THE POWER AND POLITICS OF BLOGS

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HENRY FARRELL AND DANIEL DREZNER have posted their paper, “The Power and Politics of Blogs,” online. This was one of the two papers that I mentioned in my post yesterday about the excellent forum on politics and blogs at the American Political Science Association.

ALEXANDER HAMILTON AND THE U.S. DEBT PROBLEM

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ALEXANDER HAMILTON ARGUED PASSIONATELY about the importance of public credit but always partnered with fiscal responsibility. Today, Daniel Gross, a former colleague of mine at the New America Foundation, writes in the New York Times: From the beginning of 2001 to the end of 2003, the economy added $1.

POLITICAL BLOGGERS AND THE POLITICS OF BLOGGING

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DANIEL DREZNER ORGANIZED A TERRIFIC FORUM, THE POWER AND POLITICS OF BLOGS, at the American Political Science Association meeting yesterday. The Wonkette herself, Ana Marie Cox, stole the show by being the anti-blogger’s blogger.

MICHAEL MOORE ON JOHN MCCAIN

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THIS USA TODAY PIECE, “THE EBERT AND MCCAIN SHOW,” BY MICHAEL MOORE IS WORTH A READ. As those who read every detail of my often long entries on this blog will find, I admire John McCain and have been perplexed by what drove him from principled, lukewarm support of Bush to such effusive enthusiasm.

FOREIGN POLICY JOUSTING IN CHICAGO THIS WEEKEND

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SINCE THE REPUBLICAN PARTY MANAGED TO HIDE at is convention the civil war in its ranks over the conduct of U.S. foreign policy, the next best place to glimpse the competing schools of grand strategy is in Chicago this weekend at the American Political Science Association.

ENRONIZATION OF THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION

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PERHAPS I SHOULD REFER INSTEAD TO THE ENRON-IZED BUSH ADMINISTRATION. I was impressed today with the “Progress Report” of the American Progress Action Fund that offers a roster of truth and fraud items about Bush economic policy claims.

JOHN McCAIN OFFERED VP SLOT WHEN CHENEY STEPS DOWN?

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ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER THOUGHT HE HIT A FUN CHORD WHEN HE CALLED the Democratic National Convention, “True Lies.” Clearly though, the convention we have been watching this week is piling a mound of duplicity on a foundation of mistruths.

THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE: KEEP OR ABOLISH?

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IN THE FEDERALIST PAPERS NO. 68, ALEXANDER HAMILTON writing as Publius defends the Electoral College. Hamilton wrote: “A small number of persons, selected by thir fellow-citizens from the general mass, will be most likely to possess the information and discernment requisite to such complicated investigations.” In other words, don’t let the mob rule.