Professor John A. Tures, LaGrange College
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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Surprise! Sanctions Are Working on Iran, Myanmar, and Other Rogue StatesAfter decades of failure, economic sanctions are showing positive results. This article explains four reasons why sanctions are working on Iran, Myanmar, and elsewhere.
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Congress Isn’t Getting Dumber, but it Thinks You AreIs Congress getting dumber? Are Americans getting dumber? Or perhaps there is some other reason why politicians are speaking more simply to the American people.
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Suicide Attacks Are Less Frequent but More DeadlyPerhaps more than 100 Yemeni soldiers allied with America in the War on Terrorism were killed Monday, the latest demonstration of why suicide attacks are more rare, yet more deadly when executed.
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In the Florida Senate Race, the Pot is Calling the Kettle BlackThe Republican Primary for the U.S. Senate seat in Florida features a lot of politicians who deny being politicians, and even accuse others of being politicians. This silliness is helping Democratic Party incumbent, Senator Bill Nelson.
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Would Regulation Have Stopped JPMorgan Chase Losses?The huge JPMorgan Chase losses have sparked a debate about whether a tougher Dodd-Frank law would have made a difference in stopping huge losses in America’s financial industry.
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Even Winning Vice-Presidential Candidates Struggle in Political CareersColumnist Walter Shapiro finds few defeated VP candidates have won the presidency. I’ve found that for winning VP candidates, it’s not so great for your political career either. Only two have been elected to the Presidency on their own since 1920.
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49 Beheaded Bodies Were Designed to Bring Back a Corrupt Old Party in MexicoThe PRI, the party which manipulated Mexican politics, is trying to regain their old position of power. And they are suspiciously benefitting from the drug war this election season.
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Republicans Foolish to Claim Obama Is InexperiencedIn 2008, both Hillary Clinton and Republicans argued that Obama was inexperienced, to no avail. In 2012, they are doing it again. Why don’t they focus more on the Obama record instead?
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Is Nebraska Senate Candidate Deb Fischer a Politician or Not?Mitt Romney and Deb Fischer Both Have Claimed They Are Not Politicians. Both Should Maybe Admit They Are Politicians, But Claim Instead That They Are Good Politicians.
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Do Stand Your Ground Laws Reduce Crime?Do “Stand Your Ground” laws reduce violent crime and property crime? This article compares states which have passed such laws, with those that have not from 2004 through 2009.
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Why Romney Really Doesn’t Want George W. Bush’s EndorsementMitt Romney just picked up the endorsement of George W. Bush. But he may not want it, given that voters don’t like Bush very much, and still blame him for the economic mess.
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The Media Are Not Biased Against Mitt RomneyCoaches try to work the referees in a game, claiming the refs are biased against them. It’s not too different from the Romney campaign bullying refs with claims of media bias, despite evidence to the contrary.
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The Five Most Influential Presidential MothersThe mothers of Andrew Jackson, Woodrow Wilson, John F. Kennedy, Jimmy Carter and George W. Bush were the most influential, shaping the presidencies of their sons.
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Your Stand on Gay Marriage May Depend on Your Birthday and ZIP CodePresident Obama has recently come out in favor of gay marriage. Will most Americans approve of his new position? It depends on their age and where they live.
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Romney’s VP Choices Aren’t Helping Him Win StatesPolls show that Rubio, Bush, Portman, Christie, McDonnell and some others wouldn’t provide much of a boost to Romney in those swing states. If he’s going to pick a VP, it should be more for experience. -
While Lugar’s Career Falls, the Power of Indiana Women RisesThe national media almost exclusively focused upon the Lugar-Mourdock race, ignoring the impressive gains made by women in statewide and congressional races.
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Obama and Romney Both Believe in Evolution… on Gay Marriage, ImmigrationObama and Romney both believe in evolution, at least on the issues. For Obama, the issue in evolution is gay marriage. For Romney, his position on immigration is seen as “evolving.” It’s a cheap attempt to appeal to all voters.
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Romney’s Comment on the Car Industry is a ClunkerRomney’s claim that he saved the auto industry is reminiscent of his dad’s ill-fated “brainwashing” comment. Anyone got an Etch a Sketch for Mitt?
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With Mourdock, Indiana Republicans Gamble Senate SeatBy backing a conservative challenger, the Indiana Republicans find themselves without their sure bet, with a dogfight just to beat Congressman Donnelly. Then there are chances that Mourdock may not vote so conservatively.
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America Lost Its Most Pro-American French PresidentBecause President Nicholas Sarkozy in France was defeated in his reelection bid, America lost its best continental European ally in decades. It will hurt American foreign economic and security policy.
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Does the Defeat of the French President Spell Doom for Obama?French President Nicholas Sarkozy’s defeat should put President Barack Obama on edge, even if Sarkozy was a conservative. Obama has some assets, but the worldwide trends are against him.
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Common Myths About Cinco de MayoCinco De Mayo Was Not A Mexican Victory Over Spain, A Final Victory Over France, Or A Holiday Of Little Importance For Both America And Mexico.
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Are Republicans Headed for Train Wrecks in Indiana and Utah?TEA Party challenges by conservatives against Senator Richard Lugar in Indiana and Senator Orrin Hatch in Utah could set up a series of races that could benefit Democrats.
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Are Asian-Americans Free Agents in the Election?Asian-Americans are often ignored in political discussions. Republicans let them slip away to Democrats in the last three elections. What can Romney do to win them back?
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Three Cups of Bittersweet Tea for Greg MortensonThe lawsuit against Greg Mortenson has been tossed. The Montana Attorney General has settled its claims with his charity. Can he get back to building schools in Central Asia?
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Why the Kony 2012 Movement is Hard to KillDespite an embarrassing health scandal and scores of condemnations from critics, the Kony 2012 Movement is alive and well on campus, because it has a strong case. -
Is There a Legacy of Hate in California Following the L.A. Riots?Though Los Angeles Riots may have burned out twenty years ago, there are still some smoldering embers, as evidenced by the state leading the country in the number of active hate groups, according to the SPLC.
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How the L.A. Riots Made California a Blue StateBefore the L.A. Riots of 1992, Republicans routinely captured the state in presidential and statewide elections. Democrats now dominate California elections. Did the riots play a role? -
If Romney Teamed with a Primary Opponent, Could the Two Win?A ticket featuring Romney and one of his opponents like Santorum, Gingrich, Paul, Bachmann or Pawlenty would be more likely to succeed, if history is any guide.
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Has Anything Changed in 20 Years Since the Riots? Just CrimeCrime took a dive after the L.A. Riots. It wasn’t the economic growth, abortion or crime bill. It can be attributed to lessons learned by the police in the wake of that April 29th day 20 years ago.
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Surprise! Moderates Have Returned to CongressDespite the rhetoric that the political center is dying, a study of congressional voting scores reveals that the number of representatives and senators voting moderate tripled from 2010 to 2011. -
Who Was America’s Greatest Enemy Commander?Who America’s greatest enemy…the man who burned Washington, or the leader of Custer’s Massacre, a foe from World War II, one who beat us in Vietnam, or perpetrator of 9/11?
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Do the Media Love or Loathe Obama?Conservatives Claim There Is A Liberal Media Bias. Liberals Feel The Press Is Unloading Upon Obama. An In-Depth Of Press Coverage Finds The President Got Poor Coverage, But So Did Several Republicans.
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No Jeb Bush as Romney VP? Four Reasons WhyIf Jeb Bush said yes to Romney, he’d have to wait until he’s 67 to run for president, assuming Romney even wins. If Romney loses, Jeb’s presidential hopes are over. Here’s why.
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Do the French Care More About Their Election or the one in the U.S.?Nearly a decade ago, a student of mine found that the French gave more media coverage to America’s election than its own. Is that trend repeating itself in 2012?
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Who is to Blame for the Current Economic Conditions?Do voters miss President Bush? A series of polls shows how most voters feel President Bush is to blame for economic conditions, but Latinos grade Obama down on the economy.
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Will Hispanics Flock to Illegal Immigrant-Bashing Mitt Romney?Mitt Romney Beat His Rivals With A Hard-Line Stand On Immigration. Will Hispanics Go For Someone Adopting The Same Positions He Ran Against Over The Past Few Months?
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Will Terrorism Influence the Outcome of the French Presidential Election?Killings of French soldiers, Jewish students, and their teacher by a lone wolf terrorist may be just enough for conservative French leader Nicholas Sarkozy to win another term, replicating the U.S. and Spain in 2004.
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American Is a Low-Tax Country, and Taxes Have Fallen Since 2008Statistics reveal that Americans pay a lot less in taxes than European countries and other wealthy nations, as a percentage of our GDP. Moreover, this tax burden has fallen in recent years. I examine why.
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Critics of Obama’s Trips Need to Take a Vacation from the IssuePresident Obama is again knocked for taking “lavish vacations.” Yet as this article shows, such a strategy has a bipartisan history. I even calculate a vacation average for three presidents. But maybe it’s time to give the debate over trips a rest.
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And the Next Sarah Palin Is…Recent reviews of female vice-presidential candidates for Mitt Romney seem to overlook one candidate who would be a pretty good match for the Republican ticket.
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Lift Sanctions on Myanmar, but Have a Backup PlanAfter years of house arrest and mistreatment, Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi has been freed, and even won a special election. End sanctions, but let Myanmar know what will happen if she is locked up again.
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Will the 2012 Election Lead to a Recession in 2013?An Uncertain Election Outcome And Political Gridlock Could Pave The Way For An Economic Downturn. This Article Examines The Historical Connection Between Elections And Recessions. -
Rep. Paul Ryan Would Make a Decent VP, but Not a Good VP CandidateIn this column, I explain how even Ryan’s political experience would work against him if he were linked with Romney in the November election.
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Is the International Criminal Court Preventing an End to Bloodshed in Syria?The International Criminal Court Was Designed To Arrest Those Who Abuse Human Rights. But Are Such Regimes Hanging On Longer, Killing More People, To Avoid The ICC? Is It Worth It?
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Why We Should Calm Down About the North Korean Rocket LaunchNorth Korea is being irresponsible by launching a rocket. But there’s no need to compound the problem by backing them into a corner over the launch.
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So Why Did Santorum Really Drop Out? Three Possible ExplanationsRick Santorum ran an impressive race, better than anyone could have expected. But a poor position in the polls may have weighed more on his decision to drop out.
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GOP Sen. Dick Lugar Hasn’t Changed, but Conservatives HaveIndiana Republican Senator Lugar Is Accused Of “Changing” Over The Years. But He’s Actually Had A Pretty Consistent Voting Record. Conservatives Just Want Someone To Insult Obama.
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Should the Trayvon Martin Case Be Tried by Photos?In This Era Of Court TV, Nancy Grace, And Prosecution By Media, It’s Hard For Us To Remember That The Trayvon Martin Shooting Will Be Tried By The Court, Not Public Opinion. -
Religion is More of a Source for Peace Instead of ConflictThough the popular notion of religion is one of conflict, more recent studies show that religion is more likely to play a strong role in producing peace.
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Did Rick Santorum Lose by Ticking Off Latinos?Former Senator Santorum Lacked Mitt Romney’s Money Machine Organization. He Could Ill-Afford Any Mistakes On The Campaign Trail. But That’s Exactly What He Did By Insulting Hispanics.
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Pope Benedict XVI Doesn’t Push Democracy the Way Pope John Paul II DidWith Help From Pope John Paul II, Latin America Made An Impressive Transition to Democracy. His Successor Seems To Lack That Aggressive Anti-Authoritarian Stance, or Interest in Latin America.
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History Channel Ignores MLK Anniversary and, Ironically, HistoryOn the day of the historic assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the event was ignored on the History Channel. But valuable history is forgotten nearly every day on the History Channel.
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Romney is Wrong; Perot Did Not Help Clinton Win the 1992 ElectionIn an effort to force Rick Santorum from the race, Mitt Romney conjures up the specter of the 1992 election, where he claimed Perot helped Clinton win. It’s a poor analogy for the case, and gets the facts wrong as well.
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Romney-Dukakis Parallels in WisconsinMichael Dukakis was able to avoid a brokered convention with Jesse Jackson by winning the Wisconsin Primary. It’s a similar situation that Romney finds as he tries to put away Rick Santorum.
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Are Gold Price Spikes Due to Fears About Obama’s Potential Re-Election?Recent price spikes in gold have sent shockwaves through the economic and political community. Does this have something to do with Barack Obama winning a second term, or something else?
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The 'Resurrection' of the 'Ten Commandments Judge' in AlabamaFormerly ousted Judge Roy Moore made an impressive comeback in Alabama. A recent meeting of the Alabama Political Science Association speculates about why this happened.
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Santorum Wouldn't Do Better Against Romney If Gingrich, Paul Dropped OutPundits have claimed that Rick Santorum could win, but only if Newt Gingrich and Ron Paul drop out, so they don’t split the anti-Romney vote. I’ve analyzed whether this is true.
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Sarah Palin Is Nothing like Katniss from 'The Hunger Games'Sarah Palin is not a bad person. She’s a politician who wins some and loses some. But to say she’s just like the heroic character Katniss from “The Hunger Games” is a bit of a reach.
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Would a Romney-Rubio Ticket Beat Obama-Biden?Would An Obama-Biden Ticket Lose To A Romney-Rubio Ticket? A Recent Poll Provides The Clues, Along With Many Other Examples Of Group Voting
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Zimmerman Can’t Use 'Stand Your Ground' as a DefenseThe death of Trayvon Martin is an American tragedy. But is the “Stand Your Ground” law to blame for the shooting, or is the shooter hiding behind a law that doesn’t apply in this case?
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Republicans Bounce Back in Primary Turnout NumbersMost of the early contests had low turnout numbers for the GOP. But ever since then, Republicans have been turning out for the later battles in the Midwest and South. This could bode well for the Republicans in the Fall of 2012.
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Santorum Wins the Votes, Romney Wins the DelegatesWhat Do General Ulysses S. Grant, Walter Mondale and Mitt Romney All Have In Common? All Three Won Their Respective Campaigns, Even When They Were Losing Battles. It's All About A War Of Attrition In The 2012 Nomination Battle.
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What Mitt Romney’s Super PAC and William T. Sherman Have in CommonMitt Romney and William T. Sherman Adopted A Take No Prisoners Approach In Their Campaigns That Make Healing And Reconciliation A Daunting Task
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Republicans Liked McCain More Than Romney, Santorum and GingrichIn The Film Game Change, McCain Is Seen As Somewhat Likeable, Doing The Best He Can Under The Circumstances, While Sarah Palin Gets Skewered. It Turns Out That Republicans Really Did McCain More Than The Current Choices Of Romney, Santorum And Gingrich
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Rick Santorum, like Tim Tebow, Really Doesn’t Get RespectRick Santorum and Tim Tebow have a lot in common. Both wear their Christianity on their sleeve. Both have overcome the odds to win. And both are being pushed aside for someone who sounds like a better contender.
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Romney Must Learn from Clinton in Illinois in 1992Bill Clinton Put Away His Primary Rivals With A Convincing Win In Illinois In The 1992 Democratic Party Primary. Can Romney Do The Same In The Land Of Lincoln In 2012? Or Can He Make Matters Worse?
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Is Romney Right that Obama Assaults Economic Freedom?Mitt Romney claims that Barack Obama has assaulted economic freedom. An examination of data from the Cato Institute allows us to evaluate this argument.
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Are Limits on Lobbying Gifts the Solution to 'Fishy' Georgia Politics?Georgia ranked dead last in public corruption laws, according to recent surveys. It’s not surprising, given that the state is one of only three without limits on lobbying gifts. A new law sponsored by State Senator Josh McKoon could change that.
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Why Republicans Just Don’t Get LibertariansRepublicans don’t understand Ron Paul’s candidacy, or why the Cato Institute would resist being swallowed by the Koch Brothers. That’s because the GOP and Libertarian Party disagree on almost everything.
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What Might Happen at a Deadlocked GOP Convention?A Scrum Between Mitt Romney, Rick Santorum and Newt Gingrich Over The GOP Nomination Could Negate The Benefits Of A Convention That Picks The Winner.
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Is Rick Santorum Secretly Pro-Environment?In order to win in Mississippi and Alabama, Santorum accused Romney and Gingrich of flip-flopping on the environment issue. But his own book reveals that he realizes the importance of the environment.
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Five Myths About Alabama and Mississippi Going into the GOP PrimaryOn The Day Of The Alabama And Mississippi GOP Primaries, There Are Still A Few Things We Don’t Know For Sure About The Politics And Economics Of The Two States.
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March Madness, Politics-Style: The 10 Biggest Upsets in Recent ElectionsAmericans like upsets in basketball and in politics. In this article, I list the most unexpected ballot box victories and shocking electoral defeats in recent years.
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In 'Game Change,' John McCain, Sarah Palin Get Fair ShakeJohn McCain and Sarah Palin have called for a boycott of the film “Game Change.” Given that it portrays both in a more sympathetic light than the press gave them, they should accept the movie for what it is.
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'Game Change' or 'The Undefeated'? Which Was Right?Two films about Sarah Palin were shown on television. One portrayed her as inexperienced, while another characterized her as a larger than life figure beloved by America. But how did Americans really feel about the Alaska Governor?
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Mitt Romney Could Seal the Deal in AlabamaRomney could vault ahead of Santorum, Gingrich and Paul in Alabama, overcoming his earlier awkward comments about the South being “an away game.”
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Stop Bashing the Kony 2012 Video ProjectThis article addresses what critics have been saying about the latest Invisible Children project on Uganda, the Kony 2012 movement, and the weaknesses of these critics’ arguments.
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Students Try to Stop Joseph Kony of Uganda’s Lord’s Resistance ArmyFirst there was Invisible Children. Now there’s the Stop Joseph Kony video. It’s bringing some much needed attention to a human rights abuser who runs the Lord’s Resistance Army in Uganda.
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How Romney, Santorum, Gingrich, and Paul Can Learn from Bill ClintonThe Art Of Storytelling Could Help Rescue The Wounded Candidacies Of Mitt Romney, Rick Santorum, Newt Gingrich and Ron Paul, The Way It Helped Bill Clinton In 1992.
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By Ignoring Georgia, Republicans Allow Obama to Pull Even in Peach StateOutside of Newt Gingrich’s Well-Run Georgia Campaign, You’d Never Know There Was A Primary Going On In Dixie, As Romney, Santorum And Paul Virtually Ignore The State.
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How Rush Limbaugh Could Cost GOP the Senate, Creating a New “Year of the Woman”Limbaugh’s Comments May Not Only Cost The GOP The White House, But Also The Republican’s Best Chance To Retake The Senate.
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Look for a Romney-Cantor GOP TicketEric Cantor, the House Majority Leader and Republican Congressman from Virginia endorsed Mitt Romney in the primary. Romney may well pick Cantor for his running mate as vice president for the 2012 election.
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For Syrians, the Arab League is as Ineffective as the League of NationsThanks To The Hapless Arab League, Syria Was Able To Steamroll The People Of The City Of Homs, With No Punishment.
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How Both Parties Forced Sen. Olympia Snowe to QuitGOP Senator Olympia Snowe was just too moderate for the U.S. Senate. As a result, liberals and conservatives couldn’t wait to take her down. That’s why she retired.
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Southern Twisters Destroy Towns; Some Myths We Have About TornadoesTornadoes Kill In Alabama, Tennessee, and Indiana After The Branson Missouri Disaster. How Long Will It Be Before We Realize That There’s A Problem?
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No Bullying in Chardon, Ohio, High School Shooting -- Despite Rampant ReportsReporters blamed the Ohio School Shooting in Chardon High School on bullying. But prosecutors today explained that bullying wasn’t involved. It’s another false Columbine High School case.
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Is North Korea Actually Giving Up Its Nuclear Weapons?The news said North Korea may give up its nukes in exchange for food. But looking a little deeper with the help of an expert on Korea may reveal a different message.
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Maybe Bush’s Policy on North Korean Nukes was a Smart IdeaGeorge W. Bush was maligned for much of his foreign policy, but his policy on North Korean nuclear weapons has helped Obama reach a deal to possibly eliminate nuclear weapons belonging to North Korea.
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Did the 'Snob' Comment Cost Santorum?Santorum Called Obama A Snob For Wanting All Students To Go To College. But An Analysis Of College Graduate Voting Patterns Shows It Was A Dumb Comment To Make.
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Bob Kerrey Surprises by Announcing He’ll Run for the SenateEx-Governor and Ex-Senator Bob Kerrey Will Run As A Democrat For The U.S. Senate From Nebraska. His Announcement Is The Democratic Party’s Best Chase Of Keeping The Senate.
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Candidates Who Couldn’t Win Their Home StateAll Four Republican Primary Candidates Remaining Are All In Jeopardy Of Losing Their Home State. But History Shows Romney, Santorum, Gingrich, and Paul Wouldn’t Be Alone.
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Why the Republican Candidates Hate Each Other so MuchLiterature On What Divides Liberals And Conservatives Shows How Romney, Santorum, Gingrich And Paul Can Despise Each Other So Much, Despite Being From The Same Party.
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Why Obama’s Treasury Secretary Is Wrong About Iran and Oil PricesObama’s Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner Argues That Iran’s Saber Rattling Is Driving Up Gas Prices. But A Look At The Evidence Suggests That Something Else Is To Blame.
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Could Obama Lose the Way Jimmy Carter Did in the 1980 Election?The myth is that Ronald Reagan dominated the 1980 election. Though he won big, he only developed a lead barely a week before the election. It’s a lesson Obama needs to learn fast.
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Now the Girl Scouts Are in the Political CrosshairsSusan G. Komen’s Race for the Cure, Catholic Churches, and now the Girl Scouts find themselves dragged into the political spotlight thanks to political lobby groups and partisan politicians.
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Rick Santorum’s Book Falsely Assumes People Don’t Want a Traditional FamilyBy ignoring the reasons why people can’t form a traditional family, as well as Republican love of individualism and freedom, Presidential candidate Rick Santorum will have a hard time winning in 2012.
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Five Candidates Who Should Have Been PresidentWe regard Washington, Lincoln, Jefferson, Roosevelt, Kennedy and Reagan as the best presidents. But what about those who might have been good presidents, yet weren’t elected?
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Why Politicians like Obama and Palin Are Crazy About Jeremy LinYears Ago, Republicans Won The Asian-American Vote. Now Democrats Win The Asian-American Vote, And Hope To Do So Again In The 2012 Election
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President’s Day Special -- The Five Most Underrated PresidentsThe famous ones are on Mount Rushmore or have biographies on the History Channel. But they aren’t the only good presidents America had.
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Was Mitt Romney a 'Severely Conservative' Governor in Massachusetts?Research By The Fraser Institute On Economic Freedom Explains What Really Happened In Romney’s One Term In Office
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Could Governor Snyder’s Endorsement Cost Romney the Michigan Primary?You would think a state’s governor’s support would provide a big boost to a presidential candidate. But it doesn’t always work out that way. That’s what happened to Romney in South Carolina.
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Is Sarah Palin Right? Would GOP Benefit from Long Primary Season?Former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin told the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) that the Republican Party would benefit from a long primary season. A look at the evidence suggests otherwise.
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Why Are Republicans Trying to Give Obama the Line-Item Veto?Normally Congress doesn’t want to give the President the line-item veto. So why did House Republicans vote to give it to Obama? It isn’t just because they think Obama will lose, is it?
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Obama is the Great Divider, but Evidence Shows Dividers Get Re-ElectedA frequent charge CPAC members hurl at Barack Obama is that the Democrat President is a “divider.” But “dividers” tend to get reelected, according to data from Gallup surveys.
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Should Republicans Be Alarmed by the Low Turnout?Republicans Have Blamed Everything from the Weather, Previous Candidates, And Romney’s Early Victories For The Low Turnout. They Should Try To Figure Out The Real Reason.
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Will the No Child Left Behind Act Get Left Behind?Critics Claim Obama Has Empowered The National Government At The Expense Of The States. His Waiver Policy On No Child Left Behind Act Shows He’s Flexible On State Control.
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Could Tim Tebow Run for Office as a Democrat?People take it for granted that Tim Tebow is a Republican. But wouldn’t the Florida Gators and Denver Broncos quarterback pull another surprise by running as a Democrat?
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Why Rick 'Saintorum' Won Tuesday NightRick Santorum won in Missouri, and may well duplicate that surprise showing in Minnesota and Colorado. And he owes it all to some schools, hospitals, and the Labor Department.
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Why the World Has Iran Over a Barrel with SanctionsIran remains defiant that international sanctions aren’t working. But the country is going broke and its former friends like China are looking elsewhere for their oil.
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Is There a Decline in Republican Enthusiasm?In Florida and Nevada primary elections, voter turnout was down. Iowa and New Hampshire had only small increases, along with a slump in GOP enthusiasm. It doesn’t bode well for Romney.
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School Closures Are Coming to a District Near YouAs Federal Stimulus Money Dries Up And States Slash Funding, The Schools And Teachers Are Next To Go. And It Will Soon Hit Near Your Home.
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Data Show College Professors Aren’t Biased LiberalsConservatives claim that college professors are biased liberals. But the data shows that such professors don’t hate Ronald Reagan so much, and college graduates are more likely to vote Republican.
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Mitt Romney and Other Successful Candidates Learned to Win by LosingMitt Romney, Barack Obama, George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, and Ronald Reagan all learned to win after suffering early losses. It’s a lesson that Rick Perry, Michele Bachmann, Hillary Clinton and Fred Thompson never learned until it was too late.
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Why is Romney is Using Political Purell for Shaking Donald Trump’s Hand?Why does Mitt Romney look so unhappy that Donald Trump picked him, instead of Newt Gingrich, Rick Santorum, or Ron Paul? Trump may be just that toxic, even to Republicans.
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Why Romney’s 'I Don’t Care About the Poor' Remarks Are Politically SmartRomney Will Catch Flack From Democrats And Conservatives For Saying He Doesn’t Care About The Poor. But He Is Speaking To People Who Don’t Think They Are Poor.
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Do Celebrity Endorsements Outweigh Political Endorsements in the 2012 Election?Romney and Gingrich have an impressive list of political and celebrity endorsements. But which endorsements get the most attention?
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Why Mitt Romney Won’t Pick Chris Christie as His Running MateNew Jersey Governor Chris Christie Was Recently Touted As Mitt Romney’s Most Likely Vice-Presidential Candidate. That’s A Good Idea Only If Romney Really Wants To Lose.
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Florida Republicans Are Conservative and Love Their Government ProgramsA survey of Florida Republicans shows that they don’t want Medicare and Social Security cut. Romney and Gingrich got the message, and hitting each other over Medicare policies. But Romney’s support of the Ryan plan could hurt him in November.
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Will the Herman Cain Endorsement Help Newt Gingrich?Cain’s Pick Of Gingrich Would Help, If It Wasn’t Too Late, If It Could Block Accusations of Racism, If It Could Offset Gingrich Weaknesses, And If It Could Help Against Romney And Obama. That May Be Too Many If’s.
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Gingrich Rockets Past Romney on the Space IssueWhen Mitt Romney was the front-runner, insulting also-ran Newt Gingrich’s space policy was like shooting the wounded. Now it seems Romney has shot himself in the foot as the all-important Florida Primary looms large.Also published on:
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France Prepares to Withdraw from yet Another Foreign ConflictFrance has had a history of military setbacks over the last two centuries: Vietnam, Algeria, and now Afghanistan. But it has less to do with their armed forces, and more to do with their politicians.
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Do Democrat Presidents Demand More from Congress in Their State of the Union Speeches?Do Democratic Party Presidents have longer speeches and more congressional requests than Republican Presidents? An analysis of Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan, Bush, Clinton, Bush and Obama yields results.
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Will a Strong Performance by Mitch Daniels Make Him the GOP Candidate by Convention?As The Romney vs. Gingrich Battle Sinks Lower, And Rick Santorum Along With Ron Paul Are Ignored, The Calls For Mitch Daniels To Be The Nominee Will Grow Louder With A Good Response To The Obama State Of The Union Address.
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Could Obama Get a State of the Union Address Bounce in the Polls?President Obama Needs A Boost In His Approval Ratings If He Wants To Get Reelected. Could His State Of The Union Speech Make A Big Difference With The People?Also published on:
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Gingrich’s Debate Act Is Similar to Reagan’s 1980 New Hampshire Debate PerformanceRonald Reagan Won Over The Debate Audience In New Hampshire In 1980 With A Gruff Opening Line, Like Gingrich Did Last Week In South Carolina. Will He Keep Finding Success Against Romney, Paul and Santorum?
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Why Did Gingrich Triumph in an Evangelical State like South Carolina?South Carolina Evangelicals Had A Reason For Picking Gingrich Over Romney and Santorum. We Didn’t Expect It, Because We Really Don’t Understand Southern Evangelicals.Also published on:
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Everyone’s Got a Stand on SOPA, Except Presidential CandidatesDebate, After Debate, After Debate, And We Still Don’t Know How The Republican Presidential Candidates feel about the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA)Also published on:
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How Miscounted Iowa Caucus Votes May Have Given Romney the NominationSantorum may have actually won the Iowa Caucuses, but it may be too late for him to really cash in.Also published on:
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Will Perry Endorsement Clinch South Carolina for Gingrich?Perry’s Endorsement May Help Gingrich Beat Romney In South Carolina. But Are Endorsements Actually Overrated?Also published on:
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Jon Huntsman’s Failed 2012 Race Reminds Me of Rudy Giuliani in 2008Jon Huntsman focused almost exclusively on New Hampshire in 2012, the same way Rudy Giuliani bet everything on Florida in 2008. The results were the same.Also published on:
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Matching South Carolina Groups to Republican Candidates They'd like to 'Date'Do Men Prefer Mitt Romney? Are Younger People Swooning Over Ron Paul? Who’s The Favorite Among Senior Citizens? A Recent Poll Provides The Answers.Also published on:
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Finally Fixing the Martin Luther King Jr. MemorialThe National Memorial to Martin Luther King Jr. Looks Imperious And Has An Inaccurate Quote Of His. Thankfully At Least One Of Them Is About To Be Fixed.Also published on:
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Newt Gingrich Is the Modern-Day CSS Hunley Sub in South CarolinaSouth Carolina’s H.L. Hunley executed the first successful submarine attack. Will Gingrich’s desperate attack against Mitt Romney provide similar results in the South Carolina Primary?
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Why Are Remaining GOP Candidates Still Running Against Mitt Romney?While Romney is being crowned by the media, other candidates like Gingrich, Perry, Paul, Huntsman, Santorum see little improvement from Romney over his 2008 showing.
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Was Tea Party's Death Witnessed in New Hampshire Primary?The tea party was supposed to be the faction that pushed the GOP to the right, or even control the Republican Party. After the 2012 New Hampshire primary, one has to wonder where the tea party went.Also published on:
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Is Bachmann Costing Santorum Valuable Support by Not Endorsing Him?Michele Bachmann and Rick Santorum are the two candidates completely united on social conservative views, even signing a controversial pledge. Refusing to endorse Santorum is clearly payback.Also published on:
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Do Republican Voters Now Want to Fire Mitt Romney?Mitt Romney stole victory away from rivals in Iowa, built up a lead in New Hampshire, and outmaneuvered his opponents in the debates. Then he completely shot himself in the foot. He may not lose the primaries, but his chances in November just got worse.
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Jon Huntsman Jr. Is the Henry Cabot Lodge Jr. Of Our TimesBoth Lodge and Huntsman Were Republicans Appointed By Democrats To Be Ambassadors To Asian Countries And Concentrated Their Own Presidential Campaigns On New Hampshire.Also published on:
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Has Obama Had Too Many Chiefs of Staff in This Term?Obama has had four Chiefs of Staff and his term is not yet complete. Is that too many changes? And does such instability in the Chief of Staff position present problems for a president?Also published on:
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Fan's Take: The 5 Biggest Recruiting Busts in Seminoles Football HistoryYou don't need a higher education degree from FSU to know that the school has its share of overrated football players who couldn't succeed in the classroom or on the field.Also published on:
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Newt Gingrich: Self-Destructive Mr. Saturday NightThe Smart Strategy Is For Newt Gingrich Is Hold His Lead In South Carolina, Instead Of Spending All Of Your Money In New Hampshire To Bash Romney. But Then Again, This Is Newt.Also published on:
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Is Romney Winning Big in South Carolina, or is it Actually a Statistical Dead-Heat?If one is to believe a CNN/TIME Magazine poll from January 6, the Republican race is already over.
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Did McCain Endorse Romney so He Could Be Defense Secretary?There’s only one logical reason for McCain to endorse his bitter rival from 2008. He wants to lead the Pentagon in a Romney Administration.Also published on:
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Will the Next War Be Between Iran and Oman?Tougher Sanctions Signed Into Law By The Obama Administration May Generate The Newest Middle East War in the Persian Gulf.Also published on:
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Santorum and Paul Defy Expectations and Demands to Drop OutIt wasn’t long ago that pundits were telling marginal candidates to drop out. Paul and Santorum make folks rethink what it means to be a marginal candidate.
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Is Rick Santorum the Tim Tebow of the 2012 Election?Rick Santorum’s Comeback In The Iowa Caucus Is Attributed To The Very People Who Love Tim Tebow’s Inexplicable NFL Success: The Evangelicals.Also published on:
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Is Ron Paul 'The Little Engine that Could' in the Iowa Caucus?Ron Paul finished fifth in the 2008 Iowa Caucus. Could he improve on those numbers in the 2012 nomination battle? Indications are that he is likely to do so, and even pull a stunning upset.Also published on:
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Did Nebraska Sen. Ben Nelson Just Play Scrooge to the Democrats' Christmas?With Nebraska Senate Democrat Bill Nelson stepping down, their margin for error in keeping the U.S. Senate keeps getting smaller and smaller. Republicans smell victory in the Cornhusker State.Also published on:
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Is Obama’s Increase in Poll Numbers a Christmas Bonus?President Obama is doing better in the polls than he has in several months. Is it the economy, populism, an appeal to Democrats, his opponents’ weaknesses, or just because it is December?Also published on:
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Does Mitt Romney Fare Better in Caucuses than Primaries?In 2008, Romney lost the Iowa Caucus and New Hampshire Primary. But did he do better in caucuses than primaries? I look at the data from 2008 to answer that question.Also published on:
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Georgia Football Coach’s Christmas Vacation and Christmas BonusesMost of us deserve a Christmas bonus, but don’t always expect to get one. One boss is being punished for giving his employees one.Also published on:
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Bob Dole Endorsement of Mitt Romney Is Unpleasant Reminder of 1996Dole was beating Clinton in 1995, only to lose to him in 1996. Will the same thing happen to Mitt Romney in 2012 against Barack Obama? The Dole endorsement is an scary reminder of that lost opportunity for Republicans.Also published on:
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The Prince and the Playwright: Kim Jong-il and Vaclav HavelKim Jong-il and Vaclav Havel both inherited countries with a communist system. Only one led his country to peace and prosperity. The other led his country to the verge of collapse.
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Ron Santo, Albert Pujols and the New Corporate World We All Live InPlayers who stay with a team their entire careers are punished in Hall-of-Fame Voting. It’s another sign of a business environment where loyalty is punished instead of rewarded. And it relates to you and me.
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Republican Primary Candidates Plead for Palmetto Politician PicksRomney, Gingrich, Perry, Paul and Bachmann Hope To Win Endorsements From Elected Officials In Key States Like South Carolina. But Do Such Endorsements Actually Deliver States?Also published on:
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Why North Korea Could Fall in an 'Asian Spring'New North Korean Leader Kim Jong-un faces a country ripe for failure. The results could kick off a regional round of revolutions in Asia similar to those of the Middle East this year.
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Republicans Fear the Ghost of Christmas Past: The 1996 GOP NominationRepublicans destroyed themselves in 1996 with a divided primary where every early state was taken by a different candidate. Will it happen to the GOP again in 2012?Also published on:
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Is Obama Hiding from the Media?President Obama May Not Like The Press Very Much, But He’s Not Alone. The Presidential Press Conference Is In A Massive Decline Since The Great Depression.Also published on:
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Why Mitt Romney's Flip-Flop on the Occupy Wall Street Movement May Hurt HimThe decision of Mitt Romney to change from attacking Occupy Wall Street to sympathizing with the movement is the latest reason the ex-Massachusetts Governor can’t retake the GOP lead.Also published on:
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Will Ron Paul Win the Caucuses?Ron Paul Is Putting His Resources Into All Of the Caucuses. Is This A Smart Strategy, Or Should He Focus On Primaries? A Test Of The Data From The 2008 Election Provides The Answer.Also published on:
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Are Republicans Suffering from 'Buyer’s Remorse' on Illegal Immigration Policies?The GOP hoped to boost its fortunes in 2012 by passing tough illegal immigration policies. It hasn’t worked that way.Also published on:
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William 'Billy' Mitchell, the Man Who Predicted the Pearl Harbor Day DisasterOn The 70th Anniversary of Pearl Harbor Day, A Tribute Is Due To The Man Who Lost His Career Trying To Warn Us Of The Danger From Japan’s Airplanes.
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The Real Reason for the Pearl Harbor DisasterThe events of December 7 have little to do with too little information, or some conspiracy theory about suppressing information about an attack. They are more about America’s fumbled response to information.
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Why America’s Myanmar Policy Matters to YouSecretary of State Hillary Clinton became the first high ranking U.S. official to visit Myanmar in five decades. The stakes for this visit and Myanmar’s reaction are more important than many realize.
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Will Mitt Romney’s Lack of Political Experience Hinder Him?Politicians Like Obama And Romney Are Often Chided For Their Lack Of Political Experience. But Do You Need A Lot Of Years In Public Service Before You Run For President To Become One Of The Best?
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How Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy Will Rule on ObamacareReagan Appointee Kennedy Is Likely To Support The Affordable Care Act (ACA) Because He Backs A Generally Broad Interpretation Of The Role Of Congress In The Interstate Commerce Clause.Also published on:
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How the Super Committee Failure is a Good ThingWhen the congressional super committee failed to reach an agreement, people predicted gloom and doom. The stock market was going to go into free fall. The United States would get downgraded again. Scared consumers wouldn't spend a dime on Christmas shopping. Perhaps the U.S. government would shut do
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Will Conservative Judges Approve Obamacare?Some Republican judges are approving Obamacare, while some Democratic appointees are saying no to the health care bill signed into law by President Barack Obama. Don’t be too surprised when the Supreme Court rules in 2012.
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Does Our Government Use Holidays to Distract from Recessions?It could be just coincidence that many of our national holidays happened to be declared or signed into law during an economic recession or a bitter conflict. Or maybe it isn’t.
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American Republicans Hope to Copy Spanish Conservative SuccessSpanish Conservatives triumphed at the ballot box. American conservatives are hoping for a similar result. But how many similarities exist between the two cases?
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Surviving Tornado Storms of the SoutheastTornados ravaged the Southeast USA yesterday, sending me and locals scurrying. Without a plan to build storm shelters in the region, casualty lists are likely to continue to rise across the South in the coming months and years.
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Is the Newt Gingrich Recovery for Real?Newt Gingrich could win the Republican nomination, but it is going to have to involve going against history. But he has the political experience, debate savvy, and ability to learn from mistakes that will help.
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Will Wisconsin Republican Gov. Walker Be Ousted in a Recall?Democrats Feel Pretty Confident After Several Republican Politicians Were Booted In A Recall, And An Anti-Union Measure Was Defeated In Ohio. Yet Recall Elections Are Not Always Successful.
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Coping in the Post-Horatio Alger GenerationThe Income Gap May Limit The Horatio Alger Success Stories Like My Dad Or Herman Cain. But Our Generation Can Still Get By With A Smaller Slice Of A Bigger Pie, With Health Benefits And Education Opportunities.
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How the Military Vote Changed the Caucus SystemOn Veteran's Day, We Learn About How The Veterans Will Get An Equal Vote As The Primary Replaces The Caucus
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How Republicans Lost the 2011 Elections4 Red States And 1 Swing State Held Statewide Elections. Democrats Won In Three Of These Elections. Yet Republicans Are Ignoring The Results, Which Could Haunt Them Next Year.
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5 Reasons Kentucky Democrat Win Boosts Obama Re-Election ChancesDemocratic Party Wins In Kentucky Governor Races Predict Democratic Party Victories In Presidential Elections The Following Year Since 1991. Obama’s Chances Of Reelection Are Now Looking Even Better.
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Why Condoleezza Rice Will Be the Republican VP CandidateThe former Secretary Of State talks about her days with the George W. Bush administration, comments on Herman Cain and sexual harassment, as well as how she went shoe-shopping during Hurricane Katrina.
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Could Obama Be Reelected with Hillary Clinton on the Ticket?There’s a decent chance that President Barack Obama will replace Vice President Biden with Hillary Clinton. The question is whether it will work.
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Why Republican Candidates Hate Mitt RomneyRepublican moderates and conservatives are both unified in their dislike of Mitt Romney. So why do they hate him in 2008 and 2012? It’s because he changes his positions, and then accuses others of flip-flopping.Also published on:
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Conservatives, Liberals and Halloween HorrorsThings scaring conservatives are different from those that scare liberals. Both groups respond to their fears with government solutions. That's something scary to think about this Halloween holiday season.
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Empire of Elites: Dawn of a New CenturyMost Steampunk stories focus on Victorian England. What about the events occurring across the pond in the colonies? A powerful group is formed in the United States to challenge Britain.
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South Carolina Primary Matters More Than Iowa, New Hampshire and NevadaThe media may focus more on the Iowa Caucus, New Hampshire Primary, and Nevada Caucus. But South Carolina has a better track record of picking nominees from the Democratic Party and the Republican Party
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Why Hardly Anyone Cares About the 2012 PrimaryWhen only Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina pick the presidential nominee of the United States during the primary elections, why should the rest of us care?Also published on:
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Sarah Palin is Latest VP Candidate to Fall FlatPalin is at least in good company. Most vice-presidential candidates on the losing ticket tend to underwhelm in their own presidential campaigns, and it’s been nearly 100 years since one made it to the White House.Also published on:
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Republicans Really Aren’t RacistsA lot of speculation exists that Republicans are racists due to their opposition to President Barack Obama. But in reality, they really do like African-American members of the GOP.
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West Virginia Gives Hope to Obama as History Repeats ItselfWill Tomblin's win in West Virginia help Obama in 2012 the way Paul Patton's win in Kentucky in 1995 helped Clinton in 1996?Also published on:
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Rick Perry Really Resembles Ronald ReaganRather Than Run From His Previous Positions, Rick Perry Defends Them, Regardless Of What The Polls And Pressure Groups Say. And It Has Reminded This Political Scientist Of The Gipper.
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Do Republicans Need to Win Debates to Win Elections?There’s a belief that to win the election, Republicans must elect a candidate like Mitt Romney who is good at debating, instead of Rick Perry. Analysis of post-debate polls shows that this is an unsupported myth.
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Why the Media is Biased in Favor of Mitt RomneyThe press wants Mitt Romney to win for one reason alone: He’ll keep the election close. And that will keep you watching the television, listening to the radio, reading the paper and surfing the net.
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Rick Perry Is Scary to GOP Opponents, ObamaOne of the few things holding Rick Perry back were perceptions that he’s too conservative and not too smart. But after turning in a debate performance that reminded me of Ronald Reagan, Barack Obama has a lot to be worried about.Also published on:
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Why Chipper Jones Still Needs to PlayWhat do Chipper Jones, Dale Murphy, Don Mattingly, and Fred McGriff have in common? All have Hall-of-Fame statistics, but not Hall-of-Fame votes.
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Is the Tea Party Label a Kiss of Death?Tea Party members broke into cheers on the topic of people being executed in Texas or dying while uninsured. Yet it is the Tea Party that could face a political death, a victim of extreme tactlessness in presenting those beliefs to the American people.Also published on:
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How Harry Potter Finally Triumphed at the Academy AwardsHarry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, the best movie of 2011, will finally break the streak of setbacks suffered by fantasy, sci-fi, and children’s movies.
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9/11 Didn't Change My Subject But How I Taught the ClassAs a professor of political science who taught international politics, 9/11 didn't change the topic, but how I taught. Now students work on research that encompasses service learning designed to educated the community on terrorism.
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Rick Perry Latest Candidate Angling to Destroy Voters' Role in ElectionsFormer GOP presidential candidate Alan Keyes made a name for himself by taking aim at the 17th Amendment, which provides the people with the right to directly elect U.S. senators. Now Texas Republican Gov. Rick Perry is adopting the Keyes plan.Also published on:
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Will Barack Obama Be Re-Elected?Research of mine shows that US Presidents are more likely to be reelected, on average. But those who face a stiff primary challenge are more likely to lose, perhaps even more than facing someone from their opposing party on Election Day.
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How Hemingway Wrote About 'Nothing,' Which Turned Out to Be Everything50 Years After His Death, Ernest Hemingway Still Has A Lot To Teach Us About Ourselves, And How Closely We Resemble "The Lost Generation" of His Time. The NBC Television Show Seinfeld Provides The Pop Culture Comparison To His Great Novel.
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The 2011 Elections and Helping the Military VoteThe MOVE Act of 2009 was passed to help the military vote. But an analysis of Southern states in 2010 showed several elections did not comply with the law's provisions. How do the 2011 elections fare?
