Real Clear Politics
Washington Editor for Real Clear Politics and co-author of Boy Genius: Karl Rove, the Brains Behind the Remarkable Political Triumph of George W. Bush; former Executive Editor at Politics Daily and White House correspondent for the National Journal
Tax Cuts and the National Debt Since the days of Ronald Reagan, it's been an article of Republican faith that cutting taxes liberates money for the business investments that create jobs and increase prosperity. This day, when income taxes are due, is a good time to ask if that's true. Raising taxes has been anathema in Washington for 30 years, but the national debt has raised fears across the political spectrum. A new study shows even Tea-Party Republicans might be willing to pay more.
Today's Taxes and Tomorrow's Financial Problems On tax day, nobody wants to talk about paying more but, despite the Republicans' 30-year line in the sand, that may be unavoidable, and it won't be just the richest Americans. The national debt is too big for them to do it alone. New polls surprisingly show that Democrats, Independents and Republicans are so worried about the national debt they might be willing to see an increase in taxes. Most important of all, they want everybody to pay a fair share.
The Ugly Campaigns, Angry Voters of Midterm Elections 2010 The late House Speaker Sam Rayburn liked to say that in Washington, "if you want to get along, go along." Now there's a new rule: "if you want to get along, make damn sure you don't go along." That's according to Carl Cannon, executive editor of PoliticsDaily.com .
Election Results: Did Insurgents Upend the Establishment? Every state has its own political dynamic, but yesterday's primaries in Arizona, Alaska and Florida were billed "as a test to see whether the political establishment of either party could hold its own in this summer of America's discontent." That's according to Carl Cannon, executive editor of PoliticsDaily.com . We hear from Cannon, journalists and other political observers.
More Mudslinging on the Road to November Every state has its own political dynamic, but yesterday's primaries in Arizona, Alaska and Florida were billed "as a test to see whether the political establishment of either party could hold its own in this summer of America's discontent." That's according to Carl Cannon, executive editor of PoliticsDaily.com . The campaigns were nasty enough that some losers are saying they'll have a hard time endorsing their victorious rivals. We look at what the future might hold for John McCain, Sarah Palin, Lisa Murkowski and Charlie Crist. Are any new political stars rising? Did Tea Party conservatives help challengers on the Republican side? Come November, will they be assets or liabilities?
Rove Exit Creates Crucial Vacancy at the Bush White House Much of the White House staff reportedly was surprised today when the Wall Street Journal reported that, after 14 years as the President's top political advisor, Karl Rove would resign at the end of the month. Some Democrats say Rove acted above the law. Some Republicans say he should have left before last November's elections. We talk with reporters who've tracked the relationship that helped shape six and a half years of American history.
Top Strategist Karl Rove Announces His Resignation After 14 years as the President's top political advisor, Karl Rove announced his resignation today . The President's top political strategist will leave the White House at the end of this month. We talk with reporters who've tracked the relationship that helped shape six and a half years of American history. Some Democrats say Rove acted above the law. Some Republicans say he should have left before last November's elections.
The Trump agenda: where's the beef? President Trump says big things are happening. After celebrating a House bill on health care, he doesn’t yet have Senate agreement. With James Comey’s public testimony scheduled tomorrow, the President today tweeted his selection of a new FBI Director. Is the Chief Executive all style and no substance? Later, terror attacks in Iran and conflicting claims about who’s behind them.
Is the threat from Russia missing from the Russia meddling probe? There's much being made about the Trump administration's possible ties with Russia. But the bottom line is Russia's effort to influence American democracy. Do the President and his aides care enough to take action before voters go back to the polls?
Replacing Obamacare: Now you see it… now you don’t As the Senate deliberates replacing Obmacare, health coverage for millions of people is at stake. There've been no public hearings, and a draft measure won't be made public. Is the House version so unpopular that that Senate is hiding a version that looks much the same?
Terrorism and tweets, hate speech and murder Just days before an election, Britain is coping with a rash of deadly terrorism, and Prime Minister Theresa May is on the defensive. And again today, President Trump has tweeted criticism of the Mayor of London. Later, a double murder in Portland, Oregon has revealed the ugly past of a supposedly “progressive” city. One immediate question: is “hate speech” protected by the First Amendment?