Monthly Archives: July 2011

Ninth Circuit overturns conviction for threat v. Obama

July 19, 2011, 1:43 pmUncategorizedJustin Levitt

United States v. Bagdasarian was decided today, reversing the conviction of a Southern California man for disturbing and violent comments about Barack Obama posted to a message board in the weeks before the 2008 elections. The Ninth Circuit panel’s opinion… Continue reading

Alleged Theft of JSTOR Archives

July 19, 2011, 1:16 pmcampaign financeRick Hasen

Whoa.

“Is the House Now in Play for the 2012 Elections?”

July 19, 2011, 12:50 pmredistrictingJustin Levitt

Stuart Rothenberg does the math, based on redistricting projections and candidate recruitment. More math at the Cook Political Report and at the Washington Post.

Parnell on Colbert on Parnell

July 19, 2011, 12:34 pmcampaign finance, federal election commissionJustin Levitt

Sean Parnell (Center for Competitive Politics) and Sheila Krumholz (Center for Responsive Politics) were on the Colbert Report last night, with continuing entertaining coverage of some very real issues. Sean’s got interesting further thoughts on the exchange, here. Update:… Continue reading

TX governor signs congressional redistricting plan

July 19, 2011, 12:20 pmredistrictingJustin Levitt

Which means it will now join AL and LA in seeking preclearance. Eight other states, mostly huddled in the heartland (AR, IA, IL, IN, MO, NE, OK, OR), already have final congressional plans. And three (CO, MN, NV) have essentially… Continue reading

“Three of This Year’s Top Four Presidential Fundraisers So Far Are Relying on Small Donors”

July 19, 2011, 11:49 amcampaign financeJustin Levitt

The Campaign Finance Institute sums up their assessment of the most recent FEC filings.

Turning to D.D.C. for preclearance

July 19, 2011, 10:57 amredistrictingJustin Levitt

Stateline’s report on an intriguing apparent trend, in which states file for preclearance simultaneously with the DOJ and with the federal district court in D.C. Seems to me like this would just add to the burden on DOJ, and thereby… Continue reading

“Fair Elections Ohio Turns in First 1000 Signatures for HB194 Referendum”

July 19, 2011, 10:34 amelection administration, petition signature gatheringJustin Levitt

The next phase of the debate over Ohio’s new omnibus election law. Here is the opponents’ list of grievances.

Breaking News: Rehearing En Banc Denied in Ninth Circuit San Diego Thalheimer Case

July 19, 2011, 9:34 amcampaign financeRick Hasen

Big news from the Ninth Circuit. The full court has denied rehearing en banc in this campaign finance case. According to the order, no active judge on the court requested a vote in the case. Among other things, the… Continue reading

Let’s Put Citizens United to the Test: Pakistani Agent $ in U.S. Elections

July 19, 2011, 9:04 amcampaign financeRick Hasen

NBC’s Pete Williams reports “Law enforcement sources say the FBI has arrested an agent of Pakistan’s official state intelligence service, accusing him of making thousands of dollars in political contributions in the United States without disclosing his connections to the… Continue reading

“GOP scores early gains as redistricting plans emerge”

July 18, 2011, 11:25 pmredistrictingJustin Levitt

The Washington Times reports on a Brookings panel assessing the latest political impact of congressional redistricting (video here).

“FEC Audit Report Says Edwards Campaign Should Repay $2.4 Million in Public Funds”

July 18, 2011, 11:18 pmcampaign finance, John EdwardsJustin Levitt

BNA’s report (subscription required) begins: “The 2008 presidential campaign of former Sen. John Edwards (D-N.C.) should have to repay over $2.4 million to the U.S. treasury from the federal matching funds the campaign received, according to a draft audit report… Continue reading

“Reince Priebus accuses Obama of ‘an apparent crime'”

July 18, 2011, 7:32 pmDepartment of Justice, ethics investigationsJustin Levitt

The rhetoric gets ratcheted up in Politico’s latest over Obama’s fundraising video, apparently shot in the Map Room of the White House. More from The Hill and the Wall St. Journal.