We have just received yet another confirmation of the virtual uselessness of the Ames Straw Poll. The proud winner of the straw poll, Michelle Bachmann came in sixth in the Iowa caucuses (and in fact finished dead last among all serious contestants–Jon Huntsman just ignored Iowa). Furthermore, she only managed to win just slightly more votes in the more
stay connected
Stories by Andrew Pavelyev
Confirmed: The Ames Straw Poll is Useless
Andrew Pavelyev wrote on January 4th, 2012 at 8:33 am
Middle Class Taxpayers Still Lose
Andrew Pavelyev wrote on December 29th, 2011 at 9:45 am
The recent fight over the extension of the payroll tax holiday has once again shown that the Republican Party does not particularly care about the middle class tax burden. The party is quite interested though in cutting taxes on the highest earners. What gets completely ignored is the fact that most billionaires already have lower more
The GOP Fumbles the Payroll Tax Cut
Andrew Pavelyev wrote on December 5th, 2011 at 12:00 pm
The Republicans have finally found a tax increase many of them can get behind. Unfortunately it’s the first middle class tax increase in decades. Make no mistake, failure to renew the payroll tax cut would mean a significant tax increase.
If nothing is done, then starting next month everybody who works for a living will have more
GOP Should Champion Markets, Not the Rich
Andrew Pavelyev wrote on October 31st, 2011 at 12:43 am
David Frum recently asked: “Who Burned the GOP Brand?” In that blog post, he lamented that voters overwhelmingly believe that Republicans in Congress favor the rich.
Well, I think the divide between sane conservatives and the Tea Party is that the former want the GOP to be the party of free markets and the latter want it to more
Rubio’s False Bio: Why It Matters
Andrew Pavelyev wrote on October 24th, 2011 at 12:12 am
The more I think about the Rubio scandal, the more I am troubled by it. It’s not just that having lived in the Soviet Union for a quarter century, I find it offensive when people falsely claim themselves or their families to have been victims of Communist oppression. I am really concerned about the “Palinization” more
Can Intrade Predict the 2016 Election Winners?
Andrew Pavelyev wrote on September 28th, 2011 at 5:56 pm
I completely agree with Eli Lehrer that the Republican Party’s 2012 nominee will be Romney. I also agree with his analysis of the reasons Republican nominations are decided on the question “Whose turn is it?” But what is completely lost in all the excitement over watching Mitt Romney vanquish one opponent after another is the intriguing question more
Is the IMF Also Treasonous?
Andrew Pavelyev wrote on August 29th, 2011 at 9:29 am
Does anybody want to start a pool on how long it will take for Republicans to denounce the IMF as a bunch of French socialists? more
Unemployed for a Year. Who Speaks for Me?
Andrew Pavelyev wrote on August 22nd, 2011 at 12:19 pm
I received The Call exactly a year ago at 11:30 a.m. EDT. That was a bit early. For almost nine years I had worked from my home in Charlotte, NC for a small company in California, so calls from the office before noon my time were not frequent. When I heard that my boss, his more
Bachmann’s Best Promise: $2 Gas
Andrew Pavelyev wrote on August 18th, 2011 at 2:21 pm
I have been quite critical of Michele Bachmann lately, but I will defend her whenever she is attacked unfairly. She has just promised that if elected she would bring the price of gas below $2 per gallon. This promise has been met with widespread derision, and even conservative outlets such as National Review doubt whether she can more
Bachmann’s Bad Civics
Andrew Pavelyev wrote on August 15th, 2011 at 1:16 pm
Fresh from her win at the Ames Straw Poll, Michele Bachmann went on Meet the Press Sunday morning.
I cannot understand how any conservative can watch her and not be appalled by Rep. Bachmann’s decidedly unconservative approach to governing. She ignores basic civics and doesn’t understand that our country is a representative republic rather than a more
The Straw Poll Scam
Andrew Pavelyev wrote on August 14th, 2011 at 12:10 pm
Why doesn’t the national Republican Party discourage the presidential hopefuls from participating in the Ames Straw Poll? While the benefits of this event to the Iowa GOP are perfectly clear, I don’t see any benefits to the party as a whole, and there may even be some harm. more
Can Bachmann Count?
Andrew Pavelyev wrote on August 11th, 2011 at 7:57 am
Will Iowa voters challenge Michele Bachmann to clarify her incoherent fiscal views? On the one hand, she adamantly opposed raising the debt ceiling and is now demanding a balanced budget this year. On the other hand, she voted for the Ryan Budget. more
Bachmann’s Shameless Response to the Downgrade
Andrew Pavelyev wrote on August 6th, 2011 at 7:04 pm
Michele Bachmann seems to be competing for the heavily contested title of Most Shameless Politician. As the leader of the Tea Party Caucus in the House of Representatives, she may bear more responsibility for the unprecedented downgrade of the US credit rating than any other individual.
So what was her immediate reaction to the downgrade? She called for ”the more
Who’s Running This Party?
Andrew Pavelyev wrote on August 5th, 2011 at 1:41 am
The debt ceiling fight raises uncomfortable questions about the Republicans ability to govern. The fast pace of events has probably caused most people to forget about the failure of the Boehner Plan, but the GOP would be well advised to draw lessons from its failure. more
There is No Upside to a Default
Andrew Pavelyev wrote on June 30th, 2011 at 9:11 am
Can anyone explain to me slowly what exactly congressional Republicans are doing on the debt ceiling? more
Pawlenty’s Growth Rate: Too Good To Be True
Andrew Pavelyev wrote on June 8th, 2011 at 10:33 am
By setting a goal of 5% economic growth, Pawlenty is repeating one of Obama’s biggest mistakes: promising voters targets he can’t reach. more
GOP Running Out of Time to Win Debt Fight
Andrew Pavelyev wrote on June 1st, 2011 at 8:46 am
The clean debt limit vote has predictably failed. But by wasting time on political games, the GOP may have run out of time to cut the long-term spending deal they want. more
Want Dems to Win in 2012? Then Default
Andrew Pavelyev wrote on May 27th, 2011 at 12:00 pm
Jim DeMint may try to place the blame for a potential default on Obama and Geithner, but voters will know to hold Republicans responsible in 2012. more
Ryan’s Risky Debt Default Dare
Andrew Pavelyev wrote on May 19th, 2011 at 8:07 am
Paul Ryan claims bondholders will accept a default to get the U.S. on a better fiscal footing. Unfortunately, his rationale doesn’t make much sense. more
Is Ryan Trying to Spook the Markets?
Andrew Pavelyev wrote on May 18th, 2011 at 8:25 am
Rep. Paul Ryan’s comments Tuesday on CNBC downplaying the odds of a debt deal were careless. Fortunately, this time the markets didn’t take him seriously. more
-
-
CHARLIE SHEEN TO RETURN TO TV IN NEW SITCOM
WIFE CUTS OFF HUSBAND'S PENIS, PUTS IT IN GARBAGE DISPOSAL
POLL: 'JERSEY SHORE' NOT HURTING NEW JERSEY'S IMAGE
BIEBER CRASHES WEDDING BECAUSE HE HEARD HIS SONG
WATCH: COUPLE FINDS JESUS IN WALMART RECEIPT
UTAH GIRL DIES IN GIANT SINK HOLE
SWEDISH POLICE HAVE SPERM-SNIFFING DOG
NEO NAZI GIRLS CURED OF HATE BY WEED
GIRLS BUSTED FOR ILLEGAL LEMONADE STAND
DEALING WITH DEATH? GET ON FACEBOOK
LOOKING GENERIC CAN COST YOU YOUR LICENSE
MAN BURNS DOWN HOUSE TRYING TO CREMATE DOG
MARINE SGT. ASKS BETTY WHITE TO CORPS BALL
MAN KILLED BY A CASHCAB
FORMER NAZI CHILD STARS 'PRETTY LIBERAL NOW'
GERMAN TOURISTS COMPLAIN THE MOST
-
