Last night Senator Markey and Congressman Kennedy faced off in their first televised debate. Three highlights that made this morning’s papers were Kennedy’s criticisms of Markey’s Iraq War vote, his “present” committee vote as a new member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in 2013 on a resolution to authorize the Obama Administration to use…
Category: Democratic Party
Two and a Half Ways (Maybe 3?) the Waltons (and Charles Koch?) Welcome Themselves into the Democratic Primaries
In the world of dark money, things are never what they seem. So as the Democrats try to pick a presidential nominee is it a surprise that the Waltons and Charles Koch (?) are funding front operations to influence the process, disrupting an Elizabeth Warren speech, forming an anti-union “union”, and trying to nudge the…
Waltons Dive into Democratic Primaries Behind National Parents Union
The Walton family, heirs to the Wal-Mart fortune, are trying to deal themselves in to Democratic primary politics. It isn’t any mystery why. Conservative billionaires feel gravely threatened by Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren. Their vehicle is yet another new privatization front posing as a parents group, National Parents Union. National Parents Union appears to…
It’s Time For Warren to Lead Democrats Away from Bernie’s Rhetoric & Revolution
The ongoing spat between the two most progressive Democratic candidates for president is likely a pre-view of things to come. Bernie Sanders’ campaign playbook is not a “who dun it.” Everyone knows that he will rely on attacking his Democratic opponents with rhetoric that is virtually indistinguishable to that he levels at Republicans. Senator Warren…
Michael Bloomberg Can Save His Money
Today’s guest post is from Christopher J. Galdieri, Associate Professor of Saint Anselm College in New Hampshire. Professor Galdieri is not only an expert on the television show VEEP, but on the New Hampshire primary and presidential nominating systems. His books include Stranger in a Strange State: The Politics of Carpetbagging from Robert Kennedy to Scott…
Mass Pols for President Have the Right Training & Temperament
Deval Patrick’s decision to join the race late looks to me like an expression of determination that I share. Patrick, a two-term governor of Massachusetts, understands American politics, which is to say, he understands the necessity of practical, non-ideological, political leadership. I think Governor Patrick, Senator Warren, and even Governor Weld are determined to take…
Day One: Impeachable Offenses
Every American should be watching the impeachment investigation. The realities of jobs, family, and other responsibilities preclude that for most. And that’s too bad because when it comes to the health of this American democracy the importance of this hearing cannot be overstated. This is a test for our democratic experiment. Can Americans put on…