Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
honest.abe
honest.abe's Journal
honest.abe's Journal
March 22, 2020
https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2020/03/20/us-economy-deteriorating-faster-than-anticipated-80-million-americans-forced-stay-home/
It starting to feel like the cure might be worse than the disease. Seems like we lose no matter what.
I think our leadership needs to assemble the smartest people in the country (from both sides of the isle) to figure out how best to deal with this extraordinary situation. If this isnt handled correctly we could be headed for disaster. I hope Joe Biden will take the lead on this since the Idiot in the WH is hopeless.
NOTE: This article is behind WP paywall. I was able to access using incognito mode in Chrome.
WP: "economic decline will be sharper and more painful than during the 2008 financial crisis"
From the Washington Post..
The U.S. economy is deteriorating more quickly than was expected just days ago as extraordinary measures designed to curb the coronavirus keep 84 million Americans penned in their homes and cause the near-total shutdown of most businesses.
In a single 24-hour period, governors of three of the largest states — California, New York and Illinois — ordered residents to stay home except to buy food and medicine, while the governor of Pennsylvania ordered the closure of nonessential businesses. Across the globe, health officials are struggling to cope with the growing number of patients, with the World Health Organization noting that while it required three months to reach 100,000 cases, it took only 12 days to hit another 100,000.
The resulting economic meltdown, which is sending several million workers streaming into the unemployment line, is outpacing the federal government’s efforts to respond. As the Senate on Friday raced to complete work on a financial rescue package, the White House and key lawmakers were dramatically expanding its scope, pushing the legislation far beyond the original $1 trillion price tag.
With each day, an unprecedented stoppage gathers force as restaurants, movie theaters, sports arenas and offices close to shield themselves from the disease. Already, it is clear that the initial economic decline will be sharper and more painful than during the 2008 financial crisis.
In a single 24-hour period, governors of three of the largest states — California, New York and Illinois — ordered residents to stay home except to buy food and medicine, while the governor of Pennsylvania ordered the closure of nonessential businesses. Across the globe, health officials are struggling to cope with the growing number of patients, with the World Health Organization noting that while it required three months to reach 100,000 cases, it took only 12 days to hit another 100,000.
The resulting economic meltdown, which is sending several million workers streaming into the unemployment line, is outpacing the federal government’s efforts to respond. As the Senate on Friday raced to complete work on a financial rescue package, the White House and key lawmakers were dramatically expanding its scope, pushing the legislation far beyond the original $1 trillion price tag.
With each day, an unprecedented stoppage gathers force as restaurants, movie theaters, sports arenas and offices close to shield themselves from the disease. Already, it is clear that the initial economic decline will be sharper and more painful than during the 2008 financial crisis.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2020/03/20/us-economy-deteriorating-faster-than-anticipated-80-million-americans-forced-stay-home/
It starting to feel like the cure might be worse than the disease. Seems like we lose no matter what.
I think our leadership needs to assemble the smartest people in the country (from both sides of the isle) to figure out how best to deal with this extraordinary situation. If this isnt handled correctly we could be headed for disaster. I hope Joe Biden will take the lead on this since the Idiot in the WH is hopeless.
NOTE: This article is behind WP paywall. I was able to access using incognito mode in Chrome.
March 13, 2020
My office just sent out guidance to all staff to work from home until further notice.
We have no confirmed cases but we travel a lot internationally. We are also told not to travel as well.
This is really getting freaky and having a huge impact on everyone and everything. I suspect we are heading for recession no matter what.
March 11, 2020
https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2020/03/11/michigan-romp-shows-biden-could-rebuild-democrats-blue-wall-vs-trump-125489
This is the big story of the night and of the primary campaign in general. Biden is bringing back those voters that we lost in 2016 that resulted in Trump in the WH. This is very good news obviously.
Politico: Michigan Romp Shows Biden Could Rebuild Democrats' 'Blue Wall' vs. Trump
Biden had a spectacular showing on Tuesday, winning every single county in Michigan and blowing Sanders out in three other states that voted, essentially sealing the nomination by leaving his lone rival no plausible path forward. But the big takeaway from the day’s big prize, Michigan, isn’t that Biden is a spectacular candidate. The big takeaway is that he doesn’t need to be.
Two things happened on Tuesday in Michigan. First, Democratic turnout exploded. Second, Biden performed far better with key demographic groups than Clinton did four years ago. If either one of those things happen in November, Trump will have a difficult time winning the state again. If both things happen, the president can kiss Michigan’s 16 electoral votes goodbye—and with them, more than likely, the electoral votes of Wisconsin and Pennsylvania.
There goes the White House.
Far-fetched? Hardly. Beating Trump in November does not require an electoral juggernaut. This is because Trump himself, despite his frequent boasts to the contrary, is no electoral juggernaut. The president won the Electoral College in 2016 by a whisker. He carried three states—Michigan, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania—by a combined 77,744 votes. Notably, in those states, Clinton won roughly 600,000 fewer votes than Barack Obama did in 2012. The reason: a failure to mobilize black voters, and dismal performances among both affluent suburbanites and working-class whites.
Two things happened on Tuesday in Michigan. First, Democratic turnout exploded. Second, Biden performed far better with key demographic groups than Clinton did four years ago. If either one of those things happen in November, Trump will have a difficult time winning the state again. If both things happen, the president can kiss Michigan’s 16 electoral votes goodbye—and with them, more than likely, the electoral votes of Wisconsin and Pennsylvania.
There goes the White House.
Far-fetched? Hardly. Beating Trump in November does not require an electoral juggernaut. This is because Trump himself, despite his frequent boasts to the contrary, is no electoral juggernaut. The president won the Electoral College in 2016 by a whisker. He carried three states—Michigan, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania—by a combined 77,744 votes. Notably, in those states, Clinton won roughly 600,000 fewer votes than Barack Obama did in 2012. The reason: a failure to mobilize black voters, and dismal performances among both affluent suburbanites and working-class whites.
https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2020/03/11/michigan-romp-shows-biden-could-rebuild-democrats-blue-wall-vs-trump-125489
This is the big story of the night and of the primary campaign in general. Biden is bringing back those voters that we lost in 2016 that resulted in Trump in the WH. This is very good news obviously.
March 11, 2020
Brian Williams: "Bloomberg may want to give a speech tonight"
LOL! Bloomberg getting a ton of votes from early mailins.
March 11, 2020
Missouri was the closest primary in 2016. Hillary 49.6 Sanders 49.4
Wow. Things have certainly changed and we can give the credit to Biden.
This is especially encouraging for the general showing that Biden can appeal to all voter demographics.
March 10, 2020
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/08/opinion/sanders-democratic-primary.html
This is a very good article in my opinion. Sanders and his campaign have focused too much on appealing to the fringe of the Democratic party. In fact so much so, he has probably done more harm than good to the progressive movement.
NOTE: There is a paywall but you might be able to get through it by going incognito. That worked for me.
NY Times Op-Ed: The Simple Reason the Left Won't Stop Losing
How did the political left squander the opportunity that was the 2020 primary campaign?
The Trump presidency has created tremendous energy among progressives. More than half of Democratic voters now identify as liberal. Most favor “Medicare for all.” A growing number are unhappy with American capitalism.
This year’s campaign offered the prospect of transformational change, with a Democratic nominee who was more liberal than any in more than a half-century. Instead, the nominee now seems likely to be a moderate white grandfather who first ran for president more than 30 years ago and whose campaign promises a return to normalcy.
--snip--
The Trump presidency has created tremendous energy among progressives. More than half of Democratic voters now identify as liberal. Most favor “Medicare for all.” A growing number are unhappy with American capitalism.
This year’s campaign offered the prospect of transformational change, with a Democratic nominee who was more liberal than any in more than a half-century. Instead, the nominee now seems likely to be a moderate white grandfather who first ran for president more than 30 years ago and whose campaign promises a return to normalcy.
The biggest lesson is simply this: The American left doesn’t care enough about winning. It’s an old problem, one that has long undermined left-wing movements in this country. They have often prioritized purity over victory. They wouldn’t necessarily put it these terms, but they have chosen to lose on their terms rather than win with compromise.
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/08/opinion/sanders-democratic-primary.html
This is a very good article in my opinion. Sanders and his campaign have focused too much on appealing to the fringe of the Democratic party. In fact so much so, he has probably done more harm than good to the progressive movement.
NOTE: There is a paywall but you might be able to get through it by going incognito. That worked for me.
March 10, 2020
New Missouri poll (3/7-9): Biden up +39 !!
Biden: 68%
Sanders: 29%
https://www.realclearpolitics.com/docs/2020/0ptimus_MO_Democratic_Primary_March_10_2020.pdf
Looks like a major blowout in the works in the Show-Me state.
NOTE: Optimus is a C/D rated pollster on 538. Although I think they have this one about right.
March 10, 2020
Looks like the fun begins at 8pm ET tonight!
Poll closing times for today:
Michigan: 8 p.m. ET (in four Michigan counties, polls will close at 9 p.m. ET)
Mississippi: 8 p.m. ET
Missouri: 8 p.m. ET
North Dakota: Poll hours vary by county, all polls will close by 10 p.m. ET
Idaho: 10 p.m. ET (in Idaho's nine northern counties, polls will close at 11 p.m. ET)
Washington: 11 p.m. ET
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/polls-close-what-time-march-10-primary-election/
Expecting another big night for Joe!
March 8, 2020
The only state Sanders wins on Tuesday will be North Dakota.
Its the only one that is a caucus. The rest are primaries where more people vote. The more that vote, the better for Biden. That is a huge advantage.
There are now only two viable candidates and there are alot more Democratic voters who dont want Sanders versus those that do. It does appear Sanders has a ceiling of about 30-35%. Biden has no ceiling.
I predict Tuesday will be another very big day for Biden.
March 6, 2020
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/biden-seeks-knockout-blow-against-bernie-sanders-in-michigan-primary
Most recent polling in MI has Biden up in the high single digits but I suspect Biden's advantage is actually bigger that. Obama is still extremely popular there and Biden benefits significantly from that and Michigan's popular Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has recently endorsed him. Also, Biden is still on a roll from his huge ST wins and nothing has happened to stop that momentum, if anything its still building.
NOTE: Sorry for the RW source. The article seemed good and accurate. The author is Joe Simonson, media reporter and critic with The Daily Caller News Foundation.
Examiner: Biden seeks knockout blow against Bernie Sanders in Michigan primary
Just weeks ago, Joe Biden's third White House run seemed dead in the water. Now, pollsters and Democratic insiders say he can end the primary on March 10 with a win in Michigan.
--snip--
"I am assuming that Biden winning is likely, given what’s happened in other states," said Michigan pollster Bernie Porn, who is currently conducting a survey of Michigan Democrats that he believes will show Biden with a substantial lead when completed. "Knowing that black participation is likely to be fairly strong, and there’s this almost inexplicable coalition building around Joe that is moving towards him being the likely nominee."
--snip--
A loss in Michigan could irreversibly diminish Sanders's chances of winning the nomination. After Tuesday, the map only becomes more difficult for him with delegate-rich states such as Florida and Georgia holding their primaries a week later. Sanders's entire campaign strategy revolves around momentum, and another disappointing finish could leave him with no plan B.
"There just aren't enough delegates there for Bernie in the rest of the primaries to make up for his losses. The only areas where Bernie is favored is in Washington state, which votes the same day as Michigan," Porn said. "Another issue for Sanders is that the California primary isn’t definitively over yet, and that could end up closer than what Bernie initially thought. Biden could pick up more support as early voting tallies come up. That would only narrow Sanders's delegate share even more."
"There just aren't enough delegates there for Bernie in the rest of the primaries to make up for his losses. The only areas where Bernie is favored is in Washington state, which votes the same day as Michigan," Porn said. "Another issue for Sanders is that the California primary isn’t definitively over yet, and that could end up closer than what Bernie initially thought. Biden could pick up more support as early voting tallies come up. That would only narrow Sanders's delegate share even more."
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/biden-seeks-knockout-blow-against-bernie-sanders-in-michigan-primary
Most recent polling in MI has Biden up in the high single digits but I suspect Biden's advantage is actually bigger that. Obama is still extremely popular there and Biden benefits significantly from that and Michigan's popular Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has recently endorsed him. Also, Biden is still on a roll from his huge ST wins and nothing has happened to stop that momentum, if anything its still building.
NOTE: Sorry for the RW source. The article seemed good and accurate. The author is Joe Simonson, media reporter and critic with The Daily Caller News Foundation.
Profile Information
Member since: Sun Dec 3, 2017, 10:40 AMNumber of posts: 8,659
