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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.

10:49 AM Apr 1st: Talk of leaving resigned Rep. Eric Massa’s seat in NY-29 vacant all year. 700,000 people w/out a voice in the House. Outrageous if true.

11:55 AM Apr 1st: It’s true. No special election in NY-29 til Nov. Seat vacant for 8 mos. “Too costly,” says GOV. Poppycock. He’s afraid Ds will lose seat.

11:59 AM Apr 1st: Bad precedent. Message to all GOVs: If you think your party will lose a special, don’t have an election.Better no rep than an enemy rep.Sad.

12:06 PM Apr 1st: BTW, Gov. Rick Perry tried the same thing back in ’06 when Rep. Tom DeLay (R) resigned. No special for 5 mos. Dems won seat in Nov.

4:33 PM Apr 1st: April Fool’s Day has not seemed very funny to me for 15 years. On 4/1/95 we buried my dear Dad. Over 1000 ppl came to honor this WWII vet.

4:34 PM Apr 1st: Dad never had wealth, but in friends and life achievements, he was the richest man I’ve ever known.

4:37 PM Apr 1st: Also in memoriam, a salute to my friend, Jerry terHorst. This man of integrity gave up fame & fortune when he resigned as POTUS press secy.

4:41 PM Apr 1st: He was Ford’s p-secy just a month, but principle forced his hand. Long, happy career, tho. He was in JFK Dallas motorcade; w/Nixon in China.

10:42 AM Apr 2nd: POTUS in NC, shakiest of his 3 South ’08 wins. In ’12 he prob gets 2nd term if he wins even 1 of NC, FL, VA. If he gets 2 or 3, he’s a lock.

12:18 PM Apr 2nd: Dueling Banjos, er, Headlines. WaPo: “Jobless Rate Unchanged; Economic Recovery Slow”. NYTimes: “Job Market Brightens as Payrolls Surge”

12:18 PM Apr 2nd: No wonder people are confused!

11:11 AM Apr 3rd: Latest threats to public officials–30 GOVs getting ‘removal notices’–reminds us how many nuts of all stripes there are out there.

3:56 PM Apr 3rd:
42 years ago, Martin Luther King delivered his famous last speech in Memphis with the prophetic phrase, “I may not get there with you…”

11:18 AM Apr 4th: MLK was a mere 39 when gunned down in Memphis 4/4/68. Would probably still be alive at 81 today. What would he have said, done, influenced?

11:19 AM Apr 4th: Pres. Wm Henry Harrison also died today in 1841 after just a month in White House. He’s the least consequential president as a result.

9:44 AM Apr 5th: John Paul Stevens retirement: It isn’t about ideology. Liberal will replace liberal. Instead, assuming he retires now, it’s about TURNOUT.

9:45 AM Apr 5th: The confirmation battle will be the focus, and both parties will have one goal: STIR THE BASE to gin up turnout in November.

9:47 AM Apr 5th: Midterms draw far fewer voters than presidential years. Midterms are won by the side that can get its partisans out disproportionately.

11:35 AM Apr 5th: No one can say Sen. Arlen Specter (PA) isn’t a model of principle. As R (1981-2009) he voted with Ds 35%; as D, 95%. Tiny change. S:The Hill

12:46 PM Apr 5th: Jack Bohrer reminds me: 55 yrs ago today, Richard J. Daley was 1st elected Mayor of Chicago. In ‘Plus ca change’ Dept: A Daley still mayor.

8:32 PM Apr 5th: Senate & NV Rs will regret not forcing the resignation of scandal-drenched Sen. John Ensign (R-NV). Handwriting on wall in day-glo colors.