More news, more polls...

CNN poll show Christie & Clinton in a virtual tie for 2016> Who cares- it's 3 years away?!?!
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2013/11/13/poll-christie-clinton-in-virtual-2016-tie/comment-page-1/

Texas Tech students poll residents of Lubbock, Texas on local power company & related issues- some interesting results 9hint: higher taxes for better services?)...
http://kfyo.com/texas-tech-political-science-survey-polls-lubbockites-on-views-of-lubbock-power-and-light-other-issues/

Gov McCrory (NC) polls improve slightly
http://www.newsobserver.com/2013/11/13/3367590/mccrory-has-slight-uptick-in-polls.html

One way to improve your poll #s- go on a retreat with wealthy backers... http://www.newsobserver.com/2013/11/14/3370374/morning-memo-mccrory-to-attend.html




The 2014 Unofficial Voter's Guide is available! It is a great Christmas stocking stuffer that fits the budget!
http://www.amazon.com/The-2014-Unofficial-Voters-Guide/dp/1600052495/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1384450823&sr=8-3&keywords=mark+amtower

11/5/13 - Election Day in some states

Why opinion poll fear grips political parties (this may be from an Indian newspaper, but it fits the situation in the U.S. as well.

http://www.business-standard.com/article/politics/why-opinion-poll-fear-grips-political-parties-113110500433_1.html

 

Chris Christie is hot-but can he win NJ in 2016?

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-250_162-57610773/can-chris-christie-win-new-jersey-in-2016/

Political news 11/4/13

The political divide gets wider....

Political division broadens in Wisconsin

http://www.gazettextra.com/article/20131104/ARTICLES/131109968/1034

 

Obama: plus or minus for McAuliffe? (Virginia)

http://www.businessweek.com/news/2013-11-03/obama-stumps-for-mcauliffe-with-as-much-to-gain-as-give

 

More on Virginia with third party candidate

http://wtvr.com/2013/11/03/poll-third-party-candidate-may-make-difference-in-crucial-election/

 

Christie still hot in NJ

http://www.baristanet.com/2013/11/christie-lead-buono-10-points-new-rutgers-poll/

Pre-2013 election polls show massive discontent

Polls indicate the public is so disgusted with Washington politicians of both parties that a surprisingly large proportion of people would like to get rid of the whole lot of them.

http://www.torontosun.com/2013/11/01/the-new-ruling-class

Less than 25% of Western PA voters expected to vote on 11/5

http://triblive.com/politics/politicalheadlines/4961700-74/voters-county-percent#axzz2jb2YtTwN

Sunday, 11/3/13

In the Outlook section of the Washington Post today, there is a huge photo of a T-shirt with a political message.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/virginia-is-for-lovers-of-lax-ethics-and-anything-goes-politics/2013/11/01/757e86ce-40e6-11e3-a751-f032898f2dbc_story.html

It starts with "Virginia is for Lovers", with accompanying heart symbol. This is a tag line for television commercials about Virginia. But the message continues:

"of unlimited political gifts, anything-goes campaign spending, lax ethics rules and minimal oversight."

While amusing, this is also sad, and it applies in many more states to varying degrees.


In other headlines Inter Press Service reports U.S. corporations are "re-writing" labor laws & lowering wages-
http://www.globalissues.org/news/2013/11/01/17734

Close to Home comic for 10/31/13

Take a moment to view this comic. I'd post it but don't want to violate the Copyright.

http://www.gocomics.com/closetohome/2013/10/31#.UnWOyFLD_mI

Open for Business

The 2014 Unofficial Voter's Guide official blog is "open for business". It is the home, along with the Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/2014UnofficialVotersGuide, for my new book, which will be available later this month.

While this blog and the book are satiric, I will not accept comments that are mean-spirited or abusive. That being said, I will be posting links to information which displays the circus-like atmosphere that has become Congress.

I welcome links to interesting items that illustrate Congressional foibles.

I have lived in the Washington, D.C. area nearly my entire life, so I have been close to the political turmoil that defines this area.

In 1960 my father took me to my first political debate. It was for a Congressional seat and  Republican Charles "Mac" Mathias was running against the incumbent, Democrat Jack Foley. After the debate I told my father that Foley was quite convincing. My father told me that being louder and more animated than your opponent did not mean that you were saying more than your opponent. Foley, my father told me, said nothing, but did so loudly. My father, a life-long Democrat, voted for Mathias.

Every day there is something in the news - radio, TV or print - demonstrating the abuse of power that is commonplace among Congressmen. From exempting themselves from certain laws, taking PAC or other money, political gifts, gerrymandering (recently in my home state, Maryland), and so much more, it is little wonder that I find myself in a perpetual state of "contempt of Congress."

There is much to be contemptuous of. Regardless of the intent of freshmen Congress men and women, there is something nefarious at work in the halls of Congress that seems to drag most, if not all, down the rabbit hole of being influenced and manipulated by special interests of all sides and by the debilitating disease of re-election fever.

This past week on the NBC Nightly News, Brian Roberts said a new poll indicated the majority of Americans were fed up with everyone in Congress, and that they should ALL be replaced.

I would agree.