PoliticalScience

Thomas Schaller, Political Science, on Current TV and The Daily Beast

UMBC political science professor and national political commentator Thomas Schaller appeared on CurrentTV’s “Young Turks” show last night, weighing in on the question “Should liberals root for Mitt Romney or Newt Gingrich?” Schaller suggested, “Newt will get the base fired up, but… a vote cast with intensity counts the same as a vote cast reluctantly. It doesn’t matter how juiced up the conservative id is. The votes in the middle are going to matter.”Schaller also weighed in on the GOP candidates’ abilities to collect delegates, in The Daily Beast‘s primary coverage. Whereas neither Gingrich nor Santorum will appear on the… Continue Reading Thomas Schaller, Political Science, on Current TV and The Daily Beast

Thomas Schaller, Political Science, in Salon

“This year, Barack Obama may become America’s first billion-dollar candidate. […] Can he do it and, more to the point, will he even need all that much cash?” This is the question UMBC political science professor Thomas Schaller asks in his latest Salon article “The Obillionaire candidate.”Schaller compares in detail the Obama campaign’s fundraising in 2007-08 versus 2011 and finds that the evidence he’ll hit new record is mixed. Further, Schaller writes, “the $1 billion goal creates something of a dilemma for Obama’s reelection campaign” at a time when the public is increasingly concerned with income inequality and campaign financing… Continue Reading Thomas Schaller, Political Science, in Salon

Thomas Schaller, Political Science, in Salon

In response to Mitt Romney’s first Spanish-language ad, released this week, Salon has published “GOP’s Latino problem gets worse,” a new commentary by UMBC political science professor Thomas Schaller.Schaller argues that although Romney’s commercial is a positive step, the GOP still has a long way to go in appealing to Latino and other minority voters. What is the biggest issue? “Although other issues have contributed to the GOP’s struggles with Latino voters, the party’s strident opposition to immigration reform has poisoned the electoral well,” Schaller says.

Thomas Schaller, Political Science, in the Baltimore Sun

UMBC political science professor Thomas Schaller has published a new commentary in the Baltimore Sun exploring presidential candidate Rick Santorum’s positions on the hot-button issues of abortion rights and the individual mandate for health insurance. In “Rick Santorum’s moral flexibility,” Schaller suggests that the politician has changed his positions on these issues over time not due to personal reflection, but “in the interest of party cohesion.”

Thomas Schaller, Political Science, in Salon

“This is the moment [Obama] and his presidency promised to deliver,” writes UMBC political science professor Thomas Schaller in Salon, of the fight over the payroll tax cut extension. “This is,” he suggests, “a moment  for the president to demonstrate the resolve that earned his hopeful believers’ support three years ago, and it comes as he begins asking the electorate for another four-year lease on the Oval Office.” Beyond supporting the payroll tax cut extension, Schaller argues, “the president should go a step further and call out the GOP’s Tea Party wing,” which blocked the passage of a two-month extension… Continue Reading Thomas Schaller, Political Science, in Salon

Thomas Schaller, Political Science, in Salon

“With the Iowa caucuses less than three weeks away, the narrowed Republican presidential contest between Romney, Newt Gingrich, and the surging Ron Paul remains a muddle,” writes UMBC political science professor Thomas Schaller in Salon.com. This landscape has led Romney to focus on a new strategy to win the GOP presidential nomination: surviving a tough fight in January to win more favorable states in February. Schaller argues that the crucial step for Romney is to attack Gingrich “using a negative television and radio blitz on the issue of Medicare to win Florida’s pivotal seniors.” He suggests, “If Romney can pair… Continue Reading Thomas Schaller, Political Science, in Salon

Thomas Schaller, Political Science, in Colorlines and Baltimore Sun

UMBC political science professor Thomas Schaller offered insight on the upcoming GOP primary election in two publications today. In the Colorlines article, “Why (Very White) Iowa and New Hampshire Mean So Much in Politics,” Schaller commented, “The prominence and first-in-nation position of Iowa and New Hampshire do elevate white primary voters over non-white ones, and in both parties.” However, the electoral process is beginning to change to better account for our nation’s diversity. According to Schaller, “Both parties, and especially the Democrats—who receive the lion’s share of the black and Latino vote in general election—have tried to address this inequality… Continue Reading Thomas Schaller, Political Science, in Colorlines and Baltimore Sun

Thomas Schaller, Political Science, in the Baltimore Sun

In his latest Baltimore Sun commentary, “Newt Gingrich Is the GOP’s Only Serious Candidate,” UMBC political science professor Thomas Schaller argues that despite claims of his unelectability, Gingrich stands out as unique in the GOP presidential field. Schaller calls Gingrich “the Republicans’ one-man walking, talking think tank” and argues, “he will be able to conduct a serious debate about America’s future because he’s the only GOP contender who has spent the past three decades actually pondering the problems, large and small, facing the country.” Read the column to learn more about Schaller’s 2010 interview with Gingrich and their conversation on… Continue Reading Thomas Schaller, Political Science, in the Baltimore Sun

Laura Hussey, Political Science, in Baltimore Business Journal

Occupy Wall Street arrived in Baltimore this week, with Occupy Baltimore participants gathering at McKeldin Square (at Light and Pratt Streets). Protestors have mentioned causes such as fighting income inequality, corporate greed and corruption, but the broader movement has not yet released specific goals. Laura Hussey, assistant professor of political science, told the Baltimore Business Journal, “We can look at some of the contemporary social movements today, social rights movements, anti-war, labor unions… Their policy demands are fairly specific. This seems to be a broader coalition and their demands are very vague.” Hussey said both left-wing and libertarian protesters are… Continue Reading Laura Hussey, Political Science, in Baltimore Business Journal

Roy Meyers, Political Science, on NPR and in USA Today

NPR’s Morning Edition reports the U.S. House of Representatives is scheduled to vote today on a temporary measure — or “continuing resolution” — to keep the government funded through mid-November, after having missed its appropriations deadline for the 14th year in a row. Congress uses continuing resolutions when they can’t complete work on appropriations bills before the start of a new fiscal year. UMBC political science professor Roy Meyers told NPR, “What that means is that there’s a great deal of uncertainty when you’re running a program about how much money you have to hire people or to sign contracts… Continue Reading Roy Meyers, Political Science, on NPR and in USA Today

Tyson King-Meadows, Political Science, Elected President of National Conference of Black Political Scientists

Tyson King-Meadows, associate professor of political science, was elected president of the National Conference of Black Political Scientists (NCOBPS), effective March 17, 2011. King-Meadows joined UMBC in 2003 as an assistant professor of political science and recently earned promotion to the rank of associate professor with tenure. He is a Faculty Fellow of UMBC’s Honors College and is an affiliate of the UMBC’s Department of Public Policy and the Maryland Institute for Policy Analysis and Research (MIPAR). His service to UMBC includes membership on the Shriver Center Faculty Advisory Board, on the Honors College Advisory Board, on the committee for… Continue Reading Tyson King-Meadows, Political Science, Elected President of National Conference of Black Political Scientists

Katie Dix ’10, American Studies, to Speak at Film Screening

A screening and discussion of the film “A Community of Gardeners” at the Creative Alliance, Wednesday, September 14, will feature alumnus Katie Dix ’10, American studies and political science, now with the Parks and People Foundation. The film explores the history of community gardening across the US. In addition to Dix, the discussion panel will include community gardeners and advocates from the Duncan Street Miracle Garden, Sandtown Gardens, Baltimore Green Space and Baltimore City Farms. As an AmeriCorps VISTA at Parks and People, Dix is supporting the development of the Community Greening Resource Network (CGRN).

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