March 10, 2016

Wow, Hillary doubled down on the auto bailout smear

After Bernie called her out on it. Even after all the fact checkers and some former senators said she was lying.

March 10, 2016

Stacking the deck for tonight's debate

We know where the DNC stands in this race. They will do anything they can to put their thumb on the scale, or to stand on it if needed.

The debate is hosted by Univision. Univision is owned by the largest campaign contributor to Bill and Hillary Clinton over their political careers.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/politics/clinton-money/

<The couple’s biggest individual political benefactors are Univision chairman Haim Saban and his wife, Cheryl, who have made 39 contributions totaling $2.4 million to support the Clintons’ races since 1992. The Sabans have also donated at least $10 million to the foundation.>

One of the moderators of tonight's debate is Jorge Ramos. His daughter works for Hillary Clinton's campaign.

http://fusion.net/story/153677/a-note-from-jorge-ramos/

<As journalists the most important thing we have is our credibility and integrity. We maintain that, in part, through transparency with our audience, our colleagues and our critics. That is why I am disclosing that my daughter, Paola, has accepted a position working with Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign.>


This garbage is really getting old.

March 9, 2016

Nearly 100,000 contributions to Bernie since the polls closed last night

I contributed this morning, just got another email from the campaign with this information. That would suggest at least another $2.5 million in less than 24 hours.

March 9, 2016

The Sudden But Well Deserved Fall of Rahm Emanuel

There is a separate thread on him but it seems to have run its course and I didn't want this to get lost.

For those who aren't fully up on the career of Rahm Emanuel, which reads like just about everything wrong with Third Way Democrats and the Clintons, this is a great New Yorker article. There is the incessant and aggressive fundraising from huge donors, the hawkishness, the contempt for progressives, the corruption, the revolving door between government and Wall Street, the dirty tricks, the incrementalist philosophy of not attempting to accomplish anything that isn't a sure thing, and on and on. I would clip some excerpts but the entire article should be read.

http://www.newyorker.com/news/daily-comment/the-sudden-but-well-deserved-fall-of-rahm-emanuel

The Chicago teacher's union has been calling for Emanuel's resignation over the police shooting of Laquan McDonald (16 bullets in the back as he was walking away) where the dashcam video was only released after 400 days by the order of a judge. Five days later the officer was arrested. Only 17% of Chicago voters believe Emanuel's claim that he had never seen the video. Emanuel has had a long standing feud with the teacher's union because he proposed extending the school day by 30% while only increasing teacher compensation by 2%.

It will be interesting to see if Bernie calls for Emanuel's resignation and puts Hillary on the spot. Rahm, as a soldier, would probably understand it if Hillary has to throw him overboard. I saw him say recently that he supported her and he hoped she still supported him.

March 9, 2016

"Brutal night for media narrative"

http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/columnist/rieder/2016/03/09/rieder-brutal-night-media-narrative/81518604/

<Turns out Clinton's double-digit lead in Michigan was gossamer. Sanders won the state, albeit narrowly, cutting into Clinton's overwhelming lead with black voters while maintaining his dominance among young voters and prevailing among independents.

Postpone the coronation. Sanders isn't going away quite yet. Cue the Rumsfeldian long, hard slog.

The punditocracy seemed convinced that a couple of Sanders moments in the Sunday night debate — "Excuse me, I'm talking," his ghetto gaffe — would turn off Michiganders. Apparently not so much.

Michigan, of course, doesn't change the overall shape of the contest. The math continues to favor Clinton. Her delegate lead is substantial, and she won big in Mississippi.

But make no mistake: Michigan was an embarrassment for her, and a shock. And next week's battles include some that appear to be on favorable terrain for the Vermont socialist, in states such as Ohio and Missouri.>

March 9, 2016

CNN calls it too

What a night!!!!!!

March 9, 2016

94% in, Bernie's lead back up to 22,000.

That suggests roughly 60,000 votes out. Hillary would need to win about 70% of them. They are scattered in different areas of the state which makes that extremely unlikely. I think CNN will call it for Bernie in the next 15 minutes.

March 9, 2016

Lead now down to 17,000 with 92% in.

That suggests a chunk that was 70/30 Hillary just came in. Don't need more of those. The math still favors Bernie heavily. If there are 80,000 votes out, Hillary would have to get just over 60% of them to make up the 17,000 vote deficit. And the votes out are scattered around the state including areas where Bernie has the advantage.

March 9, 2016

Bernie winning independents 70-28.

So who is the stronger candidate for the general election?

March 9, 2016

91% of the vote in. Bernie up by 24,000.

75% of Wayne County in. Hillary is winning 58% there. But Hillary would need to win over 60% of all votes still out to make up Bernie's 24,000 vote lead.