If it's in the News, it's in our Polls. Public opinion polling since 2003.

Commentary by Susan Estrich

Most Recent Releases

White letter R on blue background
June 24, 2009

The Confused American By Susan Estrich

I always love it when politicians start talking about "the American people" believing this or that, as if we all do and they know it.

White letter R on blue background
June 19, 2009

Gay Rights By Susan Estrich

Rep. Barney Frank, the first member of Congress to be re-elected after coming out, is right in telling gays not to abandon the president.

White letter R on blue background
June 17, 2009

The Fourth Estate By Susan Estrich

Matt Drudge is obviously not happy: "ABC TURNS PROGRAMMING OVER TO OBAMA; NEWS TO BE ANCHORED FROM INSIDE WHITE HOUSE," his headline screams, in even bigger type than that.

White letter R on blue background
June 12, 2009

Worrying About Israel By Susan Estrich

Am I concerned, friends ask me quietly, after we all publicly praise President Obama's monumental Cairo speech. The friends are usually, but not always, Jewish. They are all, like me, strong supporters of the state of Israel. The answer is that of course I'm concerned. I'm very concerned. But since when has a supporter of the state of Israel not been concerned?

White letter R on blue background
June 7, 2009

Imperfect Moments by Susan Estrich

I have hated graduations for most of my life. High school was my best, and it wasn't great: I lost out as valedictorian by one-tenth of a point, and the guys who finished third and fourth behind me both got into Harvard and I didn't. I was heading off to my last choice college, the one that had given me the big scholarship. Still, I was healthy, and my parents were both alive and there. I didn't know yet that right there, that was enough, more than I would ever have again.

White letter R on blue background
June 3, 2009

It's Not About Ideology By Susan Estrich

"What I have no interest in doing is running GM," President Barack Obama said on Monday, as he assumed ownership of the beacon of free enterprise.

White letter R on blue background
May 29, 2009

Making Law By Susan Estrich

Don't tell anyone: This is the season when lawyers left and right cross our fingers behind our backs and solemnly swear that judges don't make law. Conservatives insist they adhere to original intent.

White letter R on blue background
May 22, 2009

Dick Cheney? By Susan Estrich

Come on, my Republican friends, you can do better than this.

White letter R on blue background
May 20, 2009

The Michelle of It All By Susan Estrich

She is the most popular and most admired woman in the world. She has smarts, beauty, style, a great husband, a great mother, two beautiful children and a very handsome dog.

White letter R on blue background
May 15, 2009

The Speaker Speaks By Susan Estrich

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is now claiming that intelligence officials misled her about the use of waterboarding when she was briefed in 2002. Previously, it was reported that she, as the ranking Democrat on the Intelligence Committee at the time, had been told about waterboarding as an interrogation technique and had raised no objections to it -- a claim that obviously called into question the speaker's support for a "truth commission" to find out who (else) took that position.

White letter R on blue background
May 13, 2009

Funny and Not Funny By Susan Estrich

The president was funny at the White House Correspondents Dinner. Wanda Sykes, the host, was not.

White letter R on blue background
May 9, 2009

A Mother's Job By Susan Estrich

"You have so much responsibility. It's just hard work all the time," said Bristol Palin, the new spokeswoman for the Candie's Foundation to prevent teen pregnancy, at an "Event to Prevent" town hall on Wednesday.

White letter R on blue background
May 6, 2009

A Different Life By Susan Estrich

You expect some people to write a book. You see their name when you're scrolling titles or actually looking at books, and you say, of course he or she would write a book.

White letter R on blue background
May 2, 2009

Wash Your Hands By Susan Estrich

Now it's not just your mother telling you or the school nurse, but your president. Wash your hands. Cover your mouth. Don't go to school if you're sick -- that'll be tough to enforce!

White letter R on blue background
April 29, 2009

RIP to a GOP By Susan Estrich

The Republicans don't want him. The Democrats do. They would have booted him out. We'll do everything we can to support his re-election. It's a tough day when you leave your party, but being a hero certainly beats being reviled.

White letter R on blue background
April 24, 2009

I Had a Dream By Susan Estrich

Her name is Susan Boyle. If you haven't heard of her, you need to listen to her. Consider it my gift to you. Go to YouTube, along with the tens of millions of others who already have, and listen to the voice of an angel -- a plump, unemployed, 47-year-old "spinster" (as she was described by more than one British newspaper) who lives with her cat.

White letter R on blue background
April 22, 2009

The Hundred Days By Susan Estrich

Watch out. Everywhere you look, the talking heads are going to be talking about Barack Obama's first hundred days.

White letter R on blue background
April 17, 2009

Political Talk By Susan Estrich

Listen to Texas Gov. Rick Perry. "We've got a great union. There's absolutely no reason to dissolve it. But if Washington continues to thumb their nose at the American people, you know, who knows what might come out of that."

White letter R on blue background
April 15, 2009

The Second Time Around By Susan Estrich

"I can't say that I know her," the forewoman of Phil Spector's jury told the press after it was over, referring to Spector's victim, Lana Clarkson. Both Clarkson and Spector were on trial for the second time, after the first jury to consider murder charges against the music producer deadlocked 10-2 in favor of conviction.

White letter R on blue background
April 11, 2009

About What Happened in Jerusalem By Susan Estrich

I was in elementary school in Swampscott, Mass., when I learned that the Jews had killed Christ. Or so we were told, right around this time of year. Most of the kids in the class just nodded when they heard. It seems they already knew. I was shocked.