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. 10:46 AM Dec 4th: New Rasmussen SC poll shows 66 percent believe Gov. Sanford’s ethics are at least as good as most pols. Sad. Cynical. Also not true. 10:48 AM Dec 4th: I believe a fair sample of pols and a fair sample of general public would reveal about the same level of sin. Pols really do represent us. 11:06 AM Dec 4th: “Wave” senators, first elected in good years for their party, always have to sweat out election number 2. Only the strong survive. And the lucky. 10:03 AM Dec 5th: My far-flung UVA friends will want to know that Mr. Jefferson’s Lawn is being covered with snow–the big fat flakes we all love. Pristine. 10:23 AM Dec 5th: Back to politics: New Mason-Dixon poll shows Mayor Oscar Goodman(I) of Las Vegas winning 3-way GOV race w/Brian Sandoval(R) and Rory Reid(D). 10:25 AM Dec

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. 1:32 PM Nov 22nd: To be in Rome is to be surrounded by intense politics.Quadafi and Chavez were in the hotel next to mine for a UN confab on hunger. No comment. 1:35 PM Nov 22nd: Superb U.S. Embassy staff arranged for lectures at colleges and meetings with pols. Fascination with Obama continues, but impatience has come. 1:38 PM Nov 22nd: Just as in the U.S., promises have met reality. All crowds laughed at each mention of (1) Obama’s Nobel; and (2) Sarah Palin. Bipartisan :). 9:04 PM Nov 23rd: The rush to be first to spot a ‘trend’ leads analysts astray. Rep. Dennis Moore(D-KS) retires, and media jump to declare a season of D byes. 9:16 PM Nov 23rd: The movement in TX GOV today is another example, in the other direction. Houston Mayor Bill White(D) may be jumping in, replacing a weaker D.

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. 2:47 PM Nov 13th: Sarah Palin’s book? It will be long forgotten by the time the GOP POTUS contest begins in earnest. Views about Palin are firm, pro and con. 2:50 PM Nov 13th: But I hold to what I’ve said consistently. Palin as GOP nominee for POTUS would be 2012’s equivalent of 1964’s Barry Goldwater. D landslide. 2:52 PM Nov 13th: If Sarah Palin is the 2012 GOP nominee for President, the Republican party platform will be the longest suicide note ever written. 4:06 PM Nov 14th: Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison(R-TX) now says she won’t resign until the March GOV primary. She’s in a death match with Gov. Rick Perry(R). 10:31 AM Nov 17th: Palin’s book should be titled, “Don’t Get Mad, Get Even.” Unprecedented for someone in her position. Final memoirs are for settling scores. 10:35 AM Nov 17th: No doubt it’s emotionally

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. 1:19 PM Nov 7th: The quirks and strange turns of history fascinate me. On this day in ’62, Richard Nixon gave his “last press conference” after losing CA GOV. 1:22 PM Nov 7th: Precisely 10 yrs later, on 11/7/72, Nixon won his 2nd term as POTUS in a massive landslide, 49 of 50 states. Who’d have thunk it? 1:31 PM Nov 8th: 2010: Some have been too quick to dismiss ’09 results. We learned plenty last Tuesday, not least which party is energized and which isn’t. 2:28 PM Nov 9th: Thought it was hard for the House to pass health reform? Dems have 40 votes to fritter away there. In the Senate, Dems have no extra votes. 2:30 PM Nov 9th: How do you fashion a plan that will please Leiberman, 4-6 moderates, and 50+ liberals–and then will pass House again? 2:31 PM Nov 9th:

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. 9:57 PM Oct 17th: You have to go all the way back to 1969 to find a year when POTUS party won both NJ and VA GOV races. Highly unlikely to happen in ’09 either. 9:58 PM Oct 17th: History isn’t determinative but it is suggestive. At the least history sets the odds. 10:00 PM Oct 17th: WaPo has strong endorsement of Deeds for Sunday–as expected by everyone. The key to edit influence is repetition and escalation, though. 10:02 PM Oct 17th: This is not D primary where small elite audience could be influenced by edit nod. The real question: Will there be WaPo Deeds edit drumbeat? 10:04 PM Oct 17th: In NJ GOV, editorial and other endorsements (Mayor Bloomberg?) are critical to Independent Daggett, who is cash poor. 1:31 PM Oct 20th: Reams of research show that “leaning partisans” vote almost identically to “hard

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. 11:57 AM Oct 9th: My own take on the Obama Nobel Prize–balanced equally between the good and the bad: http://bit.ly/GLDP0 12:00 PM Oct 9th: Obama is being nominated for lots of other things today: the Heisman, Cy Young, MacArthur genius grant, Pulitzer, several more Oscars, etc. 12:11 PM Oct 9th: Republicans have a legitimate beef about Nobel Peace Prize committee. Gore, Carter, now Obama…there’s a pattern here any idiot can see. 1:24 PM Oct 11th: After 3 days it’s obvious that the Nobel Prize has backfired on POTUS. His opponents are enraged. His supporters admit award was premature. 1:26 PM Oct 11th: I’ve always thought politics and physics were alike in this Newtonian law: “For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.” 1:31 PM Oct 11th: Beware Norwegians bearing gifts. 8:01 PM Oct 12th: Watched VA GOV debate. Let’s just put it this

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. 8:54 PM Oct 2nd: Olympics: I thought those pols from Chicago could at least count votes. This Mayor Daley is a pale shadow of his Dad. Daley Sr. could… 8:57 PM Oct 2nd: And which White House aides had the bright idea to squander some of Obama’s international prestige on this doomed wild goose chase? 9:04 PM Oct 2nd: NJ is deeply D Blue while VA is as Purple as mountains’ majesty. So as 11/3 approaches, reality for Ds and Rs is color-coded. 9:11 PM Oct 2nd: 30 days to go. The story line has changed several times in both NJ and VA. There’s time enough for plenty of outcome-shifting plot twists. 10:31 AM Oct 3rd: 90 yrs ago, America was in a constitutional crisis and didn’t know it. Pres. Woodrow Wilson had a massive stroke on 10/2/19 and couldn’t govern. 8:15 PM Oct 4th:

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. 5:42 PM Sep 17th: Eye-catching new VA poll from Rasmussen: McDonnell 48, Deeds 46, statistical tie–McDonnell was +9 just 2 weeks ago. Got to be the thesis. 1:30 AM Sep 18th: Sure enough, new DailyKos poll shows McDonnell(R) up +7, 50-43, over Deeds(D). Rasmussen: R +2, Clarus R +5. Av:+4-5R-about right, my guess. 7:29 PM Sep 19th: 129 years ago today, the nation was plunged into mourning as Pres. James A. Garfield died of lead poisoning due to bullet lodged in pancreas 8:02 AM Sep 18th: Harry Reid will face a second-tier GOP candidate, whoever wins R primary. But that election could be a referendum on Obama/Reid/D Congress. 8:27 PM Sep 19th: So Mike Huckabee wins the ‘value voters’ 2012 WH straw poll–with a mere 28 percent of a paltry 600 votes cast. ATTN PUNDITS: IT MEANS NOTHING. 8:03 AM Sep 20th: McDonnell has been

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. 7:20 PM Sep 11th: What a tough decision awaits on Afghanistan. Almost all of us supported invasion after 9/11, but it gets ever more complicated. 7:26 PM Sep 11th: As you get older, you finally realize that many problems simply can’t be fixed. Afghanistan and U.S. campaign finance are two sad examples. 8:03 PM Sep 13th: When you question people who have doubts about Obama, moderates especially, they often use some variation of 4 words: “Too far, too fast.” 8:10 PM Sep 13th: Belief that Obama is “in a rush” to do too much, combined with bad economy, is fueling some buyer’s remorse that could show up in ’10 races. 1:43 PM Sep 14th: Which party will best use populism in 2010? The Dems, who target big business, or the GOPers, who aim at big government? 7:35 AM Sep 15th: CA might consider changing theme

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. 9:14 PM Sep 3rd: Curt Schilling is most unlikely to be elected MA senator. Waving the bloody sock is not enough. 9:24 PM Sep 3rd:In new book, Ted accuses Carter of timidity. Actually, Carter was as liberal as a D POTUS could have gotten away with from ’77-’81. 4:40 PM Sep 6th: Endings and beginnings: 108 yrs ago, nation was shocked when anarchist shot Pres. McKinley in Buffalo. TR took oath 8 days later. 4:47 PM Sep 6th: Labor Day used to be the firing gun for the general election campaigns. And it still is–as long as you mean the 2010 elections. 2:55 PM Sep 7th: Joe Kennedy is out of MA SEN. This opens the floodgates to candidates. Chances seem good that no Kennedy will be elected to the seat. 2:58 PM Sep 7th: We ought to be wary of dynasty in a democracy,

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. 9:05 AM Aug 27th: Amusing that the cable nets are fulfilling stereotypes in Ted K coverage. FOX=subdued, CNN=moderate amount, NBC/MSNBC=WW III alert level. 9:18 AM Aug 27th: Politics never stops and Ted K would understand that we’re all speculating about his replacement. Actually, it’s been going on since May 2008. 9:20 AM Aug 27th: Almost the entire MA House delegation, plus ex-members, want to run, plus state AG and others. All D. GOP can forget this one. No contest. 9:22 AM Aug 27th: Dynasty is NOT a good thing in a democratic society. Maybe MA voters will recognize that, at last. Hope springs eternal. 9:25 AM Aug 27th: GOP complaining that it’s hypocritical for Dems to change rules after stripping Gov. Romney(R) of appt power. Get over it. Elections matter. 9:28 AM Aug 27th: Holding power means never having to say you’re sorry, or hypocritical.

The Crystal Ball’s Tweets of the Week reviews the highlights of the past week in politics in 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. 1:47 PM Aug 14th: Jimmy Carter used to say that as president he’d never met a person who hadn’t had a recent bath. Ppl are on their best behavior, rarely rude. 10:46 AM Aug 15th: Impressive achievements by Sen. Jim Webb of VA today in Myanmar. Senatorial equivalent of BClinton in North Korea. 5:31 PM Aug 15th: From CBS’ Mark Knoller via Politico’s Mike Allen: 8/13 was only 8th time in 206 days that Obama was not seen/heard in person by press corps. 9:46 AM Aug 16th: On health care reform, summarizing everything, best bet is that Congress Dems won’t do to Obama what they did to Clinton: They’ll pass a bill 9:48 AM Aug 16th: But this isn’t going to be the bill Obama wanted. Much scaled back in cost, reach, taxes. Will still be massively unpopular w/GOP. 9:50 AM Aug 16th: 2010 midterm contests may be much affected, in

The Crystal Ball’s Tweets of the Week reviews the highlights of the past week in politics in 140 characters or less. To get this analysis as news breaks, follow University of Virginia Center for Politics Director, and Crystal Ball founder, Larry Sabato on Twitter by clicking here. 4:42 AM Aug 6th: The left and right are the same, in flooding town meetings and being obnoxious. It’s OK when their side does it, wrong when the other side does. 4:44 AM Aug 6th: Passion can be a good thing in politics, but leaders must channel it, lest it degenerate into pure rudeness and nastiness. 10:47 AM Aug 7th: Currently, I’d say the best GOP can do in ’10 is +3 Senate seats net–but that means Dems still have 57. And Senate could be a total wash. 11:18 AM Aug 7th: Sen. Schumer (D-NY) cleared the path for Sen. Gillibrand (D-NY) and essentially controls her on key votes. Chuck is no longer in Hillary’s shadow, or anyone else’s. 12:09 PM Aug 8th: There is a breathtaking arrogance to Gov. Mark Sanford’s 8/7 call for a “zone of privacy”. His wife and kids deserve it. He is owed nothing. 12:15 PM Aug 8th:

The Crystal Ball’s new feature, Tweets of the Week, showcases some highlights from the past week in politics. Read more analysis from University of Virginia Center for Politics Director, and Crystal Ball founder, Larry Sabato on Twitter here. 11:22 PM Jul 30th: Sen. David Vitter (R-LA) of prostitution fame on 7/29: “I’m on the side of getting back to core conservative values. We strayed from them.” 11:23 PM Jul 30th: I’d feel much better about Vitter if I thought he said these things with at least a slight sense of irony or introspection. 2:44 PM Jul 31st: Good fundraising idea in tough times, courtesy of the White House: Invite all your friends to lunch at your place, then charge each guest. 1:34 PM Aug 3rd: Rep. Joe Sestak (D) jumps into PA SEN 8/4. Ignore early polls. His primary race against Sen. Arlen Specter (x-R, D) will be a barnburner. 8:12 PM Aug 3rd: America is in a deep money hole. A spendthrift bipartisan bash over 3 decades has produced a massive hangover. All must sober up, share in pain. 8:22 PM Aug 3rd: Obama poll numbers and questions about healthcare and other policies have begun to feed ‘time for

The Crystal Ball’s new feature, Tweets of the Week, showcases some highlights from the past week in politics. Read more analysis from University of Virginia Center for Politics Director, and Crystal Ball founder, Larry Sabato on Twitter here. 11:40 PM Jul 23rd: Combine Sanford with today’s NJ arrests and lots of other recent events. Conclusion: The voters usually deserve what they get. 9:46 AM Jul 24th: NJ GOV: Corruption arrests cannot possibly help Corzine. He’s too rich to be corrupt, but he’s the incumbent, and this feeds ‘time 4 change’. 9:49 AM Jul 24th: Meanwhile, VA GOV: Strange ballet of endorsements is on stage. So very Virginian–all about the elites and their choices. Seen it all my life 12:24 PM Jul 25th: I doubt a governor spends a total of 4 days of a 4-year term working on the traditional “hot button” issues. But they dominate debates. 1:55 PM Jul 26th: Many GOVS are in trouble for 2010. Deval Patrick (D-MA) is one. His polls are south of the border. His pal POTUS will help with the rescue. 2:04 PM Jul 26th: For the first time since CA became a state (1850), it will likely lose a House seat and