Overview for election

Repeat After Me: 2012 is an Uphill Battle for Republicans

The economy is in the dumps, President Obama's latest plans for taxes seem dead on arrival and his approval ratings are near the low point of his presidency. As a result, it's becoming conventional wisdom--at least among over-eager Republicans--that the President is a dead duck and sure to lose in …

Written by Eli Lehrer on Tuesday September 20, 2011

Don't Underestimate Rick Perry

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Written by Les Francis on Monday August 15, 2011

Obama: "Make Your Voices Heard"

President Obama last night appealed to supporters to make their voices heard, to pressure Congress to raise the debt ceiling. The demand he emphasized most: that any deal extend the administration enough credit to get past the next election. Odd priority, no? You might have expected that this …

Written by David Frum on Tuesday July 26, 2011

Obama is His Own Worst Enemy

The way to defeat Obama is to focus on his own weaknesses and failings, not to invent new ones. David Brooks wrote a perceptive column today about the deficiencies in President Obama's leadership style. He can expect a barrage of negative comment from conservatives who will reject Brooks' …

Written by David Frum on Tuesday June 28, 2011

Can Harper's Agenda Match His Victory?

Last evening, Canada's Conservatives won their first majority government since 1988. But is the party's agenda ambitious enough to take advantage of this opportunity? Last evening, the Conservative Party of Canada won their first majority government since 1988 – a welcome accomplishment. But as …

Written by Tim Mak on Tuesday May 3, 2011

Harper Wins Big

It should have been clear from the moment Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff forced an election, that there was no logical reason for Canadians to reject the Tories. Everyone -- well, almost everyone -- is surprised at the results of the general election; but what do they mean for Canada? Mark …

Written by Peter Worthington on Tuesday May 3, 2011

Canada's Election Wild Card

When reading Canadian polls 48 hours from an election, remember that Canadian party loyalty is much weaker - and Canadian opinion therefore more volatile - than in the US. When reading Canadian polls 48 hours from an election, remember that Canadian party loyalty is much weaker - and Canadian …

Written by David Frum on Saturday April 30, 2011

Canada's Liberals Face Post-Election Shake-Up

The Liberals are unlikely to lose as badly in 2011 as the old Progressive Conservatives lost in 1993. But they may be facing the same kind of identity crisis. Polls are sometimes wrong. Voters sometimes - often, actually - change their minds during the final weekend of a campaign. That said: …

Written by David Frum on Saturday April 30, 2011

The Liberal Party's Real Israel Policy

When they speak about the Middle East, Canada's Liberals double-message: professing friendship for Israel while signaling to anti-Israel voters. Bob Rae’s letter to the editor of the National Post about the Liberal Party’s Israel record is a shabby document. When I say the letter is shabby, …

Written by David Frum on Friday April 29, 2011

Ignatieff's Wink to Anti-Israel Voters

Liberal candidate Michael Ignatieff may not have mentioned Israel in this week's debate, but those who follow the issues closely saw signals of a return to Canada's old Mideast policies. Michael Ignatieff used this week’s English-language leaders debate to send dog whistle signals to anti-Israel …

Written by David Frum on Saturday April 16, 2011

Election Majority is Harper's to Lose

With the election two weeks away, a majority government seems not only within Harper’s grasp but, judging from polls after the leadership debates, virtually a sure thing. Regardless of media opinions as to who won the debates, there’s little indication that many minds have been changed. …

Written by Peter Worthington on Thursday April 14, 2011

The New Stealth Fighter Canada Doesn't Need

With Canada’s election campaign underway, the parties are fighting over the cost of new F-35 fighter-bombers. But their are bigger problems than just the price tag. Now that Canada’s federal election campaign is underway, it’s inevitable the issue of new F-35 stealth fighter-bombers will become …

Written by Peter Worthington on Thursday March 31, 2011

Ethnic Voter Outreach: Canadian Style

Canada's Conservatives have launched new ads in ethnic languages like Mandarin. They provide an important lesson to a GOP still unable to connect with minority voters. In the ongoing Canadian election campaign, we’re seeing a lot of examples for ethnic outreach done right – especially with the …

Written by Tim Mak on Tuesday March 29, 2011

Who Will Lead Canada's Economic Recovery?

Canada faces one question: Who should be trusted to manage the economic recovery? Those who want government to spend more or those who want government to tax less? Every Canadian election is built upon a question. Should the sponsorship scandal be punished? (2006) Shall Canada have free trade with …

Written by David Frum on Saturday March 26, 2011

2012 GOP Field: Who's Got the Best Jobs Plan?

The next GOP presidential nominee faces a tough question: what's your plan to create jobs? How ready are the candidates to answer? An F F survey finds: not very. The next Republican nominee for president will have to face the question: what is your plan to create jobs in America. How ready are …

Written by Noah Kristula-Green on Monday March 14, 2011

Canada's Bogus Scandal Frenzy

The Harper government is hardly composed of saints. Yet it is surely the most honest federal government Canada has produced in a very long time. Of all the bullpucky political scandals in history, the latest series from Ottawa must be the bullpuckiest. Italy has Berlusconi. Britain has the …

Written by David Frum on Monday March 14, 2011

Will Harper Face Spring Election?

Most Canadians may not want one, but the country's opposition Liberal party is starting to push for a general election. Will their gambit pay off? Even if most Canadians don’t want one, it’s going to be pretty hard to avoid a general election this spring. Speaker Peter Milliken’s ruling that …

Written by Peter Worthington on Monday March 14, 2011

Why are Veep Nominees so Lame?

Andrew Gelman directs us to two blogposts at the Monkeycage blog on a neglected area of political science, here and here . Andrew Gelman directs us to two blogposts at the Monkeycage blog on a neglected area of political science, here and here .

Written by David Frum on Thursday September 24, 2009

Race-Baiting, Atlanta Style

City politics in Atlanta has sunk to a new low. An incendiary email is circulating among blacks in the city urging the "critical importance of electing a black mayor at all costs" over a white one in November's municipal election. Vote for me because I'm Black! City politics in Atlanta has sunk to …

Written by Crystal Wright on Wednesday September 2, 2009