Commentary

"Insurgency" is the word used by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to characterize violent drug cartels wreaking havoc in Mexico. The word flustered Mexican President Felipe Calderon, but commentator David Rothkopf of Foreign Policy argues that the language served as a necessary wake up call to both countries.

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Media coverage of Pastor Terry Jones' plan to burn the Quran has been extensive. Brook Gladstone, host of NPR's On The Media, says the story exposes more about American media that it does about the American people.

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President Obama's $50 billion infrastructure proposal was met with howls of dismay from Republicans. But the Editors of The Nation argue that Obama cannot let the minority party dictate the conversation on economic issues. Only if he adopts clear and forceful plans to deal with unemployment will he win the debate.

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Alaska senator and Sarah Palin rival Lisa Murkowski, lost her primary to newcomer Joe Miller in August. Murkowski now threatens to run as a Libertarian or as a write-in candidate. The Editors of the National Review argue that Murkowski should stay home: running as a third candidate could hand the election to the Democrats.

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Businesses in California are split on the issue of climate change legislation,so candidates Meg Whitman and Carly Fiorina don't know whether to support it. Bradford Plumer of The New Republic argues this is emblematic of new attitudes in the business community, and in the Republican party.

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President-elect Obama promised Americans a change in the War on Terror. On the anniversary of the attacks of Sept. 11th, commentator James Traub argues that Obama has abandoned Bush's approach to terrorism, and has held on to Dick Cheney's.

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