Mercury/Clark & Weinstock
Vin Weber is a partner at the Washington, DC-based public strategy firm of Mercury (formerly Mercury/Clark & Weinstock).
Weber was an advisor to Jeb Bush's (2016) and Mitt Romney's (2012) presidential campaigns, and a co-chairman of Tim Pawlenty's political action committee. From 1981-1993 Weber served as a Republican Congressman for Minnesota.
A never-Trump Republican senator says, 'Never more…' First term Arizona Republican Senator Jeff Flake is a staunch conservative, and he's voted the Party line — as defined by President Trump. But yesterday, Flake stunned his colleagues by announcing he won't run for a second term because of the President's behavior, which he called "reckless, outrageous and undignified."
Does "Make American Great Again" Mean 'Turn Back the Clock?' Day Two of the GOP convention was more about demonizing Hillary Clinton than extolling Donald Trump -- nominated by delegates who were still divided. Tonight, the major speaker is Vice Presidential choice Mike Pence, the born-again Indiana Governor accused of using religious freedom to foster discrimination.
Donald Trump Divides the Republican Party Surrogates for Donald Trump claim he's no racist, but his attack on a federal judge with Mexican ancestors was the last straw for many Republicans. Some GOP Senators are refusing to back him, and one is calling for the convention in Cleveland to choose somebody else.
Does the GOP Really Matter? After one of the nastiest primary campaigns in America's political history, Donald Trump claims he can unite Republicans – but he's also said it's not all that important. Trump has questioned the tradition of giving the senior leader, House Speaker Paul Ryan, leadership of the nominating convention.
Cleaning the Barn and Passing the Gavel Today, Congress is likely to pass the first federal budget in five years. If the Senate agrees, the government will stay open and pay the bills until after the next election. For the most part, Democrats will be happy to go along, but Republican candidates for President and the right wing of the GOP are on the warpath against it .
The Anti-Hillary Campaign Is Up and Running Hillary Clinton hasn't announced her presidential candidacy, but her every move is being analyzed as if she had. This week, after she charmed 5000 professional women with talk of breaking the "glass ceiling," comment on her own status as part of the 1% was inevitable.
GOP Chances of Winning the Senate Are Looking Up There are some certainties in the mid-term elections: Republicans will hold the House. The Democrats still have the White House. But control of the US Senate is surprisingly close.
Are Republicans Getting their Party Together? There were primary elections for the US Senate and Congress in eight states yesterday. For Democrats, it was mostly business as usual, but Republicans were looking for signs of unity or division between the GOP Establishment and Tea Party supporters.
Crimea Naivete, Hobby Lobby, Trusting the NSA Who was naive about Crimea, SCOTUS considers religious freedom and can we trust the NSA?
Two Economies, Immigration, Syria, and Second Term Woes The Syrian ‘red line’ seems to have moved. Are good job numbers really that good? Congress looks again at immigration reform. And is Obama blowing his second term?
Love, Respect and the GOP After Monday's cancelled session, delegates packed the Tampa Bay Times Forum last night. First, they called the roll of states and officially nominated Mitt Romney . Then they heard speech after speech by Republican headliners. But the big moments came in prime time, Ann Romney wowed them with talk about "love" and life with her husband.
JP Morgan's Long Shadow: Big Banks and Presidential Politics JP Morgan Chase survived the financial crisis with its reputation in tact as the best managed bank on Wall Street. CEO Jamie Dimon has been a voice against increased regulation. Now the loss of $2 billion on risky trading has tarnished the bank and raised questions about Dimon himself.
Big Banks and Presidential Politics During the financial crisis, JP Morgan Chase got almost $400 billion in taxpayer loans to protect it from failure. It survived the financial crisis with its reputation in tact as the best managed bank on Wall Street. CEO Jamie Dimon has been a voice against increased regulation.
What Are the Republicans Waiting For? Haley Barbour has dropped out and, except for Mitt Romney , most other GOP heavyweights are looking for money, while potential donors are sizing them up. One GOP strategist said Thursday's debate in South Carolina "looked like the bar scene from Star Wars," and House Speaker Boehner didn't bother to watch.
Public Spending and Political Brinksmanship When they controlled both houses of Congress last year, Democrats failed to pass a budget for this year. Now Republicans are in charge of the lower house—where all spending originates. They are demanding massive reductions, while Democrats insist on freezing spending at last year's levels.
Public Spending and Political Brinksmanship When Democrats dominated Capitol Hill last year, they failed to pass a budget for this year, providing an opportunity for Republicans after they took the House. But the GOP is divided on whether to shut down the government if Democrats don't agree to more spending cuts than they want. Democrats insist on freezing spending at last year's levels.
What are LA parents doing with their kids during the strike? During the teacher strike, a lot of students are not going to class.
Could agave become Santa Barbara’s next major crop? In many ways, growing agave in Santa Barbara makes a lot of sense. Not only does it use very little water and thrive on generally inhospitable land, but it can act as a fuel break for wildfires.
Trump‘s Wall and the Politics of ‘Us Versus Them’ Politically, Trump’s great wall may not be worth the government shutdown. But it appeals to his base, including evangelical Christians.
Left, Right & Center presents: Two Years, Diaries of a Divided Nation Listen to America change… one person at a time. For these six people, the politics of the Trump era have changed everyday life. Follow them in real time through the tumultuous two years since he became president.