Author Archives: Barry Schumacher

Unsolicited Campaign Advice to Candidate Obama

One of the most treasured American liberties is freedom of speech and the right to offer advice and counsel to your elected leaders whether they want it or not. With that in mind, I present a hypothetical memo to President Obama on how to win the race for the presidency. The one to the Republican nominee will come next.
Posted on January 20, 2012 By Barry Schumacher
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Post-Recession Policy-Making

At some point, the economic recession will end. The economy will pick up. Jobs will be created and sustained. The breadth and depth of this economic hardship will be eased for many, and while it may appear as if things are back to “normal,” the journey from 2008 to the end of the recession will be marked with change. For those for whom the making of public policy is paramount, it will be important to distinguish change from the appearance of change. Right now it is the appearance of change – budget cuts, increased taxes, decreased government services, political instability – which seem to be center stage. Yet the discourse, rude or otherwise, over the extent of government involvement in the daily life of citizens (and how to pay for that involvement), while driven in intensity due to the larger economic factors, is no more than a continuance of a debate ebbing and flowing around the globe for centuries.
Posted on January 20, 2012 By Barry Schumacher
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Analysis of the U.S. FY 2011 Budget

The federal government touches every aspect of American life. How great is the extent of that touch is revealed every year through the budget proposed by the President and “disposed” by the Congress. This year, with a resurgent Republican Party firmly in control of the House and effectively in control of the Senate, the budget [...]
Posted on April 22, 2011 By Barry Schumacher
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Trust, But Verify

President Obama in his presidency has not achieved the heights of oratory we all witnessed on his campaign for the office. His last two speeches have begun to re-establish himself as worthy to be in the same sentence as Ronald Regan and Bill Clinton as a great presidential speech-giver. Last night’s speech also was very Reagan-esque in tone and vision – finally.
Posted on January 26, 2011 By Barry Schumacher
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In Memoriam: Stephen Solarz

In the days and weeks to come there will be many tributes to Steve Solarz.  They will be issued from presidential residences, released by prime ministers’ offices and put into the record by legislators here and around the world.  In whatever language they are presented, and in whatever specifics they may contain, they will surely [...]
Posted on November 30, 2010 By Barry Schumacher
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No Voter Enthusiasm Gap in Washington State

Washington State enjoyed several top-tier races last week, headlined by the Senate race between incumbent Sen. Patty Murray and her GOP challenger Dino Rossi, which Murray won by a better-than-anticipated 51.45 percent to 48.55 percent.
Posted on November 9, 2010 By Barry Schumacher
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