2008 Election

Congressional Democrats Made a Big Mistake Including Earmarks in the Spending Bill

Mitchell Bard | Posted 04.02.2009 | Politics

Read More: Democrats Congress Earmarks, Democratic Congress, Congress, 2006 Election, George Stephanopoulos, Earmarks, Obama Earmarks, Republicans Congress, This Week, Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, 2008 Election, Republicans Tax Cuts, Barack Obama, Eric Cantor, Republicans, Yahoo, Obama Stimulus Plan, Politics News
Mitchell Bard

Democrats in Congress could really use a lesson in the art of politics from President Obama. They have handed the Republicans a legitimate issue to complain about, and there isn't a single good reason for it.

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Jason Linkins

Meghan McCain Explains How Her Blog Could Have Saved The GOP

HuffingtonPost.com | Jason Linkins | Posted 03.23.2009 | Politics

Read More: Meghan McCain, John McCain, 2008 Election, Meghan Mccain Gop, McCain Blogette, Politics News

Am I actually reading Meghan McCain's piece in the Daily Beast, about how her blog was the unused secret weapon in the 2008 Campaign Battle on the Internet? Yes, apparently.

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McCain's Viagra Problem

Dylan Loewe | Posted 03.22.2009 | Politics

Read More: Michael Dukakis, John McCain, Barack Obama, John Kerry, Stimulus Debate, 2008 Election, Politics News
Dylan Loewe

When it comes to the exclusive club of presidential losers, John McCain, it turns out, is quite the maverick. Not since Ralph Nader has someone so willfully dismantled his reputation and legacy.

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Kill This Myth: Media Not The Reason for Sarah Palin's Demise

Greg Mitchell | Posted 03.20.2009 | Politics

Read More: 2008 Campaign, John McCain, 2008 Election, Sarah Palin, Politics News
Greg Mitchell

Pundits and disgruntled GOPers allege that the media helped elect Obama by attacking, or mocking, Sarah Palin. This myth should be put to bed.

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Republicans Say They'd Support the "Right" Stimulus Bill, But Stimulus for Them Is Only More Tax Cuts

Mitchell Bard | Posted 03.12.2009 | Politics

Read More: Meet the Press, This Week, Gallup Poll, David Gregory, Mike Pence, 2008 Election, Stimulus, Barack Obama, Bush Tax Cuts, Economic Stimulus Package, Unemployment, John Ensign, Nancy Pelosi, Michael Steele, Republicans Stimulus, Stimulus Bill, Moody's, Congress Stimulus, U.S. Economy, Congress, Obama Stimulus, Economy, Economic Crisis, Obama Economy, Congressional Budget Office, Obama Stimulus Plan, Gop Stimulus, Economic Stimulus, Politics News
Mitchell Bard

If you look closely at what the Republicans are saying, this isn't a debate on the merits of this stimulus legislation, but rather another round of policy battles fought during last year's campaign.

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Democrats in Congress Need to Learn How to Lead

Mitchell Bard | Posted 03.05.2009 | Politics

Read More: Democratic Congress, John McCain, House Stimulus Package, Democrats, 2008 Election, Stimulus, Barack Obama, John Lynch, Bush Tax Cuts, Iraq War, Economic Stimulus Package, 2006 Election, Stimulus Package, Senate Stimulus Package, New Hampshire, Tax Cuts, Judd Gregg, Economic Stimulus, Bipartisanship, Politics News
Mitchell Bard

I am losing patience with congressional Democrats' innate instinct to capitulate, something that has been evident since the November 2006 mid-term elections.

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Obama Goes A-Courtin'

Rick Horowitz | Posted 02.28.2009 | Politics

Read More: Economic Stimulus Package, Mitch McConnell, Al-Arabiya, Spending Cuts, John Boehner, Senate Republicans, 2008 Election, Tax Cuts, Congress, Bipartisanship, Republicans, Democrats, Barack Obama, House Republicans, Obama Administration, Gop, Tax Relief, Politics News
Rick Horowitz

"Hang on a minute, guys -- 'When the economy's bad, you need tax cuts.' Aren't you the same folks who used to say 'When the economy's good, you need tax cuts'?"

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Identity Politics: A Social Media Election Retrospective

Eric Shutt | Posted 02.27.2009 | Media

Read More: President Obama, Youtube, President Election 2008, Washington DC, Hillary Clinton, Mccain, President Bush, Facebook, Shepard Fairey, 2008 Election, Media News
Eric Shutt

Social media is all over the new political scene. With print media doomed, news sources' flexibility in adapting to a new social media landscape will define the next era of political reporting.

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Government 'Of The People, For The People' Returns To America

Diane Tucker | Posted 04.29.2009 | Politics

Read More: Obama White House, Diane Tucker, Alternative Energy, Barack Obama, Halliburton, Obama First 100 Days, On the Street Where You Live, Cnn, Obama Administration, Obama Transition, 2008 Election, Politics News
Diane Tucker

Our new president didn't have a powerful father to place him in things, or get him out. He worked hard to become the 44th president. He is of the people, which tends to make a person for the people.

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Thank You George Bush for Bringing Us Obama

Blake Fleetwood | Posted 02.20.2009 | Politics

Read More: George Bush, 1960s, 2008, Kennedy, 2008 Election, Romney, Obama, Mccain, Republicans, Election, Inauguration, Democrats, Presidential Elections, Barack Obama, Bush, Politics News
Blake Fleetwood

Thank you George Bush for breaking a 40 year evil spell which has gripped our country since the assassinations and chaos of 1968.

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An Entirely Different Inauguration Day

Erik Ose | Posted 02.20.2009 | Politics

Read More: Fraudulent Inauguration, Obama Wins, Inauguration Day 2009, Obama Inauguration, Civil Rights, Voting Rights, President Obama, Age of Obama, Stolen 2000 Election, Presidential Campaign, 2008 Election, Barack Obama, 2008 Presidential Election, Barack Obama 2008, Politics News, HuffPost Election Reaction, January 20 2001, Election Reaction, 2008, Inauguration, George W. Bush, Obama Presidency, Obama 2008, Obama President, Presidential Election, Text of Obama's Inauguration Speech, January 20 2009, John Roberts, Chief Justice John Roberts, Huffpost Oath of Office Call Out, Obama Oath of Office, Politics News
Erik Ose

Eight years ago, the country was experiencing an entirely different sort of Inauguration Day. On January 20, 2001, people were outraged.

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Change

August J. Pollak | Posted 02.20.2009 | Politics

Read More: 2008 Election, Obama Inauguration, Barack Obama, Obama Inauguration Coverage, Obama Swearing In, Obama's Inauguration, Humor, Inauguration, Obama Oath, Obama Oath of Office, Barack Obama Inauguration, Cartoon, Ralph Nader, Politics News
August J. Pollak

2009-01-20-augustpollak.jpg

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The Audacity of Hopelessness

Erica Heller | Posted 02.17.2009 | Politics

Read More: Obama Family, 2008 Election, Halliburton, Obama Inauguration, Dick Cheney, George W. Bush, Michelle Obama, Politics News
Erica Heller

Curmudgeons or not, unseemly right now or not, some things are worth staying angry about, even as we pat ourselves on the back, smile broadly at tomorrow and turn the page.

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Palin Blasts Bloggers. Spiro Agnew Redux?

Erica Heller | Posted 02.13.2009 | Politics

Read More: Politics, Media, 2008 Election, Sarah Palin, Spiro Agnew, Alaska, John McCain, Palin Media, Sarah Palin Bloggers, Palin Trigg, Palin Baby, Politics News, Palin Esquire, Palin Journalists, Palin Video, Palin Bloggers, Palin Press, Politics News
Erica Heller

"Bored, anonymous, pathetic bloggers who lie annoy me," says Sarah Appalling. Is she channeling Spiro Agnew? Or trying to? That's some goal. Remembe...

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LBJ's Revenge

Philip Klinkner | Posted 02.13.2009 | Politics

Read More: Election 2008 Coverage, Democratic Party, Race, 2008 Election, Barack Obama, The New South, The South, Politics News
Philip Klinkner

Although many of the Great Society goals remain elusive, the new Democratic majority assembled by Obama represents the emergence of a Great Society electoral coalition.

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Those Douchebags From Two Months Ago

August J. Pollak | Posted 02.12.2009 | Politics

Read More: Israeli-Palestinian Conflict, Joe the Plumber, Pajamas Media, 2008 Election, Bloggers, Sarah Palin, Politics News
August J. Pollak

...Where are they now? To see more of August J. Pollak's cartoon "Some Guy With a Website," check out the archive....

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My View of The Atlantic's "The End of White America?"

Raymond Leon Roker | Posted 02.11.2009 | Media

Read More: Politics, Race Politics, Youth Vote, Youth, Barack Obama, Police, President Obama, Racism, Rappers, Race, 2008 Election, Hip-Hop, White People, Media News
Raymond Leon Roker

Part of what I always suspect comes out of articles like this, is the affirmation from some that a browner America should also mean minorities can finally stop complaining about inequalities.

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Friday Talking Points [60] -- Democratic Assertiveness Training

Chris Weigant | Posted 02.09.2009 | Politics

Read More: Michael Jackson, Congress, Scalping, Burris, Inaugural Tickets, Cia, Feinstein, Leon Panetta, Chicago, Blaggy, Get Out the Vote, Dianne Feinstein, Obama, 50 State Strategy, Democratic, Larry Flynt, Difi, Democratic Principles, Blago, Dean, Blagojevich, Mandate for Change, Bobby Rush, Howard Dean, Emanuel, Talking Points, Inauguration, Midotw, Most Disappointing Democrat of the Week, Obstructionism, Pay to Play, Most Impressive Democrat of the Week, Inaugural Ticket, Reid, Race Card, Senate Seat, Inaugural, Internet Fundraising, Panetta, Grassroots, Scalpers, Democrat, Roland Burris, Obstructionist Republicans, 52 Race Card Pickup, Democratic National Committee, Bipartisan, Moonwalk, Richardson, Democrats, 2008 Election, Ticket, Bill Richardson, Barack Obama, Mandate, Racial Politics, 2006 Election, Mddotw, Chris Weigant, Rahm Emanuel, Obstructionist, Harry Reid, Dnc, Senate, Obama Senate Seat, Flynt, Politics News
Chris Weigant

What a week! With Congress back in session, with the excitement of newly-elected members being sworn in (or barred at the door, as the case may be), ...

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NEW MEDIA--FLASHBACK: Frank Rich: "The Web, In Its Infinite Iterations, Is Eroding All 20th-Century Media"

Posted 02.09.2009 | Media

Read More: New Media, HuffPost Inauguration Ball, Frank Rich, 2008 Election, Media News

Following the Democratic National Convention last August, New York Times columnist Frank Rich wrote a piece in which he captured the profound transfor...

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Ad Tactics: New and Old Mix It Up in 2008, But What Did We Learn?

Neg Norton | Posted 02.09.2009 | Media

Read More: 2008 Elections, Blackberry, Social Networking, Digital Age, Obama Online Network, Media, Digital Devices, 2008 Election, Obama Campaign, Robocalls, Media News
Neg Norton

The political campaigns did not shy away from the tried and true; the 30-second television ad, the direct mail flyer, yard signs, bumper stickers are alive and well.

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Things Could be Worse: It could be President McCain in 3 days

Erica Heller | Posted 02.09.2009 | Politics

Read More: John McCain, Rod Blagojevich, Obama Inauguration, President Obama, Economic Crisis, Obama Transition, 2008 Election, Barack Obama, Sarah Palin, Politics News
Erica Heller

Shouldn't we be counting our blessings right about now, and for longer than it takes to say the words "bankruptcy" or "foreclosure"?

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2008: The Year of Audacity

Andrea Chalupa | Posted 02.04.2009 | Living

Read More: Hope Wins, Hope Big, Fight Club, Obama Senate Replacement, Hope, The Audacity of Hope, Chuck Palahniuk, First Dude, Charlie Gibson, It Was an Audacious Year, 2008 Election, Bernie Madoff, Elie Wiesel, Peace in the Middle East, Dream Big, Barack Obama, Jan Brady of HIstory, Rod Blagojevich, Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich, Bernie Madoff Victims, Captain Planet, 2008: The Year of Audacity, Living News
Andrea Chalupa

We now have something outside ourselves to struggle against. A very real and tangible angst.

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

Chris Weigant | Posted 02.02.2009 | 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, Blue Dog Democrats, 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...

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2007 -- The Year that Time Forgot

Matt Stewart | Posted 01.31.2009 | Living

Read More: Corruption, Paris Hilton, President, Beijing, War, 9/11, Recession, 2007, Iraq, Obama, Terrorist, Billy Joel, Invasion, Prostitution, Hookers, Aig, Year That Time Forgot, 2008, John Kerry, Elliot Spitzer, 2008 Summer Games, Russia, Katrina, On the Ground 2008, September 11th, Prostitute, Financial Crisis, Mortgage Meltdown, Afghanistan, 2008 Election, Batman, Barack Obama, World Cup, Olympics, United States President, Indiana Jones, Lehman Brothers, Rod Blagojevich, Georgia, Iphone, Bros, Living News
Matt Stewart

It's only natural that after our most recent 12-month carnival, 2007 would seem relatively blah. Every now and then, history lays an egg. What happened in 1957? 1910? 1887-1897?

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2008: What Will We Tell The Children?

Dr. Judith Rich | Posted 01.30.2009 | Living

Read More: Change We Can Believe In, 2008, 2008 New Year, Economic Crisis, Wall St. Crisis, The Big 3, 2008 Election, Wall St. Bailout, Barack Obama, Recession, Great Depression, Yes on Prop 8, Yes We Can, On the Ground 2008, Automakers Bailout, Same-Sex Marriage, California Gay Marriage, Gay Rights, Financial Crisis, Grandparenting, Detroit Bailout, Gay Marriage, Balanced Life, Relationships, Living News
Dr. Judith Rich

Pull up a chair and settle in while I spin a yarn about 2008. The story actually begins 20 years into the future (visualize a clock advancing rapidly...

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