LOYOLA UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR OF POLITICAL SCIENCE JOHN FRENDREIS poses the question WHO SENT THESE PEOPLE?

"Looking Forward" to the 2016 Election

The Lounge at Iwan Ries Tuesday, February 16, 2016, 5:30-8:30pm   Reservations are required.

Every election has its story, and the 2016 election cycle is developing into a revolt against the political establishment.  On both the Democratic and Republican sides, candidates with dubious partisan pedigrees are securing strong voter support. Why now? The answer involves several factors, including the decline in competitiveness of U.S. House seats, persistent and rising inequality, and frustration over Washington gridlock.  This is further aggravated by the insatiable demands of the twenty-four-hour news cycle and the peculiarities of the primary and caucus schedule.

So where will this all end up?  The prospects for a Clinton presidency, a Trump presidency, and the fragmentation and reconstitution of the Republican party will be assessed.  Whoever wins the presidency will confront a partisan environment that will make it difficult to govern.  Nevertheless, the identity of the next president has great significance for public policy beyond his or her likely lack of success in passing legislation.

John Frendreis is Professor of Political Science at Loyola University Chicago.  His teaching and research interests include economic policy, environmental politics, and American political parties and elections. He also enjoys a good cigar.  His publications include articles in the American Political Science Review, American Journal of Political Science, Journal of Politics, Comparative Political Studies, Political Research Quarterly, Social Science Quarterly, and Polity, and he is co-author of the book, The Presidency and Economic Policy.

About the Cigar Society of Chicago

ONE OF THE OLDEST AND greatest traditions of the city clubs of Chicago is the discussion of intellectual, social, legal, artistic, historical, scientific, musical, theatrical, and philosophical issues in the company of educated, bright, and appropriately provocative individuals, all under the beneficent influence of substantial amounts of tobacco and spirits.  The Cigar Society of Chicago embraces this tradition and extends it with its Informal Smokers, University Series lectures, and Cigar Society Dinners, in which cigars, and from time to time pipes and cigarettes, appear as an important component of our version of the classical symposium.  To be included in the Cigar Society's mailing list, write to the secretary at curtis.tuckey@logicophilosophicus.org