The Hispanic Vote
Blog post by John Feehery
May 28, 2009 @ 12:52 pm
Much has been said about the importance of the Hispanic vote.
Some Republican strategists say that for the GOP to be competitive in future presidential elections, they’ll have to capture about 40 percent of this fastest-growing minority group.
President George W. Bush, who spoke a bit of Spanish, had a strategy to reach out to Hispanic voters and actually hit that 40 percent number in the 2004 election.
But it has been a bad couple of years for the Republicans when it comes to the Hispanic vote.
As a Pew survey points out, “Some 57 percent of Hispanic registered voters now call themselves Democrats or say they lean to the Democratic Party, while just 23 percent align with the Republican Party — meaning there is now a 34-percentage-point gap in partisan affiliation among Latinos. In July 2006, the same gap measured just 21 percentage points — whereas back in 1999, it had been 33 percentage points.”
The debate over President Obama’s Supreme Court nominee, Sonia Sotomayor, may make that trend even more pronounced.
What has caused this collapse of Republican support in the Hispanic community?
Read te whole Blog Posting: Click Here
A lift for the laid-off, COBRA changes bedevil employers
MAy 18, 2009
Puget Sound Business Journal (Seattle) - by Peter Neurath Contributing WriterThe federal government has begun picking up most of the tab for laid-off workers to continue their health coverage, but employers are feeling pinched by additional costs and hassles.Since 1985, employees who left their jobs could stay covered under the federal Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act, or COBRA. The ex-workers had to pay 100 percent of the premium plus 2 percent for administrative costs.President Barack Obama’s federal stimulus bill extends COBRA coverage to employees who’ve been involuntarily terminated since Sept. 1. Employees now pay only 35 percent of the premium, for up to nine months.Employers shoulder the other 65 percent, but can recapture this expense later by taking a credit against federal payroll taxes.
Read More: Click Here
MAy 18, 2009
Puget Sound Business Journal (Seattle) - by Peter Neurath Contributing WriterThe federal government has begun picking up most of the tab for laid-off workers to continue their health coverage, but employers are feeling pinched by additional costs and hassles.Since 1985, employees who left their jobs could stay covered under the federal Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act, or COBRA. The ex-workers had to pay 100 percent of the premium plus 2 percent for administrative costs.President Barack Obama’s federal stimulus bill extends COBRA coverage to employees who’ve been involuntarily terminated since Sept. 1. Employees now pay only 35 percent of the premium, for up to nine months.Employers shoulder the other 65 percent, but can recapture this expense later by taking a credit against federal payroll taxes.
Read More: Click Here
A Conversation with Barack Obama
By Jon Meacham NEWSWEEK
Published May 16, 2009
From the magazine issue dated May 25, 2009
Four months into his term as commander in chief, Obama has had little time to reflect upon his achievements in office. Aboard Air Force One en route from Washington to Phoenix, President Obama paused to give NEWSWEEK’s Jon Meacham a rare glimpse into his world. In a 30 minute conservation aboard Air Force One, the two men discussed Obama’s successes and regrets in his first few months, his strategic goals in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iran, Dick Cheney—and Star Trek and family life in the White House.
Read the Whole Article: Click Here
Political battles already lining up – A portrait of Redfern
Ohio Democratic chief keeps eyes on future
By Dennis J. Willard
Beacon Journal Columbus Bureau
Published on Thursday, May 14, 2009
COLUMBUS: Chris Redfern, the boyish-looking state chairman of the Ohio Democratic Party, stood Tuesday with his back against the headquarters' wall.
Normally, the main attraction in any room he consumes, the gregarious, outspoken, funny and biting Redfern instead stood removed, attentive himself, as David Pepper, a Hamilton County commissioner, announced plans to run against Republican incumbent Mary Taylor for state auditor next year…
… As Pepper spoke eloquently about his intentions, it was impossible not to notice the concern and strain on Redfern's face as he took serious measure of the candidate's mien…
… In finding Pepper to run against Taylor, Redfern went to Cincinnati and Hamilton County. The last Democrat to win statewide from the southwestern corner of the state was Gov. John Gilligan in 1970. He lost his bid for re-election four years later…
…Is it any wonder the 44-year-old Redfern looks like he has aged in recent weeks so that he appears to be 29 instead of 25?
Ohio Democratic chief keeps eyes on future
By Dennis J. Willard
Beacon Journal Columbus Bureau
Published on Thursday, May 14, 2009
COLUMBUS: Chris Redfern, the boyish-looking state chairman of the Ohio Democratic Party, stood Tuesday with his back against the headquarters' wall.
Normally, the main attraction in any room he consumes, the gregarious, outspoken, funny and biting Redfern instead stood removed, attentive himself, as David Pepper, a Hamilton County commissioner, announced plans to run against Republican incumbent Mary Taylor for state auditor next year…
… As Pepper spoke eloquently about his intentions, it was impossible not to notice the concern and strain on Redfern's face as he took serious measure of the candidate's mien…
… In finding Pepper to run against Taylor, Redfern went to Cincinnati and Hamilton County. The last Democrat to win statewide from the southwestern corner of the state was Gov. John Gilligan in 1970. He lost his bid for re-election four years later…
…Is it any wonder the 44-year-old Redfern looks like he has aged in recent weeks so that he appears to be 29 instead of 25?
Presidency 2012: The Invisible Primary Begins
A Commentary By Larry J. Sabato
Friday, May 08, 2009
We at the Crystal Ball must beg your forgiveness. With fewer than 1,300 days left until the next general election for President, we have failed to offer a single analysis of this historic upcoming battle. With humility, and hoping for mercy, we submit this first update on 2012.
The start of the nomination battle is even closer, of course. The two major parties are fiddling with their primary and caucus calendars again, probably in order to delay the start of the process from early January until February 2012. That will be welcome, after the ridiculously early January 3rd Iowa kick-off in 2008. Even political types ought to get an end-of-year holiday.
Read more - Click Here
A Commentary By Larry J. Sabato
Friday, May 08, 2009
We at the Crystal Ball must beg your forgiveness. With fewer than 1,300 days left until the next general election for President, we have failed to offer a single analysis of this historic upcoming battle. With humility, and hoping for mercy, we submit this first update on 2012.
The start of the nomination battle is even closer, of course. The two major parties are fiddling with their primary and caucus calendars again, probably in order to delay the start of the process from early January until February 2012. That will be welcome, after the ridiculously early January 3rd Iowa kick-off in 2008. Even political types ought to get an end-of-year holiday.
Read more - Click Here
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