Congratulations Dr. Kirby!

A belated congratulations to our very own Dr. Alec Kirby on the amazing reviews his new book is receiving. 

Some highlights:

"This long-overdue study of the ambitious former Minnesota governor explains how his undeniable intelligence and ability were overshadowed by an outsized ego that left no room for introspection or self-criticism. The highlight of the book is an illuminating, blow-by-blow description of Stassen’s misguided and politically fatal attempt, while working in the Eisenhower administration, to seek an unauthorized break-through during 1957 disarmament talks with the Russians."--James Worthen, author of The Young Nixon and His Rivals: Four California Republicans Eye the White House, 1946-1958

"Kirby, Dalin and Rothmann have delivered the definitive biography of Harold Stassen, a cautionary tale of what befalls a politician who triumphs all too easily when all too young. Stassen might well have taken the GOP in a more liberal direction. He certainly came close in spring of 1948. How he got to that point and what happened following it are revealed in these pages. Essential reading in understanding the Republican Party of the 1940s and invaluable in understanding how the GOP got to be where it is today."--David Pietrusza, political historian and author

And also a great review in the San Francisco Chronicle that everyone should click through and read in its entirety.

Pick up your very own copy at your local bookstore, on Amazon or direct from the publisher, and maybe we can talk Dr. Kirby into doing a book signing day ;)

If you had just one question...

Imagine if you could ask a presidential candidate just one question.

To make it more interesting, let’s stipulate that before the candidate could answer, he would have to accept an injection of truth serum.  For the first time, the candidate would say out loud what he is privately thinking.

Allow me to share with you my question to President Obama, and what I believe would be his response.

Democrats Dilemma

In the days since the October 3 presidential debate, national polls continue to show President Obama maintaining a slight lead over Governor Romney.  These national polls are misleading and, I suspect, are lulling Democrats into believing that the debate was something less than the unmitigated disaster for them that it really was.

Who are the 47 percent?

I'm sure by now you are aware of Gov. Romney's offensive comments about how "it's not my job" to worry about the 47 percent of Americans who pay no federal income tax.  That comment was caught on film last May and released by the respected magazine  Mother Jones on Monday.  On Friday Gov. Romeny finally released his 2011 tax returns, and we learned that he only paid 14 percent tax on a roughly $20 million income, far less than middle class families.  In fact, since most of the Governor's income came from investments, Romney paid less in federal taxes than low-income workers, who with their employers pay 15 percent of wages in payroll taxes for Social Security and Medicare.   Romney continues to refuse to release tax returns prior to 2010.  Instead, he paid an accountant to issue a written statement that Romney actually did pay taxes in those years.