29
Jan
The struggle to preserve a free political system
January 30 marks the fortieth anniversary of the Supreme Court’s decision in Buckley v.Source: The struggle to preserve a free political system...
28
Jan
Happy birthday to the case that was even worse than Citizens United
In today’s political climate, finding public support for anything at 84 percent is almost unheard of. Yet, according to New York Times/CBS News poll last June, that’s how many Americans think money has “too much influence” in political campaigns.Source: Happy birthday to the case that was even worse than Citizens United...
28
Jan
The ‘Bleak’ History of Third-Party Presidential Bids
Never in U.S. history has a third-party candidate been elected president. Yet that hasn't stopped the prospect of an independent candidacy becoming a recurring sotto voce whisper in the 2016 presidential race.Source: The ‘Bleak’ History of Third-Party Presidential Bids...
28
Jan
Political Money: New Best-Selling Book Genre?
Books about who pays for American elections rarely hit the bestseller lists, but a rash of new titles tackling the once-obscure topic of campaign financing signals that publishers now regard political money as popular fare.Source: Political Money: New Best-Selling Book Genre?...
28
Jan
Ralph Nader: What Is Michael Bloomberg Thinking?
Last week Michael Bloomberg, former three-term mayor of New York City, told his advisers to inform the media that he is laying the groundwork for a possible presidential campaign as an independent. This is the third presidential cycle in which he has contemplated such a run.Source: Ralph Nader: What Is Michael Bloomberg Thinking?...
26
Jan
Radically Revise Campaign Laws to Give People, Not Billionaires, a Voice
It’s not a new story: Some Americans are looking to the super wealthy to get us out of a political jam. This time, it might be billionaire Michael Bloomberg supposedly saving the country from a Donald Trump-Bernie Sanders race that could leave many voters without an acceptable alternative.Source: Radically Revise Campaign Laws to Give People, Not Billionaires, a Voice...
26
Jan
Fear and Loathing in the World of Campaign Fundraising
Sometimes the way a politician says something is more interesting than what he or she actually says. President Obama’s State of the Union speech offered a perfect example. As he discussed campaign finance, Obama’s poker face slipped.Source: Fear and Loathing in the World of Campaign Fundraising...
26
Jan
Constitution Check: Is there a basic flaw in campaign finance law?
Lyle Denniston, the National Constitution Center’s constitutional literacy adviser, looks at the ongoing debate over political speech and political transparency in campaign financing.Source: Constitution Check: Is there a basic flaw in campaign finance law?...
26
Jan
Hacking into Supervisors of Elections Office
FORT MYERS, Fla. - Is the Supervisor of Elections computer system vulnerable to hackers? Dan Sinclair, who is running against Sharon Harrington, says it is.Source: Hacking into Supervisors of Elections Office...
26
Jan
If Only Rich Men Like Bloomberg Can Save Us, It’s Not a Democracy
This election cycle has shown us that while money is a significant part of the political process, it’s not enough for an American public that is increasingly cynical of so-called political insiders and monied “establishment” types.Source: If Only Rich Men Like Bloomberg Can Save Us, It’s Not a Democracy...