For months I have been annoying my wife by declaring that it will be a tough winter (usually by saying we'll have snow in October). Now, some weather experts are confirming my opinion that we could have the toughest winter in a decade here in the Northeast.

Socialists in Europe are on the retreat politically, according to this story in The New York Times, but if you read past the first paragraph, it is clear that the reason the Socialists are losing is that their opponents have adopted their policies. So, while Socialist parties are on the decline, Socialism itself is going strong.

Intelligence experts from Israel, the U.S., France, Germany and Great Britain cannot agree on how far along the Iranians are in their nuclear research, or whether or not they are trying to design and build a working and deliverable nuclear weapon. These disagreements have an important impact on the structure of a unified policy to deal with the Iranian program. I suspect that the lack of unity will sink any sanctions, even if Russian and Chinese refusal to go along does not. Conversely, even if real sanctions are passed, and even if the allies all go along, and even if the Russians and Chinese cooperate, that might make the Iranians decide that a war with Israel is to their advantage.

Will abortion derail the health reform plan?

Will some states refuse to go along with a health insurance mandate for their citizens, leading to a true legal test on the separation of powers between the states and the Federal Government?