Taegan Goddard's Political Wire
Political news, polls and buzz
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Health Care Reform Passes the House
House Democrats narrowly clinched a landmark victory on a sweeping health care overhaul Saturday night, voting 220-215 to deliver President Obama a key win on his top domestic priority, Roll Call reports. The measure, which passed with only one Republican vote, represented six months of hard-foug …
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Pelosi Has the Votes
"Hours before an expected vote on a sweeping health care bill, House Democrats believe they've secured the 218 votes they need to approve the bill, several party insiders said," Politico reports."Votes have a tendency to shift in the final hours before a controversial vote, but party leaders were e …
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On Moderate Bias
Time notes that most discussions whether the news media is biased overlook the most significant bias out there. "As anyone following health reform knows, centrism is a political position too. And you see moderate bias -- i.e., a preference for centrism -- whenever a news outlet assumes that the t …
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Nixon's Last Press Conference
On this day in 1962, Richard Nixon gave his "last press conference" after losing the California governor's race. Said Nixon: "Gentlemen, think of what you're going to miss. You won't have Nixon to kick around anymore." Just six years later he was elected president.
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Anatomy of a Blowout
In early summer, pollster David Petts showed Virginia gubernatorial candidate Creigh Deeds (D) how he could the win the general election. The advice in the memo obtained by Politico: "Go negative on the Republican nominee, capitalize on his natural advantage with independents, and be wary of two …
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Moment of Truth for Health Care Reform
The House health care reform bill "has taken more twists and turns and has zig-zagged its way through more Democratic districts than the Mississippi River," The Hill reports. "And after a month's worth of legislative wrangling and deal-making, the bill is approaching its final destination: a vote …
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House Leaders Strike Deal Over Abortion
House Democratic leaders "have broken through the abortion impasse holding up their sweeping health care overhaul, a development leadership aides said put Democrats on track to pass the measure on Saturday," Roll Call reports. "The deal hands a major win to abortion-rights opponents by green-ligh …
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White House Denies Fox News is Off Limits
"The White House is strongly denying a story claiming that White House officials privately threatened to retaliate against a Democratic strategist for appearing on Fox News -- a claim generating a big stir on the right as the latest example of the White House's victimization of the network," reports …
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NY-23 Still a Toss Up
Rothenberg Political Report: "Bill Owens' victory in New York's 23rd was the good news for Democrats this week and continued the party's winning streak in competitive House special elections. But the dynamic that helped Owens win -- including a divided Republican Party -- can't be ignored and aren't …
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A Father in Iraq
Veteran's Day isn't until next week but this video of a 10 year old girl talking about her father stationed in Iraq couldn't wait.
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Health Care Vote May Slip
House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) said "that he expected the House to pass sweeping health care legislation on Saturday evening. But he acknowledged that Democrats were still trying to corral the necessary 218 votes, and that what he called Republican delaying tactics could push the vote back …
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Fox News Off Limits
"At least one Democratic political strategist has gotten a blunt warning from the White House to never appear on Fox News Channel, an outlet that presidential aides have depicted as not so much a news-gathering operation as a political opponent bent on damaging the Obama administration," the Chicago …
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Just a Matter of Time
If you look at the age breakdown of polling data showing support for gay marriage, it's clear that younger people are much more supportive than older people. Even in states normally considered hostile to gay rights, there is still a significant age difference: For instance, 18-29 year-olds in Alaba …
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Tipping Point?
Kim Strassel: "On Jan. 20, Barack Obama began a race against time. The White House knew its liberal agenda would prove unpopular in many parts of the country represented by Democrats. So long as the president looked strong, those Blue Dogs and freshmen and swing-state senators would stick. Show them …
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House Democrats Line Up Votes
House Democrats "are scrambling" to secure votes to pass President Obama's health care reform effort, "working to soothe last-minute concerns from rank-and-file Democrats ahead of a make-or-break vote," the AP reports. Voting is set for Saturday on the 10-year, $1.2 trillion legislation.The Washi …
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Unemployment Rate Hits 10.2%
"U.S. unemployment rose by more than expected in October to hit its highest level in more than 26 years and employers cut more jobs than forecast, a sign the labor market continues to struggle as the economy emerges from its deep recession," the Wall Street Journal reports. "The unemployment rate …
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Stewart Spoofs Glenn Beck
The perfect way to start your day: Jon Stewart makes fun of Glenn Beck.
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Republicans Descend on Iowa
"It is harvest season in Iowa. For Republicans who want to challenge President Barack Obama in 2012, though, it is time to start planting seeds," Bloomberg reports.Tim Pawlenty, Mike Huckabee, and George Pataki all have planned visits before the end of the year. Sarah Palin is considering one as wel …
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Strategic Vision Vanishes
Nate Silver notes polling firm Strategic Vision has been very quiet since the controversy broke about their methodology and accusations that they possibly faked results."Strategic Vision vehemently denied my interpretation of the evidence and made public threats to sue me. But no lawyer has contact …
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Feinstein Still Considering Run for Governor
Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) said "she will base a decision on whether to run for California governor next year largely on the solutions the announced candidates put forward to deal with the state's fiscal problems," the AP reports. Republicans have three candidates running for governor: Steve Po …
Taegan Goddard's Political Wire
