A Different Path: A History of the Kerry Administration & Beyond

[Oppo]

2012 POLLS: HILLARY CLINTON LEADS DEMOCRATS, TIED WITH ROMNEY 48-48​

DEMOCRAT PRIMARY: 30% CLINTON, 19% OBAMA, 13% FEINGOLD, 11% GORE, 5% BAYH, 4% WARNER, 3% BIDEN, RICHARDSON 2%, CLARK 2%, VILSACK 1%, HOLBROOKE 1%, EDWARDS 0%

POLL SHOWS UP TO 28% OF REPUBLICANS WOULD SUPPORT PRIMARY CHALLENGER OVER ROMNEY -JULY 7, 2010​

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SYRIAN FORCES TAKE FALLUJAH-JULY 12, 2010​

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RUMORS SPREAD THAT IRAQI AND SYRIAN FORCES HAVE INFORMAL AGREEMENT NOT TO ATTACK EACH OTHER -​

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AL-SADR CALLS ON IRAQIS TO 'KILL ANY AND ALL SYRIANS', MAHDI ARMY VOWS NOT TO HAND OVER ITS LAND TO 'GOVERNMENT OF INFIDELS'-JULY 13, 2010​

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AQI LEADER AL-MASRI KILLED BY SUNNI MILITIAS-JULY 16, 2010​

The leader of Al-Qaeda in Iraq, Abu Ayyub Al-Masri has been kiled. He was hiding in a compound near Amiriyah in Anbar Province of Iraq. The compund was stormed by Sunni militants rebelling against Al-Qaeda. The commander, Muhammad Al-Dahreil found Al-Masri hiding under his bed, and had the terrorist leader dragged out of the compound, where he was then shot multiple times. Some accounts claim he had up to 50 bullets in his body by the end of his execution. The bloodied bodies of the Al-Qaeda leaders were then dragged away into a ditch and set on fire, with Dahreil refusing to allow them the 'honour' of an Islamic funeral. With Al-Qaeda in Iraq's leadership killed and its forces routed, the terrorist has largely been disbaled as a threat to Iraq. The Iraqi government has retaken many of its former territories, but despite the defeat of AQi, which proved far more fragile than expected, Iraq is far from stable. Shi'ite extremists still control the south and aren't willing to cooperate with the 'American puppet' government, while Syrian forces are occupying much of Anbar and face staunch opposition to their presence from the Iraqis. Still, the Syrians have promised to withdraw their forces by May 2011 if they deem the 'terrorist threat to be defeated', but they still face resentment and opposition from many Iraqis. Jafaari's government is still seen as weak and will struggle to assert its authority over Iraq. Now though, it has the chance to try.
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ROAR ACT FILIBUSTERED BY DEMOCRATS
POLL: SUPPORT AND OPPOSITION FOR ROAR ACT TIED AT 44%-JULY 20, 2010​

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90,000 US WAR DOCUMENTS LEAKED BY WIKILEAKS-JULY 25, 2010​

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US ECONOMY: UNEMPLOYMENT AT 11.7%, INFLATION AT 1.6%, GROWTH RATE AT 2.8%-AUGUST 1, 2010​

WHO DECLARES 2009 INFLUENZA PANDEMIC OVER-AUGUST 12, 2010​

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REPUBLICANS SEEK TO OVERCOME DEMOCRAT FILIBUSTER OF THE ROAR ACT​

The ROAR (Reform Of America's Regulations) Act is bogged down in the Senate, where the Democrat caucus is united in filibustering the bill. The Republicans are trying to break the Democrat filibuster, but that does not seem to be happening, with reports of wavering democrats facing stern punishments if they defect. The ROAR Act is a bill that curtails and overhauls many US government regulations and is one of the key planks of the President's economic program. However, while republicans praise the bill as a much-needed reform to the government, Democrats vehemently oppose it as a giveaway to big business and hurts the environment and worker's safety. This stand is spurred along by the rise of the People Power movement, as establishment Democrats hope to cater to the base.
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SUPPORT FOR PEOPLE POWER MOVEMENT AT 25%, OPPOSITION AT 30%-AUGUST 14, 2010​

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ROMNEY APPROVAL RATING HIST RECORD LOW OF 39%​

POLLS SHOW DEMOCRATS POISED TO TAKE THE HOUSE

75% OF AMERICANS THINK COUNTRY IS GOING IN THE WRONG DIRECTION-AUGUST 16, 2010​

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HUNG PARLIAMENT IN AUSTRALIA: TONY ABBOTT'S COALITION GETS 73 SEATS TO LABOR'S 71​

LABOR WINS POPULAR VOTE, POLLS SHOW MORE AUSTRALIANS SUPPORT A GILLARD GOVERNMENT THAN AN ABBOTT ONE

LABOR HOPES TO ESTABLISH A GOVERNMENT WITH INDEPENDENTS AND GREENS, BUT IS AT A DISADVANTAGE*-21 AUGUST, 2010​

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TONY ABBOTT FORMS GOVERNMENT, BECOMES AUSTRALIAN PM​

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TALIBAN LOSING GROUND BUT US LOSING LIVES​

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WEST VIRGINIA SENATE ELECTION: 95-YEAR OLD ANTI-MOUNTAINTOP REMOVAL MINING ACTIVIST KEN HELCHER UPSETS JOE MANCHIN IN DEMOCRAT PRIMARY
ESTABLISHMENT DEMOCRATS FEAR HELCHER NOMINATION WILL JEOPARDIZE THEIR HOLD ON WEST VIRGINIA SENATE SEAT
-AUGUST 28, 2010​

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DEMOCRATS GAIN 3-POINT LEAD IN CONGRESSIONAL POLLING, BUT FACE UNLIKELY TO SWEEP THE SENATE​

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PRESIDENT ROMNEY ABSENT FROM THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL, REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES DESPERATE TO DISTANCE THEMSELVES FROM HIM
OHIO GOP CANDIDATE PORTMAN: ROMNEY'S PERFORMANCE HAS BEEN SERIOUSLY FLAWED-SEPTEMBER 1, 2010​

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AFGHAN PARLIAMNETARY ELECTIONS BEGIN​

--------------------
*Since the closest seat in that election went to Labor by about 800 votes, a worse world economy and other butterflies could potentially change enough votes to give that seat to the Coalition and change the election's outcome.​

 

[Oppo]

MCCONNELL GIVES IN, DECLARES ROAR ACT DEAD INDEFINETLY-SEPTEMBER 3, 2010​

Senate Majority Mitch McConnell has admitted he will be unable to overcome the Democrat filibuster of the ROAR Act in this Congress, and so the key part of the Republican agenda has effectively been killed, given Democrats are extremely likely to gain Senate seats in the midterms and prevent it from being passed in the next Congress. This is a humiliating blow for the Republican party and especially the President.
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7.1 MAGNITUDE EARTHQUAKE STRIKES CHRISTCHURCH, NEW ZEALAND
LARGE AMOUNT OF DAMAGE BUT NO FATALITIES-SEPTEMBER 4, 2010​

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US AND NATO AIRSTRIKES IN AFGHANISTAN INCREASE BY 190%​

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IRAQI ELECTIONS SCHEDULED FOR JUNE 2011​

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US SERGEANT SALVATORE GIUNTA RECEIVES MEDAL OF HONOR FOR SERVICE IN AFGHANISTAN-SEPTEMBER 11, 2010​

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ROMNEY APPROVAL RATING NOW AT 39%-SEPTEMBER 20, 2009​

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AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY DUMPS GILLARD, RUDD MAKES A COMEBACK-OCTOBER 4, 2010​

After its surprise downfall in the 2010 Australian election, the Australian party has caused another surprise and reinstated former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd as the party leader. Latest polls show Rudd's Labor running very slightly ahead of Tony Abbott's new government, and with a dicey, divided parliament Australian politics is set for yet more instablity. Rudd's comebcak did not occur without a fight, Gillard and her supporters sought desperately to retain the leadership, but out of the smoke Rudd took back power. Still, there are deep doubts about his leadership ability in Labor, and fears that another election victory would be for nothing under him. Rudd vows to prove his critics wrong.
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NETHERLANDS ANTILLES DISSOLVED, ISLANDS SPLIT UP AND GIVEN NEW CONSTITUTIONAL STATUS-OCTOBER 10, 2010​

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LAST AQI REMNANTS ROUTED FROM THEIR TERRITORIES, SYRIAN FORCES OCCUPY ANBAR PROVINCE​

14 SYRIAN SOLDIERS KILLED IN ROADSIDE BOMBING

SYRIA AND IRAQ NEGOTIATING OVER STATUS OF ANBAR, PREPARING FOR POWER TRANSFER-OCTOBER 19, 2010​

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WHAT ARE THE DEMOCRAT CHANCES ON NOVEMBER 2?​

Ever since the end of August, polls have consistently shown the Democrats leading in polls for the House. However, some of those leads have been quite slim, enough that some pundits have predicted that Republicans could still retain the House due to extensive gerrymandering. In the Senate, the picture is less rosy for the Democrats. Three Democrat seats: Indiana, Arkansas and West Virginia are in serious danger. However, even if the Democrats win every remotely winnable contest, which would mean they gain 8 seats the composition of the Senate would be 49 Democrats, 1 Independent(who caucuses with the Democrats) and 50 Republicans, a tied Senate. So the main Democrat focus is on the House, but Democrats hope to create a strong springboard to gain the Senate in 2012. Still, the electorate is set to give President Romney a clear thumbs-down.
​

 

[Oppo]

DEMOCRATIC REVOLUTION HITS WASHINGTON!!-NOVEMBER 2, 2010​

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DEMOCRATS TAKE HOUSE!​

DEMOCRAT: 229+43 50.0%, REPUBLICAN: 206-43 46.4%

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SPEAKER BLUNT RESIGNS
BLUNT'S 2-YEAR STINT AS HOUSE GOP LEADER COMES TO HUMILIATING END​

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SENATE RESULTS:​

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REPUBLICANS RETAIN SENATE​

RESULTS(IF ARKANSAS GOES D):REPUBLICAN: 53-5, DEMOCRAT:46+5, INDEPENDENT:1_

RESULTS(IF ARKANSAS GOES R) REPUBLICAN: 54-4, DEMOCRAT: 45+4, INDEPENDENT: 1_​

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ARKANSAS: WE DON'T KNOW WHO WON
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HALTER LEADS INITIAL COUNT BY 66 VOTES, RECOUNT LIKELY

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FLORIDA: CHARLIE CRIST(R) BEATS KENDRICK MEEK(D)​

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INDIANA: BRAD ELLSWORTH(D) DEFEATS DAN COATS(R)​

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KENTUCKY: JACK CONWAY(D) BEATS TREY GRAYSON(R)​

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MISSOURI: ROBIN CARNAHAN(D) BEATS CHUCK PURGASON(R)​

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NEW HAMPSHIRE: OVIDE LAMONTAGNE(R) BEATS PAUL HODES(D)​

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NORTH CAROLINA: ELAINE MARSHALL(D) BEATS INCUMBENT RICHARD BURR(R)​

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OHIO: LEE FISHER(D) BEATS ROB PORTMAN(R)​

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PENNSYLVANIA: JOE SESTAK(D) BEATS PAT TOOMEY(R)​

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SOUTH DAKOTA: SCOTT MUNSTERING(R) BEATS DENNIS WEISE(D)​

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WEST VIRGINIA: JOHN RAESE(R) BEATS KEN HELCHER(D)​

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[Oppo]

GUBERNATORIAL ELECTIONS:
RESULTS: REPUBLICAN: 26-8, DEMOCRAT: 22+6, INDEPENDENT: 2+2​

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TERRY GODDARD(D) BEATS INCUMBENT JAN BREWER(R)​

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FLORIDA: ALEX SINK(D) DEFEATS RICK SCOTT(R)​

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GEORGIA: ROY BARNES(D) DEFEATS NATHAN DEAL(R)​

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ILLINOIS: PAT QUINN(D) DEFEATS INCUMBENT JUDY BARR TOPINKA(R)​

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IOWA: INCUMBENT CHET CHULVER(D) BEATS TERRY BRANSTAND(R)​

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MAINE: ELIOT CUTLER(I) WINS​

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MICHIGAN: VIRG BERNERO(D) BEATS RICK SNYDER​

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NEW MEXICO: DIANE DENISH(D) DEFEATS SUSANA MARTINEZ(R)​

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OHIO: INCUMBENT TED STRICKALND(D) BEATS JOHN KASICH(R)​

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DAN ONORATO(D) DEFEATS TOM CORBETT(R)​

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SOUTH CAROLINA: VINCENT SHEHEEN(D)DEFEATS NIKKI HALEY(R)​

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WISCONSIN: TOM BARRETT(D) DEFEATS SCOTT WALKER(R)​

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HISTORIC REPUBLICAN MAJORITIES OVERTURNED, CLEAR THUMBS DOWN GIVEN TO PRESIDENT ROMNEY​

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VOTER TURNOUT AND ENTHUSIASM VERY LOW​

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DEMOCRAT BASE RESURGENT, SET TO PUSH AMERICA AND THEIR PARTY TO THE LEFT

ESTABLISHMENT VOWS TO RESIST LEFT TURN, REID DECLARES "THIS IS A VICTORY FOR MODERATION"​

 

[Montgomerie Ward]

WHITE HOUSE: "THESE RESULTS SHOW A FRUSTRATION WITH PARTISANSHIP IN WASHINGTON, WE NEED TO WORK TOGETHER"
ROMNEY APPROVAL RATING AT 39%
UNEMPLOYMENT RISES TO 11.4%, 0.4 POINT RISE FROM OCTOBER
INFLATION AT 2%, ECONOMIC GROWTH AT 2.2%​

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GAFFES ON BOTH SIDES OF THE SPECTRUM
MCCONNELL ATTRIBUTES RESULTS TO LOW TURNOUT, SAYS MIDTERM RESULTS VIRTUALLY MEANINGLESS
PELOSI: "ROMNEY IS A LAME-DUCK"-NOVEMBER 4, 2010​

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ARKANSAS RECOUNT BEGINS, HALTER LEADS INITIAL COUNT-NOVEMBER 4, 2010​

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KERRY'S AGRICULTURE SECRETARY TOM VILSACK TO RUN FOR DEMOCRATIC NOMINATION
VILSACK BARELY REACHES 1% IN POLLS, HILLARY CLINTON LEADS THE CONTEST-NOVEMBER 5, 2010​

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SECRETARY OF STATE ZOELLICK DEFENDS AFGHANISTAN POLICY RULES OUT WITHDRAWAL BEFORE 2016-NOVEMBER 7, 2010​

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FED CHAIRMAN GLENN HUBBARD TO EASE ON QUANTITATIVE EASING FOR FEAR OF CAUSING OVER-INFLATION
HUBBARD RULES OUT RAISING INTEREST RATES OR ENDING QE​

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CONGRESSMAN RON PAUL: "I MIGHT PRIMARY CHALLENGE THE PRESIDENT"
HUCKABEE, ALLEN, MCCAIN AND OTHER 2008 CONTENDERS RULE OUT CHALLENGE, DECLARE THEY STAND BEHIND ROMNEY-NOVEMBER 9, 2010​

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LAME-DUCK CONGRESS SET TO RENEW BUSH TAX CUTS AND GIVE EXTRA TAX CUTS
DEMOCRATS OPPOSE BUSH TAX CUT EXTENSION, VOW TO FILIBUSTER
GOP HOPES TO PICK OFF SENATORS NELSON (BOTH NELSONS), JOHNSON, AND OTHER DEMOCRATS TO AVERT FILIBUSTER​

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AUNG SAN SUU KYI RELEASED FROM HOUSE ARREST-NOVEMBER 13, 2010​

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REPUBLICANS TO MAKE BUSH TAX CUTS PERMANENT IN THEIR BILL​

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12 IRAQI SOLDIERS KILLED IN FIGHT WITH MAHDI ARMY
AL-SADR WARNS OF BLOODSHED IF IRAQI GOVT ATTACKS MAHDI ARMY, GOVT SEEKS TO ASSERT AUTHORITY-NOVEMBER 19, 2010​

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FEINGOLD ON RUN FOR PRESIDENT: "MAYBE"-NOVEMBER 17, 2010​

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LAME-DUCK HOUSE PASSES EXTENSION OF BUSH TAX CUTS, ONLY 6 DEMOCRATS VOTE FOR IT-NOVEMBER 23, 2010​

WIKILEAKS LEAKS THOUSANDS OF US DIPLOMATIC DOCUMENTS-NOVEMBER 28, 2010​

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SENATOR EVAN BAYH (D-IN) FORMS EXPLORATORY COMMITTEE FOR PRESIDENTIAL RUN-DECEMBER 1, 2010​

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ABBOTT GOVT IN TROUBLE? REPORTS SHOW TENSIONS IN BETWEEN ABBOTT AND INDEPENDENTS-DECEMBER 4, 2010​

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HALTER WINS ARKANSAS SENATE SEAT BY 59 VOTES, BOOZMAN CONCEDES-DECEMBER 2, 2010​

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SENATE PASSES BUSH TAX CUT EXTENSION 60-39
NATIONAL DEBT HITS $17 TRILLION, FEARS OF FISCAL CRISIS RISE
UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS CUT TO PAY FOR IT, BUT DEBT PROJECTED TO RISE EVEN MORE-DECEMBER 11, 2010

CONGRESSIONAL DEMOCRATS ATTACK BUSH TAX CUT EXTENSION, DECLARE "BIG CHANGES ARE COMING'​

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[Oppo]

BAYH RULES OUT 2012 CANDIDACY, CITING LOW POLL NUMBERS​

BAYH SAYS HE'D ENDORSE CLINTON IF SHE RUNS-DECEMBER 15, 2010​

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PROTESTS ERUPT IN TUNISIA AFTER MAN SETS HIMSELF ON FIRE-DECEMBER 18, 2010​

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DISGRACED FORMER VP JOHN EDWARDS RULES OUT PRESIDENTIAL RUN-DECEMBER 20, 2010​

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OHIO GOV TED STRICKLAND TO RUN FOR PRESIDENT-DECEMBER 22, 2010​

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CONTROVERSY IN AFGHAN ELECTION: MINORITY HAZARAS WIN ALL 11 SEATS IN A PASHTUN-MAJORITY PROVINCE​

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US OFFICIALS CLEAR ON STAYING THE COURSE IN AFGHANISTAN, NO WITHDRAWAL UNTIL AT LEAST 2016​

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ROMNEY'S DRONE WAR AND SURGE REVILED ON THE LEFT
SENATOR OBAMA: THE CURRENT AFGHANISTAN-PAKISTAN POLICY MAKES NO SENSE​

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ROMNEY ENTERS 2011 WITH 36% APPROVAL RATING-JANUARY 3, 2011​

Last year the President has taken quite a hit, losing historically large congressional majorities and increasingly seen as unable to revive the economy, with unemployment hovering stubbornly above 11%. Romney's approval ratings stayed above water in 2009 but now they have sunk underwater, reaching John Kerry levels. His latest record low is partly due to public disapproval of his actions after the midterms, where seemingly ignoring the message passed Republicans rammed through a bill making the Bush tax cuts permanent and paying for it with unpopular cuts to social programs. "This kind of partisan attitude in ramming bills through Congress, many of them unpopular and inhumane is why the Republicans lost" said a Democratic strategist. With a new Congress, partisanship looks to, if anything, rise precipitously.
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112TH CONGRESS INAUGURATED, DEMOCRATS VOW TO STAND UP TO ROMNEY
HOUSE REPUBLICANS ELECT JOHN BOEHNER AS THEIR LEADER, ROY BLUNT LEAVES CONGRESS-JANUARY 3, 2011​

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MCCONNELL SAYS "I'M NOT TAKING NONSENSE FROM THE HOUSE"-JANUARY 3, 2011​

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JOE BIDEN DECLINES TO RUN FOR PRESIDENT-JANUARY 6, 2011​

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ILLINOIS SENATOR BARACK OBAMA ANNOUNCES HE WILL RUN-JANUARY 12, 2011​

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TUNISIAN PRESIDENT FLEES TO SAUDI ARABIA, REVOLUTIONARY WAVE SET TO SPREAD-JANUARY 14, 2011​

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SOUTH SUDAN VOTES 99% TO 1% TO BECOME AN INDEPENDENT NATION
VOTE RECOGNIZED, NEW NATION EMERGES-JANUARY 15, 2011​

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SENATOR ALLEN: I THINK IT'S APPALLING SOME IN OUR PARTY AREN'T SUPPORTING THE PRESIDENT
RON PAUL: THE ESTABLISHMENT CANNOT SILENCE ME!-JANUARY 17, 2010​

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PROTESTS ERUPT ACROSS THE ARAB WORLD DEMANDING REFORM AND DEMOCRACY​

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HILLARY CLINTON: I'M IN AND I'M IN TO WIN-JANUARY 20, 2011​

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20 CIVILIANS KILLED IN BAGHDAD BOMBINGS-JANUARY 23, 2011​

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PROMINENT AFGHAN DOCTOR AND HIS FAMILY KILLED IN SUICIDE BOMBING
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RON PAUL ANNOUNCES HE WILL CHALLENGE ROMNEY, POLLING NEAR 20%, CHANCES OF WINNING NEAR IMPOSSIBLE

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UNEMPLOYMENT FALLS TO 10.5%, ECONOMIC RECOVERY PICKING UP SPEED

ROMNEY APPROVAL RATINGS RISE TO 43%-FEBRUARY 1, 2011
​

 

[Oppo]

DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY POLLS:
36% CLINTON, 15% FEINGOLD, 13% OBAMA, 7% AL GORE, 3% BERNIE SANDERS, 3% STRICKALND, 1% VILSACK, 1% KUCINICH , 0% GRAVEL -FEBRUARY 3, 2011

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AL GORE DECLINES TO RUN-FEBRUARY 4, 2011​

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SENATOR SANDERS DECLINES TO RUN​

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OIL PRICES JUMP TO NEARLY $130 AMID UPHEVAL IN THE MIDDLE EAST​

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ZOELLICK: MUBARAK IS AN IMPORTANT SECURITY PARTNER, WE NEED TO ENGINEER A PEACEFUL SOLUTION TO THE EGYPTIAN CRISIS
DEMOCRATS ACCUSE STATE DEPARTMENT OF TRYING TO PROP UP A TYRANT​

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EGYPT DICTATOR HOSNI MUBARAK RESIGNS, MILITARY TO TAKE OVER EGYPT IN INTERIM-FEBRUARY 13, 2011​

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REVOLUTIONARIES TAKE OVER EASTERN LIBYA, CIVIL WAR SET TO ERUPT
LIBYAN DICTATOR GADDAFI CLAIMS REBELS INFLUENCED BY AL-QAEDA AND HALLUCINOGENIC DRUGS, VOWS TO CRUSH THEM-FEBRUARY 18, 2011​

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PELOSI: ROMNEY IS THE DEBT PRESIDENT-FEBRUARY 20, 2011​

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ROMNEY GAFFE: I AM THE MOST FISCALLY PRUDENT PRESIDENT SINCE REAGAN-FEBRUARY 21, 2011​

President Romney's latest comments have opened him up to ridicule, with Politifact already rating his claim to be the most fiscally prudent president since Reagan a 'Pants On Fire'. Bill Clinton, on the campaign trail with his wife Hillary, lashed out at the President, calling him a 'liar' and saying "he should no that I am the only President in the last 50 years who balanced the budget". Democrats in Congress are fighting with the President over the budget, with many Democrats wanting to end the Bush tax cuts for high-income earners and focus spending cuts on the Pentagon. The People Power movement has declared it will primary any politician who votes to cut entitlements and/or refuses to end the Bush tax cuts. Protesters went to Capitol Hill yesterday, demanding Congress to break up the banks, reinstate Glass-Steagall and end 'tax cuts for the rich', calling for 'a fairer economy'.
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GERY CHICO ELECTED MAYOR OF CHICAGO-FEBRUARY 22, 2011​

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HILLARY CLINTON: I WILL NEVER BAIL OUT A FAILING INSTITUTION-FEBRUARY 25, 2011​

Democrat frontrunner Hillary Clinton, in a bid to align closer with the party's left and appease the People Power movement has promised as President never to bail out a failing institution. Pundits have speculated this is part of a strategy on Clinton's part to shift to the left to avoid the wrath of the People Power movement, which distrusts her, seeing as a Wall Street crony and an establishment Democrat like John Kerry. The only potential problem with her statement is the signal to Midwest automakers that she would not have bailed them out, but Clinton's campaign clarified the statement with Clinton's campaign strategist Mark Penn saying" Mrs Clinton would have done everything she could to protect automakers and she would have been on the side of them, not on the side of Wall Street." It remains to be seen what the effect of her comments will be.
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GADDAFI BEGINS RETALIATION AGAINST REBELS, CALLS HIS OPPONENTS 'COCKROACHES'​

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THE KING'S SPEECH WINS FOUR OSCARS-FEBRUARY 27, 2011​

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ROMNEY FORWARDS BUDGET PROPOSAL TO CONGRESS​

DEMOCRATS FURIOUS AT CUTS TO MEDICARE, SOCIAL SPENDING BUT NO TAX INCREASES

ROMNEY DECLARES "HARD MEASURES ARE NECESSARY TO CLEAN UP THE MESS OUR PREDECESSORS MADE"-FEBRUARY 28, 2011​

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RUSS FEINGOLD IS RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT-MARCH 1, 2011​

Wisconsin Senator Russ Feingold, a darling of the People Power movement is running for President. Feingold and Senator Obama are statistically tied for second place, and either of them could emerge as the insurgent, left-wing challenger to Hillary Clinton. Feingold, with 20 years in the Senate, has more experience than Obama and has been a consistent left-wing standard-bearer, being the only Senator to vote against the Patriot Act and passing the campaign finance reform McCain-Feingold Act. Another potential weakness that could also be a strength is Feingold's refusal to take soft money, and he vows to power his campaign with small donations. Already, a large amount of small donations are coming into Feingold, and both Feingold and Obama, unlike Clinton, are seemingly successfully using the Internet for fundraising purposes. But in a general election, Feingold would most likely be outmatched. Still, that only added to his appeal before, so maybe it'll work this time. However, some Democrats worry his liberal record could hurt him in a general election, though Feingold points to his 4 wins in Wisconsin, which is almost a swing state and was even won by Romney in 2008. Still, Feingold does poll the worst in general election matchups out of Obama, Clinton and Feingold, and there are fears his Jewish religion and two divorces could also hurt his chances. But Senator Feingold declares "Time and time again, I have defied the nay-sayers because I believe in America and I believe what I believe. We need strong leadership, and I have stood by my principles all this time. It is time for a change in America, and I can deliver that change!"



​

 

[Oppo]

NPVIC TO MAKE WAVES?​

After the 2000 and 2004 elections, in which the Electoral College has gone against the popular vote, the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact (NPVIC) emerged. This is a system where states have been passing laws that they will allocate their electoral votes to the popular vote winner, no matter who their state voted for, when enough states to add up to 270 electoral votes or more have passed these laws. In effect, this will render the Electoral College obsolete and mean the popular vote decides elections. This, while causing candidates to have to campaign across the country to get a strong vote share and not just in swing states as well as ending all the recount and electoral vote beating popular vote problems of 2000 and 2004 could also lead to too much focus being on big cities, could lead to under-representation of certain minority interests and destabilize the US political system. That is a debate that we will be seeing in the coming​

years,

because the NPVIC is getting closer to the 270-EV target. Already it has 147 electoral votes and NPVIC bills are being considered in California, Rhode Island, and Louisiana. Increasingly the idea has broad, bipartisan support but could face a pushback and even if it wins it's likely the NPVIC will have to fight a final battle at the Supreme Court. But let's not get ahead of ourselves. Still, watch this space.​

INFLATION RISE FUELS SPECULATION OF INTEREST RATE HIKE
INFLATION HITS 3%, BUT UNEMPLOYMENT STILL AT 10.1%​

ABBOTT GOVERNMENT IN TROUBLE AFTER UNPOPULAR REFORMS AND SPENDING CUTS
LABOR GAINS 4-POINT LEAD IN TWO-PARTY PREFERRED VOTE-MARCH 3, 2011​

US ENGAGES IN SWEEP OFFENSIVE TO DISRUPT TALIBAN OPERATIONS AND TAKE WEAPONS CACHES​

CONGRESSIONAL PROGRESSIVE CAUCUS(CPC) AND APPROPRIATIONS HEAD BARBARA LEE RELEASES ALTERNATIVE BUDGET PROPOSAL-MARCH 10, 2011​

Liberal Congresswoman Barbara Lee has released an alternative budget proposal,
The Path To Prosperity
that exemplifies the demands of the People Power movement. Entitlements are left untouched, the DoD is cut by 18%, the marginal tax rate is raised to 40%- Clinton era levels, and raises corporate taxes to 33%. Despite establishment Democrats worrying about the proposal hurting Democrat chances in 2012,
The Path To Prosperity
is likely to pass the House. Still, the Senate will stop it. But Congress and the President continue to fight on the edge of the cliff.​

EARTHQUAKE, TSUNAMI HITS JAPAN, KILLING AT LEAST 16,000-MARCH 11, 2011​

FEINGOLD, OBAMA SUPPORT LEE BUDGET, CLINTON, STRICKLAND REFUSE TO DO SO​

CIVIL WAR ERUPTS IN LIBYA, GADDAFI SET TO MASSACRE THOUSANDS​

BAHRAIN MONARCHY BEGINS VIOLENT CRACKDOWN AGAINST PROTESTERS-MARCH 15, 2011​

PROTESTS BEGIN IN SYRIA, IS ASSAD NEXT TO FALL IN REVOLUTIONARY WAVE? -MARCH 15, 2011​

US IMPOSES NO-FLY ZONE OVER LIBYA, BEGINS BOMBING GADDAFI'S FORCES
ROMNEY: GADDAFI CAN, WILL AND MUST BE DEFEATED-MARCH 16, 2011​

PROTESTS ERUPT AGAINST LIBYA INTERVENTION
FEINGOLD: THIS IS THE WRONG COURSE OF ACTION AND WILL ULTIMATELY HURT US
OBAMA: THE ADMINISTRATION IS TOO EAGER TO GO TO WAR​

ROMNEY LAUNCHES RE-ELECTION CAMPAIGN

ROMNEY BOASTS 'RESPONSIBLE LEADERSHIP', DECLARES 'AMERICA IS COMING BACK!'
ROMNEY TIES WITH FEINGOLD, LOSES TO OBAMA 50-47, AND LOSES TO CLINTON 50-46​

ROMNEY GETS 44% APPROVAL RATING-APRIL 3, 2011​

DEMOCRAT POLLS: FEINGOLD LEADS IOWA, CLINTON LEADS NEW HAMPSHIRE AND OBAMA, CLINTON TIED IN SOUTH CAROLINA DESPITE DOUBLE-DIGIT CLINTON LEAD IN NATIONAL POLLS​

Iowa:
Feingold- 32%
Clinton- 25%
Obama- 19%
Strickland- 14%
Vilsack- 4%
Kucinich-3%
Gravel-0%​

New Hampshire:
Clinton-30%
Obama-22%
Feingold-22%
Strickland-10%
Kucinich-2%
Gravel-1%
Vilsack-0%
Undecided-10%​

South Carolina:
Undecided-26%
Clinton-21%
Obama-21%
Feingold-14%
Strickland-13%
Kucinich-1%
Gravel-0%
Vilsack-0%​

These latest polls cast doubt on the view that Clinton is the inevitable nominee, and seem to show an advantage for Feingold in the battle for the People Power vote, but at the same time it is clear Hillary Clinton is a very strong candidate. Remember, these are early polls and on voting day in 2012 the situation could well be very different. However, it does paint an interesting early picture of a field that seems divided and hasn't quite organised itself yet. Mrs Clinton, despite her sizable lead in national polls, could still lose this thing. Stay tuned, this contest looks to be more interesting than we thought.

​

 

[Montgomerie Ward]

FORMER IVORIAN PRESIDENT LAURENT GBAGBO ARRESTED BY REBELS, IVORIAN CIVIL WAR ENDS-APRIL 11, 2011

ROMNEY RELEASES NEW BUDGET PROPOSAL THAT CUTS MORE TAX LOOPHOLES, CUTS WELAFRE, CUTS MEDICARE AND CUTS DOD
POLLS SHOW BUDGET PROPOSAL GETTING ONLY 40% SUPPORT, CONSERVATIVES ANGRY AT DEFENSE CUTS, LIBERALS ANGRY AT ENTITLEMENTS CUTS-APRIL 14, 2011

THOUSANDS PROTEST OUTSIDE WHITE HOUSE AGAINST THE 'SCROOGE BUDGET'
PROTESTER SPITS AT SECRET SERVICE MEMBER, ARRESTED, DRAGGED AWAY CALLING FOR ROMNEY TO BE ARRESTED FOR 'ELDER ABUSE'-APRIL 18, 2011

DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES SHOOT DOWN WHITE HOUSE BUDGET PROPOSAL-APRIL 19, 2011

PRESIDENT APPROVES KEYSTONE XL PIPELINE
EXPERTS COMPLAIN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT NOT PROPERLY STUDIED, LEFT UP IN ARMS BUT POLLS SHOW UP TO 60% OF AMERICANS SUPPORT THE DECISION
CLINTON, STRICKLAND DECLARE SUPPORT FOR KEYSTONE, PROMISE 'ENERGY INDEPENDENT AMERICA', OBAMA, FEINGOLD OPPOSE IT-APRIL 23, 2011

PROTESTS OCCURRING IN 22 SYRIAN CITIES, PROTESTERS DEMAND FALL OF ASSAD REGIME-APRIL 22, 2011

SYRIAN ARMY BEGINS BRUTAL MILITARY CRACKDOWN ON PROTESTERS, TROOPS IN IRAQ WITHDRAWN TO QUELL UNREST
DOZENS OF PEACEFUL PROTESTERS SHOT, TORTURED, KILLED BY ASSAD REGIME-APRIL 25, 2011

THOUSANDS OF SYRIAN TROOPS DEFECT

ROMNEY REFUSES TO PASS ANY BUDGET THAT DOES NOT CUT WELFARE-APRIL 30, 2011

​

 

[Montgomerie Ward]

OSAMA BIN LADEN IS DEAD!-MAY 1, 2011

​

The infamous Al-Qaeda terrorist leader and perpetrator of the 9/11 terrorist attacks has been killed by the US Navy SEALs in a daring operation in Pakistan. As it turned out, Bin Laden was hiding in a compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan, mere kilometers away from a key Pakistani military academy. Relations between the US and Pakistan are expected to be strained even further as there is strong suspicion that the Pakistan government was hiding the terrorist leader. For now though America and the western world is jubilant as their enemy is slain. The President, addressing the nation, declared "We are on the road to defeating and fundamentally degrading the terrorist threat. Today, America has triumphed. Let every enemy of our nation know, you cannot win."

ROMNEY APPROVAL RATING JUMPS 14 POINTS TO 54%-MAY 2, 2011

FIRST DEMOCRATIC DEBATE HELD, CLINTON WINS BUT FEINGOLD WHIPS OBAMA-MAY 6, 2011​

Hillary Clinton didn't let any of her opponents beat her, showing confidence and a mastery of the issues, a virtually flawless performance. The other battle of the night, between Senator Feingold and Senator Obama ended in a victory for Feingold. Feingold delivered the most memorable moment of the night, declaring "I have fought, and fought, and fought for America and progressive causes. I have time and time again put my political career on the line to fight for what I believe is right. And with respect Senator, where were you?" Feingold's campaign now hopes the People Power movement coalesces behind him, but Senator Obama's campaign vowed to "Keep the momentum up, and keep pushing our case for a change we can believe in."

LATEST IOWA POLL:
29% FEINGOLD, 23% CLINTON, 14% OBAMA, 9% STRICKLAND, VILSACK 3%, KUCINICH 2%, GRAVEL 1%, 19% UNDECIDED-MAY 15, 2011​

​

TROIKA BAILS OUT PORTUGAL, IMPOSES AUSTERITY AS DEBT CRISIS SHAKES EUROPE-MAY 16, 2011

TREASURY SECRETARY WHITMAN: "CONGRESS NEEDS TO STOP HOLDING THE NATION HOSTAGE"
DISAPPROVAL OF CONGRESS REACHES NEW RECORD AT 83%-MAY 20, 2011

SHOCK POLL SHOWS RON PAUL BEATING PRESIDENT IN MAINE GOP CAUCUSES
ESTABLISHMENT, PUNDITS ATTACK ACCURACY OF POLL, CLAIM PAUL IS 'HOPELESS' ANYWAY-JUNE 1, 2011

PAUL TO ROMNEY: "DEBATE ME." WHITE HOUSE CALLS DEBATE PROPOSAL 'RIDICULOUS' AND 'UTTER FANTASY'-JUNE 3, 2011

8 SYRIAN SECURITY OFFICERS KILLED BY PROTESTERS, VIOLENCE ERUPTS IN TOWN NEAR TURKISH BORDER-JUNE 4, 2011

YEMENI PRESIDENT SALEH FLEES TO SAUDI ARABIA, DEPUTY TAKES OVER, PROTESTERS REJOICE-JUNE 5, 2011

COMPROMISE RYAN-BIDEN BUDGET PROPOSAL EMERGES-JUNE 12, 2011

​

Republican Congressman Paul Ryan and Democratic Senator Joe Biden have co-authored a bipartisan budget proposal that is gaining widespread support and hopes to end the current congressional gridlock. The Ryan-Biden plan will not raise taxes, though it will eliminate more deductions and loopholes, cut defense by 3%, and make minor cuts across the board. The plan has been criticized for 'kicking the can down the road', but the House and Senate leadership have endorsed it, and President Romney promises to allow it if Congress passes it. It delays a debt ceiling increase until 2012 and in a sop to Democrats it schedules a vote on the status of the Bush tax cuts in June 2013, though given the existence of the filibuster it is unlikely they will be repealed. Still, some on the right oppose the plan and the People Power movement vows not to allow it, even though their favorite presidential candidates will also be supporting it. One of their main complaints is a part of the bill that virtually eliminates government subsidies for green energy-except ethanol, which remained fully intact. Yet the leg is beginning to swing back, and the can is set to be kicked down the road.
​

THOUSANDS OF SYRIANS FLEE TO TURKEY AS REGIME ATTACKS-JULY 12, 2011

GADDAFI, SONS OFFER ELECTIONS, NATO, REBELS REJECT OFFER AS A PLOY-JUNE 16, 2011​

​

 

[Montgomerie Ward]

FEINGOLD WIDENS LEAD IN IOWA, CLINTON GAINS 11-POINT LEAD IN NEW HAMPSHIRE, LEADS BY 8-POINTS IN SOUTH CAROLINA, & 21 POINTS IN FLORIDA-JUNE 21, 2011

​

In the latest round of polls, the picture of the race has begun to clear, with Senator Obama now falling further and further behind as Feingold gains momentum. In Iowa, one poll showed Feingold with an 8-point lead over senator Clinton, with 32% to her 24%, but another showed a 27-27 tie between the two. In New Hampshire, Senator Clinton beats Feingold 33% to 22%, with Obama at 16% and Strickland a paltry 7%. In South Carolina, a plurality of voters (30%) are undecided, but Senator Clinton at 25% leads Senator Obama by an 8% margin, while Senator Feingold is just behind him at 16% and Governor Strickland languishes at 11%. In Florida, Clinton has a 20-point lead over undecided voters and a 21-point lead over Feingold, who gets 18% to her 39%. But he should be thankful he isn't Barack Obama, who barely scrapes into double-digits, just 2-points ahead of Strickland. Governor Strickland and Senator Obama, thought to be top contenders in this race, right now are in a very bad situation, as they have been overtaken by other candidates. For Obama, there's still hope, for if Feingold or Clinton falters he can gain in their place, but Governor Strickland might start considering throwing in the towel.

HOUSE REJECTS RYAN-BIDEN PLAN, REPUBLICAN RIGHT UNITES WITH DEMOCRATIC LEFT TO DEFY PARTY LEADERSHIP
GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN FEARS ESCALATE, CONGRESSWOMAN PENDLETON CALLS FOR 'THE HEAD OF THE POLITICIANS WHO BETRAYED US!'

CBO: DEBT TO BE 101% OF GDP BY END OF THE DECADE-JUNE 22, 2011

DEMOCRATS HOLD ANOTHER DEBATE, OBAMA, FEINGOLD SPAR, LETTING CLINTON GET A FREE RIDE
OBAMA REASSERTS HIMSELF, BUT DOESN'T DESTROY FEINGOLD-JUNE 23, 2011

AYAD ALLAWI ELECTED IRAQ PM, LEADS SECULAR COALITION TO CRUSH PM JAAFARI-JUNE 24, 2011

VIOLENCE ESCALATES IN SYRIA AS SOLDIERS DEFECT AND PROTESTERS TAKE UP ARMS

AFGHANISTAN TO SUFFER DROUGHT, MILLIONS LIKELY TO NEED HELP

ROMNEY APPROVAL RATING FALLS BACK TO 47%​

 

[Montgomerie Ward]

ABBOTT GOVERNMENT SURVIVES TIED CONFIDENCE VOTE 75-75
PUNDITS PREDICT GOVERNMENT'S FALL IN MONTHS AND NEW ELECTIONS-JULY 1, 2011

HOUSE PASSES RYAN-BIDEN PLAN 218-217-JULY 1, 2011

UNEMPLOYMENT AT 11.0%, INFLATION AT 4%-JULY 1, 2011

​

The latest economic news shows a stagnant economic recovery and has policymakers worrying more about inflation. Glenn Hubbard has said, "It's getting more and more likely that we;ll be forced to raise interest rates to prevent a 1970s-style crisis," a comment that prompted an outcry from markets and the public. Hubbard has scaled it back slightly and promised, "By August the Federal Reserve Board will have a decision on its strategy to combat inflation and unemployment." Many experts blame Hubbard's predecessor Roger Ferguson for over-inflating the economy with Quantitative Easing, when asked to comment Ferguson rebuked the argument saying, "I don't think people should be overreacting, I have full confidence inflation will come down soon." Hubbard is less confident about this. Economists have adjusted their predictions, increasing the chance of a double-dip recession. Economic chaos, uncertainty and stagnation home and abroad all threaten to destroy the few gains made since 2009. In the economy, good news is few and far between, and so they envy the other sectors of public policy and life. And for Romney, there are no good outcomes anymore when the economy is in play.

GADDAFI'S SON ACCUSES US OF BOMBING HIS FAMILY
US DECLARES HIM A WAR CRIMINAL

SUPREME COURT GRANTS MEXICAN NATIONAL LEAL GARCIA STAY OF EXECUTION IN CONTROVERSIAL LEAL GARCIA V. TEXAS CASE-JULY 7, 2011

SOUTH SUDAN DECLARES INDEPENDENCE-JULY 9, 2011

SENATE PASSES RYAN-BIDEN BUDGET 62-38, AVOIDING GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN
STRICKLAND, VILSACK AND CLINTON ONLY DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES TO SUPPORT THE BUDGET-JULY 13, 2011

SOUTH SUDAN JOINS UN-JULY 14, 2011

TALIBAN KILL AFGHAN MP JAN MOHAMMED KHAN-JULY 17, 2011

UN DECLARES THERE IS A FAMINE IN SOMALIA-JULY 20, 2011

80 PEOPLE KILLED IN NORWAY BY FAR-RIGHT MILITANT TERRORIST ANDERS BEHRING BREIVIK-JULY 22, 2011

ANTI-REGIME FREE SYRIAN ARMY (FSA) FORMED IN SYRIA-JULY 29, 2011

145 SYRIANS KILLED IN BRUTAL REGIME CRACKDOWN-JULY 31, 2011

INFLATION RISES TO 4.3%, GDP SHRINKS BY 0.1%, UNEMPLOYMENT AT 10.4%-AUGUST 1, 2011

HILLARY CLINTON BLASTS ROMNEY ECONOMIC RECORD, DECLARES "MITT ROMNEY IS THE WORST PRESIDENT IN THE LAST 80 YEARS!"-AUGUST 2, 2011

FEINGOLD WIDENS LEAD IN IOWA TO 12 POINTS BUT CLINTON LEADING IN OTHER 3 EARLY STATES BY SOLID MARGINS-AUGUST 3, 2011

OBAMA DECLARES "IT'S TIME FOR NEW LEADERSHIP", SAYS ONLY HE CAN BE PRINCIPLED, ELECTABLE, AND BIPARTISAN-AUGUST 4, 2011

TONY ABBOTT OVERTHROWN IN CONFIDENCE VOTE, NEW ELECTION TO BE HELD
RUDD LOOKS SET TO WIN-AUGUST 5, 2011

STANDARD & POOR'S DOWNGRADES US CREDIT RATING TO AA+, BLAMES PARTISANSHIP AND UNWILLINGNESS TO COMBAT THE DEBT ON BOTH SIDES-AUGUST 6, 2011

​

 

[Montgomerie Ward]

FEDERAL RESERVE BOARD VOTES TO RAISE INTEREST RATES TO 0.5% BASIS POINTS
HUBBARD: "WE HAVE NO CHOICE"-AUGUST 6, 2011
​

The Federal Reserve Board voted last night to raise interest rates. This move has been done to quell rising inflation, which many blame on the Quantitative Easing policies of the previous Fed Chairman Roger Ferguson. Ferguson has virulently opposed the interest rates hikes, calling it "a stupid decision that will have dire consequences for the economy." The economy, already shrinking, is now predicted to enter a double-dip recession, though Hubbard has claimed that this is necessary to avoid a major inflation crisis. The stock markets are expected to fall dramatically after two big whoppers, the downgrade and the interest rate hike, in one day. The decision is already igniting major controversy among economists, and fear among politicians. The economy is set to face another traumatic, but hopefully short, period.

LIBYAN REBELS MOUNT OFFENSIVE ON CAPITAL TRIPOLI, GADDAFI'S SON CAPTURED-AUGUST 21, 2011

CLINTON STAFFER: "FEINGOLD IS A WIDE-EYED, UNELECTABLE IDEALIST"-AUGUST 22, 2011

OPPOSITION SYRIAN NATIONAL COUNCIL FORMED IN ATTEMPT TO UNITE ANTI-ASSAD GROUPS
ANALYSTS UNCERTAIN ON WHETHER IT WILL SUCCEED-AUGUST 23, 2011

FEINGOLD PUSHES BACK SAYING, "WHEN CHANGE ARRIVES THE FORCES OF THE STATUS QUO DO EVERYTHING THEY CAN TO STOP IT"-AUGUST 23, 2011

OBAMA DECLARES FEINGOLD IS UNELECTABLE, TRIES TO PROMISE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS
FEINGOLD CAMPAIGN REBUKES OBAMA CLAIMS, TRIES TO LABEL HIM AS ESTABLISHMENT CANDIDATE-AUGUST 25, 2011

FEINGOLD, OBAMA BREAKING NEW GROUND IN UTILIZING SOCIAL MEDIA, CLINTON FALLS BEHIND
OBAMA CAMPAIGN LEADS IN THE INTERNET BATTLE

GADDAFI HAS LOST! REBELS TAKE TRIPOLI, BATTLES WITH GADDFAI LOYALISTS TO CONTINUE, DICTATOR ESCAPES-AUGUST 28, 2011

HURRICANE IRENE SWEEPS EAST COAST-AUGUST 28, 2011

UNEMPLOYMENT JUMPS TO 10.8%, INTEREST RATE HIKE BLAMED-SEPTEMBER 1, 2011​

INDIA & BANGLADESH SIGN PACT TO END BORDER DEMARCATION DISPUTE-SEPTEMBER 5, 2011​

​

AUSTRALIAN FEDERAL ELECTION: KEVIN RUDD RE-ELECTED PM, ABBOTT DEFEATED, LABOR GETS 82 SEATS-SEPTEMBER 6, 2011​

​

​

 

[Montgomerie Ward]

PRESIDENT PRESENTS RESTORING AMERICA'S ECONOMY ACT (RAEA) TO CONGRESS-SEPTEMBER 6, 2011
​

​

The President has sent another economic plan to Congress, which recycles elements of the ROAR Act and previous plans to cut regulations and cuts taxes further, and outright eliminates many taxes. Congress is expected to reject his plan, with every single Democratic presidential candidate opposing RAEA, and all Democratic congressional leaders also opposing it, with Senator Reid calling it "a re-hash of failed policies." Romney's primary challenger, Ron Paul, says the plan does not go far enough, with Paul calling for the abolition of the income tax, as well as the abolition of the Fed and massive cuts to spending. Paul is very unlikely to defeat Romney, but is currently polling around 25-30% in both Iowa and New Hampshire and hopes to humiliate Romney by winning a state somewhere. Several pundits have speculated that RAEA and Romney's other ideas mainly serve to give him an agenda to run on in 2012.

HILLARY CLINTON SLIPS IN DEMOCRATIC DEBATE, STRUGGLES TO JUSTIFY LARGE WALL STREET DONATIONS-SEPTEMBER 7, 2011

ARMED INSURGENCY GAINS MOMENTUM IN SYRIA

REPUBLICANS BEGIN GETTING MASSIVE WAR-CHEST FOR 2012 ELECTION

SYRIAN ARMY BESIEGES RASTAN-SEPTEMBER 27, 2011

REBELS ROUTED FROM RASTAN, OVER 120 CIVILIANS KILLED-OCTOBER 1, 2011

ROMNEY LOSES 53-44 TO CLINTON, 49-46 TO OBAMA AND 48-47 TO FEINGOLD-OCTOBER 3, 2011

ZOELLICK: "ASSAD MUST GO"-OCTOBER 3, 2011

​

​

 

[Montgomerie Ward]

CLINTON RELEASES HEALTHCARE PLAN-OCTOBER 4, 2011

​

Senator Hillary Clinton, the Democratic frontrunner, released her healthcare plan today. Senator Clinton, in a launch of her plan in Concord, New Hampshire, declared, "Our health care system is in crisis. Too many Americans are paying more and more for insurance that covers less and less." Clinton has sought to downplay concerns about her plan being like the Hillarycare debacle of the 1990s, naming her new plan the American Health Choices Plan and emphasized this theme, promising it would not be a massive government bureaucracy. Her plan has tax credits, regulations, creation of government insurance exchanges, subsidies for those unable to afford insurance, an individual mandate, more malpractice reform, and clearly leads the field. While many comparisons have been made to Hillarycare, her plan is in fact much more similar to a different plan. Hillarycare 2.0 is essentially a clone of the Romneycare plan passed when Mitt Romney was Governor of Massachusetts.

STEVE JOBS, APPLE FOUNDER, DIES-OCTOBER 5, 2011

AFGHANISTAN OPIUM PRODUCTION SURGES BY 57%

19 AMERICANS KILLED IN DEADLY AFGHANISTAN SUICIDE BOMBING-OCTOBER 14, 2011

CLINTON CAMPAIGN TO SCALE DOWN ON IOWA, FOCUS ON OTHER EARLY STATES AND BEYOND

​

In recent weeks, Senator Hillary Clinton's campaign has been realizing they are struggling in Iowa, and badly too. Senator Feingold has a consistent lead in Iowa between 7-11 percentage points in virtually all polls since August. By contrast, in most other early states, Clinton retains a solid lead. As Clinton embarks on a tour of the Super Tuesday states, her campaign is realizing this reality and winding down its Iowa campaign, pulling ads, staff, money, and other operations. However, to keep up appearances and lessen the blow in Iowa, Bill Clinton is set to make a 30-day tour of Iowa, while Clinton does her Super Tuesday tour before going to New Hampshire and other early states.​

DEFECTORS ALLEGE ASSAD RELEASED ISLAMIST TERRORISTS TO MAKE OPPOSITION LOOK BAD
ZOELLICK: "ASSAD IS NOT FOOLING ANYONE, HE WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO WIN."

REBELS DRAG FLEEING GADDAFI OUT OF DRAINAGE PIPE, BRUTALLY MURDER FORMER DICTATOR-OCTOBER 20, 2011

RAEA DIES IN SENATE, FILIBUSTERED WITH 0 DEMOCRATS VOTING FOR IT-OCTOBER 28, 2011

DOUBLE-DIP: ECONOMY SHRINKS BY 0.3%, UNEMPLOYMENT AT 11.1%-NOVEMBER 1, 2011

ASSAD FORCES, FSA ENGAGE IN STREET FIGHTING FOR CITY OF HOMS-NOVEMBER 8, 2011

40% OF REPUBLICANS WANT DIFFERENT NOMINEE, BUT PAUL NOT SEEN AS SUITABLE ALTERNATIVE-NOVEMBER 12, 2011

EVERYONE HATES CONGRESS: LEFT THINKS IT'S TOO CENTRIST, CENTRISTS THINK IT'S TOO LEFT-NOVEMBER 12, 2011

ROMNEY APPROVAL RATING AT 35%
PUNDITS SAY APPROVAL RATING WILL PROBABLY RISE AGAIN, ESPECIALLY IF ECONOMY IMPROVES, BUT SAY ROMNEY RE-ELECTION CHANCES SHRINKING

SECRETARY OF STATE ZOELLICK: "THE US WILL DO EVERYTHING IT CAN TO PROTECT HUMAN RIGHTS IN SYRIA, STOP ASSAD."
SENATOR MCCAIN, NEOCONS CALL FOR INTERVENTION AGAINST ASSAD-NOVEMBER 15, 2011

US NATIONAL DEBT TOPS GDP FOR FIRST TIME SINCE THE 1940s-NOVEMBER 16, 2011

​

 

[Montgomerie Ward]

DETROIT DECLARES BANKRUPTCY-NOVEMBER 18, 2011

​

The city of Detroit, Michigan has declared Chapter 9 bankruptcy. Detroit, after a decades-long decline, has finally crashed. The city's manufacturing industry, mainly the auto industry, began a long decline starting in the 1970s and ending with the death of GM and Chrysler in 2009. While Ford survived and grew, the company was unable to by itself dig Detroit and the Midwest out of the new hole. The race riots of the 1960s led to the population decline as middle-class whites left the city, crime and urban decay then continued to rot Detroit. The final death knell of Detroit was the financial crisis, the already struggling city now saw its economy virtually collapse and the already small tax revenues dried up. Unemployment in Michigan is at 15.4% and in Detroit it is at 24.2%. Detroit is now in a second Great Depression. The federal government refused to help, and so the city has declared bankruptcy. Detroit, many believe, is dead.

DEMOCRATS QUICK TO BLAME ROMNEY FOR DETROIT'S FALL-NOVEMBER 20, 2011

ROMNEY APPROVAL RATING HITS 33%-NOVEMBER 28, 2011

UNEMPLOYMENT RISES TO 11.2%-DECEMBER 2, 2011

US EFFORTS TO MUSTER UN EFFORT AGAINST ASSAD CRUMBLE AS RUSSIA SIDES WITH DICTATOR-DECEMBER 3, 2011

OBAMA STRUGGLES TO COMBAT 'LIGHTWEIGHT PROBLEM'-DECEMBER 9, 2011

​

Barack Obama is no lightweight. With six years in the Senate he played a key role in passing healthcare malpractice reform and has proved a strong legislator and proponent of numerous liberal causes, from an end to the drone war to an end to DADT. However, with Senator Feingold sweeping liberal votes, Senator Obama has struggled to find a place in the race, and his attempts to push back at one contender or another have only alienated their supporters and undermined his image. Still, even facing likely defeat, Obama pushes on. Iowa could be open with Clinton abandoning the state, and if not he could always make a stand in South Carolina.​

​

60 SHI'ITES KILLED IN KABUL TERRORIST ATTACKS

ROMNEY ISSUES ULTIMATUM TO ASSAD: "YOU HAVE 48 HOURS TO LEAVE"-DECEMBER 12, 2011

US, NATO ESTABLISHES NO-FLY ZONE OVER SYRIA, BEGINS BOMBING ASSAD FORCES-DECEMBER 14, 2011

PUTIN: "AMERICANS ARE ILLEGALLY TAKING OVER SYRIA"-DECEMBER 15, 2011

THOUSANDS PROTEST AGAINST SYRIA WAR-DECEMBER 17, 2011

REBELS BEGIN ADVANCING AGAINST ASSAD FORCES

DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES OPPOSE SYRIA INTERVENTION, CLINTON CALLS IT "CONCERNING AND RASH"

2011 ENDS WITH WAR, RECESSION AND GRIDLOCK
ON THE OTHER HAND, BIN LADEN'S DEAD!

IRAN VP THREATENS TO CUT OFF OIL SUPPLY FROM STRAIT OF HORMUZ-DECEMBER 27, 2011

FEINGOLD WINS IOWA
KUCINICH, VILSACK, GRAVEL, STRICKLAND DROP OUT-JANUARY 3, 2012

​

Russ Feingold-40%​

Hillary Clinton-25.5%
Barack Obama-25.3%
Ted Strickland-8%
Tom Vilsack-2%
No other candidate managed to get 1% or more of the vote.

Senator Feingold won a solid victory in the Iowa caucuses, getting a big burst of momentum. Sweeping up the People Power vote he is now the main challenger to Hillary Clinton. Yet despite his victory it is at least partly attributed to Clinton abandoning Iowa once Feingold gained a solid lead there. Still, nobody is inevitable in this race and everybody could lose.​

 

[Montgomerie Ward]

OBAMA TO CAMPAIGN IN SOUTH CAROLINA WITH OPRAH, DEFIES CALLS TO WITHDRAW-JANUARY 4, 2012

CLINTON STAFFER: "FEINGOLD DOES NOT LIVE IN REAL WORLD"-JANUARY 5, 2011

ASSAD FORCES ROUTED FROM HOMS, REBELS GAIN MOMENTUM AS US BOMBS PUMMEL ASSAD-JANUARY 6, 2012

FEINGOLD WINS DEMOCRATIC DEBATE, ERODES CLINTON LEAD IN NEW HAMPSHIRE-JANUARY 7, 2012

​

Senator Feingold seems to be speeding towards victory in New Hampshire, which could give him unstoppable momentum towards the nomination. He delivered the zinger when Senator Clinton declared she had delivered change, declaring, "You can't say you're for change Senator, because you support and you vote for the status quo. Time and time again, politicians have promised change and done nothing to deliver. And I am the only one on this stage who can honestly say I am not one of those politicians."

FEINGOLD ATTRACTS HUGE CROWDS IN NEW HAMPSHIRE, GAINING MOMENTUM

BILL CLINTON CALLS FEINGOLD 'UNELECTABLE', BOASTS CLINTON RECORD-JANUARY 8, 2012

CLINTONS RALLY TOGETHER IN STAND FOR NEW HAMPSHIRE
BILL CLINTON: "HILLARY IS INFINITELY SUPERIOR TO FEINGOLD, SHE HAS DELIVERED FAR MORE CHANGE, HAS FAR MORE LEADERSHIP"-JANUARY 9, 2012

FINAL NEW HAMPSHIRE POLL SHOWS FEINGOLD AHEAD BY 2 POINTS (41% TO 39%)
FEINGOLD LEAD IN MARGIN OF ERROR-JANUARY 9, 2012

CLINTON WINS NEW HAMPSHIRE!-JANUARY 10, 2012

​

Hillary Clinton-40% 5 delegates
Russ Feingold- 37% 4 delegates
Barack Obama-17% 1 delegate

Senator Hillary Clinton has won the first in the New Hampshire primary, staving off speculation of her downfall. In her victory speech she declared, "20 years ago a comeback kid defied the doubters to win New Hampshire and the presidency. Now for the sequel!" Her victory has been attributed to a stronger ground game and pouring more ads and money into the state, though there is also a sense the Clintons are a proven brand while Feingold is too risky. The polls were slightly off but that can be explained by voters swinging erratically in the last days of the campaign. Feingold claims to have the momentum but Mrs. Clinton leads in both South Carolina and Florida, the next contests that could define the race. In South Carolina Mr. Obama seeks to make a comeback by winning black voters but he falls behind Mrs. Clinton there. Still, this race won't be wrapped up soon. It's time for a race.​

​

 

[Montgomerie Ward]

SOUTH CAROLINA POLLS CLOSE, CLINTON OR OBAMA COULD GRAB THE STATE

ROMNEY APPROVAL RATING RISES TO 40%-JANUARY 15, 2012

WAS IT A MISTAKE FOR CLINTON TO ABANDON IOWA?
​

With the rise of Russ Feingold, recriminations about past strategy have arisen in the Clinton campaign, specifically about the decision to abandon Iowa when Feingold gained the lead there. Several high-level staffers have said that this was a mistake, claiming it gave Feingold momentum and undermined Hillary's status in the race. However one important campaign leader made the case it wasn't a mistake saying, "We'd effectively lost in Iowa. And so we needed to be efficient with our resources and focus on New Hampshire and get a national mandate. Trust me, that's what's happening, that's what's going to happen."

OBAMA, CLINTON GET PERSONAL IN MYRTLE BEACH DEBATE-JANUARY 16 2012

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The South Carolina debate at Myrtle Beach got vicious quick. It was a battle between Senator Obama and Senator Clinton, though Senator Feingold joined Obama to gang up on Clinton. Clinton said Obama is "a lightweight who got where he is because of his slum landlord Tony Rezko", and when Obama said "Sometimes I don't know if it's Bill or Hillary Clinton running for President" she lashed out saying, "That's offensive to me and I think that's offensive to all women." Feingold was drawn in, and attacked Clinton as a "Washington insider" and a "Wall Street crony"; to which Clinton said, "You really don't know what you're talking about Senator." And Mr. Obama, who appeared on the verge of losing his temper at times, noted that she was on the board of Wal-Mart while he was working on “the streets” as a Chicago community organizer. Mrs. Clinton was a director of Wal-Mart from 1986 to 1992. After the debate accusations of racism and sexism were thrown around by both campaigns.

CLINTON GAINS WITH WOMEN, OBAMA GAINS WITH BLACK MEN-JANUARY 17, 2012

ASSAD FORCES FALLING BACK, RETREAT TO DAMASCUS AS OUTLYING REGIONS FALL OUTSIDE OF ASSAD'S GRASP

OBAMA ATTACKS 'ESTABLISHMENT' CLINTONS, BILL CLINTON APPEALS TO BLACK VOTERS-JANUARY 19, 2012

CLINTON AIDE CROSSES THE LINE ON FEINGOLD DIVORCES-JANUARY 20, 2012​

Clinton campaign aide William Shaheen crossed a line in his latest comments saying, "The people who knew Senator Feingold the most, that were closest to him, they rejected him. They know what we don't about this man's character. I think Russ Feingold has a problem with love, maybe he didn't love his wives, if that's true he might have trouble loving America. It's something to be concerned about, it's something to consider..." The comments sparked a firestorm on social media and Shaheen is expected to resign. The Feingold campaign expressed fury at the comments declaring, "Senator Feingold is outraged that the Clinton campaign is making these unfair, personal attacks. This isn't getting us a better economy, better healthacre, or fixing our problems. It is part of the same old Washington clown show."

CLINTON WINS SOUTH CAROLINA-JANUARY 21, 2012

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Hillary Clinton-42% 21 delegates
Barack Obama- 33% 3 delegates
Russ Feingold-25% 1 delegate
​

OBAMA WITHDRAWS, DECLINES TO ENDORSE ANY CANDIDATE
OBAMA CALLS FOR 'A RETURN TO CIVILITY,' DECRIES 'POINTLESS BICKERING' IN POLITICS
OBAMA'S BLACK SUPPORTERS EXPECTED TO JOIN CLINTON, WHITES TO FEINGOLD-JANUARY 22, 2012

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​

 

[Montgomerie Ward]

ROMNEY TO SEND 1,500 US 'MILITARY ADVISERS' TO LIBYA-JANUARY 22, 2012

EU IMPOSES SANCTIONS ON IRAN-JANUARY 23, 2012

CLINTON LEADS NATIONAL POLLS (50% CLINTON, 40% FEINGOLD), RETAINS SLIGHT EDGE IN FLORIDA-JANUARY 24, 2012

FEINGOLD, A JEW, HOPES TO GAIN FLORIDA JEWISH VOTE

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[Montgomerie Ward]

DEMOCRATIC DEBATE HELD, FEINGOLD AND CLINTON UNLOAD ON EACH OTHER-JANUARY 26, 2012

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The Florida debate saw the two candidates battle it out, at the high stakes Florida primary. Florida is set to bring a burst of momentum to either candidate, if it's Clinton then the establishment will seek to wrap up the contest and Feingold could be swamped and if it's Feingold then he will prove his insurgency is alive and well and put Clinton on the back foot. Feingold started in his opening statement by declaring, "We need to take our country back from establishment politicians and from Wall Street"; to which Clinton said, "I agree" to bursts of cheers and jeers. Feingold then said, "I was talking about you"; to which Clinton replied, "Didn't seem like it." Then in the debate Clinton highlighted Feingold's vote against the Patriot Act saying, "You're too far to the left on this issue. It'll wound us in the general election when we should be putting them on the defensive." Feingold argued for principles but Clinton declared, "What use are your principles if it means millions are still unemployed, our budget is in ruins, and our economy is stagnant? We need a President who can make change, and who is able to get elected." They also clashed on healthcare, with Feingold calling Clinton's plan 'puny' and a 'fraud' and Clinton defending her plan as, "The dream of Harry Truman and the dream of our party."

CLINTON LEADS FLORIDA POLLS, FEINGOLD DECLARES "THE PEOPLE WILL UPSET THE PUNDITS"

CLINTON WINS FLORIDA-JANUARY 31, 2012
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Hillary Clinton-48% 50 delegates*
Russ Feingold-43%

Senator Clinton again fought off the Feingold threat, winning Florida, though a lot of Democrats worry the campaign is sinking into the gutter. Clinton remains the frontrunner, with Feingold needing a strong performance in the next contests to regain his lost momentum. Many Democrats, it seems, remain wary of Feingold, but the People Power movement remains a strong force and hopes to get a Feingold win. Still, several pundits have speculated the People Power movement may be in decline and that there is a battle for the party's soul between the moderates and liberals.

*Florida is a winner take-all state, despite the DNC not allowing it to be that, so it was stripped of half its delegates, which it accepted because of the momentum a Florida victory would give the winner.

UNEMPLOYMENT FALLS TO 10.5%, RECESSION OFFICIALLY OVER, INFLATION FALLS TO 1.2% -FEBRUARY 1, 2012
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Technically, the economy is recovering. Indeed, that's what the President likes to think boasting that, "The economy is about to make a leap from recession to prosperity," an argument the Democrats mocked. Many Americans still express dissatisfaction with the economy and by extension the President's leadership, with the latest polls putting his approval rating just above 40%. Economists predict the economy will make inching growth, or to quote one, "Burst full speed ahead-by a snail's standards." Of course, the conventional wisdom has been proved wrong before, and President Romney certainly hopes it will be proven wrong again.

CLINTON & FEINGOLD COMPETE FOR COLORADO, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI TRIFECTA ON FEB. 7
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DIAMOND JUBILEE OF ELIZABETH II HELD TO CELEBRATE A 60 YEAR REIGN-FEBRUARY 6, 2012

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FEINGOLD WINS COLORADO AND MINNESOTA, CLINTON WINS MISSOURI-FEBRUARY 7, 2012

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Colorado:
Russ Feingold-56%
Hillary Clinton-43%

Minnesota:
Russ Feingold-62%
Hillary Clinton-36%

Missouri:
Hillary Clinton-54%
Russ Feingold-45%

The contests did not award any delegates, but would give momentum to the winner.

FEINGOLD WINS MAINE CAUCUSES-FEBRUARY 11, 2012

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Russ Feingold-58% 18 delegates
Hillary Clinton-40% 3 delegates​

Senator Feingold's candidacy is regaining momentum with its latest victories, but Hillary Clinton has an advantage in national polls-admittedly a narrowing one. However much depends on Michigan and Super Tuesday, which could secure Clinton's lead or destroy it. Meanwhile Congressman Paul aimed to upset President Romney in Maine and burst onto the stage, but got 43% of the vote, a very respectable score for a primary challenger to an incumbent President, but not enough to get any headlines or attention. Paul, who has speculated about a third-party bid for the Libertarians, might now do that instead.
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RUSSIA, IRAN INFUSE STRUGGLING ASSAD REGIME WITH WEAPONS AND SUPPORT

FEINGOLD GAINS MOMENTUM, MICHIGAN PRIMARY SET TO BE MAKE OR BREAK MOMENT FOR HIS CAMPAIGN

DOW JONES RETURNS TO FORMER HIGHS AT OVER 13,000-FEBRUARY 21, 2012

GREECE GETS ANOTHER BAILOUT, MORE AUSTERITY-FEBRUARY 21, 2012

CLINTON AND FEINGOLD FACE OFF AGAIN-FEBRUARY 22, 2012

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The Democratic candidates, Russ Feingold and Hillary Clinton, faced off in a debate in Phoenix, Arizona. Hillary called Feingold's claims to be centrist "ridiculous," and Feingold had similar words for her claims to be progressive. Clinton confirmed a recent tack to the left saying, "I'm going to reform the financial sector, and trust me they're going to feel it." However, Feingold called her a "triangulator" and a "flip-flopper," and said, "I think that when you promise to push progressive priorities that we don't trust you, because you played a key part in attacking those very same priorities." To that Mrs. Clinton retorted, "I'm proud of my record in public service, and that is as a stalwart and a fighter for progressive causes." The effects of the debate are unclear.​

14 KILLED AS AFGHANS PROTEST QURAN BURNINGS-FEBRUARY 24, 2012

CLINTON SOFTENS POSITION ON GLASS-STEAGALL, PROMISES TO 'LOOK INTO' REINSTATING IT
FEINGOLD: "SENATOR CLINTON ISN'T BEING SERIOUS"-FEBRUARY 25, 2012

MICHIGAN POLLS TIED IN LEAD-UP TO VOTE-FEBRUARY 27, 2012

MICHIGAN EXTREMELY NARROW WIN FOR CLINTON-FEBRUARY 28, 2012
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Hillary Clinton-50.2% 16 delegates
Russ Feingold-49.3% 14 delegates

An important victory has been won by Senator Clinton, right by Feingold's home-ground, putting an end to Feingold's momentum. However, Feingold's campaign was quick to spin the victory in their favor proclaiming, "We're taking the fight to the establishment, and we've got them on the rocks. We just need an extra push!" and his campaign also criticized the decision to award Senator Clinton 16 delegates to Feingold's 14, arguing the result was close enough to merit a delegate tie.
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CLINTON WINS ARIZONA TOO!-FEBRUARY 28, 2012
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Hillary Clinton-56% 29 delegates
Russ Feingold-42%​

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