Letter from Contributing Editor Sam Stone

This election is special in many ways—and not because it’s the most important one of our lifetime. Let’s face it: like most elections, it’s probably not.  But let’s look at what is special or unique about it.  On the presidential …

Elect Governor Mitt Romney

By Daniel Tarvin
Four years ago, Barack Obama swept to the presidency on a wave of enthusiasm and hope. President Obama promised to revitalize the economy and get the country moving towards a brighter future. Unfortunately, America – especially on an …

Reelect President Barack H. Obama

By Harrison Covall
Governor Mitt Romney will be the first to tell you that his economic policy, and in fact all of his policies, are vastly different than those of former President George W. Bush. However, these pronouncements are usually devoid …

The Vagaries of Redistricting

By Lucas Botello
Every ten years, each state is required to redraw the boundaries of its Congressional districts as a means of ensuring that representation appropriately reflects population. Each district must be home to approximately the same number of citizens; but where …

Latinos in America: Decisive Demographic or Paper Tiger?

By Michael Perez
It is late 1960. American families across the country sit in front of their television sets and witness a political aberration. A youthful Jackie Kennedy, robed in conservative dress, speaks to the nation in support of her husband, …

Polarized Politics in the Internet Age

By Griffin Foster
This election cycle, a common media narrative describes American politics as more polarized than ever. Although past debates over slavery and independence were more contentious than those we have today, the current polarization is much broader than ever …

The Election and the National Debt

By A.J. Huber
It seems like in every election, at least one candidate has a grand plan for reducing the national debt.  Despite the plans of the last five presidents, only President Clinton actually reduced the debt as a percentage of …

Berman and Sherman: The Democrats Who Need Republicans

By Lucas Botello
Voters in California’s newly drawn 30th congressional district (CA-30) will have to choose between two incumbent California Democrats whose profiles are as similar as their names. Candidates Howard Berman and Brad Sherman have represented parts of the district; both …

Missouri Senate Candidate Keeping Race Competitive Despite Controversial Comments

By Paul Kanellopoulos
It was almost inconceivable that Senator Claire McCaskill (D) would be successful in her bout to seek re-election against Todd Akin (R). Then, Mr. Akin’s controversial comments about rape made the opposite conclusion seem much more likely.
Now, after resisting …

Virginia: A Battle for the Senate in the Newest Swing State

By Paul Kanellopoulos
Virginia Senator Jim Webb’s (D) decision not to seek re-election has put many GW Law students in the middle of one of the most important races this electoral season. With thirty-three of the 100 seats in the Senate hanging …

Introducing the Nota Bene Supreme Court Bureau

By David Bender and Zachary Prince
The presence of GW Law in the heart of our nation’s capital is one of the primary reasons that prospective students are attracted to the school.  Upon arrival at 20th and H, this becomes a …

The Lid is Flying Off the Pot in Colorado

By Patrick Fortune

While the nation is focused on which states turn blue and which go red, two states could be turning green. Voters in Washington and Colorado have initiatives on the ballot this year that mandate the legalization, regulation and …

George Washington University Battleground Tracking Poll: Obama at 49 Percent and Romney at 48 Percent

WASHINGTON – If the election were held today 49 percent of Americans would vote for President Obama and 48 percent would vote for Governor Romney, according to a new POLITICO-George Washington University Battleground Poll released today. This one-point lead is reversed …

Splitting Tickets: Elasticity, Candidate Selection, and Waves

By Samuel Stone
The last time Rhode Island voted for a Republican nominee for president was in 1984, a year in which only Minnesota – Democratic nominee Walter Mondale’s home state – and the District of Columbia voted Democrat. In the 28 …