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JUNE 8,  2016

SHORT TAKES ON THE DRIFTING WRECKAGE – AT 11:09 P.M. ET:

WARREN TO HILLARY'S CORNER? – FROM THE NEW YORK POST:   Senator Elizabeth Warren will soon endorse presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton and, while not currently interested in serving as her running mate, has not ruled it out, several sources close to Warren told Reuters.  Advisers to Warren, a fiery critic of Wall Street and a popular figure among progressive Democrats, have been in close contact with Clinton’s campaign team and the conversations have increased in frequency in recent weeks, the sources said.  Warren, 66, represents her home state of Massachusetts in the U.S. Senate. The sources said that foremost in her thinking is how best to help the Democratic Party defeat the presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump in the Nov. 8 presidential election and advance issues such as income inequality which top Warren’s agenda.  I really can't imagine how Warren, a true left-wing Democrat, can help Clinton in the general election.  Clinton needs to reassure the great American middle that she understands and respects mainstream values.  Adding Warren might help with anthropologists and social-justice warriors, but Clinton would be wiser to choose a moderate Democrat, if there are any left. 

MORE TROUBLE FOR TRUMP – FROM WEEKLY STANDARD:   Scott Walker has said that he would support Donald Trump if he were the nominee, but the Wisconsin governor backed away from that pledge in the wake of Trump's racial attack on the federal judge overseeing a lawsuit against Trump University. Trump said the judge, an American citizen born in Indiana, was biased against him because "he's a Mexican."  "It's just sad in America that we have such poor choices right now," Scott Walker told a reporter from Wisconsin's WKOW on Tuesday. The news station reported that Walker "wouldn't say that whether would continue to endorse him going forward."  "He's not yet the nominee," Walker added. "Officially that won't happen until the middle of July and so for me that's kind of the time frame that, in particular, I want to make sure he renounces what he says--at least in regards to this judge."  Trump tried to moderate his image in a teleprompted speech last night, but only partially succeeded.  Scott Walker is an important governor, and I'd weigh his words carefully.  Many observers don't think Trump has the discipline to control himself, and there are even suggestions that the GOP change its convention rules to allow for a truly contested convention.  I doubt that could happen in the absence of a viable candidate.

DOES CITIZENSHIP MEAN ANYTHING THESE DAYS?  FROM FOX:    After two failed bids to grant voting rights to illegal immigrants, some San Francisco officials believe they have found the man who can make it happen: Donald Trump.  A proposed charter amendment drafted by Board of Supervisors member Eric Mar would give illegal immigrants with kids in the public school system the right to vote in school elections. Voters have rejected two previous ballot proposals, but Mar is betting on anti-Trump sentiment to carry the pro-illegal immigrant proposal if he can get it on the November ballot.  Voting should be considered an honor.  I feel for illegal immigrants who want what's best for their children, but the vote should be restricted to legitimate citizens.  We must make citizenship matter.

June 8, 2016       Permalink

NOT AGAIN – AT 10:28 A.M. ET:  One pundit described Donald Trump's campaign since he clinched the nomination as a train wreck.  I'll buy that.  And the tracks haven't yet been repaired.  You'd think by this time Trump would have his proposals polished and ready for the market.  But when you're running a one-man campaign, many things that should be right just aren't.  From The Hill: 

Donald Trump’s inconsistencies on health policy are baffling experts and deepening the doubts that conservatives have about his candidacy.

The presumptive Republican presidential nominee has put forward a healthcare plan on his campaign website that leaves out many of the bolder promises he has made during debates and speeches.

Trump has repeatedly promised to “take care of everybody,” but his health plan includes no major expansion of coverage; one analysis asserted the proposal would actually end coverage for 21 million people.
Similarly, he has vowed to keep protections for people with pre-existing conditions, but his plan includes no such provision.

The celebrity businessman strayed from GOP orthodoxy in January by endorsing the idea of Medicare negotiating drug prices, something that Democrats have pushed for years. But he then included a different drug pricing idea in his plan that allows for the importation of drugs from abroad.

Then, on Feb. 18, Trump said, “I like the mandate,” referring to ObamaCare’s requirement that everyone have coverage. A day later, he clarified that he wants to repeal the mandate along with the rest of the healthcare reform law.

Republican healthcare experts say the contradictions in Trump’s array of statements and positions about the issue have made it nearly impossible to discern what he really wants to do.

“I’d say it’s still pretty uncertain,” said Doug Holtz-Eakin, a longtime Republican health policy adviser. “What he has said in the debates isn’t what’s on his website, which makes you wonder which version you should pay attention to.”

One of Trump’s most prominent refrains on healthcare is that he “will not let people die on the streets,” adding, “We gotta take care of people that can’t take care of themselves.”

James Capretta, a healthcare expert at the conservative American Enterprise Institute, said Trump has not backed up those slogans with policy.

“I think it’s wrong for Trump to suggest that somehow he’s got some idea to try to take care of people on healthcare in a way that other Republicans have been negligent on,” Capretta said. “Beyond asserting that he wants to do this, the explicit plan to try to do something about it has been really inadequate to the task.”

COMMENT:  This has to stop.  It has to stop right now!  If Trump can't get his act together, the seething revolt within the GOP that we've reported on will start to grow.  The man is getting terrible reviews from all sides. 

Barry Goldwater was a controversial nominee in 1964, and a number of moderate Republicans distanced themselves from him.  But Goldwater stood head and shoulders above Trump.  He was a pro, knew the issues, knew how to campaign, had military experience.

Donald, you only have weeks in which to shape up. Does the term "third party" concern you?

June 8, 2016       Permalink

THOSE PEACE-LOVING BERNIE SANDERS SOCIALISTS – AT 9:53 A.M. ET:  One of the greatest journalistic mistakes of this campaign is to portray Bernie Sanders as your favorite, kindly old uncle, and his supporters as young, pure idealists.

Bernie Sanders is a tough, often mean-spirited political operative of the left.  And while many of his supporters are starry-eyed idealists, so were some of the supporters of Joe Stalin.  Some others are ugly.  From The Hill:   

The Associated Press is warning its reporters to stay vigilant after several received harassing messages from Bernie Sanders supporters.

Danny Spriggs, the AP's vice president for global security, said some reporters have received angry emails, social media messages and phone calls after the AP declared Hillary Clinton the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee.

"We have not received any specific security threats," Spriggs said in an email to employees, according to Poynter. "It is always good to practice situational awareness around AP bureaus and offices."

The AP on Monday declared Clinton the Democratic nominee, saying she had enough pledged delegates and superdelegate support to reach the party's threshold for the nomination.

Their call angered Sanders supporters, who — along with Sanders himself — argue that superdelegates shouldn't be included in the delegate count because they don't officially vote until the Democratic National Convention in July.

The AP defended its decision to call for race for Clinton, calling the process "painstaking but very straightforward."

"By Monday evening, 571 superdelegates had told us unequivocally that they intend to vote for Clinton at the convention. Adding that number to the delegates awarded to Clinton in primary and caucus voting to date gave her the number needed to be the presumptive nominee," Executive Editor Kathleen Carroll said in a statement.

"That is news, and reporting the news is what we do."

COMMENT:  Bernie is going to cause trouble at the Dem convention.  I'd like to see reporters do a deeper analysis of his candidacy, and his links to socialism, than we've seen so far.

June 8, 2016       Permalink

TO THE BUNKER, TO THE BUNKER! – AT 9:38 A.M. ET:  Hillary Clinton has won the Democratic nomination.  But there's one guy up in Vermont who doesn't want to hear it.  From The Politico: 

Bernie Sanders early Wednesday morning pledged to "fight on" in the Democratic primary, even after Hillary Clinton secured the delegates needed to clinch the nomination.

He's convinced there are reserve divisions in the West.

"Next Tuesday we continue the fight in the last primary in Washington, D.C.," Sanders said, as the crowd of supporters roared in Santa Monica.

“And then we take our fight for social, economic, racial and environmental justice to Philadelphia," Sanders said, promising to continue his campaign all the way to the convention in July.

This, despite delegate math that shows Clinton has the Democratic nomination in hand after defeating Sanders in both the delegate count and popular vote.

“I am pretty good at arithmetic and I know that the fight in front of us is a very, very steep fight but we will continue to fight for every vote and every delegate that we can get," Sanders told the enthusiastic California crowd.

The Vermont senator said he spoke in separate phone calls with both Clinton and President Barack Obama. He plans to sit down with Obama in person on Thursday – a move that might delay any rollout of a White House endorsement for Clinton.

"Tonight I had a very gracious call from Secretary Clinton and congratulated her on her victories tonight," Sanders said.

But Sanders' decision to stay in the race ensures the Democratic Party remains divided and sets the stage for potential conflict – or at least competing visions – when party elite gather in Philadelphia.

COMMENT:  This is what happens when you let a guy run in the Democratic primaries who isn't even a member of the party.  There's no loyalty, no common effort.  Ditto the GOP.  Trump isn't even a Republian.

We've got to do a lot better in 2020.  Start preparing.

June 8,  2016     Permalink

JUNE 7,  2016

SHORT TAKES ON THE DRIFTING WRECKAGE – AT 11:56 P.M. ET: 

CLINTON CLAIMS IT – Hillary Clinton claimed the Democratic nomination for president tonight after winning New Jersey.  California results are not yet in.  Bernie Sanders, showing his usual illusions of grandeur, did not concede.  Maybe he'll retreat to a commune and fight to the last proletarian voter.  Clinton's speech was an undistinguished but perfectly acceptable address, thanking the immediate world, but especially her mother, for her electoral success.  She properly noted that she became the first woman to win the presidential nomination of a major party.  She gave a major embrace to her daughter, a minor peck to her son-in-law, and an obligatory show of pseudo-affection to Bill, who seemed to be enjoying the spectacle. 

TRUMP REFINES A BIT – Donald Trump also spoke tonight, using a teleprompter to prevent still one more gaffe.  The contrast with Clinton was obvious.  No matter what one may think of her, and we don't think much of her here, she's a pro.  Trump came off as someone running for president of a fraternity.  He lacks the style of a presidential candidate, and he'd better develop it fast.  There is serious talk of revolt within the Republican Party.  The conventions will give each major candidate a chance to showcase their campaigns.  My fear is that Trump will be Trump and put on a lavish TV show, a kind of Miss Universe of American politics. 

PRESIDENTIAL WARDROBE? – FROM CNBC:   Hillary Clinton took a lot of flak on Monday after a report surfaced that the presidential candidate wore a Giorgio Armani jacket worth more than $12,000 during a speech in April about inequality.  Clinton, who was well-known for her vast pantsuit collection, has upgraded her wardrobe during her most recent bid for president to appear more relatable, according to the New York Post.  You need a $12,000 jacket to be relatable?  Who is she relating to?  I guess it's the average American mom.  They all have $12,000 jackets.  Walmart sells a ton of them.

June 7,  2016     Permalink

A GROWING CONCERN – AT 8:29 A.M. ET:  I am sensing from what I read across the internet and general media that concern about Donald Trump is growing dramatically within the Republican Party.  These are not fringe elements who are expressing the view that Trump must not become president, that he lacks temperament and judgment. 

In the last day Michael Reagan, son of President Reagan, wrote, ""This most likely would be the 1st time if my father was alive that he would not support the nominee of the GOP."

Former Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger of California expressed his revulsion at Trump's attacks on the judge handling the Trump University case. 

And Senator Ben Sasse of Nebraska, a rising Republican star, is making clear his opposition.  From The Hill: 

Sen. Ben Sasse (R-Neb.) lashed out at Donald Trump on Monday, calling the presumptive GOP presidential nominee's criticism of a California judge "the literal definition of 'racism.' "

Though the Nebraska Republican did not mention Trump by name, he's been a frequent critic of his party's presumptive nominee and has pledged to not support Trump in November.

Trump said last week that U.S. District Judge Gonzalo Curiel has "an absolute conflict" of interest in presiding over Trump University lawsuits because of his "Mexican heritage."

Trump has been a tough critic of illegal immigration from Mexico and has vowed to build a wall along the U.S.'s border with the country. "I'm building a wall. It's an inherent conflict of interest," he told The Wall Street Journal.

His comments have sparked fierce backlash from Democrats and many Republican lawmakers, who worry Trump has gone too far.

COMMENT:  And he has gone too far.  He is obsessed with a private court case while the affairs of the nation are placed second. 

My worries are increasing by the minute.  It is true that Trump could be elected because Hillary is such a flawed candidate.  The reverse is also true.

Many on our side fear that Trump can blow the election.  But a growing number, yes, also on our side, fear that he could win.

June 7, 2016       Permalink

NICE TO SEE THIS – AT 8:16 A.M. ET:  There are occasional bright moments in the otherwise bleak landscape of American universities.   From the College Fix: 

Princeton Prof. Robert George has beaten the odds: Not only did he not have to sue his university for an improperly withheld promotion or fight for his tenure, but the conservative academic has just been honored by Princeton.

A startlingly rare social conservative at the top of the ivory tower who has co-taught a popular class with the Marxist Cornel West, George received a President’s Award for Distinguished Teaching at Princeton’s commencement today along with three other professors.

A Princeton news release manages to say only nice things about George, with no backhanded compliments or political digs for being vocally pro-life or believing that gender identity cannot dictate reality:

A colleague highlighted the impact George has had on “generations of Princeton students” who have “fond recollections [of] his now famous courses in “Constitutional Interpretation” and “Civil Liberties,” which “remain among the largest and most popular in the politics department.”

A recent alumnus described how “Civil Liberties” “confronts some of the deepest and most controversial questions of public morality and civic life,” and how “Constitutional Interpretation” “wrestles with intractable debates about the foundations and nuances of constitutional doctrine.”

A former student who worked with George as an undergraduate and a Ph.D. candidate, said: “On a range of topics, he challenges my thinking profoundly. We have discussed everything from politics to philosophy to religion to science — everything under the sun. Moreover, he discusses these subjects always with an eye not to convince but to instruct. We certainly disagree sometimes, but I know that I am not off the hook unless my ideas are well grounded.”

COMMENT:  Congratulations to Professor George, and to Princeton for allowing him to flourish.

June 7, 2016       Permalink

BERNIE OBJECTS – AT 8:06 A.M. ET:  The head of the Democratic People's Brigade objects to news outlets declaring Hillary Clinton the winner of her party's presidential nomination.  From The Politico: 

Bernie Sanders’s campaign on Monday evening condemned the media for its “rush to judgment” in declaring Hillary Clinton the Democratic presidential nominee, saying superdelegates should not be automatically counted.

“It is unfortunate that the media, in a rush to judgment, are ignoring the Democratic National Committee’s clear statement that it is wrong to count the votes of superdelegates before they actually vote at the convention this summer,” Sanders’ spokesman Michael Briggs said.

The statement came after The Associated Press declared that Clinton had secured enough support to cross the threshold of 2,383 delegates needed to clinch the Democratic nomination.

Sanders has been adamant in recent days that he is ready to fight all the way to the Democratic National Convention in July, and that he will try to flip superdelegates to clinch the nomination.

However, the delegate math makes Sanders’ path to the nomination all but impossible.

Neither Clinton nor Sanders will likely be able to officially win the nomination without any superdelegate support, but Sanders faces a near-impossible task to overtake Clinton among pledged delegates.

COMMENT:  Unless, of course, as we've noted before, Clinton is zinged by the FBI report.

My own sense is that the "news" of Clinton's clinching the nomination, coming only a day before the California primary, is a bit suspicious.  I speculate here that forces favorable to Clinton may have pushed for this "news."  Then, if Clinton loses California today, she can claim that her voters stayed home because they thought she'd already won.  Hey, it's logical, isn't it?

June 7,  2016     Permalink