Another home secretary, another immigration row. This time it's Theresa May, who's been forced to answer questions on why border controls were relaxed for people entering Britain through busy airports in the summer. She's blamed her officials - but Labour opposition members have pointed out that when their party was accused of similar gaffes, she was quick to point the finger at them.
Michael White says this sort of blame game ultimately gets us nowhere, and certainly doesn't help the often combustible debate around immigration.
Also this week, we look across the Atlantic, where the race to take on Barack Obama in the 2012 presidential election is already in full swing. Campaigns have already been and gone but according to Richard Adams in Washington, it's a particularly weak Republican field this year. The point is underscored by Rick Perry's horrendous gaffe in a debate this week; he outlined a drastic plan to scrap three government agencies, but could only remember two of them.
Jonathan Freedland notes that the Republicans have moved to the right as a party and have become more pious along the way. He doubts if Ronald Reagan himself would have a chance of the nomination if he'd been around today.
And Sam Leith, author of You Talkin' To Me? Rhetoric from Aristotle to Obama, looks at the role oratory and argument may play in the 2012 race.
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