Attorney in Texas
Attorney in Texas's JournalNYT: "Bernie Sanders, Your Cool Socialist Grandpa"
link; excerpt:How is a 74-year-old self-described Democratic socialist from one of the least populous states in the country turning the Democratic primary upside down and proving an adept challenger to one of the most established candidates in modern politics?
Easy, supporters of Senator Bernie Sanders say: He represents an unyielding crusader who will restore decency to American politics. Mr. Sanders is ideologically pure at a time when everything and everyone else in Democratic Washington seems to revolve around compromise. And as this primary is proving, many Democrats (and even some Republicans) are frustrated with compromise. ... To understand how Mr. Sanders has outperformed expectations in the Democratic primary, you have to look at how he’s long been outperforming expectations in Washington, where he first arrived after winning a seat in Congress in 1990.
“Bernie Sanders surprises people,” said Harry Jaffe, an editor at large for Washingtonian magazine, who wrote an unauthorized biography of Mr. Sanders, to be published in mid-January. “If I would boil down his political career, it comes down to surprising people and exceeding expectations.”
Since winning his Senate seat, Mr. Sanders has held on to it by keeping his constituents, not his colleagues, in mind.
“This is a man who goes home to Vermont almost every weekend, and he famously said a number of years ago, ‘I work in Washington, but I live in Vermont,’ ” Mr. Jaffe said.
...
Enter Mr. Sanders, an almost painfully earnest politician seemingly burdened with the ambition and moral certitude of Joan of Arc. Liberal millennials are flocking to him, their Cool Socialist Grandpa. A recent McClatchy-Marist poll found that Democratic voters ages 18 to 29 favored Mr. Sanders over Mrs. Clinton by a margin of 58 percent to 35 percent.
...
That is what seems to separate Mrs. Clinton from Mr. Sanders: a willingness to sacrifice ideological purity in order to get things done.
...
“The difference between the Democrats and the Republicans is that when Republicans get power, they know how to use it,” Ed Schultz, a former MSNBC host and a personal friend of Mr. Sanders, lamented. “When the Democrats get power, they want to negotiate with everybody.”
And would Mr. Sanders know how to wield that power, if it were given to him?
“Absolutely,” he said.
Hillary Clinton’s often-told story that NASA rejected her childhood dream of becoming an astronaut
Source: Washington Post
Fact Checker ... The Pinocchio Test
According to NASA and some space historians, the message in the response that Clinton claims to have received is consistent with NASA policy and the agency’s attitudes toward the possibility of female astronauts at the time. It is debatable whether the tone of the letter Clinton describes fits NASA’s response to girls or aspiring female college students in the early 1960s. NASA could not authenticate the one 1962 letter that exists in cyberspace that appears to confirm Clinton’s account, though the agency says it has no reasons to doubt it is a genuine NASA letter.
Correspondence to children and college students from 1964 to 1967, the earliest letters available for public review, were written in a friendly and encouraging manner, rather than a flat-out rejection. But given that NASA received about 4,400 letters in 1965 (the typical volume of mail around that time), it is plausible that some official had written an explicitly discouraging letter to a member of the public — perhaps to Clinton.
Given what we know now, we don’t have a reason to doubt her story. But we are leaving this fact-check with a Verdict Pending rating throughout the election in case we find more information.
We’re asking our readers for help on this one: If you have copies of letters from NASA from the early 1960s, know of someone who does, or if you are/know of “Miss Kelly” — we want to hear from you.
Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/fact-checker/wp/2015/11/30/hillary-clintons-often-told-story-that-nasa-rejected-her-childhood-dream-of-becoming-a-female-astronaut/
This is a pretty through and well researched report.
The Washington Post (a generally credible and respected paper) is "asking our readers for help on this one."
Let's help corroborate Clinton's account before the National Review, FauxNoise, and hate radio cut credible journalism out of the picture.
Even if this account cannot be corroborated (which I personally doubt), let's learn that fact before the first caucus and primary votes are cast.
HuffPost: "In Late 2007, Obama Trailed Clinton By 26 Points. Bernie Sanders Is 2016's Barack Obama"
link to H. A. Goodman's excellent editorial; excerpt:
Before the Iowa Caucus in December of 2007, Pew Research reported that Barack Obama was 26 points behind Hillary Clinton. In the "Democratic Horse Race," Hillary Clinton enjoyed 48% support while Obama was stuck at 22%. According to Gallup in late 2007, Hillary Clinton held a commanding lead over Senator Obama.... Sound familiar?
President Obama won, despite the polls, and Hillary Clinton lost, primarily because one candidate was able to generate immense energy and enthusiasm.
However, it's difficult to generate enthusiasm when you're a Democratic nominee who voted for Iraq and is funded by prison lobbyists, but alas, Clinton supporters base their vote upon the perception of political power. This viewpoint ignores the fact that Democrats lose elections when voter turnout is low, and only Bernie Sanders can ensure a high voter turnout in 2016. Between an expanding FBI investigation, Clinton's negative favorability ratings, and her longstanding ties to Donald Trump, Republicans would win the White House with a Clinton nomination.
Thus far, 14% of Democrats according to CBS News will not support Hillary Clinton. Furthermore, I explain in The Huffington Post and Salon that I'm one of these Democrats. Yes, I will risk four years of a Republican to ensure the Democratic Party doesn't shift dangerously to the right on foreign policy; electing a Democrat with neoconservative support and advisers, funded by prison lobbyists, and who once falsely claimed "I remember landing under sniper fire."
Furthermore, many voters (astonished by a liberal who won't vote for Clinton) fail to realize the difference between a president and a member of Congress. ... Bernie Sanders, on the other hand ... is respected on both sides of the aisle and won the Congressional Award from the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Sanders appeals to Democrats, Independents, and even some Republicans.
Sanders: 'People are crying out for change'
Source: The Hill
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) late Sunday sought to draw a distinction between himself and Democratic presidential rival Hillary Clinton while speaking in New Hampshire.
“From coast to coast, the American people are crying out for change, for real change,” Sanders said at the annual Jefferson-Jackson Dinner, according to reports.
“They are tired of the same old, same old establishment politics, establishment economics and establishment foreign policy. They want this county to move in a new direction," Sanders added.
Sanders also suggested in his prepared remarks that with the continued support of Democrats, he is poised to pull off one of the greatest political upsets in U.S. history.
Read more: http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/presidential-races/261458-sanders-people-are-crying-out-for-change
Bernie Sanders makes it clear: He’s playing this game to win
Source: Washington Post
MANCHESTER, N.H — As about 1,400 Democratic activists cozied up next to one another in a New Hampshire ballroom for the party’s annual Jefferson-Jackson Dinner on Sunday night, it was clear that despite the relative calm of the Democratic primary contest, the electorate in New Hampshire is still very much divided — primarily between former secretary of state Hillary Clinton and Sen. Bernie Sanders (Vt.).... “Today, with your help we can pull off one of the great political upsets in the history of our country,” Sanders said.
... On Sunday night, after weeks of holding forth with his usual focus on income inequality, Sanders expanded on his foreign policy views for a lengthy portion of his speech.... “As president, I will defend this country, but I will do it responsibly,” he added, while calling for “rich and powerful” Arab countries to contribute their fair share to the effort to fight terrorism. “We do not need a “tough foreign policy, we need a smart foreign policy.”
“We cannot and should not be trapped in perpetual warfare in the Middle East year after year after year,” he added....As he often does, Sanders noted that Americans are clamoring for “real change."
And he is offering his version of change that he thinks would bring younger and more enthusiastic voters to the polls.
“Republicans win when voter turnout is low,” Sanders said. “I see a future not just for my candidacy but for the Democratic Party.”
Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2015/11/30/bernie-sanders-makes-it-clear-hes-playing-this-game-to-win/
Interesting 538 analysis: "Will The New Hampshire Union Leader’s Endorsement Help Chris Christie?"
link; excerpt:Chris Christie ... added the New Hampshire Union Leader’s endorsement. The backing of the state’s biggest paper has historically been a leading indicator of how New Hampshire Republicans are likely to vote. Whether that will prove true for Christie is an open question.
Up until the paper backed Newt Gingrich four years ago, every candidate the Union Leader endorsed since 1980 gained in the polls afterward. ... On average, the Union Leader’s preferred candidate outperformed their polls by 8 percentage points ... Of course, 8 percentage points isn’t exactly winning the lottery. Christie currently has about 5 percent in New Hampshire polls. An extra 8 percentage points would put him at 13 percent. That probably won’t be enough to win the primary. Christie would need to pick up closer to the 21 percentage points that John McCain did in the 2008 campaign to win. And even if Christie did that, 26 percent would still be less than the percentage that every single New Hampshire primary winner received since 1972.
Also, the Union Leader’s endorsement didn’t foretell a Gingrich surge. After he was endorsed by the paper, Gingrich lost 10 percentage points.
I personally don't think Christie has a snowball's chance in hell (or -- as I like to say -- a neurosurgeon's chance in politics) of winning the nomination, but anything to disrupt the Rubio and Cruz campaigns is fine by me.
When comparing Obama 2007 to Sanders 2015, remember Clinton was viewed favorably in 2007 but now
is viewed unfavorably:
Current favorable/unfavorable polling: Clinton has a 41% favorable poll rating and 52% unfavorable poll rating (for a -11% net unfavorable rating).
Historic favorable/unfavorable polling: Clinton had a 52% favorable poll rating and a 45% unfavorable poll rating (for a +7% net favorable rating) in Nov. 2007.
Meanwhile, Sanders has a net positive favorable rating (+4%) that is 15% better than Clinton's net negative (-11%) rating.
More significantly, votes in the 2008 primary said the top two words associated with Clinton were "tough" and "smart":
Now, the top two words associated with Clinton are "liar" and "dishonest":
For those who keep insisting 2007 isn't 2015 -- NO SHIT; WE'VE NOTICED.
Clinton is much less liked now and she is more polarizing. This is general election poison.
ABC News: "What to Know About 'BernieCare,' Sanders' Health Overhaul"
link; excerpt:The most ambitious "repeal and replace" health care plan from a presidential candidate comes from Sen. Bernie Sanders, ... The Vermont independent who's ... "single-payer" plan, loosely modeled on how health care is financed in Canada and most of Western Europe.
...
What would be eliminated would be things such as insurance premiums, deductibles and copays. In their place would be taxes...
Simplicity of use and breadth of coverage would be big draws for consumers.
You could go to the doctor or spend two weeks in the hospital and not worry about getting a bill.
No insurance premiums, deductibles, cost-sharing or copays, even for brand-name medications. Gone would be worries about being penalized for seeing an out-of-network doctor.
Long-term care would be covered, whether in a nursing facility or one's own home. Most dental care would be covered, too.
That's attractive, especially for working families struggling with out-of-pocket costs for health care.
But the plan would raise taxes. Among them would be a new 2.2 percent "health care income tax," with higher rates for upper-income earners.
...
Single-payer ... would aim to slow the rate of growth in costs by putting hospitals on budgets, negotiating drug prices with pharmaceutical companies and eliminating much of the waste that many experts believe characterizes the U.S. health care system.
Administrative savings would come from doing away with layers of insurance company bureaucracy. Those would be offset somewhat because the government bureaucracy would grow.
...
Over the long haul, some experts believe that single-payer gives policymakers more powerful tools to control costs. But that doesn't magically solve the problem. Countries with long-established government-run systems also struggle with their health care spending.
The 21 craziest quotes from the campaign trail
link (to the article selecting the quotes).1. "I would bomb the shit out of them."
Trump on his foreign policy regarding the Islamic State.
2. “My own personal theory is that Joseph built the pyramids to store grain. Now all the archaeologists think that they were made for the pharaohs’ graves. But, you know, it would have to be something awfully big if you stop and think about it,” the Johns Hopkins neurosurgeon said. “And I don’t think it’d just disappear over the course of time to store that much grain.”
Carson demonstrating that competence in neurosurgery does not translate into other fields.
3. “You may have seen I recently launched a Snapchat account. I love it. I love it. Those messages disappear all by themselves.”
Clinton reflecting her understanding of the severity of her email misjudgment (part 1).
4. "What, like with a cloth or something?"
Clinton answering a questions about wiped emails, again demonstrating her understanding of her email misjudgment (part 2).
5. “I would not advocate that we put a Muslim in charge of this nation. I absolutely would not agree with that.”
Carson on being a bigot.
6. "The American people are sick and tired of hearing about your damn emails"
Sanders watching Clinton's back.
7. "Look at that face! Would anyone vote for that? Can you imagine that, the face of our next president?!”
Trump commenting on Fiorina and confirming he is a sexist.
8. “After this attack in West Africa, Obama’s new domestic terrorism plan probably requires Americans to memorize Koran verses.”
Huckabee on being a complete asshole.
9. “Well, in addition to the NRA, the health insurance companies, the drug companies, the Iranians, probably the Republicans.”
Clinton listing her enemies.
10. “I’d have to say the enemy soldier that threw the grenade that wounded me, but he's not around right now to talk to.”
Webb listing his enemies.
11. "Blood coming out of her wherever."
Trump suggesting debate moderator Megyn Kelly asked him tough questions because she was menstruating and re-confirming he is a sexist.
12. "They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists. And some, I assume, are good people."
Trump on Mexican immigration, confirming he is a bigot.
13. “Strom Thurmond had four kids after age 67. If you're not willing to do that, we need to come up with a new immigration system.”
Graham on Mexican immigration, confirming he is creepy.
14. "I would not just stand there and let him shoot me, I would say, ‘Hey guys, everybody attack him. He may shoot me, but he can’t get us all.”
Carson offering his proposed solution to mass shootings.
15. “If people are bringing — pregnant women are coming in to have babies simply because they can do it, then there ought to be greater enforcement, better enforcement so that you don’t have these, you know, ‘anchor babies,’ as they’re described, coming into the country.”
Bush confirming that, when it comes to immigration policy, he'll do his best be be as racist as Trump and creepy as Graham.
16. “As regards Planned Parenthood, anyone who has watched this videotape, I dare Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama to watch these tapes. Watch a fully formed fetus on the table, its heart beating, its legs kicking while someone says we have to keep it alive to harvest its brain. This is about the character of our nation, and if we will not stand up in and force President Obama to veto this bill, shame on us.”
Fiorina on being a liar and not caring who knows it.
17. "You don't cure a child molester."
Trump comparing Carson to a child molester.
18. “You know, the Chinese are there, as well as the Russians, and you have all kinds of factions there.”
Carson confirming that his ignorance of ancient Egypt is rivaled by his ignorance of modern Syria.
19. “People need to work longer hours.”
Bush explaining his economic agenda.
20. On May 11: “I would have, and so would have Hillary Clinton, just to remind everybody, and so would have almost everybody that was confronted with the intelligence they got.” On May 13: “Of course anybody would have made different decisions.” On May 14: “If we're all supposed to answer hypothetical questions, knowing what we know now, I would not have engaged. I would not have gone into Iraq. That's not to say that the world is safer because Saddam Hussein is gone. It is significantly safer.”
Bush debating himself and losing.
21. “He’s not a war hero. He was a war hero because he was captured. I like people who weren’t captured."
Trump on heroism.
Bernie Sanders Hearkens Back to Old-Time Socialist Presidential Candidate Eugene Debs
Source: The Wall Street Journal
Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders’s upstart presidential candidacy is being fueled by voter sentiment that hasn’t been so prominent for nearly a century: a fight between the economic haves and have-nots.
It’s a stewing sense of unfairness last tapped to broad affect by a couple of his political heroes: socialist presidential candidates Eugene Debs and Norman Thomas, each of whom lost five times in the early part of the 20th century....“Only once in a great while does a figure like Bernie Sanders come along,” said Paul Buhle, a retired Brown University American studies professor and Sanders supporter. “Whether he wins or loses, he still has made a great impression.”
...
Income inequality declined during the Great Depression and remained mild through the early 1980s, but it has picked up since then. Now, as Mr. Sanders makes his run for the White House, the top 1% of income earners are taking in about the same percentage of all income as they did a century ago, the economists report. Last year, the measure reached 17.85%.
Mr. Sanders harkened back to the New Deal in a recent speech dedicated to explaining what it means to him to be a self-described Democratic socialist today.... In a reference to Mr. Roosevelt, Mr. Sanders noted: “By the way, almost everything he proposed was called ‘socialist.’ ”
Read more: http://www.wsj.com/articles/bernie-sanders-hearkens-back-to-old-time-socialist-presidential-candidate-eugene-debs-1448657303
The full report is well worth a read!
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