http://www.mediaite.com/tv/clinton-spox-sanders-camp-was-stealing-data-like-kids-in-a-candy-store/

The Hillary Clinton campaign went on the offense tonight over the Bernie Sanders campaign improperly accessing their voter data. A Sanders staffer was fired for accessing the data and the DNC cut off their access to the data server.

The Sanders campaign is insisting they did nothing wrong and the DNC is overreacting, and they filed a lawsuit tonight against the DNC to get their access back.

Brian Fallon, a Clinton campaign spokesman, called into CNN tonight, very angry about the reported 24 separate intrusions by the Sanders campaign. He said this was a clear “act of theft, stealing data from the Clinton campaign,” and Sanders isn’t living up to that “different kind of campaign” he promised.

“They were very productive,” Fallon told Wolf Blitzer. “They were like kids in a candy store, Wolf. They had about 40 minutes where they ran wild.”

He called the lawsuit “an act of chutzpah” and said the Sanders staffers attempted to save some of the data locally.

Immediately following that, Sanders campaign manager Jeff Weaver adamantly denied the accusation and said nothing was printed or downloaded.

Video in link

http://www.mediaite.com/tv/cnns-tapper-grills-sanders-adviser-over-data-breach-how-are-you-the-victims-here/



The Bernie Sanders campaign is openly warring with the Democratic National Committee today after their campaign improperly accessed Hillary Clinton voter data. In response, the DNC cut off the Sanders campaign’s access to its voter data.

The Sanders camp said the failure of the system firewall wasn’t their fault, it was the DNC’s. On CNN this afternoon, Jake Tapper spoke with Sanders campaign senior adviser Tad Devine and asked them exactly how they’re the victims here when their staffers were the ones in the wrong.

Devine argued that “the remedy imposed here by the Democratic National Committee is extreme” because they need fair access to that voter data too. There are reports four staffers breached the data, and after the campaign fired one staffer, Tapper asked, “The other three breached it and they’re still working for you?”

Devine insisted information from their campaign was exposed too and they acted in good faith by privately alerting the DNC of the problem months ago when they first noticed.

tapper bernieThe Bernie Sanders campaign is openly warring with the Democratic National Committee today after their campaign improperly accessed Hillary Clinton voter data. In response, the DNC cut off the Sanders campaign’s access to its voter data.

The Sanders camp said the failure of the system firewall wasn’t their fault, it was the DNC’s. On CNN this afternoon, Jake Tapper spoke with Sanders campaign senior adviser Tad Devine and asked them exactly how they’re the victims here when their staffers were the ones in the wrong.

Devine argued that “the remedy imposed here by the Democratic National Committee is extreme” because they need fair access to that voter data too. There are reports four staffers breached the data, and after the campaign fired one staffer, Tapper asked, “The other three breached it and they’re still working for you?”

Devine insisted information from their campaign was exposed too and they acted in good faith by privately alerting the DNC of the problem months ago when they first noticed.

Tappre responded, “I respect the attempt at jujitsu here and turn this into something where you guys are the victims, but it was your campaign that actually peeked into the information.”

Video in link

http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2015/12/18/1461435/-Trump-embraces-Putin-s-killing-of-journalists-He-s-running-his-country

If we didn't already have a sense of what Donald Trump's America would look like, now we know it would look a lot like Vladimir Putin's Russia. Trump, basking in the glow of a Putin compliment, flat-out endorsed Putin's iron-fist methods of control during a Friday morning interview on MSNBC’s Morning Joe.

"Sure, when people call you 'brilliant' it's always good. Especially when the person heads up Russia," Trump told co-host Mika Brzezinski when asked about Putin praising him as "very talented" the day before.

Scarborough pointed to Putin's status as a notorious strongman.

"Well, I mean, it's also a person who kills journalists, political opponents, and invades countries. Obviously that would be a concern, would it not?" Scarborough asked.

"He's running his country, and at least he's a leader," Trump replied. "Unlike what we have in this country."

More of the article and a video in Link

http://www.buzzfeed.com/tanyachen/nenshi-the-original-canadian-dad#.uaxQldvVE

Ladies and Gentlemen. Voted the best mayor in the world. My Mayor of the City of Calgary - Naheed Nenshi

http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2015/12/17/1461333/-Hillary-Surging-in-New-Hampshire-Poll

No polling wrap up today because nothing came out but the mostly garbagey official weekly release of the Ipsos/Reuters tracker (Hillary led 58-29 if it means anything to you) but we just got a release of the Franklin Pierce University Democratic primary numbers for New Hampshire this evening, and they’re pretty newsworthy.

Sanders maintains a very slim lead in the poll, but Hillary has closed the margin dramatically since their last poll.

Sanders 48

Clinton 46

O’Malley 2

Sanders tiny two point lead is down from a ten point lead from their October poll.

Without Biden in the race, Sanders actually did slightly BETTER in October, where he led 48-38 (He led 38-30-19 with Biden in the race). That means that in the past two months Clinton has gained 8 points in a Biden-free race while Sanders has been stagnant.

This is not a particularly great pollster, earning a C- from Fivethirtyeight, but it is another in a set of data points that shows Clinton cutting into a Sanders lead in New Hampshire, and another that shows it has developed into a very close race since Clinton’s debate wins in October and her stellar performance in front of the Benghazi kangaroo committee.

Thursday, Dec 17, 2015 · 9:51:08 PM MST · TobyRocksSoHard
For a bit more context- this is the first real movement we’ve seen in this poll since Clinton and Sanders got in the race.

In August, Sanders led 44-37, in October it was 48-38, this month it is 48-46. Much like the national race, Sanders has been stalled after an initial surge for quite a while.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/12/17/1461168/-A-Lookback-at-the-Year-in-Hillary-Clinton-Endorsements

By Derekjack30



Now and again, endorsements from issue groups labor unions, politicians and celebrities come up as issues, diaries, or both. The indicate the support of important and influential members of our democracy, hence why people care.

Hillary Clinton has had a very good year on this front! Here is a look back at 2015 (so far) at just some of the support among Americans of all races, ethnicities, religions, backgrounds, and walks of life for Hillary Clinton to be the next American President.

Labor Unions

AFGE - American Federation of Government Employees, representing 301,992
AFSCME – American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, representing 1.3 million
AFT – American Federation of Teachers, representing 1.6 million
AWIU – International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Allied Workers, representing 30,000
BAC – International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers, representing 76,233
IAM – International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, representing 570,423
ILA – International Longshoremen's Association, representing 65,000
IUOE – International Union of Operating Engineers, representing 374,521
IUPAT – International Union of Painters and Allied Trades, representing 103,858
IW – International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers, representing 123,906
LIUNA – Laborers' International Union of North America, representing 557,999
NABTU- North America's Building Trades, representing 3 million
NEA – National Education Association, representing 3 million
OPCMIA – Operative Plasterers' and Cement Masons' International Association, representing 39,000
SEIU – Service Employees International Union, representing 1,893,775
UA – United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing, Pipefitting and Sprinkler Fitting Industry of the U.S. and Canada, representing 329,954
UBC – The United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America, representing 520,000
UURWAW – United Union of Roofers, Waterproofers and Allied Workers, representing 22,000

Organizations

EMILY's List
Equality California
League of Conservation Voters
LPAC
National Organization for Women
National Women's Political Caucus
Stonewall Democrats of Arizona
U.S. Women's Chamber of Commerce

Hillary Clinton has the support of the working class, the women’s rights fighters, the LGBT rights pioneers, the environmentalists, all diverse and most importantly, relevant members of our Democratic Party and democratic great nation!

http://www.latinpost.com/articles/102951/20151217/hillary-clinton-endorsements-congressional-hispanic-caucus-chair-linda-sanchez.htm

Democratic presidential front-runner Hillary Clinton received the endorsement of a top Latina member of Congress.

Rep. Linda Sanchez, D-Calif., who also serves as the chair for the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), announced her endorsements in an op-ed on the Spanish-language publication La Opinion.

Based on the English text sent to Latin Post, Sanchez explained the next president has to keep fighting for families seeking a better life, especially during economic or labor setbacks, "and I believe with all my heart that president should and will be Hillary Clinton."

While she does give President Barack Obama credit for handling matters after the Great Recession, Sanchez wrote that there is still a lot more to get accomplished.

"Hillary has been a champion for working families her entire career. She has fought tirelessly for comprehensive immigration reform that would keep so many of those families together, and give their children the best possible shot at reaching their full potential," Sanchez wrote, adding that the former secretary of state has been "a passionate ally of the Latino community" on issues they relate to, ranging from the economy, health care and education."

More in Link

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/12/16/1460776/-Clinton-Maintains-a-Steady-National-Lead-in-Two-National-Polls-Today-in-Primary-Polling

THE STATES

Nothing from the states so far today.

NATIONAL

Monmouth University (Fivethirtyeight rating A-)

Clinton 59

Sanders 26

O’Malley 4
Monmouth’s last national poll came about two months ago, and (in the Biden-free numbers) had Clinton up by an identical margin, 57-24. This poll has tended to be right in the wheelhouse for Clinton’s numbers while finding less support for Sanders than other contemporaneous polls, and it looks like a similar situation again. Either way, the poll is another piece of evidence that points to a fairly stable race since Clinton’s two debate wins, the Benghazi hearings, and Biden’s decision not to run.

Morning Consult (Unrated by Fivethirtyeight)

Clinton 52

Sanders 27

O’Malley 2
This poll represents a slight improvement for Sanders over the last week, as he increased by 4% since their 12/7 poll while Clinton remained flat at 52. This is another poll that has been in a reasonable range of other polls for Clinton’s support but has tended to fund lower support for Sanders (he has never been at or above 30% in either of the polls released today).

More in link.

http://www.mediaite.com/online/killary-clinton-pac-earns-high-school-students-a-visit-from-the-feds/



A high school civics lesson earned three Ohio honor-roll students a summons to the principal’s office — and a visit from the Department of Homeland Security — after they created a Political Action Committee named “Killary Clinton.”

The students said they took interest in the seemingly simple process of filing for a PAC, noting one of their classmates set up a pro-Marco Rubio Super PAC to raise funds for the Republican candidate. Because they’re not exactly fans of Hillary Clinton, the students chose to give their PAC a less-than-PC designation for the former Secretary of State.

“We just did it for the heck of it,” one of the PAC’s creators told Cleveland.com. “We thought it was cool so we all talked about it.” But the students’ attempt at political engagement raised red flags with authorities:

“Killary” sounded funny, but it has a menacing ring to it. It is also a name that some critics use for Clinton, the former first lady and secretary of state.

Some Clinton critics have established “Killary” Facebook and Instagram pages with graphic images and vulgar language. Another PAC was set up in Las Vegas called “It’s about Killary,” although the founder told the FEC in a filing that “Killary is a fictional character.”

The Department of Homeland Security and the high school principal apparently met with the students to determine if their intentions were malicious. For now, they seem to have avoided any real consequences — although having federal agents pay a visit to your parent’s house isn’t exactly getting off scot-free.

In an email, one student told Koff, “We all try to be good students and this is not reflecting positively on us, so I hope you can understand.”

http://www.mediaite.com/online/it-was-a-gray-area-bernie-sanders-campaign-takes-down-ad-attacking-hillary/

Bernie Sanders has repeatedly said on the campaign trail he’s never run a negative ad in his life and doesn’t plan on starting now, but over the weekend his campaign took down an ad attacking Hillary Clinton.

According to The Washington Post, there was an online ad from the Sanders campaign going around slamming Clinton as being the champion for “big money interests.” Clicking the ad reportedly redirected to a list of big financial institutions that have donated money to Clinton.

After WaPo asked the Sanders campaign about the ad, a spokesman informed them they took down the ad. It turns out, they claim, they aren’t interested in attacking Clinton in ads and the online ad was the result of “a miscommunication in our communications shop.”

Sanders was asked about the ad by ABC News today. He explained, “Sometimes there are gray areas, we felt that it was a gray area, we took the ad down.”

(Video in link)

He again touted that he wants to run a positive campaign.