Category Archives: political parties
“The Last Days of Disco: Why the American Political System is Dysfunctional”
Jack Balkin has posted this draft on SSRN (Boston U. Law Review). Here is the abstract:
Today, America’s political system seems remarkably dysfunctional. Many people believe that our 225-year-old Constitution is the problem. But what looks like constitutional dysfunction is… Continue reading
“Process ‘Reboot’ Aims to End Senate Gridlock”
NYT: “Senate leaders, responding to a groundswell of anger among the rank and file in both parties to the recent breakdown in procedure, will try a new trick to unstick the upper chamber.”
Quote of the Day
“The Karl Rove thing is out…the Koch thing is in.”
—Anonymous donor quoted in Nick Confessore’s must-read piece in today’s NYT on the changing nature of donations to Super PACs and its impact on political parties.
This party problem has… Continue reading
Is Arizona’s “Weirdness”/Extremism the Result of Its Public Financing Law?
“The Case for Corruption: Why Washington needs more honest graft”
Jonathan Rauch writes for The Atlantic.
See also my WaPo oped from last week, More Corruption, Less Gridlock.
“Romney backs effort to end nominating conventions in Utah”
WaPo: “Former Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney is lending his support to an initiative that would change the way Utah political parties choose their candidates. In an e-mail to former Utah Gov. Mike Leavitt (R), Romney said he supports… Continue reading
“The Campaign Casino: Elections Have Become a Get-Rich-Quick Scheme, and the Press Is Missing the Story”
Lee Aitkin has written a new paper for Harvard’s Shorenstein Center. Here is an excerpt:
The 2012 campaign cycle was “the greatest windfall” for political operatives in American history, Democratic consultant Hank Sheinkopf has said—a $6 billion spending frenzy… Continue reading
“Of Fragmentation and Networks, and the State of Political Parties”
“The Case of the Missing Democratic Voters”
Ross Ramsey writes for the Texas Tribune.
“In statewide debut, top-two primary blocks third parties from June ballot”
“Top-two primary system is shaking up California elections”
“Our political parties are networked, not fragmented”
Interesting observations from Seth Masket, though I’m not sure I agree with him on the campaign finance aspects of things.
“‘Vote No, Hope Yes’ Defines Dysfunction in Congress”
NYT news analysis from Carl Hulse.