And Now Scott Walker

Ken AshfordElection 2016, RepublicansLeave a Comment

And I think that’s it.  With Scott Walker’s entry this morning, all the major candidates and more than a few minor ones are in the GOP race for President.  All the hats are thrown in the ring.  All the clowns are in the car. What is it — 17? Walker could be a contender.  He’s not very dynamic, which means … Read More

Rand Paul on Taxes and Slavery

Ken AshfordEconomy & Jobs & Deficit, Election 2016, RaceLeave a Comment

Rand Paul recently spoke in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and to draw a line from taxes to slavery: “Now you can have some government, we all need government,” the Kentucky senator said while discussing Thomas Paine and the role of government at the local public library. “Thomas Paine said that government is a necessary evil. What did he mean by that?”Paul said … Read More

Don’t Fear The Donald

Ken AshfordElection 2016Leave a Comment

As I noted yesterday, Donald Trump has escaped the GOP herd and shot up to second place in the polls as GOP 2016 presidential nominee.  This is largely due, everyone assumes, to his “straight talk” about how Mexicans and/or immigrants are criminals and rapists (although Trump “assumes” there are good ones as well). Those words were spoken at Trump’s presidential … Read More

Unwatchable Campaign Video That Really Won’t Go Viral

Ken AshfordElection 2016Leave a Comment

Ted Cruz embarrasses himself badly here.  He’s trying to be cool to the kids — like Bill Clinton playing the saxophone.  Problem is, Clinton could actually play.  This, well, this is just humiliating for Cruz. I mean, I guess he knows he’s not doing good impressions, but it’s not even bad-in-a-good-way.  It’s just… bad.  Who on Cruz’s campaign staff thought … Read More

Quote Of The Day

Ken AshfordElection 2016, Race1 Comment

Mike Huckabee on a radio show interrupts himself in response to a question about same-sex marriage: Because if you equate same-sex marriage to a civil right — First of all, what an insult to African-Americans, who were hosed in the street, who were beaten, who were truly discriminated against with separate restrooms, separate drinking fountains, separate entrances. That was true discrimination … Read More

So How’s That Presidential Race Thing Going, Donald?

Ken AshfordElection 2016, Immigration and XenophobiaLeave a Comment

What a trainwreck: Macy’s is pulling Donald Trump brand merchandise from its stores after the Republican presidential candidate’s recent controversial remarks created a public uproar. The department store has come under intense pressure to cut ties with the real estate magnate and businessman after he referred to immigrants from Mexico and other countries “killers and rapists.” In a statement Wednesday … Read More

Insert Your Own Joke About Christie And The Clown Car

Ken AshfordElection 2016Leave a Comment

There was a time when I honestly thought that Chris Christie posed the most serious threat to Hillary Clinton in the 2016 presidential election.  He’s smart, dynamic, and occupies the center better than the firebrand tea partiers.  He showed a willingness to be… uh… what’s the word…. reasonable. But then two things happened: (1)  Bridgegate (2)  Hurricane Sandy You would think … Read More

Cause And Effect

Ken AshfordElection 2016Leave a Comment

Trump announcing his presidential bid, last week: “When Mexico sends its people, they are not sending their best. […] They are sending people that have lots of problems. They are bringing those problems to us. They are bringing drugs and they are bringing crime and their rapists, and some, I assume, are good people, and I speak to border guards … Read More

Sanders Gets Disturbingly Close To Hillary

Ken AshfordElection 2016Leave a Comment

I suppose “disturbingly close” depends on where you are situated politically.  If you are a Hillary fan, then yes, “disturbingly close”.  If you are a Sanders fan, or a Republican, then the news out of Wisconsin is a reason to celebrate. It seems that Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) finished just 8 percentage points behind Clinton in a new Badger State straw … Read More

King Combover Clown Enters Clown Car

Ken AshfordElection 2016Leave a Comment

The GOP presidential race got much much funner yesterday, as Trump threw his hairpiece into the ring. Trump‘s announcement speech was a strange amalgam of thinly-veiled bigotry (Mexican immigrants “bringing drugs, bringing crime, they’re rapists, and some, I assume, are good people”), fear-mongering (Iran is taking over Iraq “and they’re taking it over bigly”), and self-promotion (“I beat China all the … Read More

Jeb Bush Officially Enters 2016 Race Today

Ken AshfordElection 2016Leave a Comment

He’s the 11th candidate to throw his hat in the ring,. but he’s the GOP frontrunner.  Last week, Bush unveiled a raft of endorsements from Florida pols, including 11 of the 17 Republicans in the state’s U.S. House delegation. Normally, home-state endorsements are pro forma, but with a fellow Floridian (Sen. Marco Rubio) in the race, these endorsements are a … Read More

RIP Iowa Straw Poll

Ken AshfordElection 2016Leave a Comment

It’s official (per Jennifer Jacobs of the Des Moines Register): The governing board for the Republican Party of Iowa voted unanimously Friday to cancel the straw poll, a milestone on the path to the White House that had passed the strategic tipping point. It was no longer a political risk for presidential campaigns to walk away from the straw poll, … Read More

A Prediction

Ken AshfordElection 2016Leave a Comment

The same people who complain that Hillary Clinton is not making herself available to the press will one day complain about “Clinton fatigue” and blame her for the fact that the mainstream media is always talking about her.