« Newer Entries  
  Older Entries »

Jeff Smith

Photo Here

Recovering Politician

THEN: State Senator (MO), 2006-2009, Candidate for U.S. Congress, 2004 NOW: Writer Full Biography: link
 

Jeff Smith: Why Dirty Magazines Cost $1K in Prison – and Why We Should Nurture Inmates’ Entrepreneurial Spirit

By Jeff Smith, on Tue Jul 10, 2012 at 8:30 AM ET

Contributing RP Jeff Smith researches the amazing but untapped (and capitalist) potential in prisons in his audition for the TED speaking program.  

If you are unfamiliar with TED, click here.

They select a winner based on reader feedback, so PLEASE go here and vote!

 
Jeff Smith, Prison Stories   ,  

Jeff Smith: The Legislative Process

By Jeff Smith, on Wed Jul 4, 2012 at 1:30 PM ET

This article explains the legislative process better than any polisci textbook I’ve ever used in class. [Charlotte Observer]

 
Jeff Smith    

Jeff Smith: Obama’s Bain Attacks

By Jeff Smith, on Tue Jul 3, 2012 at 1:30 PM ET

Don’t miss Ohio Governor Ted Strickland’s quote here: “Obama Bain Attacks On Mitt Romney Leave Swooning Democrats In Love Again”. [Huffington Post]

 
Jeff Smith    

Jeff Smith: Dems Go AWOL in Class War

By Jeff Smith, on Wed Jun 27, 2012 at 5:00 PM ET

What the hell ever happened to populism in the Democratic Party?

A must-read piece today by Jonathan Martin asks why. [Politico]

 
Jeff Smith    

Jeff Smith: Can Mia Love Turn the Tide for Black Voters, GOP?

By Jeff Smith, on Wed Jun 20, 2012 at 8:30 AM ET

Sure, she has a chance.

Anytime you’ve got an R after your name, and you’re running in the most Republican state in the country with the best political name in the nation (from a Utahn perspective) topping your ticket, you have a chance.

But it’s just wishful thinking to say that she’ll garner more black GOP support. Allen West and Tim Scott haven’t done so; Michael Steele didn’t do so last cycle.

Mia Love

Data suggests that someone a lot higher profile (Rubio) has been unable to do so for Latinos.

Although, I’m sure the Republicans will have her onstage 12 hours a day in Tampa. Of course, that will be targeted at suburban white women more than at blacks; they’re smart enough to realize that Obama is going to get 90 percent of the black vote regardless.

And as long as there are state Republican parties hosting conventions where bullet-riddled outhouses decorated as Obama presidential libraries are seen as funny jokes, that will never change.

(Cross-posted, with permission of the author, from Politico’s Arena)

 
Jeff Smith    

Jeff Smith: Great Piece on Modern Politics

By Jeff Smith, on Wed Jun 13, 2012 at 1:30 PM ET

This is the most lucid explanation I’ve read of the absurdity of politics these days, from Mark Barabak of the Los Angeles Times:

Comes now the startling news that in 1996, Barack Obama, then a candidate for the Illinois state Senate, became a card-carrying Socialist.

The so-called proof was offered Thursday by the Washington Times, which linked to a National Review Online account involving the community organization ACORN, the Wisconsin Historical Society and something called the New Party.

This, on top of previous “revelations” that Obama is not a natural-born American citizen, is secretly gay and a closet Muslim will surely ensure his defeat in November.

Except none of those statements are true and few, save Donald Trump and the rabid Obama haters of the world, pay much attention to rumors that have eddied for years in the dark, dank corners of the Internet and other gathering holes of the conspiracy-minded.

Click here to read the entire piece.

 
Jeff Smith    

Jeff Smith: Unexplainable Dating Site Pictures

By Jeff Smith, on Tue Jun 12, 2012 at 1:30 PM ET

Can’t believe I spent 5 mins reading this, but it was amazing.

26 Completely Unexplainable Dating Site Pictures: [BuzzFeed]

 
Jeff Smith   ,  

Jeff Smith: Is the Media in the Tank for Obama?

By Jeff Smith, on Fri Jun 8, 2012 at 10:00 AM ET

The MSM isn’t biased in favor of Romney. The MSM isn’t biased in favor of Obama.

It is biased – like everyone else trying to survive and thrive – in favor of page views.

And I can pretty much guarantee that Mitt’s shearing of the gay classmate gets a hell of a lot more of them than the rollout of his Middle East policy.

Now that technology has enabled the media to get this down to a science and shift the placement of pieces online from minute-to-minute, the media, more than ever – to paraphrase Republican ingenue Christine O’Donnell – “is you.”

(Cross-posted, with permission of the author, from Politico’s Arena)

 
Jeff Smith    

Jeff Smith on Bill Maher as a Mets Owner

By Jeff Smith, on Wed Jun 6, 2012 at 10:00 AM ET

Michael Jordan was one of the first people in pro sports to realize that politics and sports don’t mix.

When asked to endorse black Charlotte mayor Harvey Gantt in an epic 1990 Senate race against longtime civil rights opponent Jesse Helms – a nod that could’ve had a profound impact in Jordan’s home state – MJ famously declined. “Republicans buy shoes, too,” he is reported to have said.

As a Gantt supporter I was very disappointed in Jordan’s refusal to get involved, but it was probably smart business. And I suspect that the Mets may be about to learn as much.

(Cross-posted, with permission of the author, from Politico’s Arena)

 
Jeff Smith   , ,  

Jeff Smith: Edwards Trial A Ridiculous Waste of Taxpayer Money

By Jeff Smith, on Mon Jun 4, 2012 at 8:30 AM ET

Does John Edwards deserve to go to prison? The jury has decided, and he’s walking.

Whatever we may think of the Edwards trial, one thing is certain: the prosecution was a ridiculous waste of taxpayer money on a non-crime. Who cares if a billionaire wants to give a multimillionaire some money to hide his mistress (who pays taxes on the gift)?

The prosecution of Edwards was never so much about Edwards as it was about George Holding.

Wait — who is George Holding? And why should we care?

After winning a recent primary, Holding is likely the next congressman in the 13th District of North Carolina. He initiated the prosecution against Edwards while he was a U.S. Attorney. But he didn’t argue the case in court. Instead, after receiving a year’s worth of headlines (and Republican praise) for charging Edwards, Holding resigned from the case to run for Congress.

Maybe Holding understood the weakness of the case, which rested upon Edwards’ failure to report the money billionaire heiress Bunny Mellon and another wealthy donor gave to him to help hide his mistress. The problem is that if Edwards had reported contributions and then used them for personal expenses, he would have been guilty of a crime, since the Federal Election Commission bars spending official campaign funds on personal expenses. Therefore, according to Holding, Edwards was damned if he did, and damned if he didn’t.

Read the rest of…
Jeff Smith: Edwards Trial A Ridiculous Waste of Taxpayer Money

 
Jeff Smith   ,  
« Newer Entries  
  Older Entries »

The Award-Winning Documentary about Jeff’s Early Career (2006):

The Recent New Republic Article About Jeff (2011):

Jeff’s Links:


Watch Jeff on MSNBC: