The Obama administration releases a list of visitors who pass through the White House security gate every month. The database currently has more than 2.2 million entries for the period from January 2009 through Jan. 31, 2012.
Is the filibuster unconstitutional?
Washington Post’s Ezra Klein busts on the filibuster. Gone are the days of Mr. Smith when invoking the filibuster was seen to serve a greater purpose. The filibuster has its roots in Ancient Rome, and apparently even then it had its critics.
As Stephen Colbert rightfully pointed out earlier this week, a 501(c) organizations — which he termed “Spooky PACs” — operate like Super PACs, except that they are completely secret organizations that do no reveal any of their donors. Like Super PACs, 501(c) groups can raise unlimited corporate and union donations, and can spend that cash on independent expenditures, better known to voters as attack ads, automated telephone calls, and political mail.
The biggest Spooky PAC since the Citizens United decision has been the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber trades on its brand. People think the U.S. Chamber, based in D.C. across the street from the White House, is somehow related to their local chamber of commerce. Rather, the U.S. Chamber is a partisan lobbying force that raises large sums of money from multinational corporations to elect pro-big business candidates.
The Cook Political Report projects that when a new Congress is sworn into office in January, white males will likely be a minority of one party’s caucus in the House for the first time in American history.
Democratic distilled to a core of coalition: women & minorities
Online Tool Reveals How Politicians Will Affect Your Wallet
Politify is simple: Enter your income, martial status, age, ZIP code, number of children and students in your household (“don’t worry, we won’t share this” says the site). Politify crunches the numbers and shows you the exact effect each presidential candidate’s economic blueprint would have on your personal finances.
Compare usage of ‘Obamacare’ vs ‘Affordable Care Act’ in the congressional record.
Fighting to Control the Meaning of ‘Obamacare’
On Monday, the Supreme Court will begin three days of arguments over the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act. The act is often called “Obamacare,” primarily by Republicans, as a term of disdain. Democrats have tried to limit the term’s use to reshape perceptions, but that has been a tough sell. Grant Barrett, a vice president for the American Dialect Society, says it is almost impossible to persuade people to discontinue the use of a political word. “It’s an invitation to have your heart broken. You forbid it, and they start writing it on the bathroom stalls.” Now Democrats seem to be embracing the term, launching a Twitter campaign that seeks to build positive associations for it.
Here is a look at how Greater Los Angeles Area residents, business owners, and students view their region’s economy.
Do you have an opinion about what really matters for California’s economic future? Vote now!
A Tangled Web: Who’s Making Money From All This Campaign Spending?
Many have been detailing the vast sums being raised by the presidential candidates and the super PACs supporting them. But where are all those millions being spent? Among other things, the answers can provide hints on potential improper coordination between campaigns and super PACs.
Here are the 200 biggest recipients of spending by the major campaigns and most of the major super PACs. Click on each spender on the left to see where its money flows and click on each recipient on the right to see where the money ends up.
Stepping up to the GOP nomination
To win the nomination, a candidate needs more than half of the 2,286 delegates. In recent years, a clear winner typically emerged early in the race, reducing the importance of the delegate count. This year, because of how the GOP allocated delegates, the race remains tight.
Who Voted for Rick Santorum and Mitt Romney
Based on exit polls conducted by Edison Research with voters in 11 states.
Possible roads to the GOP nomination.
Oh hey all TWO THOUSAND NINE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY SEVEN members of China’s National People’s Congress. I will never complain about making a US House of Representatives graphic ever again.
Delegate totals are from The Associated Press, and include the preferences of superdelegates, Republican party leaders who are free to support any candidate.
The Washington Post announced on Monday the launch of a new iPad app dedicated solely to political coverage.
“The app offers a visually rich and engaging new way to following the 2012 presidential election campaign, with the latest breaking news and images, most informed analysis and deepest polling data, a constantly updated library of TV ads, and an incredible range of historical data, dating all the way back to the first U.S. presidential election,” said Marcus Brauchli in a post on the Washington Post’s website.
Who are the biggest players in the 2012 presidential campaign?
