Barry Ritholtz, a financial planner and asset manager, writes a regular column in The Washington Post’s business section. I read him religiously, and his last column of 2015, on financial prognosticators, offered important observations for anyone interested in politics, sports or Wall Street. I include all three subjects because they have so much in common. […]
Texas Sen. Ted Cruz is poised to absorb Donald Trump’s supporters when the billionaire exits the race for the GOP presidential nomination, according to one of the campaign’s most common narratives. But how many Trump supporters are open to supporting another candidate? The quickest analysis of the Republican race divides candidates into distinct establishment and […]
Most national polls show Republican frontrunner Donald Trump trailing likely Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton and faring worse than other GOP hopefuls against her. That raises an obvious question: Could doubts about Trump’s strength in a general election derail his bid for the Republican nomination, or would GOP caucus attendees and primary voters simply ignore […]
RealClearPolitics political analyst Sean Trende is one of the clear-eyed, analytic observers of American politics, and I usually find myself nodding in agreement when I read his invariably thoughtful stuff. That didn’t happen when I was reading his Dec. 10 piece, “Laying Odds on the GOP Presidential Race.” Trende writes that he is rating “the […]
When you write dozens of columns each year, as I have been doing for a long time (some people think far too long), you look back at some of them with embarrassment. Sure, there are plenty of columns of which I remain proud and that look thoughtful, even prescient (“prescient” is a word I try […]
“Political brands are important,” I wrote more than a year and a half ago in a lede that was much less interesting than the entire column. Now, though, I am wondering whether political party brands are so different from soap brands or over-the-counter medicine brands, which loyal consumers often stick with no matter what the […]
Republicans’ decline with Hispanic voters over the past two presidential races is undeniable and improvement with the growing demographic is an imperative to improve the party’s White House prospects. But a new interactive tool helps demonstrate that the GOP’s Electoral College challenge goes well beyond the party’s problem with Latino voters. David Wasserman wasn’t joking […]
An independent presidential run by Donald Trump would sink Republican chances of winning the White House, but Trump would be the biggest loser. And if there is one thing Trump can’t afford or stomach, it’s losing. During the wealthy businessman’s latest dustup with the GOP establishment over his proposed travel ban on all Muslims, Trump […]
It has been almost 20 years since I started writing a best/worst end of the year column. Since I’m committed to doing them until I finally get one right, here goes this year’s attempt. Weirdest Political Development of 2015 The nominees: Bernard Sanders’ candidacy. John A. Boehner quits. Ben Carson’s candidacy. A Democrat is elected […]