National Democrats
The Man from Plains
Jimmy Carter burst onto America my first year in politics, 1976. I had just joined Jim Hunt’s first campaign for governor. Democrats here feared 1976 would be a repeat of 1968 and 1972, when liberal, Northern presidential nominees, Hubert Humphrey and George McGovern, sank the party in the South. Then came Carter. He was different…
Read MoreA Lot in Common
A decade ago when Republicans took control of Congress they banned ‘earmarks.’ Then Democrats retook control and put earmarks back. Last election Republicans won but, back in power, want to keep earmarks. At dusk, as shadows spread in the closing days of the Democratic Congress last year, hidden in a bill Democrats gave Congressman a…
Read MoreEscaping Babylon
Sitting in Washington Congressmen and Senators nod, tell lobbyists, I can do that – in the next breath say, By the way, I need a favor too, smiling, ask for contributions. After Watergate Congress, reeling, put limits on contributions to political campaigns – and outlawed corporate donations. Horse trading waned. Time Passed. Lawyers spotted loopholes…
Read MoreMired in the Muddle
We lost the Vietnam War, Reagan stepped forward, ran for President, and Establishment Republicans – who then ruled the GOP – beat him. Then Jimmy Carter beat them. Four years passed, Reagan ran again, whipped the Establishment Republicans, whipped Jimmy Carter, and we won the Cold War. The Berlin Wall fell, the Soviet Union collapsed,…
Read MoreState of the Union
Gary, on Talking About Politics, made a good point about Joe Biden’s State of the Union Speech: ‘Biden got the last laugh.’ Old-fashioned politeness – when you’re disagreeing with someone on the other side of the aisle – is a virtue. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s anger, jeering, offended people – and helped Biden. Political disagreements are…
Read MoreThree Tribes
It’s an old story. In the Bible. Tribes battling in the Holy Land. Today, in our Holy Land, in Washington, three tribes rule: Democratic Politicians, their cousins Republican Politicians, and Showmen. Joe Biden’s the face of the first tribe; Kevin McCarthy’s the face of the second; Trump’s the face of the third. The first two…
Read MoreChoosing Between Evils
An old-fashioned conservative, seven years ago in the Republican primary John cheered for Ted Cruz, scowled at Donald Trump; then a quirky thing happened: That fall, staring at Trump and Hillary on a debate stage, having to choose between two evils he picked Trump and, in the next breath, in his eyes Trump was no…
Read MoreTwisted Legacy
Narrow face, scar running down his nose, ending in a huge bulbous bump, living on Park Avenue Roy Cohn dodged the draft at the end of World War II; political gamesman, finagling, after he got a law degree he cut a deal, got a patronage job as Assistant US Attorney, landed in ‘The Trial of…
Read MoreThe Coming Fight
For years, when Republicans fought in a primary, conservative candidates had an edge: Most primary voters were conservative. And, since Independent voters often agreed with conservatives on issues, conservative Republicans were able to go on and win General Elections. That’s changed. Today, for many Republican primary voters Trump’s a totem. Conservative, an idea, matters less.…
Read MorePutin’s Happy
Biden cut a deal with Putin, got Brittney Griner home. Trump blasted Biden, called his deal ‘stupid,’ said Griner ‘openly hates our country.’ The Internet erupted, war broke out with one side gushing over Biden, the other side jeering him – and Putin must have been happier than he dreamed: He got his arms dealer…
Read More