Bernard Goldberg » Columns

Surprise!

Bernie — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 18:18:02 +0000

My sources at the White House tell me that President Obama and his chief of staff Rahm Emanuel had a top-secret meeting just minutes ago -- and guess who just got a leaked, classified transcript of that conversation? Correct. So, here it is: RE: Mr. President, I have an idea about how we can kick some GOP [...]

FOX News in the Cross-Hairs

Bernie — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 18:25:24 +0000

The French have a name for it, “l'esprit de escalier,” which roughly translates to “wisdom of the staircase.” It’s that brilliant idea that pops into your head as you’re heading up the stairs when the party’s over; the brilliant retort you wish you had thought of a minute earlier when you were downstairs with your [...]

Read My Lips …

Bernie — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 14:24:31 +0000

No one really believes a politician when he makes vague promises like “I’m going to clean up government.” But when you get specific with the voters, when the promises are clear-cut and unmistakable, well, then you’re likely to pay a price if it turns out you didn’t really mean it. Just ask George Bush the Elder. [...]

Living in the Past

Bernie — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 14:17:43 +0000

America’s oldest civil rights organization, the NAACP, has passed a resolution condemning what it sees as racism in the Tea Party movement. The group’s president, Ben Jealous, said in a statement, “We take issue with the Tea Party’s continued tolerance for bigotry and bigoted statements. The time has come for them to accept the responsibility that [...]

Wanna Bet?

Bernie — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 11:00:18 +0000

I’m climbing out on a limb. I’m jumping the canyon on a motorcycle without a parachute. I’m walking the tightrope without a net. I’m out of clichés. So here goes: I know the next presidential election is more than two years off, and all sorts of things can happen between now and then. But I [...]

Sliding in the Polls

Bernie — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 13:14:54 +0000

A while back I mentioned to a liberal pal what I thought was fairly obvious: that Barack Obama was a polarizing figure in American politics. My liberal pal, a bright guy, didn’t know what I was talking about. George W. Bush was polarizing, he said. Rush Limbaugh was polarizing. But Barrack Obama? The mistake he made, [...]

Bill Clinton Could Have Said Less

Bernie — Sun, 04 Jul 2010 14:00:43 +0000

Eulogies, of course, aren’t the forum to tell the whole truth about the dearly departed. Only an insensitive dolt would tell mourners in church that, “Larry was a boring man who at times would tell long, dull stories that interested absolutely no one. In fact, if you could bottle Larry, you’d have a cure for [...]

Eat Your Fruits and Vegetables — OR ELSE!

Bernie — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 16:51:56 +0000

Elena Kagan may have to answer ten million questions at her confirmation hearings before the Senate votes on whether she should be a U.S. Supreme Court Justice. But we all knew, well before the first question was asked, how the vote would turn out. She’s going to be confirmed. Fair enough. Elections, as they say, [...]

Paul, Eleanor Rigby and Me …

Bernie — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 23:00:21 +0000

About 20 years ago I met Paul McCartney. We spent four days together in Chicago. I was with CBS News at the time doing a 90-minute show about him for the program 48 Hours. We hit it off. Two blue collar guys, one from Liverpool the other from the Bronx. After we [...]

Read My Lips — Then Forget What You Read (Updated)

Bernie — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 15:28:43 +0000

Do you remember when Barack Obama was running for president and promised he would not raise taxes on families making less than $250,000 a year? Well, guess what? Some of the president’s pals in Congress apparently feel no obligation to make good on his promise. According to The Hill newspaper, several congressional Democrats are now saying [...]