GOP Clown Show Continues

After two days of futility, a deal is coming together to make futility permanent.

Bill Plante, 1938-2022

The veteran newsman is gone at 84.

Capitol Riot: One Year Later

A roundup of reflection on a somber anniversary.

Elite Behavior Matters

The College Republican National Committee Chairman elections shows the lessons taught by the national party.

Republicans Stuck Between Trump and a Hard Place

Explaining the continuing cowardice of GOP Senators.

Recount Blues

The numbers behind recounts.

All Politics Is National

Tip O’Neill was famous for once having advised his fellow Democrats that “all politics is local.” That’s not true anymore, and that’s unfortunate.

Washington Bids Farewell To John McCain

Washington said farewell to John McCain today in a service that both remembered his spirit and his heroism, and stands as a sharp rebuke to what politics has been reduced to in America today.

The President’s Self-Imposed Bubble

POLITICO buries the lede in making the case for “Donald Trump’s bubble presidency.”

Roy Moore’s Loss Portends New Battles In The GOP’s Civil War

Roy Moore’s loss in Alabama is bringing out into the open a civil war that has been going on for seven years now.

Senate Rejects Post-Orlando Gun Control Efforts

As expected, the Senate rejected four gun control measures introduced in the wake of the attack in Orlando.

Democracy, Demagogues, and Populist Pandering

The rise of Trump and Sanders has resurrected a debate as old as Western civilization.

The Paul Ryan Scenario: Unlikely To Succeed, And A Sign Of Total Desperation

With the Republican nomination fight down to two incredibly unappealing candidates, some Republican insiders are talking about looking elsewhere for a nominee.

Republican Establishment Relying On Voters To Take Out Trump, And They Have No ‘Plan B’

The GOP “establishment” isn’t planning to take on Donald Trump directly and instead relying on Republican primary voters to come to their senses. They may be waiting for something that will never happen.

Gun Control Advocates May Not Like Political Reality, But They Can’t Ignore It

A new poll shows an up-tick in public support for some gun control measures, but gun control advocates can’t ignore the political reality that says those restrictions are unlikely to ever become law.

Gun Control Is No More Likely After Charleston Than It Was Before

Political reality shows us that the shootings in Charleston are not going to have any appreciable impact on the likelihood of any type of gun control law passing anywhere outside of the bluest of the blue states.

Is 2016 a 50-50 Proposition?

Pundits and political scientists agree that, if the 2016 presidential election were today, we’d have a much better idea who would win.

Report: Hillary Clinton Evaded Government Email While Secretary Of State

Hillary Clinton’s use of email while Secretary of State pretty much violated every Federal law and regulation on the issue.

Are The Culture Wars Over?

Bill Scher examines “How Republicans Lost the Culture War.”

Republicans Still Have A Problem With Female Voters

Two prominent Republican groups point out the blindingly obvious.

Hillary Clinton Keeps Committing The Same Gaffe About Her Wealth

Hillary Clinton does not come across well when she tries to play the empathy card.

New Scott Walker Allegations Have Little Legal Merit, But Could Affect Re-Election Bid

As a legal matter, the new allegations against Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker don’t amount to much. But, will they impact his bid for re-election.

All Politics Is National?

Congressional elections have become “nationalized” to a far greater extent than they have ever been.

California GOP Turns Against The Tea Party

Another victory for the GOP establishment in its battle against the Tea Party.

Democrats’ Recovery Dilemma

The economy may be recovering but voters don’t want to hear that, Democratic strategists warn.

Obsessing Over Bill Clinton And Sex Would Be A Dumb 2016 Campaign Strategy For Republicans

Going after Hillary Clinton by attacking her husband won’t work.

War On Christmas Update: Dreaming Of A White Santa And Jesus Edition

The Fox News Channel created “War On Christmas” officially entered the absurd zone last week.

Groundswell: Conservatives’ Lame Answer to JournoList

Conservatives are doing what the criticized JournoList for doing—even though JournoList didn’t.

The GOP’s Battle Plan Against Hillary: Arguing That “She’s Old?”

The GOP is going to have to come up with a lot more than just age if they end up facing off against Hillary Clinton in 2016.

501(c)4 vs 501(c)3 vs 527

Almost no one can confidently explain, let alone define, the specifics of the 501(c)4 designation.

The GOP’s Gay Marriage Problem

When it comes to same-sex marriage, the GOP finds itself on the horns of a dilemma.

OTB Caption Contest Winners

The Exorcism of Arizona Edition OTB Caption ContestTM is now over.

The Incredible Shrinking Mitt Romney

Less than two weeks after he lost the election, the GOP is acting as if Mitt Romney never existed.

Republican Problems More Than Failure to Communicate

The Republican Party needs more than outreach to Hispanics to become a viable national party again.

Apparently, Citizens United Didn’t Ruin The Election After All

The impact of outside spending on the election turned out to be far less consequential than many had feared.

Retroactive Line of the Day (“Data? We Don’t Need no Stinking Data” Edition)

I just came across Peggy Noonan’s pre-election column. It is quite illustrative.

Conservative Media Bubble

If you’re a white Southerner who gets most of his information from Fox News and Rush Limbaugh, you probably don’t know a lot of people who voted for Barack Obama.

Barack Obama Re-Elected President Of The United States

There are still votes to be counted, and the Romney campaign has yet to concede, but the race is over and Barack Obama has been re-elected.

Did Hurricane Sandy Blunt Romney’s Momentum?

Republicans already seem to be blaming Hurricane Sandy in the event Mitt Romney loses.