ChrisWeigant.com

Archive of Articles for May, 2008

Friday Talking Points [34] -- General Election Preview

[ Posted Friday, May 30th, 2008 – 16:09 UTC ]

USA Today (of all places) has a great page on their site where you can play "call the election." It comes complete with electoral maps back to 1960, for reference (warning: Democrats shouldn't click on 1984 or 1972 unless they're sitting down, preferably with a strong drink handy). It starts you off with what they consider "safe" states already marked (their definition: safe states voted the same way in the last four presidential elections), but you can click "all undecided" to start with a clean slate, if you prefer. The good news: their "safe state" starting point starts at 248 Democratic, 135 Republican.

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Obama's First 100 Days Checklist

[ Posted Thursday, May 29th, 2008 – 11:16 UTC ]

"I would call my attorney general in and review every single executive order issued by George Bush and overturn those laws or executive decisions that I feel violate the constitution," said Obama.

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Clinton References Kennedy(s)

[ Posted Tuesday, May 27th, 2008 – 15:49 UTC ]

One would think that politicians everywhere would likewise avoid mentioning the word "assassination" -- ever -- on the campaign trail. Especially if it's not even germane to the point you are supposedly making. One would think. One, apparently, would be wrong.

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Memorial Day Thoughts

[ Posted Monday, May 26th, 2008 – 14:20 UTC ]

Never forget that -- the flag belongs to all of us, and many display it for many reasons, so don't just automatically make an assumption about anyone who chooses to fly it in front of their house, or for that matter, someone who doesn't always wear a flag pin on his lapel. Patriotism is an intensely personal thing, and it manifests itself differently in different people.

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Friday Talking Points [33] -- If It Quacks Like A Lame Duck...

[ Posted Friday, May 23rd, 2008 – 16:06 UTC ]

Well, no, actually, I made that up. The Leader of the Free World did not, in fact, quack like a duck. It was the product of a (gleeful) overly active imagination on my part. I apologize for such frivolity.

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Republicans' October Surprise Plan In Jeopardy

[ Posted Thursday, May 22nd, 2008 – 15:14 UTC ]

General David Petraeus, testifying before Congress today (in the hopes that they will approve his promotion), may just have thrown a serious monkey wrench into the Republicans' election strategy, by killing one of their best hopes for an "October Surprise."

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Interview With Political Science Professor Kenneth Janda

[ Posted Wednesday, May 21st, 2008 – 14:30 UTC ]

Since we are about at the halfway point in the 2008 elections -- with the last dust settling from the nomination race and the general election campaign gearing up -- I thought it would be a good time to talk to Janda again. I am not professionally trained in political science (I just pretend to be, on the internet), so I thought it would be interesting to hear from someone who is.

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In Defense Of 527s

[ Posted Tuesday, May 20th, 2008 – 15:02 UTC ]

I personally am of the opinion that more free speech is better than less. Which is why I like the concept of 527s, and why I support their right to speak. It's also interested to see who else is against 527s -- both political parties. Because before 527s were around, these "advocacy ads" came from the party machine, and were coordinated with the candidates. Meaning centralized control over the message. But I don't consider that a good thing at all -- I like the concept of free citizens being able to have their own voices heard in the political debate. Sure, it's messier (with a lot of mud being flung), but true freedom is always a little messy.

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A Feel-Good Moment: Ed Rollins Hears "Death Knell" For GOP

[ Posted Monday, May 19th, 2008 – 13:11 UTC ]

Rollins is not very upbeat about Republicans in general, George Bush, Republicans' chances in 2008, or indeed the whole future of the Republican Party. He says the party "has kind of lost its way." He bemoans the fact that young people are flocking to the Democratic Party as a "death knell for the long term." George Bush has to realize "he's no longer on the ballot." As for the Bush administration, "the quicker this page is turned by many Americans, including a lot of Republicans, the better." He later returns to this point, and makes it even more forcefully: "This administration is pretty tired right now and I think even the most die-hard Republicans are ready to move on."

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Friday Talking Points [32] -- Democrats Throw Bush A Few Elbows

[ Posted Friday, May 16th, 2008 – 13:56 UTC ]

He gave this speech, complete with Hitler reference, in a speech to the Knesset, Israel's governing body. This isn't the first time he's dragged Hitler into a political speech, as I pointed out last November. But it is the first time he's used the Hitler argument in Israel, to the best of my knowledge.

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