It’s often cast, accurately enough, as a choice between “outsiders” and “insiders.” But another party division may be more profound — between Republicans who still view the country’s future hopefully and those deeply gloomy about its prospects.
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Trump Loses Top Spot. But Not to Jeb
Posted October 27th, 2015 at 3:49 pm (UTC-5)
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Who knew? The latest poll conducted by CBS News/New York Times puts Republican candidate Ben Carson on top by four percentage points. Trump, no longer the frontrunner, said during an interview on MSNBC, “One thing I know about a frontrunner, you get analyzed 15 different ways from China. A lot of things will come out.” It’s still early in the race, but Jeb Bush had long been expected to rule the roost. And he hasn’t. According to the poll, Marco Rubio is now in third place (eight percent), followed by Jeb Bush (seven percent) and Carly Fiorina (seven percent). All this puts the spotlight on Carson – sometimes disregarded as a very polite, but fringe conservative – during the Republican’s third debate Wednesday in Colorado.
Be Careful What You Wish For, Paul Ryan
Posted October 23rd, 2015 at 4:02 pm (UTC-5)
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If he gave it more thought, perhaps Ryan would realize that the job’s not for him either. As outgoing Speaker John A. Boehner (R-Ohio) can attest, being in the majority isn’t as fun as it might seem.
The Blame Game
Posted October 20th, 2015 at 2:23 pm (UTC-5)
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Love him, hate him or simply be appalled, Donald Trump knows how to goose his fellow Republicans running for president. His latest sound bite to go viral — a criticism of President George W. Bush because the 9/11 terrorist attacks happened on his White House watch — was clearly intended to get a rise out […]
Why Even Paul Ryan Cannot Save Republicans
Posted October 15th, 2015 at 2:21 pm (UTC-5)
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Ideologically, there may be little space between Ryan and conservatives, but there are deep divisions between Ryan and the conference on tactics.
Chaos in House is Good for GOP
Posted October 12th, 2015 at 5:20 pm (UTC-5)
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Many are bemoaning the “chaos” and “toxic crackup” in the GOP after House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy withdrew his candidacy for speaker. Here is what would have been worse: keeping the same leadership team in place.
GOP Chaos: The New Normal?
Posted October 9th, 2015 at 1:07 pm (UTC-5)
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Turmoil in the Republican Party erupted again this week with the sudden withdrawal of Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy to replace outgoing House Speaker John Boehner, who has barely concealed his exhaustion over the dramas of governing the unruly caucus. House Republicans quickly regrouped to try to fill the gap, but it appears few are willing to step up to the plate. The optics look bad – but not to Tea Party conservatives, who may feel emboldened in their mission to shake up business as usual in Washington.
The Blackmail Caucus, a.k.a. the Republican Party
Posted September 28th, 2015 at 8:45 am (UTC-5)
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The Boehner era has been one in which Republicans have accepted no responsibility for helping to govern the country, in which they have opposed anything and everything the president proposes.
Six Ways GOP Candidates Are Failing
Posted September 21st, 2015 at 10:11 am (UTC-5)
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Sometimes it looks as if the Republican nominating contest was hacked by an outside power, one seeking to show that democracy is not a very good system of government or that it doesn’t work very well in the United States.
Republican Carly Fiorina Overshadows Trump
Posted September 17th, 2015 at 3:00 pm (UTC-5)
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When former Hewlitt Packard CEO and Republican presidential hopeful Carly Fiorina said, “I think women all over this country heard very clearly what Mr. Trump said” during the party’s second debate, frontrunner Donald Trump, who had made an insulting remark about her looks, was cornered. Among all 16 candidates, the Texas native scored the biggest hit on Trump, boosting her visibility at the same time. Some say the summer fling with Trump is now over and the real race for the nominee has begun.
In Crowded Field, Which Republican Will Stand Up to Trump?
Posted September 16th, 2015 at 2:36 pm (UTC-5)
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Tonight’s second Republican debate among presidential hopefuls is – once again – all about Donald Trump. The latest poll shows support for him on the rise as confidence fades in expected frontrunners like Jeb Bush and Scott Walker. Those watching will be looking at Jeb Bush or Carly Fiorina to pounce on Trump’s vague policy ideas and shut down his knack for sucking up all the oxygen in the room. That will require a complete redo by the rest of the Republican field, most of whom have proven unable to call out Trump for what some observers say he is: a bully.
What’s the Deal With Trump?
Posted September 1st, 2015 at 8:04 am (UTC-5)
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“The polls have been nothing short of tremendous,” Trump told an overflow crowd at a convention center here on August 25. This was not one of his exaggerations.
Debate over Iran Nuke Deal Intensifies
Posted August 26th, 2015 at 2:12 pm (UTC-5)
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Both sides in the debate over the Iran nuclear deal are in full campaign mode, counting heads in Congress for the vote in mid-September, and making contingency plans. The hashtag #IranDeal is being used to promote arguments pro and con. The White House praised last week’s endorsement by Rep. Jerrold Nadler, a Democrat from New York, who is Jewish. Deal opponents point to Sen. Charles Schumer, a Democrat from New York, who is also Jewish. Republicans are reportedly preparing legislation to sanction Iran if the deal is rejected by vote – or Obama invokes his right to veto.
American ‘Birthright’ Citizenship Re-examined
Posted August 24th, 2015 at 1:55 pm (UTC-5)
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“All persons born or naturalized in the United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside… ” So reads a key clause in the 14th Amendment to the US Constitution. Republican presidential nominee contender Donald Trump has reignited a heated and emotional debate over so-called “birthright citizenship,” unleashing a new look at America’s immigration policy. The issue taps into what some say is the heart of what it means to be an American.
Sanders and Trump: Two Populist Peas in a Pod?
Posted August 19th, 2015 at 4:47 pm (UTC-5)
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A new chapter in American politics has begun. Millions of Americans on the right and left have lost faith in their political parties, their government, and even the economic system. Only one in four Americans are satisfied with the way things are going.