Howard Baker, who died on Thursday aged 88, led the first Republican Senate majority for a generation. His leadership style would be unwelcome among today's Republicans.
Category: Personalities
Putting a general in charge
The nomination of Peter Cosgrove as Australia's next governor-general raises interesting questions about what sort of job it is – and what sort of country we are.
Death of a warmaker
Ariel Sharon ended his active career by apparently repudiating the things he had previously been most known for. Did he really mean it?
A hero for the world
Nelson Mandela, 1918-2013. Rest in peace.
Tadeusz Mazowiecki, RIP
Former Polish prime minister Tadeusz Mazowiecki died yesterday. His is a story worth remembering.
Walt Disney bags Nate Silver
The big story of the day is the career shift of the blogger who put statistics on the front page.
Chomsky on Syria
Words of wisdom on Syria from veteran anti-war intellectual Noam Chomsky.
Rick Perry looks towards bigger things
Texas governor Rick Perry announces he will retire at the end of his current term. Is he again looking towards the presidency? And could he be the right choice for the Republicans this time?
Sex, Politics and Berlusconi
Silvio Berlusconi has moved closer to going to jail, on a charge that almost by coincidence tells us a lot about his record.
Death claims another general
Argentina's former dictator dies in prison, but we all too easily forget how normal his regime once appeared.
The World is Not Enough 