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...

  • How Much Trust Should We Have in Economic Data?

    By Mark Thoma

    Perhaps it’s not surprising that a political party unable to come to grips with the scientific evidence on global warming would extend its claim that the evidence is politically manipulated to other...

  • Three Fiscal Flashpoints that Can Cause a Recession

    By Douglas Holtz-Eakin, The Fiscal Times

    Policymakers, business, markets, and households alike are more aware than ever of the dangers posed by the federal government’s fiscal affairs. Indeed, there are three flashpoints that pose distinct...

  • The 17 Best Political Films for Our Times

    By Josh Herr

    Politics are never more cinematic than the months prior to a presidential election. The two contenders, having been set up for a showdown, meet in a series of staged skirmishes before the final...

  • Surprise! Unemployment Falls to Near 4-Year Low

    By Lucia Mutikani, Reuters

    The unemployment rate unexpectedly dropped to 7.8 percent in September, reaching its lowest level since President Barack Obama took office and providing a boost to his re-election bid.

  • Obama’s Hard Lessons from Debate with Romney

    By Josh Boak and Eric Pianin, The Fiscal Times

    President Obama’s slovenly preparation and sub-par performance in Wednesday night’s debate did enormous harm to his campaign by giving away huge advantages to the much better prepared and energized...