U.S. Rep. Charles Bass sees a perfect financial storm looming. Meeting last month with The Telegraph editorial board, Bass, a New Hampshire Republican, ran through the list of upcoming votes that could divide Congress and American taxpayers over the coming months. "We now have a sequester of about $1 trillion hanging over our heads at the end of the year," Bass said in the April 3 meeting, referring to mandatory cuts that will take effect if Congress doesn't act. He added, "We have the payroll tax issue to address. We ...
>> MoreCharles Bass: "The expiration of the Bush-era tax cuts … would be the biggest tax increase in the history of the country, about $4.6 trillion over 10 years."
On May - 11 - 2012 ADD COMMENTS
The Truth-o-Meter says: Mostly False | Charlie Bass says expiration of Bush tax cuts would be highest tax increase in history
Can Romney Breach Dems’ "Blue Wall"?
On May - 10 - 2012 ADD COMMENTS
Ron Brownstein, National Journal
In the six presidential elections from 1968 to 1988, Democrats effectively competed for so few states that their own strategists lamented that the party needed to draw an “inside straight” to reach the 270 Electoral College votes required for victory. But since then, the parties have played very different hands.In that earlier period, Gerald Ford in 1976 was the sole Republican presidential nominee to win fewer than 301 Electoral College votes. Jimmy Carter, who beat Ford, was the only Democratic nominee during those years to win more than 191.
In the six presidential elections from 1968 to 1988, Democrats effectively competed for so few states that their own strategists lamented that the party needed to draw an “inside straight” to reach the 270 Electoral College votes required for victory. But since then, the parties have played very different hands.In that earlier period, Gerald Ford in 1976 was the sole Republican presidential nominee to win fewer than 301 Electoral College votes. Jimmy Carter, who beat Ford, was the only Democratic nominee during those years to win more than 191.
Lugar’s Loss a Threat to D.C. Establishment
On May - 10 - 2012 ADD COMMENTS
John Kass, Chicago Tribune
A few weeks after the recent synod of the bishops of journalism — known to us taxpaying chumbolones as the White House Correspondents' Association dinner — the secular clergy pronounced sentence on Indiana Republican Richard Mourdock. Mourdock had the audacity to whomp the heck out of six-term U.S. Sen. Richard Lugar in Tuesday's Indiana Republican primary.
A few weeks after the recent synod of the bishops of journalism — known to us taxpaying chumbolones as the White House Correspondents' Association dinner — the secular clergy pronounced sentence on Indiana Republican Richard Mourdock. Mourdock had the audacity to whomp the heck out of six-term U.S. Sen. Richard Lugar in Tuesday's Indiana Republican primary.
Austerity as a Bridge to Nowhere
On May - 8 - 2012 ADD COMMENTS
Eugene Robinson, Washington Post
WASHINGTON -- Economic austerity is a dangerous, self-defeating intellectual fad. Perhaps I should say that's what it was, given Sunday's election results in Europe. Perhaps I should also say good riddance.Voters in France, Greece and even Germany -- a hotbed of the austerity cult -- told their political leaders, in no uncertain terms, that boosting economic growth is more important than cutting government spending. Here in the United States, I hope that Democrats, at least, were paying attention; I fear that the addled ideologues who control the Republican Party will never get the...
WASHINGTON -- Economic austerity is a dangerous, self-defeating intellectual fad. Perhaps I should say that's what it was, given Sunday's election results in Europe. Perhaps I should also say good riddance.Voters in France, Greece and even Germany -- a hotbed of the austerity cult -- told their political leaders, in no uncertain terms, that boosting economic growth is more important than cutting government spending. Here in the United States, I hope that Democrats, at least, were paying attention; I fear that the addled ideologues who control the Republican Party will never get the...
Barack Obama: Says Mitt Romney is proposing a "tax cut that gives an average of $250,000 to every millionaire in this country."
On May - 8 - 2012 ADD COMMENTS
The Truth-o-Meter says: True | Barack Obama says Mitt Romney's tax plan gives millionaires an average tax cut of $250,000
President Barack Obama has repeatedly argued that his Republican rival Mitt Romney is pursuing policies that favor the rich. Recently, Obama offered a specific claim about how wealthier Americans would benefit from Romney’s tax plan. In a May 5, 2012, campaign speech in Columbus, Ohio, Obama said, "My opponent won’t tell us how he’d pay for his new, $5 trillion tax cut -- a tax cut that gives an average of $250,000 to every millionaire in this country." We wondered whether Romney’s tax proposal really would be so generous to millionaires. ...
>> MorePresident Tries to Sell Underdog Story
On April - 24 - 2012 ADD COMMENTS
Tim Alberta, National Journal
For the second time in as many weeks, President Obama on Tuesday made an overt attempt to contrast his humble beginnings and real-world struggles against the privileged life of Mitt Romney -- without actually mentioning the Republican nominee-in-waiting by name.Speaking to a boisterous throng of college students at the University of North Carolina, Obama argued for making college more affordable by extending a low interest rate on student loans set to expire this summer. Obama stressed that he understands the importance of the issue by reminding the collegiate crowd that he, too, needed...
For the second time in as many weeks, President Obama on Tuesday made an overt attempt to contrast his humble beginnings and real-world struggles against the privileged life of Mitt Romney -- without actually mentioning the Republican nominee-in-waiting by name.Speaking to a boisterous throng of college students at the University of North Carolina, Obama argued for making college more affordable by extending a low interest rate on student loans set to expire this summer. Obama stressed that he understands the importance of the issue by reminding the collegiate crowd that he, too, needed...
It’s Romney versus Carter
On April - 24 - 2012 ADD COMMENTS
Joe Allbaugh, Washington Times
By Joe M. Allbaugh Monday, April 23, 2012 Login to VoteView resultsMitt Romney will win in November, and the reason is simple: because of President Obama’s record. Before my friends in the conservative movement spend the summer gnashing their teeth over the supposed ideological impurities of a Republican who governed one of the nation’s most liberal states, let’s all remember who we are running against: the greatest presidential failure since Jimmy Carter.Mr. Obama took over in the throes of a reeling economy. He made it worse. His stimulus...
By Joe M. Allbaugh Monday, April 23, 2012 Login to VoteView resultsMitt Romney will win in November, and the reason is simple: because of President Obama’s record. Before my friends in the conservative movement spend the summer gnashing their teeth over the supposed ideological impurities of a Republican who governed one of the nation’s most liberal states, let’s all remember who we are running against: the greatest presidential failure since Jimmy Carter.Mr. Obama took over in the throes of a reeling economy. He made it worse. His stimulus...
The Long and Short of Romney’s VP List
On April - 23 - 2012 ADD COMMENTS
Steve Holland, Reuters
In picking a vice presidential running mate, Republican Mitt Romney wants to avoid the Sarah Palin syndrome.Then-Republican nominee John McCain shook up the 2008 race with his dramatic choice of the relatively unknown Palin, but the problems she faced during the campaign will be on the minds of Romney and his vice presidential search team.
In picking a vice presidential running mate, Republican Mitt Romney wants to avoid the Sarah Palin syndrome.Then-Republican nominee John McCain shook up the 2008 race with his dramatic choice of the relatively unknown Palin, but the problems she faced during the campaign will be on the minds of Romney and his vice presidential search team.
Blame GOP, Not Obama, for Dysfunction
On April - 16 - 2012 ADD COMMENTS
Jamelle Bouie, American Prospect
For years, liberals have argued that polarization his little to do with the Democratic Party—which they see as largely centrist—and everything to do with a Republican Party, which has moved far to the right since the 1970s. Recent research from political scientists Keith Poole and Howard Rosenthal, who have measured polarization and ideological shifts in Congress, confirms that theory. According to NPR, they’ve found that the GOP is more conservative now than it’s been in a century:
For years, liberals have argued that polarization his little to do with the Democratic Party—which they see as largely centrist—and everything to do with a Republican Party, which has moved far to the right since the 1970s. Recent research from political scientists Keith Poole and Howard Rosenthal, who have measured polarization and ideological shifts in Congress, confirms that theory. According to NPR, they’ve found that the GOP is more conservative now than it’s been in a century:
GOP Candidate’s Lackluster Run Leaves Republicans Worried
On April - 15 - 2012 ADD COMMENTS
With an iconic name and access to Washington cash, U.S. Rep. Connie Mack looked like the great Republican hope when he entered Florida's U.S. Senate race and posed a serious threat to Democratic incumbent Bill Nelson.
Six months later, however, Mack has proven to be neither a potent statewide candidate nor a shoe-in to win the Republican nomination against his little-known rivals.
For Obama, Going Positive May Be Difficult
On April - 14 - 2012 ADD COMMENTS
Richard Stevenson, NY Times
President Obama's campaign has left no doubt about how it intends to run against Mitt Romney, portraying him as a bazillionaire elitist and conviction-free flip-flopper who has allied himself with the Republican Party's most extreme positions.After a year in which he was excoriated on an almost-daily basis by Mr. Romney and the others seeking the Republican nomination, Mr. Obama is now letting loose his competitive, street-ball side, mocking his opponent's vocabulary and suggesting a Republican victory would lead to social Darwinism.
President Obama's campaign has left no doubt about how it intends to run against Mitt Romney, portraying him as a bazillionaire elitist and conviction-free flip-flopper who has allied himself with the Republican Party's most extreme positions.After a year in which he was excoriated on an almost-daily basis by Mr. Romney and the others seeking the Republican nomination, Mr. Obama is now letting loose his competitive, street-ball side, mocking his opponent's vocabulary and suggesting a Republican victory would lead to social Darwinism.
Republican Primary Is Over: The Establishment Won
On April - 11 - 2012 ADD COMMENTS
Rush Limbaugh
Rick Santorum has just suspended his campaign. I think the reason for suspending the campaign is it allows you to continue to raise money to pay off your debt, but Santorum's campaign has been suspended. God bless him. I don't know why. I don't know if he had internal polling numbers that looked bad in Pennsylvania. I don't know if it's money. I don't know if it's the accumulation of pressure on him from the establishment. It's probably a combination, some people say unprecedented, in a Republican primary.Â
Rick Santorum has just suspended his campaign. I think the reason for suspending the campaign is it allows you to continue to raise money to pay off your debt, but Santorum's campaign has been suspended. God bless him. I don't know why. I don't know if he had internal polling numbers that looked bad in Pennsylvania. I don't know if it's money. I don't know if it's the accumulation of pressure on him from the establishment. It's probably a combination, some people say unprecedented, in a Republican primary.Â
Divided by God
On April - 8 - 2012 ADD COMMENTS
Ross Douthat, New York Times
IN American religious history, Nov. 8, 1960, is generally regarded as the date when the presidency ceased to be the exclusive property of Protestants. But for decades afterward, the election of the Catholic John F. Kennedy looked more like a temporary aberration. John F. Kennedy, the only Catholic president, at church in 1962 with his sister Patricia Lawford. The columnist's blog on politics and culture.The Republican presidential hopeful Rick Santorum, a Catholic, at Bella Donna Chapel in McKinney, Tex. Post-J.F.K., many of...
IN American religious history, Nov. 8, 1960, is generally regarded as the date when the presidency ceased to be the exclusive property of Protestants. But for decades afterward, the election of the Catholic John F. Kennedy looked more like a temporary aberration. John F. Kennedy, the only Catholic president, at church in 1962 with his sister Patricia Lawford. The columnist's blog on politics and culture.The Republican presidential hopeful Rick Santorum, a Catholic, at Bella Donna Chapel in McKinney, Tex. Post-J.F.K., many of...
Colleges Skimp on Science, Spend on Diversity
On April - 5 - 2012 ADD COMMENTS
Michael Barone, Examiner
How many times have you heard Barack Obama talk about "investing" in education? Quite a few, if you've been listening to the president at all.In fact, Americans have been investing more and more in education over the years, led by presidents Democratic and Republican. But it's become glaringly clear that we're getting pretty lousy return on these investments.That's been evident at the K-12 level for a long time. Teacher unions and education-school types have had custody of most of our public schools for more than three decades, during which test results and high...
How many times have you heard Barack Obama talk about "investing" in education? Quite a few, if you've been listening to the president at all.In fact, Americans have been investing more and more in education over the years, led by presidents Democratic and Republican. But it's become glaringly clear that we're getting pretty lousy return on these investments.That's been evident at the K-12 level for a long time. Teacher unions and education-school types have had custody of most of our public schools for more than three decades, during which test results and high...
The GOP is Stuck With Romney
On April - 4 - 2012 ADD COMMENTS
Charles Blow, New York Times
The dream is dying. There will be no dynamic, charismatic, Reaganesque Republican presidential nominee this cycle. There won’t even be a consistent conservative. There will only be Mitt Romney.With his wins on Tuesday in Wisconsin, Maryland and the District of Columbia, Romney has virtually guaranteed his lock on the Republican nomination and has practically thrown a bucket of ice water on his party’s desire for a transformative right-wing figure who could convincingly sell its draconian budget priorities and regressive social agenda to an increasingly weary middle.
The dream is dying. There will be no dynamic, charismatic, Reaganesque Republican presidential nominee this cycle. There won’t even be a consistent conservative. There will only be Mitt Romney.With his wins on Tuesday in Wisconsin, Maryland and the District of Columbia, Romney has virtually guaranteed his lock on the Republican nomination and has practically thrown a bucket of ice water on his party’s desire for a transformative right-wing figure who could convincingly sell its draconian budget priorities and regressive social agenda to an increasingly weary middle.
Rick Santorum: "I think it’s seven or eight of the California system of universities don’t even teach an American history course. It’s not even available to be taught."
On April - 3 - 2012 ADD COMMENTS
The Truth-o-Meter says: False | Rick Santorum says seven or eight Calif. universities 'don't even teach' American history
Rick Santorum might want to read more closely next time. On the stump in Wisconsin on April 2, 2012, the Republican presidential candidate filled in his audience on something he was "just reading … last night." "I think it’s seven or eight of the California system of universities don’t even teach an American history course. It’s not even available to be taught," he said. "Just to tell you how bad it's gotten in this country, where we're trying to disconnect the American people from the roots of who we are, so they have ...
>> MoreRomney Stumps For Walker, Blasts Obama
On March - 31 - 2012 1 COMMENT
Religious freedom and the American Dream itself are being threatened by the current administration under President Barack Obama â at least according to the three Republican presidential candidates who spoke before a largely evangelical crowd Saturday in Waukesha.
WI-2012 Primary: 40% Romney, 33% Santorum, 11% Paul , 8% Gingrich (NBC/Marist 3/26-27)
On March - 30 - 2012 ADD COMMENTS
NBC News / Marist
3/26-27/12; 2,792 registered voters, 1.9% margin of error
740 likely Republican primary voters, 3.6% margin of error
Mode: Live telephone interviews
MSNBC release
Wisconsin
2012 President: Republican Primary
40% Romney
33% Santorum
11% Paul
8% Gingrich
(chart)
2012 President: General Election
52% Obama (D), 35% Romney (R)
56% Obama (D), 31% Gingrich (R)
51% Obama (D), 36% Paul (R)
51% Obama (D), 38% Santorum (R)
Laptops, iPads Containing Sensitive Data Stolen From Romney Staffers
On March - 28 - 2012 ADD COMMENTS
LOS ANGELES -- Laptops and iPads containing sensitive information about Republican presidential front-runner Mitt Romney's campaign were stolen from an SUV in San Diego last week.
The electronics were stolen last Friday from a rental car parked car in San Diego, the Romney campaign confirmed Tuesday. The items belonged to two Romney campaign staffers. The thefts were first reported by KGTV, a local San Diego TV station.
Two laptops, two iPads and two handheld radios were taken.
Romney spokeswoman Andrea Saul called the incident an "unfortunate inconvenience" but said the campaign wasn't worried about the release of any sensitive information. She said the campaign didn't suspect the items were stolen for political reasons.
Santorum Pick Up Delegates In Louisiana
On March - 24 - 2012 ADD COMMENTS
WASHINGTON -- Rick Santorum picked up at least eight convention delegates by winning the Republican presidential primary in Louisiana.
Santorum's haul was limited by Louisiana's rules for awarding delegates. The state has a total of 46 delegates to the party's national convention, but only 20 were at stake in the primary, and they were awarded in proportion to the statewide vote.
An additional 23 delegates will be selected at the Louisiana state GOP convention in June. The final three delegates are Louisiana's members of the Republican National Committee.
Mitt Romney leads the overall race for delegates with 563, followed by Santorum with 271, Newt Gingrich with 135 and Ron Paul with 50.
It takes 1,144 delegates to win the Republican nomination to take on President Barack Obama.
Rural Edge Keeps Santorum in GOP Race
On March - 24 - 2012 ADD COMMENTS
Jim Kuhnhenn, Associated Press
By Jim Kuhnhenn - March 24, 2012Republican presidential nominating contests often reveal a rural-urban split in the party, but what sets this year's campaign apart is the emphasis Rick Santorum is placing on that divide and wearing his successes in small-town America as a badge of honor. To hear Santorum tell it, the ability of front-runner Mitt Romney to win in big-city suburbs is a mark of ideological weakness, not political strength. "Gov. Romney does well in the counties where Democrats do well, and we do well in the counties where Republicans do well," Santorum...
By Jim Kuhnhenn - March 24, 2012Republican presidential nominating contests often reveal a rural-urban split in the party, but what sets this year's campaign apart is the emphasis Rick Santorum is placing on that divide and wearing his successes in small-town America as a badge of honor. To hear Santorum tell it, the ability of front-runner Mitt Romney to win in big-city suburbs is a mark of ideological weakness, not political strength. "Gov. Romney does well in the counties where Democrats do well, and we do well in the counties where Republicans do well," Santorum...
Romney’s Organizational Heft Has Driven Wins
On March - 23 - 2012 ADD COMMENTS
Erin McPike, RCP
Mitt Romney's superior organization is helping him stave off Rick Santorum as the Republican presidential primary enters its later stages, despite a series missteps exemplified by this week's Etch a Sketch gaffe.The front-runner's ability to amass financial resources, staff and elected officials in states across the country -- which amount, collectively, to his organization -- is often cited as the chief reason he will ultimately triumph over his GOP competitors and secure the nomination. Indeed, as he's struggled to close the deal with Republican voters, it's the...
Mitt Romney's superior organization is helping him stave off Rick Santorum as the Republican presidential primary enters its later stages, despite a series missteps exemplified by this week's Etch a Sketch gaffe.The front-runner's ability to amass financial resources, staff and elected officials in states across the country -- which amount, collectively, to his organization -- is often cited as the chief reason he will ultimately triumph over his GOP competitors and secure the nomination. Indeed, as he's struggled to close the deal with Republican voters, it's the...
Mitt Romney: President Barack Obama is "ending Medicare as we know it."
On March - 22 - 2012 ADD COMMENTS
The Truth-o-Meter says: Pants on Fire! | Mitt Romney says Barack Obama is “ending Medicare as we know it.”
Mitt Romney is trying to turn the tables on President Barack Obama by using a favorite Democratic line against him, accusing Obama of "ending Medicare as we know it." That's been a trusty line for the Democrats, with variations used in campaign commercials and press releases over the past couple of years. It was used to criticize Republicans who supported Rep. Paul Ryan's plan to dramatically change Medicare and was uttered so often that we chose it as 2011 Lie of the Year. But this time, it's coming from a Republican against the Democratic ...
>> MorePaul Keeps On Truckin’, But to What End?
On March - 22 - 2012 ADD COMMENTS
Scott Conroy, RealClearPolitics
About halfway through his second quest for the Republican presidential nomination, Ron Paul has yet to win a single primary or caucus state.Whenever this inconvenient truth is mentioned to his campaign aides, their first point of rebuttal typically is that the Texas congressman won the popular vote in the U.S. Virgin Islands earlier this month.He did so by netting 112 votes in the presidential straw poll there, enough to best Mitt Romney's haul of 101 islanders, although Romney still gained seven out of the territory's nine delegates, making it something less than an impactful...
About halfway through his second quest for the Republican presidential nomination, Ron Paul has yet to win a single primary or caucus state.Whenever this inconvenient truth is mentioned to his campaign aides, their first point of rebuttal typically is that the Texas congressman won the popular vote in the U.S. Virgin Islands earlier this month.He did so by netting 112 votes in the presidential straw poll there, enough to best Mitt Romney's haul of 101 islanders, although Romney still gained seven out of the territory's nine delegates, making it something less than an impactful...
