A Cut-and-Paste Foreign Policy By Joe Conason
The discovery that John McCain's remarks on Georgia were derived from Wikipedia, to put it politely, is disturbing and even depressing -- but not surprising.
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August 14, 2008
August 14, 2008
47% Favor Government Mandated Political Balance on Radio, TV
Nearly half of Americans (47%) believe the government should require all radio and television stations to offer equal amounts of conservative and liberal political commentary, but they draw the line at imposing that same requirement on the Internet. Thirty-nine percent (39%) say leave radio and TV alone, too.
August 14, 2008
Mark Penn and Hillary: Monkey See, Monkey Do By Dick Morris
On March 19, 2007, Mark Penn wrote a memo to Hillary Clinton saying: "Every speech should contain a line [saying that] you were born in the middle of America to a middle class family in the middle of the last century."
August 14, 2008
The Democratic Ground Game: Can New Voters Make the Difference? By Justin M. Sizemore
From the time Barack Obama declared his candidacy for president, his campaign realized it would benefit from what came to be called the enthusiasm gap. "In most campaigns, it's a challenge to drag people out," Western States Field Director Buffy Wicks told a group of volunteer organizers gathered in San Francisco last summer.
August 14, 2008
Dry Eyes Follow Edwards' Downfall By Froma Harrop
It's hard to recall a political burial as fast and cold as that of John Edwards. After all, the former North Carolina senator had been a serious contender for president until a few months ago and possibly for VP until last week. Had his cheesy affair not surfaced, he would have commanded a choice speaking slot at the Democrats' convention.
August 14, 2008
Going for the Bronze By Rhodes Cook
When political reporters run low on topics to write about, they often turn their attention to third parties--the "lovable losers" of American politics. They never win at the presidential level but often are called upon to add color to campaigns that are sometimes badly in need of it.
August 13, 2008
Voters Trust Democrats More on Nine out of Ten Key Electoral Issues
This month, voters trust Democrats more than Republicans on nine out of ten issues, including National Security. The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone surveys also found that the economy is still the top issue among voters in this year’s election.
August 13, 2008
61% say Congress Should Vote on Offshore Drilling Right Now
Six out of 10 Americans (61%) say Congress should return to Washington immediately to vote on lifting the ban on offshore oil drilling, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. But voters overwhelmingly expect Congress to adjourn this year without taking action.
August 13, 2008
Howard's End: A Commentary By Susan Estrich
You can blame John Edwards for a lot of things, but the last thing anyone should be blaming him for is the nomination of Barack Obama.
August 12, 2008
McCain and Lieberman: Perfect Together By Dick Morris
John McCain has zero charisma. Next to the excitement of Obama, he looks like an old man defending the status quo. Ironically, his career has embodied exactly the opposite. He is what Obama symbolizes – a person who rises above party, confronts the special interests, and wants to change the way Washington works.
August 12, 2008
62% Support Social Security Taxes on All or Most of Income
The majority of voters nationwide (62%) believe individuals should pay Social Security taxes on most or all of their incomes. The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey found that 25% of voters disagree.
August 12, 2008
Democrats Lead by Eight on Generic Ballot
The Republicans have tightened the gap somewhat in the Generic Congressional Ballot. The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey found that, if given the choice, 45% of voters would choose their district’s Democratic candidate, while 37% would choose the Republican candidate.
August 12, 2008
Most Americans Would Choose Watching Olympics over Campaign Coverage
Most Americans have been following news stories on the presidential campaign more closely than the Olympic Games, but, given the choice, they would rather watch the games.
August 12, 2008
59% see Russian Invasion of Georgia as Threat
The majority of Americans (59%) regard Russia’s ongoing invasion of neighboring Georgia as a threat to U.S. national security, but less than a third (31%) believe the United States should take any diplomatic action against Russia.
August 12, 2008
41% Say Bush Worst President Ever; 50% Disagree
Forty-one percent (41%) of Americans say George W. Bush will go down in history as the worst U.S. President ever, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey.
August 12, 2008
Sex, etc. and the City; A Commentary By Froma Harrop
I'm not a big fan of the nanny society's limits on freedom, except when I am. That's the dilemma for me, and for everyone.
August 11, 2008
64% Now Support Offshore Drilling; 42% See it as Best Way to Reduce Oil Prices
Nearly two-thirds of Americans (64%) support going ahead with offshore oil drilling, an issue that John McCain seized on in early June as a way to help lower gas prices and has since forced Barack Obama to at least partially agree with.
August 11, 2008
Most Adults Say Starbucks is Overpriced
Seventy-three percent (73%) of adults say Starbucks Coffee is overpriced. The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 6% disagree.
August 11, 2008
55% Say Media Bias Bigger Problem Than Campaign Cash
Voters overwhelmingly believe that politicians will “break the rules to help people who give them a lot of money,” but most say there’s a bigger problem in politics today—media bias.
August 10, 2008
The Ghosts of Political Leanings By Michael Barone
To understand changes in the political map, we naturally tend to look for contemporary explanations. But American political alignments are not written on an empty slate. Beginnings matter, and the civic personalities of states tend to reflect the cultural folkways of their first settlers.
