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Tag Archives: 2012 Elections
After Iowa, Can Mitt Romney Regain the Momentum? – The Daily Beast
Santorum and Romney. David and Goliath. Behind the virtual tie in Iowa—technically an eight-vote win for Romney—was a moral victory for Rick Santorum, surging from the back of the back despite being dramatically outspent by Mitt Romney. Now Iowa is … Continue reading
Iowa Caucus — Myths and Reality – CNN
It has become a great American tradition, an act of small-town civics, an example of direct democracy in action where citizens get to meet presidential candidates multiple times. But it is also an overhyped media circus, which helps give Iowa … Continue reading
Mitt Romney’s Humor Problem – CNN.com
“I live for laughter,” said Mitt Romney, unconvincingly. But there’s no question that highlighting Mitt’s alleged inner jokester is a now part of Team Romney’s charm offensive, designed to humanize their sometimes robotic candidate. This effort extends beyond the surgical … Continue reading
How Ballot Access Laws Hurt Voters – CNN.com
Only two Republican presidential candidates will appear on the ballot in Virginia next year, regardless of how many are in the race. Mitt Romney and Ron Paul will have the Dominion State all to themselves. Supporters of Newt Gingrich, Rick … Continue reading
Sen. Ben Nelson’s Retirement Signals Twilight of Blue Dog Democrats – The Daily Beast
The Blue Dog pack is thinning. Centrist Democrats saw their ranks cut in half after the 2010 midterm elections. Now, with Nebraska Sen. Ben Nelson’s announcement that he will not seek reelection, an endangered species warning is appropriate. This is … Continue reading
Why Trump Can’t Run as an Independent – CNN.com
Among the political threats wielded by Donald Trump in his carnival barker quest for the presidency is that if denied the Republican nomination, he would run as an independent. As an independent myself, I usually cheer the prospect of any … Continue reading
Romney Embraces Center-Right Record as Gingrich Firms Up Conservative Cred – The Daily Beast
Mitt Romney’s strange tack in the final Iowa debate was to speak to a New Hampshire and national audience. For perhaps the first time in this campaign, he unapologetically framed his Massachusetts record as a center-right leader who could achieve … Continue reading
GOP, it’s time to give Huntsman another look – CNN.com
The “conservagencia” is starting to give Jon Huntsman a second look. He deserves it. But the stirrings of respect may be too little, too late. Too bad, because he might stand the best chance of beating President Barack Obama. RINO … Continue reading
GOP Would Have Had Better Shot in 2012 With Center-Right Pols Like Christie – The Daily Beast
Imagine them all clustered in a roadhouse, having a beer around sunset, shaking their heads over the lost opportunity. There on the bench are Chris Christie, Mitch Daniels, Paul Ryan, Jeb Bush, and my former boss, Rudy Giuliani. On TV … Continue reading
Michele Bachmann Fumbles the Facts – CNN.com
There’s an old saying that a lie can go halfway around the world while the truth is putting its boots on — and in politics, a steady drumbeat of misinformation and mischaracterization can too often shape the national debate. So … Continue reading
GOP Rivals Need to Get Real on Foreign Policy – CNN.com
“It would be an irony of fate if my administration had to deal chiefly with foreign problems,” said Woodrow Wilson during his presidential campaign 100 years ago. World War I soon intruded on his plans — and international conflicts have … Continue reading
Election Day Backlash – The Daily Beast
Swing voters asserted their independence again on Election Day 2011, repudiating Republican ideological overreach in key votes but denying Democrats clear-cut victories heading into 2012, as the cycle of over-reach and backlash continues.
A year from election, how does Obama measure up? – CNN.com
Is President Barack Obama running against the GOP or the GDP? In exactly one year — November 6, 2012 — we’ll be lining up at polling places to cast our votes for the next president. How much of that decision … Continue reading
How Obama Can Win – The Daily Beast
On the campaign trail, President Obama is already offering flashes of his favorite 2012 narrative: “Give ‘em Hell, Harry” redux, running against the “Do-Nothing 112th Congress.” It is the hyper-partisan Republicans in the House, he says, who have stopped his … Continue reading
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Tagged 2012 Elections, Elections, President Obama, The Daily Beast
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Birthers, Smokers, Jokers – It’s Silly Season in GOP Politics – CNN.com
Silly season has begun again. The sideshow is threatening to move into the big tent, and distraction will seem like it’s the main event. We’ve begun that long stretch where political campaigns are viciously jockeying for position before the first … Continue reading
The End of TV Campaign Ads? – The Daily Beast
In the two hours after Herman Cain’s “Smoking Man” video was released to the public, it was watched more than 100,000 times. Two days later, it had tallied nearly 700,000 views on the campaign’s YouTube channel alone—a total that doesn’t … Continue reading
Rick Perry’s Missed Opportunity – The Daily Beast
Rick Perry unveiled the details of his flat-tax plan and overall economic package today in South Carolina. Give the man points for going big: it’s a 20 percent flat tax for both individuals and corporations. This is smart politics for … Continue reading
GOP Debate Focuses on the Economy – CNN
CNN contributors Hilary Rosen, John Avlon and Will Cain provide analysis on the latest Bloomberg GOP candidate debate.
Perry’s Do-or-Die Debate – The Daily Beast
Applications for the GOP’s Messiah of the Month Club are now closed. The Christies and Danielses have declined. Sarah Palin’s belated bow-out seemed bizarrely anticlimactic after three years of overheated speculation from fans now left at the altar while she … Continue reading
2012’s New Contenders – The Daily Beast
We are living in a “pox-on-both-your-houses” moment. Congressional approval is at an all-time low. More than 40 percent of Americans believe that both Republican and Democrat policies are moving the country in the wrong direction, while Tea Party approval has … Continue reading