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July 26, 2011

Spreading out the Taxes on Lottery Winnings By Cliff Ennico

"I have an unusual question for you. If I win a large prize in the lottery, should/could I establish a nonprofit corporation to receive the prize? I asked a financial advisor about this, and he said that I could do this and also have the identity of the manager (me) hidden from the public.

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July 26, 2011

80% Think Any Budget Surplus Should Go To Paying Down the Debt

Should Congress ever again be able to generate a budget surplus, voters overwhelmingly want that money to go toward paying down the federal debt.

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July 26, 2011

What the Oslo Killer 'Wanted' Doesn't Matter By Froma Harrop

"What did the Oslo killer want?" asks one of many irritating headlines over the weekend. The Norwegian terrorist, Anders Behring Breivik, called for a number of societal changes as he massacred his countrymen in a meticulous assault, Foreign Policy reported. But let's skip them and cut to the chase: Breivik was insane.

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July 25, 2011

Generic Congressional Ballot: Republicans 44%, Democrats 38%

Republicans continue to hold a six-point lead on the Generic Congressional Ballot.

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July 25, 2011

60% Say This Summer Has Been Hotter Than Recent Summers

Much of the country suffered a heat wave last week, with weather advisories and warnings to avoid the heat. Most Americans noticed.

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July 25, 2011

63% Oppose Giving Women, Minorities Special Treatment When It Comes to Hiring

Just over one-in-five Likely U.S. Voters (22%) now support government programs that give special treatment when hiring to women and minorities.

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July 25, 2011

57% Favor Repeal of Health Care Law

Most voters continue to favor repeal of the national health care law, and fewer voters than ever believe the law will be good for the country.

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July 25, 2011

To Get a Mandate, GOP Must Win Another Election By Michael Barone

Those who consider themselves constitutional conservatives should take care to consider not only the powers that the Constitution confers on the different branches of government and reserves to the states and the people, but also the schedule that the Constitution sets up for sharp changes and reversals of public policy.

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July 25, 2011

56% Favor A Congressional Candidate Who Endorses Balanced Approach to Debt Debate

Both major political parties are looking to next year’s elections to resolve the nation’s budget stalemate, and for now most voters would opt for a congressional candidate who balances spending cuts with tax hikes over one who’s totally opposed to any tax increases.

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July 24, 2011

62% Say Troubled Homeowners Should Buy Cheaper Houses

The federal government Friday extended its deadline to apply to the Emergency Homeowners Loan Program, but most Americans believe troubled homeowners should sell their homes rather than receive government assistance to keep them.

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July 24, 2011

Pawlenty's Appeal to GOP: I Won't Embarrass You By Debra J. Saunders

Former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty's bid to win the GOP presidential nomination hasn't exactly been catching on fire. Earlier this month, The New York Times ran a story about his candidacy under the headline "Will Republican Race's First In Be the First Out?"   

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July 24, 2011

Voters Give GOP 10-Point Edge Over Democrats on Economy

With lawmakers haggling over government debt and consumer confidence at a two-year low, voter confidence in Republicans to handle the economy is growing.

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July 23, 2011

68% Say School Discipline Is Too Easy These Days

Most Americans think there's not enough discipline in public schools today and feel it's tougher for teachers to maintain control than it was when they were kids.

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July 23, 2011

What They Told Us: Reviewing Last Week’s Key Polls - Week Ending July 22, 2011

Economic confidence was down, down, down this week, and therein, for now at least, lies the tale of the next presidential election.

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July 23, 2011

"Dysfunctional" Too Polite to Describe Tea Party Congress By Joe Conason

As America lurches toward new and unfamiliar status as a nation that defaults on its debts, commentators around the world are wondering how the democratic government that was once the most admired in the world -- for many reasons -- is now so "dysfunctional," to use the polite term. But the truth is that the entire U.S. government is not dysfunctional. Much of the government functions well enough or better, and even the members of the troubled U.S. Senate seem to be trying, a little late, to deal with the problem before us.    

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July 22, 2011

Obama 41%, Ron Paul 37%

Congressman Ron Paul may be a long shot to win the Republican presidential nomination, but he runs competitively with President Obama right now.

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July 22, 2011

Most Voters Are Unhappy With Both Sides in the Debt Ceiling Debate

Most voters don’t care much for the way either political party is performing in the federal debt ceiling debate.

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July 22, 2011

Most Voters Fear Debt Deal Will Raise Taxes Too Much, Cut Spending Too Little

While Washington wrangles over how to avoid defaulting on the government’s massive debt load, voters are worried the final deal will raise taxes too much but won't cut spending enough.

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July 22, 2011

Fundraising: Much Ado Over Not All That Much By Kyle Kondik

Former Louisiana Gov. Buddy Roemer is expected to officially launch his presidential campaign today. His announcement again tests the famous philosophical question: If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?

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July 22, 2011

Updating The Governors' Races By Larry Sabato & Kyle Kondik

Although the calendar for gubernatorial elections in the 2011-2012 cycle is relatively light since most of the action in statehouse races occurred last year, several notable contests are developing for this November and next. States such as Indiana, Missouri and North Carolina, which happen to have been the three closest states in the 2008 presidential election, could see competitive races for governor in 2012, and two off-year elections -- in West Virginia and Kentucky -- will test Democrats' strength in deeply Red states.