One of the most-read posts here on Occasional Planet continues to be “President Obama’s 244 accomplishments.” Since it first appeared in 2010, that post
Category: Voting/Elections
Civilized debate pleases some; confuses others
My biggest concern with presidential debates, not only in 2011-12, but for at least the last eight years, has been the frivolity of many
Can we please spare our candidates from the triviality?
Recently there was a little spat in New Hampshire between CNN correspondent Dana Bash and presidential candidate Ron Paul (R-TX). For years, I have
Kudos to Pelosi for urging Obama to run against Congress
Progressives are all too familiar with Barack Obama’s desire, upon assuming the presidency, to want to work collaboratively with Congress. Indeed, he did have
A new approach to democracy — Americans Elect 2012
Occupiers, Tea Party members, actually most Americans feel that somehow our democracy is not working. The ultimate goals that each of us want certainly
2012 candidates flunk secularism test
No one will be surprised to learn that many in this year’s crop of presidential candidates think it’s perfectly great—no, essential—to mix religion with
Four days that really make our political system ugly
March 31, June 30, September 30, and December 31 are the most important dates of the year to most candidates running for office, other
George McGovern didn’t win, but he changed the Democratic Party
During the fall of 2011, C-SPAN ran a series called “The Contenders.” The Contenders were candidates who ran for president and lost. Some came
Alan Grayson: Why we need him back in Congress
Republicans like to refer to former Florida congressman Alan Grayson as “stupid.” If you put “Alan Grayson is stupid” in Google, you will get
America’s five ugliest Congressional districts
In the 1980s, as California redrew its Congressional district boundaries after the census, one Congressman called his draft of a district map his “contribution