Dem Debate No. 2: Thoughts

Ken AshfordDemocrats, Election 2020Leave a Comment

Unlike the first debate on Wednesday night, last night’s round of ten debate was exciting and revealing, probably because it contained 4-5 top tier and second tier candidates, rather than 2-3 in the first debate. The takeaway: It was a great night for Kamala Harris. She “won” it hands done. And it was a horrible night for Biden. And it … Read More

Dem Debate No. 1 Quick And Dirty Review

Ken AshfordDemocrats, Election 2020Leave a Comment

Look — it was too many candidates, covering too many issues, in too short a time. I watched last night to see if there were any standouts in the bottom tiers (Warren, being the only one in the pack who is in the top five polling-wise) My take, in order of my pre-debate preference: Warren: no changeBooker: looking slightly betterCastro: … Read More

Dem Debate No.1 One Is Tonight

Ken AshfordDemocrats, Election 2020Leave a Comment

The first debates of the 2020 Democratic presidential race are here. Ten candidates will participate tonight beginning at 9:00 pm ET. And the second 10 — led by Joe Biden, Bernie Sanders, Kamala Harris and Pete Buttigieg — go on Thursday. Slated for tonight: Cory Booker, Bill de Blasio, Julián Castro, John Delaney, Tulsi Gabbard, Jay Inslee, Amy Klobuchar, Beto … Read More

Biden Can Work With Bigots, But Don’t We Want Someone Who Can BEAT Them?

Ken AshfordDemocrats, Election 2020Leave a Comment

Joseph R. Biden Jr., defending himself on Tuesday night against suggestions that he is too “old fashioned” for today’s Democratic Party, invoked two Southern segregationist senators by name as he fondly recalled the “civility” of the Senate in the 1970s and 1980s. Speaking at a fund-raiser at the Carlyle Hotel in New York City, Mr. Biden, 76, stressed the need … Read More

Dem Debates Lineup:

Ken AshfordDemocrats, Election 2020Leave a Comment

Wednesday, June 26: Booker Castro de Blasio Delaney Gabbard Inslee Klobuchar O’Rourke Warren Thursday, June 27: Biden Bennet Buttigieg Gillibrand Harris Hickenlooper Sanders Swalwell Williamson Yang The first night is a gift to Warren, since she is among lower-level people, and it is the first night (more likely to get more viewers). Thursday looks like the heavy hitters, and for … Read More

To Impeach or Not?

Ken AshfordCongress, Democrats, Election 2020, L'Affaire Russe, Trump & AdministrationLeave a Comment

Okay, we have the Muller Report, which — as everyone says — is a roadmap for Congress to start impeachment proceedings, or at least go forward with investigations leading to impeachment proceedings. Steny Hoyer, the number-two Democrat in the House, even after the long-awaited Mueller report, is not on board. “Based on what we have seen to date, going forward … Read More

Pelosi Wins SOTU War

Ken AshfordCongress, Democrats, Trump & AdministrationLeave a Comment

Donald Trump blinked. There’s simply no other way to interpret this tweet sent at 11:12 p.m. Eastern time Wednesday night: As the Shutdown was going on, Nancy Pelosi asked me to give the State of the Union Address. I agreed. She then changed her mind because of the Shutdown, suggesting a later date. This is her prerogative – I will do the … Read More

What The New Dem-Controlled House Should Do Out Of The Gate

Ken AshfordCongress, Democrats, Election 2018, Immigration and Xenophobia, Infrastructure, Political Scandals, Trump & Administration, Voter Suppression & Voter SecurityLeave a Comment

Dear Dem-Controlled House and Nancy Pelosi: Don’t let Trump bait you into go whole hog on investigations of him. That’ll come in time. No talk of impeachment. And let Mueller do his thing.  In the meantime, act for the American people. The new Democratic House majority should devote its first 100 days to passing five pieces of legislation, then dare … Read More

A Clarification

Ken AshfordDemocrats, L'Affaire Russe, Trump & AdministrationLeave a Comment

Just won lawsuit filed by the DNC and a bunch of Democrat crazies trying to claim the Trump Campaign (and others), colluded with Russia. They haven’t figured out that this was an excuse for them losing the election! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 6, 2018 It would be a full time job trying to correct this asshole, but I … Read More

Jones Beats Moore In Close Result

Ken AshfordCongress, Democrats, Election 2016, Election 2018, Republicans, Trump & AdministrationLeave a Comment

Moore has not conceded, but the margin of victory is high enough to ensure no automatic recount. African-American turnout played an important role in Jones’ victory. Race played a bigger factor than education as white men AND WOMEN(!) preferred Moore. Of the 20 counties that saw their turnout rise in comparison to the 2014 midterm elections in Alabama, an election … Read More

And Now It’s…. Oh Dear… Senator Al Franken’s Turn?

Ken AshfordCongress, Democrats, Political Scandals, Sex Scandals, Sex/Morality/Family ValuesLeave a Comment

The sexual harassment purge is getting ugly. WaPo: Broadcaster and model Leeann Tweeden said Thursday that Al Franken “forcibly kissed” and groped her during a USO tour in 2006, two years before the Minnesota Democrat’s election to the U.S. Senate. “You knew exactly what you were doing,” Tweeden wrote in a blog post for Los Angeles radio station KABC, for which she works as … Read More

DNC Bloodshed

Ken AshfordDemocrats, Election 2016Leave a Comment

We knew things were bad with the DNC during the last presidential election. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, the chairwomen, was forced aside on the eve of the Democratic National Convention due to the release of thousands of embarrassing emails among party officials that appeared to show co­ordinated efforts to help Clinton at the expense of her rivals in the Democratic primaries. That … Read More

Interesting Poll Numbers From North Carolina — Trump Underwater

Ken AshfordCongress, Democrats, Local Interest, Polls, Republicans, Trump & Administration, Voter Suppression & Voter SecurityLeave a Comment

From PPP: PPP’s new North Carolina poll finds strong, bipartisan opposition to cuts the General Assembly has made to the budget of the North Carolina Department of Justice. Only 18% of voters support the 10 million dollars in cuts that have been made, to 60% who say they are opposed to them. This opposition is shared by independents (9/68), Democrats … Read More

Highlights From DNC Day 4

Ken AshfordDemocrats, Election 2016Leave a Comment

It was a very well-orchestrated Day 4 of the convention, with some extraordinary speeches.  Unfortunately, the networks and 24 hours cable news stations didn’t cover some of the best ones, like these: (1) The father of a deceased Muslim soldier offering Trump his copy of the Constitution: (2) North Carolina’s Own, Reverend Barber shakes the walls: (3)  Friend of mine … Read More