Friday Open Thread [7.10.15]
IOWA–PRESIDENT–REPUBLICAN PRIMARY–KBUR-AM and Monmouth College: Walker 18, Bush 12, Paul 10, Huckabee 10, Rubio 9, Cruz 8, Trump 7. Everyone else was at 5% or less.
IOWA–PRESIDENT–DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY–KBUR-AM and Monmouth College: Clinton 63, Sanders 20, O’Malley 5, Webb 3, Chafee 1
“Republican Party leaders agonize over the prospect that Donald Trump will mount a third-party candidacy that could undermine their nominee. They fear insulting the white working-class voters who admire him. They are loath to tangle with a threat-flinging firebrand for whom there are no rules of engagement,” the New York Times reports.
“Since the start of Mr. Trump’s presidential campaign, a vexing question has hovered over his candidacy: Why have so many party leaders — privately appalled by Mr. Trump’s remarks about immigrants from Mexico — not renounced him?”
“It turns out, interviews show, that the mathematical delicacy of a Republican victory in 2016 — and its dependence on aging, anxious white voters — make it exceedingly perilous for the Republican Party to treat Mr. Trump as the pariah many of its leaders now wish he would become.”
“In a sign that the political environment on guns has shifted in the wake of recent mass shootings — and of Hillary Clinton’s determination to stake out liberal ground in her primary race against insurgent Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) — Clinton is not only initiating a debate about gun control but also vowing to fight the National Rifle Association,” the Washington Post reports.
Said Clinton: “I’m going to speak out against the uncontrollable use of guns in our country because I believe we can do better.”
One of the differences between Hillary and Bernie Sanders where Hillary is the true liberal and Bernie is the craven centrist is gun control. Bernie Sanders actually sponsored and passed pro-NRA legislation. Shockingly, he has an A grade from that group. Some of that is due to the politics of Vermont, where many hunters live. But still…
Rick Klein: “It may be an accident of timing that the week the Clinton campaign chose to focus on national press was also the week the national press woke up to the big crowds and big dollars flowing to Bernie Sanders. (And it’s worth noting that the walking rope pen also preceded the first national TV interview Hillary Clinton granted.) But in either context, the Clinton camp’s response to Sanders’ buzz suggests that they find utility in the attention he’s getting. ‘I always thought this would be a competitive race,’ Clinton told CNN’s Brianna Keilar.”
“She may actually have always thought that, and people around her may actually have said that publicly with some consistency. Don’t mistake that, though, for their actual read of the potential race against Sanders, either before or after the crowds starting coming out for Sanders. When stories emerge about how the Clinton campaign is concerned about Sanders’ rise, that’s the surest sign that Sanders is useful at this point in the race for Camp Clinton.”
Mark Halperin: “Strength might be the defining factor in the 2016 presidential cycle so far…. To the other candidates, therefore, Trump should represents a target of opportunity‑because there’s no better way to show strength than by attacking a potent rival. And with Trump, of course, there’s much to attack…. Anything that he says is instantly national news, which, for his rivals, makes attacking him an extraordinarily risky proposition.”
“The risks are huge for anyone who makes a frontal assault, a full repudiation that goes beyond just challenging Trump on his immigration comments, a truly epic mud war. But a candidate who undertook it might be seen as both a party savior and pillar of strength, definitely prepared to be an Oval Office occupant. Even Bill Clinton might be impressed. Will any of them seize the moment?”
A new Reuters poll finds that 63% of Republicans oppose the Supreme Court’s backing of gay marriage, which gives hope for conservative presidential candidates who have come out strongly against marriage equality.
“When asked in general whether they support allowing same-sex couples to marry, 51% of Americans say they do, while 35 percent oppose it. Forty-eight percent of independent voters back gay marriage, making it difficult for a conservative Republican to win general election votes on the issue.”
Indeed. These two issues.. gay marriage and immigration… will prevent the GOP from winning a presidential election until the party changes their stance on the issue.
The real deal is that 80% oppose the so called ruling but some are too lily livered to say it to a pollster. The only gay marriage is between a man and woman who love respect, and submit to each other.
Anyone who does not get that is not the real deal. They are social experimenters remaking the society in drag.
End times are nigh. 80% of people who pull statistics out of their ass agree.
That graph shows that support for allowing same-sex couples to marry is growing the fastest among Republicans. Granted, they have more ground to cover, but it is interesting and sows that the people running for the GOP nomination may be out of step – not only with the country – but with members of their own political party.
Real Deal…
If people are too scared to admit their true bigoted feelings to a pollster, then how do you know how many of the closet bigots there are? Can you read minds? And if 80% truly oppose marriage equality, then why did President Obama get 53% of the vote in 2012? Surely these closet bigots would have voted against him since he was for equality.
I think the real deal here is that you are lying because you want your bigotry to continue and you are scared that your bigotry will no longer rule the country. You are a pathetic coward, and I am so glad you are finally scared after you have spent decades bullying and scaring others.
80% of the time it works everytime.
Notice that as it becomes easier for everyone to access data, conservadolts get more and more allergic to it.
The acceptance of same sex marriage will parallel the acceptance of LGBT people in society in general with time. At this point many people work with, know or are related to gays and lesbians. Even Real Deals old buddy Dick Cheyney. And more than a few are going to be invited to a gay wedding, can’t wait as I expect it will be fabulous. As for Trump flame out is coming, fretting punditry or not, after all we’ve been here before have we not? Bernie? Love him but he’s not going to win the primary.
@G “Notice that as it becomes easier for everyone to access data, conservadolts get more and more allergic to it.”
It’s just that the strive for persistent ignorance just keeps getting harder and harder.
Notice that fewer and fewer of their adult kids are still going to right wing churches… (the actual home of anti-progress, ignorance, and intolerance).
@b “Bernie? Love him but he’s not going to win the primary.”
Almost certain right… But I do think that Clinton should grab him as her choice for VP.
…either that or old Bill Clinton himself. The 22nd amendment does not preclude him from running for VP.
…either that or old Bill Clinton himself. The 22nd amendment does not preclude him from running for VP.
LOL! SO AWESOME. The fucking GOP spaz-out would be EPIC!
Well, it hardly makes sense to nominate and elect a Vice President who by law may not be able to be President. The 22nd Amendment says that Clinton can not “be elected” to the presidency again. And the 12th Amendment says that no one can become vice president if they are “ineligible to the office of the presidency.” Clinton has been elected to the presidency twice. So he can no longer be “elected” to the presidency, according to the language of the 22nd Amendment. Does that mean he is “constitutionally ineligible” to serve as president, to use the language of the 12th Amendment? If so, he could not serve as vice president. But finding out would certainly make for an interesting Supreme Court case.
But why would Hillary want Bill as her Vice President? She would then never escape his shadow and the notion that he is the one who is really pulling the strings.
No, the ticket will be Clinton-Castro. No, not Fidel or Raul. But Julian, former San Antonio Mayor and current Secretary of HUD
So we all know how “they” loved a brother in office. And we all know how they love to have women submit to them since they were created from their rib. I can’t wait to see the collective freakout when Hillary wins.
And I don’t even like hillary. But to see this party go absolutely apeshit when a woman runs this country, it just may bring a tear to my eye.
So many women are going to vote for Hillary. The GOP doesn’t have a chance
@DD “But finding out would certainly make for an interesting Supreme Court case.”
And would probably serve to boost Clintons’s chances at winning, win or lose.