“The Money Behind the Shutdown Crisis”
NYT editorial on the money behind the push to pressure Republican lawmakers to vote to defund Obamacare.
Category Archives: political parties
“The Recall is the New Normal”
Seth Masket writes at Pacific Standard.
“Amid Revolt Over Fiscal ‘Gimmicks,’ Options Dwindle for G.O.P.”
NYT:
For three years, Congressional leaders have relied on tactical maneuvers, sleights of hand and sheer gimmickry to move the nation from one fiscal crisis to the next — with little strategy to deal with the actual problems at hand.… Continue reading
“California lawmakers got a lot done in the last session”
George Skelton in LA Times says its looser term limits, top two, and nonpartisan redistricting.
I’m not at all so sure that’s the explanation.
More like: Democrats have a large enough majority in the CA legislature that they do not… Continue reading
“Newcomers Challenge Leadership in the House”
“The Shrinking House Map: A Regional Breakdown”
Roll Call:
Republicans and Democrats are getting ready to spend 14 months and hundreds of millions of dollars on a House campaign that is likely to end in a split decision with a small gain for one party or… Continue reading
Two Democratic Senators Heading for Recall Defeat in Colorado
The national political implications of these recalls will be huge. Expect Democrats in purple states/districts to RUN away from gun control.
These were not recalls where there were issues of incompetence or malfeasance (a la Gray Davis or what would… Continue reading
California Court Rejects Minor Party Challenge to Top Two Primary
This appears to be the full set of reasons for the court’s ruling:
Is the Party Over?
Yes, according to Alan Brinkley’s WSJ op-ed: “what makes our politics so different from early periods in our history, and so volatile and unpredictable, is the absence of strong political parties as moderators of public life, and their replacement… Continue reading
“How Fragile Is the New Democratic Coalition?”
More great Tom Edsall translation of political science data into real political implications.
“G.O.P. Senators Fail to Head Off Primary Challenges by Tea Party Rivals”
It’s Even Worse Than They Said
WaPo Outlook piece by Mann and Ornstein:
Our fantasy: A Congress that gets stuff done
By Thomas E. Mann and Norman J. Ornstein, Published: August 29
[Thomas E. Mann, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, and Norman J. Ornstein,… Continue reading
“There’s Nothing Special About the Filibuster”
Stephen Spaulding of Common Cause has written this Politico oped.
“Eve of Destruction”
Allen and Vanderhei channel moderate Republican complaints about the party: “Republicans are all flirting with a fall that could see influential party voices threatening to default on the debt or shut down the government — and therefore ending all hopes… Continue reading