Campaign

Friday Talking Points [25] -- Place Your Bets On The Democratic Race!

Chris Weigant | Posted 03.28.2008 | Politics

Read More: Supreme Court, Gamble, Campaign, China, Shiite Militia, Dccc, 2008, Mccarthy, Midotw, Nancy Pelosi, Washington Nationals, Most Impressive Democrat of the Week, Donors Letter, Petraeus, Bet, Democrat, 08, Triskelion, Passport, Barack Obama, Election, 08 Election, Nomination, Elections, Mddotw, Donor, First Pitch, Hillary Clinton, Maliki, Tainted Meat, Quatloos, Faa, Normalcy, October Surprise, Tibet, Cheney, James Carville, Iraq, Basra, Call the Race, Scotus, Outsourcing Outsource, Shiite, Bush, Usda, Passengers Bill of Rights, Judas, Donors, Most Disappointing Democrat of the Week, 2008 Campaign, Hole in the Ground, Dalai Lama, Baseball, Democratic Donors, Crocker, 2008 Elections, Mahdi Army, Democratic Race, 2008 Election, Olympics, Contest, 08 Campaign, Sadr, 2008 Presidential Race, Gamesters of Triskelion, Bush Library, Recall, Mcpeak, Meat, Politics News
Chris Weigant

We haven't done a contest here in a while, so I'm going to open the betting window today on the outcome of the Democratic race. To play, just post a ...

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NYT This Sunday Probes "The End of Republican America"

Greg Mitchell | Posted 03.28.2008 | Media

Read More: Pelosi, Gop, John McCain, Campaign, Nancy Pelosi, New York Times, Congress, Mccain, Republicans, 2008 Election, Democrats, Democratic Party, Campaign 2008, Media News
Greg Mitchell

Many more Republicans than Democrats are stepping down this year, making it almost impossible for the GOP to make gains.

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Where Do Obama And Clinton Stand On China?

Chris Weigant | Posted 03.26.2008 | Politics

Read More: Taiwan, Yuan, Communist, Beijing, Darfur, Tibet, Pet Food, Campaign, Cold War, China, Chinese, National Debt, 2008, Vietnam, Dollar, Korea, 2008 Campaign, Lead in Toys, Dalai Lama, 2008 Elections, 08, Soviet Union, Castro, 2008 Election, Barack Obama, Election, 08 Election, Olympics, Foreign Policy, Elections, Communism, 08 Campaign, Human Rights, 2008 Presidential Race, Hillary Clinton, Cuba, Censorship, Ioc, Politics News
Chris Weigant

In the near future, China will eclipse the Middle East and terrorism to be our number one foreign policy challenge. Yet neither Obama nor Clinton are calling for any real change in our China policy.

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Friday Talking Points [24] -- Which Side Are You On?

Chris Weigant | Posted 03.21.2008 | Politics

Read More: 4000 Dead, Al Gore, Democrat, Housing and Urban Development, War Profiteer, Hud, Tonight Show, Pete Seeger, Palomino, Superdelegate, Iraq, Dana Perino, Campaign, Four Thousand Dead, Endorsement, Shiite, 4000, Iran, First Cat, Socks the Cat, 2008, Alphonso Jackson, Midotw, Nancy Pelosi, Which Side Are You On, John Edwards, Snl, Most Disappointing Democrat of the Week, Most Impressive Democrat of the Week, Democratic Convention, John McCain, Socks, Nuclear Weapon, Edwards Endorsement, Treason, 08, 2008 Election, Democrats, Barack Obama, Bill Richardson, 08 Election, Nomination, Fraud, John Murtha, First Cat Socks, Mddotw, Jay Leno, Convention, Four Thousand, Hillary Clinton, Nominee, Saturday Night Live, Jack Murtha, Sunni, Politics News
Chris Weigant

Like the hapless characters in Waiting For Godot, America sits and watches in fascination as the Democratic nomination race grinds into yet another ca...

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John McCain: The New "Baghdad Bob"?

Greg Mitchell | Posted 03.21.2008 | Politics

Read More: Warwire, John McCain, Saddam, Iraq War, War, Mccain, Iraq, Media, Campaign, Press, Election, Muhammed Saeed Al Sahaf, McCain Baghdad Bob, Baghdad Bob, Politics News
Greg Mitchell

But McCain as "Bob"? Consider that in the past two weeks there was a spike in violence, explosions and casualties in Iraq, yet McCain barely seemed to notice.

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Exclusive: Rev. Hagee, in Upcoming NYT, Confirms McCain Sought Endorsement

Greg Mitchell | Posted 03.20.2008 | Politics

Read More: Catholics, Religion, Politics, John McCain, Israel, Mccain, Obama, Hagee, Campaign, Politics News
Greg Mitchell

McCain has attempted to distance himself from some of Hagee's views, as Obama is doing in relation to Rev. Wright. But unlike McCain, Obama has not stood on stage with Wright and accepted his accolades.

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Race Is Not A Black And White Issue

Chris Weigant | Posted 03.19.2008 | Politics

Read More: Mulatto, Speech, Immigration, Racial, Campaign, Race, Articulate, Affirmative Action, California, 2008, Latino, 2008 Campaign, Black, Hispanic, Asian, Race Speech, 2008 Elections, 08, 2008 Election, Barack Obama, Election, 08 Election, Racial Politics, Elections, 08 Campaign, African American, White, Racial Speech, 2008 Presidential Race, Obama Speech, Hillary Clinton, Immigrant, Barack Speech, Minority, Minorities, Obama Race Speech, Politics News
Chris Weigant

This campaign season isn't the last time race is going to be an issue in America. But the next conversations we have may come from a completely unexpected direction.

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Edwards' Endorsement Of Clinton Imminent?

Chris Weigant | Posted 03.17.2008 | Politics

Read More: Al Gore, Endorses, West Virginia, Kentucky, 2008 Elections, Campaign, 08, Endorsement, 2008 Election, Endorse, Bill Richardson, Election, Barack Obama, 08 Election, Elections, 08 Campaign, 2008, 2008 Presidential Race, John Edwards, 2008 Campaign, Hillary Clinton, North Carolina, Halperin, Politics News
Chris Weigant

Senator Edwards, how long is it going to take you to make up your mind? That creaking sound you hear is your window of opportunity, slowly sliding shut.

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Which Dream Ticket?

Chris Weigant | Posted 03.10.2008 | Politics

Read More: Clinton/Obama, Superdelegate, Democratic, Primary Schedule, Campaign, Delegate, Picks, Obama Clinton, 2008, Pick, Democratic Ticket, Veep, 2008 Campaign, Mississippi, Obama/Clinton, Democratic Convention, Vice President, John McCain, Clinton Obama, Running Mate, Democrat, 2008 Elections, 08, Dream Ticket, 2008 Election, Barack Obama, Election, 08 Election, Elections, 08 Campaign, 2008 Presidential Race, Convention, Hillary Clinton, Vp, Politics News
Chris Weigant

The only chance Hillary will have to stave off a complete fracturing of the Democratic Party's base is to offer a "dream ticket," with her name at the top.

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Bill Kristol Promotes Clarence Thomas for McCain's Veep Choice

Greg Mitchell | Posted 03.10.2008 | Politics

Read More: Supreme Court, Politics, John McCain, Mccain, Republicans, Campaign, Vice President, Bill Kristol NYT, Bill Kristol, Bill Kristol New York Times, 2008 Election, Politics News
Greg Mitchell

The idea of a vice presidential debate between Thomas and a Democrat can only make you guffaw -- and the networks worry about dead air.

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Reading The Pictures: TIME's Halperin Pictures Obama As Dirty Rat

Michael Shaw | Posted 03.10.2008 | Media

Read More: Peter Lawford, Shame, Sammy Davis Jr., Strategy, Photo-Illustration, Rat Pack, Obama, Campaign, Media, Election, Joey Bishop, Mark Halperin, Dean Martin, Politics, Time, Negative Attacks, Frank Sinatra, Rove, Mark Halperin Barack Obama, Atwater, Carville, Mark Halperin Rat Pack Photo, Media News
Michael Shaw

2008-03-10-halper_obama_rat_pack.jpgAs Obama moves to respond to the "kitchen sink," Mark Halperin at Time launched a stunningly pejorative visual preemptive strike.

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Friday Talking Points [22] -- Hillary Sweeps The Awards!

Chris Weigant | Posted 03.07.2008 | Politics

Read More: Caucus, Primary Schedule, Campaign, Revote, 2008, Midotw, Racism, Arrest Bush and Cheney, Most Impressive Democrat of the Week, Bush Vacation, Kitchen Sink, 3:00 AM, Democrat, 3am, 08, Campaign Strategy, Barack Obama, Election, 08 Election, Elections, Mddotw, Michigan, Wyoming, 527, Hillary Clinton, 3:00 a.M., Misogyny, 3 a.M., Ronald Reagan, Vermont, Democratic, Campaign to Defend America, Iraq, Arrest Bush, It's Saturday Night, Bush, McCain/Bush, Bush/McCain, Pick, Ohio, Most Disappointing Democrat of the Week, Snl, 2008 Campaign, Rhode Island, 100 Years, John McCain, Florida, Primary, Campaign Ad, Plagiarism, Texas, 2008 Elections, 2008 Election, 3 AM, It Is Saturday Night, 3A.M., 08 Campaign, Third Term, 2008 Presidential Race, Saturday Night Live, Ken Starr, Marlboro, Goeglein, Mcsame, Brattleboro, Politics News
Chris Weigant

A quick primary pick here, before we get on to the awards and the talking points. Wyoming will be holding its Democratic caucus tomorrow. This one is...

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Reading The Pictures: Getting That Endorsement Off On The Right Foot: Sneak Peek At "43's" White House Scrapbook

Michael Shaw | Posted 03.06.2008 | Media

Read More: Photos, White House, Scrapbook, Candidate, Mccain, Campaign, Nominee, Endorsement, Presidency, Election, Bush, Bush McCain, Mccain Endorsements, Bush McCain Endorsement, Media News
Michael Shaw

2008-03-06-bush_mccain_dance_fp.jpg

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The Last Superdelegate

Chris Weigant | Posted 03.05.2008 | Politics

Read More: Lorne Michaels, Florida, Democrat, King's Lead Hat, Superdelegate, 2008 Elections, Campaign, 08, 2008 Election, Ted Kennedy, Election, Barack Obama, Democratic Convention, 08 Election, Elections, 08 Campaign, Talking Heads, 2008, Brian Eno, Michigan, Convention, 2008 Presidential Race, Snl, 2008 Campaign, Hillary Clinton, Saturday Night Live, Nominee, Politics News
Chris Weigant

The last superdelegate will be relieved when it's all over.

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My Final (?) Primary Picks

Chris Weigant | Posted 03.03.2008 | Politics

Read More: Providence Plantations, John McCain, Vermont, Democrat, Texas, Democratic, Primary Schedule, 2008 Elections, Campaign, 08, 2008 Election, Election, Barack Obama, Picks, 08 Election, Elections, 08 Campaign, 2008, Ohio, 2008 Presidential Race, 2008 Campaign, Hillary Clinton, Rhode Island, Politics News
Chris Weigant

This could well be the last installment of my primary picks series of articles -- because both parties may wrap things up tomorrow. My guiding princi...

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Reading The Pictures: Make Up Sex Meets Identity Politics

Michael Shaw | Posted 03.03.2008 | Media

Read More: Fx, Politics, Video, Debate, Editorial Response, Parody, Message, Image, Snl, Nbc, Hillary Clinton, Saturday Night Live, Campaign, Election, SNL Hillary, Clinton Snl, Clinton and Saturday Night Live, Clinton SNL Video, Media News
Michael Shaw

2008-03-03-hillary_shaw_snl.jpgSNL not only provided HRC the opportunity to rebut a parody debate slamming the network for supposedly slandering the candidate in its real-life debate, but then submitted the candidate's parody self for her review.

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Where Will Iraq Be In November?

Chris Weigant | Posted 02.27.2008 | Politics

Read More: November, October, Basra, Iraq, Campaign, Awakening, Shiite, Iran, Al Qaeda in Mesopotamia, Bribe, 2008, Surge, Pkk, Kurds, 2008 Campaign, Cease Fire, Sectarian Cleansing, Iraqi Election, Turkey, John McCain, Kurd, Militia, JAM, Ethnic Cleansing, Iraqi Parliament, Green Zone, 2008 Elections, Mahdi Army, 08, 2008 Election, Al Qaeda in Iraq, Election, 08 Election, Elections, 08 Campaign, Sadr, 2008 Presidential Race, Aqi, Oil, British, Taliban, Baghdad, Maliki, Sunni, Islamic Law, Politics News
Chris Weigant

While everyone else is having fun determining who "won" or "lost" the Democratic debate last night, I would like to revisit an important topic: Iraq. ...

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Debate Questions I'd Like To Ask

Chris Weigant | Posted 02.25.2008 | Politics

Read More: Al Qaeda, Debate, Cia, Marijuana, Fisa, Medical Marijuana, Iraq, Campaign, Bush, Democratic Nominee, 2008, Schedule I, Telecom Immunity, Schedule II, 2008 Campaign, Capital Gains, Democratic Debate, Taxes, Flag Burning, Interrogation, Army Field Manual, Telecom Amnesty, Democrat, 2008 Elections, 08, 2008 Election, Nafta, War on Terror, Barack Obama, Election, 08 Election, Elections, Income Tax, 08 Campaign, Present Votes, Tax, Wiretapping, 2008 Presidential Race, Telecommunications, Warren Buffett, Hillary Clinton, Debates, Senate, Warrantless, Politics News
Chris Weigant

Tomorrow night may be the last debate in the Democratic primary race. This will be the twentieth debate so far, which has to be some kind of record. ...

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Friday Talking Points [20] -- Populism 101

Chris Weigant | Posted 02.22.2008 | Politics

Read More: Social Security, Charity, Democratic, Campaign, Income, Cap, Television, Minimum Wage, Cable, 2008, A La Carte, 2008 Campaign, Capital Gains, Populism, John McCain, Tuition, Minimum Wage COLA, Neo-Populism, Democrat, 2008 Elections, 08, Satellite, 2008 Election, Democrats, Scandal, Barack Obama, Election, 08 Election, Income Tax, Elections, 08 Campaign, Credit Card Interest Rates, College, Tv, 2008 Presidential Race, Earnings Cap, Warren Buffett, New York Times, Hillary Clinton, Populist, Tax Deductible, Politics News
Chris Weigant

No awards this week A few quick thoughts this week before we get to the talking points. First, I will not be awarding the Most Impressive Democrat Of...

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McCain / Rice ?

Chris Weigant | Posted 02.20.2008 | Politics

Read More: Vice President, John McCain, Condi, Running Mate, Woman, White, Republican Ticket, 2008 Elections, Vice Presidency, Campaign, 08, Condi Rice, 2008 Election, Election, Barack Obama, African-American, Republican, 08 Election, Elections, 08 Campaign, 2008, Condoleezza Rice, 2008 Presidential Race, 2008 Campaign, Black, Hillary Clinton, Politics News
Chris Weigant

Since Republicans have all but anointed John McCain as their presidential nominee, it's about time to start speculating on who he's going to choose to...

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Obama Fans: Cease Fire!

Mark Kleiman | Posted 02.20.2008 | Politics

Read More: Mccain, Obama, Campaign, Clinton, Politics News
Mark Kleiman

The difference between fighting hard and piling on is knowing when to stop: now, for example. The remaining mopping-up in Ohio and Texas can and should be done in a relentlessly positive mood.

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Will Clinton's Advisors Tell Her The Hard Truths?

Paul Loeb | Posted 02.19.2008 | Politics

Read More: Competence, Patti Solis Doyle, Pennsylvania Delegates, Obama, Clinton, Mark Penn, Experience, Campaign, Politics News
Paul Loeb

Successful campaigns don't always correlate with successful presidencies, but if you're running on the basis of experience, yet end up in such perpetual melt-down, it's not a good sign.

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Democratic Electoral Shift In November?

Chris Weigant | Posted 02.18.2008 | Politics

Read More: Hawaii, John McCain, Democrat, Democratic, Primary Schedule, 2008 Elections, Campaign, 08, Electoral College, 2008 Election, Mountain West, Election, Barack Obama, Picks, 08 Election, Elections, 08 Campaign, Wisconsin, 2008, Mike Huckabee, South, Electoral Map, 2008 Presidential Race, 2008 Campaign, Hillary Clinton, Politics News
Chris Weigant

Professional pundits like conventional wisdom. It's comfortable for them to say what "everyone knows" with the voice of authority. But, seeing how o...

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It's A Whole New Ballgame, Michelle

Susan Madrak | Posted 02.18.2008 | Politics

Read More: Barack Obama Patriotism, Hillary Clinton, Michelle Obama, Campaign, Sasha Issenberg, Politics News
Susan Madrak

This is the second time Michelle Obama has said something really dumb. For somebody who held a highly-paid PR job, she doesn't seem to have a clue about how things sound.

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Friday Talking Points [19] -- A "Rare Uprising" Of Democrats

Chris Weigant | Posted 02.15.2008 | Politics

Read More: Fearmongering, Cia, Chris Van Hollen, Fearmonger, Fisa, Dianne Feinstein, Democratic, Immunity, Campaign, Endorsement, Trailers, Formaldehyde, Bush, Telecom, Spanish Inquisition, 2008, Silvestre Reyes, Midotw, Nancy Pelosi, Most Disappointing Democrat of the Week, 2008 Campaign, Speaker, Most Impressive Democrat of the Week, Senate Majority Leader, War Crime, Populism, John Edwards, John McCain, Pat Murray, Jay Rockefeller, Rush Limbaugh, House, Democrat, Fema, 2008 Elections, Majority Leader, 08, Democrats, 2008 Election, Barack Obama, Election, 08 Election, Elections, Valentine, 08 Campaign, Mddotw, 2008 Presidential Race, Wiretapping, Harry Reid, Confession, Hillary Clinton, Dnc, Senate, Torture, Warrantless, Politics News
Chris Weigant

It's been a busy week for Democrats, with a lot to cover. There has been good news and bad, but on the whole I'd have to judge the week a success for...

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