Ron Elving http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1930203&ft=1&f=1930203 Ron Elving is the NPR News' Senior Washington Editor directing coverage of the nation's capital and national politics and providing on-air political analysis for many NPR programs. en Copyright 2013 NPR - For Personal Use Only NPR API RSS Generator 0.94 Tue, 14 May 2013 19:05:00 -0400 http://media.npr.org/images/npr_news_123x20.gif Ron Elving http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1930203&ft=1&f=1930203 Goodbye, Again, To Obama's Most Audacious Hope The sudden eruption of second-term scandals in his administration will have many costs for President Obama, but surely the most grievous will be the lost opportunity to transcend the partisan wars of Washington, his fondest dream for his second term, much as it was for his first. Now it seems destined to be dashed once again. Tue, 14 May 2013 19:05:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/itsallpolitics/2013/05/14/184018942/goodbye-again-to-obamas-most-audacious-hope?ft=1&f=1930203 http://www.npr.org/blogs/itsallpolitics/2013/05/14/184018942/goodbye-again-to-obamas-most-audacious-hope?ft=1&f=1930203 The sudden eruption of second-term scandals in his administration will have many costs for President Obama, but surely the most grievous will be the lost opportunity to transcend the partisan wars of Washington, his fondest dream for his second term, much as it was for his first. Now it seems destined to be dashed once again.

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]]> Logic Behind Obama News Conference Hard To Fathom What stood out were the moments he seemed at a loss with the frustrations of dealing with Congress. But no matter how frustrating a president finds this dilemma, it does not advance his cause to wear his frustration in public. Yes, he must acknowledge the difficulties he faces, but he also needs to transcend them. Tue, 30 Apr 2013 19:25:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/itsallpolitics/2013/04/30/180147621/logic-behind-obama-news-conference-hard-to-fathom?ft=1&f=1930203 http://www.npr.org/blogs/itsallpolitics/2013/04/30/180147621/logic-behind-obama-news-conference-hard-to-fathom?ft=1&f=1930203 What stood out were the moments he seemed at a loss with the frustrations of dealing with Congress. But no matter how frustrating a president finds this dilemma, it does not advance his cause to wear his frustration in public. Yes, he must acknowledge the difficulties he faces, but he also needs to transcend them.

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]]> Reluctant Justices May Be Forced To Make History A look back at landmark cases makes clear that the Supreme Court never really knows exactly how its decisions will play out — especially not in the long run. That uncertainty must loom over the justices now as they contemplate the issue of gay marriage. Thu, 28 Mar 2013 18:01:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/itsallpolitics/2013/03/28/175623218/reluctant-justices-may-be-forced-to-make-history?ft=1&f=1930203 http://www.npr.org/blogs/itsallpolitics/2013/03/28/175623218/reluctant-justices-may-be-forced-to-make-history?ft=1&f=1930203 A look back at landmark cases makes clear that the Supreme Court never really knows exactly how its decisions will play out — especially not in the long run. That uncertainty must loom over the justices now as they contemplate the issue of gay marriage.

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]]> RNC Post-Election Report A Line In The Sand For Divided GOP The hard-eyed assessment of the 2012 national election by the Republican National Committee is either the first step toward the GOP's recovery or the latest sign that the party is headed for a break-up. Tue, 19 Mar 2013 10:31:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/itsallpolitics/2013/03/18/174689113/rnc-chairs-postmortem-report-a-line-in-the-sand-for-divided-gop?ft=1&f=1930203 http://www.npr.org/blogs/itsallpolitics/2013/03/18/174689113/rnc-chairs-postmortem-report-a-line-in-the-sand-for-divided-gop?ft=1&f=1930203 The hard-eyed assessment of the 2012 national election by the Republican National Committee is either the first step toward the GOP's recovery or the latest sign that the party is headed for a break-up.

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]]> The Bush Family Checklist Jeb Bush is popular in conservative circles and is the third member of the Bush family to be seen as a presidential contender. (The last two were elected.) So is there some sort of How to Be President checklist somewhere in the Bush house? If so, it might look something like this. Fri, 15 Mar 2013 13:03:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/itsallpolitics/2013/03/14/174338794/the-bush-family-checklist?ft=1&f=1930203 http://www.npr.org/blogs/itsallpolitics/2013/03/14/174338794/the-bush-family-checklist?ft=1&f=1930203 Jeb Bush is popular in conservative circles and is the third member of the Bush family to be seen as a presidential contender. (The last two were elected.) So is there some sort of How to Be President checklist somewhere in the Bush house? If so, it might look something like this.

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]]> Fiscal Cliff Debate: Why The (Very) Few Rule The Many In Congress Even if the Senate were to approve a compromise package and a majority of the House (Republicans and Democrats) were prepared to accept it, the deal likely won't even be brought to the House floor for debate and a vote. How can this be? Because of the de facto "majority of the majority" rule. Sun, 30 Dec 2012 15:46:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/blogs/itsallpolitics/2012/12/30/168309508/fiscal-cliff-debate-why-the-very-few-rule-the-many-in-congress?ft=1&f=1930203 http://www.npr.org/blogs/itsallpolitics/2012/12/30/168309508/fiscal-cliff-debate-why-the-very-few-rule-the-many-in-congress?ft=1&f=1930203 Even if the Senate were to approve a compromise package and a majority of the House (Republicans and Democrats) were prepared to accept it, the deal likely won't even be brought to the House floor for debate and a vote. How can this be? Because of the de facto "majority of the majority" rule.

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]]> Boehner Answers Questions About Withdrawing 'Plan B' House Speaker John Boehner had a news conference Friday, after he had to withdraw his "Plan B" for avoiding the tax increases and spending cuts due at the end of the year. Many of his fellow Republicans wouldn't support it because it included higher taxes for millionaires. Fri, 21 Dec 2012 10:47:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/2012/12/21/167787186/boehner-answers-questions-about-withdrawing-plan-b?ft=1&f=1930203 http://www.npr.org/2012/12/21/167787186/boehner-answers-questions-about-withdrawing-plan-b?ft=1&f=1930203 House Speaker John Boehner had a news conference Friday, after he had to withdraw his "Plan B" for avoiding the tax increases and spending cuts due at the end of the year. Many of his fellow Republicans wouldn't support it because it included higher taxes for millionaires.

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]]> Hawaii Sen. Daniel Inouye Dies At 88 Of Respiratory Complications Hawaii Sen. Daniel Inouye died Monday at the age of 88. His cause of death was respiratory complications. Inouye had served in the U.S. Senate since 1962. Melissa Block talks to Ron Elving about his life and political career. Mon, 17 Dec 2012 18:17:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/2012/12/17/167484210/hawaii-sen-daniel-inouye-dies-at-88-of-respiratory-complications?ft=1&f=1930203 http://www.npr.org/2012/12/17/167484210/hawaii-sen-daniel-inouye-dies-at-88-of-respiratory-complications?ft=1&f=1930203 Hawaii Sen. Daniel Inouye died Monday at the age of 88. His cause of death was respiratory complications. Inouye had served in the U.S. Senate since 1962. Melissa Block talks to Ron Elving about his life and political career.

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]]> All Eyes On The Battleground States As Polls Close Robert Siegel talks with Ron Elving about the big picture of Tuesday's elections. Tue, 06 Nov 2012 19:50:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/2012/11/06/164466329/all-eyes-on-the-battleground-states-as-polls-close?ft=1&f=1930203 http://www.npr.org/2012/11/06/164466329/all-eyes-on-the-battleground-states-as-polls-close?ft=1&f=1930203 Robert Siegel talks with Ron Elving about the big picture of Tuesday's elections.

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]]> How Sandy's Path Could Chart A Course For Romney's Victory The superstorm began its destructive tour of the American mainland in Florida, and that's where the GOP presidential nominee needs to begin his march on election night. Other states in its path included North Carolina, Virginia and New Hampshire, states where Mitt Romney has a strong chance. Mon, 05 Nov 2012 20:03:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/blogs/itsallpolitics/2012/11/05/164372409/how-sandys-path-could-chart-a-course-for-romneys-victory?ft=1&f=1930203 http://www.npr.org/blogs/itsallpolitics/2012/11/05/164372409/how-sandys-path-could-chart-a-course-for-romneys-victory?ft=1&f=1930203 The superstorm began its destructive tour of the American mainland in Florida, and that's where the GOP presidential nominee needs to begin his march on election night. Other states in its path included North Carolina, Virginia and New Hampshire, states where Mitt Romney has a strong chance.

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]]> Republican Grab For Senate Seats May Not Come Easy Melissa Block talks with senior Washington editor Ron Elving about the Senate races to watch on Tuesday. Mon, 05 Nov 2012 15:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/2012/11/05/164362212/republican-grab-for-senate-seats-may-not-come-easy?ft=1&f=1930203 http://www.npr.org/2012/11/05/164362212/republican-grab-for-senate-seats-may-not-come-easy?ft=1&f=1930203 Melissa Block talks with senior Washington editor Ron Elving about the Senate races to watch on Tuesday.

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]]> NPR Poll Finds Presidential Race Too Close To Call The latest NPR Battleground Poll shows former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney holding the narrowest of leads in the national sample, but trailing President Obama in the dozen states that will decide the election. The poll adds evidence that the Oct. 3 debate between the two men redefined the race. Mon, 29 Oct 2012 22:15:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/itsallpolitics/2012/10/30/163914429/npr-poll-finds-presidential-race-too-close-to-call?ft=1&f=1930203 http://www.npr.org/blogs/itsallpolitics/2012/10/30/163914429/npr-poll-finds-presidential-race-too-close-to-call?ft=1&f=1930203 The latest NPR Battleground Poll shows former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney holding the narrowest of leads in the national sample, but trailing President Obama in the dozen states that will decide the election. The poll adds evidence that the Oct. 3 debate between the two men redefined the race.

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]]> Could There Be A Tie In The Electoral College? When all the advertising and polling and debates and appearances are finished and votes have been cast, only one thing matters in the presidential race — the tally of the electoral college. Wed, 24 Oct 2012 15:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2012/10/24/163572786/could-there-be-a-tie-in-the-electoral-college?ft=1&f=1930203 http://www.npr.org/2012/10/24/163572786/could-there-be-a-tie-in-the-electoral-college?ft=1&f=1930203 When all the advertising and polling and debates and appearances are finished and votes have been cast, only one thing matters in the presidential race — the tally of the electoral college.

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]]> Analysis: Romney Debate Strategy Shows He Thinks He's In the Driver's Seat The retracting of the Romney horns was too obvious to be spontaneous. That is not the way the GOP nominee and his team operate. They have decided that polls in their favor are now the contest's defining factor. So their tactics for the third debate went from "go after him" to "don't blow it." Tue, 23 Oct 2012 12:42:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/itsallpolitics/2012/10/23/163473620/analysis-romney-debate-strategy-shows-he-thinks-hes-in-the-drivers-seat?ft=1&f=1930203 http://www.npr.org/blogs/itsallpolitics/2012/10/23/163473620/analysis-romney-debate-strategy-shows-he-thinks-hes-in-the-drivers-seat?ft=1&f=1930203 The retracting of the Romney horns was too obvious to be spontaneous. That is not the way the GOP nominee and his team operate. They have decided that polls in their favor are now the contest's defining factor. So their tactics for the third debate went from "go after him" to "don't blow it."

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]]> George McGovern, An Improbable Icon Of Anti-War Movement The opposition to the Vietnam War was young, unconventional, countercultural and suspicious of government. McGovern himself was none of these things. At the time of his presidential nomination in 1972, the two-term Democratic senator was a decorated World War II veteran who had spent most of his adult life in politics. Mon, 22 Oct 2012 06:36:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/itsallpolitics/2012/10/22/163355049/george-mcgovern-an-improbable-icon-of-anti-war-movement?ft=1&f=1930203 http://www.npr.org/blogs/itsallpolitics/2012/10/22/163355049/george-mcgovern-an-improbable-icon-of-anti-war-movement?ft=1&f=1930203 The opposition to the Vietnam War was young, unconventional, countercultural and suspicious of government. McGovern himself was none of these things. At the time of his presidential nomination in 1972, the two-term Democratic senator was a decorated World War II veteran who had spent most of his adult life in politics.

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