Posts by Steven L. Taylor

Steven L. Taylor
About Steven L. Taylor
Steven L. Taylor is a Professor of Political Science and a College of Arts and Sciences Dean. His main areas of expertise include parties, elections, and the institutional design of democracies. His most recent book is the co-authored A Different Democracy: American Government in a 31-Country Perspective. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of Texas and his BA from the University of California, Irvine. He has been blogging since 2003 (originally at the now defunct Poliblog). Follow Steven on Twitter

Taking Requests

Ok, oh scolders, what is it you want us to be blogging about in lieu of discussing a certain Hockey Mom?

Midterm Grades: Barack Obama

Time for midterms.

New Poll Numbers: Huckabee-Romney-Palin Top the GOP, Obama at 54%

The newest WaPo/ABC News poll numbers.

More on the Politics of Civility

More on the strategery of civility.

At Least 50 Dead in Suicide Bomb Attack in Iraq

While the violence is down in Iraq, it’s not gone.

The Health Care Debate Underscore the Fundamental Problem with the GOP

The current approach of the GOP to health care is not dissimilar to its approach to fiscal policy: not a lot of substance.

Kristol on Palin’s Speech (and Hume on her Presidential Ambitions)

Both Bill Kristol and Brit Hume had interesting observations about Palin’s “blood libel” speech today on FNS.

Poll Shows Palin Speech Helped Her Image (or Did it?)

A poll that came out late last week purports show that Palin’s speech helped her public image. However, if we look at the numbers, that claim is a weak one.

Quote of the Day

Palin’s Missed Opportunity

Palin’s “blood libel” speech continued to keep here in the conversation about Tucson, and not in a positive way.

Frum on What Palin Should Say

Palin is missing an opportunity in the way she is dealing with the whole target graphic situation.

Jared Loughner And The Sorry State Of Mental Health Care, Part II

We really need a better understanding of mental health disorders in this county, and events like those over the weekend underscore this fact.

SCOTUS Refuses to Hear Birther Case

Orly Taitz, Queen of the Birthers, loses in court (again).

Thankfully, Attempts on the Lives of Members of Congress are Rare

Thankfully, attacks on members of Congress are a rarity.

The Palin “Target” Graphic

Graphic by Sarah Palin’s PAC had Gabriel Giffords’ district in the crosshairs

Some Details About the Shooter

More breaking news on the shooting-in this case, about the shooter.

Federal Judge Killed in Today’s Shooting

Note: while this post is brief, the news is of such significance that I felt it should be a headline story rather than relegated to a “quick pick”.

Let’s Take the Politics of the Giffords Shooting Slowly

The shooting of Representative Giffords is tragic and undeniably political. Still, we need to be cautious about accusations and speculation.

Deficits, the CBO and H.R. 2

When determining the effects on the deficit of a certain legislative action, both revenues and spending have to be accounted for. Indeed, you can’t determine whether there is a deficit, surplus or balanced budget without both variables.

Sleeping in the Office (Congress Edition)

Some members of Congress sleep in their offices in lieu of renting residences in DC. Fiscally responsible or kinda odd?

More Silliness on Filibuster Reform

More tortured logic on the issue of the filibuster.

A Little Senate 101

Is the filibuster essential for the Senate to function as designed?

More Talk of 14th Amendment Reform

The author of AZ’s SB1070 has a new idea.

War on Drugs Reconsidered

Is there a legalization argument building?