Advice for the House Class of 2011 From Their Revolutionary Predecessors in ’95

It is one of the most celebrated and historic classes in congressional history — not the one seated Wednesday but the last group of Republicans who took over the House after the 1994 midterms. With 73 GOP freshmen, that class was smaller than this year’s group, which boasts 87 new Republicans elected in November. But members of the historic ’95 class contend their takeover was more significant because it was the first time Republicans had been in control of the House since the Eisenhower administration.
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Senate Farewells Sound Familiar Warning: Partisanship is Ruining Us

Over the past few weeks, many of those leaving the U.S. Senate — either voluntarily or by defeat — have given a farewell address, something of a Senate tradition. The speeches have been remarkable for their similarity. Not in terms of thanking staff and family members and recounting memorable moments or greatest hits of a legislative career. Most of the senators did those things. Rather, they have been remarkable for the warning most of them have sounded about the dismal state of the nation’s body politic.
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‘No Labels’ Wants to Deliver on Public’s Cry for Change, but Will it Work?

At the rollout for No Labels at Columbia University on Monday, one of the group’s founders called the event “our little Woodstock of democracy.” But the well- organized event, with its national media coverage, roster of top political names like New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Indiana Sen. Evan Bayh, and media heavyweights like David Gergen and Joe Scarborough, felt like anything but Woodstock.
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GOP’s John Kasich Takes Down Ted Strickland in Ohio Governor’s Race

In a state badly hurting from the recession, Republican challenger John Kasich narrowly defeated Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland in one of the most closely watched races in the nation. Kasich’s triumph Tuesday capped a GOP sweep of statewide executive offices, including attorney general, secretary of state, auditor and treasurer.
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Republican Robert Hurt Defeats Tom Perriello in Virginia’s 5th District

In Virginia’s 5th Congressional District, incumbent freshman Democrat Tom Perriello, elected in 2008 as part of the Barack Obama wave, was defeated by Virginia state Sen. Robert Hurt whose campaign slogan was “A Proven Conservative with Virginia Values.” This district was one of the most hotly contested and closely watched House races in the nation, featuring a last minute campaign visit by President Obama.
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Independent Voters Fed Up With Entire Political System

Much has been written about the anger and disillusionment of voters this year. Pollsters are predicting a “throw the bums out” wave that could sweep hundreds of new candidates into office on Tuesday. The Tea Party has manifested much of this anger on the right but what is particularly striking and has been much less reported is the level of anger this year in the independent/swing voters, who represent a much bigger block of votes.
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Democrats Struggle to Hold Northeast Ohio Swing District

With prognosticators like Charlie Cook and others calling for a 50 to 60 seat Republican gain in the House of Representatives on November 2, there are a plenty of districts around the country where the Democrats are trying hard to hold a finger in the dike. Ohio’s 16th District is one of them.
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The Race Looks Over for Ohio’s Lee Fisher, but He Keeps Running

For weeks, the Ohio Senate race between former Republican Congressman Rob Portman and Democratic Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher has appeared to be essentially over with various polls showing Portman with a double-digit lead. National Democratic groups stopped giving Fisher money long ago and he is being hugely outspent not only by Portman’s campaign but by American Crossroads, the conservative pro-Republican group which is the brainchild of Karl Rove.
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Mitt Romney Keeps Busy in New Hampshire for Possible White House Run

Mitt Romney may not have formally declared his 2012 presidential candidacy but there’s little doubt he’s running as evidenced by his frequent visits and political activity in New Hampshire. And while they wait for another Romney bid, some of his top campaign hands are staying active in races like Tuesday’s GOP Senate primary won by Kelly Ayotte, a former state attorney general and establishment Republican candidate.
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As Ohio Goes, So Go the Midterms – And Possibly 2012

In this “swingiest of swing states,” as one Ohioan described the Buckeye State to me recently, no political party has a lock on voters’ affections. Politicians have to earn it, election by election. And right now, the advantage that Democrats won in 2008 with Barack Obama’s victory and the pickup of U.S. and state House seats is seriously threatened.
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