Tag Archives: election 2012

Mitt Romney: Dogged by that pet on the roof

Posted on March 20, 2012 by

So how did the story of Mitt Romney’s dog go from being an asterisk in this campaign to one of the hottest stories in American political journalism? The tale of Seamus, the Irish setter, is hardly new. On June 27, … Continue reading →

Posted in dogs, election 2012, Mitt Romney, Republican primaries, Republicans | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

The new, improved, tougher Barack Obama

Posted on February 16, 2012 by

There’s a really interesting post on Ezra Klein’s Wonkblog in the Washington Post today. As Congress moves toward extending the payroll tax cut for the rest of this year — a remarkable retreat or return to sanity by a Republican caucus … Continue reading →

Posted in election 2012, Obama, Republicans, taxes | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

A tough TV choice: A GOP debate — or the Celtics?

Posted on January 27, 2012 by

I sat on my exercise bike with the remote last night, flipping between the umpteenth GOP presidential debate and the Boston Celtics game.  The Celtics started miserably — down 27 at one point in the first half. But they still … Continue reading →

Posted in Boston Celtics, election 2012, GOP debates, Republican primaries, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Obama: Speaking softly but carrying a big stick

Posted on January 5, 2012 by

Suddenly Barack Obama seems to be doing everything right. Gone is the president seemingly so eager to compromise with the unyielding GOP that he often got rolled.  Last month, Obama backed the House leadership into a corner when  he wouldn’t … Continue reading →

Posted in Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, election 2012, Obama, Politics, recess appointments | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Someone will win in Iowa tonight. Who cares?

Posted on January 4, 2012 by

The Iowa caucus just keeps getting weirder. In an effort to win a plurality of perhaps 120,000 votes tonight — 8 percent of all the people living on the island of Manhattan, and less than 5 percent of the total … Continue reading →

Posted in election 2012, Iowa caucus, ugly politics | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Ode to an Iowa wrestling match

Posted on December 29, 2011 by

Twas three days before New Year’s and all through the Web, the political pundits were bobbing their heads. The Iowa caucus just six days away and no one was certain which pol would hold sway.  There was Dr. Ron Paul, … Continue reading →

Posted in election 2012, Iowa caucus, Republican primaries | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

When capitalism goes haywire

Posted on December 19, 2011 by

As a kid, I used to pore over baseball statistics. These days, I’m increasingly finding myself obsessing over statistics about income inequality instead. I try to keep in mind that economics, at best, is a shaky science. And, as a … Continue reading →

Posted in class warfare, economic inequality, economics, economy, election 2012 | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

This is no way to run a government

Posted on December 14, 2011 by

I’d like to have a talk with the 12 percent of Americans who still have a favorable view of the U.S. Congress. Unfortunately, I suspect most Americans split the difference, blaming both parties equally for the gridlock that may shut … Continue reading →

Posted in election 2012, government shutdown, legislative gridlock, political paralysis, presidential electiion, Republicans, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Only in America: Laws make it easier for ex-felons to buy guns, harder to vote

Posted on November 14, 2011 by

The New York Times has a long and interesting investigative story this morning under the headline: “Felons Finding It Easy to Get Gun Rights Reinstated.” It begins with the tale of an Endicott, Wash., man with two felony convictions whose “gun rights” were … Continue reading →

Posted in Brennan Center for Justice, concealed weapons, election laws, gun rights, Uncategorized, voting rights | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Where’s the captain of this foundering ship?

Posted on September 25, 2011 by

Americans struggling for answers find themselves caught between a president who can’t seem to keep his focus on the country’s overriding problem of joblessness and a political opposition captive to extremists. It’s a scary place to be in a violent … Continue reading →

Posted in American Jobs Act, deficit, election 2012, jobs, Obama, Republicans, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment