- Social:
Institute for Southern Studies
Executive Director of the Institute for Southern Studies and publisher of Facing South/Southern Exposure
PROFILE
Chris Kromm
Guest
FROM Chris Kromm
Which Way, L.A.?
Will There Be Compromise or Continued Gridlock? Despite widespread predictions that it might take weeks to decide the election, Mitt Romney conceded at 1 this morning in Boston. Shortly afterwards, President Obama spoke . With the election finally over, it's time for Washington to focus again on how to govern the nation. Have any new lessons been learned from yesterday's voting? How much will politics — and policy — stay the same?
To the Point
Will There Be Compromise or Continued Gridlock? The popular vote was almost even, but President Obama won big in the Electoral College. Control of the House and the Senate did not change at all. Despite the evidence of a polarized nation, exit polling reveals an electorate that's evolving along demographic lines. There's talk of the Reagan Revolution fading at last as both parties form new coalitions. We hear about white men, women, Hispanics, and youth. In the meantime, can a re-elected president and a lame-duck Congress keep the nation away from the "fiscal cliff" and set the stage for bipartisanship?
Which Way, L.A.?
The Southern Primaries and the GOP Rick Santorum won both Alabama and Mississippi yesterday. Newt Gingrich took second place in states even he said he needed. Santorum is claiming he's now the real, conservative alternative to Mitt Romney , who came in third. If Romney can't capture the Southern conservative base of the party, why is he still the likely GOP nominee?
To the Point
The 'Solid South' Isn't So Solid After All Mitt Romney is lucky there were two other candidates in Mississippi and Alabama, even though he lost to them both. One alone would have swamped him. But, including Hawaii and American Samoa, he got more delegates yesterday than either Newt Gingrich or Rick Santorum , who won both primaries and is claiming to be the real, conservative alternative to Romney. Even though Romney's a loser with the conservative base of his party, he's still the favorite to win the GOP nomination. Does that mean the South doesn't matter? Will Santorum's double win push Gingrich out of the running? Does Romney still have a chance to prevail before the convention in Tampa?
Which Way, L.A.?
The Gulf Oil Spill and the Long-Term Recovery The cap on BP's broken oil well in the Gulf of Mexico has been holding, but that's only temporary. After more than three months, preparations are finally underway for finally sealing it once and for all.
To the Point
The Gulf Oil Spill and the Long-Term Recovery The cap on BP's broken oil well in the Gulf of Mexico has been holding, but that's only temporary. After more than three months, preparations are finally underway for finally sealing it once and for all. The worst oil spill in US history might be doing less damage than first estimated, or it could be a whole lot worse. BP has begun what new CEO Bob Dudley calls a "scale-back," removing skimmers and reducing hazmat crews. But critics say it might be too soon. They're worried about underwater oil pools that could still wash ashore, even after the gusher is finally sealed. The worst damage has resulted from using the Gulf as an industrial dumping ground. Meantime, what about the psychological toll of constant crisis? We hear more about the spill, including the way it's created a "corrosive community."
To the Point
Election Day in America When it all started 22 months ago, the big issue was the war in Iraq. When the presidential candidates finally gave way to the voters, it was all about the economy. Today, voters began lining up before the polls opened on the eastern seaboard, and the pattern repeated itself with long lines forming across the country. The race, gender and age of the candidates will make this election historic whichever side wins, and the turnout's expected to set a record. Both parties and the Department of Justice are looking for evidence of fraud or disenfranchisement. Is the electorate changing? Do American voters expect more than any president can deliver? When will we know the results?
To the Point
Money, the Campaign and Voting Integrity In 2004, George Bush and John Kerry raised $700 million combined for their presidential campaigns. That was a record. A year ago, Barack Obama promised to limit himself to public financing, but changed his mind. This year, he alone has raised $650 million, and is outspending John McCain on TV in battleground states by a margin of four to one. Tonight, Obama will address the nation for 30 minutes in prime time on CBS, NBC, Fox, MSNBC, Univision and BET, all paid for by his campaign. But big money's not the only big story of this campaign. There are massive problems with early voting, especially in southern states. There are also questions about the integrity of the electoral system, like those in the 2004 elections, in which many states' official results did not coincide with surveys taken of voters as they were leaving the polls.
To the Point
Early Voting Draws Big Crowds in Key States Two weeks before the November election, early voting is under way all across the country and it's already providing signs of a record turnout. But it won't be easy. Many states allow early voting, and long lines began forming yesterday in Florida and other key states. In Fayetteville, North Carolina, early voters were heckled on Sunday. Chris Kromm is Executive Director of the Institute for Southern Studies in Durham.
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To the Point
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To the Point
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To the Point
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