Though Mark Penn served President Clinton exceptionally well, he clearly stumbled in his more recent efforts on behalf of Senator Clinton. One possible explanation for the disparity in his performance may have been as simple a matter as Penn's rising to his own level of incompetence, poorly executing the role of campaign strategist rather than playing to his strong suit as a … [Read more...] about Penn on Obama and the New Moderates
Mitch McConnell’s in Trouble at Home in Kentucky
While watching the World Series, I've seen a few too many political commercials over the last week. Many of these, in the Cincinnati TV market, are for or against US Sen. Mitch McConnell, Republican of Kentucky, Senate Minority Leader. McConnell's being seriously challenged by Democrat Bruce Lunsford. Democratic office: GOP office: Cincinnati … [Read more...] about Mitch McConnell’s in Trouble at Home in Kentucky
Where’s the Tightening?
When Obama hit his peak numbers a week or two ago, conventional wisdom said the race would tighten somewhat as we got closer to the election. But as has happened so many times this year, conventional wisdom has turned out wrong, so far. Above is an aggregate of all national polls taken this year. While McCain seems to be improving from his nadir of two weeks ago, we haven't … [Read more...] about Where’s the Tightening?
Your Quote of the Day
Today's quote comes from Richard Cohen's usual op-ed in the Washington Post. It's an interesting tale - and one I was unaware of - which provides the details of two cruise ships full of conservative columnists and editors who set sail in 2007 to Alaska. Their purpose was a meet and greet with Governor Sarah Palin, and they came away with a cult following of love and devotion … [Read more...] about Your Quote of the Day
Is a “Voting Rights Disaster” in the Offing?
This is the question taken up by Christopher Edley Jr. today in a Washington Post editorial. While most of us would like to see greater participation in the electoral process, Edley wonders if high turnout will cause the election infrastructure to buckle. Suppose in your neighborhood there are 600 registered voters per machine, while across town there are only 120 per … [Read more...] about Is a “Voting Rights Disaster” in the Offing?
Obama’s Text Message Advantage
Slate's Farhad Manjoo says Obama's SMS text messages are this campaign's secret weapon. He looks at work done by Donald Green and Alan Gerber, two political scientists at Yale whose book, Get Out the Vote: How To Increase Voter Turnout, is considered the bible of voter mobilization efforts: Green and Gerber estimate that a door-canvassing operation costs $16 per hour, with six … [Read more...] about Obama’s Text Message Advantage
N.J. Hospitals Crisis: Charles Cullen Was Not The Problem, He Was A Symptom
Charles Cullen is every hospital's nightmare: A deranged nurse who methodically murders patients by giving them hard-to-detect overdoses of medications. Cullen, who was arrested in 2004 after a 16-year crime spree made considerably easier because a severe nursing shortage enabled him to go undetected as he moved from hospital to hospital, told authorities that he murdered as … [Read more...] about N.J. Hospitals Crisis: Charles Cullen Was Not The Problem, He Was A Symptom
On the Dangers of One Party Rule
In the best traditions of Robert's Rules of Order, I would like to provide a second to the previous motion from my distinguished colleague Robert Stein, and assign some additional, useless bloviation as an amendment. Right up front I would hasten to point out that, at least in theory, I have always felt that the Federal Government works best for the people when one party … [Read more...] about On the Dangers of One Party Rule
‘What Russia Can Do to Help America’: Argumenty i Facty, Russia
A recent episode at Russia's Mission to the United Nations seems to have captured the Russian imagination: It seems that the Russian Ambassador received a letter from John McCain, asking if he'd consider donating a 'modest' sum of between $5,000 and $35,000 dollars to make him U.S. president. Apparently, some Russians consider this to be a symbol of something much … [Read more...] about ‘What Russia Can Do to Help America’: Argumenty i Facty, Russia
2008: Missed Opportunity for GOP to “Retool”?
Pointing to this article in the UK's The Telegraph, blogger Ann Althouse wonders, "If there is an Obama landslide, how will the GOP retool?" My thoughts, expanded slightly from my comments there: Although the circumstances surrounding it meant that the 2008 presidential election was and remains the Democrats to lose, this was an opportune year for the Republican Party to … [Read more...] about 2008: Missed Opportunity for GOP to “Retool”?
The One-Party Rule Scare
In this desperate week of fighting to hold onto Washington power, the GOP is playing its last card--to arouse voter fear of what one-party rule would do to the country, of what the "Socialism" of Barack Obama would mean if supported by filibuster-proof majorities that would give Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid a free hand. By implicitly acknowledging the defeat of their White … [Read more...] about The One-Party Rule Scare
Obama Victory May Create ‘Perfect Storm’ in Italy: La Stampa of Italy
As far as people in the 'Old Continent' are concerned, part of the narrative behind the U.S. election campaign is about how an Obama victory is likely to trigger a sea change in the the way Europeans address the race issue - and perhaps more importantly - its burgeoning immigrant population. For Italy's La Stampa, Barbara Spinelli writes in part: "What happens in the … [Read more...] about Obama Victory May Create ‘Perfect Storm’ in Italy: La Stampa of Italy
Off-Script: Pointing Fingers, Assigning Blame, and Questioning the Palin Pick
My Headline of the Day comes from no less a media behemoth than The New York Times: Second-Guessing the Vice-Presidential Pick A few thoughts: 1) Duh. 2) The Times is a bit late getting to this. The second-guessing has been going on for weeks. Some of it started right away. There aren't any new revelations here, though recent comments from Ridge and Graham, critical … [Read more...] about Off-Script: Pointing Fingers, Assigning Blame, and Questioning the Palin Pick
Obama: A Negro Gringo (Or a Gringo Negro)? – Semana of Colombia
How did Obama get where he is? There has been a debate in this country about whether Obama's skin color is an asset or a detriment to his evident success. But in Latin America - there is a twist to this dialogue - and that is - given Obama's skin color, can he still be considered, as they say down south, a 'gringo' - which is another way of calling someone an invader from the … [Read more...] about Obama: A Negro Gringo (Or a Gringo Negro)? – Semana of Colombia
More Tragedy in Chicago
The body of Jennifer Hudson's kidnapped nephew, 7-yr-old Julian King, was found today. Chicago Tribune: Oscar-winning actress and singer Jennifer Hudson helped positively identify the body of her young nephew today, hours after he was found with gunshot wounds in a sport-utility vehicle on Chicago's West Side, authorities said. An autopsy was scheduled to be done on … [Read more...] about More Tragedy in Chicago
Disturbed Ashley Todd Apparently Not a Volunteer
The briefly popular but sad story of the McCain Pennsylvania volunteer who claimed to be assaulted by an enraged Obama supporter takes yet another turn. Rather than being just a hapless volunteer prone to cutting herself and trying to dampen Obama's prospects in the Keystone State, it seems she was actually an employee. Something was missed in the reporting of the story, … [Read more...] about Disturbed Ashley Todd Apparently Not a Volunteer
Busted: Another Plot Against Obama
AP: Law enforcement agents have broken up a plot by two neo-Nazi skinheads to assassinate Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama and shoot or decapitate 88 black people, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco Firearms and Explosives said Monday. In court records unsealed Monday in U.S. District Court in Jackson, Tenn., federal agents said they disrupted plans to rob a … [Read more...] about Busted: Another Plot Against Obama
Bill Kristol, McCain’s Wannabe Advisor, Flip-Flops Again
Unbelievable! After having consistently given wrong, unsolicited and flip-flopping advice to the McCain campaign, Bill Kristol is at it again this morning. First, several weeks ago, Kristol advised Sarah Palin to get dirty and start using the Bill Ayers smear card. This was perhaps the only Kristol suggestion the McCain campaign listened to, with disastrous results, as … [Read more...] about Bill Kristol, McCain’s Wannabe Advisor, Flip-Flops Again
Can You Say Senator Sarah Palin?
. The most direct line to Washington for Sarah Palin is not being half of the terminally disastrous John McCain ticket but to appoint herself to Ted Stevens' seat in the event that the disgraced Alaska senator is found guilty of making false financial disclosure form statements and has to resign. Well, Stevens was just found guilty on all seven counts. As it is, Palin … [Read more...] about Can You Say Senator Sarah Palin?
Breaking: Sen. Ted Stevens of Alaska Guilty on all 7 counts
We'll update you as more information comes in, but this will further muddle up the 2008 Senate races. What is the fallout from that? Your open thread for the afternoon. UPDATE: For those of you who think that all conservative, Right wing blogs are echo chambers who support every Republican, take a peek at the post and comments at Hot Air. … [Read more...] about Breaking: Sen. Ted Stevens of Alaska Guilty on all 7 counts