Ken shares his thoughts on political news and history in his blog.
Three Southern states that went overwhelmingly for Donald Trump in 2016 hold gubernatorial contests this month, the highlights of this off-year election. One state, Kentucky, is held by a Republican seeking re-election. Another, Louisiana, is held by a Democrat seeking a second term. In the third state, Mississippi, the incumbent GOP governor is term limited. …
Let’s be honest here. Twenty-four Democrats are not going to be still standing come Iowa and New Hampshire next February. Heck, they may not all be around by the end of the year. And so what better time than this for the latest Political Junkie contest? Tell us who you think will be the first …
Read moreContest: Who Will Be The First Democrat To Drop Out?
We’re still awaiting decisions from the Killer B’s — Biden, Beto, Bullock — as to whether they will run for president. But for now, let’s focus on the Killer R’s — those “R” politicians whose buttons need identifying. As our fellow political junkies know, for some time now we’ve been showing photos of unknown buttons, …
I’m sure that headline sounds counter-intuitive, but it’s true. Everyone knows about the affinity between key members of the New England Patriots and President Trump. But if history is any guide, if Trump is to be defeated next year, Tom Brady is going to have to win another Super Bowl on Sunday. Going back to …
Read moreWant Trump Beaten In 2020? Tom Brady Needs To Win On Sunday.
It seems that each year brings more disheartening and dispiriting news; perhaps this has long been the case, but it feels like it’s just getting worse. Maybe 2019 we’ll find reason for hope. But for now, we’ll just stop and remember those who left us this year, those who believed in the good of politics, …
The passing of former President George Bush, at age 94, has been met with what I think has been a pretty balanced, mostly favorable assessment of his long career. To be sure, he was hardly without faults, and he made decisions and took actions that were deeply regrettable. The Bush campaign’s racist dog whistle of …
We’re still counting votes in this year’s Arizona and Florida Senate races. But that doesn’t mean we can’t look ahead to the Senate class of 2020. The following senators’ terms are up in two years: REPUBLICANS (22): Lamar Alexander (Tenn.), Shelley Moore Capito (W.Va.), Bill Cassidy (La.), Susan Collins (Me.), John Cornyn (Tex.), Tom Cotton …
There are still some races from Tuesday’s midterms that have yet to be called, but right now that isn’t our biggest worry. It’s trying to figure out which candidates these buttons represent. As our fellow political junkies know, for some time now we’ve been showing photos of unknown buttons, arranged alphabetically by candidate names, for …
The ten most votes cast against successful Supreme Court nominees since 1966. Should he be confirmed, Brett Kavanaugh could break the record. (1) Clarence Thomas (R), 1991 — 48 (2) Neil Gorsuch (R), 2017 — 45 (3) Samuel Alito (R), 2005 — 42 (4) Elena Kagan (D), 2010 — 37 (5) William Rehnquist CJ (R), …
Read moreTop Ten ‘No’ Votes For Successful Supreme Court Nominees, 1967-Present
With a vote on the confirmation of Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court being hurried as quickly as possible — perhaps as soon as Saturday morning — that leaves us with a new Political Junkie contest where you’ll have to submit your guesses as quickly as possible. First, what will be the final Senate …