Ken shares his thoughts on political news and history in his blog.
It wasn’t for lack of trying. Rick Perry became the first casualty of the 2016 presidential campaign on Friday, when the former Texas governor ended his candidacy. The announcement was not completely a surprise; it was reported weeks ago that he had run out of money and stopped paying staffers in Iowa and New Hampshire. …
And so we wait. We don’t know what Joe Biden is going to do. He could jump in the presidential race, as late as it is, despite Hillary Clinton’s huge head start and her sizable advantages in money, staff, organization and the opportunity to make history. And there’s Bernie Sanders to consider as well. Those …
It’s August, so that means it’s time for a Political Junkie contest. As we all know, there are 17 Republican candidates for president. Not everyone will make it to Iowa and New Hampshire. Or maybe they will. Nonetheless, someone will still be the first to drop out. Which one will it be? Send us your …
As our fellow political junkies know, for some time now we’ve been showing photos of unknown buttons, arranged alphabetically by candidate names, for you to help identify. We can’t make heads or tails of these candidates, most of whom we’ve never heard of. And when we see a “Smith for Congress” or a “Jones for …
He had a history of saying incendiary things. His fellow Republicans, even those who deeply disliked him, refused to take him on; most simply tolerated his antics and stayed silent. But this time, he went too far. “You’ve done enough,” Joseph Welch, the up-to-that-moment tolerant attorney for the Army, said to the senator from Wisconsin. …
Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker joined the Republican presidential field on Monday, promising limited government and a conservative agenda that would unite the party and win in November. (Click here for full speech.) No review of his announcement was complete without a reminder that he becomes the 15th Republican to enter the race. Since 1972, when …
The news did not come as a surprise but, for Nevada Republicans, more of a relief. Rep. Joe Heck, who has been in the House since 2011, said on Monday (7/6) he is seeking the Senate seat being vacated by Harry Reid (D) after five terms. The GOP had been concerned ever since Gov. Brian …
The Democrats lost what may have been their best candidate in next year’s Senate race in North Carolina. Kay Hagan, who was unseated by Thom Tillis (R) after one term in 2014, said Wednesday she would not seek to take on GOP Sen. Richard Burr. She made her announcement on Facebook: Serving North Carolina in …
The announcement Monday by Gov. Nikki Haley (R) and other South Carolina officials might have seemed like a no-brainer, in light of the recent horror in Charleston. The Confederate flag and other remnants of the Civil War South, while a source to some of regional pride, have been used as symbols of racial hatred for …
Last month’s “Who Dat?” feature left a lot to be desired. For some time now, we’ve been offering photos of unknown buttons, arranged alphabetically by candidate names, for you to help identify. But last month focused on candidates whose last name began with an “I” — and there were only a handful to illustrate. We’re …