April 11, 2012 - Pensito

New Pew Quiz Tests Your Political IQ

April 11, 2012 Buck Banks

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The Pew Research Center has a new short quiz that tests your political savvy.

Test your knowledge of the major political parties by taking our short 13-question quiz. Then see how you did in comparison with 1,000 randomly sampled adults asked the same questions in a national survey conducted Mar. 29-Apr. 1, 2012 by the Pew Research Center.

I aced it, even though there are a couple of trick questions, and landed in the top 8 percent of quiz takers. About 33 percent missed one to three questions (tricks!) but a surprising 4 percent didn’t even get one out of 13 questions right.

Wait, why am I surprised? This is, after all, an idiocracy, right?

Take the quiz and tell us how you did in a comment — if you dare …

$4,500

Amount Sarah Palin’s PAC paid to reserve space at Channelside Bay Mall in Tampa, Fla., near the site of the Republican National Convention, “suggesting that she plans to have an independent presence at the event separate from the formal proceedings,” according to Politico. Or perhaps she has a Sunglass hut franchise …

Frank Says Campaigning Is the Worst

April 11, 2012April 11, 2012 Buck Banks

It’s the most godawful human activity that doesn’t involve physical pain. It’s high tension, and it’s boring and difficult work — begging people for money and debasing yourself. I’ve known people who claim they’ve enjoyed it, but I think they’re lying.

— Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA), in an interview with Men’s Journal, on campaigning.

GOP Cursed By Ideological Purity

April 11, 2012 Buck Banks

The GOP’s main problem is not the contraceptive issue; it is the perception that it has become too ideological on many issues. Women and independent voters have seen a party enthusiastically confirming its most damaging stereotypes. The composite Republican candidate — reflecting the party’s ideological mean — has been harsh on immigration, confrontational on social issues, simplistic in condemning government and silent on the struggles of the poor. How many women would find this profile appealing on eHarmony? … This is the hidden curse of the Republican congressional triumph of 2010. Republican activists came to believe that purity is all that is necessary for victory. But a presidential candidate, it turns out, requires a broader ideological attraction than your average tea party House freshman.

— Michael Gerson, writing in the op-ed section of the Washington Post.

Herman Cain Thinks Only Men Understand Political Policy

April 11, 2012 Buck Banks

Yes, President Obama is very likable to most people, if you just look at him and his family. But if you look at his policies, which is what most people disagree with, it’s a different story. And I think many men are much more familiar with the failed policies than a lot of other people, as well as the general public.

— Herman Cain, in a Fox News interview, attributing the gender gap to the fact that men are more familiar with policy, while “others” only know about the president’s family.

West: Half of House Democrats are Communist Party Members

April 11, 2012 Buck Banks

80

Number of Democratic members of Congress U.S. Rep. Alan West (R-FL) says also are members of the Communist Party, reported the Palm Beach Post. There are 190 Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Day: April 11, 2012

New Pew Quiz Tests Your Political IQ

The Great Endorser

No Checks, Please

Palin to Set Up Shop in Mall at GOP Convention

$4,500

Frank Says Campaigning Is the Worst

It’s the most godawful human activity that doesn’t involve physical pain. It’s high tension, and it’s boring and difficult work — begging people for money and debasing yourself. I’ve known people who claim they’ve enjoyed it, but I think they’re lying.

— Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA), in an interview with Men’s Journal, on campaigning.

GOP Cursed By Ideological Purity

— Michael Gerson, writing in the op-ed section of the Washington Post.

Herman Cain Thinks Only Men Understand Political Policy

— Herman Cain, in a Fox News interview, attributing the gender gap to the fact that men are more familiar with policy, while “others” only know about the president’s family.

West: Half of House Democrats are Communist Party Members

80

Number of Democratic members of Congress U.S. Rep. Alan West (R-FL) says also are members of the Communist Party, reported the Palm Beach Post. There are 190 Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Poetic Justice

Verbatim

“The man is afraid of the voice of the people and that the people understand and know what he’s doing. He’s trying to stifle the ability of journalists to let the people of America know what’s really going on with their government.”

— “Kamala Harris called President Donald Trump’s ban of CNN, MS NOW and Politico from the White House ‘absolutely abhorrent,’” The Wrap reports.

“Not one of them is trained in technical skills. Not one research PhD, as opposed to China, where half the cabinet is science and technology PhDs. We’re led by grifters and fools.”

— Columbia professor Jeffrey Sachs, on X, on President Trump’s 35-person cabinet.

“Mr. President, some of your immigration enforcement efforts have gone too far… The same Hispanics who helped you get to the White House in 2024 feel betrayed today.”

— Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar (R-FL), breaking with President Trump in a direct-to-camera video.

Numerati

1,000

10%

“The unprecedented spate of mid-decade redistricting for the U.S. House has changed the congressional districts for one-tenth of Americans and significantly altered the makeup of at least one-fifth of districts, according to a new study,” the Associated Press reports.

71%

A new Fox News Poll finds 71% of voters think the Trump administration lacks a clear strategy for ending the Iran War, including 95% of Democrats, 83% of independents, and 43% of Republicans. Sixty percent say U.S. military action against Iran was the wrong decision, while just 37% say it was right.

$9.5 billion

“The Trump administration last year spent $9.5 billion on paid administrative leave for federal workers as part of its plan to shrink the government and save taxpayers money, according to a new estimate by a congressional watchdog,” CNN reports.

470

Reuters has documented at least 470 targets of retribution under Trump’s leadership – from federal employees and prosecutors to universities and media outlets. The list illuminates the sweeping effort by the president and his administration to punish dissent and reshape the government.