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Eric Black Ink

Eric Black

Eric Black Ink covers politics and government in Minnesota and the United States, the historical background of topics and other issues.

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dred scott

Bloomington event marks the worst U.S. Supreme Court decision ever

By Eric Black | 05/22/13

Minnesota played a key role in Dred Scott’s amazing tale and court decision.

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Politifact checks Bachmann on IRS- Obamacare connection and it's not good

By Eric Black | 05/21/13

Three new politifact-checks of Bachmann: one "mostly false," one "false," one "pants on fire"

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Times article drills down deeper toward roots of IRS screw-up

By Eric Black | 05/20/13

How did this practice of focusing on Tea Party-related organizations begin?

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Andy Borowitz: 'Obama denies any role in government'

By Eric Black | 05/20/13

Satire: President declares he has zero tolerance for anything to do with governing

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War, anytime, anywhere

By Eric Black | 05/17/13

Or at least in any country you can name and for the next ten or 20 years

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Rothenberg: 'hard to overstate potential significance' of Obama's bad week'

By Eric Black | 05/17/13

The usually cautious Rothenberg thinks the three controversies may have fundamentally changed the "narrative" against Obama and the Dems.

benghazi consulate
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Benghazi talking-point emails afford opportunities to believe what you want

By Eric Black | 05/16/13

The White House released almost 100 pages worth of e-mail traffic tracing the evolution of the infamous Benghazi talking points.

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Republicans agree to stop saying 'scandal' if Obama resigns (joke)

By Eric Black | 05/16/13

“Rand Paul has personally offered to say the word ‘scandal’ for eleven hours,”

Obama’s three scandals: a closer look
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Obama’s three scandals: a closer look

By Eric Black | 05/15/13

Given the state of our political culture, it’s natural that many on the right will exaggerate the gravity of each "scandal" and many on the left will dismiss them.

Should the U.S. get militarily involved in Syria?
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Should the U.S. get militarily involved in Syria?

By Eric Black | 05/10/13

Sixty-two percent of Americans polled said that the U.S. does not have this “responsibility,” but a far cry from saying we shouldn't get involved in helpful ways.

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Obama approval up, but Republicans preferred on some key issues

By Eric Black | 05/09/13

Approval rating of Republican leaders of Congress still a disaster.

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Delaware legalizes same-sex marriage

By Eric Black | 05/08/13

It's the 11th state to do so

Thinking historically about the Dems' chances to take U.S. House in 2014
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Thinking historically about the Dems' chances to take U.S. House in 2014

By Eric Black | 05/06/13

Here are some statistical and historical arguments for a stand-pattish U.S. House election cycle in 2014.

Kathleen Hall Jamieson and the 'attack on fact'
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Kathleen Hall Jamieson and the 'attack on fact'

By Eric Black | 05/02/13

The communications scholar says attacks on fact are not just bad for election outcomes, but also distort policy decisions.

Vesla Weaver
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How a heavy police presence in high-crime neighborhoods hurts democracy

By Eric Black | 05/01/13

Yale political scientist Vesla Weaver says the policy creates a mistrust of the police and an unwillingness by residents to engage with the government.

Minneapolis mayoral candidate Cam Winton grilled, but doesn’t wilt
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Minneapolis mayoral candidate Cam Winton grilled, but doesn’t wilt

By Eric Black | 04/26/13

At a Humphrey School event, Winton defends his portrayal of city government as failing to do its most basic jobs while wasting money.

Scott Shane’s thought-provoking questions about ‘targeted killings’ using drones
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Scott Shane’s thought-provoking questions about ‘targeted killings’ using drones

By Eric Black | 04/24/13

The New York Times reporter, speaking in Minneapolis, describes the growing practice.

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Outlook promising for GOP to pick up seats in U.S. Senate

By Eric Black | 04/23/13

The 35 seats up for election in 2014 include 21 currently held by Democrats.

bachmann photo
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Why it’s increasingly likely Michele Bachmann will retire

By Eric Black | 04/22/13

Lots of Republicans (off the record) are downright expansive about the fact that the GOP will be thrilled if she doesn’t seek reelection.

Thoughts on the Boston bombing developments
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Thoughts on the Boston bombing developments

By Eric Black | 04/19/13

We need to be extremely humble about our ability to understand this, at least for now.

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Tea Party Express on gun bill defeat: Constitution - 1, Obama - 0

By Eric Black | 04/18/13

Those who voted against Manchin-Toomey "wisely defended a core principle of our Constitution," the Tea Party Express stated.