2012 Elections

Budget Battles

  • The Great Debate

    Five Debate Moments that Changed Elections

    By Robert Speel, The Conversation

    Every presidential election year in my American Political Campaigns and Elections course, I get an opportunity to spend a full lecture discussing with students some of the famous moments from...

  • House panel says IRS official waived rights, contempt possible

    Lois Lerner Is Cleared, Sparking Conservative Fury

    By Rob Garver

    Concluding that “poor management is not a crime,” the Justice Department on Friday informed members of Congress that it would not be filing criminal charges against anyone in what has become known as...

  • GOP Leaders Take on Far Right Pressure Groups

    By Eric Pianin

    There have been plenty of theories about why Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) strode onstage at a conservative gathering late last week carrying a rifle. Ostensibly, McConnell, the 72-...

  • Romney: If Hillary Runs, She Won’t Need Bill

    By Thomas Ferraro, Reuters

    Failed 2012 U.S. Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney said on Sunday he expects Hillary Clinton to win or lose the White House on her record, not that of her husband, former Democratic...

  • Joint Session of Congress

    Voters Give a Thumbs-Down to Their Own Lawmakers

    By Eric Pianin

    In another sign of public outrage over a dysfunctional and politically divided Congress, a record low percentage of registered voters now say their own House member deserves another chance while even...

  • Penguin Nips Newt During Gun Convention Break

    By BRUCE OLSON, Reuters

    Things have not been going all that well for Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich lately, even at one of his favorite places - the zoo.

  • Romney Hints at Ending Tax Breaks

    By Sam Youngman and DONNA SMITH, Reuters

    Was it case of a politician being candid behind closed doors? Or was he merely leading a provocative discussion of tax proposals?Those were the questions surrounding U.S. Republican Mitt Romney's...

  • Buffett Rule Busted and Buried by GOP Congress

    By Eric Pianin

    As expected, Republicans blocked a Democratic effort in the Senate Monday evening to take up the ‘Buffett Rule,’ President Obama’s effort to force millionaires to pay at least a 30 percent tax on...

  • Twitter: Where Campaign Fights Take Flight

    By Samuel P Jacobs, Reuters

    Twitter has become the sparring ground of the 2012 campaign, where verbal fisticuffs fly and campaigns test the strength of their opponents, all within the 140-character limit per message.

  • Dems Lay Trap for GOP with Buffett Rule

    By Kim Dixon and Patrick Temple West, Reuters

    President Barack Obama and congressional Democrats are laying a political trap for Republicans to be sprung on Monday when the U.S. Senate is slated to vote on the proposed "Buffett Rule," which...