Category Archives: political parties

“Can California’s New Primary Reduce Polarization? Maybe Not.”

March 27, 2013, 12:42 pmpolitical parties, political polarization, primariesRick Hasen

Guest post at The Monkey Cage from Doug Ahler, Jack Citrin, and Gabriel Lenz. Their conclusion: The open primary isn’t producing more moderate candidates because voters can’t tell if candidates are moderates or extreme: For advocates of… Continue reading

“‘Battleground Texas’ Still Many Years Away”

March 25, 2013, 4:44 pmpolitical parties, political polarizationRick Hasen

This item appears at the FairVote blog.

“GOP Heading Back to the Future”

March 25, 2013, 1:06 pmcampaign finance, political partiesRick Hasen

Paul Ryan of CLC: Last week the Republican National Committee published its Growth & Opportunity Project report “provid[ing] an honest review of the 2012 election cycle and a path forward for the Republican Party to ensure success in winning more… Continue reading

“As Obama signs sequestration cuts, his economic goals are at risk”

March 25, 2013, 7:30 ampolitical parties, political polarizationRick Hasen

WaPo: “Obama is in this predicament after failing to persuade congressional Republicans to agree to a plan of tax hikes and more targeted spending cuts to replace the sequester. The president misjudged his GOP opponents, who have held firm… Continue reading

“The numbers prove it: The GOP is estranged from America”

March 22, 2013, 9:22 ampolitical parties, political polarizationRick Hasen

Fascinating argument and data from Andrew Kohut in WaPo: In my decades of polling, I recall only one moment when a party had been driven as far from the center as the Republican Party has been today. The outsize influence… Continue reading

“Ornstein: Is Actual Change Finally Around the Corner?”

March 21, 2013, 8:34 amlegislation and legislatures, political parties, political polarizationRick Hasen

Interesting Norm Ornstein column. I’m writing something now along similar lines.

“The U.S. Constitution and Political Dysfunction: Is There a Connection?”

March 20, 2013, 4:16 pmlegislation and legislatures, political parties, political polarizationRick Hasen

I’m very much looking forward to participating in this symposium, with a dynamite lineup, at Drake law School on April 6. Hope to see some of you in Des Moines!

“Republican Super PAC War Splits the Party”

March 19, 2013, 9:07 pmcampaign finance, political parties, political polarizationRick Hasen

Roll Call: “A cottage industry of new Republican super PACs run by a diverse array of tea party activists, conservative organizers and established operatives is making the GOP look less like a political party than a collection of competing… Continue reading

” Have political parties lost their purpose?”

March 19, 2013, 7:26 amcampaigns, political parties, political polarizationRick Hasen

WaPo reports.

RNC Chair: No More August Presidential Conventions, Blames Campaign Finance Rules

March 17, 2013, 10:21 amcampaign finance, political parties, political polarizationRick Hasen

Mike Allen quoting RNC Chair Priebus on “Face the Nation:” “[O]ne of the reasons why Mitt Romney was a sitting duck for two months over the summer is under the campaign finance law, he couldn’t use money he had already… Continue reading