Ken shares his thoughts on political news and history in his blog.
Scott Brown, who electrified the Republican Party when he won the late Ted Kennedy’s (D-Mass.) Senate seat in a 2010 special election, was nominated by President Trump on Thursday to be the U.S. ambassador to New Zealand. Brown’s Senate career didn’t last particularly long; he was defeated for re-election in 2012 by Elizabeth Warren. Then …
Read moreScott Brown Is Latest Ex-Pol Headed For New Zealand
Here’s the schedule for the first week of Senate committee confirmation hearings for members of the Trump Cabinet (subject to change): TUESDAY, JAN. 10: Jeff Sessions, Attorney General — 9:30am, Judiciary John Kelly, Homeland Security — 3:30pm, Homeland Security/Governmental Affairs WEDNESDAY, JAN. 11: Rex Tillerson, State — 9:00am, Foreign Relations Mike Pompeo, CIA Director — …
A year ago, when we compiled the list of politicians who died in 2015, we wrote, “Have you ever witnessed in your life a political year like 2015? There’s no way to describe it. An escalating decline of dignity, and civility. And one wonders if 2016 will be any better.” It turns out, it wasn’t. …
Q: How often do electoral college voters NOT vote for the winner from their state? Is this common or unusual? — Robyn Davis Sekula, New Albany, Ind. A: It happens every so often, but never has it changed the outcome of the race. Donald Trump, according to the election returns of Nov. 8th, won 306 …
Read moreFrom The Mailbag: Don’t Hold Your Breath On Electoral College Mutiny
A good time as any to open up the Political Junkie to questions from our readers and listeners. Q: Donald Trump added three members of his administration from members of Congress. Do the Democrats have a chance at taking over any of their seats? — Donna Thomas, Portland, Ore. A: At this point I would …
Read moreFrom The Mailbag: Trump’s Cabinet Picks, Clinton’s Popular Vote Lead
The reasons and factors behind the stunning victory of Donald Trump are still being debated in every home in the country, and that will undoubtedly continue for many through the Christmas holidays, the Inauguration and beyond. It was that kind of election. But what was equally remarkable was the Republican Party’s success in both the …
It’s taken many of us several days to figure out what happened in Tuesday’s election — which has to rate as one of the most astounding results in presidential history. So it may not be fair to now ask you to try and figure out who these “unknown” campaign buttons are for. As our fellow …
With perhaps few exceptions throughout history to point to, this has been the ugliest, slimiest, pettiest, most revolting and depressing presidential election in memory. It’s also been the most fascinating. Here’s what we got. Breaking one glass ceiling after another, it was not much of a surprise that Hillary Clinton became the Democratic nominee this …
No question: When the World Series goes to a Game 7, if the American League team wins, Republicans win the White House. If the National League team wins, Democrats win the White House. 1972 (AL team wins) — Nixon (R) 1968 (AL team wins) — Nixon (R) 1964 (NL team wins) — Johnson (D) 1960 …
Read moreWorld Series Game 7: AL Win Favors Republicans; NL Win Helps Democrats
With the presidential race having lost some of its luster, the big game in town is the battle for control of the Senate. Republicans, which currently hold a 54-46 majority, are defending 24 of the 34 Senate seats up this year. Nearly everyone expects the GOP to lose seats in November, but will it be …