US financial markets lifted today, possibly as it digested the new plan by Republican Senator Mitch McConnell to prevent the US from defaulting by handing over Congress’s debt ceiling power to the White House. It’s a plan B at best.
Democratic party
Inside the Democrats’ Supreme Court war room
Obama named his pick for new Supreme Court justice yesterday, and the White House immediately went into battle mode. Sam Stein has a great insight into the Democrats’ “war room”, fighting off conservative attacks on all fronts .
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What dating site stats reveal about political ideology
Online dating service OkCupid.com’s resident numbers nerd digs into its detailed user data to reveal some fascinating insights into patterns in American political beliefs and demographics.
Sarah Palin’s most wanted
Sarah Palin has written up a hit list of 20 Democrats who voted for “Obamacare” that she wants her supporters to target in the November elections. She’s also asking them to donate $5 per scalp (i.e. a nice way of asking for $100).
Why do the poor vote against themselves?
Why would poor, un-insured Americans vote against the Democrats when health care reform seems so obviously in their own interests? Political scientist David Runciman explains.
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Highlights from the John Edwards tell-all
The WSJ drips a few tasty tidbits from the forthcoming tell-all book by a former staffer to 2004 US Democratic VP nominee John Edwards, including allegations of a sex tape and calling his mistress a “crazy sl-t” when she got pregnant.
Why the Massachusetts Democrats are Browned off
Comparing the shock results of yesterday’s Massachusetts election with the votes received by Obama and McCain in the 2008 Presidential election tells an interesting little story.
The Democrats’ loss: what it means
Everyone has their own interpretation of why the Republicans won and the Democrats lost in Massachusetts yesterday, but the truth is: no one really knows. Some excellent post-election analysis from Christopher Beam.
15 years later, can Clinton finally reform US health care?
Bill Clinton has paid a visit to Capitol Hill Democrats, urging them do what he never could: pass a health care reform bill. Don’t miss the audio of the speech: “It’s my Secretary of State calling!”
It’s tough being a Democrat on Fox
Politico meets the token Democrats who appear on Fox News. “It sucks,” says one. So why do they do it? People watch Fox — and for these true believers, some of their souls can still be won.
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Democratic donors recieving White House perks
The Washington Times has scored internal documents it claims show Barack Obama has been rewarding major donors to the Democratic Party with exclusive access to the White House, administration advisers and important meetings.
Public losing trust in Obama
The number of Americans who say they trust President Barack Obama has fallen from 66% to 54% in a new Public Strategies/Politico poll, with trust in the Democratic Party falling to 42%, with hot-button issues like health care and the economy taking their toll.
The best email lists in US politics
Hillary Clinton’s vaunted list—estimated to include as many as 2.5 million email addresses— is a virtual licence to print money for Democratic pols and causes.
If you thought the first 100 days were bad, wait for 200
The first 100 days of the Obama administration will now look like a period of relative prosperity for the GOP — at least compared with the second 100.
US08: If anyone can screw it up, it’s the Dems
it’s a long time til November. Months. When you watch the Democrats it looks like years, writes Guy Rundle.
