The Democrats and race

One of the most challenging aspects of the US Politics course is the changing nature of support for the Democrats.  The journey from the Civil War through to the New Deal coalition, the solid south, and the civil rights backlash is a twisting and confusing journey for many students, but well worth the effort.  I have come across an excellent article in The Times which will help texture and variety to delivery of this part of the course. 

Here are a couple of nuggets on the old Democrats:

‘If you want to understand what is happening in this presidential election, start here: Governor Ross Barnett, who believed that God made men black to punish them and who came to court to shake the hand of the man who, in 1963, murdered the civil rights hero Medgar Evers - Democrat. Governor George Wallace, who stood in the schoolhouse door to prevent black students from entering a “whites only” college - Democrat. Senator James Eastland, who dismissed the murder of civil rights workers in Mississippi as a publicity stunt by African-Americans and who personally blocked more than 100 civil rights measures in the Senate - Democrat.’

Read the rest here

Sarah Palin: hindrance or help?

Two expert columnists in the Washington Post take differing views on McCain’s choice of running mate

McCain’s problem with Bush

With the Republicans convening in the twin cities this week, I thought the blog should focus on what the experts say about the GOP’s chances this November

It’s the economy (again), stupid

Sixteen years after Bill Clinton’s chief election strategist, James Carville (nicknamed the ‘Ragin Cajun’), coined the phrase that defined the 1992 election, the 2008 contest promises to be dominated by debate about which candidate can most positively impact on voters’ pockets

Devolution example

More evidence of the policy divergence and development that can emerge from devolution came yesterday from the London Mayor, Boris Johnson, on climate change

Comment on the Obama nomination

With wall to wall coverage of the party conventions, the Politics blog may not need to bring you news of the latest on the US elections.

In case you missed it, John McCain chose Alaskan governor, Sarah Palin as his running mate.  See the New York Times report here.

And Barack Obama’s acceptance speech appears to have gone down well.

But I thought I’d bring your attention to some quality on the significance of the Obama nomination, each penned by historians.

Simon Schama writes in today’s Guardian, and Tristram Hunt comments in the Times.

US elections 2008: Economist keeps swinging

The latest state to be featured in the series running in The Economist on swing states 2008 is Missouri.  Partly for my future reference, I have created hyperlinks to all printer friendly editions of articles on states covered so far on my subject site on the school intranet.  I thought it might also be useful to post them here.  I find them fascinating since they provide so much rich detail not simply on the politics of the states but also the economy, culture, demography, and – sometimes – the religious characteristics of each state.

Ohio
Colorado
North Carolina
New Mexico and Nevada
Missouri

Neil McNaughton on Three Political Truisms

Neil McNaughton’s superb presentation on Three Political Truisms can now be downloaded here…

New super-jails: a titanic waste of money?

A key part of Labour’s plan to increase prison space has been slammed by independent experts.  Further evidence that when it comes to law and order Labour care more about public opinion than proper solutions?

William Storey on the US Presidential Race

William Storey (Edexcel & LSE) gave a superb presentation on the 2008 Presidential Race at the Politics Teacher National Conference.  Here are his presentation slides…

Obama’s problem

Why the Democratic nominee is struggling in the polls

US politics: lobbyists

A great deal of media coverage will focus on the National Party Conventions for the Democrats and Republicans, and students should look out for examples of what role these summer events perform.  Do they give the candidates a bounce in the polls? Do they help to unify the parties?

But I thought I’d use this post to highlight a story I came across about the influence peddlers that are said to be such a corrupting force in US politics: lobbyists and corporations.

US elections 2008: voting behaviour and race

You must have been resident on the moon over the previous 48 hours not to have noted that Barack Obama has settled on Joe Biden as his choice of running mate.  See the video of the announcement here
But the focus of this posting is the issue of race.  Two words that every US Politics student will be wise to include in their essays on voting behaviour are ‘Bradley effect’.  I have found that Barack Obama’s race is something that black Americans have been far more willing to talk about than whites.  A number of articles in today’s papers look at the issue in depth. 

House of Lords reform: what’s the argument?

Preparing for the new term I came across this decent bit of material for and against reform of the House of Lords.  There’s probably enough here for an AS answer.  It’s part of a campaign which is a spin off of the Charter 88 people: unlock democracy

Running mate heading your way

By the time you read this you may already know who Barack Obama has chosen as his running mate - particularly if you are one of the many of his supporters to have received the news by text.  I don’t know why I have bought into the feverish speculation, since VPs don’t win elections.  Perhaps I should get a life.  Anyway, the hot money is still on Tim Kaine, but I have nailed my colours to the mast by backing Kathleen Sebelius.  Time will tell.