http://www.govexec.com/oversight/on-politics/Analysis and perspective about what's happening in the political realm.en-usTue, 20 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0500http://www.govexec.com/oversight/on-politics/2011/12/glimmer-of-hope/35671/The jobless rate is virtually the same as it was a year before Ronald Reagan was reelected in a landslide.Charlie CookTue, 20 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0500http://www.govexec.com/oversight/on-politics/2011/12/glimmer-of-hope/35671/Oversight - On Politicshttp://www.govexec.com/oversight/on-politics/2011/12/not-sold-on-newt/35605/Campaign fundamentals still matter. And, at least so far, Newt Gingrich hasn’t mastered them.Charlie CookTue, 13 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0500http://www.govexec.com/oversight/on-politics/2011/12/not-sold-on-newt/35605/Oversight - On Politicshttp://www.govexec.com/oversight/on-politics/2011/12/now-its-newt/35549/Newt Gingrich looks to be the last man standing in the race to be the conservative alternative to Mitt Romney.Charlie CookTue, 06 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0500http://www.govexec.com/oversight/on-politics/2011/12/now-its-newt/35549/Oversight - On Politicshttp://www.govexec.com/oversight/on-politics/2011/11/media-sideshow/35495/The deficit panel’s travails are far less chronicled than the debt-ceiling saga as the 2012 GOP presidential contest grips the nation’s attention.Charlie CookTue, 29 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0500http://www.govexec.com/oversight/on-politics/2011/11/media-sideshow/35495/Oversight - On Politicshttp://www.govexec.com/oversight/on-politics/2011/11/too-much-exposure/35466/Simple math suggests Republicans have that predicament in the House, while Democrats face it in the Senate.Charlie CookTue, 22 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0500http://www.govexec.com/oversight/on-politics/2011/11/too-much-exposure/35466/Oversight - On Politicshttp://www.govexec.com/oversight/on-politics/2011/11/bad-hand-barack/35409/The president didn’t create the bad economy. But now he owns it, whether he likes it or not.Charlie CookTue, 15 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0500http://www.govexec.com/oversight/on-politics/2011/11/bad-hand-barack/35409/Oversight - On Politicshttp://www.govexec.com/oversight/on-politics/2011/11/bombs-away/35349/The grandfather of negative campaign ads is worth recalling as we brace for next year’s onslaught.Charlie CookTue, 08 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0500http://www.govexec.com/oversight/on-politics/2011/11/bombs-away/35349/Oversight - On Politicshttp://www.govexec.com/oversight/on-politics/2011/11/underwater/35272/President Obama will struggle to win reelection if his approval rating doesn’t rise.Charlie CookTue, 01 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0400http://www.govexec.com/oversight/on-politics/2011/11/underwater/35272/Oversight - On Politicshttp://www.govexec.com/oversight/on-politics/2011/10/coupon-clippers/35227/“Walmart moms” talk about their struggles to stay afloat in an economy that isn’t offering much hope.Charlie CookTue, 25 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0400http://www.govexec.com/oversight/on-politics/2011/10/coupon-clippers/35227/Oversight - On Politicshttp://www.govexec.com/oversight/on-politics/2011/10/bird-in-the-hand/35175/GOP primary voters could choose the next president, if only they can make their peace with the front-runner.Charlie CookTue, 18 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0400http://www.govexec.com/oversight/on-politics/2011/10/bird-in-the-hand/35175/Oversight - On Politicshttp://www.govexec.com/oversight/on-politics/2011/10/its-perrys-to-win/35123/If he learns from his mistakes, the Texas governor will be Barack Obama’s opponent in the fall.Charlie CookTue, 11 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0400http://www.govexec.com/oversight/on-politics/2011/10/its-perrys-to-win/35123/Oversight - On Politicshttp://www.govexec.com/oversight/on-politics/2011/10/obama-as-bush/35069/Looks like the current president may borrow a page from the former president’s 2004 campaign playbook.Charlie CookTue, 04 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0400http://www.govexec.com/oversight/on-politics/2011/10/obama-as-bush/35069/Oversight - On Politicshttp://www.govexec.com/oversight/on-politics/2011/09/if-the-gop-wins/35000/Could the health care reform law survive a Republican sweep in 2012? Don’t count on it.Charlie CookTue, 27 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0400http://www.govexec.com/oversight/on-politics/2011/09/if-the-gop-wins/35000/Oversight - On Politicshttp://www.govexec.com/oversight/on-politics/2011/09/isnt-that-special/34939/Be careful about reading too much into the voting last week in Nevada. But New York’s another story.Charlie CookTue, 20 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0400http://www.govexec.com/oversight/on-politics/2011/09/isnt-that-special/34939/Oversight - On Politicshttp://www.govexec.com/oversight/on-politics/2011/09/background-noise/34883/Many voters have stopped paying attention to speeches about job creation. They’re waiting for results.Charlie CookTue, 13 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0400http://www.govexec.com/oversight/on-politics/2011/09/background-noise/34883/Oversight - On Politicshttp://www.govexec.com/oversight/on-politics/2011/09/obamas-anchor/34827/Whether we technically end up in another recession is a distinction without much of a difference for the president.Charlie CookTue, 06 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0400http://www.govexec.com/oversight/on-politics/2011/09/obamas-anchor/34827/Oversight - On Politicshttp://www.govexec.com/oversight/on-politics/2011/08/americas-summer-of-discontent/34762/Voters nationwide are disillusioned, regardless of their political party.Charlie CookTue, 30 Aug 2011 00:00:00 -0400http://www.govexec.com/oversight/on-politics/2011/08/americas-summer-of-discontent/34762/Oversight - On Politicshttp://www.govexec.com/oversight/on-politics/2011/08/memo-to-gop/34705/Independent voters are required to win the general election.Charlie CookTue, 23 Aug 2011 00:00:00 -0400http://www.govexec.com/oversight/on-politics/2011/08/memo-to-gop/34705/Oversight - On Politicshttp://www.govexec.com/oversight/on-politics/2011/08/common-sense/34666/There are some interesting takeaways from the Ames, Iowa, straw vote, some of which feel a little Shakespearean.Matthew DowdTue, 16 Aug 2011 00:00:00 -0400http://www.govexec.com/oversight/on-politics/2011/08/common-sense/34666/Oversight - On Politicshttp://www.govexec.com/oversight/on-politics/2011/08/self-sorting/34597/More and more, politically like-minded Americans are living next to each other. Polarization is one result.Charlie CookTue, 09 Aug 2011 00:00:00 -0400http://www.govexec.com/oversight/on-politics/2011/08/self-sorting/34597/Oversight - On Politicshttp://www.govexec.com/oversight/on-politics/2011/08/a-laughingstock/34531/Members of Congress may not realize it, but they are becoming national jokes.Charlie CookTue, 02 Aug 2011 00:00:00 -0400http://www.govexec.com/oversight/on-politics/2011/08/a-laughingstock/34531/Oversight - On Politicshttp://www.govexec.com/oversight/on-politics/2011/07/too-close-to-call/34462/Political and economic signs point to a 2012 presidential election that will come down to the wire.Charlie CookTue, 26 Jul 2011 00:00:00 -0400http://www.govexec.com/oversight/on-politics/2011/07/too-close-to-call/34462/Oversight - On Politicshttp://www.govexec.com/oversight/on-politics/2011/07/blame-republicans-for-debt-crisis/34406/By flinching at the prospect of significant deficit reduction, the GOP will have to deal with the fallout.Charlie CookTue, 19 Jul 2011 00:00:00 -0400http://www.govexec.com/oversight/on-politics/2011/07/blame-republicans-for-debt-crisis/34406/Oversight - On Politicshttp://www.govexec.com/oversight/on-politics/2011/07/enough-already/34352/It’s time for politicians to get serious about raising the debt ceiling. They’re playing with fire.Charlie CookTue, 12 Jul 2011 00:00:00 -0400http://www.govexec.com/oversight/on-politics/2011/07/enough-already/34352/Oversight - On Politicshttp://www.govexec.com/oversight/on-politics/2011/07/worries-on-all-sides/34305/The 2012 elections could be the first in 20 years in which voters dump big numbers of both Republicans and Democrats.Charlie CookTue, 05 Jul 2011 00:00:00 -0400http://www.govexec.com/oversight/on-politics/2011/07/worries-on-all-sides/34305/Oversight - On Politics