So, a week later, I’m finally getting back to my promised continuing analysis of the Rally to Restore Sanity. Because I don’t want to belabor the experience too much, I think this will be my last post on the subject. Thus, I have to address the importance of the event – especially in terms of …
Continue reading ‘The Rally to Restore Sanity: Politics & targets’ »
With the Stewart/Colbert rallies just days away, news coverage of the event has spiked. But among this coverage of the event itself are the attempts of news organizations to delineate the “proper” boundaries in covering – and having their reporters attend – the rallies. The Washington Post and NPR, for example, have both banned their …
Continue reading ‘Covering Stewart & Colbert “responsibly”’ »
With a week to go before the midterm elections, both parties are looking to motivate their supporters to turn out. For Democrats, this has meant reaching out especially for the young voters who made such a difference in their 2008 efforts. But young voters aren’t responding to their efforts, with low expected turnout rates. Conversely, …
In my previous post, I suggested that although the current iteration of the Tea Party lacks a uniform agenda, the potential for a competitive party to emerge centered around a balanced budget and reduced government spending is relatively high – but only so long as the long-standing national parties do not make a credible effort …
Continue reading ‘Republicans' "Pledge to America" attempts to co-opt key issues’ »
For all the comparisons between 2010 and 1994 or even 1982, the correct comparison may be to 1854. The fascination with third-parties is longstanding, but the U.S. has always been a two-party system. Political scientists from Anthony Downs onward will tell you that the two-party dominance is largely driven by our electoral system: when the …