Saturday Political Roundup

This was a particularly good week for some excellent political columns. Here are a few of the best:

...Charles Krauthammer writes "Decline is a Choice" at the Weekly Standard. (Click the title of this post.) As Paul Rahe elaborates on Krauthammer's piece at Power Line, by his actions the President and his staff appear to want "the elimination of the foundations for American hegemony and the crippling of this country. They regard the role that we have thus far played in the world as shameful; they are intent on dismembering the alliances that gave us our heft in the world; and they are not only appeasing our sworn enemies but openly, publicly embracing them and their agenda."

...Also at Power Line, John Hinderaker assesses the imbecilic awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to the President on the basis of hope and popularity. When I heard of the award, after I finally finished laughing, all I could think was that this event represented a complete People Magazine-ation of politics. Or maybe this was a consolation prize for Chicago not being awarded the Olympics despite the unprecedented campaigning of the President and First Lady.

...Looking back at the Olympic city selection, C. Edmund Wright postulates that "The Obamas Violated the First Three Rules of Selling."

...When he's not insulting allies and supporting dictators, the President appears to want to be just "Half a President" -- the ceremonial half -- writes Steve McCann at American Thinker.

...Did you know the Census taker who knocks on your door next year might be a convicted violent felon?

...Betsy McCaughey explains that one of the provisions in the health care bill being debated in the Senate will give the unelected Secretary of Health and Human Services "the power to define quality, cost-effective care for each medical condition and penalize doctors who spend more on their patients." Can you say "death panel"?

...Then there's the new taxes on everything from mammograms to dental x-rays to dentures. Maybe I'm missing something, but how is taxing medical equipment and procedures going to improve innovation and hold down costs? It won't, of course...prices will rise and it will be that much harder to afford your next mammogram or dental checkup.

...Joseph Smith explains the sneaky tactics Democrats may use to remake a sixth of the U.S. economy with a healthcare takeover unpopular with a majority of Americans.

...A former Obama-Clinton-Edwards speechwriter discovers that insurance mandates in Massachusetts have taken insurance coverage out of her price range. I have never thought Romney could succeed as a Republican candidate chiefly because of his support for government insurance mandates; as I wrote over three years ago, his health plan in Massachusetts "is the essence of big government interference in the free market. Forcing people to buy something reduces personal freedom and leads to higher prices, as the market has less need to compete for guaranteed buyers."

...Rich Lowry writes on "The Obama Snap-Back" and says the President is "the Right's best community organizer." We can only hope.