Based on recent political trends, in particular the triumph of Republican Scott Brown in the special election to fill the late Teddy Kennedy's Senate seat in Massachusetts, political scientist Larry Sabato -- who has an excellent record in making political predictions -- now estimates that in 2010 the GOP has a chance to reduce the Democrats' Senate majority to 52 seats. The … [Read more...] about Larry Sabato: Republicans Can Reduce Democratic Senate Majority to 52 Seats
The Senate’s 62-Vote Supermajority
That's right. Not 59. Not 60. But 62. Sen. Susan Collins has signaled a willingness to support a revised health-care bill that focuses on widely shared goals for reform. Yes, that probably means a smaller, less ambitious bill. But if Collins is willing to back such a bill, her Maine counterpart, Sen. Olympia Snowe, probably would be, too. And as multiple sources … [Read more...] about The Senate’s 62-Vote Supermajority
Nineteenth Nervous Breakdown
When the Democrats had 60 votes in the Senate, the working theory in the majority party was that they had to get Republican votes to pass health care reform. Now that the Democrats have 59 votes in the Senate, there is a new working theory: that the Democrats must get Republican votes to pass health care reform: … [Read more...] about Nineteenth Nervous Breakdown
Lessons Learned? For Democrats, Not the Correct Ones
If Democrats were Republicans, they would be doubling down the day after electoral defeat. They would be pushing through their agenda even harder -- not bemoaning the "message" voters had sent. But Democrats are not Republicans. Democrats are Democrats, and so they are doing what Democrats do better than anyone else on the planet: cave, run, admit defeat. … [Read more...] about Lessons Learned? For Democrats, Not the Correct Ones
Obama One Year
Nate Beeler, The Washington Examiner This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to appear on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about Obama One Year
Liberal Dems: Where’s our spine?
Congressional Democrats are abandoning ObamaCare like passengers on a sinking Titanic. Liberal writers are deeply ashamed. Kevin Drum writes: I and my readers are mostly the sober, pragmatic sorts. Willing to compromise. Sensitive to political realities. Etc. And even we're disgusted. I can't remember ever being as embarrassed to be a Democrat as I am today.I actually give … [Read more...] about Liberal Dems: Where’s our spine?
Google’s Attempted ‘Threat to Chinese Sovereignty’: People’s Daily, People’s Republic of China
There are some mixed signals emerging from China in regard to Google's threat to pull out of the country - some of them quite startling. Below are three articles on the issue published in state-controlled newspapers over the past three days. The first article by Li Hongmei of the People'e Daily is what one would have expected. Li Hongmei charges that by threatening to leave … [Read more...] about Google’s Attempted ‘Threat to Chinese Sovereignty’: People’s Daily, People’s Republic of China
End of the Kennedy Legend
If his widow had run for Ted Kennedy's seat, would she have won yesterday's election? Although Victoria Reggie Kennedy had spent a lifetime in politics and, on the weekend of the wake, showed unusual poise and grace, the Senator's widow rebuffed all suggestions that she run for his seat in a special election to be his proxy in passing legislation for what he called "the … [Read more...] about End of the Kennedy Legend
Another Factor in Scott Brown’s Victory in Massachusetts
While most pundits have centered on GOPers, and independent voters, and ire over the economy, there was one other factor that helped Martha Coakley’s: progressives/liberals (choose your word of preference according to your bias) didn't turn out. … [Read more...] about Another Factor in Scott Brown’s Victory in Massachusetts
Will Brown’s win derail the Democratic agenda? (Guest Voice)
Will Brown's MA win derail the Democratic agenda? by Jon Wells With Republican Scott Brown's earth-shaking victory in Massachusetts, the Democrats have lost their filibuster-proof 60-vote majority. Though they still maintain a more than healthy 59-41 vote advantage, Brown's win tonight in liberal Massachusetts should rightly send warning signs to Congressional Democrats and … [Read more...] about Will Brown’s win derail the Democratic agenda? (Guest Voice)
Massachusetts A Red State
Brian Fairrington, Cagle Cartoons This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about Massachusetts A Red State
Obama Under Fire as Finger Pointing Begins After Scott Brown’s Massachusetts Win
Republican Scott Brown won Ted Kennedy's old Senate seat in Massachusetts. So let the finger pointing begin. And it most assuredly has. Democrats awoke this morning to see a political landscape altered in several ways. The most evident and constantly mentioned: Democrats will no longer have a filibuster-proof majority which in these days of supermajorities means either … [Read more...] about Obama Under Fire as Finger Pointing Begins After Scott Brown’s Massachusetts Win
The GOP Love Affair with Scott Brown Will Be a Short Fling
Have you caught the FEVAH?!? It's sweeping the nation right now, and in an explosive fashion if my Twitter feed and e-mail inbox are even remotely reliable indicators. I'm speaking, of course, of Scott Brown Fever. He's the darling of the dance, the belle of the ball and the newest rock star on the national GOP stage all rolled into one. He's the David who slew Goliath on his … [Read more...] about The GOP Love Affair with Scott Brown Will Be a Short Fling
Back to the Healthcare Drawing Board
There have been many efforts throughout time to make major changes in the laws of this country and the culture of its people in a short amount of time. I have found none that succeeded. Laws relating to civil rights, labor and workplace safety, environmental, and income taxes all took decades to come to fruition. They were all step by step processes. Even the stock market … [Read more...] about Back to the Healthcare Drawing Board
Of ‘Eco-activist’, ‘Eco-bore’ & ‘Eco-nag’
Environmentalists who devote their time in a self-less manner towards making this earth more sustainable, have been in spotlight for quite a while now. This reflects their genuine concern, and also consideration for the coming generations. As Mahatma Gandhi put it succinctly: "There is enough for everyone's need; but not enough for everyone's greed." However, there are also … [Read more...] about Of ‘Eco-activist’, ‘Eco-bore’ & ‘Eco-nag’
A Pattern?
There is much rejoicing or rending of garments in the political world at the moment, depending on one’s partisan persuasion (anyone with an active Twitter/Facebook feed can no doubt attest to this fact, not that it isn’t obvious from a variety of other sources). As per a discussion in the comment section of one of my posts comes the question of whether we have enough evidence … [Read more...] about A Pattern?
Cartoonists On Scott Brown Massachusetts Senate Victory
Cartoonists have started to weigh in on Republican Scott Brown's politically-consequential victory yesterday in Massachusetts in the race for the late Ted Kennedy's old senate seat. Here are three: The People's Seat: Eric Allie, Caglecartoons.com Obama's Sabotage: Gary McCoy, Cagle Cartoons Senator-elect Scott Brown: Taylor Jones, … [Read more...] about Cartoonists On Scott Brown Massachusetts Senate Victory
Massachusetts: The People Have Spoken, All Hail the People
Regardless of your outlook in the wake of Massachusetts' special election -- whether you're celebrating Senator-elect Scott Brown's victory, mourning State AG Martha Coakley's loss, or wishing we'd all just pay attention to more important things -- this much is clear: Democracy did what it's supposed to do. It gave the people of Massachusetts an opportunity to make their … [Read more...] about Massachusetts: The People Have Spoken, All Hail the People
Scott Brown: ‘Very, Very Bad News for Barack Obama’ – L’Express, France
Scott Brown's victory last night in the special election for Ted Kennedy's old senate seat hasn't gone unnoticed on the other side of the Atlantic. For France's L'Express, correspondent Philippe Coste seems to share the conclusions of many American commentators: This isn't the moment to demean the word catastrophe, but the quite overwhelming victory of Republican Scott … [Read more...] about Scott Brown: ‘Very, Very Bad News for Barack Obama’ – L’Express, France
Blame it on Howard Dean
Right off the bat I have to confess that I don’t get the hysteria behind today’s Massa...Masu... heck, you know which special election I’m talking about. I don’t believe the buck stops at a bad democratic candidate (and she is bad) who took the voters of Masser...that great blue state for granted. But I do think the question of why Barack Obama, the best chance for the … [Read more...] about Blame it on Howard Dean