While much of our political discussions these days revolve around personality, something less superficial is going on that will quietly play a far more important role determining election outcomes 51 weeks from now.Fundraising.It’s a familiar topic in US politics, but draws less attention during these national election bye years.Internally, both parties are seriously handicapped by factional feuds revealing profound ideological rifts dividing their bases. This is most apparent among Republicans

The Justice Ministry recently instructed prosecutors’ offices to report on all of those convicted in connection with demonstrations over five specific issues.The ministry said that it would receive the reports to include them in the list of candidates to be pardoned. The government is said to be considering granting a special amnesty on Christmas or the Lunar New Year’s Day.The five issues, which caused fierce protests and political strife, are: the construction of a naval base on Jeju Island; t

Alarmed by President Trump’s bellicose statements and impulsive governing style, two congressional Democrats have introduced legislation that would prohibit the president -- any president -- from launching a nuclear first strike without a declaration of war by Congress explicitly endorsing such an attack.We too are dismayed by Trump’s rhetoric, including his threat to rain “fire and fury” on North Korea. We shudder to think about the human consequences of any use of nuclear weapons, even in self

Foreign ministers of South Korea and China agreed Wednesday in Beijing to work toward President Moon Jae-in’s state visit to China next month. His visit will boost the two nation’s efforts to mend ties.State visits are considered the highest expression of friendly bilateral relations between two states. Most nations host fewer than 10 state visits per year. A state visit is received customarily once per country while its head holds office. The deal to use the diplomatic event that South Korea an

Some specialists in the life sciences say that no one is ever fully cured of any injury or disease, because our cells forever retain traces, memories, of even the slightest attacks on the body’s integrity. So it will be with the United States.One day, the US will turn the page on Donald Trump. But America will never recover completely from the unstanchable wound that his presidency’s baseness, bull-headed stupidity, and puzzling passivity in the face of China’s global ambitions has inflicted on