Electronic Pen

David Moberg As he mounts a run for AFL-CIO president at a crucial moment for US workers, Richard Trumka calls for a new social compact.

Jonathan Schell The Vietnam-era Secretary of Defense presided over the deaths of millions--and was one of the only officials to publicly express regret.

• 1964: Misadventures in Vietnam
• 2004: The Fog of Cop-Out

Patricia J. Williams Michael Jackson's fame and fortune ensured that he had few barriers to the pursuit of whatever whimsical fancy seized him.

John Nichols The former Secretary of Defense lived long enough to acknowledge his awful errors. And in doing so, he earned a bit of redemption.

Robert Dreyfuss Efforts by the Ahmadinejad-Khamenei regime to silence the opposition clearly aren't working yet.

Peter Rothberg Is there a patriotism that is not nationalistic? How does the historic internationalism of the liberal left relate to the concept of patriotism? What do you value in the traditions of your country?