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. […]
The Club for Growth endorsed GOP Rep. Marlin Stutzman in the Indiana Senate race this summer, but the congressman was a glaring omission from the anti-tax group’s end-of-the-year fundraising email. The email from Club President David McIntosh highlighted House candidates Jim Banks of Indiana and Jim Duncan of North Carolina, GOP Rep. Ron DeSantis (who […]
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 […]
Democrat John Bel Edwards’ “prostitutes over patriots” ad will be remembered as one of the most-hard hitting television spots in campaign history. But did it catch the attention of national Democratic strategists? Political consulting is a competitive sport with millions of dollars at stake. There is plenty of jockeying to be on top strategists’ unofficial […]
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 […]
Breaking news can be hard to predict, except when it’s tied to a controversial court case. Candidates and consultants spend their time, energy and dollars staying on message — trying to focus voters on winning issues. But breaking news, even something such as a court decision that can be anticipated, often derails those plans by […]