Politics Daily

Cascading Medicaid Cuts Hurt the Poor and Burden the States

Lou Cannon — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 22:00:00 EST

Filed under: Health Care, Obama Administration, Health Care Reform

Health care for the poor is in trouble and so are the states that are charged with providing an increasing share of it. Many states have already had to curb Medicaid and more cuts are yet to come.

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Thinking About Ronald Reagan: On 100th Birthday, He's Remembered for Good Reason

Lou Cannon — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 21:52:00 EST

Filed under: Foreign Policy, White House, Reagan Centennial

Ronald Reagan was at once a man of conviction who thought seriously about the great issues of his time and an ordinary fellow whom Americans could think of as 'one of us.'

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Schwarzenegger's Legacy: Last Action Hero Awaits History's Judgment

Lou Cannon — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 22:45:00 EST

Filed under: Republicans, Budget, Gay Rights, Ballot Measures, 2010 Elections, Unemployment, Climate Change, Analysis, Economy

The movie star-turned governor leaves office with a $28-billion shortfall in the California budget. But history may well paint him in a positive light.

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A 'New Realism' About Bipartisanship May Be Key to States' Fiscal Rebound

Lou Cannon — Thu, 23 Dec 2010 21:32:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Governors

Cash-strapped states budgets may be forcing lawmakers to embrace the idea of working across party lines to close deficits and deal with other thorny issues like immigration.

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How a Vegetarian, a Grocer Named Ahmed and Many Others Put Turkeys on the Needy's Tables

Lou Cannon — Thu, 25 Nov 2010 11:16:00 EST

Wendy McCaw doesn't eat meat, and doesn't think others should either. But her campaign against giving Thanksgiving turkeys to the needy led to just the opposite, thanks to many generous souls.

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Can Obama Emulate Reagan and Clinton -- and FDR?

Lou Cannon — Sat, 06 Nov 2010 23:00:00 EST

Filed under: Bill Clinton, 2012 President, 2010 Elections, Campaigns, Barack Obama

Obama can look to the examples of Reagan, Clinton and FDR as he mulls a political comeback after Tuesday's blow-out. But it would also help to know who his opponent will be in 2012.

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Republicans Score Big in the States and Win Leg Up on Redistricting

Lou Cannon — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 21:50:00 EST

Filed under: Ballot Measures, 2010 Elections, Congress, Conservatives

Republicans picked up 690 state legislative seats -- a near record and a better showing than even their congressional and gubernatorial victories. The revival comes just in time for 2011 redistricting.

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The Conservatives Come Back From the Dead

Lou Cannon — Sun, 31 Oct 2010 23:00:00 EST

Filed under: 2010 Elections, Conservatives, Tea Party

After the 2008 elections, some were quick to pronounce the death of conservatism. This year's election is likely to prove that prediction premature, but the same may be true for those who forecast the demise of liberals.

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California Voters to Decide on Pot, Global Warming, Fiscal Affairs

Lou Cannon — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 20:51:00 EST

Filed under: Environment, Ballot Measures, Climate Change, Legalizing Marijuana

California's long-running love affair with "direct democracy" will be tested on Nov. 2 as entrepreneurs and interest groups seek approval of nine initiatives, two of which have national implications.

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Legalized Marijuana in California: Polls Now Show a Close Call

Lou Cannon — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 22:39:00 EST

Filed under: Polls, Ballot Measures, 2010 Elections, Medicine, Legalizing Marijuana

Prop. 19, which would allow adults to grow pot for personal use, is running into flak -- even from backers of medical marijuana and legalization, who predict a crazy quilt of new regulations if it passes.

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Outrage and Courage: The London Blitz Remembered

Lou Cannon — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 20:53:00 EST

Londoners are marking the 70th anniversary of the the Blitz, the massive Nazi bombings that spread to other cities. It was supposed to shatter the morale of the people. But the British did not break.

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2010 Elections: Big Potential for Republican Governor, Redistricting Wins

Lou Cannon — Sun, 22 Aug 2010 23:00:00 EST

Filed under: 2010 Elections

Forget who will control Congress: The biggest power shift toward the GOP could be in state governments, where reapportionment for the decade ahead will be decided.

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As Federal Debt Spirals, States May Not Be Able to Count on U.S. Help

Lou Cannon — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 23:00:00 EST

Filed under: Budget

The increasing focus in Washington on the U.S. debt has thrown into doubt how much cash-strapped states can count on federal money, particularly help on paying for Medicaid.

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Special Interests Beware: Californians Fight Back on Prop. 14, Other Measures

Lou Cannon — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 23:00:00 EST

Filed under: Ads, Environment, Media, Immigration, Ballot Measures, Voting, 2010 Elections, Campaigns

California is the land of direct democracy where voters often shape law and policy at the polls. Their verdicts this week showed that special interests and high-dollar campaigns don't always win out.

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Meg Whitman and Carly Fiorina: California Republicans' Thelma and Louise

Lou Cannon — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 01:20:00 EST

Filed under: 2010 Elections

Both started in the center of the political spectrum and moved right in the primaries as a way of warding off opponents. Now they must regain the middle ground to win in November.

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Meg Whitman, Carly Fiorina: Will Money Talk in California Republican Primary?

Lou Cannon — Sun, 06 Jun 2010 23:00:00 EST

Filed under: Senate, Republicans, Primaries, Governors, 2010 Elections

Whitman has spent nearly $80 million in her bid for the GOP gubernatorial nomination, most of it her own money, while Fiorina's $6.7 million far outpaced her rivals in the Senate race.

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Unstoppable Oil: Gulf Catastrophe Has Political Fallout in California

Lou Cannon — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 23:00:00 EST

Filed under: Environment, Education, Energy, Oil Spill

The Gulf oil spill prompted Gov. Schwarzenegger to scuttle a plan for drilling off the Santa Barbara coastline. Another drilling project in nearby Carpenteria is on the June 8 ballot and in jeopardy.

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The Arizona Backlash: Immigration Debate Stirs Historic Passions

Lou Cannon — Sun, 23 May 2010 23:00:00 EST

Filed under: Immigration, Obama Administration

Immigration cries out for a national solution. If SB 1070 forces the president and Congress to consider genuine immigration reform, it will have done us all a big favor.

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Daryl Gates: The LAPD Chief Who Stayed Too Long

Lou Cannon — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 23:30:00 EST

Filed under: Race Issues, Culture, Law

During the funeral Tuesday for Daryl Gates, the former LAPD chief was remembered as loyal and innovative -- a bridge to the future and a link to the past.

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Health Care Law Poses Financial Pitfalls for States

Lou Cannon — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 05:00:00 EST

Filed under: Barack Obama, Economy, Health Care, Obama Administration, Culture, Governors, 2010 Elections, Congress

Although most major provisions of Obamacare do not take effect until 2014, states face immediate and difficult decisions.

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