By NBC's Dave Carl
Republicans push right, Democrats push left, and more voters feel outnumbered in the middle. Pew Research Center President Andrew Kohut explains the what’s behind the growing divide.
Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush recently gave reporters his thoughts on the hyper-partisanship that he believes has taken over his party.
Looking for a microcosm of this political divide? The New York Times’ Dan Kaufman shows us how Wisconsin became the most politically divisive place in America.


Chuck Todd. Sir..For Friday 06.15.12..RE; Your strong panelist, Dem strategist, the ever-so-charming Karen Finney. She mentioned that she will be a "first-timer" on Bill Maher's Real Time, tonight. Karen will be stupendous and strong, but could employ some humor against some experienced humor. So. please forward (asap) the following stuff as ammo/backup to put in her holster (with your blessing):
Since Maher is part wordsmith..at times, along the lines of the late, great George Carlin..Seven Words ..you can't say on television...Here are some four-letter words that Repub strategists would "prefer" candidate Romney not use in public:
Flip...Flop...Free..Fire...Newt...Mass. ..Grit...REIT...CFTC...Euro...Etch...Tree...TRMS..Gaff- Also, a few topics to avoid in large gatherings: Family homes, personal servants, cars, Escalade detailing, elevators, dogs, equestrian events, home-made food products, personal shoppers, misc expenditures, fractional jet ownership, carried interest, upfront profit distribution, six or seven figure tax credits/write-offs, good frtiends who own anything, telling "insider" jokes, such as: "A private equity principal, a hedge fund manager, a credit-ratings analyst, and a risk regulator walk into a bar....", phrases like: "I'm not familiar precisely with exactly what I said, but....", letting Romney be Romney....NOT!. or wearing and/or pushing the "like" button, even if accidentally.
Also, at no charge, some Maher-type jokes for her to throw back to the host: Tropical storm/hurricane season is now upon us. Atlantic coastline. NOAA is predicting up to a dozen storms and two or three major events, if you don't count The Repub Nat'l Convention mid-season, or ther election kicker at season finale, That's where who knows what will happen. The last big hurricane season was so strong...the vibrations alone caused good ol' Christine O'Donnell to rethink her position on self-gratification.
Like I said, with storm season, with the convention and election right inside it...I'm not worried about the tropical stuff, or even the flooding...what really concerns me is THE SPIN! I almost blacked out on all the birther stuff, so I don't have a clue how to deal with all the Rerpub spin on all the issues at the same time! For example, the birther thing refuses to die. I thought that we were done..when Hawaiian gov't officials validated the president's birth cert. I was thinking..game over. But NO..Rush bellowed, "Not valid, conflict of interest." Said that the Hawaiian officials who made determination, are U.S. gov't employees. And, like it or not, technically or not, Obama is a U.S. gov't employee also. An obvious conflict of interest. Next step on the Rush bandwagon: Revisit the Kenya Dept of Records, and Kenyan village medical huts, for Obama documentation od origin. If successful Rush will employ Kenyan NY city marathon runners, acting as diplomatic couriers, to evade "evil-doer" immigration and TSA screeners...to cross the finish line. To be con't.
Now as you know Romney is renovating his California home..a complete makeover, a posible Oprah moment. He will install an elevator in the new 4-car garage. Wait! The elevators...not for the caddies...a very thoughtful Romney is doing it for his aging senior dogs! What aguy! It's true that many breeds of dogs, in their senior years, develop arthritis in hip area. So, elevators will give the dogs a lift...to make iot easier for them to get on the rooftop, for future family trips, so the dogs will have a better view of the California coastline and the Pacific Ocean. SURF'S UP! (Sorry, I don't mean serfs, or Romney worker bees)
Maybe The Repub congressmen can help. Ooops, forget that, they just killed the Equal Pay for Women Bill. They said they wouldn't mind if women got more, but, the men ain't takin' less. Solution: Let Repub congressmen slice the pie, but the women pick first. I guess the Repub congressional slogan "My Way or the Highway" still stands. But it's getting worser... They are continuing to block Obama admin efforts to rebuild/renew infrastructure..the nation's aging bridges and highways, So now that they are killing our highways...I guess the new Repub slogan will be "My Way".
And big news across the pond! The queen's big bash..no..not Elton John and George Michaels!..I meant Queen Elizabeth...celebrating sixty years on the throne. WOW! Sixty years! That's where I read the newspapers also...no wonder she wears glasses.
And when I heard of a major celebration...The Dimon Jubilee...Immediately, I thought..JP Morgan and Janie Dimon. think about it. There must have been some sort of jubilant Dimon bash..when the boss realized that the London Whale's market distortion would not be that tough to handle. You recall, not that long ago, when the London Whale tried to swallow Skipper Dimon whole...and choked..BUT..moved everyone a notch closer to the Volker Rule harpoon. And on and on... END
All above fictional. Any similarity to real person(s), event(s), and/or place(s) coincidental. Not responsible for errors. Now Finney is loaded for bear.