By David Gelles

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When the presidential campaign started, I told my wife that I wasn’t sure I would vote for President Obama until I was confronted by the reality of a voting machine. I harbored too many doubts about his leadership and Governor Romney is a qualified candidate. In the end, my qualms would be overcome by the fears of Governor Romney’s Court appointees and his stand on social issues. I discounted the importance of the debates but I am now confronted by the queasy predicament of being a swing voter, if not one from a swing state.   Read More

The most surprising facts about Greg Smith's denunciation of Goldman Sachs' ethos and its disdain of its clients is that he had the audacity to write what is common knowledge, and the New York Times printed it. Media, academic and elected officials have jumped on the article to reinforce their previously held views on everything from the state of capitalism to the collapse of morality.  Read More

The spreading protests of “Occupy Wall Street” may become a significant political force. What began as a rag tag band of middle class college age youths agitating against capitalism is galvanizing Main Street’s feelings of helplessness. With 14 million officially unemployed and another 5 million probably no longer seeking work; with wages for workers stuck at 1973 levels and a 7 percent decline in the real medium income of families since 2000; with growth so anemic that we cannot lower unemployment rates; with a Washington train wreck impotent to provide policy leadership; and with public employment projected to be reduced due to city, state and federal cuts….with all these alone…the mood of the country is justifiably grim.  Read More

Earlier this month, I spent a week with a delegation from the Council on Foreign Relations and under the auspices of the Central Command meeting with military and civilian leaders in Iraq and Afghanistan, including General David Petraeus. We travelled by C-130 aircraft, Chinook and Blackhawk helicopters and armored vans.  Read More

Goldman Sachs may or may not be guilty of fraud as alleged by the Securities and Exchange Commission. The legal issue centers on whether Goldman had to disclose that a prominent institutional investor had selected mortgages to be sold to other institutional investors. "Disclosure" is the central issue in this case.  Read More

The debate over the bureaucratic location and independence of a Consumer Financial Protection Agency as part of the financial reform bill raises legitimate concerns about the relationship of consumer advocacy to the “safety” and “soundness” of the credit system.  Read More