Ken’s columns offer an in-depth look at a significant political story and offers a preview of the stories and events of the week to watch out for.
Whatever you think of 2017, it’s hard to make the case that it was one of the most uplifting of years. And, frankly, that couldn’t have been much of a surprise, given the presidential campaign we had witnessed in 2016. The decline in civility and dignity has not dissipated. And, we suspect, it’s not going …
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 …
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 …
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 …
Our quadrennial exercise of predicting the major party running mates is both fun and ridiculous at the same time. We spend all this time assessing the strengths or weaknesses of potential vice presidents. Do they bring in a state or region? Do they ideologically balance the ticket? Is there chemistry with the top of the …
The fact that it’s May and we’re still talking about the potential for the Indiana presidential primary to be significant is a good thing. So often the battle for either or both nominations is long over by now and states like Indiana — which traditionally holds its primary in May — are long an afterthought. …
Since its creation in 1980, the effect of the South Carolina Republican presidential primary was to right the GOP ship if there was some indication of unsteadiness. Iowa had its quirks (Bush in 1980, Dole in 1988, Huckabee in 2008) and New Hampshire had its share of apostasies as well (Buchanan in 1996 and McCain …
We’re days away from the Iowa caucuses, and that will be followed shortly after by New Hampshire. If you’ve been following what’s going on in the two states – and what political junkie hasn’t? – you know their influence is gigantic. They can make candidates, they can break candidates. But are the results in one …
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. And we suffered other losses as well — giants in the political world who passed. The list includes Fred Thompson, a …