Democracy | News-Opinion
TOP NEWS: Democracy: October 5th, 2012
More top news and analysis:
JOBS REPORT: Campaigns Seize on Jobs Report - WSJ
The Obama camp cautiously embraced the jobs report, while Romney countered that the data show America’s economic recovery is still anemic.
JOBS REPORT: Welch: Unemployment data cooked – POLITICO
The business community titan and Mitt Romney backer is doubtful about the new jobs report.
ELECTIONS 2012/ROMNEY 47%: Romney Backs Off Remarks About 47% – WSJ
Romney repudiated his assessment of the 47% of Americans he once deemed too dependent on government, saying his remarks were “just completely wrong.”
ELECTIONS 2012: Campaign Gains a New Intensity in Debate’s Wake - NYT
JIM RUTENBERG, PETER BAKER; President Obama and Mitt Romney confronted what one feared and the other hoped was an altered campaign after a debate in which Mr. Obama’s performance was widely panned.
ROMNEY POLICY: Romney’s Sick Joke – NYT, PAUL KRUGMAN
Mitt Romney’s claim that pre-existing conditions are covered under his health plan was his biggest of many misleading statements in Wednesday’s debate.
ROMNEY POLICY: Moderate Mitt Returns! - NYT, DAVID BROOKS
The Republican presidential candidate has finally emerged from the fog of his caricatures. Welcome to the audacity of pragmatism.
ELECTIONS 2012: Romney Presses Edge After Debate – WSJ
Obama tried to recover from a debate performance that left Democrats questioning his strategy, as Romney used his strong showing to rally his base.
MOMENTUM: Tough to Build on First Debate Win – WSJ
Mitt Romney’s widely praised performance in the first presidential debate gave his campaign a boost. History shows these kinds of gains, especially by a challenger, are often fleeting.
POLLS: Latest polls from across the U.S. – POLITICO
*MORE ELECTIONS 2012 NEWS AND ANALYSIS BELOW
DEBATES: After Debate, A Harsh Light Falls on Moderator - NYT
Democrats in particular were critical of the light touch used by Jim Lehrer, the moderator.
DEBATE POLLS: Polls Show Strong Debate for Romney - NYT, NATE SILVER
Instant-reaction polls conducted by CNN and CBS News suggest that Mitt Romney was the winner of the first presidential debate.
DEBATES:No Debate – NEW YORKER, David Remnick
The President’s friends from law school and Chicago explain why he struggled onstage in Denver.
DEBATES: Romney’s trifecta – WP, George F. Will
The candidate wrapped up three tasks.
DEBATES: Moderate Mitt returns, but conservatives cheer – POLITICO
Mitt Romney sounded at the first debate a lot like what conservatives always suspected he really is — a Massachusetts moderate who supports some regulations and doesn’t want to cut taxes for the rich.
*MORE DEBATE NEWS AND ANALYSIS BELOW
VOTERS: Debate re-energises Romney support base - FT
Enormous struggle still lies ahead of Republican candidate.
VOTERS: Young voters skipping this election? – POLITICO
Polls show a striking number of young voters intend to stay home on Nov. 6. Can this be reversed?
VOTERS/OBAMACARE: Informed Independents Cool to ObamaCare – WSJ
Presenting facts about even popular aspects of the health-care law had a side effect: increasing support for Mitt Romney.
UNDECIDED VOTERS: Idiot’s Delight – NYT, TIMOTHY EGAN
At this point in the campaign, how can the undecideds expect to have anyone’s support?
LOCAL RACES: Redrawn Districts Test Favorites of Tea Party - NYT
JENNIFER STEINHAUER: Representative Steve King’s troubles show the liability of a national profile built largely on Tea Party credentials and incendiary statements.
CULTURE GAP: Republicans losing US culture wars – FT, PHILIP STEPHENS
The party seems ever more out of touch with a public mood framed by greater tolerance
STUDENT LOANS: Gov’t Saddling Parents with Loans They Can’t Afford – PRO PUBLICA
As college costs continue to climb, families are turning to federal Parent Plus loans to fill the gap. But with no checks on their ability to repay, many parents are left overburdened, and others set up for failure.
SUPREME COURT: Moving Beyond Affirmative Action - NYT
A Supreme Court ruling against the University of Texas might put ethnic and racial diversity on college campuses on a firmer footing for the long term.
SUPREME COURT: Race and the Law at the Supreme Court – WSJ, Gerald Walpin
With Fisher v. University of Texas, the court has a chance to do the right thing—end the use of racial preferences.
SUPREME COURT: Alien Tort Invasion—II – WSJ
The Justices need to draw a clear line, not another legal fudge.
SUPREME COURT: Stop the Court shopping - WP, Editorial
Congress should limit the Alien Tort Statute.
INCOME INEQUALITY: Pity the Plutocrats – NYT, THOMAS FRANK
Why do the well-to-do whine so? Why do they wring their hands?
IMMIGRATION: The Documented Life – NYT, EDITORIAL
President Obama’s program to suspend deportation of young immigrants comes with a daunting paperwork challenge, but progress is being made.
IMMIGRATION: Los Angeles to Cease Transferring Some Immigrants - NYT
The police will soon stop turning over illegal immigrants arrested for low-level crimes to federal immigration officials for deportation, Police Chief Charlie Beck said on Thursday.
RELIGIOUS EXPRESSION: Cheerleaders With Bible Verses Set Off a Debate - NYT
In a small Texas town, cheerleaders’ writing of Bible verses on banners has led to a lawsuit and questions about religious expression at public school events.
RELIGION/MORMONISM: A Glimpse at the Sacred Heart of Mormonism – WSJ
A temple open house in Utah attracts believers and nonbelievers alike.
DRUG WAR: Large Marijuana Crop Found in a Chicago Industrial Park – NYT
MONICA DAVEY: A helicopter officer discovered a patch of 1,500 plants growing in an industrial park on the city’s far South Side.
HEALTH: Medicine implicated in rare meningitis cases went to 23 states - WP
More than 17,000 vials of an injectable steroid have been linked to 35 reported cases of meningitis.
HEALTH: In Drug Linked to Meningitis Outbreak, a Question of Oversight – NYT
The growing outbreak of meningitis was a calamity waiting to happen — the result of a lightly regulated type of drug production that had a troubled past colliding with a popular treatment.
HEALTH/AUTISM: My Son and the City – NYT, MARIE MYUNG-OK LEE
In a place famous for its anonymous crowds, my autistic son has been learning about people.
NATIVE AMERICANS: Tribe Considers Lifting Alcohol Ban in South Dakota - NYT
The Oglala Sioux Tribe will propose lifting an alcohol ban on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation as a way to regulate the flow and reduce alcohol problems.
SANDUSKY: Sandusky Lawyers Ready Appeal - WSJ
Jerry Sandusky’s lawyers plan to focus his appeal on two main arguments—that they didn’t have enough time to prepare and that the jury was prejudiced by a prosecutor statement about an interview Mr. Sandusky gave.
MORE DEBATE NEWS AND ANALYSIS:
DEBATES: Entering Stage Right, Romney Moved to Center - NYT
MICHAEL COOPER, DAVID KOCIENIEWSKI, JACKIE CALMES: During Wednesday’s presidential debate, Mitt Romney used striking new language to describe his policy proposals in ways that may be sowing confusion about how he would govern.
DEBATES: The Obama Matrix - WSJ, OPINION
Romney’s triumph came from exposing the President’s campaign illusions.
DEBATES:Romney Deflates the President - WSJ, PEGGY NOONAN
The first debate was a surprise. Now the challenger has to prepare for more surprises.
ROMNEY PERFORMANCE: Few Fireworks, Plenty of Wonkiness - WSJ
Many thought Mitt Romney needed debate fireworks to shake up the race. But post-debate reaction suggests that wasn’t accurate; Mr. Romney was widely seen as holding the advantage despite a lack of electric moments.
DEBATE PUNDITS: Presidential Debate Is a Feast for the Punditry - NYT
The political news cycle is driven by a fixation on any sign of distress in either campaign. Until Wednesday, that focus had been on Mitt Romney. Now it’s President Obama’s turn.
DEBATE BODY LANGUAGE: What Body Language Says to Voters - NYT
An analysis of the signature gestures used by President Obama and Mitt Romney in their speeches and debates.
DEBATES: A View of the Debate From Inside the Hall - NYT
ASHLEY PARKER: Here’s a look at what happened behind the scenes and inside the debate hall during Wednesday night’s presidential debate in Denver.
VIEWERS: You Have My Permission to Ignore Debates - BLOOMBERG, Stephen L. Carter
I am writing this column while not watching Wednesday’s presidential debate.
DEBATE VIEWERS: Cheers, Questions at Debate Party - WSJ
Conservatives left energized after a debate viewing party in Ohio. Obama backers wondered why he came off as flat, distracted and unprepared.
OBAMA PREPARATION: Obama plans Virginia debate camp - POLITICO
Obama is going to be more strategic about how he uses his rehearsal time.
MORE ELECTION 2012 NEWS AND ANALYSIS:
ENERGY POLICY: That ‘$90 Billion’ Green Energy Tax Break - NYT, ROBERT B. SEMPLE JR.
Mitt Romney’s energy policy whoppers.
ENERGY POLICY: Coal Gets Renewed Focus After Debate - WSJ
Romney cheered the coal industry in the presidential debates with his succinct declaration that “I like coal,” highlighting an issue that has divided the Republican nominee from Obama.
ROMNEY POLICY: Uncovered by Romney – NEW YORKER, Alex Koppelman
He said his health plan will cover people with preëexisting conditions without raising costs. That won’t work and he knows it.
ELECTIONS 2012/VALUES: Two Visions of Patriotism Collide - WSJ
President Barack Obama says he wants a ‘new economic patriotism.’ Mitt Romney calls the presidential campaign a battle for ‘the soul of America.’ The candidates aren’t only racing to win an election, but each is claiming to stand for true American values.
OBAMA-ROMNEY: Obama hits back with dig at rival’s claims - FT
President ridicules Romney’s new-found views after debate.
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