Daniel Larison of The American Conservative predicts the GOP majority Congress and Senate will do what they campaigned on: nothing.[icopyright one button toolbar] (h/t rudi) All of this suggests that most observers, myself included, underestimated the extent to which Republicans would dominate this election. The GOP ran an almost purely negative campaign and said almost … [Read more...] about Larison: GOP Will Do Nothing
Would This Have Helped Democrats on Tuesday? Nah!
[icopyright one button toolbar] The U.S. economy, especially the private sector job growth, has been steadily recovering for the past five years. As a matter of fact, Jason Furman, chairman of President Obama’s Council of Economic Advisers has characterized this period as “the longest streak in U.S. history.” The Hill calls it “the longest such streak since 1995.” … [Read more...] about Would This Have Helped Democrats on Tuesday? Nah!
The Driving Force Behind the US Oil Boom (Guest Voice)
The Driving Force Behind the US Oil Boom by James Stafford of Oilprice.com The shale revolution’s sweet spot is oilfield services, the lower-risk backbone of the American oil and gas boom that pays off regardless of a play’s economics. Behind the stardom of the explorers and producers who have put themselves on the revolutionary shale map and absorb most of the risk—are … [Read more...] about The Driving Force Behind the US Oil Boom (Guest Voice)
In need of a rebuilding plan
WASHINGTON -- All right, all right, I didn't see the wave coming. All those margin-of-error polls seemed to suggest that Democrats would likely hold their own -- probably not keep the Senate but make a respectable showing overall. Wrong. All the caveats are true. It was a midterm, when the incumbent president's party usually gets a comeuppance. The Senate losses were … [Read more...] about In need of a rebuilding plan
“My name is the symbol of my identity”
It’s a factoid that should raise eyebrows: as recently as 1982, a married woman forfeited her right to vote unless she took her husband’s name. You may think we’ve come a long way since the Dark Ages. Think again. *** In 1855 she couldn’t vote, but that year Lucy Stone became the first woman in the U.S. to keep her surname after marriage. Stone’s rationale for not taking … [Read more...] about “My name is the symbol of my identity”
Have Democrats Given Up On Louisiana ?
It looks like Democrats may have written off Louisiana and the December runoff. According the the article quoting inside sources the national party has largely cancelled ad buys of almost 2 million dollars. The consensus seems to be that since control of the Senate is decided and since incumbent Mary Landrieu will be a minority party member there is less chance of getting … [Read more...] about Have Democrats Given Up On Louisiana ?
NRO: Beware the “Governing Trap”
The conservative National Review warns newly elected Republicans to avoid the "governing trap." Already a conventional wisdom about what Republicans should do next has congealed. Supposedly it is up to Republicans to “prove they can govern” even though they do not have the White House. Senator Jeff Flake (R., Ariz.) told NPR listeners that Republicans could do this by moving … [Read more...] about NRO: Beware the “Governing Trap”
Republicans Beat Something With Nothing (Other Than Negativity And Fear)
Ronald Reagan couldn’t save the Senate for the Republicans in his 6th year. While the closeness of the polls left hope until the end, realistically the Democrats were not in a situation to defy history. There were two tends which the Democrats could not overcome. When people are unhappy, they look at the president regardless of who is actually to blame. Running a campaign based … [Read more...] about Republicans Beat Something With Nothing (Other Than Negativity And Fear)
What’s Healthier: Coffee Or Tea? [INFOGRAPHIC]
To some, coffee is an essential drug of sorts: a jolting liquid that staves away fatigue, headaches, and lack of motivation. Or perhaps you’re a recovering coffee addict who has now turned to the soothing varieties of tea to get a decent caffeine fix, just without the jitters. Of course, coffee sometimes sounds more like an… … [Read more...] about What’s Healthier: Coffee Or Tea? [INFOGRAPHIC]
Cartoon: Mid-term gift
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 Cartoon: Mid-term gift
Democratic Midterm Nightmare: Is It Time for Black Voters to Form New Alliances?
[icopyright one button toolbar] The Democratic Party got a well-deserved spanking in the midterm elections. There is no other way to say it, but it was self-inflicted on many levels. Still, the Republican Party cannot coddle right wing extremists and do nothing for the next two years. It won't bode well for them in 2016. I won't lie, I was stunned. Very stunned. I didn't … [Read more...] about Democratic Midterm Nightmare: Is It Time for Black Voters to Form New Alliances?
Josh Marshall on Why
Josh Marshall explores reasons behind the mid-term narrative on Talking Points Memo. [icopyright one button toolbar] We're hearing that President Obama was poor at messaging and keeping his voters involved and invested, that Dems aren't tough or combative enough or didn't stick together enough. All of these are true to some degree. But it doesn't explain why they are true or … [Read more...] about Josh Marshall on Why
Now that Quantitative Easing is going away, what did it do? (Guest Voice)
[icopyright one button toolbar] Now that Quantitative Easing is going away, what did it do? By Robert Coutinho Quantitative Easing (QE) has been used by the Federal Reserve Bank to try to stimulate the economy. It was a controversial program where the Fed bought treasury notes and mortgage backed securities (you know, those toxic assets that the banks had that were … [Read more...] about Now that Quantitative Easing is going away, what did it do? (Guest Voice)
The Messages of the 2014 Election
Three major messages were transmitted by the voters in the election of 2014. The obvious one was that they were unhappy with President Obama and the direction of the country. Another message was that money talks and that greater spending is usually effective. The third message, perhaps more cryptic than the others, is that the votes that count the most in America are not cast … [Read more...] about The Messages of the 2014 Election
The Night the Wall Came Down
[icopyright one button toolbar] There are certain images to which one is an eyewitness -- images seen through one's own eyes or through the miracle of television -- that are seared into one's memory, forever. Of course 9-11, President Kennedy's assassination, the Challenger space shuttle disaster, "shock-and-awe," rank high among them. I personally will never forget the … [Read more...] about The Night the Wall Came Down
His Vorpal Sword Comes to an End
Remember, remember! The fifth of November, The Gunpowder treason and plot; I know of no reason Why the Gunpowder treason Should ever be forgot! Never say ‘never’ of course, but in this case, all good things must come to an end. Today marks the end of his vorpal sword in all its incarnations: Skiing Uphill, Boregasm, Zug, The Commonwealth of Blogistan, and, of course, … [Read more...] about His Vorpal Sword Comes to an End
How Republicans Could Shape The Supreme Court
Republicans' landslide victories in the U.S. Senate and House in Tuesday's midterm elections spells all kinds of trouble for President Barack Obama's final two years in office. But perhaps the most significant way GOP lawmakers will be able to undermine Obama's legacy is by working together to keep the White House from appointing any future judicial… … [Read more...] about How Republicans Could Shape The Supreme Court
Cartoon: GOP wins big
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 Cartoon: GOP wins big
The Republicans’ 2014 landslide: Worse than 2010
WASHINGTON -- For Democrats, the 2014 election was not the 2010 Republican landslide. It was worse. Four years ago, the economy was still ailing and a new wave of conservative activism in the form of the tea party was roiling politics. This time, the economy was better, ideological energies on the right had abated -- and Democrats suffered an even more stinging defeat. … [Read more...] about The Republicans’ 2014 landslide: Worse than 2010
Is There a Pony in Last Night’s Mess?
[icopyright one button toolbar] Last night was, without a doubt, a disaster for Democrats. But it reminds me of a story about a little boy who desperately wanted a pony for Christmas. On Christmas morning he wakes up to find a pile of horse manure under the tree instead of a pony. The child, an eternal optimist, immediately starts digging through the pile repeating to to … [Read more...] about Is There a Pony in Last Night’s Mess?