Incumbents are safe, but party majorities are not. This fosters symbolic votes, message politics and little serious legislating in Congress. — Thomas E. Mann Copy Share Image
Incumbency adds a layer of advantage on top of this party dominance. But rather than foster an environment in which members of Congress feel… — Thomas E. Mann Copy Share Image
“Since the debt limit simply accommodates debt that has already been incurred, raising it should, in theory, be perfunctory. But politicians have found it… — Thomas E. Mann Copy Share Image
But presidential approval also became a surrogate measure of national unity and patriotism. — Thomas E. Mann Copy Share Image
A human being tends to believe that the mood of the moment, be it troubled or blithe, peaceful or stormy, is the true, native,… — Thomas E. Mann Copy Share Image
Votes in federal elections are cast and counted in a highly decentralized and variable fashion, with no uniform ballots and few national standards. — Thomas E. Mann Copy Share Image
“the limits amplified the corrosive effects of ambition on the legislators, who focused from day one on how best to use their limited time… — Thomas E. Mann Copy Share Image
Responsibility for overseeing the implementation of election law typically resides with partisan officials, many with public stakes in the election outcome. — Thomas E. Mann Copy Share Image
Party and ideology routinely trump institutional interests and responsibilities. Regular order - the set of rules, norms and traditions designed to ensure a fair… — Thomas E. Mann Copy Share Image
Science never makes an advance until philosophy authorizes it to do so. — Thomas E. Mann Copy Share Image
Further-more, partisan attachments powerfully shape political perceptions, beliefs and values, and incumbents enjoy advantages well beyond the way in which their districts are configured. — Thomas E. Mann Copy Share Image
The public's evaluation of the job George W. Bush is doing as president changed dramatically as a result of the horrific attacks of September… — Thomas E. Mann Copy Share Image
In addition to the decline in competition, American politics today is characterized by a growing ideological polarization between the two major political parties. — Thomas E. Mann Copy Share Image
