White House officials selling President Barack Obama’s new budget have focused on his proposals to expand such Democratic Party standbys as education and job training.But given the likelihood that Congress won’t buy these, Obama’s more significant proposal may be his decision to withdraw last year’s proposed limits on Social Security benefits as a first step in renewing bipartisan efforts to rein in long-term federal spending.It underscores the fact that Obama’s hopes of dealing with this long-f

America is in the midst of a tremendous energy surge. Smart drilling technologies are supplying cheap and abundant natural gas that is saving families money on their energy bill and will likely drive the United States to be the world’s top oil producer by 2015. Developing our natural resources is creating jobs and growing the economic pie ― not just in our energy-rich states but across the country. But we would be doing even better if the federal government wasn’t holding us back.We need policym

MOSCOW ― In his 1979 novel “The Island of Crimea,” Vasily Aksyonov imagined the region’s flourishing independence from the Soviet Union. Aksyonov, a dissident writer who emigrated to America shortly after the book’s samizdat (underground) publication, is now lauded as a prophet. But his prophecy has been turned on its head: Today’s Crimea does not want independence from Ukraine; it wants continued dependence on Russia.Traditionally the gem in the imperial crown, a lavish playground of czars and

PARIS ― Ceding to protestors’ demands, Ukrainian parliament members voted last week to impeach President Viktor Yanukovych and hold early elections, which have been set for May 25. Online “slacktivists,” keyboard warriors and various media outlets responded by breathlessly declaring the situation a “revolution” ― and in some cases even proclaiming it a successful one. Except that it isn’t at this point. Far from it.Proponents of freedom and democracy would love nothing more than for Ukrainian ci

Malaysians are increasingly polarized ― especially over race and religion.At the same time we’ve also lost our sense of humor. We’ve become dour, over-sensitive killjoys. The spirit of Lat, Harith Iskandar and Jo Kukuthas has disappeared.Now, everyone has the right to be proud of their culture and identity.But we’re suffering today because we all think of ourselves as being “Malay,” “Chinese” or “Indian” before being Malaysian. So how do we move forward?To me, “national reconciliation” must begi

The events unfolding in Bangkok have all the elements of a slow-motion finale to Thailand’s political drama: The civil court has banned the caretaker government from dispersing street protesters who have been joined by armed men. Angry rice farmers are demanding overdue payments from a government that cannot sell stockpiled rice fast enough. And Premier Yingluck Shinawatra stands to be relieved of her duties after an unusually snappy investigation into her alleged negligence.Protest leaders tout

Russian President Vladimir Putin wanted the Olympics to showcase his New Russia ― strong, competent, self-assured, like him. The Sochi Olympics ended peacefully and the games unfolded without any significant problem. Better yet, Russian athletes topped the medal count. Bravo!And yet, you can be sure that Putin is not in a celebratory mood. The way things stood during the closing ceremonies, Russia won the Olympics, but it lost Ukraine. That is a losing bargain.The Ukrainian people launched their

You probably won’t believe this, but I aim to help Hillary Clinton fulfill her destiny and rule the world.But the thing is, she has a problem.You wouldn’t know it from reading or watching the news. That’s because in most newsrooms across America ― and perhaps even in some place called “real life” ― the inevitability of Hillary Clinton as president is a given.Yet even as the great tide of her inevitability swells and rises to 2016, there is an issue. Sadly, it remains hidden to most of her champi