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Category Archives: Columns
The Audacity of Romney’s Etch-a-Sketch – CNN.com
The Etch a Sketch was in full effect at the first presidential debate in Denver on Wednesday night. Mitt Romney put forward a strong performance, transforming back into his 2002 Massachusetts moderate mold, a belated advocate of bipartisan leadership. It … Continue reading
Are Karl Rove and Crossroads Propping Up the Romney Campaign – The Daily Beast
Brand new data on super-PAC spending is out courtesy of the Wesleyan Media Project, and conservative groups are still considerably outspending liberal organizations, despite an overall ad-buy advantage from the Obama campaign over the Romney campaign as the Tsunami of … Continue reading
Benghazi Backlash, Mideast Implosion, Jobless Numbers: The Real Potential October Surprises – The Daily Beast
October Surprise. It’s defined by Safire’s Political Dictionary as a “last minute disruption before a November election; unexpected political stunt or revelation that could affect an election’s outcome.” America was treated to a lame attempt to manufacture just such a … Continue reading
Posted in Columns
Tagged 2012 Elections, Elections, President Obama, The Daily Beast
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For GOP, It’s the Social Issues, Stupid – CNN.com
This election is about the economy — not social issues or other distractions. At least, that’s the mantra we’ve consistently heard from conservative candidates this election cycle. We heard the same thing during the “tea party election” of 2010. But … Continue reading
GOP Keeps Social Issues in the Closet – OutFront – CNN
The Obama campaign woke up to good news today with new polls in three swing states that has President Barack Obama exceeding 50% support among like voters. Obama also holds a lead of nine to 12 points over Republican opponent … Continue reading
Obama’s Stirring U.N. Speech – The Daily Beast
President Obama can be, if anything, overrated as an orator. Some of his heavily hyped speeches—such as his Charlotte convention address—fall flat or fall short. That was not the case with his U.N. address Tuesday. Certainly, the stakes were high—two … Continue reading
Posted in Columns
Tagged National Security, New York, President Obama, The Daily Beast
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Political Independents: The Future of Politics? – The Daiy Beast
In the final stretch of this play-to-the-base presidential election, it is strange to say that the 40 percent of Americans who identify as independent are currently close to an afterthought. With so few undecided voters left, even most independents have chosen … Continue reading
Posted in Columns
Tagged 2012 Elections, Elections, Independent Voters, The Daily Beast
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Free Speech, Civility Collide on the New York Subways – The Daily Beast
This Monday, 10 subway stations throughout New York City will be adorned with this welcoming message: “In any war between civilized man and the savage, support the civilized man. Support Israel. Defeat Jihad.” It is paid for by the American … Continue reading
Mitt’s Likability Problem – The Daily Beast
Less than 50 days from the election, it’s still Mitt Romney’s biggest mystery. He is an exemplary husband and father—the kind of man you would want as a member of your church or would trust to run your business. So … Continue reading
Our Toothless Campaign Finance Watchdogs – The Daily Beast
This is the third and final installment in a series by The Daily Beast, in partnership with the Center for Responsive Politics, on the influx of money into the 2012 campaign. To read part one, click here. To read part … Continue reading
Posted in Columns
Tagged 2012 Elections, Elections, President Obama, The Daily Beast
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Will More Democrats Follow Rahm Emanuel in Chicago and Take On Unions? – The Daily Beast
The Chicago fire is out for now. The teachers’ strike is over. But the beyond the question of winners and losers in this negotiation is the larger state of play—will more Democrats follow Rahm Emanuel’s lead and declare independence from … Continue reading
Toothless Watchdogs – OutFront – CNN
Despite President Barack Obama’s lead in new polls, he has been outspent pro-Romney Super PACs. John Avlon has been looking at the Super PAC economy all week and how the Federal Election Commission (FEC) and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) … Continue reading
Posted in Columns, Videos
Tagged 2012 Elections, CNN, Elections, Fiscal Responsibility, OutFront
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Pope Francis’s Lessons for the GOP – The Daily Beast
On the heels of Pope Francis’s triumphant visit to Brazil for World Youth Day, the humble pontiff is reinvigorating the Catholic Church after a time of scandal by reaching out, advancing reforms that threaten powerful special interests and leading by … Continue reading
Dark Money Shuffle – OutFront – CNN
A federal appeals court Tuesday overturned a ruling that would have tightened disclosure rules for political donations. The decision may make it even harder to follow the money trail at a time when record amounts of money are being poured … Continue reading
Posted in Columns, Videos
Tagged 2012 Elections, CNN, Elections, Fiscal Responsibility, OutFront
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The Super-PAC Economy – The Daily Beast
This is the first installment in a series by The Daily Beast, in partnership with the Center for Responsive Politics, on the influx of money into the 2012 campaign. These articles were co-authored with Michael Keller. Beneath the still struggling … Continue reading
Romney Foreign Policy Attack Was Disgraceful – CNN.com
“Partisanship ought to end at the water’s edge” is a longstanding adage of American politics. But in the hours after the death of the first U.S. ambassador killed in decades, Mitt Romney — panicked as his poll numbers have slipped … Continue reading
The Super PAC Economy – OutFront – CNN
One problem Mitt Romney doesn’t have is raising money. The Super PAC supporting him has already raked in more than 65-million-dollars. That’s more than outside groups in total spent at this point in the 2008 election. CNN Contributor John Avlon … Continue reading
Posted in Columns, Videos
Tagged 2012 Elections, CNN, Elections, Fiscal Responsibility, OutFront
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Video Defaming Prophet Mohammed is a Con Job That Pits Fundamentalist Christians and Muslims Against Freedom – The Telepgraph
More than 100 years ago, Mark Twain said: “A lie will go round the round the world while truth is pulling its boots on.” The world received a chilling 21st century update of that aphorism last week, as a plot … Continue reading
Wisconsin’s Healthy Union Mess – The Daily Beast
Republicans in VP nominee Paul Ryan’s home state of Wisconsin got unwelcome news late Friday afternoon when Judge Juan B. Colas declared significant portions of collective-bargaining reform unconstitutional. This was Governor Scott Walker’s signature reform, the result of a hard-won … Continue reading
Posted in Columns
Tagged 2012 Elections, Elections, Fiscal Responsibility, The Daily Beast
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Democrats for Education Reform? Why Policy Fault Lines Are Shifting – The Daily Beast
“On this issue and this day we stand with Mayor Rahm Emanuel.” So said Paul Ryan at the outset of the Chicago’s teacher strike this week. Now in its fourth day, the Chicago strike affects 350,000 kids. It occurred despite … Continue reading
Posted in Columns
Tagged 2012 Elections, Elections, President Obama, The Daily Beast
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