Half Term reading

Here is a collection of some of the most interesting and/or thought provoking material I have come across over the past few days. The autumn break is always a good time to recharge the batteries, but it is also a good opportunity for students to expose themeselves to quality writing. I have become increasingly convinced that a regular diet of good article reading is fundamental to developing a proper understanding of politics.

First off, Martin Kettle argues that the Chancellor is a One Nation Tory. Some may argue the opposite, but Kettle produces some solid evidence.

A portrait of the First Lady.

From the Economist, a good piece on the importance of states. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, it sometimes comes as a surprise to students that the single individual politician who most impacts on the day to day life of US citizens in policy terms is the state governor. I wish the US Politics syllabus would acknowledge this in some way, with more attention paid to state politics. Perhaps a case study on the politics of an indvidual state, varying from exam to exam?? Anyway, here is the link.

Lexington offers a feature on Obama and blue collar whites which suggests that while overt racism in the US is pretty much a thing of the past, the country is still divided by the issue.

A heads up on Will Hutton’s latest on fairness in the UK.

Inside Obama re-election headquarters for 2012 [14 Apr 2012]
Presidential primaries: study note update [20 Oct 2011]
US campaign finance [15 Oct 2011]
Should Dr Fox resign? [9 Oct 2011]
Obama’s political history told through YouTube [22 Sep 2011]
Do we want more EU? [14 Sep 2011]
Osama doc on Ch4 well worth watching [8 Sep 2011]
US political parties: introductory exercise [6 Sep 2011]
Documentary heads up [4 Sep 2011]
White House 2012 [4 Sep 2011]
Intro to AS politics: party political divisions [30 Aug 2011]
President Twitter [7 Jul 2011]
A solution to Obama’s gay problem? [30 Jun 2011]
Obama’s gay confusion [28 Jun 2011]
US federalism [16 Jun 2011]
Osama, Obama, and the power to persuade [5 May 2011]
Obama and gay rights [21 Dec 2010]
It’s not all about race [22 Nov 2010]
WWOD? [11 Nov 2010]
How did they vote? [4 Nov 2010]
Great background reading for typical US politics exam questions [30 Oct 2010]
Weekend selection [18 Oct 2010]
Accessible article on US midterms, with questions [7 Oct 2010]
What’s up with Obama? [3 Oct 2010]
Tea Party round-up [19 Sep 2010]
Commander in Chief 2012 doesn’t like teachers [11 Aug 2010]
US politics: courts and civil rights [6 Aug 2010]
Federalism in action [26 Jul 2010]
Midterms 2010 [14 Jul 2010]
Racial equality in Obama’s America [18 May 2010]
Two halves of a bank note [5 Feb 2010]
Obama and the State of the Union [1 Feb 2010]
Obama’s first State of the Union [28 Jan 2010]
Obama’s approval ratings [24 Jan 2010]
Extra Obama [20 Jan 2010]
Still more Obama - and ideas for a webquest [19 Jan 2010]
More useful Obama article and video links [18 Jan 2010]
Obama links [15 Jan 2010]
Schama on Obama [12 Jan 2010]
The president and the American political system [31 Dec 2009]
Don’t mess with Texas? [10 Nov 2009]
The geography of US jobs [9 Nov 2009]
Media Monday Motown [2 Nov 2009]
Who’s that guy? [28 Oct 2009]
Federalism: advantages and disadvantages [4 Oct 2009]
Pick of the papers [20 Sep 2009]
Is opposition to Obama racist? [18 Sep 2009]
The battle over spending [15 Sep 2009]
Obama health care speech reaction [10 Sep 2009]
Focus on US health care [9 Sep 2009]
The President needs Congress [9 Sep 2009]
After Ted: more Kennedys for Massachusetts? [1 Sep 2009]
Obama and racism [17 Aug 2009]
In case you didn’t already know [13 Aug 2009]
Keeping up with Obama [29 Jul 2009]
Obama and the race row [25 Jul 2009]
Obama effect? [22 Jul 2009]
Can Obama meet the health care challenge? [20 Jul 2009]
Obama health check [19 Jul 2009]
Whither support for war on terror? [18 Jul 2009]
Sotomayor and being sleepless in Seattle [18 Jul 2009]
Obama and race [18 Jul 2009]
Obama lacking leadership? [18 Jul 2009]
Obama and Africa [14 Jul 2009]
Checking out? [11 Jul 2009]
Who’s Roe in Roe v Wade? [7 Jul 2009]
Obama and Russia [6 Jul 2009]
Palin’s greatest hits [5 Jul 2009]
Can America get out of its economic crisis? [3 Jul 2009]
Obama and the magic of 60 [3 Jul 2009]
It’s the economy, stupid! [1 Jul 2009]
US foreign policy milestone [30 Jun 2009]
FPTP - June/July 2009 [25 Jun 2009]
Book for the beach [23 Jun 2009]
Change to come in America? [19 Jun 2009]
Useful Obama links [16 Jun 2009]
US revision: Obama’s executive office [14 Jun 2009]
US revision: Obama and federalism [8 Jun 2009]
US revision: American Cabinet [4 Jun 2009]
Post AS: A2 American delivery [3 Jun 2009]
American Politics revision: separation of powers [22 May 2009]
Is there an Obama doctrine? [21 Apr 2009]
Washington Post catch up [16 Apr 2009]
Obama and Cuba [14 Apr 2009]
Paris, parties and partisanship [12 Apr 2009]
US elections revision [7 Apr 2009]
Reality strikes for Obama? [31 Mar 2009]
The politics of nudge [24 Mar 2009]
Obama: first and last [21 Mar 2009]
Obamawatch continues [19 Mar 2009]
Rawnsley again [15 Mar 2009]
Gordomania? [12 Mar 2009]
Larry Sabato [5 Mar 2009]
Obama and the presidency [27 Feb 2009]
Obamapectations [9 Feb 2009]
More Obamawatch [9 Feb 2009]
Obamawatch [7 Feb 2009]
Advice and consent [3 Feb 2009]
Dealing with the Senate [2 Feb 2009]
The world’s most powerful man? [28 Jan 2009]