Archive for category Party Politics
Gallup Poll: ‘Enthusiasm Gap’ Now 25 Points
Posted by Richard Warnick in 2010 Elections, Democracy, Democrats, Disaster, Elections, National Politics, Party Politics, Republicans, This Blog on September 2, 2010

Also, Republicans lead on the “generic ballot” by an unprecedented 10 points.
Source: Gallup.com
The last Gallup weekly generic ballot average before Labor Day underscores the fast-evolving conventional wisdom that the GOP is poised to make significant gains in this fall’s midterm congressional elections. Gallup’s generic ballot has historically proven an excellent predictor of the national vote for Congress, and the national vote in turn is an excellent predictor of House seats won and lost. Republicans’ presumed turnout advantage, combined with their current 10-point registered-voter lead, suggests the potential for a major “wave” election in which the Republicans gain a large number of seats from the Democrats and in the process take back control of the House.
Glenn Greenwald has a roundup of some of the reasons why. In general, we have a Democratic administration and Congress that steadfastly refuses to implement progressive policies. They are even plotting to roll back Social Security and Medicare.
An American Way Forward
Posted by Glenden Brown in Activist groups, American History, American People, Bigotry, Democracy, Democrats, Party Politics, This Blog on July 15, 2010
At its height, American liberalism combined strong social democratic instincts with a uniquely American innovations to create a powerful alliance between blue collar workers, professionals and technocrats, raised living standards and real incomes, produced a strongly egalitarian society and minimized economic disparity, tackled issues of racial injustice and produced a powerful, and effective, public education system. Ultimately it would be undone by its own success, a foreign policy disaster and a set of external shocks. At least in part, American liberalism tamed its initial opponents who created the Rockefeller wing of the Republican party that produced the first President Bush – someone moderate to the core of his being, a responsible leader, someone who took governing seriously while also being aware of the limitations of government. Nixon represented that wing of the party and for all his contradictions and failures, he nevertheless led an administration more liberal than any we’ve seen since.
American liberalism was undermined by its own success. Read the rest of this entry »
My Endorsement #1: Noyce for County Council
Posted by Glenden Brown in Democrats, Party Politics on June 22, 2010
Here’s why:
I am currently serving as the President of the Central Utah Federation of Labor, which also includes membership on the Utah AFL-CIO Executive Board. I am also currently serving as Vice Chair of the Jordan Meadows Community Council, and an advisor-trainer with Head Start Policy Council. I am also the First Vice President of the Salt Lake Community Action Program Board of Directors.
For decades, I have been involved in community activities within Council District 1, and beyond – I have served on the Board of Directors for the East Liberty Park Neighborhood Housing Services; on the Board of Directors for the United Way of Salt Lake; I also was an original member of the Salt Lake Police Civilian Review Board.
Equal rights are very important to me, and I have made use of my knowledge and experience to help advance equality in the workplace. I am the founder of the Utah Coalition of LGBT Union Activists and Supporters, and was a co-founder and co-chair of the Pride At Work Constituency Group of the National AFL-CIO.
As part of my commitment to providing engaging and effective community services, I am currently working with Salt Lake City Councilman Carlton Christensen on several projects, and I have an excellent relationship with the Democratic House and Senate members who reside in Council District 1.
He has support of both Paula Julander – who I tremendously admire – and Scotty McCoy about whom I’m slightly less than sanguine. Another of his supporters is Ralph Becker – and quite frankly our mayor is a smart man with good judgement.
My less than honorable reason for supporting Cal Noyce below the fold: Read the rest of this entry »
The Great Culture Change
Posted by Glenden Brown in Activist groups, American History, American People, Democracy, Labor Unions, Liberal, Party Politics, This Blog on May 20, 2010
The folks at The Democratic Stragetist linked to a really interesting paper by Andrew Levison examining the idea of making a populist appeal to win the votes of working class white Americans.
Levison’s paper tackles some very interesting topics, one particular section caught my eye:
The fall of the Democratic machine and the rise of TV politics
Levison succinctly summarizes the very influential powerful political dynamics of the mid-20th century:
In the 1950’s, every major northern city had a network of local union halls and local Democratic Party offices, which many blue-collar workers and other non-affluent democrats saw as an important and integral part of their community.
These institutions offered average citizens a real and distinct sense of inclusion and representation. Big city democratic voters knew that local union representatives and neighborhood party workers—men who they knew personally—sat around the table with the local politicians who then played an important role in the selection of candidates for city and state offices and participated in the definition of the positions that were taken on issues. The complex local apparatus of political patronage and the provision of municipal jobs and minor services to constituents by the Democratic Party political machine was, to ordinary Democrats, evidence of their recognized role and position, however small, in the party as a whole. Read the rest of this entry »
Random Thoughts on Britain’s Answer to 2000
Posted by Glenden Brown in Democracy, Party Politics on May 10, 2010
Although it does not seem as wrenching as 2000 was here, the Brits are going through a painful and inconclusive election season that is, thus far, failing to produce a government. Andrew Sullivan observed today:
Or to put it another way: 63 percent of Britons did not want a Tory government after 13 years of Labour. That’s the logic behind Gordon Brown’s maneuver today. He’s gambling that on most issues, the Liberal Democrats are actually closer to Blairite liberalism than Cameroonian conservatism. Get rid of the Brown stigma and the natural alliance has time to form. There’s more as well of course: judging whether getting into government right now would in fact be fatal to any party, given the country’s finances; personal pique; and the entire question of electoral reform.
Brown’s big move was his announcement of his resignation from party leadership and hence from the Prime Minister’s office once a new Labour leader is chosen. Read the rest of this entry »
Deem and Pass: That was Old School
Posted by Glenden Brown in Health Care, Party Politics, nancy pelosi on March 22, 2010
I’ve long felt of the big three, Speaker Pelosi is by far the most cunning and ruthless. Reid is pugilist, he likes a good fight; Obama is a strategic thinker, deeply engaged in the issues, but not cunning and certainly not ruthless. Nancy Pelosi, however, is reminding me of the great politicians of the past – like FDR she is cagey, shrewd, knows how to work the angles. Read the rest of this entry »





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