Political Figures

Winter Soldiers Outshine Sunshine Patriots as Palin’s Madison Rally Is Overwhelmed by Protest Crowd Winter Soldiers Outshine Sunshine Patriots as Palin’s Madison Rally Is Overwhelmed by Protest Crowd

Former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin jetted into Wisconsin to cheer up backers of Governor Scott Walker. But her tepid crowd of Tea Partisans was overwhelmed by masses of cowbel...

Apr 17, 2011 / John Nichols

Most House Democrats Reject Obama’s Austerity Budget Deal With GOP Most House Democrats Reject Obama’s Austerity Budget Deal With GOP

Agreement is approved by House and Senate, but Democratic opposition in the House is striking. In the Senate, Bernie Sanders votes no and says “this budget moves America in e...

Apr 15, 2011 / John Nichols

Time for Obama to Join the Fight Time for Obama to Join the Fight

Obama’s punching below his weight class again. That was Gary Younge’s metaphor, a boxing analogy that makes more sense if you consider the weight a politician carri...

Apr 14, 2011 / Laura Flanders

Stuck in the Middle With Obama: The President Who Still Won’t Take a Side Stuck in the Middle With Obama: The President Who Still Won’t Take a Side

Sort of FDR. Sort of Reagan. The president rejects privatization of Social Security. But he's for austerity and broad cuts. And he admits that what he proposes in his much anticipa...

Apr 13, 2011 / John Nichols

Obama Blasts House GOP, Paul Ryan’s ‘Deeply Pessimistic’ Budget Plan

Obama Blasts House GOP, Paul Ryan’s ‘Deeply Pessimistic’ Budget Plan Obama Blasts House GOP, Paul Ryan’s ‘Deeply Pessimistic’ Budget Plan

Though short on specifics, President Obama's speech on the deficit today defended progressive governance and blasted the GOP's plan to gut the country's social safety net.

Apr 13, 2011 / Ari Berman

A Simple Standard: Don’t Back Anyone Who Messes With Social Security A Simple Standard: Don’t Back Anyone Who Messes With Social Security

The president's speech will be the clearest indication on whether he is going to give Wall Street what it really wants—so-called "entitlement reforms."

Apr 13, 2011 / John Nichols

We Can’t Win the Fight if We Can’t Tell the Story

We Can’t Win the Fight if We Can’t Tell the Story We Can’t Win the Fight if We Can’t Tell the Story

Whatever one thinks of the foreign and domestic policy outcomes of the past two years, it is clear that the Obama administration has stumbled in its ability to tell a compelling st...

Apr 12, 2011 / Melissa Harris-Perry

No Shutdown, but a Lot of Sellouts

No Shutdown, but a Lot of Sellouts No Shutdown, but a Lot of Sellouts

President Obama and the Republican leadership of the House and Senate cut a deal to avert a government shutdown late Friday night. But the compromises that Obama and Democratic lea...

Apr 9, 2011 / John Nichols

Government Shutdown Will Be Bad for Both Parties Government Shutdown Will Be Bad for Both Parties

On Bloggingheads, Ari Berman says that the Obama Administration has failed to steer the debate on economic issues to the Democrats' advantage.

Apr 7, 2011 / Press Room

Katrina vanden Heuvel on the GOP’s Push for Government Shutdown Katrina vanden Heuvel on the GOP’s Push for Government Shutdown

If the GOP has their way in the budget battles, they'll force a childish and unproductive government shutdown.

Apr 6, 2011 / Press Room

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