Why is public policy so often reactive, convoluted, and obtuse? This political scientist has an explanation – and a way to start fixing it. Continue reading
Tag Archives: Politics
The Seventeenth Second Inaugural
Obama was only the seventeenth president to make a second inaugural address. Together, these addresses offer a portrait of our evolving Nation, charting the path of various ideologies, historical forces, and rhetorical tropes. Here are all seventeen. Continue reading
A Well Regulated Militia?
The Guardian and the New York Times have come out with excellent graphics looking at existing gun regulations by state and at the proposed federal gun regulations. Both raise the interesting question of how to regulate well. Continue reading
Ideology in the 113th Congress
Looking back on the last century of data, no other Congress was as ideologically divided as the 112th. The 113th Congress looks to be worse. Continue reading
Bartlett: Revenge of the Reality-Based Community
The dissident conservative economist Bruce Bartlett has written an excellent essay about how he was exiled from the conservative world because of the conclusions he drew about the Bush administration and the Great Recession. Continue reading
Show Your Math
The Romney campaign was unwilling to draw conclusions from impartial polling, and this error proved to be a major factor in the election. Continue reading
Dear Mr. Speaker
Set aside the irrational rancor and reckless obstruction. It’s time to sit down and get to the hard work of governing. Continue reading
NY Times Interactive: 512 Paths to the White House
The New York Times has published a fascinating interactive tool that looks at the nine most competitive states. It’s going to be a great way to understand the returns as they come in tomorrow. Check it out! Continue reading
Jonathan Chait: This is a Great President
Chait endorses Obama on the merits of his first term accomplishments. Continue reading
Obama’s Off-the-Record Interview
For those of you who missed it last week, I recommend reading the interview that the President gave to the Des Moines Register, seeking their endorsement (ill-fatedly). Obama thought the interview was off-the-record, and apparently felt a little freer to reveal his political analysis of what a second term would have in store. The paper … Continue reading
Electoral Analysis
I calculate the likelihood that the House, Senate, and Presidency will all be won by the Democrats is 12%; by the Republicans, 33%. Continue reading
XKCD: Congressional Ideologies
XKCD is amazing. Let’s compare the recent partisan polarization with the history of American political factions. Continue reading
Supreme Court Ideologies
The composition of the Court and the views of its Justices have varied over history. This group is the most Conservative yet. Continue reading
Why This Election Matters
Six reasons why this election does matter: Healthcare, Financial Regulation, The Supreme Court, Super PACs, Gridlock, and Credit for the Recovery. Continue reading