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Sandy’s Moment

Sandy Levin, a veteran Democratic congressman from a heavily unionized district in suburban Detroit, has a problem. Crowded into his Capitol Hill office are a couple dozen union representatives who have come to talk to him about China’s accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO). It’s a testy, uncomfortable moment; the union reps are not […]

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Buchanan’s Bite

Not so long ago, Democrats just loved the idea of third-party candidates who came along and shaved points off the margins of major party nominees. The offices at the Democratic National Committee echoed with schadenfreude last fall when Pat Buchanan jumped ship for the Reform Party. But now, with Ralph Nader making a strong showing […]

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Making the Case Against Ralph

August 21, 2000 — Who’d a Thunk it?: The AFL-CIO is probably not the first party interest group the Democratic Leadership Council’s Al From looks up when he wants tips on who should be next chairman of the DLC. But John Sweeney apparently isn’t waiting to be asked. Roll […]

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Long Knives for the Naderites

November 2nd, 2000 — Long Knives for the Naderites If you think that liberals and lefties in Washington, DC are agonizing about Ralph Nader’s candidacy, you’re mistaken. In recent days the mood has turned almost entirely to thoughts of payback — though it’s not entirely clear what form of retribution the party’s liberal wing can […]

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Party Crashers

As with most political battles, the set-to over Social Security reform has produced competing dramatic narratives. For the Democratic faithful, there’s Al Gore fighting the good fight against the right’s effort to privatize Social Security, the crown jewel of the New Deal. For Republicans there’s George W. Bush, courageously tackling the Social Security crisis while […]

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The Other Republican

H ad November 7 put an end to this year’s campaign frenzy as election days normally do, political analysts would now be focusing much more attention on the Republicans’ unexpectedly strong showing in the House–and on the man who has as solid a claim as any to credit for that outcome: John McCain. Throughout the […]

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Loving Lieberman

B y custom, vice presidential candidates get the nod because they appeal to some highly sought-after constituency. Perhaps it’s a state rich in electoral votes. A prized ethnic group. Or maybe just the right or left wing of the party. Look diligently enough, though, and you’ll almost certainly strike upon some group the nominee was […]

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Payback Time

If you would strike at the king, said Machiavelli, kill him. The underlyinglogic here applies to democracies as well as monarchies. If you put your all intobringing down a presidential candidate and come up short, expect him to come atyou–hard. And that pretty much describes organized labor’s current predicamentwith George W. Bush. Though the percentage […]

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The Firewall Next Time

Harry Dent assures me that George W. Bush is going to win big in South Carolina on February 19. “He’s Mr. Handsome,” the South Carolinian recently told me, “got a gorgeous wife, good family. And he believes in Jesus Christ. That’s pretty strong down here.” Dent should know. A longtime adviser to the state’s nonagenarian […]

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