Op Ed

It\'s that time again. With the mud flying in the presidential race, pundits, journalists and political observers of all stripes are denouncing the campaign\'s new, strikingly negative tone. Listening to them, you\'d think that the very fabric of our democracy were being ripped apart every time a candidate aired a tough attack ad, threw an elbow or issued a sharply worded statement. Read More

Continued thrust and parry between Barack Obama and John McCain has led many to label the 2008 presidential campaign the most negative campaign in the modern era. Negative ads have dominated the airwaves to the point that even Karl Rove argued that both candidates have gone too far. Read More

The highest priority must be given to the development of Afghan security forces that are better able to deal with insurgents within the country, even if they have a haven in Pakistan. Read More

The attacks of September 11, 2001 killed citizens from more than 80 nations and stunned the world by their scope and savagery. The quintessentially American ethos of national invulnerability was forever altered. The President declared, to thunderous applause, that, "we are a country awakened to danger and called to defend freedom. Our grief has turned to anger and anger to resolution. Whether we bring our enemies to justice, or bring justice to our enemies, justice will be done." Read More

Republicans should kick off their convention in a most unconventional and memorable manner. Instead of singing God Bless America and blasting Democrats, Republicans should ascend the stage with their heads bowed and collectively plead for God\'s mercy and forgiveness. Read More

With a sagging economy, an unpopular war and a Republican president with limited public support, it would be easy to write off John McCain\'s chances of being our next president. Read More

With the national polls continuing to show a close race, the stakes of the upcoming Democratic convention are huge for Barack Obama and the Democrats. Read More

If they hope to win the White House in November and retain control of Congress, the Democrats must emerge from their convention with a party platform that adheres to traditional values while addressing the concerns and worries of Wal-Mart shoppers who fret about the rising costs of flour, milk and sugar. Read More

Cheap electricity and gasoline fueled Tennessee's prosperity over the last several decades. But Tennessee now ranks first in the nation in per-person residential electricity consumption, much of which is generated from coal, the most carbon-intensive fossil fuel, and Tennessee drivers rank among the highest in the number of vehicle miles traveled per person. Read More

All of life is a struggle. Achieving high ideals demands teeth-gritting pain, sadness and loss. It may take generations to embody the values on which a nation is founded. And once embodied, they perpetually threaten to slip away. Read More

America is not living up to the principles embodied in the Declaration of Independence. As a consequence, there is much unrest. We have forgotten who we are, how we were established and what we were meant to be. We have become a declining, decadent nation; too arrogant for its own good. On this July 4, 2008, we must look back "lest we forget." amy.wolf@vanderbilt.edu Read More

This op-ed by Vanderbilt Professor of Law and Sociology Beverly Moran compares and contrast Sen. Barrack Obama\'s and Sen. Hillary Clinton\'s use of old vs. new politics during the 2008 primary campaign. Read More

An op-ed by Professor of Law and Political Science Carol Swain on the repercussions of presidential candidate Barack Obama\'s relationship with the controversial Rev. Jeremiah Wright for Obama\'s campaign. Read More

An op-ed by Vanderbilt legal scholar Brian Fitzpatrick on the appellate judge selection process in Tennessee. Read More

An op-ed by Vanderbilt legal scholar and sociologist Beverly Moran arguing that the American tax system contains racial biases. Read More

This op-ed by Vanderbilt University legal scholar Nita Farahany explores the real-world advent of "pre-crime" as explored in the film "Minority Report." Read More

An op-ed by Vanderbilt University legal and political scholar Carol Swain arguing that the fight between Sen. Barrack Obama and Sen. Hillary Clinton for the Democratic nomination and its focus on race and gender is harming the party. Read More

An op-ed by Carol Swain, professor of law and of political science, on Planned Parenthood and its role in performing abortions. Read More

An op-ed by Vanderbilt law and political science scholar Carol Swan critiquing a recent op-ed criticizing a local immigration raid. Read More

An op-ed co-authored by Vanderbilt political scientist John Geer arguing that "talking about the bad as well as the good in campaigns helps voters make choices." Read More