Tweets of the Week

The Crystal Ball’s Tweets of the Week is a look back at the highlights of the past week in politics in snippets of 140 characters or less. To get this analysis as soon as news breaks, follow University of Virginia Center for Politics Director, and Crystal Ball founder, Larry Sabato on Twitter by clicking here. 3:20 PM Apr 22nd: Maybe May 6 election will come down to how much Brits want change after long Labour rule. But awful UK electoral system may muddy results. 3:23 PM Apr 22nd: Malapportioned UK gives Labor major unfair advantage. This from an American whose Electoral College puts popular-vote losers in White House! 9:51 PM Apr 22nd: It isn’t just the UK leaders’ TV debate, modeled on JFK-Nixon ’60, that makes us recall Richard Nixon today. Nixon died on 4/22/94, age 81. 9:03 PM Apr 26th: No accident that Dubya is releasing his book Nov 9th. GOP doesn’t want Bush admin controversies re-surfacing prior to Nov. 2nd elections. 9:05 PM Apr 26th: But what if Dems or press grab an early copy or two from a bookstore? Happens a lot. I’ll bet Bush’s publisher takes extra precautions. 7:19 AM Apr 27th: Crystal Ball has long

The Crystal Ball’s Tweets of the Week is a look back at the highlights of the past week in politics in snippets of 140 characters or less. To get this analysis as soon as news breaks, follow University of Virginia Center for Politics Director, and Crystal Ball founder, Larry Sabato on Twitter by clicking here. 11:04 AM Apr 16th: Bidens give far less than American family average at their income level. Oh, and we got the same weak excuse as last year: their time is $. 11:07 AM Apr 16th: Maybe Joe Biden is worried about the effect of the coming tax increases on the Biden family income. 6:09 PM Apr 17th: If you were Charlie Crist, what would you do? Chances of winning GOP nod for Senate in FL=20%. Chances of winning as Independent in Nov:=50% 6:13 PM Apr 17th: Only future Crist has in politics depends on running as I for Senate in ’10 & hoping he can eke it out. Otherwise, welcome to private sector 9:25 AM Apr 19th: New Rasmussen TX GOV poll has it closer than we’ve seen it post-primary: Rick Perry (R) 48%, Bill White (D) 44%. Two words: PERRY FATIGUE. 9:27 AM Apr

The Crystal Ball’s Tweets of the Week is a look back at the highlights of the past week in politics in snippets of 140 characters or less. To get this analysis as soon as news breaks, follow University of Virginia Center for Politics Director, and Crystal Ball founder, Larry Sabato on Twitter by clicking here. 10:49 AM Apr 1st: Talk of leaving resigned Rep. Eric Massa’s seat in NY-29 vacant all year. 700,000 people w/out a voice in the House. Outrageous if true. 11:55 AM Apr 1st: It’s true. No special election in NY-29 til Nov. Seat vacant for 8 mos. “Too costly,” says GOV. Poppycock. He’s afraid Ds will lose seat. 11:59 AM Apr 1st: Bad precedent. Message to all GOVs: If you think your party will lose a special, don’t have an election.Better no rep than an enemy rep.Sad. 12:06 PM Apr 1st: BTW, Gov. Rick Perry tried the same thing back in ’06 when Rep. Tom DeLay (R) resigned. No special for 5 mos. Dems won seat in Nov. 4:33 PM Apr 1st: April Fool’s Day has not seemed very funny to me for 15 years. On 4/1/95 we buried my dear Dad. Over 1000 ppl came

The Crystal Ball’s Tweets of the Week is a look back at the highlights of the past week in politics in snippets of 140 characters or less. To get this analysis as soon as news breaks, follow University of Virginia Center for Politics Director, and Crystal Ball founder, Larry Sabato on Twitter by clicking here. 6:11 PM Mar 26th: No one doubts Nancy Pelosi is a powerful Speaker. But the “most powerful in a century”? Has everyone forgotten Sam Rayburn? 7:43 PM Mar 26th: Translation of Justice JP Stevens telling The New Yorker he will retire “in the next 3 years”: He wants a D POTUS to appoint his successor. 7:44 PM Mar 26th: The other liberal justices would want same. The conservative justices want to time their retirements for a R POTUS. 7:45 PM Mar 26th: Supreme Court is just as polarized as the rest of U.S. govt. Some justices love to pretend they are apolitical, but they are pols in robes. 11:42 AM Mar 27th: Seeing Sarah Palin in AZ & NV reminds us she has got the best of all worlds–making $$$ hand over fist, sought after by GOP & Tea P too. 11:46 AM Mar 27th:

The Crystal Ball’s Tweets of the Week is a look back at the highlights of the past week in politics in snippets of 140 characters or less. To get this analysis as soon as news breaks, follow University of Virginia Center for Politics Director, and Crystal Ball founder, Larry Sabato on Twitter by clicking here. 1:37 PM Mar 19th: The Senate brawl next week may be more interesting than the House vote. Tempers will flare, outrage aplenty, amendments will whiz by. 5:46 PM Mar 19th: No national celebrations for today’s sesquicentennial of the birth of William Jennings Bryan, the complicated champion of lost causes. 5:49 PM Mar 19th: A pity. The career of the only person ever to be nominated thrice for POTUS by a major party yet never to win is worth studying. 1:42 PM Mar 21st: Did Dems have 216 firm on Friday? No. Was it virtually guaranteed they would by today’s vote? Of course. Party matters. Just Kabuki theater. 1:44 PM Mar 21st: Meanwhile, wasn’t it a gloriously beautiful weekend? And the poor political junkies and wonks missed it for nothing. 9:52 AM Mar 22nd: Our Founders built a system that is inertial. Thus it is difficult

The Crystal Ball’s Tweets of the Week is a look back at the highlights of the past week in politics in snippets of 140 characters or less. To get this analysis as soon as news breaks, follow University of Virginia Center for Politics Director, and Crystal Ball founder, Larry Sabato on Twitter by clicking here. 10:06 AM Mar 13th: Inevitable. Tea Party (right) vs. Coffee Party (left). U.S. history lesson: Mobilization begets counter-mobilization. Next up: Milk Party. 11:32 AM Mar 14th: Daylight Saving Time: I hate it and so do a large majority of Americans. Benefits are exaggerated, ills (like spike in heart attacks) ignored. 11:36 AM Mar 14th: Dem, GOP, Coffee Party, Tea Party–Won’t any of you speak up for time-setting fairness? It affects all of us, unlike much of your agendas. 1:00 PM Mar 15th: Be afraid. Be very afraid. It’s the Ides of March. Think you have no enemies lying in wait? That’s what Julius Ceasar thought 2,054 yrs ago. 4:03 PM Mar 16th: History isn’t always determinative but few examples of a large party majority in Congress failing to enact a top priority of its leaders. 4:05 PM Mar 16th: Party loyalty can actually trump electoral

The Crystal Ball’s Tweets of the Week is a look back at the highlights of the past week in politics in snippets of 140 characters or less. To get this analysis as soon as news breaks, follow University of Virginia Center for Politics Director, and Crystal Ball founder, Larry Sabato on Twitter by clicking here. 11:13 AM Mar 4th: March 4 is just another day in 21st century, but from 1793 to 1933, it was THE day in presidential history. Inauguration Day for President. 11:20 AM Mar 4th: From Washington (2nd term) through FDR (1st term), all elected POTUS terms began March 4th. Amendment XX set date as Jan. 20th as of 1936. 11:22 AM Mar 4th: Why the change? The painful, even dangerous, all-too-lengthy transition between Hoover & FDR in 1932-33, during the Great Depression. 11:23 AM Mar 4th: Transition from early November to late January is still too long under some circumstances. The British change govts almost overnight. 11:25 AM Mar 4th: Why not have Prez candidates announce their Cabinets in advance of election? Good way to judge them. Have inauguration in early December. 11:27 AM Mar 4th: Whoops, I’m sorry. We’re not allowed to change the Constitution

The Crystal Ball’s Tweets of the Week is a look back at the highlights of the past week in politics in snippets of 140 characters or less. To get this analysis as soon as news breaks, follow University of Virginia Center for Politics Director, and Crystal Ball founder, Larry Sabato on Twitter by clicking here. 11:15 AM Feb 25th: Health Care Summit. I’ve asked my students to watch an hour. I want to see whether their estimation of Congress goes up or down. 11:32 AM Feb 25th: At the summit, we just had the first-ever post-presidential-election “candidates debate”. There’s still no love lost between Obama & McCain. 9:33 AM Feb 27th: Dems get a break in IN SEN. Rep. Baron Hill won’t challenge Rep. Brad Ellsworth for D nod to replace Bayh. Tough race for Dems in any event. 9:37 AM Feb 27th: Real Q: What will GOP do? Ex-Sen.Coats is establishment choice but very flawed. Two other Rs, Hostettler & Stutzman, have upset potential. 8:59 PM Mar 1st: Harold Ford has sacrificed NY SEN candidacy so that Dems won’t be divided in fall. Um, no. Real reason: He was going to lose to Gillibrand. 9:03 PM Mar 1st: As

The Crystal Ball’s Tweets of the Week is a look back at the highlights of the past week in politics in snippets of 140 characters or less. To get this analysis as soon as news breaks, follow University of Virginia Center for Politics Director, and Crystal Ball founder, Larry Sabato on Twitter by clicking here. 8:42 AM Feb 19th: Tiger Woods can now run for public office. He’ll fit right in. 8:44 AM Feb 19th: Dems got excellent news out of Indiana. Rep. Brad Ellsworth has apparently decided to run for Bayh’s Senate seat. Strongest D candidate. 10:18 AM Feb 19th: Hard to believe Dems bad luck in Senate. Now it is Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ)–stomach cancer at 86. Gov. Christie(R) would appt replacement. 10:19 AM Feb 19th: Early reports: Lautenberg’s cancer is treatable. Surely all wish him well. But the White House has got to be asking, “Why, God, why?” 10:21 AM Feb 19th: If for some reason Lautenberg could not complete his term (ends in 2014), this COULD BE the 9th pick-up for GOP in Senate. COULD BE. 6:57 PM Feb 20th: FLASH: Ron Paul wins CPAC straw poll for POTUS 2012. 2nd FLASH: Ron Paul will NOT be

The Crystal Ball’s Tweets of the Week is a look back at the highlights of the past week in politics in snippets of 140 characters or less. To get this analysis as soon as news breaks, follow University of Virginia Center for Politics Director, and Crystal Ball founder, Larry Sabato on Twitter by clicking here. 8:38 AM Feb 12th: This Was the Week That Wasn’t–at least on the snowy East Coast. 10:15 AM Feb 12th: Much is being made of Patrick K’s retirement leaving Congress “Kennedy-free”. As Arnold S (an adopted Kennedy) might say, “We’ll be back.” 8:18 PM Feb 12th: Good to see President Clinton out of the hospital so quickly & soon back in action. Most of us wish we had half his energy. 8:22 PM Feb 12th: Feb. 12th must be one of Bill Clinton’s lucky days. Back on Feb. 12, 1999, the Senate refused to convict him after the House’s impeachment. 8:23 PM Feb 12th: Speaking of Presidents, their “day” is Monday. FALSE. President’s Day is a holiday established to honor George Washington (born 2/22). 8:27 PM Feb 12th: Some of our modern presidents have tried to horn in on a holiday that isn’t theirs. And

The Crystal Ball’s Tweets of the Week is a look back at the highlights of the past week in politics in snippets of 140 characters or less. To get this analysis as soon as news breaks, follow University of Virginia Center for Politics Director, and Crystal Ball founder, Larry Sabato on Twitter by clicking here. 4:57 PM Feb 4th: No More Mr. Nice Guy. I’ve tweeted sweetly on snow. I see how much students enjoy it. Now with 1-2 ft more on way, I say: To hell w/winter! 5:00 PM Feb 4th: Just fought my way thru grocery store. Milk & bread long gone. Enuf buying for nuclear winter. What we all really needed was free Prozac. 5:01 PM Feb 4th: This giant mess is either Bush’s fault or Obama’s. I am trying to decide. 6:30 PM Feb 4th: Who had the oppo file ready on Dan Coats(R-IN-SEN)? Was it Bayh or DSCC or…? Attacks on Coats have gotten his effort off to a bad start. 6:32 PM Feb 4th: Coats ‘roll-out’ is classic example of solid, timely opposition research having a real impact. Good case study for college campaign courses. 6:35 PM Feb 4th: Thx to oppo, Dan Coats–mainly

The Crystal Ball’s Tweets of the Week is a look back at the highlights of the past week in politics in snippets of 140 characters or less. To get this analysis as soon as news breaks, follow University of Virginia Center for Politics Director, and Crystal Ball founder, Larry Sabato on Twitter by clicking here. 10:28 PM Jan 27th: SOTU was all so predictable. If you’re surprised by anything Obama or McDonnell said, you haven’t been reading the news enough. 10:43 PM Jan 27th: Amusing mixed messages. Calls for bipartisanship intertwined with partisan attacks,like back & forth of family spats or children’s quarrels. 11:39 AM Jan 29th: Fascinating exchange between POTUS & GOP House caucus ongoing now, live TV. The most revealing Obama comment: “I am not an ideologue!” 11:41 AM Jan 29th: That is precisely how Obama sees himself–a pragmatist. D left agrees & hates it. But some Rs in audience laughed. They see O as socialist. 11:47 AM Jan 29th: This is the most useful session I’ve seen if we want to combat polarization. Institutionalize it! Make this the U.S. form of Question Time. 10:13 PM Jan 29th: There’s a giant warning for us all in the Edwards

The Crystal Ball’s Tweets of the Week is a look back at the highlights of the past week in politics in snippets of 140 characters or less. To get this analysis as soon as news breaks, follow University of Virginia Center for Politics Director, and Crystal Ball founder, Larry Sabato on Twitter by clicking here. 8:59 AM Jan 22nd: Move over, Ohio. Virginia is now the Great American Swing State. Both parties say so, choosing 3 VA pols to give responses to POTUS SOTU. 11:50 AM Jan 22nd: CBS’ Knoller on Obama’s 1st year:No pardons, just one veto, & 10 foreign trips–more than any other POTUS. 29 rounds of golf vs 7 for Dubya. 11:52 AM Jan 22nd: Presidents get loads of criticism on golf & vacations going back to Ike in ’50s. Very unfair. They need to stay in top shape. Lets off steam 3:19 PM Jan 22nd: Most interesting stat in new Post poll of MA SEN is that 29% of Brown voters had backed Obama in 2008. That is the #1 warning sign to POTUS. 3:52 PM Jan 24th: Ah, SOTU Week. So many good memories & grand occasions going back to JFK. State-of-the-Union seems important at

The Crystal Ball’s Tweets of the Week is a look back at the highlights of the past week in politics in snippets of 140 characters or less. To get this analysis as soon as news breaks, follow University of Virginia Center for Politics Director, and Crystal Ball founder, Larry Sabato on Twitter by clicking here. 2:31 PM Jan 9th: Today is 50th anniversary of Richard Nixon’s launch of his 1st POTUS campaign. He did so on his 47th birthday, so Nixon would be 97 today. 2:34 PM Jan 9th: Enough time has passed so that much negative emotion has drained from the Nixon story. There will be fresh looks at his record 50 years on. 2:59 PM Jan 9th: With Dodd out, no Senate D in USA is more threatened than Harry Reid. Economy, health care, Obama, spending, “Negro” comment = a deep hole. 3:01 PM Jan 9th: No indication yet Reid will drop out, so Crystal Ball says NV SEN now is Lean R. To win, Reid will need massive money, split GOP, better economy 3:17 PM Jan 9th: Regarding new book “Game Change”, most of the sensational items are credible but thinly sourced. We’re back to “Trust Me”

The Crystal Ball’s Tweets of the Week is a look back at the highlights of the past week in politics in snippets of 140 characters or less. To get this analysis as soon as news breaks, follow University of Virginia Center for Politics Director, and Crystal Ball founder, Larry Sabato on Twitter by clicking here. 9:32 AM Dec 11th: Jenny Sanford files for divorce: She’s impeached Mark when the South Carolina legislature wouldn’t. 1:13 PM Dec 12th: Our old friend Populism will be back with a vengeance in 2010. Both parties will ask voters to “Keep the Big Boys Honest.” 1:14 PM Dec 12th: Democrats will define the Big Boys as the Banks, the Wall Streeters, and Mr. and Mrs. Moneybags. 1:15 PM Dec 12th: Republicans will define the Big Boys as Government–Big Spenders, Big Taxers, Big Debtors. 2:40 PM Dec 14th: We’ve said it often: When D pure retirements (no running for higher office) hit 10, we’ll call it a significant trend. Patience, pls. 2:45 PM Dec 14th: The overall trend, historically and otherwise, is obvious.There will be R gains. But circumstances in specific districts and states will change. 10:27 PM Dec 15th: Lots of sitting GOVs are hurting,