The stream of news that usually comes from political conventions has been a torrent for the past two days. This has not been a conventional convention. On Day One, you had the homage to Bernie, which spilled into Day Two with the Bernie Deadenders (that’s what I’m going to call those Bernie supporters who won’t vote in unity behind Hillary … Read More
Let Me Remind You Fuckers Who I Am
GUEST POST BY HILLARY CLINTON: What the fuck is your problem, America?? I’m Hillary goddamn Clinton. I’m a political prodigy, have been since I was 16. I have an insane network of powerful friends. I’m willing to spend the next eight years catching shit on all sides, all so I can fix this fucking country for you. And all you … Read More
Democrats Filibuster For Gun Control
Props to Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut for starting and leading a filibuster to enact some sort of gun control measure, something the Republican Congress won’t even consider, even in the light of such massacres as Newtown and the Orlando Pulse Club shootings. Senate Democrats ended a nearly 15-hour filibuster early this morning after Republican Party leaders reportedly agreed to allow … Read More
Breaking: Senate Democrats Engaging In Filibuster Re: Gun Control
About an hour and a half ago (around 11:30 am), Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT) started embarking on a talking filibuster in order to push the Senate to address gun control in the wake of the deadly mass shooting in Orlando, Florida. Murphy and Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) alternated speaking about gun control on the Senate floor, according to Fox 61 in Connecticut. … Read More
Bernie Math
This might be satire, but like all satire, it is grounded in reality.
The Rude Pundit On Clinton’s Debate Win
He’s not endorsed anyone yet, and yes, he’s rude, but he’s a great writer too: See, after nearly three decades in the public spotlight, a good chunk of that spent in the cross-hairs of every scandal gun Republicans could load, nothing you can throw at Hillary Clinton is gonna dent her. She ran out of fucks sometime in 2008, and … Read More
Debate Wrapup
The point of any debate is to draw contrasts and attract new voters. Did anyone do that in last night’s first Democratic debate? Perhaps, but only with those who hadn’t decided up until now. I don’t think Sanders swayed any Hillary voters and I don’t think Hillary swayed any Sanders voters. Still, it was a good debate in that it … Read More
Democratic Debate Tonight — The Also-Rans
Five Democrats take the stage tonight for the first Democratic Presidential Candidate Debate on CNN, and all eyes will be on Hillary Rodham of Chicago and Bernie Sanders of Vermont. Here are the other three: Martin O’Malley — former governor of Maryland National polling average: 1.0 percent Iowa: 4.0 percent New Hampshire: 1.7 percent O’Malley is the only life-long Democrat … Read More
The Death Of The Moderate Republican
Yes, the moderate Republican is extinct. Like the dodo bird of the days of yore. But just in case you need a graph showing this, I proffer the following from the Washington Post wonkblog. The graph employs a widely-used measure of political polarization, a score of ideology based on voting developed by Kenneth Poole and Howard Rosenthal. Let’s look, for example, at the … Read More
Short Takes
Yeah, I’m playing catch-up. Been very busy since last week. I have a little to say about a lot of things, so now comes a slam of quick posts. (1) As for the clash in Phoenix between Islamophobes and would-be terrorists, the Islamophobes went home disappointed. No violence. No anything, really: Protesters at Friday’s “Freedom of Speech” rally outside a … Read More
The Phrase Of The Day Is “Hippie Punching”
Yeah, despite my enjoyment of the GOP/Tea Party rift, I should keep in mind that there's some infighting on the left, too: Top Obama adviser David Axelrod got an earful of the liberal blogosphere's anger at the White House moments ago, when a blogger on a conference call directly called out Axelrod over White House criticism of the left, accusing … Read More
More Fire In The Belly Like This Please
The House was debating a bill last night that would provide up to $7.4 billion in health care aid to rescue and recovery workers who have faced health problems since their work in the wake of the September 11 attacks. The bill ultimately failed to get the needed two-thirds majority, 255-159. This was largely due to Republicans, who support a $676 billion … Read More
Third Party Comes To North Carolina
It always warms my heart when I read and hear about Tea Partiers rebelling against the Repubican Party and forming their own third party. Nothing would ensure the future of the Democratic Party more than having conservatives divide their loyalty between the Grand Old Party and the Raging New Party. Which is what makes me concerned about this: North Carolina Democrats' … Read More
Political Dictionary
"Obstructionism," only refers to Democratic minorities opposing Republican proposals. "Tyranny" is found when an elected Democratic majority passes legislation that Republicans don't like. "Reconciliation" describes a Senate process that Republicans are allowed to use to overcome Democratic "obstructionism." "Terrorism" refers to acts of political violence committed by people who aren't white guys. "Bipartisanship" is found when Democrats agree to pass Republican … Read More
The Golden Issue: Campaign Finance
If the Democrats were smart, they will take this issue and own it. The issue: the recent Supreme Court decision, Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, where the Supremes ruled 5-4 that corporations have the same rights as individuals when it comes to political speech and can therefore use their profits to support or oppose individual candidates. The decision appears … Read More