John A. Tures
John A. Tures is an associate professor of political science at LaGrange College in LaGrange, Georgia. I m a political mythbuster of sorts. I write political columns for LaGrange Daily News and Southern Political Report. Occasionally, I get something published in the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, or magazines like Miller-McCune Magazine or Like The Dew (a journal of the South and politics).
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An associate professor of political science at LaGrange College in Georgia.
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BA, Trinity University; MA, Marquette University; Ph.D, Florida State UniversityFavorites
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France Actually Wins a War (in Mali)!Shocking perpetual critics of French fighting prowess, President Hollande helped their former colony Mali smash Islamists affiliated with al-Qaeda. Now, can they convince Mali to make peace with Tuareg separatists? -
Did Republicans Just Fumble the Benghazi Scandal?Republicans are accused of altering quotes about Benghazi that they ironically claim were altered by the White House. Whether it was a mistake or a deliberate attempt to manipulate the text, it looks bad for the GOP. -
Why Didn’t Obama’s Approval Ratings Fall? Blame BirthersFor years, conservatives latched onto nearly anything that would discredit Obama or lead to his ouster, from birth certificate issues to conspiracy theories. Maybe that’s why polls showed the public isn’t caring so much about real scandals. -
Are Professor Salaries the Reason College is so Expensive?The high cost of a college education is garnering a lot of attention. But faculty salaries don’t account for that increase. Faculty salaries only increased by the rate of inflation last year and that was the first time in several years that they did so. -
How Obama is like Reagan, but Not in a Good WayObama is a lot like Ronald Reagan with his aloof, hands-off management style, focusing on being a legislator-in-chief. And it’s going to haunt him over Benghazi, the IRS, and AP scandals the way it hurt Reagan in the Iran-Contra scandal. -
The IRS-Tea Party Scandal Could Learn from Ralph NaderThe Tea Party had been on the ropes after poor performances in several 2010 and 2012 elections. But the IRS investigations will give the group new life. Believe it or not, GM’s harassment of Ralph Nader had the same effect in the 1960s. -
Sure Wish 9-11 was Investigated as Well as BenghaziIt is heartening to see the tragedy of 9/11/12 in Benghazi gets fully investigated. It’s just too bad that the disaster of 9/11/01 wasn’t investigated as aggressively as the Libya deaths are being probed. -
Five Myths of the United States-Mexican WarFew wars are as obscure as the one that started on May 13, 1846. That’s when President Polk responded to the Mexican invasion of Texas with a declaration of war. Here are five myths about the start and conclusion of the war, and three in between. -
How the GOP 2016 Primary Looks like “The Game of Thrones”The HBO television show “Game of Thrones” features a wild series of internal battles for power by numerous claimants to the throne while an outside threat grows stronger, unchecked. Wait, are we talking about a fantasy novel or the GOP? -
Republicans Are Throwing Away a Senate Seat in MassachusettsGabriel Gomez demonstrated he could win John Kerry’s Massachusetts Senate seat away from Ed Markey. But Republicans aren’t helping him, and the Tea Party is throwing him under their Express bus because he once donated to Obama. -
Master Muslim Extremist Terrorists? Yeah RightThe narrative from pundits after the Boston Marathon bombing was how scary and powerful our Muslim extremist enemies were. But in reality, we had two pathetic brothers more obsessed with girls and technology. -
Did Rand Paul Win the South Carolina Special Election?Mark Sanford was set to lose the South Carolina special election until Rand Paul stepped in with a timely endorsement, leading to a Republican win. It will help Paul’s presidential campaign in the Palmetto State in 2016. -
How the GOP Lost Its Mind, and Its Soul, for Mark SanfordThe GOP lost their mind when they picked Mark Sanford for the South Carolina special election, costing them the social conservative argument. But now they sold their soul with a push poll that will cost them female voters in future elections. -
Is Martial Law Coming to Town Near You?Rep. Ron Paul has been ripped for criticizing martial law, but does he have a point? Such a policy didn’t just happen in Boston last month, but is being applied in tiny Valley Springs, California after a recent crime. -
Gabriel Gomez Could Really Win the Massachusetts Senate RaceBack in February of 2013, I predicted Gabriel Gomez would win the nomination for Republicans in the Massachusetts Senate race. Here are three reasons why he’ll beat longtime Democratic Rep. Ed Markey in June. -
Pro-Gun Native American Billboard is a Good History LessonThe Pro-Gun Billboard, which calls attention to the government disarmament of Native Americans, could shed light on the Wounded Knee Massacre land site sale that is about to occur, as well as a nearly forgotten piece of history.
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Removing Rebels from Stone Mountain is the Real Lost CauseChange.org has circulated a petition to try and remove the Jefferson Davis, Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson carving from Stone Mountain. A better idea would be to let visitors know how Lee and Jackson really felt about slavery.
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Will Having a Birther Movement Hurt Ted Cruz in 2016?Birthers went all out to stop Obama from becoming president, or impeach him once in office. Their obsession with the origin of birth for a candidate will haunt them in 2016, hurting their favorite conservative, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz.
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Were Voters Glad, or Mad, when Gun Background Checks Failed?Initially, news reports showed the public cared little for the results of the Senate vote on expanded background checks. But that masked significant ire residents had for some of their Senators who voted against the bill.
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Paging Paul Thurmond for South Carolina’s First DistrictPaul Thurmond might be a better option than Curtis Bostic to retake South Carolina’s first congressional district, should Mark Sanford blow the special election against Elizabeth Colbert-Busch.
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College Students Skype with Georgia Sen. Johnny IsaksonUsually the end of a Spring semester and busy Congressional sessions don’t make for a good time for a Senator to meet with college students, but technology made it possible for them to interview Georgia’s Johnny Isakson.
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Is Jeb Bush Right About the GOP Governors Doing Well?In preparing a presidential run, Jeb Bush is going all around the USA, praising the many governors for fiscal restraint. Will they be around in two years?
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Three Reasons Why Economics Won’t Be the 2014 Election IssueIt is falsely assumed that all elections are about the economy. Some are, of course, but the 2014 contest is unlikely to be one of them. Instead, pay attention to guns, abortion and health care as more decisive issues.
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The Tea Party Hides Once Again when the Budget is CutWhen the FAA announced furloughs of air traffic controllers to save money, the Tea Party blamed President Obama for budget cuts. Economist Milton Friedman was right about Republicans and Keynesianism.
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Congress Wants the Abrams, but the Army Says 'No Tanks'There’s a reason that there’s a huge bloated Pentagon budget, and it really doesn’t involve the Pentagon. It’s about Congress and the private sector pushing for products the government doesn’t want or need.
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Obama Labeled Soft on Terrorism Again, Despite the EvidenceIt’s hard to believe that just a short time ago, the GOP was blasting Obama for using drone strikes against American citizens involved in terrorism abroad. The new mantra after Boston is that Obama is soft on terrorism (again).
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Why Politicians Make Bad ComediansA Tennessee state senator’s latest attempt at political humor, which poked fun at the Boston Marathon bombings and gun control, is just the latest evidence of why politicians from both political parties are bad at telling jokes.
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How Mark Sanford Could Actually Help the Republican PartyMark Sanford appears to be the worst thing that ever happened to the Republican Party. But there’s still a way he can help the GOP. And it doesn’t involve quitting. His loss could be the Republicans’ gain.
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Dubya Had Difficult TimesAs George W. Bush’s presidential library is opened, it’s time to think about how to evaluate his place in history, his challenges, and not just his successes and failures, as well as other presidents he compares to.
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Unfairly Targeting Muslims and Political Conservatives in BostonAfter the Boston Marathon Bombings, unwarranted suspicion fell upon Islamic people and political conservatives. Those who have bombed in the name of Islam and political conservatism are losers who don’t even know the cause.
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Three Strategies for Handling Unelectable NomineesIncreasingly, both political parties seem to find themselves with choices outside of the mainstream, destined to lose. But parties aren’t helpless. This article weighs the pros and cons of three strategies to deal with an unelectable nominee.
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Unlocking the Mystery of Women and Elections in AmericaResearchers have noted that women win office as often as men when they run. So why aren’t there more women in politics in America? A panel of female lawmakers and judges in Alabama answered that question.
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Democrats Have Their Own Mark Sanford in 2013As bad as Mark Sanford has been for the GOP brand in South Carolina, there is a worse Democrat candidate. Former New York City Rep. Anthony Weiner, best known for “sexting,” is running for mayor.
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Now that Baucus Has Retired, Will Democrats Lose the Senate?Sen. Baucus, a Democrat first elected in 1978, has called it quits. Could Republicans, who won the state in the presidential race by a dozen percentage points, take a Senate seat away from the Democratic Party column?
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Georgia Republicans are 'Akin' to Lose a Senate SeatThe tea party has helped provide more extreme nominees and eliminated electable moderates, in 2010 and 2012. That nightmare scenario seems likely to play itself out again in 2014 in Georgia.
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Do Conspiracy Theorists Help Boston Terrorists?Conspiracy theories have become a way of life after tragedies like 9/11 and shootings at Aurora and Sandy Hook. Now, these conspiracy theorists could well be adopted as the legal defense given by the surviving Boston bomber.
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Capitalist Obama vs. Communist GOP RepresentativesThe GOP has always told us that government is the problem. But they sure aren’t acting like it as they’ve blocked Obama’s attempts to close little-used post offices, end Saturday service, and privatize the TVA. They feel government is the solution.
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Can a Family Scion Retake 'FSU District' for Florida Dems?In 2014, Democrats are going to have to either hold some seat or win some new ones in red and purple states. And they are relying upon family names to do the trick. The latest case is a former Senator’s daughter in Florida.
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Conspiracy Theorists, Elvis Impersonators and Ricin LettersAfter each terror attack or spree shooting, we’re told the government was behind it, leading more people to plan using violence to kill, to keep the government from killing them. These new attacks provide fodder for future conspiracy theories.
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Five Candidates Who are Actually Worse Than Mark SanfordSexting, hitting on underage interns, corruption, racism and killing your opponent….there are actually worse things that South Carolina Congressional candidate Mark Sanford could being doing to hurt his party. But it is a pretty short list.
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Sen. Ted Cruz for President in 2016?Years ago, the notion of Republicans picking someone with such a short tenure in office like Sen. Ted Cruz was unthinkable. But, having noted recent Democratic Party successes with nominees, the GOP may rethink that idea.
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U.S. and China Could Use World War II Lessons for North KoreaThe Korean War dragged on to a bloody stalemate because the superpowers fought each other. But this time, the superpowers may be ready to cooperate in the spirit of the Potsdam Conference at the end of WWII, which divided Germany.
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The Reason Scott Brown Passed on Massachusetts Special ElectionEx-Sen. Scott Brown stunned the GOP when he passed on running for Sen. John Kerry’s open Senate seat. But maybe he hasn’t given up his Senate ambitions. He’s just thinking about running in New Hampshire, a more conservative state.
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How Misinformation Could Help the Boston Bomb SuspectWhen terrorism strikes the United States, whether in Boston, New York City, Atlanta or Oklahoma City, there’s a rush to tell the audience who is responsible, often getting the wrong person and hampering the investigation.
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A First-Hand Account of the Horror at the Boston Marathon BombingThe explosions at the Boston Marathon were terrible to watch. But it’s tougher when one of your students is in the thick of it. The graduate student describes some of the nearby chaos and security presence.
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Actually, Americans are OvertaxedA slew of studies come out around April 15 every year to remind us how we have a much lower tax burden than other countries have, but is that really the case. It depends on whether you are a corporation or a personal income taxpayer.
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“The Democrat Went Down to Georgia…”With all the focus on how many Senate seats the Republicans might take from Democrats in 2016, the Democrats could swipe one in the GOP’s backyard, if early polls are any indication. And that could take place in Georgia.
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Another Hispanic Republican to Make History?After 2010, Republicans appealed to harsh anti-illegal immigration laws instead of the Hispanic Republicans who were so successful in 2010, and paid for it in 2012. But Abel Maldonado may give the GOP a chance in 2014 in California.
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For 2016, Democrats Value Experience; The GOP Likes NoveltyIn 2016, Democratic front-runners are candidates who have run before for office, while six of the top seven Republicans have never sought the presidency before. That’s a complete difference from how both parties used to pick nominees.
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How Would Female Presidential Candidates Fare in 2016?Hillary Clinton, Elizabeth Warren and Kirsten Gillibrand are among the top vote getters among Democratic Party primary candidates in 2016. For Republicans, there are none in the top seven, despite prior interest in women candidates.
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What Actually Scares the NRA More Than Gun Control?We’ve all misread the National Rifle Association because we assumed they were the ultraconservatives in the gun debate. But they’ve been forced to back away from even background checks by a more conservative gun group.
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The Pope Who Made Catholicism Cool AgainPope Francis I has created some buzz not by where he’s from, or whether he’s caved on issues, but how he’s refocused the mission of the Catholic Church, which seems to have invigorated his flock.
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Honoring One Sub Disaster by Finding the Truth About Another50 years ago, we lost the USS Thresher, which imploded with all hands aboard. We know why and made many changes. But we’ve never fully investigated a similar disaster five years later: the loss of the USS Scorpion.
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Republicans Avoid Another 'Akin Candidate' in LouisianaIt took a while, but the GOP finally got their opponent for Democratic Sen. Landrieu. And unlike prior failed opponents with state experience, Republicans found an opponent with national experience who is less likely to make verbal blunders.
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Will Obama 'Make the Opposite Mistake' in North Korea?The Obama administration doesn’t want to make the mistake of the first Korean War, which involved ignoring the North Korean threat until it was too late. Yet an Obama team overreaction could be the spark for a second Korean War.
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5 Reasons Why Repealing the 17th Amendment is a Bad IdeaRepealing the 17th. Amendment would increase corruption, the influence of money in the system, the power of gerrymandering and state political machines, as well as leave too many vacancies and take away the right of people to choose their own senator.
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A Personal Story Remembering Great Britain’s “Iron Lady”Former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher was known as the Iron Lady, and for a good reason. I got to see first-hand how tough she could be toward a college student who tried to give her a “gotcha” question on Northern Ireland.
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No Matter What Happens, the GOP Lost S.C. Special ElectionThere are four reasons the South Carolina special election is a GOP disaster. Colbert Busch could win. Sanford may have to spend heavily to win. Sanford’s unpopularity would hurt the party. And Curtis Bostic is no option for 2014.
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Should Cell Phones Be Allowed in Classes?Cell phones have become more than just a classroom debate. They’ve become a political issue. I look at how teachers and students feel about cell phone bans, as well as possible solutions others might consider employing.
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Did State Dept. Support of Keystone Pipeline Cut Gas Prices?In mid-February, I wrote about gas prices increasing as a result of pressure on Obama not to block the Keystone pipeline. Now that the pipeline has been approved, gas prices have fallen, even as the travel season is in full swing.
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Will Establishing State Religions Lead to Gun Bans?Several North Carolina legislators hope to pass a law saying the Establishment Clause doesn’t apply to the state. The move could have future consequences, perhaps for the right to bear arms, in addition to other rights we enjoy.
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How African Peacekeepers Can Help Us Beat Al-QaedaAlmost 20 years ago, Al-Qaeda-backed forces killed Americans, as seen in the movie “Black Hawk Down.” Now African peacekeepers are battling an Al-Qaeda affiliate in Somalia, and could do the same in Mali.
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A Proposal to Return More Corruption to the SenateSeveral ambitious Tennessee lawmakers hope to remove the right of voters to pick their party nominees, giving the Tennessee legislature that power of selection, 100 years after the 17th Amendment was passed to end such corruption.
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When Owning a Gun Doesn’t Always Provide ProtectionThe deaths of several law enforcement officers in Colorado and Texas show that even when armed 24/7 and alert, you can still be gunned down. Possession of a gun doesn’t always provide protection.
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More About Assassinations Than What the Victim Stood ForThere’s an increased popularity in how Presidents Lincoln and Kennedy were assassination. Now the author, Bill O’Reilly, is starting a new project on how Jesus was killed. These error-prone endeavors focus more on the killers than the leaders.
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Atlanta's Toco Hills: Brazilian Luck or an Acronym?Is Atlanta’s Toco Hills neighborhood based upon a Brazilian term for good luck? Or does it mean “top of the country”? I engage in a little mythbusting to get to the bottom of the mystery.
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India is Paying the Price for Sex Assaults and Bondage AdsResearchers found a series of ads with women tied up and gagged in the trunk of Ford vehicles are actually not so out of the ordinary. And they may be fueling a series of gang rapes and killings that are making tourists wary of India.
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Of Baboons and Buffoons in South Carolina’s Special ElectionAs Mark Sanford attempts to complete in political comeback in a pro-GOP district, it is worth asking whether he might repeat his cheating behavior and flight from South Carolina. Research into baboons may provide some insight.
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Four Reasons Why North Korea Isn’t Bluffing This TimeMany assume North Korea isn’t serious in its threats. But things are different this time. Not only are the sanctions tougher, but China’s on board, the domestic situation is even more dire, and the DPRK called for closing Kaesong.
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Is Obama Really Trying to Let Criminals Get Guns?Critics of Obama have begun to hammer his administration for not prosecuting enough criminals who try to get guns. Are they right? A closer look at the evidence is needed.
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Did In-Fighting Among Conservatives Doom Georgia Gun Bill?The inability of Georgia’s gun lobbies, as well as the House and Senate, to agree upon a compromise bill, doomed pro-gun bills in a pro-gun state. Could this have been avoided?
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Might 'The Big Bang'-Style Computer Nerds Save the GOP?The GOP believes it lost the 2012 election because it didn’t have enough technology. But deeper analysis shows that Team Romney may have used too much of it. Obama staffers noted it was more than social media that won the day.
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After Ashley Judd: Kentucky Democrats Have Other OptionsThe decision of Actress Ashley Judd to take a pass on the 2014 election may actually strengthen Kentucky Democrats in their bid to oust Sen. Mitch McConnell. Plenty of other democrats could challenge the Senate Minority Leader.
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Will Mia Love, the Sarah Palin of 2012, Win in 2014?Utah Mayor Mia Love, who was crowned as the next big thing in Republican diversity, came up short in 2012. Will this female African-American Mormon win in her second try for Congress against Jim Matheson?
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Excited About Colbert’s Sister, Ignoring the Military VoteThe attention in South Carolina’s first district election is on Colbert’s sister and Sanford’s scandal. It ignores the narrow election schedule that hurts military members serving abroad and elsewhere in the U.S.
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Will Top Republicans Pass on Challenging Sen. Mary Landrieu?Sen. Mary Landrieu of Louisiana used to be known for narrowly winning elections. But with each contest, she’s grown stronger and more secure. As a result, Republicans are more wary of challenging her in 2014.
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Could Democrats Benefit from Sen. Johnson’s Retirement?Normally, Sen. Tim Johnson’s retirement would cause problems for his party in South Dakota. But Democrats have a pair of good candidates, which could go for two open seats, as Republicans are headed for a bruising primary.
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Is Congress Retaliating Against Political Scientists?For years, political scientists have given Congress low grades. Could Congress be retaliating against those low evaluations by taking away the right of political scientists to apply for National Science Foundation grants?
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The European Union, Cyprus and NCAA March MadnessThe European Union is so mad at Greece for its economic instability that led to the crisis that it is giving a harsher punishment to Cyprus. That’s because not all European countries are created equal.
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Iranian Hardliners Have Always Been DividedIran is facing an internal struggle, but it isn’t involving reformers and their opponents. The real battle isn’t between hardliners and moderates, but between religious clerics and populist political conservatives supporting Ahmadinejad.
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The GOP Needs to Explain Why Immigration Reform is GoodSen. Rand Paul’s support of immigration reform sounds more like an apology, as well as a hunt for votes, which could turn off the GOP base. Republicans must say how immigration reform helps benefits and reduces government power.
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The Wrong Way, and Right Way, to Politically Tackle ObesityMayor Michael Bloomberg’s plan to eliminate sugary drinks in New York City got a lot of press, and a legal setback. South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley’s plan to stop obesity through food stamps may be a better plan.
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A Southern Mansion That Avoided Being 'Gone With the Wind'At the end of the Civil War, a mansion in LaGrange, Georgia, that housed key Confederates was spared by a Yankee officer named LaGrange at the insistence of the town’s women. It is used for meetings by the local women’s club today.
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Is CPAC to Today What Hippies Were to the 1960s and 1970s?By supporting ultraconservative candidates and snubbing electable ones which have prevailed in Democratic Party territory, the young conservative today is following the path set by political hippies in the 1960s and 1970s.
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Did Senate Democrats Avoid an Assault Weapons Trap?Democrats nixed the Feinstein Amendment banning assault weapons, which had passed through the Senate Judiciary Committee, from the bipartisan gun bill. But the amendment could still hurt them in 2014 if it is brought up for a painful floor vote.
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Why Political Families are a Good Thing for DemocracyWe normally associate political families with monarchies and communist countries. But in a democracy, a political family can keep politicians honest. Folks are reluctant to mess it up for younger family members.
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North Korean Propaganda Film Resembles 'Obama 2016'North Korea has created a propaganda film presenting America as some sad dystopia. Despite the fake translation, the original slams the U.S. It reminds one of last year’s hit conservative movie titled “Obama 2016.” Both also stretch the truth somewhat.
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If the Media is an Addict, Jeb Bush is the DealerJeb Bush wrote a book on immigration, went on all the talk shows, said he was open to running for president, then called the media “addicts” for being obsessed with the 2016 elections. What does that make Jeb?
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A Conservative Group Accidentally Targets ConservativesWith their new website, “primarymycongressman.com,” the conservative Club for Growth is going on a hunt for “RINOs.” However, they’re targeting a number of conservative lawmakers, not moderates.
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Did the Church Pick a 'Catholic Gorbachev?'The Conclave of the Catholic Church chose the first Jesuit and first non-European pontiff in quite some time. But his views aren’t radically different. He’s like the way Gorbachev was, a little different, but still a communist.
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How a Retiring Democrat Senator May Save a GOP GovernorMich. Sen. Carl Levin, a Democrat, is retiring in 2014. That may save embattled Gov. Rick Snyder, as it could induce some of his challengers to run for the open seat left by Levin in the Senate.
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Three Options for GOP Governors on Obamacare’s ExchangesGOP Governors can cave on Obamacare’s Medicaid Exchanges, oppose them, or use them as a bargaining chip in negotiations with Democrats. Gov. McDonnell tried the third option, with positive results.
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Investigating the Conservatives’ New Hero: Calvin CoolidgeNot content with just Ronald Reagan, conservatives have sought to glorify Calvin Coolidge as a model of what a president should be. After reading the record, they may rethink that notion.
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A Civil War Strategy the Republicans Shouldn’t TryOn the 150th Anniversary of the Civil War, a new one is brewing in Virginia. It pits Republican Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli against Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling of the GOP. Democrats could win the Virginia Governor race.
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Does Georgia’s Gun Bill Help the Mentally Ill Get a Gun?Georgia’s HB 512 would limit the denial of gun licenses for the mentally handicapped to only involuntary hospitalizations, and put the burden of proof on authorities to show the mentally ill should not get a gun.
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VAWA’s Renewal Came Just Too Late for One WomanCongress and the President finally put aside their differences and renewed the Violence Against Women Act. But it sadly came too late for one woman (and her son) from Huntsville, Alabama.
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Is an “A” from the NRA Now a Scarlet Letter for Democrats?When Illinois State Sen. Robin Kelly won a special election, Democrats credited Bloomberg’s PAC and an A from the NRA for Kelly’s opponent, Rep. Halvorson. But was that the real reason Kelly won so handily.
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Political Fights for Fundraising and RatingsPolitical fights aren’t about principles or policy anymore. The latest spat between Rep. Keith Ellison and Sean Hannity of Fox News was likely staged for money and market share.
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Is China is Pushing North Korea to War with the U.S.?In the Korean War, China and America were enemies. Now they are allies in pressuring North Korea to halt its nuclear tests. Ironically, that may be making a second Korean War more likely. Bilateral talks may be needed.
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Why Do Republicans Lose Senate Seats? They’re Bad at MathThe decision of another electable moderate GOP candidate to drop out of a winnable Senate race shows that Republicans would rather make risky gambles rather than safe bets. It’s a hard lesson Democrats learned in 2010.
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Congratulations, Jeb Bush: You’re Now Mitt RomneyJeb Bush reversed his own book released this year and changed his stand against illegal immigrants getting citizenship, going back to the position he had last year, establishing himself as the Mitt Romney of 2016.
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Venezuela’s Hugo Chavez was No 'Gladiator'Hugo Chavez loved the movie “The Gladiator,” likening himself and Iran’s President, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, to the title character. But in reality, he ruled more like Commodus, the film’s villain.
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Did the Media Cost Mitt the Election, as Ann Romney Claims?On Fox News Sunday, Ann Romney claimed that the media was to blame for Mitt’s 2012 loss. But evidence from media studies doesn’t back her up. If anything, Romney had the better media coverage last year.
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Romney’s New Flip-Flops Show He Wants to Run AgainMitt Romney told Fox News Sunday that “it kills him not to be in the White House.” This contradicts comments from December 2012 where he didn’t want to be president. Such flip flops show Romney wants to run again.
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Could Boston Soon Have the Most Conservative Media Market?As incredible as it sounds, by buying the Boston Globe, Fox News and the Wall Street Journal could make Beantown the most conservative newspaper market, but only if the Boston Herald stays conservative.
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Why is the NRA Against Background Checks?An overwhelming number of Americans back improved gun background checks. Senators seem poised to find common ground on the issue. So why is the NRA dead set against them?
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The GOP Should Offset Losses by Attracting College StudentsThe GOP is still in a budget cutting mode, and hopes to make deep reductions in college education funding. Given that college graduates are one of the few groups that back the Republicans, it isn’t such a wise move.
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How Opponents Failed to Beat Chuck HagelA week ago, Hagel’s nomination was effectively stalled. This week, Hagel cleared the filibuster easily, and the GOP declared victory. How did that happen? It came when they unwisely questioned Hagel’s military service.
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How Not to Get Rid of a SenatorIdeally, a senator would step down and a replacement would be waiting in the wings. It has been anything but ideal for the Democrats, who have to replace five senators, and have only one smooth transition.
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Will Cory Booker Cost New Jersey Democrats a Senate Seat?Most people expected Cory Booker to run. But by pushing Sen. Lautenberg into retirement, the backlash could lead to a messy Democratic primary. That would increase the chances of a Republican like Thomas Kean Jr. winning.
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Will Games of 'Political Chicken' Cause a Recession?In the 1950s, wild teens would drive their cars at each other in a dangerous game of chicken, hoping the other side would swerve. Both parties are playing that game over the budget, which could lead to a recession.
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Are Historical Films Held to a Different Standard?Three historical film contenders for the Best Picture Award at the upcoming Oscars are being criticized for inaccuracies. But the case for a vote against “Argo,” “Lincoln,” and “Zero Dark Thirty” is slim at best.
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Spree Shooting Conspiracy Theories and the Ikea EffectConspiracy theories about recent shootings from Connecticut to Colorado, advanced by college professors, seem pretty strange. But the reason may be as simple as loving a theory you spent a long time building.
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Is Keystone Pipeline Pressure Behind the Gas Price Push?Gas prices continue to soar, even as oil prices plunge. There’s no increase in holiday travel, weather, or Middle East instability to explain it. There’s a good chance it is oil company pressure on Obama over the Keystone Pipeline.
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Chris Christie and Andrew Cuomo: a Political Match.com?Chris Christie caused a lot of controversy when he said that he and Andrew Cuomo agree on 98 percent of things. But do they really? Evidence from taxes and spending paints an interesting picture.
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Did Fox News Really Blame Obama for the Russian Meteors?A fake Fox News story blaming President Obama for the meteor shower over Russia, trying to drum up support for stopping global warming, fooled a surprising number of folks.
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Why the New Pope Shouldn’t Be a 'Catholic Gorbachev'The USSR tried to keep communism alive by turning to a younger man, Gorbachev, who tried to preserve a failed economic system. The Catholic Church should avoid making the same mistake when selecting a new Pope.
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Did Conservatives Force Nebraska GOP Sen. Johanns to Retire?Sen. Mike Johanns was a reliable, conservative vote for the GOP. But his decision to back fellow Nebraskan Sen. Chuck Hagel may have cost him his political career, as conservative bloggers attacked him for that one vote.
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Why John Kerry is Headed for a Big Mistake on North KoreaNew Secretary of State John Kerry is about to provide some “punishing response” to North Korea’s nuclear test. It may be a huge mistake, and could increase regional tensions. We must understand North Korea better.
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Why Paul Ryan Won’t Win in 2016Rep. Paul Ryan won’t just be running against Democrats and fellow Republicans in 2016. He’ll be running against history, as defeated vice-presidential nominees have a tough time even winning presidential nominations.
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Why the Mission in Mali MattersMali has moved to the forefront of the “War on Terrorism” because al-Qaeda doesn’t like how the African country successfully blended Islam and democracy. It’s something the West wants to succeed, to undercut al-Qaeda.
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Evidence of Bias Against Barack Obama -- and George W. BushA majority of Republicans support immigration reform, but not if Obama backs the GOP plan. The same thing happened with Bush and the Democrats over the issue of Social Security privatization.
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GOP Senators Too Afraid of Tea Party to Confirm HagelDefense nominee Hagel has been attacked for views held by a majority of Americans, knocked by conservatives for being anti-gay, and was told to provide more information than any other nominee. Ironically, it’s because he’s a Republican.
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Yes, President Obama is Worried About the EconomyThe evidence of President Obama’s concern for the economy and jobs is the shift in focus in his speech, from the Election Night victory speech, to the Inauguration, to the State of the Union Address.
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The Five Free Agents for Falcons to Focus UponThe Atlanta Falcons need to focus on keeping several free agents, the nucleus of their 2012-13 team that almost made the Super Bowl. But should they lose a few, there are others on the market that could fill their shoes.
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Will the GOP Find a New Marco Rubio in Massachusetts?Gabriel Gomez, former Navy Seal and Harvard Business School graduate, may look like a long shot in the race for John Kerry’s Senate seat. But so was Marco Rubio in 2010 when he ran for an open Florida Senate seat.
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The State of the Union Speech Really was About the EconomyThe State of Union Address given by President Obama showed a dramatic increase in mentions of the economy and of jobs than the Election Night victory speech and even his Inauguration Speech last month.
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Has the Tea Party Killed GOP Responses to Obama’s SOTU?The Tea Party Express Responses to the State of the Union Address helped reelect President Obama in 2012. They will help the Democrats again in 2016, so long as they persist in dividing the opposition.
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The Reason Pope Benedict XVI Resigned: The Flock ShrankPope Benedict XVI’s resignation, which had not been done by a pope since the Middle Ages, has been chalked up to health reasons or the sex abuse scandal. But the real reason may be the declining Catholic Church membership.
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Five Reasons Why Hillary Clinton is More Popular Than ObamaHillary Clinton tops Barack Obama in polls for several reasons. She’s been less controversial and the administration has had more victories in the foreign policy arena. But more importantly, she’s getting out of politics.
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The Impending GOP Debacle in IowaWhen Iowa Sen. Tom Harkin announced he wouldn’t run for another term, it looked like a golden opportunity for the GOP. But the party is about to nominate yet another candidate too conservative for its state.
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Why Memphis Needs a Confederate Park and a Civil Rights ParkMemphis is hoping to get rid of a Confederate traces in parks, which would be a big mistakes. A Confederate Park should be there, but not with Jefferson Davis and Nathan Bedford Forrest. And there needs to be a Civil Rights Park.
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When the Next U.S. Recession Will Take PlaceWith news that America’s GDP shrank, many wonder if we’re heading into a recession. Using statistics from our economic history, I calculate the average growth period length, and determine whether or not we’ve passed that threshold.
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Could Hollywood Save the War of 1812 Bicentennial?To date, a Canadian effort to get the country interested in the War of 1812 hasn’t worked as well as planned. A film or two about the War of 1812 could reignite excitement in the conflict in America and Canada.
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A Pair of Political Compounds Worthy of the Colbert ReportTwo political cult compounds forming in Idaho are organized by troubled individuals. They profess liberty and anticommunism, yet have lots of restrictions and words that resemble Marxism. It’s like a Comedy Central spoof.
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Tax Reform Should Encourage Saving, Not Punish SpendingNew Mexico has a plan foster savings by taxing consumption. While encouraging savings is a good idea, generating a recession isn’t. This article documents better ways to encourage people to save.
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America Also Faces Threats from Leftist Suicide BombersOur myths about religious fanaticism being a necessary condition for anti-American suicide terrorism may have been destroyed by the recent bombing attempt of our embassy in Turkey by a leftist opposed to our anti-Assad policy in Syria.
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The GOP Braces for Another Unelectable Senate CandidateIn 2010, there was Christine O’Donnell, Ken Buck and Sharron Angle. In 2012, there was Todd Akin and Richard Mourdock. It looks like there’s another GOP candidate who will cost the party another seat in 2014.
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Could Gun Insurance Replace Gun Control?George Will’s most recent column provides a link between guns and cars. It suggests another link between the two, which is insurance. Gun insurance would replace a ban, and would let responsible gun owners keep their weapons.
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Georgia Could Solve Many Problems by Tackling LobbyingBy fixing lobbyist rules with some ethics reform in 2013, the Peach State could limit the amount of legislative shenanigans that leads to a host of other problems in Georgia.
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Should the Victim Be Blamed for an Abortion in Rape Cases?Despite the 2012 electoral setbacks suffered by Republicans for comments about rape, a proposed New Mexico law hopes to criminalize a post-rape abortion as tampering with evidence.
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The First 24-Hour News Cycle Politician Passes AwayRonald Reagan was the last great politician of the traditional media. Ed Koch was the first great politician of the new media, exploiting the 24 hour news cycle with his flamboyant style. Politics hasn’t been the same since.
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Why Scott Brown Isn’t Running for the SenateSherlock Holmes and Spock may be on to something in explaining the inexplicable: how overwhelming favorite for the Mass. Senate, Scott Brown, is taking a pass on John Kerry’s vacated seat.
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How Republicans Helped Make Hillary Clinton the Front-runnerHillary Clinton was tired and ready to step away from politics. But when the GOP tried to use the Benghazi tragedy to kick her on the way out that door, they made a big mistake. Now 2016 will be her election to lose.
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Did the Assault Weapons Ban Work?Iowa Sen. Charles Grassley’s opening comments about the assault weapons ban concluded that it did not stop Columbine and a Justice Department report concluded it didn’t work. But the report and crime statistics don’t agree with that statement.
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Georgia Storm Warnings Get an “A,” Preparation Gets a “D"Tornadoes struck West Georgia again. The only lesson that seems to have been learned from prior disasters is to provide a ton of warnings. But we had those back then. What we need are protective shelters, not hallways.
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Immigration Reform Opponents Seek African-American SupportThere were several factors that stood in the way of immigration reform in 2007. All are gone today. The only chance conservatives have of stopping the bipartisan bill is to appeal to an unlikely group: African-Americans.
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McCain is Right: Reporters Sometimes Ask Dumb QuestionsDo reporters ask dumb questions, as McCain alleges? I look at one of President Obama’s 2012 press conferences for questions that are short and to the point, as well as of great important to the American people.
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Boy Scouts Can Be Civil About Gays, but ‘Be Prepared'Word has come that the Boy Scouts are considering lifting the ban on gay members. There is likely to be a reaction against the organization, but the Boy Scouts have shown me that they can be professional about the change.
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Ripper Street is a Ripping Good TimeRipper Street has a good cast and a great setting, but must decide upon an identity. Does it want to lead with racy sex or be a scientific detective show first and foremost?
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Immigration Reform Shouldn’t Be Rushed Just to Get VotesI have friends and relatives who are Hispanic. They may not be so interested in the bipartisan immigration reform details or amnesty. What they want is to be treated like everyone else, and not subjected to special searches.
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Barack Obama Follows Teddy Roosevelt’s Lead on FootballBarack Obama’s interview with The New Republic about how he would not encourage a son to play football because of the injuries echoes Teddy Roosevelt’s threat to ban football in 1905. The threat made the game better though.
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Arkansas Democrats Hurt by Clintonesque ScandalArk. Attorney General Dustin McDaniel was undone by a politically damaging extramarital affair. Though a replacement candidate has stepped forward, this will hurt Democratic chances to hold onto the governor’s mansion.
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Are Democrats Cheering Because Reince Priebus was Re-Elected?Republicans just reelected Reince Priebus as their leader to another term, despite losses in 2011 and 2012. It’s amazing that they canned his predecessor, who led the party to wins in 2009 and 2010.
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Sen. Saxby Chambliss Steps Down; Who Might Replace Him?Georgia Sen. Saxby Chambliss announced he will retire in 2014. Who might replace him? Several Republicans have been eyeing the contest, but Democrats could field a credible candidate as well.
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The National Infantry Museum is Under the GunThe National Infantry Museum at Ft. Benning, Georgia near Columbus, is a must see and among the best of all military history museums. But the museum is struggling to get funds to cover the Revolutionary and Civil Wars and others before 1898.
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Could South Carolina See Husband vs. Wife in Election?South Carolina could see Mark Sanford running against his ex-wife Jenny Sanford for Congress after his messy infidelity cost their marriage. It wouldn’t’ be the first time for husbands and wives to split over politics.
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Santorum is Wrong: Colleges Churn Out More ConservativesRick Santorum argues that colleges engage in liberal indoctrination and are anti-Christian. But evidence shows that you are more likely to be a Republican and a Christian if you went to college, than if you didn’t.
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The Five Biggest Playoff Victories for the Atlanta FalconsThe Atlanta Falcons are considered the underdog team against the San Francisco 49ers, but have a history of shocking the heavy favorite. Here are five of those big moments in the team’s playoff history.
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America is More Pro-Life -- and More for Roe v. Wade -- Than EverPolls show record support for Roe v. Wade, and the pro-life designation. It seems contradictory. Perhaps Americans want abortion to be legal, but they are less likely to personally want one or to have a loved one have one.
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MLK Day and the University of Alabama Crimson TideIn 1970, the civil rights movement and the Alabama football team were struggling. But it took a football game and a star player to change people’s thinking about African American players in the Deep South.
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Yes, Fox News Channel Did Broadcast Obama’s InaugurationSeveral sites ran with the story that Fox News Channel wouldn’t broadcast President Obama’s Second Inauguration because of “routine maintenance.” Had they checked their sources, they would have seen it was a joke.
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Can the Cuban Missile Crisis Teach Us About Algeria’s Raid?Though the book “Essence of Decision” is primarily about the Cuban Missile Crisis, the text’s lessons has a lot to teach us about Algeria’s raid on the natural gas facility where hostages were taken.
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How Stan Musial Would Have Been a Victim of Politics TodayStan Musial tragically passed away at the age of 92. But a greater tragedy would have happened had he played today, because he may not have made it into Baseball’s Hall of Fame this year, for the same reason bad politicians make comebacks.
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Water Nowhere, Nor Any Drop to DrinkThe general concern is the environment. The specific issue is our water resources. Like many across the nation experiencing drought, Georgians are too. Changing policies by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers would be a good start.
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Democrats Just Gave Republicans Some Quote Board MaterialDemocrats chose to taunt Republican during the GOP retreat, instead of coming up with their own ideas or some olive branch that would show a commitment to bipartisanship. All they did was enrage and embolden the GOP.
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Tax Assault Weapons Like We Do Submachine GunsGiven that the assault weapons ban won’t pass, it’s time to think about treating assault weapons like submachine guns and automatic rifles: tax them, don’t ban them. The money can pay for school armed guards the NRA wants.
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Obama’s Critics Didn’t Really Read His Gun ProposalCritics have assailed Obama for ignoring safety in schools, mental health, and violent video games. But in reality, Obama’s gun proposal actually covers those issues. One should read arguments before trying to refute them.
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Sen. Rand Paul and the Myth of Libertarian Parenting SkillsSen. Rand Paul, a presidential hopeful, had a son who was arrested on multiple charges. Some may blame libertarian leniency in parenting, but a recent study showed libertarians have the same parenting skills as other GOP voters.
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Why Carol Browner Should Be the New Interior SecretarySecretary of the Interior Ken Salazar is about to step down. His replacement needs to shakeup the department that seems to have been a magnet for scandals, going back to the 1920s. And Carol Browner is the person to do it.
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An Interview with an American Who Adopted Two RussiansA new anti-adoption law in Russia has made headlines. One wonders if it was always this complicated. So I interviewed a colleague who adopted two girls from Russia. It turns out their need for such a parent is great.
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Republicans Fall for Another Government Shutdown TrapRep. Rodgers announced that Republicans are likely to shut down the government. She would do well to learn the lessons of the last government shutdowns in 1995 and 1996, which cost the GOP in the 1996 elections.
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New Newtown, Conn., Conspiracy Theory Gets Even More BizarreThe Sandy Hook shooting spawned a cottage industry of conspiracy theories from a few professors. The latest claims the massacre was the work of an Israeli hit squad. These will undermine belief in conspiracy theories, if anything.
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Why the GOP Attacks Hagel’s Temper: It Has Worked BeforeRepublicans have failed to effectively label Nebraska Sen. Chuck Hagel as a bigot. So now they are claiming he has a bad temper. It may seem silly, but attacking Bush’s Surgeon General with that charge worked in Arizona last year.
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How Democrats Could Hold Rockefeller’s West Virginia SeatSen. Jay Rockefeller’s retirement may appear to hurt Democrats, as GOP Rep. Capito will run for the seat. But Democrats have many potential candidates, and beat Republicans in statewide elections here. Capito may also be “primaried.”
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Will an NFL Star Replace Jesse Jackson Jr. In Congress?Napoleon Harris seeks to join Steve Largent, Heath Shuler, J. C. Watts, and Jack Kemp as NFL players who successfully make the leap from professional football to professional politician. He’s already won a state senate seat.
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Were Bush’s Second-Term Nominees Treated as Bad as Obama’s?Susan Rice, Chuck Hagel, John Brennan, and Jack Lew are all facing strong GOP opposition. They are getting much tougher treatment than George W. Bush’s second term cabinet nominees ever did.
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For Republicans in 2013, it is Paul vs. RyanIn 2012, there was a lot of Republican excitement about Paul Ryan. Now it is Paul versus Ryan, thanks to the fiscal cliff and debt ceiling debates. The winner may set the tone for GOP races in 2014 and 2016.
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Was the Newtown Massacre Faked?Florida Atlantic University Professor James Tracy claims the Sandy Hook Shooting didn’t happen. I examine his argument to see if there’s any support for it.
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The Politics of Steroids Keeps Two Players from Baseball’s Hall of FameThe headlines claimed that steroid abusers were “snubbed” from the Baseball Hall of Fame. I provide evidence that had those players who broke the rules been barred from the ballot, Craig Biggio and Jack Morris would have been elected.
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Atlanta’s Fort McPherson Named for a Union Civil War GeneralFort McPherson is well-known to Atlanta locals for many roles in many wars. It’s a source of local pride. But few remember it was named for a Northern general who tried to capture Atlanta during the Civil War.
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Less Racism May Have Led to the Alabama Student Bomb PlotThe white supremacist student in Alabama who planned the racial spree killing demonstrates not how pervasive racism is, but how diminished it had become, which may explain some of the student’s extreme motivations.
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Why Chuck Hagel’s Enemies are Calling Him Archie BunkerHagel’s opponents are calling him anti-Jewish and anti-gay for one reason alone: to win Democratic support for defeating Obama’s Secretary of Defense nominee. But the bigot charge probably won’t stick.
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What Article Has College Professors so Angry?A Forbes Magazine article that claims college professors have the least stressful job has made academics almost downright "uncollegial" toward the findings, because critics in college are likely to make their jobs even more stressful.
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How Renewing VAWA May Save the Lives of GOP WomenCongress did not renew the Violence Against Women Act last week. But as evidence from a Republican Senator shows, the law works to protect all women, as well as reduce cases of domestic violence, including fatal ones.
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Why Idaho’s Mike Crapo is My New Favorite SenatorThe conservative GOP Idaho Sen. Crapo admitted he was responsible for his DUI. He didn’t lie, make some lame excuse, blame others, ask for leniency, or point the finger at others who did wrong. It’s quite refreshing to see a politician be honest.
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Throwback Attitudes Toward Rape Sadly PersistWhile the overwhelming majority of people know rape is wrong, some in politics still haven’t gotten the message. But thanks to changing voter behavior, those who don’t get it won’t be in office much longer.
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Three Reasons Why House Speaker Boehner Barely WonHouse Speaker John Boehner was reelection, but not by much. The reasons are more of a modern feature of congressional politics, than anything about Boehner himself. The House Speaker job isn’t as powerful as it used to be.
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How Effective are Carpetbagger Charges like Scott Brown’s?Former Massachusetts Sen. Scott Brown is accusing Rep. Ed Markey of being a carpetbagger. It’s an old charge that has been used throughout electoral history, but it doesn’t always hurt the opponent so much.
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Are Americans Optimistic or Pessimistic About Obama?While a recent poll reflects national pessimism before the fiscal cliff deadline, most post-election polls show Americans approve of President Obama’s performance, much higher marks than he’s had for the last three years.
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Is President Obama Playing with Fire on GOP Negotiations?By going along with the U.S. Senate deal, the GOP sure helped out the Democrats. The only question is whether or not Democrats will return the favor in a few months during the debt ceiling debate.
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Three Problems the City of Atlanta Needs to Solve in 2013Some of what the City of Atlanta needs to do in 2013 is not too different from what most people have for their New Year’s resolutions. But they are bigger problems to tackle, of course.
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Pennsylvania Governor Tries to Cover Tracks by Suing the NCAAWhy is the Governor of Pennsylvania suing the NCAA? He’s trying to appeal to Nittany Lion voters, hoping to reduce Penn State’s postseason punishment and fines. But it will only call attention to his role in the Sandusky scandal.
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The Fiscal Cliff Deal Gets a 'C' in My Book, or LedgerThe fiscal cliff deal avoids the Wall Street panic, keeps a small payroll tax cut and preserves college tuition tax breaks, which I like, but could have done more to cut spending and reduce the deficit, which worries me.
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Egypt Becomes an Undemocratic Islamic “Republic” like IranThe passage of the Muslim Brotherhood Constitution means so many things women, students, Coptic Christians and comedians do is illegal, except for getting attacked by masked gunmen.
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8 Men Out: Who Voted Against the Fiscal Cliff Deal and WhyThe vote against the deal by a few was bipartisan, was about future statewide elections in 2014 and 2016, as well as a possible presidential contest between a few of the dissenting votes, including Rubio, Paul and Carper.
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How Liberal Arts Colleges Can Adapt to the MarketLiberal arts colleges offer something the rest of the market can’t: top quality education and low student-to-instructor classes. Yet they have to evolve, as the market moves to “cheaper” and “online.”
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Benjamin Netanyahu’s Israeli Tea PartyLike American Republicans, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is facing a right-wing challenge from a hardline party. Bayit Yehudi, led by populist leader Neftali Bennett, threatens to increase Israeli-Palestinian tensions.
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Academic and Athletic Discrimination in College are Surprisingly SimilarMost of academic hiring is confined to graduates of a small number of schools. It’s similar to discrimination in collegiate athletics, as both are often subjected to some very subjective rankings.
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Another Overlooked Newsmaker of the Year: Mother NatureHurricane Sandy, Western droughts, and finally some severe Christmastime weather including tornadoes has everyone wondering what’s wrong, whether your beliefs lie with religious or scientific causes.