The Donors Who Gave Big, and Often

Jan 18, 2009 - The Donors Who Gave Big, and Often Obama's $100,000-Plus Backers Were Able to Contribute to Several Entities By Kimberly Kindy and Sarah Cohen Washington Post Staff Writers Sunday, January 18, 2009; Page A02 Nearly 100 wealthy families and power couples contributed at least $100,000 each to help Barack Obama over the past two years, creating an elite set of donors to whom the president-elect repeatedly turned in financing his campaign, transition and inauguration, a Washington Post analysis shows. As inaugural donations become public, a list of Obama's most loyal backers has emerged, pointing to his success with a system that allows supporters to give maximum amounts on several occasions and to multiple committees. The families gave to as many as five committees, records show, and 27 of the 94 families also bundled money from others, collecting millions of dollars on top of their personal donations. - 12 Comments

FACT CHECK: Palin Goes Rogue on Some Details

Nov 13, 2009 - WASHINGTON (AP) -- Sarah Palin's new book reprises familiar claims from the 2008 presidential campaign that haven't become any truer over time. Ignoring substantial parts of her record if not the facts, she depicts herself as a frugal traveler on the taxpayer's dime, a reformer without ties to powerful interests and a politician roguishly indifferent to high ambition. Palin goes adrift, at times, on more contemporary issues, too. - 5 Comments

Uncivil War: Conservatives to challenge a dozen GOP candidates ( and my grow yet)

Nov 14, 2009 - Uncivil War: Conservatives to challenge a dozen GOP candidates In what could be a nightmare scenario for Republican Party officials, conservative activists are gearing up to challenge leading GOP candidates in more than a dozen key House and Senate races in 2010. Conservatives and tea party activists had already set their sights on some of the GOP’s top Senate recruits — a list that includes Gov. Charlie Crist in Florida, former Rep. - 2 Comments

Closed Shop (or how Obama plans to get folks back to work)

Nov 12, 2009 - Closed Shop By Kevin Mooney on 11.12.09 @ 6:07AM Non-union construction workers could be locked out of new federal projects thanks to an executive order President Obama signed back in February on the sly as part of a payback to organized labor. The election of Republican governors in Virginia, and especially New Jersey, who are both opposed to union-only favoritism in contracting, could complicate the administration’s efforts, at least on the state level. The loss of New Jersey must be viewed as a particularly acute setback, given how active labor bosses and White House operatives were in their failed effort to secure re-election for a long-time ally. - 5 Comments

Obama's "mild" presidency

Nov 05, 2009 - Analysis: Where was the downtown rally? Obama’s Madison visit a hallmark of his mild presidency By JOHN NICHOLS   Analysis: Where was the downtown rally? Obama's Madison visit a hallmark of his mild presidencyOne year ago Tuesday, Barack Obama redefined American electioneering to such an extent that it was possible to believe that the success of his transformational campaign would lead to a transformational presidency. - 16 Comments

Amazingly from the L.A. Times: The Golden State isn't worth it

Nov 01, 2009 - THE CALIFORNIA FIX The Golden State isn't worth it Our high-benefit/high-tax model no longer works, especially compared with low-tax states like Texas. By William Voegeli In America's federal system, some states, such as California, offer residents a "package deal" that bundles numerous and ambitious public benefits with the high taxes needed to pay for them. Other states, such as Texas, offer packages combining modest benefits and low taxes. - 1 Comment

Pelosi: New health care bill is 'historic moment'

Oct 29, 2009 - WASHINGTON – After months of struggle, House Democrats rolled out sweeping legislation Thursday to extend health care coverage to millions who lack it and create a new option of government-run insurance. A vote is likely next week on the plan largely tailored to President Barack Obama's liking. Speaking on the steps of the Capitol, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Congress was at a "historic moment" and lawmakers were "on the cusp of delivering on the promise of making affordable, quality health insurance available to every American." - 4 Comments

Rasmussen: What They Told Us: Reviewing Last Week’s Key Polls

Oct 24, 2009 - These days, political turmoil isn’t a one-way street. President Obama’s mediocre approval ratings and the Democrats’ internal battling over the details of the health care reform plan are the obvious headline-grabbers, but the opposition party has troubles of its own. Just 15% of Republicans who plan to vote in 2012 state primaries say the party’s representatives in Congress have done a good job of representing GOP values. - 1 Comment

Maine Gay Marriage Vote Looks Tight

Oct 20, 2009 - As Election Day nears, the national spotlight is on Maine, where the latest battle over same-sex marriage is under way. Campaign finance reports show that supporters of a ballot proposal to repeal the state's gay marriage law are trailing significantly in fundraising. But polls show a tight race. - 28 Comments

Key senators may rebuff Obama on health care

Oct 22, 2009 - WASHINGTON – The Democrats' control of a hefty majority in the Senate — plus the House — would suggest that President Barack Obama is within reach of overhauling the nation's health care system this fall. But the numbers mask a more complicated reality: Obama and Democratic leaders have modest leverage over several pivotal Senate Democrats who are more concerned about their next election or feel they have little to lose by opposing their party's hierarchy. One is still smarting from being forced to abandon next year's election. - 71 Comments