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The Links: Memorial Day
2008-05-27 06:44:00 Served fresh (almost) daily...General Election Polling Average--McCain vs. Obama: Obama +3.0General Election Polling Average--McCain vs. Clinton: Clinton +1.4Obama gets CA Dems Jim Costa and Dennis Cardoza (switching from Clinton), an AK super, a GA super, three HI supers, an OR super, and a WY super.Clinton picked up a Georgia super.Cindy McCain finally, quietly released her tax returns.McCain has found someone to head up his VP search.Jennifer Skalka offers the case for Supreme Court Justice Hillary Clinton.McCain's health records revealed few surprises.Bill Clinton insists his wife can still win the nomination.Congress has subpoenaed Karl Rove to testify.Charlie Cook has released his latest Senate ratings.The Fact Checker suggests McCain is offering less than straight talk about earmarks.Chuck Todd looks at the potential civil war within the Democratic Party.Clinton and Obama campaigned for votes in Puerto Rico last weekend.McCain reiterated his opposition to the new GI Bill on ...
By: Political Realm
Bloomberg for VP?
2008-05-23 18:14:00 I wouldn’t pay too much attention to news reports about who each candidate is considering for vice president. Often names are floated so that a candidate might receive support from another politician (or their supporters) regardless of whether they are seriously being considered. While I am skeptical about whether John McCain is really interested in ...
By: Liberal Values
The Bald Cajun Sings
2008-05-13 21:18:00 While Hillary Clinton pretends that the race is not over, and even that West Virginia means something, one top Clintonista realizes it is over: James Carville has been one of Hillary Clinton’s most energetic defenders, but on Monday he all but declared Barack Obama will become the Democratic nominee for president. Speaking to students at Furman University ...
By: Liberal Values
Nanny State Update. . .
2008-04-28 16:10:00 Drew Carey explores LA's black market for but bacon-wrapped hot dogs. That's right. The health police are making it difficult to sell bacon wrapped hot dogs in LA. Street vendors are bing fined, shut down and even thrown in jail for selling bacon wrapped hot dogs. Health as virtue. . another grand idea brought to us by the Baby Boomers and their "age of stupidity." Update: I'm starting a... Click the Headline Link to Visit Copious Dissent and Read the Full Story.
Pizza Hut Fires Employee Who Defends Himself From Robber. . .
2008-04-24 16:19:00 Apparently Pizza Hut only wants candy asses to work for them. A pizza delivery driver, who police said defended himself by shooting a robber who attacked him, was fired from his job on Friday. Police said Jimmerson tried to rob Spiers at gunpoint. During a struggle, Spiers pulled out his own gun and opened fire. Spiers shot Jimmerson several times, in what police said was a justified... Click the Headline Link to Visit Copious Dissent and Read the Full Story.
Michael Bloomberg
2008-04-22 11:38:00 Michael R. Bloomberg is the 108th Mayor of the City of New York. Born on February 14, 1942 in Boston and raised by middle-class parents in Medford, Massachusetts, he was taught at an early age the values of hard work and civic responsibility. He attended Johns Hopkins University, where he paid his tuition by taking ...
The Links: Obama Is No Dukakis
2008-04-17 17:13:00 Served fresh (almost) daily:NC Dems Price and Watt endorse Obama, as does IN's Carson.Obama also gets an OK super, while a DC super switches from Clinton to Obama.Clinton could get two more supers in New Jersey.PA Dem John Murtha says McCain is too old to be president.One of the PA voters upset with Obama's bitter comments in a Clinton ad isn't actually a PA voter.The RNC again out-raises the DNC."Bitter" shows up down the ballot in PA.MSNBC refuses to air the gun control ad featuring NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg.Mike Huckabee launches Huck PAC.A superdelegate convention picks up more support.The Supreme Court allows lethal injection.Obama says he is no Dukakis.President Bush releases a new environmental plan.British PM Brown is meeting with Clinton, McCain, and Obama.Pennsylvania Polling Average: Clinton +5.4The Boss and the Bus endorse Obama.This day in history: Benjamin Franklin died in 1790.
By: Political Realm
Ad Wars: Bitter Impact
2008-04-15 17:54:00 Check out our video library at Political Realm TV.Hillary ClintonThe Clinton campaign has released three new ads in the upcoming primary states. "Jewel" will air in North Carolina and features a supporter talking about Clinton as a fighter."Tammie" will also air in North Carolina and is a continuation of Clinton's "NC Ask Me" ads. Clinton addresses a question from a North Carolina voters about rising gas prices.Finally, the Clinton campaign is airing a new ad in Pennsylvania that attacks comments from Barack Obama. The ad features Pennsylvania voters suggesting the comments were insulting and out of touch, while noting that Hillary Clinton understands Pennsylvania. John McCainMcCain has released his second general election ad of the cycle, "Ignite." The ad touts McCain's initiatives on health care, the economy, education, and energy. The ad, like most of McCain's policy outlines thus far, is pretty thin on specifics. Progressive Media USA, a left leaning group, has released a ...
By: Political Realm
The Links: Strikes & Gutters
2008-03-30 17:12:00 What's on the menu this weekend?Pennsylvania Senator Bob Casey, Jr. endorses Obama.Obama also gets support from a CT super.Howard Dean: Clinton-Obama bickering could hurt the party.Team Clinton isn't paying the bills.Will NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg endorse Obama?Florida Dem Bill Nelson calls for primary reform and the end of the Electoral College.Gore believes the Dem race will resolve itself.Puerto Rico's governor, an Obama backer, is indicted.McCain is going on a biographical tour next week.Former AL Governor Don Siegelman has been freed as Congress looks into possible political motivation for his prosecution.Chelsea Clinton says mom would be a better prez than dad.Ralph Nader tells Clinton to stay in the race.James Carville keeps pushing the Richardson as Judas idea.Obama goes bowling.Pennsylvania Polling Average: Clinton +12.1This day in history: President Reagan was shot in 1981.
By: Political Realm
Bloomberg Introduces Obama's Economic Speech
2008-03-27 21:19:00 So, the dark horse in the 2008 campaign seems to have hitched his fortune's to Obama's momentum - what will it spell in the long run? Is the NYC Mayor now ahead in the VeePstakes? Granted that other luminaries endorsed and commented on the Obama positions, it was Michael Bloomberg there on the podium at Cooper Union. The Senator's entire presentation is available via his web site. This surely comes at a time when voters are worried about the growing storm of foreclosures on main street while troubled about the administrations evident focus on helping out those on Wall St.Meanwhile, the Clinton campaign has accused the Obama folks of keeping the Theft of Valor story of her not exactly dodging sniper fire in Tuzla in the news to distract people from the "Wright scandal." Now I know Bill didn't inhale, but what of Hillary's staff? After all, the more people learn about Jeremiah Wright the better it has worked for Obama! The latest polls, taken before the rebukes from milita...
Give It Up For Mike Bloomberg?
2008-03-27 14:30:00 He certainly knows how to keep his name in the news, as he is introducing Barack Obama today for an economic speech in NYC. I’m not expecting him to formally endorse, but he’d probably consider it if he were otherwise going to get ignored. Photo Credit: Flickr User Piano Lady SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Give It Up For Mike Bloomberg…", url: "http://2008central.net/2008/03-/27/give-it-up-for-mike-bloombe-rg/" });
By: 2008 Central
Proposal to Mayor Bloomberg: Save the Democratic National Committee, Pay fo
2008-03-07 15:26:00 The Democratic National Committee has really made a mess of things. Its response to Michigan and Florida moving their primaries up to dates that threatened a stampede of states all moving their primaries to earlier and earlier dates - a real concern - was to punish the people of Michigan and Florida, the Democratic Party, and indeed the democratic process itself by refusing to count the results of those primaries. The DNC announced the punishment, the candidates didn't campaign in Florida, Barack Obama's name wasn't even on the ballot in Michigan, and the results of those primaries became indeed invalid.I said back in January, before the Michigan primary, that the DNC's response was stupid, and, now, with the nomination still hotly contested, what the DNC did looks outrightly crazy. Fortunately, both the DNC and the two states are saying they would like to do the primaries over - acceptable under DNC rules - but now there's another problem:Money. Neither the DNC nor Michig...
By: Infinite Regress
Clinton to Appear on SNL Tonight and other notes.
2008-03-02 03:54:00 Let’s hope she’s funnier than in the debates. Video will be posted as soon as it’s available. In other news: The Texas caucus has disaster written all over it. There needs to be some sort of permanent leaders in these from now on who know what they’re doing. It’s ridiculous to elect a chair and secretary every ...SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Clinton to Appear on SNL Tonight and other notes.", url: "http://2008central.net/2008/03-/01/clinton-to-appear-on-snl-to-night-and-other-notes/" });
By: 2008 Central
Good Reads
2008-03-01 06:31:00 Stuart Rothenberg: The Definition Of ChangeSenator Barack Obama continues to promise change and stress his ability to unite Americans. It?s a feel-good campaign built on soaring rhetoric and good intentions. The question, of course, is what kind of change? Does Obama want to find common ground between Democrats and Republicans? Will he push issues and alternatives only with a national consensus? Or is ?change? simply a value-neutral word for liberalism?The reality is that half of the country leans Democratic and half leans Republican. Yes, there are some issues on which many Americans agree, but if Obama limits himself to those, he?ll have a thin agenda.Best Of The Rest? I'm Not Running For President, But...: New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg finally puts all speculation about an independent bid to rest, but he has some advice for both nominees.? A Question Of The Ages: Comparing the potential Obama-McCain match-up to 1996's Clinton vs. Dole, Peter Baker wonders how much th...
By: Political Realm
The Links: Leap Day
2008-02-29 17:08:00 Here's what we're reading this Friday morning:The Clinton campaign raised about $35 million this month.The Obama campaign suggests they've raised "considerably more."Is McCain eligible to become president?Former Bush 41 Secretary of State James Baker is now officially behind McCain.McCain also accepts the support of Texas Pastor John Hagee, which has upset Catholic League President Bill Donohue.TPM sense some hypocrisy, while Jon Swift finds more supporters Obama needs to denounce (or reject).The Obama camp has bought 2-minute time blocks in every Ohio and Texas market for the night before the primaries, presumably to air a closing ad as both Clinton and Obama did earlier states.Obama tells reporters to "remember New Hampshire."Karen Tumulty suggests early voting in Texas seems to give Obama the edge.Larry Sabato runs through the McCain veepstakes list.If you're going to attack Obama for not wearing a lapel pin, you should at least wear one yourself.Ralph Nader has selected his ...
By: Political Realm
New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg Nixes Presidential Run -- Will It Help Ral
2008-02-28 18:55:00 New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg has officially quashed rumors of a presidential run, but what does that mean for Ralph Nader?
Bloomberg Officially Rules Out Run For President
2008-02-28 17:59:00 In an op-ed published in today’s New York Times, Mayor Mike Bloomberg officially rules out a run for president, writing: I listened carefully to those who encouraged me to run, but I am not ? and will not be ? a candidate for president. He ads some optimism about the remaining candidates and hints at the ...SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Bloomberg Officially Rules Out Run For President", url: "http://2008central.net/2008/02-/28/bloomberg-officially-rules--out-run-for-president/" });
By: 2008 Central
Bloomberg Criticizes Washington and Praises Obama on Economic Plans
2008-02-15 06:35:00 Back when there was talk of Michael Bloomberg running for president I predicted that he would not run if Obama was the candidate because they would be competing for essentially the same voters, and the candidate from a major party would have a tremendous advantage. Once again Bloomberg was critical of other politicians, except Obama: Mayor ...
By: Liberal Values
Michael Bloomberg Says Global Warming Could ?Kill Everybody?
2008-02-13 17:37:00 If they gave out an award for the most addleheaded statement ever made by a politician in the long and eventful history of civilization, it just might go to New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg for the following: “Terrorists kill people. Weapons of mass destruction have the potential to kill an enormous amount of people. . ...
Bloomberg Dismisses Economic Stimulus Package
2008-01-24 04:49:00 While a third party candidate has little chance, as a consequence of the poor choices offered by the major parties Michael Bloomberg has moved up to second in my rankings of potential 2008 candidates (with this subject to change between now and November). Bloomberg has dismissed the proposed economic stimulus package being considered with this ...
By: Liberal Values
Why Is Bloomberg Not Considered In Electability Scenarios?
2008-01-24 01:17:00 Mike Bloomberg has dropped hints of running as someone who can fix bipartisan bickering and get things done. He gave a major economic speech in Washington today. People are more than happy to cover what Bloomberg is doing. But no one, and I mean no one, looks at Bloomberg in the context of election scenarios. He’s ...
By: 2008 Central
Bloomberg Talks Economy In California; Takes Additional Steps Toward Run, M
2008-01-22 17:47:00 Mike Bloomberg, who continues to deny that he will run for president, visited the electoral college rich state of California this past weekend to discuss the economy. Appearing with California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell, Bloomberg announced the creation of a nonpartisan coalition, focused on infrastructure projects across the US, called ...
By: 2008 Central
Michael Bloomberg : Stuck on Maybe
2008-01-12 08:04:00 Mike Bloomberg doesn't seem able to make up his mind about running. He has reportedly been checking out every piece of data available. No word if he has been seeing any astrologers or mystics.Hesitancy isn't a trait most people would vote for in a president. Presidents after all, are often required to act decisively and with speed. If a president Bloomberg is anything like the if-maybe-candidate-in-limbo, Americans might be faced with a procrastinator who has difficulty stepping up to the plate without first calling meetings, checking star alignments, analyzing data and conferring with experts.The history of third party candidates doesn't encourage the view that a Bloomberg candidacy will fare much better than a snowball in hell. Bloomberg has an a-political, liberal style that plays well in New York, but perhaps not so well in other parts of the US.In person he comes across as something of a little Caesar. You get the sense there is an eccentric side to him. He is rumored to...
By: Aidan Maconachy
Will Ron Paul, Michael Bloomberg Make Independent Runs For The White House?
2008-01-11 14:03:00 Are Ron Paul and Michael Bloomberg considering independent runs for the White House?
Mike Bloomberg Researching Presidential Run
2008-01-10 04:25:00 After a bipartisan gathering in Oklahoma, word has it Mayor Mike Bloomberg has begun research efforts into a possible third party run for President.According to the AP, data collection began months ago and has yet to be analyzed. This includes polling from every state in the Union, voter trends and level of support. With an estimated worth of $11.5 billion, Bloomberg is known for going after things that are achievable and winnable. He spent $155 million in his run for Mayor in 2001 and 2005 and has become possibly more popular than former Mayor Rudy Giuliani.While this shows serious consideration from Bloomberg and his team, it is not definite if he will announce a third party contention. In a system made for two parties, it becomes very difficult for a third party candidate to achieve a single electoral vote. Ross Perot who ran in 1992 and 1996, achieved over 19% of the popular vote in his first presidential run, but did not win any electoral votes. In fact, the last third party ca...
Bipartisan Forum Meets Without Feared Third Party Campaign
2008-01-08 16:38:00 There have been numerous reports on yesterday’s bipartisan meeting at the University of Oklahoma, including on NPR’s Morning Edition, the New York Times, and the New York Daily News. Despite all the vitriol addressed towards this meeting by partisans on both sides, the sun still rose today despite this meeting. The media, always overly expressed with ...
By: Liberal Values
Good Reads
2008-01-07 19:39:00 John Harris: Both Clintons' Legacies May Rest On New HampshirePeople always state the obvious: Hillary Rodham Clinton is not the politician her husband is. They tend to overlook the less obvious: She has never been forced to be that kind of politician. Until now.The essence of Bill Clinton?s political skill was a fearsome ? and usually fear-driven ? instinct for survival. Time and again, he summoned an almost mystical ability to connect with voters at the very moment he was confronting disaster. And the first place that astonishing talent sprang to national notice was the very place the 2008 campaign has arrived at now: New Hampshire.Jeff Zeleny: In This Race, Independents Are The PrizeThe race for president, steeped in appeals to each party?s base for nearly a year, is for the next few days largely in the hands of voters who identify themselves as neither Republican nor Democrat.Candidates are feverishly appealing to independents ahead of the primary on Tuesday in New Hampshire,...
By: Political Realm
Michael Bloomberg, Centrist Democrat?
2008-01-06 19:28:00 The New York Times looks at Michael Bloomberg’s views and find that he falls right in the middle. Middle of the Democratic Party that is. Many have gone ballistic over the upcoming bipartisan meeting have centered their attacks on a straw man argument that then are all supporters of a mushy center position on all ...
By: Liberal Values
Don?t Listen To The Moderates
2008-01-05 23:21:00 “Don’t even think of listening to what those centrists have to say” is the message which keeps coming from parts of the blogosphere. I continue to be amazed by vitriol expressed regarding the upcoming meeting which includes Michael Bloomberg and a number of both Democrats and Republicans. Via The Carpetbagger Report I read of ...
By: Liberal Values
SciFi Friday: Two Doctors; Sarah Connor; The New Bond Girl; Letterman?s Bea
2008-01-05 04:35:00 Last week I reviewed the Doctor Who Christmas special, Voyage of the Damned. The Doctor had a brief adventure between the end of last season, when Martha left the Tardis, and his collision with The Titanic. The above video shows current tenth Doctor (David Tennant) meeting the fifth Doctor (Peter Davison) in the 2007 ...
By: Liberal Values
Bloomberg Criticizes Potential Opponents
2008-01-03 17:53:00 Despite his denials of plans to run for president as an independent, Michael Bloomberg sounded like he was campaigning against his potential opponents in a press conference yesterday: With unusually dismissive language, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg offered tart assessments of his potential presidential rivals at a news conference on Wednesday, suggesting they are offering meaningless bromides ...
By: Liberal Values
Drop The Rock
2007-12-31 17:49:00 The glittering Waterford crystal ball drops tonight in NYC's Times Square followed by electronic billboards pimping diets. NYT ABC News pimps "Rockin' New Year's Eve" w/Ryan Seacrest who admits a secret desire to dive - sky dive. NYT's William Safire's 34th annual 2008 predictions. Chickaboomer divines: 1. NY Mayor Michael Bloomberg will run for president as an independent. NYT I just heard MSNBC bonehead Contessa Brewer lead into the Bloomberg presidential speculation with: "He's got more money than God. I don't know how much money God has." 2. Hillary won't win. Mike Huckabee will be the next prez. 3. My favorite color No. 18-3943 will be the new color of 2008. NYT4. People will stop reading books. New Yorker5. Rush Limbaugh takes the marital plunge for the fourth time. 6. The CIA will "find" Osama bin Laden two weeks before the presidential election. Happy New Year! Throw 'em all under the bus! v
By: Chickaboomer
Paul Krugman Misses His Own Answer To His Question
2007-12-31 08:18:00 Paul Krugman has asked a question he did not believe there was an answer to and then, without realizing it, answered it twice. At his blog he links to Chris Bowers’ dismissive post at Open Left on the contemplated presidential run by Michael Bloomberg and then asks, “Seriously, why does anyone think this makes sense? ...
By: Liberal Values
New York Times Provides Further Information on Potential Independent Campai
2007-12-31 05:54:00 The New York Times reports further on the Michael Bloomberg’s possible bid to run for president. They report that a decision won’t be made until February but a bipartisan group is “positioning themselves so that if the mayor declares his candidacy, a turnkey campaign infrastructure will virtually be in place.” The Times reports: On Sunday, ...
By: Liberal Values
Liberal Hostility To Bipartisanship
2007-12-30 19:09:00 Earlier I commented on the report of Michael Bloomberg meeting with members of both parties to consider alternatives to our current hyper-polarization. Most expect this to lead to a third party candidacy by Michael Bloomberg. While I would need to see the actual positions that this group takes before deciding upon support, I see something ...
By: Liberal Values
Bipartisan Group Meeting To Consider Unity Government
2007-12-30 09:20:00 For years the Republicans have ruled from the extreme right based and forcing the moderates out of their party until they wound up in the present situation where they first lost Congress and now look likely to lose the White House. Rather than learning from this experience, many Democrats are supporting John Edwards, who proposes ...
By: Liberal Values
Bloomberg Featured In Ads In Iowa And New Hampshire
2007-12-28 15:39:00 New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg may deny that he’s running for president, but you wouldn’t be able to guess that with his Google Adwords buy, issuing a statement on international events and now by running newspaper ads in Iowa and New Hampshire. Yesterday, Mayors Against Illegal Guns ran ads in The Des Moines Register ...
By: 2008 Central
Paul Krugman Supports Continuation of Bush/Rove Style Politics
2007-12-27 02:01:00 The mind set behind Paul Krugman’s recent attacks on Barack Obama become clear from reading the excerpt from his book, The Conscience of a Liberal which appears at Slate. Krugman’s objections to Obama are over matters far greater than their disagreement over mandates on health care. The two have a totally different philosophy of government, ...
By: Liberal Values
Forbes Believes Bloomberg is Planning to Run
2007-12-20 06:46:00 Michael Bloomberg has denied he plans to run but has continued to do things to keep the idea alive. Forbes believes he is really running: Look out, Hillary and Barack, here comes Mike. No, not Mike Huckabee (though he’d better watch out, too). Mike Bloomberg–Mayor Mike as millions of New Yorkers more or less affectionately call ...
By: Liberal Values
Good Reads
2007-12-17 16:04:00 Jonathan Martin: Mojo Versus ManpowerAs the battle for Iowa enters the home stretch, the race appears to be breaking down along a simple fault line: Mike Huckabee?s momentum and passion versus Mitt Romney?s organization.What one has the other lacks. Best Of The Rest? Early States Could Trip The Frontrunners: David Yepsen writes that stopping frontrunner momentum in Iowa, New Hampshire, and South Carolina is key for rivals hoping to have any shot at the nomination.? Huckabee's Rise: Dean Barnett analyzes the surge of Mike Huckabee from also-ran to frontrunner, determining how it will affect the race. ? Nomination Fight Could Depend On Exits: Stuart Rothenberg wonders if support from departing rivals could tip the balance in this tightest of elections. ? Romney's Crunch Time: With Mike Huckabee on the verge of stealing Iowa from the once-dominant Mitt Romney, this is the critical moment for the ex-Massachusetts governor. ? Three Kings Of The Democratic Party: John Mercurio not...
By: Political Realm
Speculation Continues That Bloomberg Might Run in 2008
2007-12-13 21:07:00 The Wall Street Journal keeps alive speculation that Michael Bloomberg might still run for president as a third party candidate. They report that is advisers are planning for different scenarios: One scenario — and the one aides are hoping for — would be a race between fellow New Yorkers Hillary Clinton and former Mayor Rudy Giuliani. ...
By: Liberal Values
Picture This
2007-12-01 02:10:00 Barack Obama and New York City Mayor Michael Blooomberg had breakfast together this morning. Let the speculating begin.
By: Political Realm
Meals with Michael
2007-11-30 19:05:00 Michael Bloomberg has been going out to eat a lot recently. Following his recent dinner with Chuck Hagel there are now reports of Bloomberg having breakfast with Barack Obama. There’s no word on what they talked about, but we do know that Obama paid for the breakfast and didn’t make a mistake Hillary Clinton recently ...
By: Liberal Values
Bloomberg and Hagel Continue to Show Signs of Considering Independent Run
2007-11-30 06:58:00 Although Michael Bloomberg denies having plans to run for president, the topic of a Bloomberg-Hagel ticket keeps coming up. Last week Sam Stein reported on Bloomberg’s efforts to study foreign policy. New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg has been receiving foreign policy briefing sessions on a wide variety of topics, providing the strongest indication yet that ...
By: Liberal Values
Michael Bloomberg : Doing Geo-Politics with Nancy Soderberg
2007-11-27 06:09:00 Michael Bloomberg wants his fellow citizens to believe that he spends part of his hard pressed time prepping on foreign policy as part of a self-improvement regimen.He isn't simply researching on the web but has sought out a guru - former US Ambassador to the UN, Nancy Soderberg, no less - to get the inside scoop.Plotting to enter the presidential race has nothing to do with it. In fact Bloomberg claims he isn't even following the race in the media.The research according to Bloomberg is all about his insatiable urge to learn about all and everything. There's nothing that Bloomberg isn't curious about, and who better than Nancy Soderberg to enable him get a grasp of the big picture.While denying interest in the presidential race, Bloomberg surprisingly had flattering words for Giuliani. In the past Bloomberg has bitched about the large deficit left by Giuliani. He even nixed a plan the former mayor set in motion to build a new stadium for the Mets and Yankees.As for his research ...
By: Aidan Maconachy
Whither Third Party?
2007-11-18 23:33:00 Independents are a rapidly growing block of voters--nearly one-third of today's electorate identify themselves as independents--yet of the 535 voting members of Congress, just two--Connecticut's Joe Lieberman and Vermont's Bernie Sanders--are independents. No third party candidate has won the presidency since Abraham Lincoln in 1860--the party had only recently formed following the collapse of the Whigs. No third party candidate has won a single electoral vote since George Wallace in 1968. Ross Perot was a polling leader for parts of the 1992 campaign and though he finished with nearly 19% of the vote--more votes than any independent candidate in US history--he failed to garner a single electoral vote. In recent elections, third party candidates have been reduced to a spoiler's role without any serious chance of victory. So why haven't independent candidates been more successful and what obstacles do they face in 2008? Let's find out.More than ever before, the 2008 cycle...
By: Political Realm
Where Ron Paul Stands, In Texas and Nationally
2007-11-15 06:33:00 The Hill is running an article claiming that Ron Paul is in trouble in his district predicting he will not win the nomination to retain his seat. I certainly don’t know enough about the local politics in his district to say for sure, but this article doesn’t pass the smell test. The article from the ...
By: Liberal Values
Good Reads
2007-11-12 01:03:00 Chuck Todd: When Electorates Turn AngryJust how angry is the electorate? Perhaps angrier than any of us imagined. It's not just anger, however, that voters are expressing toward politicians. It appears to be downright distrust with the government itself. Tuesday?s election results may not have seen any high profile upsets for political figures (I don?t consider the scandal-plagued Kentucky governor?s loss an upset) but rather, an avalanche of rejections for new government proposals.Best Of The Rest? A Bluegrass Bellwether?: Howard Fineman wonders if Democratic victories in Kentucky last week will predict result in 2008. CQ Politics suggests we not read too much into the 2007 results.? Divided We Stand: John Mercurio looks at the division within the religious right as the 2008 elections approach.? Hillary Hides Behind Skirt?: Ron Fournier discusses the way that Hillary Clinton uses gender to her advantage.? Would The Far Right Desert?: Charlie Cook pens a must read that examin...
By: Political Realm
Michael Bloomberg Calls for National Carbon Tax?Is There a Meaning to Him S
2007-11-03 00:57:00 Michael Bloomberg has spoken in favor of a national carbon tax, raising the question of whether he remains interested in running for president as an independent. Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg plans today to announce his support for a national carbon tax. In what his aides are calling one of the most significant policy addresses of his ...
By: Liberal Values
Republicans Should Beware of What They Wish For if Bloomberg Runs
2007-11-01 17:51:00 The Washington Times reports that many Republicans hope Michael Bloomberg will run for president as an independent as it would improve their chances at winning by dividing the Democratic vote. “Ideologically, Bloomberg is much more aligned with the Democrat base than with Republicans,” says Republican direct-mail fundraiser Richard Norman. “The more effective his campaign, the more ...
By: Liberal Values
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