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Stories by John S. Gardner

John S. Gardner served as General Counsel of the U.S. Agency for International Development and as Deputy Assistant to the President and Deputy Staff Secretary for President George W. Bush and held a similar position for President George Bush.  He has worked on four Presidential campaigns.  He resides in Alexandria, VA.

Why Romney’s CEO Presidency Won’t Fly

John S. Gardner wrote on December 18th, 2010 at 10:31 am

Romney’s management consulting expertise might be great for running a company, even a large federal agency. But being president calls for different skills.  more

27 Comments

How to Sell the Dems on Obama’s Tax Plan

John S. Gardner wrote on December 6th, 2010 at 10:34 pm

If Obama wants to sell his new tax deal to skeptical rank-and-file Democrats in the House, he may need to call in the unions…  more

5 Comments

Fit for the Goose, Fit for the Gerrymander

John S. Gardner wrote on October 4th, 2010 at 8:08 am

Friday, the Wash Post rightly ripped Hugo Chavez for gerrymandering his way to victory in Venezuela. But will they keep the same watchful eye on the Dems?  more

10 Comments

Tories Break Down Another Barrier

John S. Gardner wrote on May 12th, 2010 at 11:54 pm

In the United Kingdom, a Muslim woman now chairs the Conservative Party. But why should we be surprised?  more

7 Comments

Why Conservatives Should Love the Red Sox

John S. Gardner wrote on April 8th, 2010 at 4:45 pm

As the baseball season starts, we asked two FrumForum contributors to give us reasons why conservatives should support their team. Here, John Gardner makes the case for his Boston Red Sox.  more

3 Comments

Celebrating Easter During the Great Recession

John S. Gardner wrote on April 4th, 2010 at 2:19 am

What does it mean to rejoice at Easter when unemployment is high, when many people are worried about losing their jobs and homes and when those economic difficulties cause tension in people’s lives?  more

7 Comments

Congress Could Use a Day Off

John S. Gardner wrote on March 21st, 2010 at 12:53 pm

Historically, Congress has avoided Sunday sessions. This weekend, Speaker Pelosi should consider that whether the members and staff worship on Sunday (or at all), surely they would benefit from a day of rest.  more

4 Comments

Don’t Bench Pawlenty

John S. Gardner wrote on March 9th, 2010 at 10:48 am

Governor Pawlenty is right where he should be – both running the state in his final year of office and getting out to the hustings, raising money for Republican candidates ahead of this year’s elections.  more

1 Comment

Don’t Mess with the Sox

John S. Gardner wrote on January 19th, 2010 at 11:28 pm

For all their faults, the Kennedys knew the folkways of Boston – and the Red Sox starting pitchers. They won elections. Coakley lost.  more

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Election Forecast: GOP Still Has Work to Do in Virginia

John S. Gardner wrote on October 29th, 2009 at 7:30 am

Count on McDonnell to win the governor’s race and Cuccinelli to be the next attorney general in Virginia. Republicans really need to step up the effort for Bill Bolling’s reelection campaign for lieutenant governor though in the next few days.  more

2 Comments

A Better Label

John S. Gardner wrote on October 9th, 2009 at 2:30 pm

Contra Gusher, instead of “golden handcuffs” let’s call it “preventive diplomacy.”  more

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Universal Coverage? How About a National Healthcare Market at Last?

John S. Gardner wrote on August 24th, 2009 at 4:14 pm

At a minimum, Republicans must endorse the concept of universal access to health insurance – health insurance for all who want it. At the same time, we should not have an individual mandate for healthcare with the system as it exists now.  more

3 Comments

The Cost of Romneycare

John S. Gardner wrote on July 9th, 2009 at 7:46 am

Health reform was trumpeted as the chief accomplishment of Romney’s one term as Massachusetts’ governor. Yet his plan’s reliance on an individual mandate raises many questions as well.  more

11 Comments

If Saddam Was Telling the Truth

John S. Gardner wrote on July 6th, 2009 at 11:22 am

In Saddam Hussein’s now-released interviews stating that he was more fearful of Iran than the U.S. and thus had to maintain the fiction of a robust non-conventional weapons capability, it seems a remarkably poor strategy.  more

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Green Shoots?

John S. Gardner wrote on July 5th, 2009 at 9:45 pm

The Jobs section of the Washington Post today, Sunday, July 5, only has a total of three pages of actual listings… And the Washington area has weathered the recession reasonably well.  more

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The Newest Economic Indicator: Hot Dogs

John S. Gardner wrote on June 23rd, 2009 at 1:55 pm

As the Boston Red Sox visit Nationals Park for an interleague series this week, let’s compare the fan experience in both cities:
1. In D.C., Nats Dogs are $4.50 vs. Fenway Franks ($4.75) in Boston. But the Fenway Frank is a vastly superior (and bigger) product – worth your extra quarter and then some.  No   more

3 Comments

For Virginia Gop Party Chair: Pat Mullins

John S. Gardner wrote on May 29th, 2009 at 2:32 pm

This weekend, delegates to the Republican Party of Virginia convention have two important decisions to make: who will be the nominee for Attorney General, and who will serve the remainder of the term as Chairman of the RPV. We’ve had a very healthy AG debate, and I’d be comfortable with any of the candidates.
For Chairman, however, the   more

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Or Else What?

John S. Gardner wrote on May 25th, 2009 at 5:32 pm

One of the famous slogans of the Sixties (originally taken from a Berthold Brecht poem) was, “What if they gave a war and nobody came?” Well, what if a nation conducts a nuclear test and no one really notices?
With South Korea distracted by the suicide of former President Roh and the US distracted by everything, if   more

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Chuck Schumer Talks…

John S. Gardner wrote on May 13th, 2009 at 8:07 pm

And the Federal Trade Commission listens!
Any suggestions from our commenters as to what small annoyances of modern American life Republicans can try to solve? To perhaps let people know that we’re on their side?  more

5 Comments

Why Cant Republicans Do This?

John S. Gardner wrote on May 11th, 2009 at 12:58 pm

You know those annoying calls claiming that your car warranty is about to expire (even if you don’t have a car or just bought a new one)? Which you can get (as I do, often) even if your home or cell phone number is on the National Do Not Call Registry?
Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) knows all   more

3 Comments