I had a nice chat with Matthew Bigg of Reuters last week about the 2010 Senate race in Arkansas. His comprehensive analysis used a bit of what I had to say.
Speaking of the 2010 Senate race, I sat down with David Sanders of Stephens Media on his monthly public [...]
Maurice Clemmons, the man suspected in the killing of four police officers in Washington state, was once a resident of the Arkansas penal system. Several times, in fact. His sentence (of 95 years) was commuted by then-Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee thus allowing him to leave the penitentiary long before [...]
The Think Tank will be talking a holiday break to enjoy a double-dose of turkey (the marriage to Mrs. Think Tank scored me an invite to Thanksgiving lunch at the in-laws) and everything that comes with it. I’m not sure how this is going to go, but I’ll give it [...]
I made it through the first chapter of Sarah Palin’s book last night. You’re probably wondering whether I ponied up the 10 bucks at Wal-Mart for the book. The answer is no. A friend of Mrs. Think Tank’s received it as a gift, and she stopped by last night after [...]
In a way, despite its unremitting grimness, The Road is a perfect Thanksgiving weekend release. It gives even those who dread seeing their families for holiday dinner something very literal and tangible to be thankful for. Mom’s turkey may be dry and her pie crusts leathery, but [...]
The Washington Independent takes a look at the candidacy of Tim Griffin, a former operative of Karl Rove and U.S. Attorney. Mr. Griffin is running in a contested Republican primary for the 2nd congressional district in Arkansas, a seat currently held by incumbent Vic Snyder.
If local Democrats have their [...]
Much has been said of the dwindling support for President Barack Obama among independents. This analysis, conducted by Charles Franklin for Pollster.com suggests something all together different.
So the point is simple: Claims of abandonment of Obama by independents (or lib-Dems or con-Dems) are substantially exaggerated over the past three [...]
From John Dickerson in Slate:
Her abettors in this speculation are the Democratic National Committee and the media. The DNC wants Palin to be the face of the Republican future because Democrats think she’s a clown. The media has an interest in portraying Palin as a viable political candidate because [...]
Here are my observations from the free health clinic yesterday in Little Rock, which I recorded for The Huffington Post.
[...]Be sure to tune in to John King’s political program today, “State of the Union.” Little Rock, Arkansas - and more specifically Doe’s Eat Place - is featured. It begins at 8 am.
[...]With 60 votes yesterday, the US Senate begins debate on a bill to reform health insurance in America. Both Arkansas senators, Mark Pryor and Blanche Lincoln, voted in favor of the matter that began what many anticipate will be a long and contentious process.
Ms. Lincoln’s vote generated a lot of [...]
From Nebraska Senator Ben Nelson, a moderate Democrat, on his decision to vote in favor of beginning debate on the health insurance reform bill in the Senate:
“It is only to begin debate and an opportunity to make improvements. If you don’t like a bill, why block your own opportunity [...]
Bill Clinton told FDL’s Eve Gittelson that it would be problematic for him to attend a free medical clinic being held in Little Rock, Arkansas tomorrow because MSNBC’s Keith Olbermann had “politicized” the event.” He indicated that some were turning the event into a primary kickoff against Arkansas [...]
I’ve been out of town for the better part of two days and I’m just now reading that Arkansas Sen. Mark Pryor clearly stated that he would vote for the cloture motion which would advance the bill to debate in the Senate. Good for him.
Senator Blanche Lincoln still remains [...]
A new poll indicates that 84% of Arkansans want the Senate to debate health care reform. This comes on the eve of a cloture vote in the Senate where 60 members must vote in favor in order for the bill to proceed to the Senate floor for debate.
Arkansas Senator [...]
President Bill Clinton is in Little Rock, Arkansas today to commemorate the fifth anniversary of the Clinton Presidential Center and Park. The event is from 11:30 - 1:00 under a large tent.
The Associated Press examines the five-year impact the library has had on Little Rock.
After Clinton announced his site [...]
God, I hate exclamation points. But I couldn’t help it today because Sarah Palin’s book, “Going Rogue,” finally arrives in bookstores. No, I’m not excited, but lots of other people are, including Jason Tolbert of The Tolbert Report.
By now, those of us that have been reading [...]
I obsess about bowl games this time of year, especially when, for the first time in two season, the Arkansas Razorbacks are eligible for one. Today, e-mails have blanketed my in-box about scenarios that would lead the Hogs to the Cotton Bowl. Is it really possible? I asked in response.
After [...]
I’m referring to Bill Belichick, the head coach of the New England Patriots, who last night decided to go for it on fourth and two on the Pats own 28 with two minutes to play. It’s one of the craziest coaching decisions I’ve ever seen in football, and it [...]
The Arkansas blogosphere has been chatty about a new Public Policy Polling poll on the Arkansas Second Congressional District race involving Democratic Party incumbent Vic Snyder. The poll shows Mr. Snyder with an approval rating of forty-two percent. Forty-six percent of second district voters disapprove of his performance.
Not unlike [...]
From Rob Mortiz of Stephens Media:
Two recent federal Environmental Protection Agency studies concluded it would take about $5 billion to rehabilitate or replace the old and broken water systems in the state and another $400 million to repair and upgrade the sewer systems.
Arkansas Natural Resources Commission finance manager David [...]
For the money, I’d say pick up a copy of Bill Simmons‘ “The Book of Basketball,” but if GOP politics is your sort of thing, Sarah Palin’s new book, “Going Rogue,” hits bookstores this Tuesday. (Is she old enough and interesting enough to write a memoir?) It’s pre-sold a [...]
It was just a matter of time before the unflattering poll numbers of Arkansas Sen. Blanche Lincoln caught the attention of national political pundits. Chris Cillizza of The Washington Post’s The Fix blog wrote on Friday,
Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D) is getting squeezed between the demands of national liberals who [...]
Michael Tomasky, writing in The New York Review of Books, offers a comprehensive look at the political evolution of the Blue Dog coalition in the U.S. House. Arkansas Rep. Mike Ross, who has emerged during the health care debate as a leading Blue Dog spokesman, gets a lot of [...]
Perhaps the time has come to re-think the repeal of the Glass-Steagall Act which created barriers between commercial banking and investment banking?
Here’s the how the final vote went for the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, which President Bill Clinton signed into law in 1999, and which several economists and politicians are [...]
Mark McKinnon talks to Chip Saltsman, Mike Huckabee’s former campaign manager, about Mr. Huckabee’s prospects in 2012.
Mr. McKinnon notes,
The race for the Republican nomination could very easily come down to Huckabee vs. Mitt Romney. The question will be whether Tim Pawlenty can get enough traction to split votes with [...]
Arkansas Lt. Gov. Bill Halter held a press conference to discuss the details of a free health clinic in Little Rock on Saturday, November 21st. The clinic is sponsored by the National Association of Free Clinics.
[...]His speech was a song to an entire generation: his generation. The first president of the post-Baby Boomer generation was making the claim for the men and women he commands, a host of whom he will send into Afghanistan in the coming weeks. “We need [...]
President Bill Clinton spoke to Arkansas Times editor Max Brantley this week about a variety of topics including the fifth anniversary of his presidential library to the health care debate in Washington. Regarding health care Mr. Clinton observed,
. . . For one thing, I think it’s going to pass. [...]
That’s a joke, of course, but today it was announced that five players on the Arkansas Razorback basketball team were suspended, including guards Stefan Welsh and Courtney Fortson who were suspended indefinitely.
Last year Arkansas was 14-16, 2-14 in conference play despite beating Oklahoma (with Blake Griffin) and Texas (who [...]
Former President Bill Clinton was slated to speak to the Senate Democratic Caucus today in Washington. The goal is to persuade swing votes, like that of Arkansas Senator Blanche Lincoln, to vote in favor of health insurance reform.
If Sen. Lincoln’s dismal poll numbers don’t rebound, she’s going to need [...]
Americans United for Change has released this ad in the Little Rock and Jonesboro media markets.
[...]Rising unemployment and a perilous situation in Afghanistan has led many people to question President Barack Obama’s efforts. Today, Bob Herbert of The New York Times, vocalizes his frustrations:
While we’re preparing to pour more resources into Afghanistan, the Economic Policy Institute is telling us that one in five American [...]
Thumbs up to Think Tank Sister and Think Tank’s sister’s man friend on their engagement yesterday.
[...]If you don’t have anything going on tonight why don’t you drop by Forty-Two, the restaurant that is located inside the William J. Clinton Presidential Center. Beginning at 6:00 p.m. tonight I’ll be a part of a “celebrity” panel that includes Heather Crawford of KATV, Jancey Sheets of KARK, Bill [...]
The good press for the Clinton School of Public Service continues. On the heels of a glowing piece in Arkansas Life, Sam Eifling of Arkansas Business favorably reviews the school’s ability to attract talent from all over the world.
Writes Mr. Eifling,
Clinton School students, though tough to stereotype, [...]
The House will convene in about thirty minutes and begin the process of considering the health care bill. A vote is expected sometime late this afternoon or this evening. Politico has a synopsis of how the day will unfold.
Jason Tolbert noted earlier that Arkansas Reps. Mike Ross and [...]
When Steve Schmidt, former senior strategist to John McCain, was in Little Rock a few weeks speaking at the Clinton School of Public Service I had the opportunity to speak with him for a few minutes after his speech.In that speech, which you can view here, he discussed the [...]
Time to review what happened today and look ahead to the weekend:
Fight Club: It’s about time someone came to the defense of Henry Allen, the Washington Post newspaper editor who punch a colleague in the face earlier this week. Rex Nelson over at his Southern Fried blog does so [...]
Brett Kincaid is on a David Kinkade-esque roll over at BlogHawgs, the funny and insightful blog about Arkansas politics and football.
He aptly illustrates a concern I raised last week on my radio program regarding Tim Tebow, the do-no-wrong quarterback at the University of Florida that had [...]
A new Gallup poll shows that fifty percent of adults believe that former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee is qualified to be president. Chris Cillizza of The Washington Post wonders if Mr. Huckabee has the ability to win the GOP nomination in 2012.
But, it’s clear that Huckabee’s 2008 race [...]
From Paul Krugman in The New York Times:
Yet there was a national element to the election. Voters across America are in a bad mood, largely because of the still-grim economic situation. And when voters are feeling bad, they turn on whomever currently holds office.
[...]Robert Yates has a firm but fair assessment of the state of the football program at Little Rock Central High School. The football is on the brink of back-to-back winless seasons, and appears at an all-time low in terms of productivity and talent.
It’s unfortunate for a program that earlier [...]
I had the privilege to sit down with some bright undergrad and graduate students at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock this week to discuss an interesting project they’ve developed and cultivated. It’s called Project Our House and the goal of the effort is to raise donations using social [...]
