Long-time readers may recall that I have a particular obsession interest in mid-decade redistricting efforts, generally known as re-redistricting, which have become a staple of right-wing lawmaking the past couple of years. To review for a moment, it wasn’t unusual for states to have partisan mayhem in the 19th century, when parties would try to […]
Salon’s Jeff Horwitz has a tremendous item in Salon today on the right-wing Leadership Institute, a training program founded by Republican activist Morton Blackwell (you might remember Blackwell as the Bush delegate who mocked injured troops at the GOP convention). It’s a fascinating look at how young conservatives are being trained to win elections, generate […]
Today’s installment of campaign-related news items that wouldn’t generate a post of their own, but may be of interest to political observers: * Sen. Lincoln Chafee’s (R-R.I.) role in the “Gang of 14” negotiations complicate his standing in advance of next year’s re-election campaign. One the one hand, Chafee and the NRSC insist that it […]
The logic about contraceptives encouraging pre-marital sex, particularly among teens, has never really made any sense to me. First, there are ample studies that prove otherwise. But putting actual evidence aside, the logic behind the argument seems fundamentally flawed. If a teenager is told, “Don’t have sex, but if you do, protect yourself,” the right […]
I noticed that TV weatherman Al Roker was on Capitol Hill yesterday to help support the Anti-Bullying Act (H. R. 284), a bill that’s starting to generate some support from teachers and law enforcement groups. As education policies go, this one hardly seems like a big deal and appears to be something of a no-brainer. […]
Just to clear up any confusion, there were two pieces of legislation on stem-cell research on the House floor yesterday, and both passed. But everyone should be clear on the differences: one is a serious bill to undo Bush’s restrictive policy on potentially life-saving research, the other was offered as political cover for Republicans. The […]
As everyone has no doubt heard by now, the House of Representatives easily passed a measure (H.R. 2520) to undo the president’s 2001 restrictions on federal funding of stem-cell research. For me, there are two important angles to yesterday’s progress that warrant attention: the politics of the vote and the policy arguments offered on the […]
Conservative outrage over the Gang of 14’s deal on judicial nominees was in bloom yesterday, with plenty of activists playing the blame game. Naturally, most of the ire was reserved for the senators who played a direct role in the negotiations, but I was surprised to see how many on the right are placing some […]
Let’s take a quick look at the list of things I’d love to see happen right now. * Bush losing stature and public support? Check. * Congressional Republicans with the lowest poll support in a decade? Check. * And perhaps most importantly, the dormant fissures dividing the GOP coming to the surface? One big check. […]
The president was in up state New York this morning for yet another scripted Social Security event for loyal sycophants. He took a moment to explain the political problem with privatization as he sees it. “I fully recognize some in Washington, you know, don’t particularly want to address this issue,” Bush said in an auditorium […]