Google Politics: “Register to Vote”
This from Google Politics today on the Twitters: Here are some additional data from Google Trends for you to chew on. Thoughts on the relevance or irrelevance of these data are… Read More
Paul Ryan “Worked With Democrats as Often as Any Republican.”
The effort to define Paul Ryan is in full swing. While most political observers are well aware of Ryan’s record, prior to his VP selection fully 43% of Americans… Read More
The Veepstakes: What’s the Electoral Value of a Vice President?
A few hours ago, Mitt Romney announced Wisconsin representative Paul Ryan as his running mate. It seems obvious that in picking Ryan, Romney is trying to solidify his position with fiscal conservatives… Read More
Some Thoughts on Americans Elect, Polarization and Gridlock
In January I was invited to speak at a roundtable hosted by Americans Elect–a nonpartisan presidential nominating organization. As you may know, Americans Elect (AE) has garnered quite a bit of… Read More
Reforming Polarization and Gridlock: Series on Congressional Reform
For someone who studies congressional development, the past couple years have been frustrating. Many people with noble intentions proposed reforms to remedy our dysfunctional Congress. However, these discussions have almost universally… Read More
Institutional Advancement: Do Dan Boren’s Claims Add Up?
Politico published an insightful article yesterday provocatively titled “Members of Congress: This Job Sucks.” Much of the article centers on and interview with Oklahoma Representative Dan Boren (D). Boren is retiring… Read More
How Air-Conditioning increased Polarization
John Farrell has a take on polarization in the National Journal. It’s a really interesting read and I recommend it, particularly if you are interested in the electoral forces… Read More
Left and Right are Still Important: The Flux of National Debate
Ezra Klein is frustrated with the fluctuation in party positions. His most damaging critique of this dynamic: “Parties — particularly when they’re in the minority — care more about power… Read More
What Next: Gabrielle Giffords’ Resignation
With Gabrielle Giffords’ resignation today, it looks like Arizona’s 8th Congressional District is up for grabs. Though Governor Jan Brewer has 3 days to announce a special election, the… Read More
In Defense of South Carolina: Institutions Matter
We all know the story of the 2000 Republican presidential primary in South Carolina. John McCain won New Hampshire by double digits, leading a massive increase in campaign donations, campaign volunteers… Read More