Raphael J. Sonenshein

Day at the beach—Omaha Beach

Published on December 10, 2008

June 6, 1944, may have been the most important day of the 20th century. The Allied invasion of France breached Hitler's Atlantic Wall and decisively turned the war against the Nazi regime.

Is the time right for universal health care?

Published on November 22, 2008

Hope breeds strength

Published on November 5, 2008

The French now understand that Obama's election will set off a long overdue debate about the status of minority communities within their own nation. Why, people are asking, are there not more minority members of the national legislative bodies?

Adlai Stevenson, JFK, Obama and the Jewish vote

Published on October 28, 2008

With the Republican base on the ropes, all eyes are on Florida —again

Published on October 8, 2008

With the Republican base on the ropes, all eyes are on Florida —again

Published on October 7, 2008

It is already ugly out on the campaign trail, and reporters in the field are feeling the heat of the rising anger of a Republican base on the ropes.

Can McCain fix his Palin problem?

Published on September 27, 2008

John McCain is in big trouble

Published on September 21, 2008

Shock, awe and lies on the campaign trail

Published on September 14, 2008

The Palin nomination: What does it mean?

Published on September 9, 2008

Biden’s the one

Published on August 26, 2008

Biden is just naturally what the Democrats used to be, the party of lunch- pail-carrying working people, not politically correct, prone to saying inappropriate things, but with a great credibility

From the people who brought you the Iraq war comes . . . The ALL NEW Cold War

Published on August 15, 2008

Being an African American candidate is different

Published on August 5, 2008

An African American candidacy is different. Obama can't easily be the racial middleman as Clinton was. And being aggressive carries its own special dynamics.

I’m still thinking about the race card

Published on July 31, 2008

Race is on my mind

Published on July 30, 2008

Obama world tour strikes gold

Published on July 23, 2008

The L.A. Times ‘frames’ the Presidential race

Published on July 16, 2008

This assertion, which is totally irrelevant to the campaign of 2008, leads to a source saying that McCain would definitely not represent the third Bush term.

The L.A. Times ‘frames’ the Presidential race

Published on July 14, 2008

The Jewish Vote: Bush, Israel and Iran

Published on July 9, 2008

Leaks from Vice President Dick Cheney's office indicate that the veep does not favor an Israeli attack, only because Israel lacks sufficient force to eliminate the nuclear facilities. So Cheney is allegedly pushing within the administration for a U.S. attack.

The traveling candidates

Published on July 3, 2008

Torture: What did we know, and when did we know it?

Published on June 27, 2008

Will the Democrats cave on telecom immunity?

Published on June 19, 2008

2008: The contest for the Jews

Published on June 12, 2008

In a society that has become less and less informed about politics and government, Jews remain a deeply attentive political community. Intensely concerned about Israel and the protection of the Jewish community, but alert to so much more, Jews offer a candidate a tough audience on policy

Hillary withdraws—the end of the beginning

Published on June 8, 2008

Israel is central to the Republican strategy in 2008

Published on May 22, 2008

The Wright flap and the black candidate

Published on May 8, 2008

Barack Obama's presidential candidacy is providing a crash course on race in America.

Jews and Rev. Wright

Published on May 2, 2008

The Jewish Vote:  America’s role in the world and what’s best for Israel

Published on April 10, 2008

What U.S. role in the world is best for Israel?

Is it to be loved, to be feared, or to be respected? The 2008 campaign provides a good lens for answering that question.

Will Jews give Obama a chance?

Published on March 13, 2008

Obama needs to tell his story about the Jewish community and Israel before his opponents tell their version. If he waits to respond to Clinton's charges, it may already be too late. He needs to discuss his experiences in Chicago's Jewish community, talk about his personal connections to Israel and provide reassurance in his own words.

And now the ‘Jewish primary’  begins . . .

Published on January 31, 2008

When California moved its presidential primary to Feb. 5, and other big states followed suit, the strategic role of Jewish voters in the nominating process was greatly enhanced.

The NIE, Iran, presidential politics and the Jews

Published on December 13, 2007

The release last week of the National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) on Iran's nuclear ambitions stunned the nation's capital. After being buried for a year, the NIE has deflated the Bush administration's case on Iran by stating that Iran halted its program to develop a nuclear weapon in 2003.

Handicapping the 2008 Presidential Race

Published on November 15, 2007

Brief descriptions of Republican and Democratic presidential candidates and their likely appeal amongst Jewish voters.

Henry Waxman: The Democrats’ Eliot Ness

Published on October 11, 2007

In fact, Congressman Henry Waxman already did more oversight while in the minority than many Democrats have been able to accomplish with the majority. Back in 2005, David Corn wrote in the Nation magazine that Democrats considered Waxman to be their "Eliot Ness," and that many members wished the rest of the party would adopt his approach.

Iran, Israel and the 2008 election

Published on September 13, 2007

The Republican Party has a two-sided albatross around its neck, an unpopular president who is trying desperately to keep an unpopular war going past Election Day so that its disastrous ending can be on the next president's watch.

Islamofascism and the GOP

Published on August 9, 2007

Republicans are now telling us that America (and Israel) face a mortal threat from "global Islamofascism." Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Vt.) has been blasting Democrats for not "recognizing" this threat. Get used to it, because this is going to be the frame for the Republican presidential campaign in 2008.

Bush’s ‘neocons’: far from the best and the brightest

Published on July 12, 2007

Today's neocons are far from the best and the brightest. They are largely amateur armchair warriors given to cheap rhetoric and bombast. They toss around "regime change" as if governments will fall when they snap their fingers.

City of L.A. Report Card: Mayor Villagairosa and the Jewish community at midterm

Published on June 7, 2007

Antonio Villaraigosa is coming up to halftime in his first term as mayor of Los Angeles. This is as good a time as any to assess the direction of his mayoralty and its implications for the Jewish community.

How will GOP fare with Jewish voters in ‘08?

Published on May 10, 2007

With California's early primary bringing unusual recognition to the Golden State, the Republican candidates are heading out West. They met in debate at the Reagan Library in Simi Valley on May 3. Do these Republicans have a shot at winning Jewish voters over in 2008?

Iran nuclear threat: What to do?

Published on April 19, 2007

As the wild ride known as the Bush Administration careens toward its end, the only question remaining is whether the president will order an attack on Iran. Mired in the endless quagmire of Iraq, desperate for some military success, Bush might try to salvage his wounded sense of mastery with one great roll of the dice.

Jews still have big role in changing L.A. political scene

Published on March 15, 2007

Today, Jews remain a key constituency in Los Angeles politics and generate plenty of strong candidates. The dramatic rise of Latinos in local politics, though, has carved out another niche for minority candidates that once largely belonged to African Americans.

Key Jewish California lawmakers return to powerful roles in new Congress

Published on February 1, 2007

When the Republicans are in power in Washington, the Jewish political world is usually on the outside looking in, except in matters regarding Israel. With the exception of Israel, the Jewish political orientation (pro-science, pro-choice, favoring economic equality and internationalism) is completely at odds with the contemporary Republican agenda in national politics.

New approaches in Iraq could <I>help</I> Israel

Published on December 21, 2006

Israel is now stuck between Iraq and a hard place; those in the administration who most uncritically support Israel don't know what they're doing, and those who have better ideas are more critical of Israel.

Are Democrats Ready to Return to Power?

Published on August 17, 2006

The American political system is on the verge of a major change. The Republicans are in danger of losing to the Democrats in the November congressional elections. Foreign affairs will be central to the outcome. Are the Democrats ready for their big curtain call?

Lieberman Facing Lose-Lose Proposition in Race

Published on July 13, 2006

Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut, the first Jewish candidate for vice president, is in a world of political trouble. Facing a tight race for the Democratic nomination from Ned Lamont, he has already started to collect signatures to run as an independent, should he lose the primary on Aug. 8.

Jewish Voters to Play Key Primary Role

Published on June 1, 2006

Democratic districts on Los Angeles' Westside and in the Valley, next week's primary will not only determine the Democratic winner but also the person who will almost certainly win in the fall's general election. And Jewish voters, who are overwhelmingly Democratic, will play a key role in the outcome.

Israel: Between Iraq and a Hard Place

Published on May 25, 2006

The intensifying crisis of Iran's nuclear program is bringing into sharp relief the problems created for Israel by the radical foreign policy of the Bush administration.

The End of Bush’s ‘Jewish Moment’

Published on March 16, 2006

Republicans once had high hopes that George W. Bush would draw American Jews away from their historic affinity with Democrats into embracing the conservative party. They believed that Jews would be drawn to Bush's intense support for the State of Israel.

Political Centrism Stirring Up Interest

Published on December 15, 2005

Centrism seems to have its moment in the sun when there is a problem to be solved that the main parties cannot address and when one or more of the leading parties is rife with extremism.

What’s So Special About the Special Election?

Published on November 3, 2005

On Nov. 8, the voters of California will have the chance to vote in a special election most of them did not want. That's no reason to stay home. After all, whether we like it or not, the election will take place, and all of California residents will have to live with the consequences.

Democrats’ Plans Must Factor in Israel

Published on October 20, 2005

As public support for the war in Iraq continues to deteriorate and as the Bush administration's political situation trembles on the precipice, Democrats are beginning to stir. Pushed by a party base that has long detested what it sees as timorous accommodation to Bush, national Democrats are trying out themes and approaches that they hope will bring them back to a share of national power.