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Tweets of the Week

The Crystal Ball’s Tweets of the Week is a look back at the highlights of the past week in politics in snippets of 140 characters or less. To get this analysis as soon as news breaks, follow University of Virginia Center for Politics Director, and Crystal Ball founder, Larry Sabato on Twitter by clicking here.

10:28 PM Jan 27th: SOTU was all so predictable. If you’re surprised by anything Obama or McDonnell said, you haven’t been reading the news enough.

10:43 PM Jan 27th: Amusing mixed messages. Calls for bipartisanship intertwined with partisan attacks,like back & forth of family spats or children’s quarrels.

11:39 AM Jan 29th: Fascinating exchange between POTUS & GOP House caucus ongoing now, live TV. The most revealing Obama comment: “I am not an ideologue!”

11:41 AM Jan 29th: That is precisely how Obama sees himself–a pragmatist. D left agrees & hates it. But some Rs in audience laughed. They see O as socialist.

11:47 AM Jan 29th: This is the most useful session I’ve seen if we want to combat polarization. Institutionalize it! Make this the U.S. form of Question Time.

10:13 PM Jan 29th: There’s a giant warning for us all in the Edwards saga: We don’t know who these people really are. Top pols are bubble-wrapped by staff.

11:11 AM Feb 1st: Neither party has any credibility on debt. Ds love spending, Rs love tax cuts. Both talk a good game. Result: Welcome to Chinese century!

3:42 PM Feb 1st: U.S. Sen. Richard Burr of NC spoke to my UVA class today & was a hit. Very direct & honest about Senate as institution plus debt, Iran, jobs

3:44 PM Feb 1st: Students ask better questions than press, usually. Journalists care too much about horserace politics but students about issues & substance.

9:33 PM Feb 1st: Crist has time to recover (8/24 primary) yet his decision not to run for easy reelection as GOV could rank as the single dumbest ’10 choice.

10:02 PM Feb 1st: Tomorrow IL voters choose GOV & SEN nominees, thereby starting a NINE MONTH general election campaign. Longest in nation. One word: Insane.

10:21 PM Feb 2nd: Coats’ IN SEN decision is yet another ripple effect from Brown win in MA. Much easier for GOP to recruit candidates. They smell ’10 victory.

10:23 PM Feb 2nd: Many won’t win, but when a party fields its strongest team, pick-ups are maximized. After horrible ’06 & ’08, GOP back on offensive for ’10.