Dick Polman

Cited by the Columbia Journalism Review as one of the nation's top political reporters, and lauded by the ABC News political website as "one of the finest political journalists of his generation," Dick Polman is a national political columnist at the Philadelphia Inquirer. He is on the full-time faculty at the University of Pennsylvania, as "writer in residence." Dick has been a frequent guest on C-Span, MSNBC, CNN, NPR and the BBC. He covered the 1992, 1996, 2000, and 2004 presidential campaigns.

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All commentaries posted before April 18, 2008, can be accessed at www.dickpolman.blogspot.com.

Read Dick's blog Dick Polman's American Debate
Latest post: Stepping on Hillary's news cycle - 8:59am

The American Debate:

By Dick Polman, For The Inquirer

Posted 05/11/2008

Obama now leads Clinton in superdelegates. A15. Dick Polman: The dream Democratic ticket. Currents, C1.

Stepping on Hillary's news cycle

The American Debate: Dealing with the race card 04/29/2008: Superdelegates must weigh how Obama's color affects electability.

By Dick Polman , For The Inquirer

This is a very sensitive issue, but it needs to be discussed. When the unpledged Democratic superdelegates finally look hard at the electability factor, they will be compelled to judge whether Barack Obama would be a risky nominee because of his race.
The American Debate: Hard to believe the Democrats could lose 04/27/2008: By Dick Polman , For The Inquirer

If the Democrats somehow contrive to blow this presidential election, they should be consigned to the dustbin of history - or to a display case at the Smithsonian, where perhaps they can share space with the Whigs.
The American Debate: 04/27/2008: By Dick Polman , For The Inquirer

A tough feud, a shaky policy, and the final word. Three columns in Currents, C1.
The American Debate: 'Elitist' is as 'elitist' does 04/16/2008: By Dick Polman , For The Inquirer

Excerpts from Dick Polman's blog, "Dick Polman's American Debate." If you want to enjoy a belly laugh, here are three reliable suggestions: (1) rent an old Woody Allen movie, especially Bananas, (2) rent Borat, or (3) listen to Hillary Clinton, of all people, attack Barack Obama as "elitist."
The American Debate: Experience is not always the decider 04/13/2008: By Dick Polman , For The Inquirer

If "experience" is truly the pivotal factor in a presidential race, then George H.W. Bush should have cruised to reelection in 1992. He already had four years at the helm, plus eight years as vice president, several years as a U.N. ambassador, several years as U.S. emissary to China, a couple of years running the CIA, and several terms as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives.
The American Debate: The Clintons' wider problem 04/09/2008: By Dick Polman , For The Inquirer

The Clintons were reportedly shocked, shocked to learn last weekend that chief strategist Mark Penn had recently donned his other hat - as CEO of a global consulting firm - and sought to lobby on behalf of a client for a trade treaty that Hillary opposes on the campaign trail. The Clintons let it be known that they were "angry" with Penn, and . . . made it clear that Penn would no longer pilot Hillary's lurching ship.
The American Debate: 2 paths voters might take on war 04/03/2008: By Dick Polman , For The Inquirer

From time to time we run excerpts from Dick Polman's blog, "Dick Polman's American Debate." Not surprisingly, over the past few days we have heard nothing further from President Bush and Sen. John McCain about "defining moments" and government "strength" - because, as it turns out, [prime minister Nouri al-Maliki's] Iraqi sec
The American Debate: Scandals sparked by proxies roil the campaign 03/30/2008: By Dick Polman , For The Inquirer

It's 3 a.m. and the red phone rings. The president lurches from the pillow, poised to command. The breathless aide on the line spells out the crisis:
The American Debate: Backhanded defense of McCain's Iran gaffe 03/25/2008: By Dick Polman , For The Inquirer

John McCain got a helping hand [Sunday] from Brit Hume on Fox News. Although, in the end, I wonder whether Hume did him any favors.
The American Debate: Jaded by lies, public suffers war fatigue 03/16/2008: By Dick Polman , For The Inquirer

Hey, remember Iraq? Little dustup in the Middle East, launched by President Bush based on false premises, that's now costing this country $3 billion a week? A conflict now on the cusp of its fifth anniversary, which makes it the third-longest in our history, after Vietnam and the Revolutionary War?