Who's Triangulating Whom?

Let's face it: in order to triangulate, you've gotta have a third element. For my money, I just don't think independents are available for that kind of maneuvering, try as the parties might. That's the very kind of partisan manipulation for "all power to the parties" that independent voters don't  like.


INDEPENDENT VOTERS

• Triangulation, Republican-style (By Chris Cillizza, Washington Post/The Fix) Much has been made of the idea that President Obama will use Congressional Democrats as a foil over the next two years -- triangulating against his own side to grab the ideological center and appeal to electorally critical independent voters. But, there's been almost no focus on how potential 2012 Republican presidential candidates may do that same sort of triangulation against the new GOP House majority.
• Victory Alone Does Not a Mandate Make (By MATT BAI, NY Times) Even so, leveling an indictment of government only gets you so far, even when it resonates.

OPEN PRIMARIES

• FIRST ELECTIONS TO BE HELD UNDER "TOP TWO" OPEN PRIMARY (by Damon Eris, CAIVN)

2012

• Sen. Joe Lieberman says he can win re-election (THE STATE COLUMN)

BALLOT ACCESS

• North Carolina Ballot Access Bill Ready for Introduction (Ballot Access News) Newly-elected North Carolina State Representative Stephen LaRoque (R-Kinston) is ready to introduce a ballot access reform bill, as soon as the legislature convenes on January 26

NEW YORK

• Bill Samuels Praises Newly Independent Democrats (By Reid Pillifant, NY Observer/Politicker)
• Senate Dems Bolt Democratic Caucus (By David Freedlander, NY Observer/Politicker) "We are Democrats, but we can no longer in good conscience support the present Democratic leadership," said Senator Jeff Klein, who is leading the new group. He was joined by Diane Savino of Staten Island, upstater David Valesky, and newcomer David Carlucci from the Hudson Valley.

EDUCATION REFORM

• Ed reform and Race to the Top offer chance for improvement (Boston Globe) Now the Patrick administration must use the new law and funds to close the achievement gap between low-income and middle-class students, redeem underachieving schools, and expand school choice in Massachusetts.
• Meaningful Bipartisan School Reform (by Richard Kahlenberg, Century Foundation/Taking Note) If implemented correctly, the conservative idea of school choice can advance the liberal goal of reducing the economic school segregation that lies at the core of our education challenges.
• The Nixon-Obama Compromise (Richard D. Kahlenberg, BOOK REVIEW The New Republic) But the various solutions to improve high poverty schools—more money, charter schools, and federal accountability measures—have not worked. Some liberals, frustrated with integration, argued that “we should concentrate on desegregating the money,” as Derrick Bell put it.
• Not So Fast, Secretary Duncan (The Heritage Foundation/The Foundry) As rumors of an NCLB reauthorization float around, the most important question is: What is the proper role of the federal government in education?