Rewriting The Civil War

Ken AshfordHistory, RepublicansLeave a Comment

Heritage Foundation Leader Jim DeMint: DeMint: This progressive, the whole idea of being progressive is to progress away from those ideas that made this country great. What we’re trying to conserve as conservative are those things that work. They work today, they work for young people, they work for minorities and we can change this country and change its course … Read More

Bridgegate

Ken AshfordElection 2016, Political Scandals, Republicans2 Comments

I was willing to give Governor Christie the benefit of the doubt that it was a rogue staffer who was responsible for the closing of lanes on the GW bridge on 9/11/13, and that he (and the rest of his staff) knew nothing about it. But a photo published earlier this week in the Wall Street Journal along with new revelations … Read More

Calling It Quits

Ken AshfordRepublicans, Rightwing Extremism/Violence, Sex/Morality/Family Values, Tea PartyLeave a Comment

Jimmy LaSalvia co-founded political action group GOProud to prove to America that the Republican Party is a safe home for gay conservatives. But he no longer believes his own arguments. On Monday, he announced on his blog that he could no longer take his own party’s refusal to stand up to bigotry: he was leaving the Republican Party and had registered as … Read More

Good Advice

Ken AshfordRepublicansLeave a Comment

Charlie Piece has a little piece of advice for the GOP handwringers struggling to "rebrand" their party as something other that certifiably looney tunes: Who was it that nailed the Laffer Curve to the doors of the cathedral? It was Ronald Reagan — and, elsewhere, Maggie Thatcher — and I don't recall any great howls of Papist outrage from Sullivan back then, … Read More

Racism Ended With Rosa Parks Incident, Says GOP

Ken AshfordRace, RepublicansLeave a Comment

This is nice … Today we remember Rosa Parks’ bold stand and her role in ending racism. pic.twitter.com/uxIj1QmtkU— RNC (@GOP) December 1, 2013 Think Progress points out that the celebration of the end of racism may be a tad premature: Some research contends that “racism cost the president more than five million votes in 2008 and 2012″ and a 2012 survey from the … Read More

Stay Classy, GOP

Ken AshfordRepublicansLeave a Comment

"In a 'negotiation' meeting with the president, one GOP House Leader told the president: 'I cannot even stand to look at you.'"  — Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL)

Post Shutdown Polls

Ken AshfordElection 2014, Polls, Republicans, Tea PartyLeave a Comment

Post-shutdown polls are coming in and they are brutal: The numbers: * Dems lead in the generic ballot matchup by 49-38. Among independents — a key midterm constituency — those numbers are 46-35. * Only 21 percent of Americans approve of the way the Congressional GOP is handling the federal budget, versus 77 percent who disapprove. Among independents: 20-78. Among moderates: 14-85.  … Read More

Day 7 And We’re Still Shutdown

Ken AshfordCongress, Obama Opposition, RepublicansLeave a Comment

And here's good commentary on why: Also…. Disapproval of congressional Republicans’ budget wrangling after a weeklong shutdown has shot up to 70 percent, with 51 percent disapproving “strongly,” according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll. At the same time, President Obama’s approval rating has ticked up due to improved marks among moderate Democrats and independents. No group, however, earns positive … Read More

Republicans Applaud Capital Police But Prevent Them From Being Paid

Ken AshfordCongress, Obama Opposition, RepublicansLeave a Comment

Speaker John Boehner tweeted how everyone owes a debt of gratitude for the way DC police handled the crazy woman who tried to run into the White House yesterday. They police do indeed deserve the praise they are getting. One thing Capitol police are not getting, though—at least not while Boehner lacks the professionalism and bravery to stand up to … Read More

Hot Mic Conversation Shows This Is About Optics And “Winning”, Not About Americans

Ken AshfordCongress, Obama Opposition, Republicans, Tea PartyLeave a Comment

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) were caught on a hot mic Wednesday night while discussing their party's messaging on the government shutdown.    Paul ran into McConnell, who was wired for an interview, in front of a camera after wrapping his own interview with CNN, according to Western Kentucky news station WPSD.  "I just did … Read More