The Plum Line - Greg Sargent's take from a liberal perspective.

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Posted at 07:22 PM ET, 02/28/2013

Another big, bold stroke for gay rights

By Greg Sargent

The government's argument against Prop 8 is sweeping and makes it more likely that other laws gay marriage may soon be put on the path to extinction.

By Greg Sargent | 07:22 PM ET, 02/28/2013 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: gay rights

Posted at 04:43 PM ET, 02/28/2013

We're headed for the sequester -- but it won't even do much to reduce the deficit.

By Jamelle Bouie

The argument over which should be prioritized -- the deficit, or jobs and economic growth -- has already been lost.

By Jamelle Bouie | 04:43 PM ET, 02/28/2013 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: sequester

Posted at 03:29 PM ET, 02/28/2013

Pelosi: When Dems communicate their values clearly, they win

By Greg Sargent

The Dem leader reflects on the Dems' victory in fight over the Violence Against Women Act, and acknowledges that the sequester battle will be a lot more challenging.

By Greg Sargent | 03:29 PM ET, 02/28/2013 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Democrats, sequester

Posted at 01:33 PM ET, 02/28/2013

VAWA victory shows that House GOP needs Democrats

By Greg Sargent

The emerging dynamic is that House Republicans need House Democrats to pass anything that can win the support of Senate Democrats and the White House.

By Greg Sargent | 01:33 PM ET, 02/28/2013 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Republicans

Posted at 11:32 AM ET, 02/28/2013

What did Bob Woodward actually claim about the White House?

By Greg Sargent

It's unclear to me that Woodward made the charges everyone claim he did.

By Greg Sargent | 11:32 AM ET, 02/28/2013 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: white house

Posted at 09:26 AM ET, 02/28/2013

The Morning Plum: How both sides really view the sequester

By Greg Sargent

The GOP's refusal to detail specific spending cuts reveals an awareness that they'd be political poison.

By Greg Sargent | 09:26 AM ET, 02/28/2013 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Morning Plum

Posted at 07:07 PM ET, 02/27/2013

Happy Hour Roundup

By Jonathan Bernstein

Our nightly wrap-up of news and opinion.

By Jonathan Bernstein | 07:07 PM ET, 02/27/2013 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Happy Hour Roundup

Posted at 04:23 PM ET, 02/27/2013

Liberals to Dems: No more cozying up to the NRA

By Greg Sargent

Dems are now realizing that gun control is good politics for them -- and liberal groups may seek to make it a litmus test issue in Dem primaries.

By Greg Sargent | 04:23 PM ET, 02/27/2013 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: guns guns guns

Posted at 01:53 PM ET, 02/27/2013

Is the Voting Rights Act in trouble?

By Greg Sargent

Antonin Scalia and John Roberts asked very hostile questions about the law. But its fate may rest with Anthony Kennedy.

By Greg Sargent | 01:53 PM ET, 02/27/2013 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Voting

Posted at 11:50 AM ET, 02/27/2013

AFL-CIO: Time to repeal the sequester

By Greg Sargent

We need more voices demanding a focus on unemployment and growth, rather than on the deficit.

By Greg Sargent | 11:50 AM ET, 02/27/2013 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: sequester

Posted at 09:13 AM ET, 02/27/2013

The Morning Plum: How's that GOP "makeover" going?

By Greg Sargent

A new poll finds the GOP lagging far behind on many of the major issues facing the country -- the political context within which the battle over the sequester will unfold.

By Greg Sargent | 09:13 AM ET, 02/27/2013 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Morning Plum

Posted at 06:37 PM ET, 02/26/2013

Happy Hour Roundup

By Jonathan Bernstein

Our nightly wrap-up of news and opinion.

By Jonathan Bernstein | 06:37 PM ET, 02/26/2013 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Happy Hour Roundup

Posted at 04:48 PM ET, 02/26/2013

Medicaid expansion chalks up another win: New Jersey

By Jonathan Bernstein

Gov. Chris Christie's decision is another big step toward universal coverage.

By Jonathan Bernstein | 04:48 PM ET, 02/26/2013 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: health care, Medicare

Posted at 02:59 PM ET, 02/26/2013

Why White House is content to wait Republicans out

By Greg Sargent

Democrats don't have any incentive to do anything other than just allow the GOP's divisions to deepen.

By Greg Sargent | 02:59 PM ET, 02/26/2013 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: sequester

Posted at 01:01 PM ET, 02/26/2013

Americans hate government, but they'll hate deep spending cuts even more

By Greg Sargent

A new study to be released today will show that the sequester will cut more deeply into government services than many Republicans claim.

By Greg Sargent | 01:01 PM ET, 02/26/2013 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: sequester

Posted at 11:14 AM ET, 02/26/2013

Chris Christie's CPAC snub

By Jamelle Bouie

The New Jersey governor might be doing the right thing politically for now, but if he's going to run for president, he'll need to appeal to the same conservative voters who are now snubbing him.

By Jamelle Bouie | 11:14 AM ET, 02/26/2013 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Chris Christie, Conservative movement

Posted at 09:12 AM ET, 02/26/2013

The Morning Plum: The false equivalence pundits are part of the problem

By Greg Sargent

David Brooks and the "centrist dodge."

By Greg Sargent | 09:12 AM ET, 02/26/2013 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Morning Plum

Posted at 06:30 PM ET, 02/25/2013

Happy Hour Roundup

By Greg Sargent

Our nightly wrap-up of news and opinion.

By Greg Sargent | 06:30 PM ET, 02/25/2013 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 05:14 PM ET, 02/25/2013

It's as if the election never happened

By Jonathan Bernstein

If Republicans are going to continue acting as if it's still 2011, then we're not going to be able to make governing progress.

By Jonathan Bernstein | 05:14 PM ET, 02/25/2013 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Republicans, sequester

Posted at 03:06 PM ET, 02/25/2013

Why the Senate talks on guns have hit a snag

By Greg Sargent

The sticking points are serious, but hardly insurmountable.

By Greg Sargent | 03:06 PM ET, 02/25/2013 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: guns guns guns

Posted at 01:20 PM ET, 02/25/2013

GOP electoral vote-rigging schemes still alive and well

By Jamelle Bouie

The persistence of these ideas suggests Republicans don't want to change their policies or seriously improve their outreach to minorities.

By Jamelle Bouie | 01:20 PM ET, 02/25/2013 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Republicans

Posted at 11:28 AM ET, 02/25/2013

Ted Cruz's neo-McCarthyism doesn't bode well for GOP "makeover"

By Greg Sargent

Will Republicans distance themselves from Senator Cruz's red baiting?

By Greg Sargent | 11:28 AM ET, 02/25/2013 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Ted Cruz

Posted at 09:06 AM ET, 02/25/2013

The Morning Plum: Republican governors urge GOP to act on sequester

By Greg Sargent

GOP governors whose states are in the sequester's crosshairs are suddenly finding that GOP intransigence on fiscal matters isn't so wonderful, after all.

By Greg Sargent | 09:06 AM ET, 02/25/2013 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Morning Plum

Posted at 08:02 AM ET, 02/24/2013

Sunday Open Thread

By Greg Sargent

Enjoy.

By Greg Sargent | 08:02 AM ET, 02/24/2013 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Open Threads

Posted at 07:54 AM ET, 02/23/2013

Open Thread

By Greg Sargent

All yours.

By Greg Sargent | 07:54 AM ET, 02/23/2013 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Open Threads, sound off

Posted at 06:14 PM ET, 02/22/2013

Happy Hour Roundup

By Jonathan Bernstein

Our nightly wrap-up of news and opinion.

By Jonathan Bernstein | 06:14 PM ET, 02/22/2013 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 04:34 PM ET, 02/22/2013

Nope: People really, really don't like spending cuts

By Jonathan Bernstein

People see the GOP as the party of spending cuts, which will make it harder to win the blame game over the sequester.

By Jonathan Bernstein | 04:34 PM ET, 02/22/2013 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: sequester

Posted at 01:44 PM ET, 02/22/2013

David Brooks reveals that the "center" cannot hold

By Greg Sargent

The plain fact is that the centrist "both sides are to blame" position cannot hold in the face of reality.

By Greg Sargent | 01:44 PM ET, 02/22/2013 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: The Centrist Dodge

Posted at 11:45 AM ET, 02/22/2013

Pelosi to GOP: You oppose minimum wage hike at your peril

By Greg Sargent

The argument over the minimum wage is a proxy for the larger argument over what kind of economy we want and how best to ensure shared prosperity.

By Greg Sargent | 11:45 AM ET, 02/22/2013 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Minimum Wage

Posted at 09:05 AM ET, 02/22/2013

The Morning Plum: Questions for the "blame it on both sides" crowd

By Greg Sargent

Commentators need to reckon honestly with the fundamental imbalance that's marring today's fiscal debate -- and with the real history of the last four years of GOP obstructionism.

By Greg Sargent | 09:05 AM ET, 02/22/2013 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 06:57 PM ET, 02/21/2013

Happy Hour Roundup

By Greg Sargent

Our nightly wrap-up of news and opinion.

By Greg Sargent | 06:57 PM ET, 02/21/2013 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Happy Hour Roundup, It's Happy Hour

Posted at 05:01 PM ET, 02/21/2013

Don't bite on GOP's clever sequester trick, Dems

By Greg Sargent

Democrats should not accept anything from Republicans other than genuine compromise on the need for new revenues.

By Greg Sargent | 05:01 PM ET, 02/21/2013 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: sequester

Posted at 03:14 PM ET, 02/21/2013

More evidence immigration reform won't fix GOP's Latino problem

By Jamelle Bouie

Latinos disagree with Republicans on a range of policies -- not just immigration.

By Jamelle Bouie | 03:14 PM ET, 02/21/2013 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Immigration, Obama, Republicans

Posted at 01:10 PM ET, 02/21/2013

Dems to campaign hard on guns and minimum wage in 2014

By Greg Sargent

By articulating an expansive policy agenda for his second term, Obama has given Democrats a broad range of issues to run on in 2014.

By Greg Sargent | 01:10 PM ET, 02/21/2013 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: 2014 elections

Posted at 11:23 AM ET, 02/21/2013

Obama administration set to do right thing on Prop 8?

By Greg Sargent

The President offers his most expansive comments yet on whether his administration will weigh in on the case.

By Greg Sargent | 11:23 AM ET, 02/21/2013 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: gay rights

Posted at 09:02 AM ET, 02/21/2013

The Morning Plum: On issues, GOP is badly out of step with America

By Greg Sargent

A new Pew survey finds that the GOP position on major issues facing the country is held by one-third or fewer Americans.

By Greg Sargent | 09:02 AM ET, 02/21/2013 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Morning Plum

Posted at 06:36 PM ET, 02/20/2013

Happy Hour Roundup

By Jonathan Bernstein

Our nightly wrap-up of news and opinion.

By Jonathan Bernstein | 06:36 PM ET, 02/20/2013 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Happy Hour Roundup

Posted at 04:08 PM ET, 02/20/2013

After the "Friends of Hamas" debacle, will conservatives finally learn the obvious lesson?

By Jonathan Bernstein

Republicans haven't yet learned not to trust conservative news outlets that have been repeatedly wrong.

By Jonathan Bernstein | 04:08 PM ET, 02/20/2013 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Breitbart.com, chuck hagel, political media

Posted at 02:12 PM ET, 02/20/2013

Senate Dems look past sequester to government shutdown fight

By Greg Sargent

Democrats are increasingly pessimistic about the sequester, but they see the government shutdown deadline as an opportunity to force GOP concessions on revenues.

By Greg Sargent | 02:12 PM ET, 02/20/2013 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: government shutdown, sequester

Posted at 12:02 PM ET, 02/20/2013

New study badly undermines GOP position on sequester

By Greg Sargent

A new study badly undermines the party’s position.

By Greg Sargent | 12:02 PM ET, 02/20/2013 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: sequester

Posted at 09:13 AM ET, 02/20/2013

The Morning Plum: Americans will blame GOP for sequester

By Greg Sargent

Republicans who believe they'll be able to shift the blame for the sequester to Obama should probably reconsider the results of the last election.

By Greg Sargent | 09:13 AM ET, 02/20/2013 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Morning Plum

Posted at 05:59 PM ET, 02/19/2013

Happy Hour Roundup

By Greg Sargent

Happy Hour Roundup

By Greg Sargent | 05:59 PM ET, 02/19/2013 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 05:02 PM ET, 02/19/2013

How Obama can make history on gay rights

By Greg Sargent

If the Obama Justice Department weighs in on the Prop 8 case, it would be a powerful follow through to the historic words he spoke about gay civil rights during his Inaugural Address.

By Greg Sargent | 05:02 PM ET, 02/19/2013 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: gay rights

Posted at 03:14 PM ET, 02/19/2013

Simpson Bowles and the mythical, arbitrary "center"

By Greg Sargent

The new Simpson Bowles deficit reduction plan neatly illustrates how far to the right the debate has drifted.

By Greg Sargent | 03:14 PM ET, 02/19/2013 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 01:31 PM ET, 02/19/2013

GOP "makeover" hits a snag: Unwillingness to change

By Greg Sargent

If Republicans want to shed their image as slavishly devoted to the rich, they will need to stop making opposition to any new taxes from the rich their top priority.

By Greg Sargent | 01:31 PM ET, 02/19/2013 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: sequester

Posted at 11:45 AM ET, 02/19/2013

GOP's sequester shenanigans carry risks for 2014

By Jamelle Bouie

Yes, Obama will take some of the blame if the sequester damages the economy. But Republicans could pay a larger price at the polls next year.

By Jamelle Bouie | 11:45 AM ET, 02/19/2013 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: congress, Obama, Republicans, sequester

Posted at 09:17 AM ET, 02/19/2013

The Morning Plum: GOP is in weak position in sequester fight

By Greg Sargent

In trying to shift blame for the sequester to Obama, Republicans are implicitly admitting that deep spending cuts are politically perilous for whichever party owns them.

By Greg Sargent | 09:17 AM ET, 02/19/2013 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Morning Plum

Posted at 06:46 PM ET, 02/18/2013

Happy Hour Roundup

By Jonathan Bernstein

Our nightly wrap-up of news and opinion.

By Jonathan Bernstein | 06:46 PM ET, 02/18/2013 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Happy Hour Roundup

Posted at 04:15 PM ET, 02/18/2013

When the sequester hits

By Jonathan Bernstein

Could the cuts in the sequester be enough to get voters outraged? If so, it's hard to see how "we need more cuts than this" is a winning hand.

By Jonathan Bernstein | 04:15 PM ET, 02/18/2013 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: budget, sequester

Posted at 02:25 PM ET, 02/18/2013

If only they were trying to find good policy

By Jonathan Bernstein

Republicans aren't stuck in the 1980s on public policy; they've given up entirely.

By Jonathan Bernstein | 02:25 PM ET, 02/18/2013 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 11:00 AM ET, 02/18/2013

Bobby Jindal's rise shows that GOP reform is all cosmetic

By Jamelle Bouie

The past year of Jindal's tenure, in fact, has been defined by steady progress on a wish list of conservative policies.

By Jamelle Bouie | 11:00 AM ET, 02/18/2013 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 09:35 AM ET, 02/18/2013

Marco Rubio is against administration's Rubio-esque immigration plan

By Jamelle Bouie

Marco Rubio comes out against administration's Rubio-esque immigration plan.

By Jamelle Bouie | 09:35 AM ET, 02/18/2013 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 08:04 AM ET, 02/18/2013

Morning Open Thread

By Greg Sargent

Enjoy.

By Greg Sargent | 08:04 AM ET, 02/18/2013 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: sound off

Posted at 08:23 AM ET, 02/17/2013

Sunday Open Thread

By Greg Sargent

Enjoy.

By Greg Sargent | 08:23 AM ET, 02/17/2013 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: sound off

Posted at 07:58 AM ET, 02/16/2013

Open Thread

By Greg Sargent

All yours.

By Greg Sargent | 07:58 AM ET, 02/16/2013 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: sound off

Posted at 06:49 PM ET, 02/15/2013

Happy Hour Roundup

By Greg Sargent

Our nightly wrap-up of news and opinion.

By Greg Sargent | 06:49 PM ET, 02/15/2013 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Happy Hour Roundup

Posted at 05:35 PM ET, 02/15/2013

Remember, Harry Reid: The problem goes well beyond Chuck Hagel

By Jonathan Bernstein

Even if Hagel is confirmed, we now know that GOP obstructionism will continue -- which means Reid must threaten to revisit filibuster reform.

By Jonathan Bernstein | 05:35 PM ET, 02/15/2013 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Filibuster

Posted at 03:28 PM ET, 02/15/2013

How Republicans can win the sequester fight

By Greg Sargent

All they need to do is not say No to the easiest route to a win available to them.

By Greg Sargent | 03:28 PM ET, 02/15/2013 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: sequester

Posted at 12:39 PM ET, 02/15/2013

Bipartisan deal close on expanded background checks

By Greg Sargent

There is emerging common ground on the basic policy goal here, which is very good news.

By Greg Sargent | 12:39 PM ET, 02/15/2013 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: guns guns guns

Posted at 09:07 AM ET, 02/15/2013

The Morning Plum: Over 100 House Dems tell Obama -- no cuts to entitlement benefits

By Greg Sargent

Many liberals still worry that in the end, the White House and Democrats will accept cuts to entitlements benefits to reach a fiscal deal.

By Greg Sargent | 09:07 AM ET, 02/15/2013 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Morning Plum

Posted at 07:05 PM ET, 02/14/2013

Happy Hour Roundup

By Jonathan Bernstein

Our nightly wrap-up of news and opinion.

By Jonathan Bernstein | 07:05 PM ET, 02/14/2013 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Happy Hour Roundup

Posted at 05:41 PM ET, 02/14/2013

Republicans still don't 'get' Latino voters

By Jamelle Bouie

The Hispanic constituency Republicans are so eagerly courting reject the GOP's vision of government.

By Jamelle Bouie | 05:41 PM ET, 02/14/2013 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Republicans

Posted at 03:54 PM ET, 02/14/2013

GOP approach to sequester jumps shark

By Greg Sargent

Republicans offer Dems a choice: The sequester, or deeper cuts than the Ryan plan. Good luck with that one.

By Greg Sargent | 03:54 PM ET, 02/14/2013 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: sequester

Posted at 01:14 PM ET, 02/14/2013

Revive the threat of filibuster reform, Harry Reid

By Greg Sargent

If Republicans successfully sink the nomination of Chuck Hagel by filibuster, Dems will have no choice but to revisit rules reform.

By Greg Sargent | 01:14 PM ET, 02/14/2013 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: chuck hagel

Posted at 10:38 AM ET, 02/14/2013

Thirty-seven senators urge Obama to act on gay workplace rights

By Greg Sargent

Obama could act right now to end workplace discrimination against untold numbers of gay, lesbian and transgendered Americans.

By Greg Sargent | 10:38 AM ET, 02/14/2013 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: gay rights

Posted at 09:12 AM ET, 02/14/2013

The Morning Plum: Dems to use minimum wage against GOP in 2014

By Greg Sargent

Democrats are convinced that the minimum wage fight will play directly to voter perceptions of which party is really on the side of economically struggling Americans.

By Greg Sargent | 09:12 AM ET, 02/14/2013 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Morning Plum

Posted at 06:52 PM ET, 02/13/2013

Happy Hour Roundup

By Jonathan Bernstein

Our nightly wrap-up of news and opinion.

By Jonathan Bernstein | 06:52 PM ET, 02/13/2013 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 05:41 PM ET, 02/13/2013

Massachusetts Republicans have finally found their man

By Jamelle Bouie

Gabriel Gomez fits perfectly with the GOP’s effort to reinvent itself.

By Jamelle Bouie | 05:41 PM ET, 02/13/2013 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Massachusetts, Senate

Posted at 04:05 PM ET, 02/13/2013

The GOP's epic gamble

By Greg Sargent

By Greg Sargent | 04:05 PM ET, 02/13/2013 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Republicans

Posted at 01:48 PM ET, 02/13/2013

Ted Kennedy's great 2007 minimum wage speech: "When does the greed stop?"

By Greg Sargent

A veteran of the last minimum wage wars speaks out.

By Greg Sargent | 01:48 PM ET, 02/13/2013 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Minimum Wage

Posted at 11:40 AM ET, 02/13/2013

Bring it on: Battle over minimum wage is underway

By Greg Sargent

This is a good fight for Dems to have -- it could further spotlight the GOP's inability to articulate a positive role for government to play in people's lives.

By Greg Sargent | 11:40 AM ET, 02/13/2013 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Minimum Wage

Posted at 09:11 AM ET, 02/13/2013

The Morning Plum: Obama's ambitious second term agenda intensifies GOP's dilemma

By Greg Sargent

Republicans now need to decide if they want to play the role of a functional opposition party.

By Greg Sargent | 09:11 AM ET, 02/13/2013 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Morning Plum

Posted at 11:21 PM ET, 02/12/2013

A progressive economic blueprint from an emboldened president

By Greg Sargent

After an Inaugural Address heavily focused on civil rights and the country's founding, Obama delivers a detailed policy roadmap for the country's economic future.

By Greg Sargent | 11:21 PM ET, 02/12/2013 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: State of the Union

Posted at 06:59 PM ET, 02/12/2013

Open Thread

By Greg Sargent

By Greg Sargent | 06:59 PM ET, 02/12/2013 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: sound off

Posted at 05:32 PM ET, 02/12/2013

Harry Reid finally gets tough on GOP obstruction. Will it last?

By Jonathan Bernstein

With Chuck Hagel's nomination still in limbo, Dems must be prepared to revisit filibuster reform if necessary.

By Jonathan Bernstein | 05:32 PM ET, 02/12/2013 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Senate

Posted at 03:47 PM ET, 02/12/2013

Obama to go big on climate change tonight?

By Greg Sargent

It would be good policy -- and good politics.

By Greg Sargent | 03:47 PM ET, 02/12/2013 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: climate change

Posted at 01:16 PM ET, 02/12/2013

Joe Scarborough and the mythical center

By Greg Sargent

The inescapable truth is that the Democratic position in the fiscal battle inhabits the compromise middle ground, while the GOP position is an outlier.

By Greg Sargent | 01:16 PM ET, 02/12/2013 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: The Centrist Dodge

Posted at 11:17 AM ET, 02/12/2013

On immigration and climate change, Obama's rhetoric won't do much good

By Jamelle Bouie

A new poll confirms that Presidential rhetoric tends to polarize more than to persuade.

By Jamelle Bouie | 11:17 AM ET, 02/12/2013 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: barack obama

Posted at 09:21 AM ET, 02/12/2013

The Morning Plum: Marco Rubio won't offer any real GOP "alternative"

By Greg Sargent

As long as Republicans remain tethered to reflexive government-is-bad rhetoric, they will struggle to articulate a positive role government can play in people's lives.

By Greg Sargent | 09:21 AM ET, 02/12/2013 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Morning Plum

Posted at 07:00 PM ET, 02/11/2013

Happy Hour Roundup

By Greg Sargent

Our nightly wrap-up of news and opinion.

By Greg Sargent | 07:00 PM ET, 02/11/2013 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Happy Hour Roundup

Posted at 05:31 PM ET, 02/11/2013

Dems need to get tougher with GOP over Chuck Hagel

By Jonathan Bernstein

Harry Reid should not let any GOP Senators hold up Chuck Hagel's nomination any more with any holds. This battle will set a pattern for the next Congress.

By Jonathan Bernstein | 05:31 PM ET, 02/11/2013 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: chuck hagel

Posted at 03:41 PM ET, 02/11/2013

The problem runs a lot deeper than Ted Nugent

By Greg Sargent

The real problem is all the stuff Republicans say about Obama regularly that's deemed not out of bounds but is still completely insane.

By Greg Sargent | 03:41 PM ET, 02/11/2013 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Republicans

Posted at 01:10 PM ET, 02/11/2013

No end to the GOP's fiscal gimmickry

By Greg Sargent

The approach by the two parties to the sequester is deeply, fundamentally imbalanced. If this latest GOP proposal is not enough to drive this home, nothing will.

By Greg Sargent | 01:10 PM ET, 02/11/2013 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: sequester

Posted at 11:39 AM ET, 02/11/2013

Why Obama should ignore the deficit in his SOTU

By Jamelle Bouie

Talking about jobs and the economy, not the deficit, would be the genuinely "serious" thing to do.

By Jamelle Bouie | 11:39 AM ET, 02/11/2013 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: State of the Union

Posted at 09:18 AM ET, 02/11/2013

The Morning Plum: Go on offense, Mr. President

By Greg Sargent

The emerging majority coalition that reelected Obama agrees with his vision of government. The President should speak to those voters in his State of the Union speech.

By Greg Sargent | 09:18 AM ET, 02/11/2013 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Morning Plum

Posted at 07:48 AM ET, 02/10/2013

Sunday Open Thread

By Greg Sargent

Enjoy.

By Greg Sargent | 07:48 AM ET, 02/10/2013 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: sound off

Posted at 08:24 AM ET, 02/09/2013

Open Thread

By Greg Sargent

All yours.

By Greg Sargent | 08:24 AM ET, 02/09/2013 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: sound off

Posted at 06:37 PM ET, 02/08/2013

Happy Hour Roundup

By Jonathan Bernstein

Our nightly wrap-up of news and opinion.

By Jonathan Bernstein | 06:37 PM ET, 02/08/2013 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Happy Hour Roundup, Plum Line

Posted at 03:32 PM ET, 02/08/2013

Dems close in on sequester strategy

By Greg Sargent

Senate Democrats will offer Republicans a plan to avert the sequester that balances spending cuts and revenue increases, and dare them to oppose it.

By Greg Sargent | 03:32 PM ET, 02/08/2013 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: sequester

Posted at 01:12 PM ET, 02/08/2013

Don't fall for GOP's sequester bluff

By Greg Sargent

The Republican threat to let the sequester happen is not tenable or believable.

By Greg Sargent | 01:12 PM ET, 02/08/2013 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: sequester

Posted at 11:16 AM ET, 02/08/2013

On the sequester, the only way to win is not to play

By Jamelle Bouie

The best hope we have at a sustained recovery is refraining from more austerity.

By Jamelle Bouie | 11:16 AM ET, 02/08/2013 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: sequester

Posted at 09:15 AM ET, 02/08/2013

The Morning Plum: Only one party is willing to compromise. It isn't the GOP.

By Greg Sargent

The GOP's explicit position on the sequester is that allowing it to happen is preferable to compromising with Dems.

By Greg Sargent | 09:15 AM ET, 02/08/2013 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Morning Plum

Posted at 06:07 PM ET, 02/07/2013

A looming test for the House GOP

By Jonathan Bernstein

The Violence Against Women Act will tell us whether House Republicans are prepared to move on from the failures of the last Congress.

By Jonathan Bernstein | 06:07 PM ET, 02/07/2013 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Republicans

Posted at 05:26 PM ET, 02/07/2013

Happy Hour Roundup

By Greg Sargent

Happy Hour Roundup

By Greg Sargent | 05:26 PM ET, 02/07/2013 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 03:37 PM ET, 02/07/2013

Second class citizenship: Not the answer to the GOP's problems

By Greg Sargent

The position that Republicans portray as the middle ground is supported by 10 percent of Americans.

By Greg Sargent | 03:37 PM ET, 02/07/2013 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Immigration

Posted at 01:11 PM ET, 02/07/2013

Dems will offer GOP spending cuts to avert doom

By Greg Sargent

Dems are not proposing only new revenues; they are proposing a mix of revenues and spending cuts. By contrast, the GOP is insisting only on cuts.

By Greg Sargent | 01:11 PM ET, 02/07/2013 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: sequester

Posted at 11:44 AM ET, 02/07/2013

Bipartisan group of Senators focused on expanding background checks

By Greg Sargent

There's been an odd silence about ongoing discussions, which could bode very well.

By Greg Sargent | 11:44 AM ET, 02/07/2013 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: guns guns guns

Posted at 09:11 AM ET, 02/07/2013

The Morning Plum: GOP resolve on sequester begins to crack

By Greg Sargent

Republicans face a stark choice: Either agree to a compromise that gives both sides what they want, or let the sequester gut defense and scuttle the recovery.

By Greg Sargent | 09:11 AM ET, 02/07/2013 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Morning Plum

Posted at 07:01 PM ET, 02/06/2013

Happy Hour Open Thread

By Greg Sargent

All yours.

By Greg Sargent | 07:01 PM ET, 02/06/2013 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: sound off

Posted at 05:29 PM ET, 02/06/2013

Questions for John Brennan about the targeted killing white paper

By Greg Sargent

Democrats must press for more transparency and oversight.

By Greg Sargent | 05:29 PM ET, 02/06/2013 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: civil liberties

Posted at 03:07 PM ET, 02/06/2013

The party of Reagan, or the party of the Club for Growth?

By Greg Sargent

The battle over the sequester has exposed the rift between defense Republicans and anti-tax Republicans.

By Greg Sargent | 03:07 PM ET, 02/06/2013 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: sequester

Posted at 01:33 PM ET, 02/06/2013

In defense of the GOP's "cosmetic" makeover

By Jamelle Bouie

Republicans have taken the first step: Admitting that their reflexive anti-government ideology is a problem.

By Jamelle Bouie | 01:33 PM ET, 02/06/2013 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Republicans

Posted at 11:58 AM ET, 02/06/2013

The absurdity of the GOP position on spending, in one chart

By Greg Sargent

The way to avoid the sequester is clear: Republicans need to agree to compromise on new revenues. And if they do, they'll even get the spending cuts they want, too!

By Greg Sargent | 11:58 AM ET, 02/06/2013 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: sequester

Posted at 09:05 AM ET, 02/06/2013

The Morning Plum: On immigration, Dems hold the middle ground, and Republicans don't

By Greg Sargent

One party holds the compromise position. The other simply doesn't.

By Greg Sargent | 09:05 AM ET, 02/06/2013 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Morning Plum

Posted at 06:54 PM ET, 02/05/2013

Happy Hour Roundup

By Jonathan Bernstein

Our nightly wrap-up of news and opinion.

By Jonathan Bernstein | 06:54 PM ET, 02/05/2013 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 05:27 PM ET, 02/05/2013

Rhetorical gimmickry on immigration

By Greg Sargent

Republicans are cleverly trying to recast the immigration debate in order to obscure the fact that Dems hold the mainstream, middle ground position.

By Greg Sargent | 05:27 PM ET, 02/05/2013 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Immigration

Posted at 03:38 PM ET, 02/05/2013

Obama's voting reform push is doomed (because it would mean more Dem votes)

By Jamelle Bouie

The simple fact is that voting problems disproportionately impact Dem voters, giving Republicans all the more reason to oppose fixing them.

By Jamelle Bouie | 03:38 PM ET, 02/05/2013 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: The Franchise

Posted at 02:10 PM ET, 02/05/2013

Memo to Congress: To bring down the deficit, focus on jobs

By Greg Sargent

Congressional Progressives are set to roll out a new plan today that would prioritize job creation in order to fix the deficit in a balanced way. Needless to say, it stands no chance whatsoever.

By Greg Sargent | 02:10 PM ET, 02/05/2013 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Jobs Jobs Jobs

Posted at 11:54 AM ET, 02/05/2013

GOP's "makeover" is purely cosmetic

By Greg Sargent

On the same day as Eric Cantor's big "rebranding the GOP" speech, GOP leaders show no movement on three of the most pressing issues of the moment: Taxes, immigration, and guns.

By Greg Sargent | 11:54 AM ET, 02/05/2013 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: eric cantor, guns guns guns, john boehner, Republicans

Posted at 09:15 AM ET, 02/05/2013

The Morning Plum: Immigration reform in jeopardy?

By Greg Sargent

OPINION | House Republicans are not prepared to support a path to citizenship -- another reminder of just how hard the road to real reform remains.

By Greg Sargent | 09:15 AM ET, 02/05/2013 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Morning Plum

Posted at 06:26 PM ET, 02/04/2013

Happy Hour Roundup

By Jonathan Bernstein

Our nightly wrap-up of news and opinion.

By Jonathan Bernstein | 06:26 PM ET, 02/04/2013 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Happy Hour Roundup

Posted at 04:35 PM ET, 02/04/2013

The three-pronged plan for a GOP revival

By Greg Sargent

It isn't much of a plan.

By Greg Sargent | 04:35 PM ET, 02/04/2013 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Republicans

Posted at 01:54 PM ET, 02/04/2013

Will House GOP really line up against law enforcement on guns?

By Greg Sargent

The House GOP has still not said whether it will oppose allowing the anti-trafficking and background check proposals to come to a vote. They may be hard for Republicans to oppose.

By Greg Sargent | 01:54 PM ET, 02/04/2013 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: guns guns guns

Posted at 12:24 PM ET, 02/04/2013

How House Republicans can kill immigration reform

By Greg Sargent

We still don't know if they're willing to support a path to citizenship. If not, it doesn't bode well.

By Greg Sargent | 12:24 PM ET, 02/04/2013 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Immigration

Posted at 11:25 AM ET, 02/04/2013

GOP searches for a standard-bearer in Massachusetts

By Jamelle Bouie

Scott Brown's election to the Senate was a fluke that Republicans will be unlikely to duplicate in a blue state .

By Jamelle Bouie | 11:25 AM ET, 02/04/2013 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: 2014 Congressional elections

Posted at 09:02 AM ET, 02/04/2013

The Morning Plum: The problem with the Obama skeet shooting "controversy"

By Greg Sargent

This "controversy" is entirely irrelevant to the gun reform proposals that are actually being discussed. Other than that, it's really, really newsworthy!

By Greg Sargent | 09:02 AM ET, 02/04/2013 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Morning Plum

Posted at 07:54 AM ET, 02/03/2013

Sunday Open Thread

By Greg Sargent

Enjoy.

By Greg Sargent | 07:54 AM ET, 02/03/2013 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: sound off

Posted at 08:41 AM ET, 02/02/2013

Open Thread

By Greg Sargent

All yours.

By Greg Sargent | 08:41 AM ET, 02/02/2013 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: sound off

Posted at 06:33 PM ET, 02/01/2013

Happy Hour Roundup

By Greg Sargent

Our nightly wrap-up of news and opinion.

By Greg Sargent | 06:33 PM ET, 02/01/2013 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Happy Hour Roundup

Posted at 04:06 PM ET, 02/01/2013

Has Hillary Clinton's long journey finally come to an end?

By Greg Sargent

A politician who came of age in the 1960s may be ending her career, even as the major cultural battles of the era finally come to a close.

By Greg Sargent | 04:06 PM ET, 02/01/2013 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Hillary Clinton

Posted at 01:18 PM ET, 02/01/2013

Oklahoma woman who fought off intruder, a gun rights symbol, favors background checks

By Greg Sargent

Sarah McKinley, who has been widely cited by conservatives as a poster girl for gun rights, tells me people should have to get background checks to get guns. But she opposes the assault weapons ban.

By Greg Sargent | 01:18 PM ET, 02/01/2013 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: guns guns guns

Posted at 11:40 AM ET, 02/01/2013

A GOP filibuster of Chuck Hagel would be unprecedented

By Jamelle Bouie

If Republicans really block Hagel's nomination, it will be a sign that we're in for another four years of scorched earth opposition.

By Jamelle Bouie | 11:40 AM ET, 02/01/2013 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: chuck hagel, defense

Posted at 09:19 AM ET, 02/01/2013

The Morning Plum: Memo to Gayle Trotter -- on guns, you don't speak for most "American women"

By Greg Sargent

The vast majority of American women don't want scary assault weapons to protect themselves. Instead, they want sensible gun regulations.

By Greg Sargent | 09:19 AM ET, 02/01/2013 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Morning Plum

Should the Guantanamo Bay prison be closed?

The Plum Line: February, 2013