Democrat

Child Tax Credit: Better Late Than Never

Jim Wallis | Posted 01.07.2009 | Politics

Read More: President, Children, Taxes, Money, Middle Class, Democrat, Obama, Families, Rich, Poor, Business, Tax Credit, Stimulus, Democrats, Barack Obama, President-Elect, Work, Wall Street, Tax Cut, Tax Cuts, Economic Stimulus, President-Elect Obama, Politics News
Jim Wallis

In 2003, Call to Renewal was deeply engaged in working to have a refundable child tax credit included in that year's tax cut legislation. Ultimately, ...

Read Post

Burris, Race, Religion, And The Senate

Chris Weigant | Posted 01.05.2009 | Politics

Read More: Mormon, Burris, Impeachment, Blaggy, Representative Rush, Lord Has Ordained, Obama, Reconstruction, Race, Republican, Blagojevich, Politics, Revels, Bobby Rush, Senate Seat, Wallace, Reed Smoot, Religious Bigotry, Rush, Racism, Qualifications, Black, Faubus, Mississippi, Plantation, Reid, Illinois, Hiram Rhodes Revels, Appointment, Smoot, Garrett Davis, Roland Burris, Kentucky, Democrat, Appointee, Senate Appointment, Barack Obama, Yellow Dog, The Lord, Racial Politics, Hiram Revels, Religion, Chris Weigant, African American, Appointer, Harry Reid, Plantation Politics, Utah, Obama Senate Seat, Senate, Bull Connor, Politics News
Chris Weigant

"I am now the junior senator from the state of Illinois. . . . Friends, we're going to have to have some powerful prayer. . . . They can't deny what t...

Read Post

Friday Talking Points [59] -- New Year's Resolutions (For Democrats)

Chris Weigant | Posted 01.02.2009 | Politics

Read More: Left, Lefty, Senator, Transition Team, Al Franken, New Years, Illinois Legislature, New Year's Resolutions, Blagojevich, Pelosi, Transition, Senate Seat, Clinton, House Democrats, Midotw, Nancy Pelosi, Senate Democrats, Most Disappointing Democrat of the Week, Legislature, Most Impressive Democrat of the Week, Bloggy Left, Reid, Illinois, Blogosphere, Bill Clinton, House, Franken, Democrat, Democrats, 2008 Election, Blogger, Constitution, Mddotw, Hillary, Cabinet, Chris Weigant, Obama Transition, Harry Reid, Hillary Clinton, Senate, Politics News
Chris Weigant

Happy New Year 2009! Because I've always felt it is more amusing to make new year's resolutions that others should follow, today's Friday Talking Poin...

Read Post

My 2008 "McLaughlin Awards" [Part 2]

Chris Weigant | Posted 12.26.2008 | Politics

Read More: Stuart Bowden, Ted Stevens, Jesse Jackson Jr, Ron Paul, Guantanamo, Al Franken, Best Government Dollar Spent, 50 State Strategy, Mccain, Primary Schedule, Awards, China, Worst Political Theater, Drill Baby Drill, Sarah Palin, Most Overreported Story, Andrew Cuomo, First Cat, Howard Dean, Socks the Cat, 2008, Bailout, Sofa, Condoleezza Rice, Katie Couric, Worst Political Scandal, John Edwards, Status of Forces, Sorry to See You Go, Health Care, Aids, Global Warming, Gravel, Election 2008 Coverage, Alaska, Bobby Jindal, Thomas Tamm, Reconstruction, Joe the Plumber, Tony Snow, Bernanke, Democrat, Letterman, Socks Clinton, Most Underrated, Democrats, Barack Obama, Best Idea, Predictions, George Carlin, 15 Minutes of Fame, Honorable Mention, Michigan, Hybrid, Wiretapping, Fred Thompson, Hillary Clinton, Executive Experience, Maliki, Caribou Barbie, Best Spin, Stuart Bowen, Destined for Political Oblivion, Kucinich, Jesse Helms, Private Jet, Beijing, Truth Commission, Going Green, Iraq, Most Overrated, Isaac Hayes, Spitzer, Caroline Kennedy, Bush, Wright, Blagojevich, Paulson, Bo Diddley, Mclaughlin, Unemployment, Inauguration, Destined for Political Stardom, Biggest Government Waste, Snl, Florida, Socks, Primary, Africa, Whistleblower, Best Political Theater, Most Underreported Story, Boldest Political Tactic, Castro, David Plouffe, Jeremiah Wright, Olympics, Harvey Korman, Beau Biden, Bernie Mac, Free Speech Zone, Wall Street, Chris Weigant, Oil, Most Honest Person, Socialism, Michael Crichton, Arthur C. Clarke, Saturday Night Live, Tina Fey, Worst Idea, David Letterman, Tamm, Wurzelbacher, Politics News
Chris Weigant

Love her or hate her, you have to admit that John McCain's selection of Sarah Palin for the Republican ticket this year was without any doubt the boldest political tactic of the year.

Read Post

I'll Be Home For Christmas: Flying With Our Troops Through The Pre-Winter Storms

Mike Ragogna | Posted 12.22.2008 | Living

Read More: Troops, Kanye West, Big & Rich, President Push, Trains, Ritz Crackers, Chris LeDoux, The Incredible Hulk, Fort Campbell, Rob Zombie, Apple, Akon, Breaking Benjamin, Belgium, Three 6 Mafia, Linkin Park, Tim McGraw, Ipod, Rascal Flatts, Lamb of God, Lil Wayne, Ozzy Osbourne, Metallica, AC/DC, John Candy, Soldiers, Planes and Automobiles, Republican, Superman, Fort Leonardwood, Dierks Bentley, Speed Racer, Smallville, Rod Serling, Jay-Z, Democrat, Metropolis, Iraq, Dvd, Bush, Ieds, Coke, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, Jason Aldeen, Montgomerey Gentry, St. Louis, Van Halen, Brooks & Dunn, War, Anheuser-Busch, Fort Knox, Batman, Army of One, Twilight Zone, Three Days Grace, John Hughes, Steve Martin, Iron Man, The Game, The Dark Knight, Ted Nugent, Nelly, Kenny Chesney, Afghanistan, Trace Adkins, Guns N' Roses, Noxon, Cogent, Hinder, Staind, Godsmack, Buckcherry, Flo-Rida, Holiday Season Commentary, Living News
Mike Ragogna

On the escaping planes that pinballed from airport to airport across the stormy skies, soldiers and civilians sat side by side and got to know each other over Ritz Chips, salted peanuts and Cokes as they together fought off fatigue.

Read Post

Friday Talking Points [57] -- End Of Prohibition 75th Anniversary Edition

Chris Weigant | Posted 12.05.2008 | Politics

Read More: Weapons Inspectors, Marie Antoinette, Pardon, Autoworkers, Feinstein, Marijuana, Al Franken, Barney Frank, Medical Marijuana, Legacy, Difi, Prohibition, Jerrold Nadler, Bush Legacy, Northern Ireland, Midnight Regulations, Bailout, Norm Coleman, Midotw, Treasury, Most Impressive Democrat of the Week, Ireland, Health Care, Reid, Detroit, Cash Room, 2700 Year Old, Army Field Manual, Democrat, Congress, 21st Amendment, Right Wing, Visitors Center, Minnesota, Lie, Democrats, Santa, Barack Obama, Brian Williams, The Troubles, Liquor, Michael Medved, Constitution, Mddotw, Harry Reid, Recount, Hillary Clinton, Utah, Post-Partisan Depression, Capitol, Secretary of State, Senate, Grandstanding, Amendment, Gop, Senator, Obama, Democratic, Dianne Feinstein, Iraq, Anniversary, Drink, Bush, Republican, Paulson, Clinton, Charlie Gibson, Schedule I, Most Disappointing Democrat of the Week, Schedule II, Wmd, House, Frank, Franken, Post-Partisan, 2008 Election, Tourists, Talk Radio, Chris Weigant, Smell, Prohibition Repeal, Stink, Torture, Medved, Politics News
Chris Weigant

Brian Williams, NBC's talking head extraordinaire, is probably a decent guy, a guy with whom you could sit down and have a beer. [More on the alcohol...

Read Post

How Will Obama Enrage The Left?

Chris Weigant | Posted 12.03.2008 | Politics

Read More: Populism, Left, Leftist, President Obama, Progressives, Fisa, Democrat, Left Wing, Democratic, Liberal, Obama, Barack Obama, Bush, Lieberman, Republican, Politics, Sister Souljah, Progressive, First 100 Days, Cabinet, Chris Weigant, Joe Lieberman, Socialist, Enrage, Populist, Annoy, Bush Mess, Torture, Barack Obama Cabinet, Obama Cabinet, Obama's Cabinet, Obama 100 Days, 100 Days, Obama First 100 Days, Politics News
Chris Weigant

Obama is going to do something to absolutely enrage leftists, progressives, and the few remaining Americans who actually call themselves liberals; and, furthermore, he's going to do it within his first 100 days in office.

Read Post

Political Parties Are Not "Checks" Or "Balances"

Chris Weigant | Posted 12.01.2008 | Politics

Read More: 60-Vote, Pardon, House, Impeachment, Filibuster-Proof Majority, Executive, Legislative, Democrat, Filibuster, Chambliss, Majority, Democrats, 2008 Election, President, Election, Checks and Balances, Politics, Constitution, Senator, George Washington, Political Party, Chris Weigant, Party, Branch, Georgia, Balance of Power, Runoff, Jim Martin, Saxby Chambliss, Separation of Powers, Senate, Filibuster-Proof, Politics News
Chris Weigant

I'm not worried about whether checks and balances will disappear if Republicans don't have more than 40 seats in the Senate. True checks and balances are more fundamental than party affiliation.

Read Post

A Response To Rep. Elijah Cummings

Chris Weigant | Posted 11.24.2008 | Politics

Read More: Business Expense, Loophole, Tax Code, Maximum Wage, Populism, Kucinich, Sherrod Brown, Corporate Tax, Stock Options, Corporate, Business, Wastefulness, Corporate Jet, Pelosi, Business Costs, Big Business, Bailout, Luxury, Taxable, Populist, Ceos, Deductibility, Taxpayer Money, Capital Gains, Reid, Detroit, Elijah Cummings, Auto Companies, Taxes, Greed, Citigroup, Democrat, Business Tax, Congress, Loopholes, Democrats, Income Tax, Profit, Resort, Fat Cat, Tax, Corporations, Chris Weigant, Ceo, Shareholder, Outrage, Business Meeting, Stadium Tax, Mets, Deductible, Stadium Naming, Deduction, Tax Deductible, Cummings, Politics News
Chris Weigant

The loopholes which allow such corporate excess were not exactly handed down to Moses on tablets -- each and every loophole was approved by Congress.

Read Post

Friday Talking Points [56] -- Turkeys Everywhere!

Chris Weigant | Posted 11.21.2008 | Politics

Read More: Turkey Slaughter, Leadership, Turkey, Leadership Battle, John Dingell, Media, Charlie Rangel, Waxman, Chairman, Bush, Lieberman, Television, Pelosi, Last-Minute, Video, Midnight Regulations, Clinton, Regulations, Networks, Midotw, Nancy Pelosi, Turkeys, Palin Turkey, Most Disappointing Democrat of the Week, Most Impressive Democrat of the Week, Leadership Fight, Reid, Detroit, Committee, Butcher, House, Framing, Charles Rangel, Homeland Security, Rules, 60 Days, Dingell, Democrat, Henry Waxman, Democrats, 2008 Election, Interview, Slaughterhouse, Rangel, Mddotw, Hillary, Chris Weigant, Palin, Sarah Palin, Leak, Harry Reid, Hillary Clinton, Joe Lieberman, News, Meat, Leaks, Secretary of State, Senate, Politics News
Chris Weigant

While today is not officially Turkey Day, I will warn you in advance that it's going to be a theme running through today's column, like gravy through ...

Read Post

Memo To Right-Wing: Withdrawal Timetable Now Doubleplusgood

Chris Weigant | Posted 11.17.2008 | Politics

Read More: War on Terror, War Wire, Timetable, Nineteen Eighty Four, Democratic, Failure, Iraq, Withdrawal, Bush, Memory Hole, Doubleplusungood, Iraqi, Sofa, Ministry of Truth, Status of Forces, Orwell, 1984, White Flag, Time Horizon, George Orwell, Democrat, Right Wing, Surrender, Democrats, Chris Weigant, Lose a War, Doubleplus, Hypocrisy, Doubleplusgood, Newspeak, Maliki, Timetable for Withdrawal, Aspirational Goal, On the Ground, Minitrue, Politics News
Chris Weigant

I'm on a lot of strange press lists, so I get a lot of strange press releases, but this is the first time I've ever gotten one from another dimension, I have to admit.

Read Post

Friday Talking Points [54] -- Republican Fossilization

Chris Weigant | Posted 11.07.2008 | Politics

Read More: Obama Revolution, Leadership, Leader, Novak, Ballot, John Boehner, Al Franken, Obama, President-Elect, Jess McIntosh, Campaign, Fossilize, Counting the Votes, Republican, Lieberman, Permanent Minority, 2008, Midotw, Most Disappointing Democrat of the Week, 2008 Campaign, Most Impressive Democrat of the Week, Reid, Rove, Center-Right, Karl Rove, House, Obama Republicans, Franken, Democrat, 2008 Elections, Permanent Majority, 08, Fossilization, 2008 Election, Minnesota, Democrats, Fossil, Center-Left, Barack Obama, Election, Fdr, Mandate, 08 Election, Votes, Elections, 08 Campaign, Mddotw, Party, 2008 Presidential Race, Close Race, Harry Reid, Recount, Joe Lieberman, Op-Ed, Republicans, Boehner, Senate, Fosil, Politics News
Chris Weigant

Welcome back to Friday Talking Points. Of course, the big question on everyone's mind right now is: What is going on up in Minnesota? Al Franken is t...

Read Post

Barack Obama Is Smarter Than Us

Chris Weigant | Posted 11.03.2008 | Politics

Read More: Left, Vice President, Hysterics, White House, Lefty, Bloggers, Joe Biden 2008, Democratic, Liberal, Mccain, Obama, Campaign, President, Sarah Palin, Win, 2008 Campaign, Vapors, Blogosphere, John McCain, Democrat, 2008 Elections, 08, 2008 Election, Democrats, Barack Obama, Biden, Election, 08 Election, Elections, Progressive, 08 Campaign, Palin, Barack, 2008 Presidential Race, Politics News
Chris Weigant

The Obama campaign did not leak, and they did not squabble amongst themselves in public -- right there, two astounding feats that no other candidate in the race could manage.

Read Post

Here's My Take #5: What HuffPost's Community Thinks Authorities Should Do About Long Waits At Polling Places

Jennifer Bogut | Posted 11.03.2008 | Home

Read More: Poll Montitors, Democrat, John McCain, Voting Lines, Voting Time, Republican, Election 2008, Joe Biden, Barack Obama, Sarah Palin, Home News
Jennifer Bogut

Here's My Take #5: Results Post QUESTION: What should be done on Tuesday, 11/4, to mitigate wait time and chaos at the polls? This can be at the local, state or federal level....or at all three if you have the gumption.

Read Post

Red State or Blue State: Your Vote Counts

Kate Kelly | Posted 11.02.2008 | Politics

Read More: Harvard, John McCain, Red State, Voters, Democrat, Blue States, New York Times, Election, Barack Obama, Voting, Republican, Gail Collins, Politics News
Kate Kelly

If you're a Republican voter in a Democratic-leaning state, or a Democratic voter in Republican territory, is your vote in vain?

Read Post

How the Democratic Party Reached Out to Voters (PHOTO SLIDESHOW)

Rebecca Shapiro | Posted 10.31.2008 | Home

Read More: Community Photo Essay, Slideshow, Democrat, Photo Essay, Democratic Party, Voting, Home News
Rebecca Shapiro

Caterina Rost is a graduate student of American Studies and political science (University of Leipzig, Germany & University of Massachusetts-Amherst). ...

Read Post

Obama Could Lose Election Due To Voter Suppression

Judah Freed | Posted 10.31.2008 | Home

Read More: 2008 Elections, Law, Democrat, Youth Vote, Swift Boat, Obama, Democratic Party, Voter Suppression, Voting Problems, Voter Su, Colorado, Acorn Voter Fraud, Hava, Voter Registration, Voters, Election 2008, Voter Fraud, Republican Party, Voting, Denver, Republican Presidential Candidate, Acorn Voter Registration, Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, John McCain, Acorn, Women Voters, Indiana, Democratic Presidential Candidate, Democracy, Democrats, Acorn Scandal, 2008 Election, Election, Barack Obama, Swiftboating, Early Voting, Republican, New York Times, Breaking Politics News, Voter ID Laws, Republicans, West Virginia, Paper Ballots, Kansas, Ohio, Texas, Pennsylvania, Missouri, Tennessee, Home News
Judah Freed

Republicans are seeking to suppress the voter turnout among youth, minorities and poor people. If Republicans can prevent enough Democrats from casting ballots, McCain could win the election.

Read Post

HERE'S MY TAKE #5: How Should Authorities Respond To Long Lines And Chaos At The Polls?

Jennifer Bogut | Posted 10.30.2008 | Home

Read More: Democrat, John McCain, Voter Supression, Voting Machines, Republican, Voting Wait Time, Election 2008, Joe Biden, Barack Obama, Sarah Palin, Home News
Jennifer Bogut

How Should Authorities Respond To Long Lines And Chaos At The Polls? What should be done on Tuesday, 11/4, to mitigate wait-times and trouble at the polls? Your answer can center on the local, state or federal level....or at all three, if you have the gumption.

Read Post

The Anatomy Of Republican Cataclysm and Democratic Victory

Frank Schaeffer | Posted 10.29.2008 | Politics

Read More: Far Left, Palin, Far Right, Evangelicals, Fundamentalists, Democrat, Republican, Election 2008, Politics News
Frank Schaeffer

The Republican Party has lost the hearts and minds of reasonable Americans of all faiths and ideologies. Independent voters, young people, black people, Hispanics... the list goes on.

Read Post

Here's My Take #4: Here's What I think About Campaign Spending And Negative Advertising...

Jennifer Bogut | Posted 10.28.2008 | Home

Read More: Wardrobe Gate, Democrat, John McCain, Spending, Campaign Finance, Republican, Slander, Election 2008, Joe Biden, Negative Ads, Barack Obama, Sarah Palin, Home News
Jennifer Bogut

HERE'S MY TAKE #4 Results: Your thoughts, suggestions and a bit of venting on campaign spending and negative advertising.

Read Post

Why I Won't Vote for John McCain

Lt. General Robert G. Gard Jr. (USA, Ret.) | Posted 10.28.2008 | Politics

Read More: War Hero, Democrat, Election Day, Barack Obama, Colin Powell, Prisoner of War, John McCain, Miliary, Politics News
Lt. General Robert G. Gard Jr. (USA, Ret.)

McCain has demonstrated clearly that he is a dedicated ideologue when it comes to foreign policy, unwilling to consider opinions or even credible evidence contrary to his preconceived notions.

Read Post

Talking With The F.B.I.'s Undercover Source In Alaska's VECO Corruption Case

Chris Weigant | Posted 10.27.2008 | Politics

Read More: Cbc, Corruption, Ted Stevens, Lott, Begich, Surveillance, Mccain, Don Young, Campaign, President, Sarah Palin, Craig, Nicholas Cage, Perps, Inouye, Mark Begich, Oil Executives, Moose Poop, Alaska, Tasergate, Prewitt, Conviction, Democrat, Congress, Cunningham, 08, Bridge to Nowhere, Investigation, Barack Obama, Biden, Election, 08 Election, Elections, Person of Interest, Alaskanisms, Barack, Jack Nicholson, Murkowski, Troopergate, Vice President, Court Case, Guilty Plea, Joe Biden 2008, Duke, Obama, Republican, Lisa Murkowski, Stevens, 2008 Campaign, Alaskan Politics, Corrupt Bastards Club, Confidential Source, Frank Murkowski, John McCain, Last Bridge to Nowhere, Hats, Frank Prewitt, 2008 Elections, 2008 Election, State Representative, Oil Companies, Delay, Witness, 08 Campaign, Convicted, Palin, 2008 Presidential Race, Oil, Fbi, Veco, State Senator, Politics News
Chris Weigant

Prewitt: "It's going to be a tight race, but Stevens could still win this thing. Stevens has been around so long, and we do have a very partisan situation up here in Alaska."

Read Post

Friday Talking Points [53] -- Why McCain Is Losing, And Why Democrats Shouldn't Say So

Chris Weigant | Posted 10.24.2008 | Politics

Read More: Paris Hilton, Debate, Tactics, Youth Vote, Winning the News Cycle, Mccain Losing, Pat Leahy, Experience, Rovian, Straight Talk Express, Hardball, Mccain, 72, Campaign, Sarah Palin, Losing, Base, Mukasey, 2008, Brag, Midotw, Craig Ferguson, Old, Katie Couric, News Cycle, Most Impressive Democrat of the Week, Couric, First Debate, Democrat, Letterman, Suspending His Campaign, Joe Biden, 08, Press, Democrats, Chris Matthews, Barack Obama, Biden, Election, 08 Election, Lightweight, Elections, Michele Bachmann, Access, Mddotw, 30 Rock, McCain Campaign, Video the Vote, Hillary Clinton, McCain Errors, Campaign Theme, Polls, Election Night, Glasses, Video Your Vote, Obama, Keith Olbermann, Media, Clinton, Bias, New Hampshire, Snl, Most Disappointing Democrat of the Week, 2008 Campaign, Bachmann, John McCain, Karl Rove, Strategy, McCain Mistakes, Centrist, Age, Center, Bragging, 2008 Elections, Ad, 2008 Election, Theme, 08 Campaign, No Talk Express, Palin, 2008 Presidential Race, Close Race, Leahy, Saturday Night Live, Tina Fey, Steve Schmidt, Bradley Effect, David Letterman, Politics News
Chris Weigant

John McCain is losing the race for the White House. Now, this doesn't mean he has already lost it -- we've still got to go vote, after all. I'll cov...

Read Post

Here's My Take: Campaign Funds And Negative Ads

Jennifer Bogut | Posted 10.24.2008 | Home

Read More: Election 2008, Barack Obama, John Mc Cain, Campaign Finance, Negative Ads, Sarah Palin, Wardrobe, Republican, Democrat, Elite, Home News
Jennifer Bogut

HERE'S MY TAKE #4. QUESTIONS: What should the campaigns spend money on and what do you see as the effect of negative ads?

Read Post

Sleeping with the Enemy

Darryle Pollack | Posted 10.22.2008 | Living

Read More: Ex Husband, Marriage, Democrat, Sarah Palin, Party Affiliation, Republican, Marriage Politics, Family Politics, Conservative, Second Marriage, Living News
Darryle Pollack

I was born a Democrat. Party affiliation was served along with the canned vegetables I was forced to eat for dinner. My first crush was on John Kennedy. But I am harboring a secret.

Read Post