Chris Gilson looks at the best in political blogging from the Beltway and across the States.
Syria and foreign policy
The story this week is Syria, and the potential for US military intervention in the wake of the Syrian regime’s alleged use of chemical weapons against civilians on August 21st. Ezra Klein asks, ‘Could bombing Syria kill more civilians than it saves?’, to which he answers an emphatic ‘yes’, given that bombs inevitably cause harm, and that bombing may cause the Syrian government to kill even more people. On Saturday, President Obama announced that he would seek Congressional approval for a strike against Syria, surprising many commentators, including the Washington Post’s Wonkblog, who calls it a ‘bold and risky gambit’. The White House Dossier says that Obama’s policy on Syria is partially right, and praises his desire to intervene, and for consulting Congress, but is concerned at the relatively slow timetable for intervention.
On Wednesday the Senate Foreign Relations Committee drafted a resolution that would give the President limited authority to carry out an attack within 60 days, writes the Daily Kos. The Atlantic points out that even if Congress does approve military action, it will not set a precedent that Presidents should always consult Congress over such interventions, and may even offer Obama and future Presidents opportunities to increase their power. The Hill’s Congress blog says that the idea of a ‘limited’ intervention is an illusion, as the US may find itself drawn back into the conflict. Wonkblog offers an in-depth analysis of how missile strikes against Syria might actually work. On Thursday, Wonkblog says that it looks like the House will not approve the resolution to launch strikes against Syria, especially since much of the American public opposes the strikes.
Looking at press and media coverage of the debate over intervening in Syria, The Atlantic, says that in general, American newspapers’ coverage has been governed by hawkish assumptions that support military action. Meanwhile, The Democratic Truth reports that the FBI has increased its surveillance of Syrians living in the US ahead of potential strikes.
Government and the Beltway
The summer recess is nearly over, and when Congress returns to Washington The Hill’s Congress blog argues that immigration reform must be high on their agenda, especially given that there are now 11 million undocumented immigrants in the US. The Political Carnival reports that Florida’s junior Senator, Marco Rubio was booed by Tea Party activists who are opposed to any amnesty for undocumented immigrants after he ducked the issue in a speech at the Tea Party’s Defending the Dream forum.
The Chairman of the US Federal Reserve, Ben Bernanke, will resign in 2014, and his replacement looks increasingly likely to be former Treasury Secretary, Larry Summers. Wonkblog examines what Summers might do as Chairman of the Fed, including looking beyond the unemployment rate as a measure of the health of the labor market, and do more to help lower and middle class Americans.
The junior Senator for Texas, Rafael ‘Ted’ Cruz, was born in Canada, but has dual US/Canadian citizenship. Amid speculation that he may run for President in 2016, The Political Carnival says that the fact that he omitted his dual citizenship on various Federal forms may mean a trip to prison, rather than to the White House. Meanwhile, Wonkblog looks at speculation over whether or not House Speaker John Boehner will retire after the 2014 election.
The economy and society
Ahead of the Affordable Care Act (or ‘Obamacare)’ coming into law on 1 January, 2014, the Daily Kos has a good overview and explainer of what it involves and how it will operate. Meanwhile, Wonkblog has two interesting maps showing uninsured levels across the country, broken down by income. The maps show the important role state policy will have on Obamacare, and why groups with the aim of enrolling people in the scheme are focusing on certain states and not others.
On Thursday fast food workers went on strike in sixty cities, according to The Hill’s Congress blog. They are striking for unions and higher wages; 70 per cent of the workforce is paid between $7.26 and $10.09 per hour. Wonkblog has five reasons to be worried about the economy. In short: fallout from Syria, the coming fiscal standoff, the Fed’s ending of quantitative easing, what Larry Summers (see above) is likely to do if and when he becomes the Fed Chair, and the delayed effects of higher interest rates.
Colorado and Washington recently introduced regulations to legalize and tax the sale of recreational marijuana. The Atlantic interviews Senator Patrick Leahy, Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee about the Federal government’s response, who says “[to] waste time on marijuana in states where it is legal makes absolutely no sense”.
Across the States
Northeast
New Yorkers go to the polls to elect a new Mayor in November. Caffeinated Politics says that ahead of next week’s Primaries, the race is getting gritty. The city of Syracuse, New York State, also has an election coming up. New York State of Politics writes that the State’s Governor, Andrew Cuomo, has refused to endorse any Democratic candidate ahead of the primary next week.
Blue Jersey is very surprised that Chris Christie (the Governor of New Jersey) and Rand Paul (the junior Senator for Kentucky) are completely neck-and-neck in in a recent New Jersey poll of who would make a better President (especially given Christie’s ‘homefield’ advantage).
South
The Daily Kos covers a Georgia Insurance Health Commissioner who states that they will do everything in their power to be obstructionist towards Obamacare when it is introduced.
SaintPetersBlog says that Republican Representative, Steve Southerland, has voiced his support for immigration reform, going against many of his fellow Tea Party members.
Under the Dome says that a new national survey says that only 30 per cent of Americans view North Carolina favorably and 23 per cent unfavorably. This slipping in the state’s image may be due to the state’s turn to the right. The Progressive Pulse says that one in six families in the state struggled with hunger over the last year. Meanwhile, Fitsnews says that a new survey shows that South Carolina is the least corrupt state in America, in terms of convictions per 100,000.
In Texas, Big Jolly Politics says that a local newspaper in Houston is aggressively attacking the Democratic mayoral candidate, Ben Hall.
Midwest
Previewing the 2014 Wisconsin gubernatorial race, The Prairie Badger looks at potential Democratic primary fight between State Senator Kathleen Vinehout and Madison School Board member, Mary Burke (who has been essentially chosen by the State’s Democratic establishment to run against Governor Scott Walker).
The Daily Kos warns that Kansas may be removing the eligibility of 20,000 people from food stamp aid, as the State forces people to work or participate in job training for at least 20 hours a week regardless of whether or not work or training is available.
Eclectablog writes that Michigan’s Republicans passed over 90 per cent of new laws this year to take immediate effect, but this did not include an expansion of Medicaid.
West and Pacific
Blue Oregon ponders whether or not the State’s Republicans have found a candidate to challenge the State’s junior Senator, Democrat Jeff Merkley. This potential challenger comes in the form of Jason Conger, who has a ‘compelling’ life story that may appeal to voters. New Mexico Politics looks at the positioning of Congressional candidates ahead of the 2014 elections.
Hawaii’s Civil Beat says that the State’s lawmakers should not rush to give further tax breaks to industries while ignoring the overall economic climate, which suffers from a continuing tax burden and regulations.
California’s Calitics reports that Governor Brown’s administration is looking to move up to 10,000 prisoners to out of State prisons, with or without the agreement of the state Legislature. Calbuzz examines the enormous challenges facing the state’s Republican party, including rising votes for Independents, and greater support for Democrats among Latino and Asian voters.
And finally…
Wonkblog wishes everyone a happy Labor Day, in eight charts, which show how being a worker has changed over the decades.
The Atlantic looks at the eleven times Congress has previously declared war in US history.
The Political Carnival claims that thousands of bridges across the country are dangerously close to collapsing, due to a lack of funding for infrastructure.
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Note: This article gives the views of the author, and not the position of USApp– American Politics and Policy, nor of the London School of Economics.
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