Are you among the 40 something percent of Americans who consider themselves political independents? You will appreciate this new book by Jacqueline Salit, president of IndependentVoting.org, long-time activist and strategist for the independent movement. I urge you to rush to your local bookstore and read this smart, witty and engaging look at American politics in 2012 from an … [Read more...] about Book Review: Jackie Salit’s “Independents Rising”
Global Warming Is Here to Stay
WASHINGTON -- Excuse me, folks, but the weather is trying to tell us something. Listen carefully, and you can almost hear a parched, raspy voice whispering, "What part of 'hottest month ever' do you people not understand?" According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, July was indeed the hottest month in the contiguous United States since … [Read more...] about Global Warming Is Here to Stay
Young Republicans Beginning to Close the Gap on Social Issues
Not many will deny that our nation is bitterly divided this election season and that -- although the economy should be one of the decisive issues -- social issues probably represent the deepest chasm between left and right. I was thus pleasantly surprised to read that there is a group of young Conservatives for who such social issues “are far down the priorities … [Read more...] about Young Republicans Beginning to Close the Gap on Social Issues
CNN/ORC International Poll: Obama Has 7 Point Lead Over Romney as Romney’s Unfavorables Rise and Independent Support Falls
A new CNN/ORC International survey has some good and bad news for presumptive Republican Presidential nominee Mitt Romney. The good news is that his supporters are increasingly willing to get solidly behind him. The bad news is that President Barack Obama has opened up a 7 point lead as Romney's negatives go up, many voters now doubt that he really can do anything for the … [Read more...] about CNN/ORC International Poll: Obama Has 7 Point Lead Over Romney as Romney’s Unfavorables Rise and Independent Support Falls
People Just Don’t Like Him
Roger Simon asks a question: Shouldn’t Mitt Romney be ahead by now? A good question since the economy is still in the tank. He answers his own question - people just don't like Mitt. As I have written for years, I have a simple — OK, simple-minded — way of determining who is going to win the presidency: The more likable candidate wins. Not always, but almost always. On … [Read more...] about People Just Don’t Like Him
Some People Are Monsters
More here. The contemptuous dismissal this sort of thing often gets no longer even surprises me. … [Read more...] about Some People Are Monsters
Gossip Nation
A gossip is someone who takes pleasure in airing the dirty laundry of others. A political consultant is someone who wins elections airing the dirty laundry of others. Wait a second, that is actually the definition of a successful blogger. Excuse me, that is really the perfect description for a really good internet news site; a place where "reporters" air the dirty laundry of … [Read more...] about Gossip Nation
Shhh… Changes at Susan G. Komen on the QT
WASHINGTON - The Wall Street Journal is reporting that the Komen Foundation is finally shaking the rot from its leadership that led to the catastrophic image collapse when politics became more important to the organization than the women they're supposed to be helping. Susan G. Komen for the Cure shook up its top ranks Wednesday, announcing the resignation of its president and … [Read more...] about Shhh… Changes at Susan G. Komen on the QT
A Primer in Left and Right Ideological (Wishful Thinking?) Punditry
In my most recent syndicated Cagle weekly column, I offered a flip side interpretation of the developing conventional wisdom on the 2012 Presidential election. But what those of us who try to read information explaining the race have to deal with also is this: the dominance of ideologically-based punditry that often becomes a virtual mirror of the other side. (I'm already … [Read more...] about A Primer in Left and Right Ideological (Wishful Thinking?) Punditry
A Political Donation That’s Quite Fitting
Quite fitting: a Romney Super PAC gets a big donation from a fertilizer company. Of money, that is.. … [Read more...] about A Political Donation That’s Quite Fitting
Asymmetrical Money Warfare — Turning An Opponent’s Big Buck Edge To Your Political Advantage
There are two types of political polling going on these days. One measures which Democratic or Republican candidate is ahead in voters' preference. The other measures which is raising more money. Both, it seems, are viewed by political pros as equally important at this juncture. If you're raising more money, in their view, you will have more to spend on tv advertising, and … [Read more...] about Asymmetrical Money Warfare — Turning An Opponent’s Big Buck Edge To Your Political Advantage
“Democracy, as a system, requires an educated and participatory populace”
A comment about my "A Woman’s Response To Our Current Politics" post on TMV the other day talked about how democracy takes some critical thinking. I've been corresponding with Larry Swetman, an organizer with Occupy Philly, InterOccupy, and the National Gathering Working Group, and he had some views on the subject I found interesting. Here's a few of his quotes I really … [Read more...] about “Democracy, as a system, requires an educated and participatory populace”
5 Reasons Paul Ryan Shouldn’t be Mitt Romney’s VP (UPDATED)
I have to admit: I am utterly puzzled by the argument that Ryan would be this appealing figure as Mitt Romney's Vice Presidential pick. I think he will lose a whole chunk of independent voters. And, to me, he is as charismatic as Romney. I read all the arguments about how great he'd be but this independent voter sees him as someone for the party base and of the party base. From … [Read more...] about 5 Reasons Paul Ryan Shouldn’t be Mitt Romney’s VP (UPDATED)
Journalist Comments on Olympic Women, “Womanhood is Dying (because in his mind, the women are not “feminine…”
Perhaps some journos havent gotten around much in life seeing and being friends with many many kinds of women-- strong women laborers for instance (one of my daughters is a welder and pneumatic drill operator), women athletes in particular. This fellow journo, shown in photo at the end of the article, is a Turkish reporter who in younger years appears to have posed for many … [Read more...] about Journalist Comments on Olympic Women, “Womanhood is Dying (because in his mind, the women are not “feminine…”
Republican Primary Choice of this Nutcase May Save the Day for Democrats
Democrats are widely thought to have caught a break in Missouri [Tuesday] night, because Rep. Todd Akin prevailed in the GOP primary to face Senator Claire McCaskill — her weakest opponent. Akin has a history of over-the-top statements which Steve Benen documents right here; he has compared federal involvement in student loans to a “stage three cancer of socialism” and has said … [Read more...] about Republican Primary Choice of this Nutcase May Save the Day for Democrats
Will Conservatives Reject Obamacare’s Rebates?
WASHINGTON -- Here's a chance for all who think Obamacare is a socialist Big Government scheme to put their money where their ideology is: If you truly hate the Affordable Care Act, you must send back any of those rebate checks you receive from your insurance companies thanks to the new law. This is just common sense. If you think free enterprise should be liberated … [Read more...] about Will Conservatives Reject Obamacare’s Rebates?
Curiosity and Romney
LEGAL NOTICE ON CARTOON: This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Reproduction elsewhere without licensing is strictly prohibited. See great cartoons by all the top political cartoonists at http://cagle.com. To license this cartoon for your own site, visit http://politicalcartoons.com … [Read more...] about Curiosity and Romney
A Snapshot of the Two Presidential Campaigns
THIS JUST IN! Here's a photo of the match now going on between the two Presidential campaigns: … [Read more...] about A Snapshot of the Two Presidential Campaigns
Romney’s Spokesperson Praises Massachusetts Romneycare
First we have an ad by Priorities USA Action featuring a steelworker from Indiana who was (allegedly) laid off from a factory owned by Romney-founded Bain Capital, blaming his wife’s death -- caused by cancer -- to his family losing health insurance after he was laid off and, consequently, on the presumptive GOP nominee. I have seen the ad and have mixed feelings about its … [Read more...] about Romney’s Spokesperson Praises Massachusetts Romneycare
Music and the Savage Beast
LEGAL NOTICE ON CARTOON: This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Reproduction elsewhere without licensing is strictly prohibited. See great cartoons by all the top political cartoonists at http://cagle.com. To license this cartoon for your own site, visit http://politicalcartoons.com … [Read more...] about Music and the Savage Beast