Month: January 2016

Categories
Climate Change democrats Domestic Policies Donald Trump Iowa iowa caucus News Politics Republican vote

Political Junkies Unite! It’s Time to Vote

I predict that the global rise in temperature will show a significant decline on Monday as all the hot air bloviators, pollsters, consultants and media talking heads hold their steamy breath as they await the results of the Iowa caucuses. And why shouldn’t they? The numbers all say that Donald Trump will win the caucuses over Ted Cruz, with the rest of the GOP field barely in their rear-view mirror.

And then of course there’s Iowa’s importance as a…as a…mid-western, um, evangelical-heavy, um…white, um…state. That really doesn’t represent much about America except that the Republicans there seem to have fallen for Trump’s snake oil and Cruz’s smarmy insincerity.

Which is why I think the results will likely be different from the media narrative that’s been written since the fall. I could be wrong, and if I am I will say so because I live in New Jersey and from the governor on down to us little folk, we New Jerseyans always tell the truth and admit our failures and flip-flops.

For what it’s worth, I have been saying all along that neither Trump nor Cruz will be the GOP nominee because both their personalities and their policy prescriptions will not appeal to a majority of either party voters or the electorate at large. Trump has been inconsistent in his message on the stump and hasn’t really come up with specific fixes for the economy, foreign policy or constitutional issues mainly because he doesn’t have many. Calling people stupid or losers or saying that he can fix things because he’s a businessman doesn’t inspire confidence. Cruz, likewise, is running to head a government that he doesn’t even respect. He says he knows what the constitution means and the original intent of the framers, but my suspicion is that they would laugh him out of the room for being a presidential pretender at best.

Trump and Cruz are likely to be first and second in Iowa, but I don’t believe that either one will crack 30% of the vote and the big surprise will come from Marco Rubio, and one of Bush or Kasich, who will do far (far) better than what they are polling right now. I think they could approach 20% of the vote, which would instantly put them in line to be seen as the moderate/establishment savior for the party, and the de facto person to beat in New Hampshire.

For the Democrats, Hillary Clinton’s e-mails have reared their ugly heads again and they will have a slight impact on the race, but I think she will still win the caucuses by about 5 percentage points over Bernie Sanders. He’ll likely poll in the high 30s or lower 40s on Monday, and will go into New Hampshire as the favorite to win there, but I don’t think he’ll do that either. Clinton has too much money and more support among minorities for Sanders to mount a national challenge.

After a very long pre-season, it’s time for political junkies everywhere to get their electoral needles ready for the voting binge to come. The fun starts now.

For more, go to www.facebook.com/WhereDemocracyLives or Twitter @rigrundfest

Categories
Donald Trump Politics

Donald Trump – “Ted Cruz is an Anchor Baby” – Video

At an event in Nashua, New Hampshire today, Donald Trump continued his attacks against his closest competitor, Canadian born, Ted Cruz, calling the Republican presidential wannabe, “an anchor baby.”

“Now, Ted Cruz may not be a U.S. citizen. Right? But he’s an anchor baby in Canada. No, he’s an anchor baby. Ted Cruz is an anchor baby in Canada,” Trump told the crowd.

Trump later on lambasted Cruz for saying he didn’t know about various loans he received earlier in his political career.

“But he said he didn’t know he was a citizen of Canada, and he didn’t know about Goldman Sacs loaning him money, and he didn’t know about Citibank loaning him money. Other than that, he’s got a very good memory, okay?”

Video

Categories
Barack Obama Politics

Joe Biden to Dems – Run on Obama’s Accomplishments

If scared Democrats had done what Biden is recommending now, then things would have turned out much different in the last midterm elections. Remember how that went? Democratic candidates had so many different policies and accomplishments to point to, but instead they ran as far to the right as possible, only to have Democratic voters stay home on election day. And you know how that turned out – when Democrats don’t vote, Republicans win!

The Vice President is cautioning against that mistake for the 2016 elections.

“The best way to win is to run on what we’ve done and what we stand for … and then contrast that to what they are for and what they oppose. We don’t do it nearly enough,” he said.

“I am bullish on the possibilities for the House, as well as the Senate, and I really think the key is: Don’t run away from what you’ve done.”

Biden, who decided against his own run for the White House after a drawn-out process last year, highlighted several Democratic priorities he feels will prove popular on the campaign trail, including expanded worker protections, universal access to pre-kindergarten programs and an increase in the child care tax credit.

He said the Republicans’ legislative wishlist — as defined by the past budgets of Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) — has given the Democrats plenty of fodder to distinguish the parties’ priorities.

“Paul Ryan’s a lovely guy. He gave us such a gift, he passed the Ryan budget. … You guys don’t have to make anything up. Just say exactly what they’ve done,” Biden said.

“We can make these cases in each of our districts and suit them to our districts. … Because right now in a lot of places Americans are so confused there’s still basically this ‘pox on both your houses’ [sentiment]. We shouldn’t apologize for what we’re for, and we should point out what they’re for.”

Categories
Politics

Man Yells “I Can’t Breathe, You’re Killing Me” before Dying in Police Custody – Video

This incident happened back in 2013, but body-cam video of the killing of 51-year-old Oakland resident Hernan Jaramillo, was just released.

The Oakland police were called to Herman’s residence by Hernan’s sister around 1:40am on July 8, 2013 . She reported that noise coming from Herman’s room gave her the impression that something serious was happening in his room. She thought someone was trying to kill her brother.

Police arrived at the residence and tried getting Herman out of the room. After several attempts, the officers gained access the room, confronted and arrested Mr. Jaramillo. According to court papers, the city attorney said that Jaramillo resisted police commands 20 times when they took him outside and tried to put him in their car. At this point, Mr. Jaramillo was not a suspect

While trying to get the man into the car, one officer, Ira Anderson, said he noticed Mr. Jaramillo’s handcuff was done in the front instead of behind him.

“I grabbed him by the shirt,” Anderson stated. “I brought him away from the car … did a leg sweep and put him on the sidewalk.”

It was there on the sidewalk where Mr. Jaramillo cried for his life as officers restrained him. One witness said a police officer had his knee in Jaramillo’s back.  “I can’t breathe,” Jaramillo cried, “They’re killing me!” This was said multiple times.

“You’re gonna stay here until you relax,” one officer is heard telling Jaramillo. Later in the video the officer said, “Sir, we’re not killing you.”

When medical personnel arrived, Jaramillo was found handcuffed and unresponsive.

Video

Categories
Bill O'Reilly Donald Trump Politics republican debate

Bill O’Reilly Calls Trump a “Buffoon” – Fails to Convince Trump to do Debate – Video

Roger Ailes failed again when he sent out his top dog to bully Donald Trump into doing the Fox Debate on Thursday. In an interview on Wednesday, O’Reilly did all he could, even trying to bribe Trump with “milkshakes”, to get the Republican presidential candidate to do the Thursday night debate.

Trump, who has been in a no holds barred war with Megyn Kelly since Kelly asked a valid question in a Republican debate back in 2015, has been adamant in his decision to boycott another Kelly moderated debate on Thursday. In the interview, Bill O’ Reilly tried and tried, and failed consistently, even bringing up Trump’s “Christian” faith, to convince him to “forgive” Kelly and “turn the other cheek.”

Trump wouldn’t give. So an exasperated Bill O’ Reilly called Trump a “Buffoon,” although he didn’t come straight out and say, you’re a buffoon. Bill O’ pulled the same trick played by many others in the political media, saying there are some who say Trump is a buffoon. You know, put it out there and hope the words have their intended effect.

Watch the craziness below.

Categories
Iowa Politics

Donald Trump Pelted with Tomatoes in Iowa – Video

Real estate mogul Donald Trump announces his bid for the presidency in the 2016 presidential race during an event at the Trump Tower on the Fifth Avenue in New York City on June 16, 2015. Trump, one of America's most flamboyant and outspoken billionaires, threw his hat into the race Tuesday for the White House, promising to make America great again. The 69-year-old long-shot candidate ridiculed the country's current crop of politicians and vowed to take on the growing might of China in a speech launching his run for the presidency in 2016. "I am officially running for president of the United States and we are going to make our country great again," he said from a podium bedecked in US flags at Trump Tower on New York's Fifth Avenue. The tycoon strode onto the stage after sailing down an escalator to the strains of "Rockin' In The Free World" by Canadian singer Neil Young after being introduced by daughter Ivanka. His announcement follows years of speculation that the man known to millions as the bouffant-haired host of American reality TV game show "The Apprentice" would one day enter politics. Trump identifies himself as a Republican, and has supported Republican candidates in the past. But in his announcement speech he did not explicitly say if he was running for the party's nomination or as an independent.AFP PHOTO/ KENA BETANCUR (Photo credit should read KENA BETANCUR/AFP/Getty Images)

Donald “I’m great, I’m fabulous” Trump was pelted with tomatoes in Iowa during one of his gatherings at the University of Iowa on Wednesday. Trump, in the middle of one of his poll-praising, policy-lacking events quickly realized that some of the people in the crowd were on to his nonsense.

Watch, as protesters introduced the edible berry-like fruit to the Republican presidential candidate.

Video

Categories
Bill O'Reilly Politics

Number 1 Reason to Vote for Sanders – Bill O’Reilly Will Leave if Bernie Gets Elected

I mean, can you ask for anything better? Bill O’Reilly of Fox News, one of the leading propagandizing talking-heads on Fox, is promising… no, threatening to leave the country, to flee to Ireland if Bernie Sanders gets elected to the White House.

“You know, look, I’m fleeing,” he told Fox News White House Correspondent Ed Henry. “If Bernie Sanders gets elected president, I’m fleeing. I’m going to Ireland. And they already know it.” Buddy, don’t let the door hit you …

His reasoning is predictably selfish. “I shouldn’t say it publicly because that will get Sanders more votes,” he explained. “But I’m not going to pay 90 percent of my income to that guy. I’m sorry. I’m not doing it.”

For what it’s worth, Sanders doesn’t support a 90% tax rate — though he has said that it would be above 50%. But sure, let’s just say it’s 90% if that can convince the bloated gas bag to leave the U.S. once and for all.

Video

Categories
Politics vote

Panderer-in-Chief – Ted Cruz Continues to Pander for the Evangelical Vote – Video

Donald Trump secured the endorsement of Pastor Jerry Falwell Jr. I don’t know why because as far as I know, the pastor should be teaching and preaching about love and compassion, and not the hate mongering shown by Trump and his campaign.

That said, Ted Cruz, a man who can be considered the best panderer in Washington, panders even more for the evangelical vote by going all out Christian.

“I fear for America,” he said. “If we keep on this path there comes a point of no return and my prayer is that this awakening continues, that the body of Christ rise up to pull us back from the abyss.”

After mentioning how campaigning has been “humbling,” Cruz said that “we are going to, together with God’s blessing and grace, pull America back from the abyss and it is this election that makes the difference.” He then urged people who oppose gay marriage and abortion rights to back him in the Iowa caucuses.

Video

Categories
Politics Religion

Pastor Jerry Falwell Endorses Donald Trump for President

He has the title of “Pastor,” but apparently not everything Jerry Falwell Jr. does or endorse is commissioned by God.

Falwell just announced his support for Donald Trump in the Republican race for president. God cannot be happy with this decision.

Categories
Barack Obama Politics

President Obama Explains Why He Wouldn’t Want a Third Term Even if He Could

Seems the Founding Fathers knew what they were doing when the put a limit on the amount of time a president can preside. According to the current occupant of the White House, after 8 years in the Oval Office, it’s usually time for some “fresh legs.”

In an interview with CBS, the President explained that even if it was allowed to run for a third term, he wouldn’t. Because,“Number one, Michelle wouldn’t let me.”

The President continued.

“This is a process in which the office should be continually renewed by new energy and new ideas and new insights,” Obama said. “And although I think I am as good of a president as I have ever been right now, I also think that there comes a point where you don’t have fresh legs.”

Obama also said there “absolutely” are days when he wonders why he ever ran for the presidency, saying there are times when he gets “tired” and “frustrated.”

“And yet, there has not been a day that I have not walked into the Oval Office and understood that at no point in my life will I ever have the chance to do as much good and make as much of a difference in the lives of people as I do right now,” Obama said.

Categories
Donald Trump Politics

Donald Trump’s Campaign calls Obama “half-breed” “Head Negro” in charge – Video

More racist talk from the Donald Trump campaign that is sure to raise Trump’s poll numbers among the Republican voters.

The top spokesperson for Donald Trump’s campaign along with Donald Trump himself, have made it their number one mission to haul personal insults at the president. Coming from the opposition party you’ll expect a healthy debate about the best policies for the country. But the Republican Party and its top presidential candidate have no policies, so personal attacks are their only option.

In an interview with CNN, Trump’s spokesperson, Katrina Pierson, already known for calling Obama the “head negro” in charge, took that line of reasoning a step further and referred to the president of the United States as, “half-breed.” Given a chance to walk back that line of personal attack that has absolutely nothing to do with politics, Pierson doubled down of course.

“Would you like to retract that?” the CNN host asked.

“No, not at all,” she replied. “These tweets — I’m an activist and I am a half-breed. I’m always getting called a half-breed. And on Twitter when you’re fighting with liberals and even establishment, you go back at them in the same silliness they are giving you.”

“So, I myself am a half-breed,” Pierson added. “We have entered silly season. Donald Trump is up in the polls. There’s desperate campaigns out there, they can’t take him down so they try to take down the people that are around him. And we’re just not going to get distracted by all that nonsense.”

A future job at Fox News awaits.

Video

Categories
Donald Trump Politics

Donald Trump Calls His Supporters Stupid and They’re too Stupid to See It

It’s been one thing after another. Every time you turn around, Donald Trump is saying something else that is sure to capture the short attention span of what we call… the media. And instead of talking about policies, we are left to debate another dumb remark by Donald Trump.

But his latest dumb remark is not like the many others Trump has made. His latest remark is about his supporters and how blinded they are by their own stupidity. Donald Trump, the current leader in the Republican race for president, opened his mouth and basically said that his supporters are so stupid, no matter what he says or does, his followers will still follow.

“My people are so smart, and you know what else they say about my people, the polls? They say I have the most loyal people.

“Did you ever see that? Where I could stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot somebody and I wouldn’t lose any voters, OK? It’s like incredible.”

It’s not incredible Donald, it’s stupidity. People who would still support someone who “stand in the middle of Fifth Ave and shoot somebody” are incapable of understanding, or unwilling to accept basic human decency. Those people can be called ignorant, they can also be called stupid.

Video


ABC Breaking News | Latest News Videos

Exit mobile version