France's president decides to bow out of a contest that seemed hopeless. But it's not clear that his party will do any better in his absence.
Category: Party matters
Fillon’s triumph sets up a centre-left dilemma
No surprises in the second round of France's Republican primary, but it foreshadows a fascinating presidential election in five months' time.
Republicans opt for Fillon
François Fillon, whether you think of him as a liberal or conservative, is now the odds-on favorite to be the next president of France.
Another Republican primary, this time in France
France's centre-right opposition is voting to select a presidential candidate, amid differing views on how to deal with the threat from the far right.
The upside of Trump
There's no reason to expect anything good from a Trump presidency. The best we can do is find some reasons why it might not be quite as bad as feared.
Responsibility for Trump: Part II
Only so much responsibility attaches to party leaders; ultimately the voters are the ones who decide. In America they have decided to mostly stick with their respective parties, and nobody really seems to know why.
Responsibility for Trump: Part I
Far too few conservatives have spoken out against Donald Trump, and even those that have need to look more searchingly in the mirror.
Libertarians vs conservatives – an update
Young libertarians and conservatives attend another debate, and tell us what they think. It's interesting, and disturbing.
Two lectures, or how libertarians lost the plot
The rise of Donald Trump shows why we can't rely on libertarians to defend liberty.
Racism and the Republicans
Decisions on voting rights provide further evidence for the centrality of race to the Republican identity.
The World is Not Enough 