A Populist Panacea?

[native]

Larry Sabato provides a timely primer on modern populism:

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_ ... st_panacea

[93henfan]

I didn't read the article, but I did a quick google search on Larry Sabato. Looks like he got over $7 million in Republican earmarks for his Center for Politics in the past few years. That may give some indication of where the heart lies in anything published by the guy.


http://dyn.politico.com/printstory.cfm? ... 99244C65DC
http://theplumline.whorunsgov.com/pundi ... l-complex/

[native]

I didn't read the article, but I did a quick google search on Larry Sabato. Looks like he got over $7 million in Republican earmarks for his Center for Politics in the past few years. That may give some indication of where the heart lies in anything published by the guy.

http://dyn.politico.com/printstory.cfm? ... 99244C65DC
http://theplumline.whorunsgov.com/pundi ... l-complex/

Sabato's article is short and not partisan, henfan. How can you judge "his heart" without reading the article or commenting on your observations of his commentary? Go ahead and give the article a read.

Where's your beef? Sabato has published articles critical of the GOP, notably a critique of Ohio Republican corruption, and has lambasted Sean Hannity with this gem: "Sean Hannity is campaigning for Republicans and then brings them on his show," he says. "You have to figure out what you are. Are you a partisan hack? A reporter? A commentator? What are you?"

Sabato's organization received an earmark from his Congressman, who happened to be Republican. I am not in favor of earmarks, but absent partisan advocacy on Sabato's part, this is not remarkable.

There must not be too much partisanship in Sabato's statistical modeling, because his accuracy appears to be about 99%. By definition, that accuracy rate excludes partisanship.

I do not see advocacy or partisanship in his TV appearances, do you?

http://www.readthehook.com/stories/2006 ... E.doc.aspx

[Col Hogan]

Sabato hangs around the edge of the cesspool that is "Inside the Beltway"...it's a necessary evil in his business, and he's good at it...

He's a regular on WTOP, the all-news station in DC as he is tops in following and predicting Virginia politics...

The earmark thing is interesting...but I can say from listening to him a lot, I've never felt he was a Dem guy or a Rep guy in his analysis...

[Col Hogan]

And by the way, the article is a good one...it's just funny hearing people, who when you read their bios, you know have never been one of the "little people", making claims that they will now protect us...(either side of the political spectrum)...

Year of the Populist... we will see...

[Ivytalk]

I've been reading his stuff for years. It's accurate and entertaining. I doubt that he has a partisan axe to grind.

[Rob Iola]

Sabato's a poly sci prof at UVA who's very, very good at identifying and articulating political trends...

[kalm]

I don't see the article as partisan either. But a true populist revolt of the hoi poloi would involve targeting the corporatists in both the private and public sectors. I don't see that happening and any true populist candidate from either party that starts making some waves and talking off-platform will be squashed like a bug.

[Col Hogan]

I don't see the article as partisan either. But a true populist revolt of the hoi poloi would involve targeting the corporatists in both the private and public sectors. I don't see that happening and any true populist candidate from either party that starts making some waves and talking off-platform will be squashed like a bug.

As pessimistic as that sounds...I have to agree...

[native]

I don't see the article as partisan either. But a true populist revolt of the hoi poloi would involve targeting the corporatists in both the private and public sectors. I don't see that happening and any true populist candidate from either party that starts making some waves and talking off-platform will be squashed like a bug.

If the unemployment rate creeps above 20%, state governments fail and the economy slides into depression, a true populist revolt could develop into revolution if the federal government is heavy handed in its response.

[kalm]

I don't see the article as partisan either. But a true populist revolt of the hoi poloi would involve targeting the corporatists in both the private and public sectors. I don't see that happening and any true populist candidate from either party that starts making some waves and talking off-platform will be squashed like a bug.

If the unemployment rate creeps above 20%, state governments fail and the economy slides into depression, a true populist revolt could develop into revolution if the federal government is heavy handed in its response.

Yes. I was going to say the same thing in response to Hogan.

Call me pessimistic, but I prefer cynical. One man's pessimism is another man's realism. I'm actually an guarded optimist at heart.

[native]

If the unemployment rate creeps above 20%, state governments fail and the economy slides into depression, a true populist revolt could develop into revolution if the federal government is heavy handed in its response.

Yes. I was going to say the same thing in response to Hogan.

Call me pessimistic, but I prefer cynical. One man's pessimism is another man's realism. I'm actually an guarded optimist at heart.

Me, too. Glass is half full... but not if your socialist ideas and "ideals" prevail.

[kalm]

Yes. I was going to say the same thing in response to Hogan.

Call me pessimistic, but I prefer cynical. One man's pessimism is another man's realism. I'm actually an guarded optimist at heart.

Me, too. Glass is half full... but not if your socialist ideas and "ideals" prevail.

Well, after all, I am the false prophet.

[native]

Me, too. Glass is half full... but not if your socialist ideas and "ideals" prevail.

Well, after all, I am the false prophet.

True dat!

[ASUMountaineer]

Well, after all, I am the false prophet.

True dat!

You and kalm need to get a room and get it over with.