Obama vs. Romney: Now the Long Slog Until November
Apr 20, 2012
Earlier this year, many were saying the Obama’s re-election chances for minimal due to a languishing economy and a President who has failed to tame partisan warfare in Washington, D.C.
More recently, as Mitt Romney struggled in a series of primaries against less-than-stellar opponents – losing a number of contests along the way – there was a widespread view that the former Massachusetts governor could ever recover.
As is usually the case, these were premature judgments.
In fact, a close contest is shaping up for President. Obama has significant advantages but so too does Romney. The CBS News/New York Times poll released April 19 showed both candidates tied at 46%, with the independent vote similarly split, Romney 42%, Obama 41%.
These numbers represent a resurgence for Romney now that he has dispatched Santorum, Gingrich, Paul and the others. Part of this may be due to what used to be a post-convention bounce: a candidate, upon being formally nominated, tends to get a burst of publicity and support that then may fade over the next months.
American Democracy on Trial?
Jan 24, 2012
Counting the results
Well, not really.
But in some instances, yes, particularly very tight elections where the candidates are divided by only a handful of votes.
Take the recent Iowa Republican presidential caucus results, for example. But more on that in a second.
Republicans have different concerns. Supposedly worried about illegal voting, regarding which there is very little evidence, Republicans in many states have added new legal hurdles to voting, such as requiring picture ID’s and limited advance voting in an election.
This is not good government; this is targeted at low-income, minority voters and seniors without drivers’ licenses who will find it more difficult to vote and are more likely to vote Democratic.
What Republicans, indeed all Americans, should be concerned about is the inability of the American voting apparatus to get the count right in a timely fashion in extremely close elections.
New Hampshire monopolists
Oct 21, 2011
Last time I checked, the New Hampshire presidential primary was not written into the U.S.Constitution.
For those interested in constitutional fundamentals, I would think they might question New Hampshire Secretary of State's Bill Gardner's insistence that his state will be the First Primary In the Nation -- so help him God.
Yet Gardner muscles other states out of the way to preserve New Hampshire's prime position in the presidential selection contest.
Now there is something to New Hampshire -- although a virtually all white state with few minorities -- saying that having a small state go first helps to vet candidates in person-to-person contact.
Great argument for New Hampshire -- or Delaware or Montana or Idaho or some other sparsely populated states.
2011 Congressional, Political, Cultural, Sports and Holiday Schedule
Dec 08, 2010
January
Saturday January 1: New Years Day
Wednesday, Jan. 5: 112th Congress convenes
Monday, Jan. 10: Auburn vs. Oregon for BCS college football championship
Friday, Jan. 14-Monday Jan. 24: Senate recess for Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday
Monday, January 17: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (federal holiday)
Tuesday, Jan. 25: President Obama’s State of the Union address (tentative)
Wednesday, Jan. 26-Tuesday, Feb. 8: House recess
February
Sunday, February 6: Pro-football Superbowl
Monday, Feb. 7: Administration submits Fiscal Year 2012 Budget to Congress (tentative)
Monday February 14: Valentine's Day
Thursday, Feb. 17-Monday, Feb. 28: Congressional President’s Day recess
Monday February 21: Presidents Day (federal holiday)
Sunday, February 27: 83rd annual Academy Awards ceremony in Los Angeles