ChrisWeigant.com

Archive of Articles in the "Elections" Category

Thinking Big About The Next Four Years

[ Posted Wednesday, June 13th, 2012 – 15:41 UTC ]

Where are the grand messages of the campaigns? Being held in reserve for the post-convention season, perhaps? That's at least an understandable answer, but ultimately not a very satisfying one. Neither Obama nor Romney has yet clearly articulated what their big ideas are for the next four years, and both of them are missing the chance to pound their message into the American psyche for the next two or three months.

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Netroots Musings

[ Posted Tuesday, June 12th, 2012 – 18:09 UTC ]

So, anything happen while I was away? Well, we'll get to all of that in due time, but today I'm going to indulge in some random reactions from the Netroots Nation conference instead. If this sort of thing does not interest you, then I guess you should check back tomorrow.

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Open Wisconsin Thread

[ Posted Tuesday, June 5th, 2012 – 17:57 UTC ]

I'm putting together column re-runs for the next week here, but I am bowing to popular pressure and declaring what could be a first for this site -- and actual open thread, to discuss the Wisconsin election results. Have at it...

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Obama Poll Watch -- May, 2012

[ Posted Monday, June 4th, 2012 – 12:54 UTC ]

May was not all that exceptional a month for Barack Obama, poll-wise. Both approval and disapproval rates were up slightly, but not significantly. It is a bit odd to have both numbers increase within the same month, but this is mostly due to the fact that the numbers themselves are so close to being even (statistically, this does odd things right around the point where they perfectly balance).

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Friday Talking Points [213] -- A Quick One

[ Posted Friday, June 1st, 2012 – 15:21 UTC ]

Pete Hoekstra (Republican Senate wannabe) has a new idea -- let's make the government bigger, and add a new layer of bureaucracy! Of course, this would normally be sacrilege for a Republican to suggest, but on this issue, he's making an exception. The issue? Presidential birth certificates. No, seriously, this is a guy who used to be in Congress (and is running again), not some egomaniac from New York City.

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On Wisconsin

[ Posted Thursday, May 31st, 2012 – 16:48 UTC ]

It's hard to predict the outcome of the race, and it's equally hard to say "what it all means" in the grand scheme of things. The winning side will, no doubt, claim the victory as some sort of national mandate to push their agenda, but the outcome may be of limited importance no matter who prevails.

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Romney's Ridiculous Double Standard Presents Gigantic Opening For Obama

[ Posted Wednesday, May 30th, 2012 – 15:57 UTC ]

Maybe this election will be remembered as the "It's the jobs, stupid" election, who knows? It certainly is the central issue the public cares about, and it certainly seems to be the subject that the campaigns are fighting most viciously on the airwaves. This is probably as it should be, a presidential campaign waged on the "Number One" issue in the political realm. But Mitt Romney, it seems, wants to use one yardstick for his own jobs record and another for Barack Obama's. Stunningly, he is attempting to use both at the same time, hoping nobody will notice.

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Friday Talking Points [212] -- Economic Messaging

[ Posted Friday, May 25th, 2012 – 17:12 UTC ]

Liberals are apparently being mean to the Supreme Court, which (as we all know) Republicans would never in a million years think of doing... (pause for extended laughing fit)... (wipes eyes)... seriously, you guys just crack me up sometimes.

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Science Fiction Musings

[ Posted Thursday, May 24th, 2012 – 17:30 UTC ]

This week, an important milestone was achieved. A private rocket company launched a capsule with supplies for the International Space Station on board. This is the first of a series of tests in the attempt to eventually use the system to take astronauts up and down from the I.S.S. While SpaceX is the first to get this far, other private companies are also developing their own launch systems in competition to "privatize" this part of what N.A.S.A. does.

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California's Ballot Experiment

[ Posted Monday, May 21st, 2012 – 15:56 UTC ]

In a few weeks, California will hold its primary election. Not much news will be made, since the two major parties' presidential candidates are already known. But this election will be different for Californians in a major way. Because when the general election rolls around in November, there will likely be no third parties on the ballot for voters to choose from. Furthermore, in some races, there may be only one party represented on the general election ballot.

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