Comments for Presidential Power

Comment on Do Democrats Have the Senate Votes to Pass Health Care? Here’s What to Look For by Bob Johnson

Bob Johnson — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 16:11:44 +0000

Matt -

I hope at some time you will address the justification in our republican form of government, which already slices and dices the power of the people in many ways, for a system that has evolved to the point where the resolution of any issue on which there are important differences of opinion can be blocked by 40% plus one of the members of the U.S. Senate.

It seems to me that this situation threatens the ability of American government to cope with the extraordinary challenges our nation faces until they have reached crisis proportions so severe that any solution is too late.

I also suspect that this near-deadlock situation may be one of the reasons why the national government is held in such disdain by so many Americans.

Bob Johnson

Comment on Do Democrats Have the Senate Votes to Pass Health Care? Here’s What to Look For by Michael

Michael — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:11:59 +0000

Spatial modeling? Roll call data? Who *is* this Professor Dickinson?

An insightful read as always!

Comment on Going Rouge: Palin, Polling and the 2012 Presidential Race by Matthew Dickinson

Matthew Dickinson — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:14:42 +0000

Jack – Assuming one buys your characterization of both candidates – and I’m not saying I do – it still strikes me that when we think of the two in terms of political viability as presidential candidates, they are remarkably similar. Sure, they differ in other important respects (Dean doesn’t wear rouge, for instance), but on those factors that doomed Dean – his more extreme policy views relative to other candidates, the sense that he lacked experience on the national level, the passion that Democratic base felt for him, and the equal skepticism among moderates toward his candidacy, and questions about his temperament (even before the post-Iowa speech), I don’t think the comparison with Palin as we look toward 2012 is that much of a stretch. We also tend to forget that while some in Vermont view him as a “policy wonk”, he was not viewed that way by everyone at the national level.

Comment on Going Rouge: Palin, Polling and the 2012 Presidential Race by Jack Goodman

Jack Goodman — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 12:15:10 +0000

Matt, are you really comparing Dean, a policy wonk, with Palin, a policy ignoramus? That’s a stretch.

Jack

Comment on A Quick Look at the House Vote On Health Care: Who Defected? by Matthew Dickinson

Matthew Dickinson — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 18:15:20 +0000

David – I hadn’t realized Davis was running for Governor. I believe he was unopposed in 2008, and so I suspect he was something of a free agent regarding how he voted. My read was that he thought the bill wasn’t progressive enough – that’s why Kucinich voted against it. But you may be right – it may be Davis positioning himself for a statewide run.

Note that the lone Republican to vote for the Democratic health bill is from Louisiana and was elected only because of the scandal that drove William Jefferson, the previous Democratic representative, to defeat.