Obamacare on trial: The Supreme Court and health care reform
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[The Congress shall have power] “To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian tribes.” Constitution Article I, Section 8, Clause 3.”
The economic and political truth about right-to-work legislation
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The debate over the merits of a constitutional amendment making Minnesota a right-to-work (RTW) state is heating up. Proponents of RTW contend that it will make Minnesota more business competitive and produce jobs. Opponents respond that it will lower family incomes. Continue Reading
“It’s the gas prices stupid”: Oil and the fate of the Obama presidency
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“It’s the gas prices stupid.” Perhaps this is the new mantra that David Plouffe should have posted in the Obama re-election headquarters, updating the famous “It’s the economy stupid” that James Carville coined for Bill Clinton’s presidential campaign in 1992. Continue Reading
Do the math: The increasing probability of a brokered Republican National Convention
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After Super Tuesday Mitt Romney told Santorum that the delegate numbers were against him and that it was unlikely that the latter could win enough delegates to reach the 1144 magic number to clinch the nomination. Truth be told, it looks like none of the GOP candidates except Romney can reach this number, and even his chances are questionable. Continue Reading
Dodging a bullet: Quick thoughts on the Romney victory and the problems ahead
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Romney dodges two bullets. His double wins in Arizona and Michigan ensure he is the frontrunner and forestall even more panic among the GOP. But more importantly, his win in Michigan saves him from embarrassment that he cannot win his home state.
Assessing the Minnesota caucuses–final thoughts on why it is time to scrap them
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Minnesota’s February 7, political caucuses meant something this year…sort of.
Mini-Tuesday results: Where do the Republican nominees stand now?
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Mini-Tuesday is over and done in Minnesota, Missouri, and Colorado. Santorum sweeps the three states. Who were the winners and losers in it? Do the numbers.
There have been 8 primaries and caucuses:
The swinger voter in the 2012 elections
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Winning politics is often about identifying and mobilizing the swing voter. But in light of allegations of Newt Gingrich’s desire for an open marriage, maybe candidates should be reaching out for the swinger voters. What do we know about them?
Republica factio est omnis divisa in partes tres (the Republican Party is divided into three parts)
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As Julius Caesar once described all Gaul as divided into three parts, so too is the Republican Party after the South Carolina primary. And while both Caesar and Mitt Romney aimed to come, see, and conquer their respective territories, it was Newt Gingrich who crossed the political Rubicon and inserted uncertainty into the GOP primary process by winning in South Carolina.
Obama’s bar fight: Politics is about winning over the swing voters and Obama ain’t doing it
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President Obama is in the middle of a bar fight that he may lose. The NY Times reports that only 31% of the swing voters this year support him, this compares to 52% in 2008. Continue Reading