Why the "Joe the Plumber" Tax Debate Hasn't Helped McCain

Brian Schaffner (at pollster.com) has an interesting post on taxes and the redistribution of wealth arguing why Joe the Plumber hasn't led to a bump in the polls for McCain. Here is the key graphic.

2004/2008

A comparison of the projected Obama vote to the Kerry vote in 2004. After visible home state effects in AZ and MA nothing really stands out. Obama seems to be doing better than Kerry all over.

New York Times Endorsements Through the Ages

The New York Times has endorsed Obama today which isn't very interesting (or at least it's not very surprising). They do have a very interesting time line of their past announcements. Included is this gem from the three candidate race of 1912:

"It is to the interest of the Nation that the Republican party should be preserved as an organized, coherent opposition. The public welfare is not preserved by the collapse of a great party, by the rise of discordant factions in place of a compact organization."

House Republicans Bow to Political Reality

The budget constrained National Republican Congressional Campaign Committee has had to make some tough choices about which incumbents to support.

Undecided

David Sedaris on undecided voters, not for the faint of heart.

Obama’s Ad Effort Swamps McCain and Nears Record

More on Obama's groundbreaking advertisement efforts.

The Blogging Scholarship

See, blogging is different than discussion boards. Cash money offer. No need to even send me ten percent.

Obama Ads Invade Video Games

So the Obama campaign has purchased ads in video games. Since I'm not much of a gamer (go Wii Sports!!), I don't think I'll run across any of these. Politico has a gallery of them if you want to take a look.

Is It Over?

Larry Bartels on the probability that Obama wins the election.

Debate Reaction: Town Hall Debate

On pollster.com there is a collection of surveys related to last night's debate. Most interesting to me is the CBS News survey of 500 voters who previously claimed to be uncommitted. Check it out.

The No Votes

Cool info graphics from the New York Times on the no votes on the bailout plan.

Candidates Clash on the Economy and Iraq in Debate

Who won the debate? Discuss on your blogs.

Lawmakers Agree on Outline of Bailout

Here is post. Here is another interesting post about the bailout.

Now this is a party.

All-Time Favorite Political Ads

This is both a history of TV and political ads. Very interesting and someone requested more video clips.



You can find more ads at The Living Room Candidate.

Big Financiers Start Lobbying for Wider Aid

Did you think the bailout would be politics free?

Pact on Debates Will Let McCain and Obama Spar

The story about the negotiation for setting the rules for the debates is pretty interesting. I also like the idea that the candidates are watching film of their rivals previous debates.

Bush Urges Congress to Enact Rescue Package

Almost by definition a crisis will shock the system it is occurring in. It's fascinating to watch the political system, and in particular the party system, absorb and react to the ongoing economic crisis.

It's easy to mumble vague sentiments about coming together or issue attacks at your rival partisans. But it will be more interesting to see who gets to (re-)build the new regulatory regimes and institutional structure of capitalism that is currently being handled by Treasury Secretary Paulson and the Federal Reserve. Congress will likely not sit on the sidelines for too long.

See also this WSJ article:

"Why does one person have the right to grant $85 billion in a bailout without the scrutiny and transparency the American people deserve?" asked House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D., Calif.), a reference to the loan the Fed gave AIG with the Treasury Department's blessing.

More in the NY Times which features supportive Democratic Senators.

2008 Iowa Caucus

Pictures from your humble instructor. We were told the Republicans just sorta show up and vote as if it were a primary, so most of the action captures the Democrats.

The Electoral College favors voters in small states

An excellent (and highly readable) post by a political scientist and statistician.