American voters think the impending across-the-board budget cuts, known as the sequester, are what it will take to get the federal deficit under control — because there’s no other way Congress will do it. In addition, less than half think the cuts will have a negative effect on the country. […] Read more »
How Much Does Race Still Matter?
Earlier this month, I wrote about research by social scientists at Brown and the University of Michigan who reported that despite the fact that President Obama won a higher percentage of the white vote than any Democratic presidential nominee since 1976, racial resentment had increased during Obama’s first term. Over […] Read more »
Public wary about sequester cuts, but Obama in stronger political position than GOP
With automatic, across-the-board spending cuts set to begin Friday, majorities of Americans believe they aren’t a good idea and say the contentious budget negotiations make them less confident about the U.S. economy, according to the latest NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll. Despite those findings, a majority still supports Congress moving […] Read more »
How to Win in 2014
Nearly four months after the election, most everybody seems to agree that something is amiss with the GOP. This consensus has provoked a stream of free advice for how Republicans can get back on their feet. … Helpful political advice should first of all be practical, taking into account what […] Read more »
Dire Consequences and Denial
It’s crunch time. The sequester’s automatic, across-the-board spending cuts are set to go into effect on Friday, and there is no plan as yet to stop it. … The White House favors a balanced plan that would include spending cuts and some tax increases for the wealthy. Republicans reject any […] Read more »
After Obama Victory: Rifts Deepens, Confidence Drops
Since the 2012 election, polls have been telling a tale of two cities. In one tale, the Republican brand is destroyed beyond all recognition and destined to spend several long political cycles in some Luddite-inspired state of suspended animation. The other tale is one of sinking confidence in the economy, […] Read more »