Sheldon Adelson Just Revolutionized American Politics

by in Media Comments Off on Sheldon Adelson Just Revolutionized American Politics

Though he’s not exactly a household name, casino billionaire Sheldon Adelson is well-known in politics as one of the largest donors to Republican politicians. He’s also now the owner of one of the premier newspaper properties in America, the Las Vegas Review-Journal newspaper. The purchase is going to revolutionize politics because Adelson will have done something that Democratic billionaires like Warren Buffett have been doing for decades: purchasing newspapers. As of this writing, Buffett’s company Berkshire Hathaway owns 71 newspapers across America including swing states…

Yes, Ted Cruz Did Support ‘Amnesty’ for Illegal Immigrants

by in Campaign 2016, Immigration Comments Off on Yes, Ted Cruz Did Support ‘Amnesty’ for Illegal Immigrants

Even though immigration is a top concern of only 10 percent of Americans, ever since Donald Trump entered the Republican race talking about deporting illegal immigrants and building a “big beautiful wall,” the debate about the issue has changed dramatically, including for one candidate who’s billed himself as an implacable rock of conservative principle, Ted Cruz. Now that he’s managed to shove aside fellow Religious Right candidates Mike Huckabee and Rick Santorum, Cruz is going hard after the other top-ranked candidate besides Trump, Marco Rubio. The Florida senator has…

Media Coverage of Presidential Debates Is More Influential Than the Actual Debates

by in Campaign 2016, Media Comments Off on Media Coverage of Presidential Debates Is More Influential Than the Actual Debates

Ever since John Kennedy and Richard Nixon squared off in 1960, televised presidential debates have become a fixture of American politics. Whether it’s Al Gore’s repeated sighing or George H.W. Bush looking at his watch, there are dozens of moments which the conventional wisdom cites as being influential in the campaign. How much do debates actually move the numbers for the various candidates though? In this particular cycle, good debate performances seem to have been good for former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina who rocketed up…

Does Marco Rubio Actually Want to Win?

by in Campaign 2016 Comments Off on Does Marco Rubio Actually Want to Win?

It may seem strange to wonder if the man who’s been consistently polling at third-place in the race for the Republican presidential nomination actually wants the job but when you look at how Marco Rubio has been running his campaign, it’s a perfectly reasonable question. As noted by the Boston Globe, Rubio’s strategy in the state of New Hampshire appears to be completely different from using scores of small-scale events with locals, the way that successful candidates in both parties have done for decades with…

Donald Trump Might Be Even More Popular Than Polls Show

by in Campaign 2016 Comments Off on Donald Trump Might Be Even More Popular Than Polls Show

Months after his campaign was widely expected to collapse, billionaire Donald Trump continues to enjoy wide leads over his challengers in the race for the Republican presidential nomination. The long length of time that he’s led the field has finally gotten Republican officials to take the prospect of his candidacy seriously. The National Republican Senatorial Committee, the organization assigned to elect members of the party to the U.S. Senate, recently wrote a private memorandum (which of course was leaked) to candidates advising them on what…

Republicans Are Courting the Jewish Vote But Are They Doing It Wrong?

by in Campaign 2016, Christianity, Demographics, How the Right Got It Wrong, Metapolitics, Religion Comments Off on Republicans Are Courting the Jewish Vote But Are They Doing It Wrong?

On Thursday, 13 of the 14 GOP candidates for president stopped by the Republican Jewish Coalition’s annual meeting, each boasting of how he or she was the best choice for adherents of the oldest Abrahamic religion. As would be expected, awkward pandering was a top priority on the agenda. “Last night, I was watching ‘Schindler’s List,’” announced former Virginia governor Jim Gilmore. It was the highest compliment a politician could give, almost a direct reference to a 2013 Pew Research poll which indicated that 73…

Regardless of Who the GOP Nominates, Hillary Clinton Will Be a Formidable Opponent

by in Campaign 2016 Comments Off on Regardless of Who the GOP Nominates, Hillary Clinton Will Be a Formidable Opponent

All eyes are on the Republican nomination contest right now for good reasons: There are a record number of candidates and Donald Trump is  starting a dumpster fire every few days. Despite that, however, it’s worth considering how a general election scenario might play out for the GOP candidates as they are likely to face former secretary of state and senator Hillary Clinton. If you ask the average Republican voter who could win, it appears that more than a significant majority believe Donald Trump is…