AltWeeklies Wire
During an Election It's Just as Interesting to See Who Doesn't Stop Bynew
On Sunday, the American Muslim Taskforce on Civil Rights and Elections cosponsored a campaign forum in a banquet hall on West Devon that got contenders for U.S. Senate, county board president, sheriff, judge, and water rec commissioner promising to look out for the rights and interests of Chicago’s Indian and Pakistani communities.
Chicago Reader |
Mick Dumke |
12-22-2009 |
Politics
Will She Run For Congress? Who Cares: It Makes Good Radionew

After she promoted and appeared at local tea-party protests, grassroots conservatives began courting spitfire radio host Darla Jaye to make a run for Kansas Democrat Dennis Moore's Congressional seat.
Sen. Patty Murray, After a 'No' on Iraq, Has the President’s Back on Afghanistannew

One of 23 senators who rolled the political dice and voted nay on the Iraq War, Murray and her colleagues have been cast at the least as prescient and at times heroic. But now, Murray has declared her support for Obama's plan for Afghanistan.
Seattle Weekly |
Laura Onstot |
12-14-2009 |
Politics
Mayor-Council Contracts Tussle Generates Many Lettersnew
The simmering tensions between Mayor Adrian M. Fenty and the D.C. Council broke into a shooting war, with letters flying like artillery salvos across the halls of power!
Washington City Paper |
Mike DeBonis |
12-10-2009 |
Politics
Ray Nagin Still Factors Into the New Orleans Mayor's Race, as a Reverse Barometernew

New Orleans voters may not know just yet what they want in their next mayor, but they definitely know what they don't want: another Ray Nagin. Polls and campaign strategies bear that out as candidates try to distinguish themselves not only from one another but also from the hugely unpopular, term-limited mayor.
'Conspiracy Theory' Host Jesse Ventura Talks 9/11, JFK, and Vietnamnew

Jesse Ventura wants to talk. He's growling. "You want an exclusive?" The guy hates the press. During his governorship, he famously printed press passes that read "Media Jackal." Why's he calling? "My new show on TV," he says.
City Pages (Twin Cities) |
Hart Van Denburg |
12-08-2009 |
Politics
Can Alexi Giannoulias Shake Off His Problems to Win Obama's Old Senate Seat?new

Victory in the race for state treasurer transformed Alexi Giannoulias into a promising young progressive with big prospects—until the media began reporting that his family's bank had given a series of loans to figures involved in organized crime or political corruption.
Chicago Reader |
Mick Dumke |
12-07-2009 |
Politics
The World's Greatest Dysfunctional Body: Why the U.S. Senate Can't Governnew

Ever wonder why the federal government can't get anything done -- like health care or immigration reform -- despite one party's control of Congress and the presidency? It's because of a procedure that allows the threat of a filibuster to obstruct action more easily than a real filibuster.
Reno News & Review |
Dennis Myers |
11-30-2009 |
Politics
Will a 'Perfect Storm' Kill Connecticut's Fledgling Public Campaign Finance System?new
A ferocious series of political, judicial, fiscal, legislative and economic pressure fronts are coming together in a way that has state and party officials nervous about whether this program will make it through the 2010 state elections.
New Haven Advocate |
Gregory B. Hladky |
11-24-2009 |
Politics
The Texas Gubernatorial Primary is Home to a Pitched Battle Over the Soul of the GOPnew

The contest between Rick Perry and Kay Bailey Hutchison is a microcosm of the Republican party's search to keep itself relevant. Must it go to the hard right and maintain ideological purity, or is there room underneath the tent for moderates?
Dallas Observer |
Sam Merten |
11-23-2009 |
Politics
Can a Nice-Guy Republican Convince Tennessee's Right-Wingers to Vote for Him?new
To a casual observer, it would appear that gubernatorial candidate Bill Haslam is a near-ideal politician for the general election season. But with the general election still nearly a year off, the state primary on Aug. 5, 2010, is what matters to the campaign now, or at least it should.
Metro Pulse |
Charles Maldonado |
11-20-2009 |
Politics
Congresswoman Michele Bachmann: Crazy Like a Foxnew

Many worry that her remarks are detrimental to the national Republican Party's credibility, which is why not everyone inside the GOP is thrilled at the prospect of Bachmann becoming the face of their party. Nevertheless, GOP higher-ups have shown no effort to muzzle her, which suggests she fills an important role.
City Pages (Twin Cities) |
Matt Snyders |
11-18-2009 |
Politics
The John Birch Society: Preserving America -- and a Few Secretsnew
The nonpartisan, in-the-background, slightly secretive organization wants to indoctrinate you in its cause: making America jibe with the Constitution. They've been at it for 50 years. Are they making converts? Hard to say. Membership numbers, and the number of chapters nationwide, are kept tightly under wraps
Las Vegas Weekly |
Ken Miller |
11-13-2009 |
Politics
All Eyes on Joe Liebermannew

Jumpin' Joe Lieberman has once again managed to freak out Connecticut Democrats of nearly every persuasion. Left-wingers are firing rockets into the blogosphere, some longtime Lieberman loyalists are sadly shaking their heads, and establishment types are seething at what Joe may be doing to his old buddy Chris Dodd's reelection chances.
New Haven Advocate |
Gregory B. Hladky |
11-10-2009 |
Politics
Congressman Brian Higgins Makes the Case for the Health Care Reform Billnew

When Speaker Nancy Pelosi unveiled the Democrats' 1,900-page reform bill, Higgins was one among those Democrats who jumped out front to defend the proposal against relentless Republican opposition.