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JoeOtterbein
JoeOtterbein's Journal
JoeOtterbein's Journal
January 29, 2020
Trumpworld torn over running against Bernie
Politico
Some advisers are salivating over running against a socialist. Others say they need to be careful what they wish for.
By ALEX ISENSTADT
01/28/2020 06:59 PM EST
President Donald Trump and his top political advisers were huddling in the Oval Office earlier this month discussing the state of the Democratic primary when they arrived at an increasingly pressing topic: What to do about Bernie Sanders?
Sanders was surging, and some of the Trump advisers were salivating at the thought of a self-described democratic socialist as their general election opponent. As the president listened, they argued for taking steps to elevate him in the primary to boost his prospects.
But others warned that Sanders wouldnt necessarily be the pushover he might seem. They told the president, who was joined in the meeting by top officials including campaign manager Brad Parscale and pollster Tony Fabrizio, that the Vermont senators authenticity and populist appeal could draw some of the blue-collar voters who propelled the president to the White House.
With the Iowa caucuses less than a week away, Trump advisers and supporters are split over whether to wage an effort to bolster Sanders. While proponents think Sanders would be an ideal opponent, others are wary that the liberal firebrand could make for a dynamic challenger with the ability to make inroads in the Rust Belt states likely to decide the outcome of the election.
snip
Some advisers are salivating over running against a socialist. Others say they need to be careful what they wish for.
By ALEX ISENSTADT
01/28/2020 06:59 PM EST
President Donald Trump and his top political advisers were huddling in the Oval Office earlier this month discussing the state of the Democratic primary when they arrived at an increasingly pressing topic: What to do about Bernie Sanders?
Sanders was surging, and some of the Trump advisers were salivating at the thought of a self-described democratic socialist as their general election opponent. As the president listened, they argued for taking steps to elevate him in the primary to boost his prospects.
But others warned that Sanders wouldnt necessarily be the pushover he might seem. They told the president, who was joined in the meeting by top officials including campaign manager Brad Parscale and pollster Tony Fabrizio, that the Vermont senators authenticity and populist appeal could draw some of the blue-collar voters who propelled the president to the White House.
With the Iowa caucuses less than a week away, Trump advisers and supporters are split over whether to wage an effort to bolster Sanders. While proponents think Sanders would be an ideal opponent, others are wary that the liberal firebrand could make for a dynamic challenger with the ability to make inroads in the Rust Belt states likely to decide the outcome of the election.
snip
more Repub hand-wringing at link
January 28, 2020
Bolton to Reportedly Claim He Raised Concerns About Trump Doing 'Personal Favors' for Erdogan, Xi Ji
Mediaite
By Josh FeldmanJan 27th, 2020, 8:57 pm
The New York Times has dropped another big detail from John Boltons new book concerning the presidents interactions with foreign leaders.
Per the Times, in his book Bolton details how he spoke directly to Attorney General Bill Barr about his concerns that President Donald Trump was doing personal favors for the leaders of Turkey and China Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Xi Jinping.
And Barr responded, apparently, pointing to a pair of Justice Department investigations of companies in those countries and said he was worried that Mr. Trump had created the appearance that he had undue influence over what would typically be independent inquiries.
Boltons book reportedly features details of what Barr laid out:
snip
By Josh FeldmanJan 27th, 2020, 8:57 pm
The New York Times has dropped another big detail from John Boltons new book concerning the presidents interactions with foreign leaders.
Per the Times, in his book Bolton details how he spoke directly to Attorney General Bill Barr about his concerns that President Donald Trump was doing personal favors for the leaders of Turkey and China Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Xi Jinping.
And Barr responded, apparently, pointing to a pair of Justice Department investigations of companies in those countries and said he was worried that Mr. Trump had created the appearance that he had undue influence over what would typically be independent inquiries.
Boltons book reportedly features details of what Barr laid out:
snip
more Trump traitortot-ism at link
January 28, 2020
First Amendment activist making video has encounter with guard at York County (PA) Prison
York Dispatch
Liz Evans Scolforo, York DispatchPublished 4:58 p.m. ET Jan. 24, 2020 | Updated 4:26 p.m. ET Jan. 26, 2020
A York County man who was stopped from filming York County Prison while standing on the public sidewalk in front of the facility said his goal is to educate people about the importance of the First Amendment.
Tom Shirey, 58, of the East Prospect area, said he conducts First Amendment audits by going to public areas and filming, to see if he's challenged.
"Some people say that First Amendment activists are just there to bait the police ... and to see how far they can take it," he said, adding he agrees that happens sometimes. "Others believe in the Constitution and our God-given right (to free speech)."
Shirey considers himself to be in the latter category. He posts his videos on YouTube under the name First Capital Transparency.
snip
more at link
Liz Evans Scolforo, York DispatchPublished 4:58 p.m. ET Jan. 24, 2020 | Updated 4:26 p.m. ET Jan. 26, 2020
A York County man who was stopped from filming York County Prison while standing on the public sidewalk in front of the facility said his goal is to educate people about the importance of the First Amendment.
Tom Shirey, 58, of the East Prospect area, said he conducts First Amendment audits by going to public areas and filming, to see if he's challenged.
"Some people say that First Amendment activists are just there to bait the police ... and to see how far they can take it," he said, adding he agrees that happens sometimes. "Others believe in the Constitution and our God-given right (to free speech)."
Shirey considers himself to be in the latter category. He posts his videos on YouTube under the name First Capital Transparency.
snip
more at link
Great story about a damn good guy.
January 28, 2020
Celebrity star-power fuels Bernie's final Iowa sprint
Politico
His traveling festival of celebrity surrogates aims to attract young and unlikely voters to his campaign events.
By HOLLY OTTERBEIN
01/27/2020 07:09 PM EST
Updated: 01/27/2020 08:17 PM EST
IOWA CITY, Iowa Inside the campaign, some aides call it Bernchella."
As Bernie Sanders attempts to surge to a first-place finish in Iowa, the Vermont senator is tapping famous politicians and celebrities to campaign for him in one final star-studded week before the caucuses.
The luminaries cut across the culture, from politics to music to movies and more. Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, filmmaker and liberal stalwart Michael Moore, actor Kendrick Sampson, and recording artists Bon Iver and Vampire Weekend who inspired the Coachella-derived nickname are among those who have or will be stumping for him.
The roster of celebrity surrogates is designed to bring out young and unlikely voters to events: A Friday rally featuring Ocasio-Cortez and Moore, which Sanders couldnt attend because he was in Washington for the impeachment trial, drew an estimated 800-plus people. Overall, nearly 6,000 attended events in Iowa held by Sanders, Ocasio-Cortez and Moore over the last few days, according to the campaign.
Their support comes after the Sanders team courted backing from people such as rapper Cardi B and other stars of color for months.
snip
His traveling festival of celebrity surrogates aims to attract young and unlikely voters to his campaign events.
By HOLLY OTTERBEIN
01/27/2020 07:09 PM EST
Updated: 01/27/2020 08:17 PM EST
IOWA CITY, Iowa Inside the campaign, some aides call it Bernchella."
As Bernie Sanders attempts to surge to a first-place finish in Iowa, the Vermont senator is tapping famous politicians and celebrities to campaign for him in one final star-studded week before the caucuses.
The luminaries cut across the culture, from politics to music to movies and more. Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, filmmaker and liberal stalwart Michael Moore, actor Kendrick Sampson, and recording artists Bon Iver and Vampire Weekend who inspired the Coachella-derived nickname are among those who have or will be stumping for him.
The roster of celebrity surrogates is designed to bring out young and unlikely voters to events: A Friday rally featuring Ocasio-Cortez and Moore, which Sanders couldnt attend because he was in Washington for the impeachment trial, drew an estimated 800-plus people. Overall, nearly 6,000 attended events in Iowa held by Sanders, Ocasio-Cortez and Moore over the last few days, according to the campaign.
Their support comes after the Sanders team courted backing from people such as rapper Cardi B and other stars of color for months.
snip
more on Bernchella at link!
January 27, 2020
Buttigieg Draws Applause at Fox News Town Hall For Bashing Trump: 'Echoing the Language of Dictators
Mediaite
By Ken Meyer Jan 26th, 2020, 8:33 pm
Democratic 2020 nominee Pete Buttigieg drew a strong round of applause at his Fox News town hall event when he criticized President Donald Trump for echoing the language of dictators.
As Buttigieg took an audience question about how he would handle foreign policy in the Middle East, he accused Trump of worsening the regions instability before saying we dont have to choose between endless war and completely disappearing from the world stage.
We have to decide what our priorities are and raise the bar for the use of force, Buttigieg said. What we need to do is build up, not tear up our international partnerships. American lives depend on relationships with our allies. We shouldnt can doing any of this alone. We shouldnt have to be doing any of this alone.
snip
By Ken Meyer Jan 26th, 2020, 8:33 pm
Democratic 2020 nominee Pete Buttigieg drew a strong round of applause at his Fox News town hall event when he criticized President Donald Trump for echoing the language of dictators.
As Buttigieg took an audience question about how he would handle foreign policy in the Middle East, he accused Trump of worsening the regions instability before saying we dont have to choose between endless war and completely disappearing from the world stage.
We have to decide what our priorities are and raise the bar for the use of force, Buttigieg said. What we need to do is build up, not tear up our international partnerships. American lives depend on relationships with our allies. We shouldnt can doing any of this alone. We shouldnt have to be doing any of this alone.
snip
more leadership at link
January 27, 2020
Biden leaves voters and reporters hanging during swing through N.H.
Politico
The former vice president avoided taking questions from voters at town halls, a striking break from tradition.
By TRENT SPINER
01/25/2020 06:48 PM EST
SALEM, N.H. Joe Biden spent two days in New Hampshire without taking any questions from voters at his public events, a striking break from tradition in the first-in-the-nation primary state.
Instead, Biden held two community events where he spoke for about 30 minutes each time. Afterward, he took photos and chatted one-on-one with people on the rope line surrounding his podium.
He made no mention of the states opioid epidemic, which polls consistently show is the biggest issue facing the state. Voters at the events said they also would have liked to hear about his plans for health care, the cost of prescription drugs and the economy.
Candidates routinely take questions from the public at New Hampshire town halls, a longstanding practice that tests the retail skills of presidential hopefuls and forces them to answer directly to voters' concerns.
Bidens decision to skip q-and-a's left some people in the audience disappointed. At a packed event at an elementary school in one of the most Republican areas of the state, a number of topics voters said they would have liked to hear about went unaddressed.
snip
The former vice president avoided taking questions from voters at town halls, a striking break from tradition.
By TRENT SPINER
01/25/2020 06:48 PM EST
SALEM, N.H. Joe Biden spent two days in New Hampshire without taking any questions from voters at his public events, a striking break from tradition in the first-in-the-nation primary state.
Instead, Biden held two community events where he spoke for about 30 minutes each time. Afterward, he took photos and chatted one-on-one with people on the rope line surrounding his podium.
He made no mention of the states opioid epidemic, which polls consistently show is the biggest issue facing the state. Voters at the events said they also would have liked to hear about his plans for health care, the cost of prescription drugs and the economy.
Candidates routinely take questions from the public at New Hampshire town halls, a longstanding practice that tests the retail skills of presidential hopefuls and forces them to answer directly to voters' concerns.
Bidens decision to skip q-and-a's left some people in the audience disappointed. At a packed event at an elementary school in one of the most Republican areas of the state, a number of topics voters said they would have liked to hear about went unaddressed.
snip
more at link
Profile Information
Name: Joe OtterbeinGender: Male
Hometown: DelMarVa & PA (heading to PNW soon!)
Home country: United States
Current location: York County, PA
Member since: Sun Oct 28, 2012, 09:54 AM
Number of posts: 7,700