Monthly Archive for December, 2012

: December, 2012

Over the cliff we go

The House of Representatives prepared to recess late Monday without voting on a tax measure, guaranteeing the nation would go over the much-feared fiscal cliff. The Senate nevertheless remained in session to possibly vote on a deal that reportedly would wipe away Bush-era tax cuts for those earning over $400,000 individually and $450,000 for couples filing […]

Mitch McConnell: “very, very close” and tax part done

Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the chief negotiator with Vice President Joe Biden, said a deal on the fiscal cliff is “very, very close,” with an agreement on the main issue, taxes, in hand. McConnell said the spending cuts in the sequester can wait, and urged everyone to take the deal on taxes, […]

Rep. Sam Farr: House hijacked

The House is still waiting for the Senate to come up with a deal on the fiscal cliff, now down to negotiations between Republican leader Mitch McConnell and Vice President Joe Biden. Obama is set to deliver remarks at 1:30 Eastern, 10:30 Pacific. Rep. Sam Farr, D-Monterey, attributed the breakdown in the House to a […]

The 12 weirdest political moments of 2012

Sometimes, it’s hard to separate the political news from your favorite “news of the weird” feed. There was so much weird stuff going on along the campaign trail that it’s hard to select the dozen best. But here’s our best effort: 1. Clint Eastwood and his chair. It was the most bizarre moment at a […]

Top ten political winners of 2012

Most of the biggest political winners of 2012 didn’t even win an election this year: New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul and Planned Parenthood CEO Cecile Richards among them. But it didn’t hurt if you won an election. Ask President Obama, who won a surprisingly large victory […]

Top ten political losers of 2012

So, after all the clichés about a close presidential election (too-close-to-call, dead heat, photo finish, neck-and-neck, razor-thin, toss-up), it wasn’t that close. John Kerry came closer to the presidency in 2004 — a lot closer — than Mitt Romney did in 2012. That makes the failed Republican presidential candidate the year’s biggest political loser. But […]

‘Put the harps back in the closet,’ says George H.W. Bush aide

The national media has been keeping a close eye on the former President George H. W. Bush as he has spent over a month in a Houston hospital.

The List: The nation’s oldest living lawmakers

Texas congressman Ralph Hall this week became the oldest person ever to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives. But while the 89-year-old Republican is older than any other person in Congress today, he remains younger than about 40 of his former congressional colleagues. Here are lists of the ten oldest surviving people who served […]

President Obama responds to petitions calling for gun control, says he believes in second amendment

“I can’t do it alone. I need your help,” Obama told Americans who signed the petitions demanding that the White House tackle the issues of gun control and mental health care.

Gavin Newsom: Legalize marijuana

Christmas came early to marijuana activists — and please, no open flames close to their tree — in the form of a big fat present from California Lt. Gov Gavin Newsom. Did you catch what Gavin, who said he is not a pot smoker himself, said in Friday’s NYT in a story about the Times? […]