Yet it...

We'll Build That (June 2018)

COLUMNIST E. J. Dionne Jr. We'll Build That THINKING ABOUT AMERICA AFTER TRUMP In the imaginations of his hopeful defenders, Donald Trump was supposed to transcend left and right. He'd break the...

Servants of the NRA (March 2018)

E. J. Dionne Jr. Servants of the NRA WHY DO SO MANY POLITICIANS REFUSE TO TALK ABOUT GUN CONTROL? The surest sign a political regime is failing is its inability to do anything about a problem...

No Friend of the Worker (September 2017)

E. J. Dionne Jr. No Friend of the Worker TRUMP'S REVEALING TALKING POINTS It is increasingly difficult to escape the sense that American workers find themselves exploited by our politics—and...

Obama's Post-Presidency (January 2017)

E. J. Dionne Jr. Obama's Post-Presidency WILL HE LEAD THE RESISTANCE TO TRUMP? Will Donald Trump deprive President Obama of what we have come to think of as a normal post-presidency, the...

Against Trumpian Triumphalism (December 2016)

E. J. Dionne Jr. Against Trumpian Triumphalism WHERE MOST AMERICANS STOOD ON ELECTION DAY Let's be clear: The United States of America is not Donald Trump's country. When all the returns are in,...

Obama & Hiroshima's Moral Lessons (June 2016)

COLUMNISTS E. J. Dionne Jr. Obama & Hiroshima's Moral Lessons AMBIVALENCE IS NOT ALWAYS WEAKNESS Unless you are a pacifist, you accept that the use of force can be justified, even necessary, in...

The Irony of Celebrity Populism (May 2016)

COLUMNIST E. J. Dionne Jr. The Irony of Celebrity Populism HOW TRUMP EXPOSES THE WEAKNESSES OF OUR POLITICAL CULTURE ^ tt T hen you become famous," the famous political consultant James Carville...

No Room for Reformicons (June 2015)

E. J. Dionne Jr. No Room for Reformicons GOP PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO PARTY ORTHODOXY Scott Walker insists that when he changes his positions, he is not engaged in "flips." "A...

The Conscience of Mario Cuomo (January 2015)

COLUMNIST E. J. Dionne Jr. The Conscience of Mario Cuomo HiS GREATEST MORAL ASSET WAS HiS HUMILITY There will never be another politician like Mario Cuomo, a man shaped by a different age. Yet...

Fire and Ashes (January 2014)

BOOKS E. J. Dionne Jr. Not Beanbag Fire and Ashes Success and Failure in Politics Michael Ignatieff Harvard University Press, $24.95, 224 pp. Reading Michael Ignatieff's reflective and...

Second Act (February 2013)

E. J. Dionne Jr. Second Act THERE IS NO THIRD Barack Hussein Obama can begin his second term liberated by the confidence that he is already a landmark figure in American history. His task is not...

The Real Deficit Argument (January 2013)

Columnists E. J. Dionne Jr. The Real Deficit Argument a sustainable path to debt reduction Should our politicians dedicate themselves to solving the problems we face now? Or should they...

`Mommy Wars' & Money Worries (May 2012)

COLUMNIST E. J. Dionne Jr. `Mommy Wars' & Money Worries Ann romney never had to work a day in her life Last month, Democratic strategist Hilary Rosen claimed stay-athomemom Ann Romney...

'The Perils of Too Little' (November 2009)

E. J. Dionne Jr. ‘The Perils of Too Little’ REMINDING VOTERS WHAT GOVERNMENT DOES FOR THEM Here’s a story you may have missed because it flies in the face of the dreary...

Compassionate Liberalism (September 2009)

E. J. Dionne Jr. Compassionate Liberalism SENATOR TED KENNEDY, 1932–2009 Ted Kennedy was treasured by liberals, loved by many of his conservative colleagues, revered by African...

The Equalizer (March 2009)

Our political system adjusts badly when the familiar landmarks erected during controversies of the past are swept away and prepackaged arguments become obsolete. Starting with this...

Keeping Up Appearances (February 2009)

The Obama administration keeps having to learn that bland centrism is not pragmatic, it’s not helpful in resolving a big crisis, and it certainly doesn’t buy you any love. Oddly, the recent...

Think Big, Spend Big (December 2008)

E. J. Dionne Jr. Think Big, Spend Big ObAMA’s UNUsUAl MANdATe The concept of “found money” is delightful. We cherish the cash that turns up in a coat pocket, under the bed, or in...

Chosen to Lead (November 2008)

Chosen to Lead fanpop.com Here again, Obamafs situation closely here who understand that you win seats President-elect Obama can spend most of his time fretting nervously about the...

We Know the Candidates (October 2008)

Commonweal . October 24, 2008 archive.gov We Know the Candidates bailout plans. has been studying the 1932 Great Depres- The time to balance budgets is when sion campaign of Franklin D....

Faith & Politics : Rethinking religion's public role (February 2008)

Faith & Politics After the Religious Right E. J. Dionne Jr. I t is already clear that the 2008 presiden-tial campaign will be one of the most no-table in our country’s history. But one of...

Surge & Dodge (December 2007)

Columnist Surge & Dodge E. J. Dionne Jr. THE PRESIDENT’S FISCAL MESS It’s time we subject the Iraq war to the same cost-benefit analysis we are called on to impose on other...

How to Raise Taxes (December 2007)

Commonweal . December 7, 2007 8 Columnist How to Raise Taxes E. J. Dionne Jr. A LESSON IN POLITICAL CANDOR Imagine a place where the leading politician pokes fun at those who “regard...

The Promise & Limits of Politics (November 2007)

Articles The Promise & Limits of Politics What Gene McCarthy Taught Us E. J. Dionne Jr. H ow many Americans had their view of the world changed by a quietly passionate man whose campaign...

Time to Pay Up (October 2007)

Commonweal . October 26, 2007 6 Columnist Time to Pay Up E. J. Dionne Jr. THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A FREE WAR Would conservatives and Republicans support the war in Iraq if they had...

Double Vision (June 2007)

E. y. Dionne yr. Double Vision TWO PARTIES, TWO AMERICAS • When Democratic presidential candidates get together, they argue about who has the best , health-care plan. When Republicans...

Bush's Budget (March 2007)

0 E. Dionne Bush's Budget BAIT&SWITCH, AGAIN ~ l l ~ Itwasoneofthosemoments when a public official gives : j away a larger truth by offer~ ! ~ ingwhatseemstobea ~,~._ throwaway line....

The Left-out Middle (December 2006)

E. ]. Dionne yr. "l'he Left.out Middle A MESSAGE TO THE NEW CONGRESS ~ ~ It might be useful for Democ- In the middle, "technology and globalrats to take a break from their ization had the...

Shades of Blue (September 2006)

Shades of Blue E. ft. Dionne fir. WILL THE NORTH VOTE THE DEMOCRATS BACK INTO POWER? ~ i ~The North will rise again. If : P ~ Democrats win control of the j House of Representatives in...

Who's in Charge? (April 2006)

Columnist E. J. Dionne Jr. Who's in Charge? HOW THE PRESIDENT PASSES THE BUCK Is President George W. Bush the leader of our government, or is he just a right-wing talkshow host? The...

Lift Up Your Voices (March 2006)

g ! ra E. Dionne Lift Up Your Voices CONGRESSIONAL CATHOLIC DEMOCRATS ADDRESS THE BISHOPS "I believe in an America where the separation of church and state is absolute where no Catholic...

Why 'Scooter' Did It (November 2005)

E. Dionne Why 'Scooter' Did It BUSH'S REELECTION WAS AT STAKE ~~i as anyone noticed that the cover-up worked? In his impressive presentation of the indictment of Lewis "Scooter" Libby...

Unconscionable (August 2005)

E. y. Dionne yr. Unconscionable BUSH'S PLAN FOR THE WELFARE STATE The problem with liberals, conservatives often say, is that they are too committed to old programs. This is an...

Learning Curve (March 2005)

E. ft. Dionne yr. Learning Curve THE EMERGENCE OF PROLIFE DEMOCRATS ii~Why are George W. Bush and his party so skillful in dealing with the abortion issue, and why are I)emocrats so ....

Protect the Rich (March 2005)

E.~. Dionne ~r. Protect the Rich HOW BUSH WILL 'REFORM' SOCIAL SECURITY { ~ Of all the arguments for cutting ~ and privatizing Social Securi- J ty, the most obnoxious and misleading focus on...

Money & elections (April 2004)

OF SEVERAL MINDS. E. J. DIONNE Jr. MONEY & ELECTIONS Are the Democrats cheating? Hal Vitt Ickes has put reformminded Democrats in a spot—and on the spot. Ickes, a shrewd former top...

Outsoure this (February 2004)

OUTSOURCE THIS Unemployment & the presidential race enator John Edwards (D-N.C.), who has had perfect rhetorical pitch in this year's presidential campaign, altered the opening of his stump speech...

Bush to states: Drop dead (June 2003)

E. J. DIONNE Jr. BUSH TO STATES: DROP DEAD The economic crisis trickles down The Pacific Northwest is known for Microsoft, Intel, lattes, breathtaking natural beauty, alternative music, rain,...

We doubters (February 2003)

E.J. DIONNE Jr. WE DOUSBTERS How to form a consensus on Iraq I have a terrible foreboding that when we look back on our debate over the impending war with Iraq, we will be disappointed in...

Class warfare? (January 2003)

OF SEVERAL MINDS E.J. DIONNE Jr. CLASS WARFARE? It depends on which elites you attack Be wary. By offering certain facts here, I may, accord-ing to President George W. Bush, make myself guilty...

Tax the poor! (December 2002)

E. J. DIONNE Jr. OF SEVERAL MINDS TAX THE POOR! Another brilliant Republican idea Prepare yourself for the latest cause of the political right: You are about to hear a great deal about how...

My kind of pol Wellstone will be hard to replace (November 2002)

E.J. DIONNE Jr. MY KIND OF POL Remembering Paul Wellstone The late Senator Paul Well-stone never walked into a room. He bounced, he bounded, he trotted-a bundle of energy coiled in a small frame....

Social insecurity (October 2002)

E.J. DIONNE Jr. OF SEVERAL MINDS SOCIAL INSECURITY What happened to 'privatization'? Of candidates live up to what they are saying, the 2002 campaign has already resolved a central issue in our...

War politics (April 2002)

WAR POLITICS Bush looks to McKinley Oarl Rove, President George W. Bush's resident political genius, has long had a fascination with another Republican president, William McKinley. In his first...

Rockaway, Queens: Dealing with hard times (November 2001)

E.J. DIONNE Jr. ROCKAWAY, QWEENS A neighborhood I know well Our family has a love affair with a star-crossed little neighborhood at the edge of New York City. In our house, "Rockaway" is a...

The third way (April 1999)

tal and physician reimbursements can be reduced, but that reduction, one way or the other, will be passed along in diminished patient care. We are left then with a slowing of the growth of...

Politics & religion (March 1999)

OF SEVERAL MINDS E.J. DIONNE, Jr. POLITICS & RELIGION Conservatives sound retreat It's hard to notice historic turnings at the moment they happen. But sometimes the signs of the times appear in...

The IMF & its critics (January 1998)

II f your neighbor's house is burning down, do you begrudge the fire department spending your tax dollars to put out the fire even if your neighbor caused the fire himself by throwing a...

What Maggie hath wrought (January 1991)

BRITAIN AFTER THATCHER WHAT MAGGIE HATH WROUGHT LAB_9 W_9 BE THE SAME argaret Thatcher was far more popular in the United States than she was in Britain, for both good and bad...

Cashing in the chips (December 1982)

National affairs CASHING IN THE CHIPS WANTED: A SOBER LOOK AT HIGH TECH FOR POLITICIANS all over the Western world facing hard economic times, the words ""high tech'' have become a kind of...

Democratic vistas (November 1982)

National affairs DEMOCRATIC VISTAS THE MIRROR IMAGE OF 1980 THE main issue of the 1982 election was decided before a single ballot was counted. The question was: what did the American people...

Alive and kicking (October 1982)

National affairs ALIVE & KICKING THE SOCIAL ISSUES ARE NOT DEAD WHEN PRESIDENT REAGAN'S aides announced last month that the administration would de-emphasize the social issues, many opponents of...

The primary points (March 1980)

PREPPIES. SCRUFFIES. & CONSERVATIVE POPULISTS The primary points E.J. DIONNE, JR. IT was a chilly afternoon in Concord and the old mansion that John Anderson's campaign had managed to...

One-Party State? (November 1978)

CHRISTMAS TO CONE The issue of Commonweal, is haunted (we hope) by the ghost of Christmas-to-Come, disguised as a small return envelope for gift subscriptions. This envelope has been designed to...

Dionne, E.J.

Dionne, E.J. Jr.

Dionne, EJ. Jr.

Diorio, Margaret

DiPiero, W. S.

DiPiero, W.S.

DiSalvo, Charles R

Disney, Francis Xavier

DiSpoldo, Nick

DiSTEFANO, ANTHONY

DiSTEFANO, ANTHONY J.

DISTEFANO, TONY