Chapman's blog

Bad omens for McCain

Over the last three weeks, travel has let me spend several days in rural areas of Wisconsin, Indiana and North Carolina. My editor, by some odd reasoning, insisted on treating this as vacation time, but in truth, I was busy...

The false specter of a credit freeze

Here's the scenario offered by supporters of the Treasury bailout: Banks are refusing to lend to each other and won't resume until the government buys their bad assets. If banks won't lend to each other, other credit markets will freeze...

The rare courage of the House

The beauty of the American system of separation of powers is that it prevents precipitate government action. The House rejection of the administration's bailout plan is a perfect example of the system working as it should. The President wanted something,...

Who's to blame for the bailout's defeat?

To my surprise, the House has voted down the $700 billion bailout--though I suspect it may eventually approve some modified version, allowing skeptical members to say they voted against it while escaping blame if no rescue occurs and the economy...

McCain-Obama: Too hot or too cold?

This week's events serve to remind us that the November election is not just between different parties and different philosophies, but different personalities. The question is, given all the problems we face, do we want someone angry and theatrical, or...

Biden's untamed ego

Joe Biden is at the center of an endless battle between two titanic forces: his brain and his ego. No one can doubt that he's smart, knowledgeable and savvy. But he brings to mind what was said about Theodore Roosevelt:...

Obama or McCain should oppose the bailout

In a tight presidential race, both candidates are looking for a game-changer. I've got one: Coming out against the bailout of the financial industry. It's clear, it's bold and it would be popular with ordinary voters. So will either candidate...

Why Congress will cave on the bailout

Having been on vaction last week when the Treasury and Fed intervened to buy up $700 billion of bad debts from financial firms, I was encouraged to return and find not only reputable economists but members of Congress from both...

What Palin should have told Gibson

She could have given a honest, defensible answer when he asked if she's ready to be president. Something like this: "Charlie, I realize I'm not fully ready to be president. The presidency requires great knowledge and understanding of foreign affairs...

McCain's education

I've never been part of a presidential campaign ad before, but now I am. And readers who accuse me of being in the tank for Barack Obama may be surprised to find it's John McCain's campaign that is citing me...