Kagan’s Confirmation Looks Likely

Staff / Truthdig Aug 5, 2010 Elena Kagan is almost through the wringer, awaiting a Senate vote later this week on her Supreme Court nomination. Hers has been a fairly uneventful vetting process, and judging by the mood on Capitol Hill on Wednesday, she'll soon be sporting a black robe. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

A Loss Won’t Silence the Democratic Left

E.J. Dionne Jr. / Truthdig Jun 10, 2010 This week's primaries should have been good news for Democrats. Instead, a stray comment from an Obama aide briefly threatened a civil war in the Democratic Party, which needs all the unity it can get. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

There’s No Accounting for Taste in Arkansas

Staff / Truthdig Jun 9, 2010 Although she was trailing primary challenger Bill Halter in at least one recent poll, Arkansas Democrats decided Tuesday to give Sen. Blanche Lincoln another shot. Lincoln had been targeted by unions and progressive groups after she killed the pro-labor bill she once co-sponsored and worked to weaken health care reform. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Your Handy Primary Guide

Staff / Truthdig Jun 9, 2010 The fate of Senate Majority Leader -- and favorite punching bag of tea party types -- Harry Reid may hang in the balance during this year's election cycle, and on Tuesday his home state of Nevada will be one of 11 states holding primaries. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

A Smorgasbord, Not a Tea Party

E.J. Dionne Jr. / Truthdig May 19, 2010 Almost all the shibboleths of Washington conventional wisdom took a hit in Tuesday's voting. Yet advocates of a single national political narrative keep spinning the same old tale. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

Who’s Afraid of Rand Paul?

Robert Scheer / Truthdig May 19, 2010 Tuesday’s election results were pretty good for progressives. The retirement of that windbag chameleon Sen. Arlen Specter is long overdue, and pro-labor forces were able to push Sen. Blanche Lincoln into a runoff in Arkansas. Even the big tea party win in Kentucky has its bright side.Count me as one lefty liberal who is not the least bit unhappy with the victory by Rand Paul in Kentucky’s Republican primary for the U.S. Senate. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

Unions Punish Lincoln in Arkansas

Staff / Truthdig May 19, 2010 Sen Blanche Lincoln helped sink the proposed Employee Free Choice Act, which would have made labor organizing much easier Now the Democrat is headed to a primary runoff against Arkansas Lt Gov Bill Halter (above), thanks in part to a massive multimillion-dollar campaign effort by the AFL-CIO and the SEIU (continued). Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Primaries Show Off Dems’ Diversity

E.J. Dionne Jr. / Truthdig May 17, 2010 This year's elections may exacerbate the difference between our two political parties, but not in the way most people are talking about. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

Titan Over Wall Street

Eugene Robinson / Truthdig Apr 23, 2010 Perhaps Obama could have scored more popularity points if he had ordered a few financiers to be led out of the Cooper Union auditorium in handcuffs. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

Derivatives Bill Gets Traction in Senate

Staff / Truthdig Apr 21, 2010 Financial reform is the next big task on Congress' list of action items, and on Wednesday the Senate Agriculture Committee made progress by approving a bill by committee Chair Blanche Lincoln that targets the derivatives market. (continued) Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Democrat Challenges the Senator From Wal-Mart

Staff / Truthdig Mar 2, 2010 One of the Senate's most conservative Democrats now faces a primary challenge on her left flank. Blanche Lincoln, who betrayed the unions that had supported her and who had bitterly fought off a public option in health care reform, was already headed for a tough race. (continued) Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Obama Pressures Senate on Public Option

Staff / Truthdig Oct 5, 2009 Like a reluctant Sisyphus, the president is still pushing the public option up Capitol Hill According to a report in the L Times, Obama has been trying to sell moderate Democrats on the idea That's no easy task, as many have taken gobs of money from the private health industry and coincidentally oppose meaningful reform. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )