Jillian Bandes
Jillian Bandes is the National Political Reporter for Townhall.com. She previously served as assistant editor and blogger at the late Culture11, and had stints at the Weekly Standard and Roll Call newspaper. Jillian has been a freelancer for various publications, including the St. Petersburg Times, Human Events, the American Spectator and the North Carolina Conservative.
By Jillian Bandes (Aug 28, 2010)
Glenn Beck's 8/28 rally delivered a swift kick in the rear to anyone who claims he or the conservative grassroots movement is irrelevant or idle.
"Welcome to Restoring... more
By Jillian Bandes (Aug 28, 2010)
Americans for Prosperity's Defending the Dream conference took place just one day before Glenn Beck's Restoring Honor rally, marking the biggest conservative weekend in... more
By Jillian Bandes (Aug 24, 2010)
Glenn Beck: It is extraordinarily rare these days to have actual reporting going on and people
who are trying to get it right. I appreciate it.
Townhall Staff: Thank you... more
By Jillian Bandes (Aug 22, 2010)
Glenn Beck says that this Saturday’s 8/28 rally “Restoring Honor” is about far more than
just politics.
“This isn’t a rah-rah USA kind of thing. This is a sacred... more
By Jillian Bandes (Aug 20, 2010)
With Obama pushing Republicans to stop blocking a new “jobs bill,” it’s important to take a look at one important provision in it: a new tax on the oil and gas industry,... more
By Jillian Bandes (Aug 19, 2010)
America has the highest incarceration rates in the world, and the price tag for keeping felonious Americans behind bars is over $200 billion, including police and judicial... more
By Jillian Bandes (Aug 16, 2010)
Shoplifting costs the average American family over $400 per year. Yet it’s not worth retailers’ time to prosecute, meaning there’s no good way to keep law-abiding shoppers... more
By Jillian Bandes (Aug 13, 2010)
Republican primaries this cycle have led to a motley group of conservative victors with wildly different backgrounds and levels of political expertise. Rather than panic, we... more
By Jillian Bandes (Jul 21, 2010)
The Rosetta Stone language education company will take in almost $1.7 million from its contract with the Transportation Security Administration, serving over 28,000 TSA... more
By Jillian Bandes (Jul 16, 2010)
Arlen Specter’s dramatic defeat was only the start of the action in the Pennsylvania’s Senate race. With three and a half months to go, polling between Republican Pat Toomey... more
By Jillian Bandes (Jul 15, 2010)
Sometimes, the revolving door spins a little too quickly.
James Cole, Obama’s recent nominee for Deputy Attorney General, has worked as an independent consultant at AIG... more
By Jillian Bandes (Jul 12, 2010)
Democrats in Congress haven’t made any moves to extend the Bush tax cuts of 2006, so workers of all income levels can expect to see a 5% increase in their income taxes, and... more
By Jillian Bandes (Jul 09, 2010)
With half of all primary races completed, national electoral momentum has shifted to the November 2nd general elections. And a number of important polls say the generals are... more
By Jillian Bandes (Jul 08, 2010)
A full-length play called The Tea Party Project launches this weekend, set on exposing “the funny, the bizarre, and the downright horrifying” parts of the tea party through... more
By Jillian Bandes (Jul 06, 2010)
Democratic Congressman Bob Etheridge’s campaign was running along just fine until he roughed up a reporter on the streets of Washington, D.C. Now, his re-election looks... more
By Jillian Bandes (Jul 01, 2010)
Here are the top ten quotes from Solicitor General Elana Kagan as she goes into her fourth day of Senate hearings.
1. "Like all Jews, I was probably at a Chinese... more
By Jillian Bandes (Jun 30, 2010)
Anyone watching the SCOTUS hearing is familiar with Elena Kagan denying recruiters on Havard’s campus because the military’s policy towards homosexuality was in conflict with... more
By Jillian Bandes (Jun 25, 2010)
Oil from the Deepwater Horizon spill just hit the shores of Florida beaches, and a new, flashy poll has revealed that more and more Floridians oppose drilling off their... more
By Jillian Bandes (Jun 24, 2010)
A massive increase in the national debt would be an inevitable part of this year’s budget proposal, given that Democrats have enacted some of the most expensive legislation... more
By Jillian Bandes (Jun 21, 2010)
Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.) is an outspoken opponent of SB1070, the Arizona immigration law. That’s an inconvenient thing to have on the books in a district where 70%... more
By Jillian Bandes (Jun 18, 2010)
Correction Appended
In Alabama’s second district, local tea party activists held a “no-show townhall” with a mannequin of their Democratic Representative,... more
By Jillian Bandes (Jun 17, 2010)
Ernest Franz is the kind of guy you want to talk to if you're interested in what's happening with the Gulf oil spill. He's the President of Environmental Sampling, Inc., a... more
By Jillian Bandes (Jun 14, 2010)
Liberal activists say that British Petroleum has shirked its responsibilities in dealing with the gulf oil spill, so they’ve started a boycott of the company. Like many... more
By Jillian Bandes (Jun 11, 2010)
Indiana’s eighth Congressional district is yet another Republican district that a Democrat has managed to hold for two cycles. In the fall of 2010, Republican nominee Larry... more
By Jillian Bandes (Jun 10, 2010)
Call it CPAC for lefties. The Campaign for America’s Future held their three-day political fest in Washington, D.C. with a lineup of speakers that would make Stalin himself... more
By Jillian Bandes (Jun 07, 2010)
Mississippi’s first congressional district has 14% more Republican voters than Democratic voters. Why, then, has incumbent Democratic Rep. Travis Childers enjoyed such... more
By Jillian Bandes (Jun 03, 2010)
It would appear that switching parties doesn’t do you much good in this political climate. The two politicians who have done it this cycle – Sen. Arlen Specter and Rep.... more
By Jillian Bandes (Jun 02, 2010)
This is part of a series that Townhall.com's National Political Reporter Jillian Bandes is doing on electorally vulnerable Democrats called "Open Season."Rep. Baron Hill (D)... more
By Jillian Bandes (May 26, 2010)
Obama had lunch with Senate Republicans on Tuesday, but the conversation that transpired was enough to make you lose your lunch. According to reports, the President went... more
By Jillian Bandes (May 26, 2010)
Ohio’s ninth district residents aren’t unhappy with their Democratic representative, Marcy Kaptur. There are 10% more Democratic voters than Republican voters in the... more
By Jillian Bandes (May 25, 2010)
This is part of a series that Townhall.com's National Political Reporter Jillian Bandes is doing on electorally vulnerable Democrats called "Open Season."
When you take a... more
By Jillian Bandes (May 24, 2010)
Nevada is a politically divided state, and Rep. Dina Titus (D) is having a hard time hitting all of the right notes. That’s going to prove especially difficult come November,... more
By Jillian Bandes (May 19, 2010)
On one hand, the ousting of Democratic turncoat Arlen Specter can be viewed as a boon for tea party politics. On the other hand, it could make his seat harder for... more
By Jillian Bandes (May 17, 2010)
It’s difficult to overstate the degree of insanity coming from Alan Grayson in Florida’s eighth Congressional district.
Grayson has used his Congressional office as a... more
By Jillian Bandes (May 14, 2010)
The Wisconsin gubernatorial election is a mixed bag. A mixed brown bag, that is.
After Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle announced his retirement, GOP primary candidate Scott... more
By Jillian Bandes (May 10, 2010)
Virginia’s fifth district was home to one of the hottest Congressional races of the year last cycle, and this year promises to be another scorcher. The only differences is... more
By Jillian Bandes (May 07, 2010)
This is part of a series that Townhall.com's National Political Reporter Jillian Bandes is doing on electorally vulnerable Democrats called "Open Season."
If Pennsylvania’s... more
By Jillian Bandes (May 06, 2010)
Who can save Michigan? It’s certainly not Rep. Mark Schauer (D), who won his last election on the Obama wave in 2008 and has done virtually nothing since to enhance the lives... more
By Jillian Bandes (May 05, 2010)
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad put on a predictable show at the U.N. conference on Monday, claiming the U.S. is actively threatening the world with nuclear aggression. But circumstances... more
By Jillian Bandes (May 03, 2010)
This is part of a series that Townhall.com's National Political Reporter Jillian Bandes is doing on electorally vulnerable Democrats called "Open Season."Rep. Shea-Porter... more
By Jillian Bandes (Apr 28, 2010)
Florida Governor Charlie Crist skulked away from the Republican Party like a rebellious teenager. Not unlike a rebellious teenager, Crist’s biggest problems could be... more
By Jillian Bandes (Apr 28, 2010)
Republicans are being out-fundraised on the national level as the November mid-terms approach. But they’ve got a significant “enthusiasm advantage” that could prove to be... more
By Jillian Bandes (Apr 23, 2010)
Republicans in Ohio’s 16th Congressional district are suffering through a blistering primary that will end in two short weeks. After that, it’s open season on incumbant... more
By Jillian Bandes (Apr 21, 2010)
This is part of a series that Townhall.com's National Political Reporter Jillian Bandes is doing on electorally vulnerable Democrats called "Open Season." She has covered... more
By Jillian Bandes (Apr 15, 2010)
UPDATED 7:40PM
Flat taxers. Fair taxers. Funky taxers. You name it, they were crowded outside the IRS building this morning in honor of Tax Day, and crammed on... more
By Jillian Bandes (Apr 15, 2010)
This is part of a series that Townhall.com's National Political Reporter Jillian Bandes is doing on electorally vulnerable Democrats called "Open Season."
The showdown... more
By Jillian Bandes (Apr 11, 2010)
The emphasis Saturday once again focused on rebuilding the brand and taking on 2010. Here are the top ten quotes from the final day of the Southern Republican Leadership... more
By Jillian Bandes (Apr 10, 2010)
The three themes of SRLC are: repeal the health care bill, remain The Party of No, and repair the Republican brand. Oh, and, win every election in sight.
"People are... more
By Jillian Bandes (Apr 09, 2010)
Palin didn't hint at her 2012 plans in her keynote address to SRLC, but she did provide some meaty thoughts on energy policy, possibly her most important campaign issue if... more
By Jillian Bandes (Apr 08, 2010)
Welcome to the schmoozy, boozy wonderland of the Southern Republican Leadership conference.
The southern belles have curled their blonde bobs so tightly that there's no... more
By Jillian Bandes (Apr 08, 2010)
This is part of a series that Townhall.com's National Political Reporter Jillian Bandes is doing on electorally vulnerable Democrats called "Open Season."
Betsey Markey... more
By Jillian Bandes (Apr 01, 2010)
This is part of a series that Townhall.com's National Political Reporter Jillian Bandes is doing on vulnerable Democrats called "Open Season."
Rep. Steve Driehaus (D-Ohio)... more
By Jillian Bandes (Mar 25, 2010)
Last night, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid voted in favor of allowing the federal government to subsidize Viagra for child molesters.
So did fifty-six of Reid's... more
By Jillian Bandes (Mar 25, 2010)
Most Members of Congress – especially Democratic Members – did not sleep last night. That’s because a fun little Senate procedure allowed unlimited time to register official... more
By Jillian Bandes (Mar 24, 2010)
Republican Rep. Randy Neugebauer's 'baby killer' outburst has irked those who say they are concerned with 'Congressional decorum.' His constituents, on the other hand, are... more
By Jillian Bandes (Mar 23, 2010)
Until now, Obama’s lower court nominees up have been fairly milquetoast – run-of-the-mill liberals with relatively tame political agendas. But judicial observers say that... more
By Jillian Bandes (Mar 18, 2010)
As cost estimates for Obamacare are released, Democratic sales tactics have shifted from saving America to just saving America’s youth. That’s ironic, given that young... more
By Jillian Bandes (Mar 17, 2010)
The “Code Red” health care protest near the U.S. Capitol on beautiful Tuesday morning was a familiar and comfortable scene. Older gentlemen with signs and young women with... more
By Jillian Bandes (Mar 13, 2010)
It’s depressing that President Obama is the one calling the shots on the budget right now instead of Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wisc.).
Obama has created a “deficit commission”... more
By Jillian Bandes (Mar 12, 2010)
It’s rare, but sometimes petty politics can mean progress.
That was certainly the case this week with the earmark war between Republican and Democrats in the House. After... more
By Jillian Bandes (Mar 11, 2010)
News broke over the weekend that minorities are receiving less than 2% of the contracts awarded by the federal government with stimulus money.
Some people think that’s a... more
By Jillian Bandes (Mar 08, 2010)
Like so many things in the Democratic Congress, Dawn Johnsen keeps showing up again and again. This is the woman who said that ‘legal abortion remains safer than... more
By Jillian Bandes (Mar 05, 2010)
Using reconciliation to pass the health care bill promises to transform Congress into a bunch of angry chickens, picking through pages of the bill like feed in a trough.... more
By Jillian Bandes (Mar 03, 2010)
Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison has conceded to incumbent Gov. Rick Perry in the Texas GOP gubernatorial primary, making Perry the Republican nominee in November's general... more
By Jillian Bandes (Feb 26, 2010)
Obama stacked the deck during the health care summit, giving Democrats twice the speaking time as the GOP. But how well did Republicans punch back?
Depends who you talk... more
By Jillian Bandes (Feb 25, 2010)
The Toyota show trials are more like an episode of Judge Judy than an actual investigation by Congressional committees. Sitting in for the esteemed TV judge is a cadre of... more
By Jillian Bandes (Feb 22, 2010)
Life-size posters of Reagan dotting the halls. Full-body duck and whale mascot costumes to illustrate energy solutions. And, of course, the reenactment soldiers, trotting... more
By Jillian Bandes (Feb 19, 2010)
What does it say that Ron Paul enjoyed a bigger audience than anyone else at CPAC?
"Let us take this opportunity to address those of you who disagree: all I ask you to do... more
By Jillian Bandes (Feb 18, 2010)
CPAC is filled with brilliant conservative speakers sure to knock your socks off with their wonky analysis and inspiring speeches. But let's be honest. What are we all really... more
By Jillian Bandes (Feb 17, 2010)
New claims that President George W. Bush’s administration is responsible for the Toyota recall takes "blame Bush" rhetoric from an energizing pastime to a blood sport.... more
By Jillian Bandes (Feb 11, 2010)
In justifying Khalid Sheikh Mohammed's civilian trial, the Obama administration is fond of citing a seemingly slam-dunk factoid: 300 other terrorists are currently... more
By Jillian Bandes (Feb 06, 2010)
If Sarah Palin is the future of the conservative movement, then one thing can be certain: leadership isn't going to suffer from a lack of support.
Her keynote speech at... more
By Jillian Bandes (Feb 06, 2010)
If you read any of the extensive coverage of the Tea Party Convention going on this weekend in Nashville, TN, be prepared for dramatic stories of rampant grassroots... more
By Jillian Bandes (Feb 05, 2010)
The convoluted, politicized and hugely expensive issue of the "doc fix" is back in the spotlight after falling by the wayside along with health reform. Unlike health care... more
By Jillian Bandes (Feb 01, 2010)
A few weeks ago, if you said “The GOP could take back the Senate majority in 2010” you would’ve been laughed out of the room.
Now, you would be taken just a little... more
By Jillian Bandes (Jan 28, 2010)
President Obama delivered a State of the Union address that was very different than the one he was planning on giving just a few weeks ago.
The State of the Union was... more
By Jillian Bandes (Jan 27, 2010)
Being a centrist Democrat in Congress these days is awfully hard. Especially if you’re Blanche Lincoln.
Lincoln has been fighting off rumors that she’s dropping out... more
By Jillian Bandes (Jan 19, 2010)
Republican Scott Brown has won the Massachusetts special Senate election. Early returns showed an 52 percent lead for the low-key Republican, with Democrat Martha Coakley... more
By Jillian Bandes (Jan 18, 2010)
Here are ten things you should know about Democrat Martha Coakley going into Tuesday’s Massachusetts Senate election.
1. She stated explicitly that pro-life Catholics... more
By Jillian Bandes (Jan 15, 2010)
Heading into the 2010 mid-term elections, House Republicans want to re-focus their efforts towards providing solutions to failed Democratic policies. House Minority Leader... more
By Jillian Bandes (Jan 13, 2010)
The Office of Management and Budget has calculated jobs that are “saved or created” by the Recovery Act through non-existent congressional districts, phantom ZIP codes, and... more
By Jillian Bandes (Jan 11, 2010)
One of the biggest questions for conservatives right now is whether Sarah Palin will run for president in 2012.
Recent moves by Palin suggest that she will.
Palin just... more
By Jillian Bandes (Jan 07, 2010)
A bill to permit same sex-marriage in New Jersey is dead in the water as soon as Republican governor-elect Chris Christie takes office on January 19. So advocates have... more
By Jillian Bandes (Jan 06, 2010)
The White House’s decision to stop the transfers of Guantanamo Bay detainees back to their home base in Yemen jeopardizes President Obama’s executive order – and campaign... more