President releases statement on the 20th anniversary of the reunification of Germany … Read More
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Rand Paul and Jack Conway get it on during what will probably be their only nationally televised debate, on Fox News Sunday.
Our photographer Jeff Malet roamed through the crowds at the big progressive rally yesterday in DC. Here’s what he saw:
A weird Newsweek poll came out at the end of last week that either means nothing or everything and most likely something in between which is a weird volatility that is challenging pollsters’ abilities to tell us just what’s coming on November 2nd. The congressional generic shows a five point spread for the Democrats — 48%-43%. That’s a strong number for the Dems. And it shifts the TPM Poll Average to +2 GOP, the closest it’s been for months. But it’s also not that surprising in itself since the Newsweek poll historically has been a relatively friendly one for the Dems. (Back on August 26, they had the number tied when other pollsters were showing big Republican leads.)
(This graph shows the trend in the congressional generic ballot going back to January 1st. Click the TPM logo in the graph to see the full chart and data set.)
What stood out to me about this poll was what was under the topline, particularly about the voters most likely to turn out to vote. Read More
Larry Kudlow: Obama/Emanuel hug at departure ceremony sent signal of weakness to America’s enemies.
“I think the hug lacked dignity. It did not send a message of American power and forcefulness … Why not just a dignified, stand-up, serious handshake? That’s what Reagan would have done. A strong handshake shows friendship, respect, and even affection. But a big fat hug seems to go over the line.”
Barbara Boxer has stopped the bleeding and is now holding a small but steady lead over Carly Fiorina, who hasn’t led in any poll of the California Senate race since the first week of September.
Brian Beutler talks with a former member of the Institute For Basic Life Principles, the conservative Christian outfit that counts among its members Dan Webster, the GOP nominee running against Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL). The uber-patriarchal institute is big on the scriptural edicts that a wife should submit to her husband.
“There’s very clearly delineated roles for women, and those roles are all based on submission, they’re based on self denial, on obedience, and respect, and even the word respect translates into ‘you just take it, and with a smile,'” the former member, a woman, told us. “Because that’s how God would have you respond to tyranny and abuse.”
If you’re going to have a kinda sleazy but not terribly surprising conversation to try to get someone to drop out of a race — make sure no one is running a taperecorder. Today Sharron Angle is learning this one the hard way.
“That’s really all I can offer to you (Ashjian) is whatever juice I have, you have as well…You want to see DeMint, I have juice with him…I go to Washington, DC, and want to see Jim DeMint, he’s right there for me. I want to see Tom Coburn, he’s right there for me. I want to see Mitch McConnell, he’s there.”
Late Update: Angle lawyer Cleta Mitchell tells TPM the call was “a setup.”