Politics is a process by which decisions are made within groups. Although the term is generally applied to behavior within governments, politics is observed in all human (and many non-human) group interactions, including corporate, academic, and religious institutions.

Political science (also political studies) is the study of political behavior and examines the acquisition and application of power.

Alternate definitions

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Alternative definitions of politics have been proposed that fulfill the needs of differing perspectives. They include:

• Dictionary definitions, for example, "the art and science of government" ^*
• Textbook definitions, notably, a "process of conflict resolution in which support is mobilized and maintained for collective projects". -- An Introduction to Government and Politics ... Dickerson and Flanagan
• Theorists, such as Harold Lasswell, who defined politics as "who gets what, when, where, and how."
• and Practitioners like
  • Mao Zedong, who said "Politics is war without bloodshed while war is politics with bloodshed."
  • and Otto von Bismarck's cryptic remark, "Politics is the art of feasibility."

More on [ Politics ]

L.A. Times - Politics

Senate readies for key healthcare vote
Sat, 21 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800
Democrats expect to clear a major hurdle that would open the bill to debate after Thanksgiving recess. A close vote is expected. After negotiating critical last-minute commitments, Senate Democratic leaders on Friday stood on the verge of achieving the necessary 60 votes to begin debate on the most expansive healthcare legislation to go before the Senate in nearly half a century.
Rep. Joe Sestak trying to outrun Sen. Arlen Specter
Sat, 21 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800
The Democrat has arguably the hardest-working staff on Capitol Hill scrambling to meet requests from constituents, lobbyists and the media. Now he wants to beat Pennsylvania's longest-serving senator. Rep. Joe Sestak needs a comb. His wavy, graying hair has been through a hectic morning, and the Pennsylvania Democrat is racing toward his third interview of the day, this time with ABC News.
Senate ethics panel admonishes Burris
Sat, 21 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800
The Illinois senator, appointed by former Gov. Rod Blagojevich to fill President Obama's seat, gave 'incorrect, inconsistent, misleading or incomplete information,' the panel says. Sen. Roland W. Burris (D-Ill.) was rebuked Friday by the Senate Ethics Committee, which issued a "public letter of qualified admonition" for his actions in connection with his appointment by disgraced former Illinois Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich.

Politics

Jeffrey Toobin: Not Covered
Jeffrey Toobin Mon, 16 Nov 2009 05:00:00 -0000
Abortion is almost as old as childbirth. There has always been a need for some women to end their pregnancies. In modern times, the law’s attitude toward that need has varied. In the United States, at the time the Constitution was adopted, abortions before “quickening” were . . .
George Packer: November 9th
George Packer Mon, 09 Nov 2009 05:00:00 -0000
Germany observes no official holiday on November 9th, the day when, twenty years ago, crowds of stunned, delirious East Germans breached the Berlin Wall. This is because November 9th is also the date on which Kaiser Wilhelm abdicated, in 1918, two days before Germany’s defeat in the First . . .
David Remnick: Gap Year
David Remnick Mon, 09 Nov 2009 05:00:00 -0000
A year after he stood to the side of the stage at Grant Park and watched his client, the newly elected President, declare America “a place where all things are possible,” the political strategist and steel-eyed disciplinarian David Plouffe was relaxing over eggs and coffee in Lansky . . .

Wash Post Politics

Health bill opponents make most of mammogram advisory
Michael D. Shear and Dan Eggen Sat, 21 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0500
As a health reform bill endorsed by President Obama marches toward its first Senate floor vote on Saturday, his opponents stepped up efforts to define the legislation as big-government ambition run amok that will interfere with intimate medical decisions and threaten the pocketbooks of average...
Hasan had intensified contact with radical Yemeni American cleric
Carrie Johnson, Spencer S. Hsu and Ellen Nakashima Sat, 21 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0500
In the months before the deadly shootings at Fort Hood, Army Maj. Nidal M. Hasan intensified his communications with a radical Yemeni American cleric and began to discuss surreptitious financial transfers and other steps that could translate his thoughts into action, according to two sources briefed...
Burris reproved by Senate ethics panel
Paul Kane Sat, 21 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0500
Sen. Roland W. Burris (D-Ill.) has been admonished by the Senate ethics committee for his public comments about his controversial appointment to the seat previously held by President Obama.

Twitter / BarackObama

BarackObama: The Senate just voted to begin debate on a comprehensive health reform bill. America is now closer to real reform than ever in our history.
Sun, 22 Nov 2009 01:08:50 -0000
BarackObama: The Senate just voted to begin debate on a comprehensive health reform bill. America is now closer to real reform than ever in our history.
BarackObama: Tweet your senators and ask them to support moving forward with the health reform bill in tonight's critical vote: http://bit.ly/5hSmDo
Sat, 21 Nov 2009 20:14:24 -0000
BarackObama: Tweet your senators and ask them to support moving forward with the health reform bill in tonight's critical vote: http://bit.ly/5hSmDo
BarackObama: The senate has unveiled an excellent health reform bill. Call your senators and ask them to move forward: http://bit.ly/8Ar4yG #hc09
Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:05:21 -0000
BarackObama: The senate has unveiled an excellent health reform bill. Call your senators and ask them to move forward: http://bit.ly/8Ar4yG #hc09

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