Category Archives: Elections and politics

The “Dark Funding” Is Behind The Entire Conservative Movement, Not Just Climate Change Deniers

Earlier this month, Drexel University’s Robert Brulle published a paper: Institutionalizing Delay: foundation funding and the creation of U.S. climate change counter-movement organizations. The paper examines how a huge portion of the funding of “climate change counter-movement organizations” has moved … Continue reading

Posted in Elections and politics, Environmental issues | 9 Comments

Christie vs Clinton vs Aaaaagh!

The prospect of a Chris Christie vs Hilary Clinton race has me terrified already. Any time I read facebook or blogs or even just listen to the conversations on the bus, I’d either hear what Republicans are saying and be … Continue reading

Posted in Elections and politics | 4 Comments

“Liberal” means extreme left to you? You’re pretty badly calibrated, then.

In the comments of Slate Star Codex, Damien left this comment, which I’m quoting with his kind permission. In response to someone saying “To me, ‘liberals’ suggests a close group who have already settled into some extreme left positions, some … Continue reading

Posted in Elections and politics | 65 Comments

Filibuster Goes Partial Boom

Corey Robin sums it up: Today, the United States Senate voted to eliminate the filibuster for most presidential nominees. That decision does not apply to legislation or Supreme Court nominees. […] But what does the vote actually mean? As Phil … Continue reading

Posted in Elections and politics, In the news | 10 Comments

The Filibuster Is Going Down! Er, partly.

From the New York Times: Senator Harry Reid, the majority leader, is prepared to move forward with a vote that could severely limit the minority party’s ability to filibuster presidential nominees, possibly as early as this week, Democrats said Tuesday. … Continue reading

Posted in Elections and politics, In the news | 8 Comments

Obama Lied, And He Deserves To Be Slammed For It

Ezra Klein sums it up well: President Obama promised that “if you like your plan, you can keep it.” This is true for the vast majority of Americans, but the small fraction for whom it isn’t true still represent millions … Continue reading

Posted in Elections and politics, Health Care and Related Issues, In the news | 80 Comments

A Credible Threat To Default Is Unprecedented

James Fallows writes: …there is no precedent for serious threats not to honor federal debt — as opposed to symbolic anti-Administration protest votes, which both parties have cast over the years. Nor for demanding the reversal of major legislation as … Continue reading

Posted in Elections and politics | 199 Comments

North Carolina Republicans To Challenge Voter Registrations Of Students At Black University

This is how Republicans are trying to win elections. The Watauga County Board of Elections voted Monday to eliminate an early voting site and election-day polling precinct on the campus of Appalachian State University. The Pasquotank County Board of Elections … Continue reading

Posted in Elections and politics, Race, racism and related issues, Supreme Court Issues | 126 Comments

Can we please have more partisan debate moderators?

I think Zeke Miller is correct that the GOP’s fuss about CNN and NBC broadcasting GOP primary debates is more about protecting the frontrunners, and attempting to keep Tea Party candidates in their proper (that is, secondary) place, than about … Continue reading

Posted in Elections and politics | 4 Comments

How I’m Voting In The May Oregon Special Election

Multnomah Education Service District Patrick Lasswell versus Nels Johnson. I voted for Johnson. I read both of the candidates’ official statements (pdf file), and wasn’t all that impressed with what either one wrote. But Lasswell seems to be a sky-is-falling … Continue reading

Posted in Elections and politics | 37 Comments