Posts by 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
Obama Makes Recess Appointments
The usage of the recess appointment process is just another example of the need for institutional reform in the Senate.
Bringing Home the Bacon: It’s What Congress Does
Earmarks or no, members of Congress are going to bring home the bacon to their districts. It is what their constituents want (and expect) them to do.
Romney Fades in Florida
Mitt Romney’s poll numbers in Florida have shrunk. Perhaps he needs to be on cable TV a bit more often.
The Return of the Panachurian Candidate
Was John McCain’s place of birth as big an issue to the fringe left as Obama’s has been (and continues to be) to the fringe right?
Coburn and the Lifespan of Republics
Do republics expire after 200 years due to fiscal irresponsibility?
More Tales of Keeping Us Safe at Airports
The TSA’s crusade to fondle whomever they please continues.
Duma Gives Initial Approval to New START
Now that the US has ratified New Start, it’s Russia’s turn.
History 101: Tariffs, Secession and the General Politico-Economics of Slavery
Those who argue that tariff increases, and not slavery, were the key reason for secession have some basic problems with the historical sequence.
New House Rules for the 112th
The new House Republican majority will force lawmakers to vote when they want to raise the nation’s debt ceiling, publish committee attendance records, ban former members from lobbying in the House gym and require new mandatory spending to be offset by cuts to other programs.
Understanding our History on Race (and the Citizens’ Councils)
A little history about the Citizens’ Councils.
The Problem that Barbour has Conjured
What the Haley Barbour situation illustrates is that we, as a country, have not fully accepted or dealt with our own past.
The Ridiculous Claims of the DADT Opponents
The repeal of DADT has resulted in some odd claims being made.
A Living Argument in Favor of the DREAM Act
UCSD grad student Mark Farrales is a good example of why something like the DREAM Act has merit.
Health Care Reform and Political Constraints
How likely are more sweeping health care reforms in the US? Not very likely at all.
