Although some Republicans remain totally blinded by the obvious racist remarks of Donald Trump in reference to the heritage of a federal judge, a small amount of them have seen the light. Marco Rubio, a former Republican presidential candidate, appears to be one of them, and he is apparently pulling away from the leader of his party.
Sen. Marco Rubio wants to make clear that if he speaks at the Republican National Convention this July, he will not be on stage as a Donald Trump surrogate.
“I may not be asked to speak, but if I am at a convention or any Republican gathering for that matter, what I would communicate is the things I believe in,” Rubio said Monday.
He said that no one has reached out to him about a potential speaking slot.
Rubio said his vision is, in some cases, “substantially different from what Donald is offering, and that’s why I’m not sure I’m going to be asked to speak at the convention.”
After Trump’s comments suggested that U.S. District Judge Gonzalo Curiel should not preside over a case against Trump University due to his Mexican-American heritage, Rubio was among the GOP lawmakers saying that Trump should stop the rhetoric.
“I’ve never said I would stand and speak on behalf of someone else’s agenda,” Rubio said. “I would speak about the things I believe in, not somebody else’s platform or on behalf of anyone else for that matter.”
Bill Maher took to his blog to dissect the type of people who will vote for Republican presidential candidate, Donald Trump. And during his research, Maher found that Trump’s voters are basically morans.
“It feels right, doesn’t it? What we’re experiencing now, not just in America, but around the world, is the revenge of the cavemen,” Maher wrote.
While admitting he had no definitive evidence behind his reasoning, Maher was buoyed by a YouGov study asking male respondents to identify themselves on a 0-6 scale of masculinity. While 65 percent of men older than 65 years of age said they were “completely masculine,” only 30 percent of men between the ages of 18 and 29 gave a similar response.
According to Maher, this age difference helps explain Trump’s popularity.
“Trump voters are overwhelmingly male and older, and think the world has gotten too PC, too ‘gay,’ and they’d like their country to be more ‘manly’ again,” the host said. “That’s where Trump comes in. He’s going to kick everyone’s ass. He’s going to win. He doesn’t care about your feelings. He wants to dominate you. This appeals to a certain cross-section of America.”
Here is another reason for Donald Trump, leader of the Republican Party, to attack Megyn Kelly.
Megyn Kelly on Thursday night said Donald Trump is “out of line” for calling the Mexican heritage of a federal judge, who is overseeing a fraud lawsuit against Trump University, a conflict of interest.
“You tell me – I’m a journalist here at Fox News and I’ve been doing legal commentary here for 10 years – this is out of line,” Kelly told guest Bill Bennett on her show “The Kelly File.”
“Yeah it’s out of line,” Bennett responded. “It’s a shame too, because it was a good day, it was an important day for Trump.”
Trump escalated his fight against U.S. District Judge Gonzalo Curiel by telling the Wall Street Journal that the judge had “an absolute conflict” presiding over the case because of his “Mexican heritage.”
Trump cited his stance on illegal immigration, saying, “I’m building a wall. It’s an inherent conflict of interest.”
Kelly, a former attorney, came to the judge’s defense, noting the judicial code of conduct prevents the judge from personally responding to Trump.
Billionaire and Dallas Mavericks owner, Mark Cuban, is one of the many millions of sane people wondering what Donald Trump is really hiding. And Cuban is hitting on something with his new way of thinking – maybe Trump is not really a billionaire like he claims.
“I know what I’m good at, and I know what I’m not good at. I’m not so sure Donald knows what he’s not good at,” Cuban said on 77 WABC’s Bernie and Sid.
Cuban said Trump was good at putting his name on big buildings and licensing his name on hotels, but it isn’t clear how much money that has made him. “He’s good at that. Whether or not that’s made him a billionaire, I don’t know,” Cuban said. “He’s not transparent enough for us to actually know.”
Technology really speeds things up, no? We used to have to wait until August to read stories that made little sense or that focused on the non-political part of the political process, but this year we should be proud that the press is once again ahead of the calendar and is in full silly season mode on this, the unofficial start of the summer.
Part of the issue might be that both party’s political conventions are in July, which is upsetting the media. Of course, the other reason is that the Republicans will nominate perhaps the least qualified person for president in our nation’s proud history. Whatever the motivation, we needn’t look very far to see evidence of silly-creep.
Point one – I hate to say – is this notion that Donald Trump is a fascist. He is certainly profoundly ignorant on all of the issues of which he’s spoken publicly so far including immigration, energy policy, foreign affairs, climate science, and taxes. But a fascist he is not. We’ll reserve that title for those who really are official members of the Fascist Party and select foreign leaders such as Victor Orban of Hungary and a few African dictators who revel in their personal bloodbaths. Fascism has a specific definition, and since I am a charter member of the Words Have Meanings Collective, I am not going to accept that Trump is anywhere near one. Racist? Sexist? Offensive? Most assuredly. These are the terms we should use and are enough to render him unacceptable as Commander-In-Chief.
The other sillinesses that occupies my thoughts today are the ones associated with the Clinton campaign tactics and polling. That sound that resembles teeth-gnashing on the left is, in fact, teeth-gnashing over the state of Hillary Clinton’s campaign, or non-campaign, against said non-fascist. Can we get a bit of a break here? It’s May. The campaign hasn’t had a chance to consolidate because Bernie Sanders is fighting to the end, which is both his right and a test to see how the Clinton campaign reacts. Hillary always knew that this would not be easy because of both her last name and her gender. She will become a better candidate once she is able to leverage all of the Democratic resources at her disposal. Many of Bernie’s supporters will back her. Both party’s conventions will have their television moments which I hope are not violent, and then the campaign will begin. Then we’ll see what the strategies are.
As for polling, I’ve said it before, but let’s hear from someone really smart on this and repeat – we will not be discussing polling until August 1. This will be a close race and Trump is getting his pre-convention bump. Hillary will get hers. Then they’ll both get their convention bumps. Then we can pay attention.
In the meantime, enjoy the extended silliness and the holiday.
Yes, the Republican with the biggest mouth apparently shoved his foot deep down his throat when he agreed to debate Bernie Sanders earlier in the week. But on Friday, Trump realized how EUGE a mistake it would have been to get clocked in a debate by Bernie Sanders, and decided against making himself look more like a fool… as if that is even possible.
Donald Trump on Friday said it would be “inappropriate” to hold a debate with Bernie Sanders, throwing cold water on an idea that had captivated the political world in recent days.
“As much as I want to debate Bernie Sanders — and it would be an easy payday — I will wait to debate the first place finisher in the Democratic Party, probably Crooked Hillary Clinton, or whoever it may be,” Trump said in a statement.
The presumptive GOP presidential nominee added that it “seems inappropriate” to debate the “second place finisher.”
Trump had said on “Jimmy Kimmel Live” on Wednesday night that he would be willing to debate Sanders if the proceeds would go to charity.
“Yes, I am,” Trump said. “How much is he going to pay me? If he paid a nice sum toward a charity, I’d love to do that.”
Trump added to the speculation throughout the week, telling reporters Thursday he would “love to debate Bernie.”
Donald Trump counseled Trump University students to take advantage of the housing bubble as an investment opportunity and said, just a year before it burst, that he was “excited” for it to end because of the money he’d make, NBCNews reports.
“People have been talking about the end of the cycle for 12 years, and I’m excited if it is,’ he told the Globe and Mail in March of 2007. “I’ve always made more money in bad markets than in good markets.”
At that time, the housing market was already beginning to decline, and just over a year later the subprime mortgage crisis hit, part of a chain reaction of events that led to the stock market crash of 2008 and cemented the Great Recession.
The subprime mortgage crisis alone caused millions of Americans to lose their homes, but that same Globe and Mail piece reports Trump was “advising investors that their are now great deals in buying subprime mortgages at a discount, and repossessed houses at low prices.”
The Republican Speaker of the House was interviewed by Politico’s Glenn Thrush, and gave a rather conditions-filled answer to a simple question.
“Do you think he can really win?”
“Yeah, sure, of course I do,” Ryan responded. “I’m not gonna — I’m not a betting man,” Ryan added when pressed if he would bet his own money on a Trump victory.
“I think if we get our party unified, and if we do the work we need to do to get ourselves at full strength, and if we offer the country a clear and compelling agenda that is inspiring, that is inclusive, that fixes problems, that is solutions-based and based on good principles, then, yes, I think we can win.”
The Speaker, who earlier this month met with Trump after saying he wasn’t yet ready to endorse the presumptive Republican nominee, indicated he will continue calling out the businessman, telling Politico, “I’ve done that in the past, and I will do that in future if need be, and I hope it’s not necessary.”
Those of us old enough to remember the halcyon days of the late 70s and early 80s and the great New York Yankee teams of that era with their owner, George Steinbrenner.
George knew greatness and proved it when he went out and bought Reggie Jackson to patrol right field for the 1977 and 1978 World Series champions. Reggie excelled when it counted and sealed the team’s 1978 title with three home runs in the final game of the series. For that he was lauded as Mr. October. Clutch. In 1980, Steinbrenner bought Dave Winfield to play for the team, and he promptly fizzled in the 1981 series, going 1 for 22. For that, the Boss labeled him Mr. May. Unclutch.
I think we’re dealing with the same phenomenon in the presidential race. Donald Trump has shown that he can win primaries and woo (some) voters with a message that’s brazen, loud, racist, xenophobic, and politically incorrect, which is just an excuse to say terribly nasty things about women, Muslims, immigrants and members of minority groups. His economic policies are incoherent and his foreign policies would make the isolationists of the 1920s and 30s proud. He shifts his positions daily and repeats his signature slogan to mask the fact that he doesn’t really have anything meaningful to say. It’s an emotional appeal based on the time-tested media strategy that made him and countless others, into wealthy television stars. He’s run his campaign on the backs of the national media, using free air time and phone-in interviews to spout his vitriol and to deflect any criticism as nay-saying and negativity. Trump has no idea what’s coming as he becomes the sole focus of investigations into his business practices, income, taxes and everything else that’s bared in a national election campaign. He’s already shown a Christie-like thinness to his skin when it comes to attacks, and when the press really starts looking into his affairs he will have some memorably bad moments.
In short, Mr. May.
On the other hand, Hillary Clinton has actually won an election and understands what it takes to gather resources and organize a campaign. She has real, practical policies that would move our country forward, would honor all people and would continue to value America’s place in the world. She has a positive message, and the experience of being the focus of unrelenting attacks on her character and gender. Does she have baggage? Enough to make me want to buy Samsonite stock. Emails, speeches, ties to Wall Street, the Clinton name and an unfortunate stint as the point person for her husband’s failed health care reform effort. Will these hurt her in the campaign? You bet, but she’s been through this before, has an experienced team of advisors and actual ideas that will help the United States. And she is also a terrific debater. She will come through when it counts.
Ms. October.
Right now, Republicans are coalescing around Trump and getting used to the idea that he’s going to be the nominee. There are distinct pockets of opposition and many big GOP donors have said they will not be giving to his campaign. Some of the other money that would normally go to the top of the ticket is being funneled to House and Senate races as the party says one thing, that Trump is their guy, while whispering quite another, that Trump is likely to lose and bring our majorities down with him.
Meanwhile, the fun is on the left as Bernie Sanders makes a last ditch plea to voters in New Jersey and California to back him and send a message to the Super-delegates that they should back him instead of Hillary. I don’t see this happening, but it’s prolonging the campaign beyond what the party, and Hillary, wants. That will end by the end of June and I could see a Clinton-Sanders ticket in the fall. In fact, I would heartily welcome it. As for the polls, talk to me on July 30. That’s when I’ll start being interested.
Right now, it’s Mr. May vs. Ms. October. In the end, the clutch hitter will win.
NASHUA, NH - APRIL 18: Donald Trump speaks at the First in the Nation Republican Leadership Summit April 18, 2015 in Nashua, New Hampshire. The Summit brought together local and national Republicans and was attended by all the Republicans candidates as well as those eyeing a run for the nomination. (Photo by Darren McCollester/Getty Images)
(Photo by Darren McCollester/Getty Images)
At least one Trump delegate wont be around for the Republican convention.
A Maryland delegate supporting Donald Trump’s presidential campaign was charged Thursday with making and possessing child pornography as well as owning illegal weapons and transporting explosives, according to shocking court documents.
Caleb Andrew Bailey, a resident of a tiny Washington, D.C. suburb and a Maryland delegate for the presumptive Republican nominee, allegedly engaged in sexual conduct with a minor and used the encounter to make child porn, federal authorities claimed in an indictment released Thursday.
The alleged conduct occurred between March 2015 and January 2016, the Justice Department said.
Bailey, 30, “knowingly attempted to and did employ, use, persuade, induce, entice, and coerce a minor to engage in any sexually explicit conduct … for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of such conduct, and the visual depiction had been produced using materials that had been mailed, shipped, and transported in interstate and foreign commerce,” the indictment, filed in U.S. District Court in Maryland, stated.
Bailey was also charged with illegal possession of a machine gun and illegally transporting explosives, including hundreds of rounds of ammunition.
WASHINGTON - OCTOBER 22: Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee member Sen. Robert Bennett (R-UT) questions witnesses during a hearing on Capitol Hill October 22, 2009 in Washington, DC. Many Republicans, including Bennett, have been critical of the Obama Administration's use of "czars" and the balance of power between the presidentially-appointed advisors and Congressional authority over those positions. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
(Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
Hospitalized and on his death-bed, former Republican senator Bob Bennett issued an apology to Muslims for the overt hatred coming their way from Republicans and the leader of the Republican party, Donald Trump.
Bob Bennet’s son Jim, recalled the final moments of his father’s life.
“So I was standing there with him in the hospital and out of nowhere he asked me, ‘Are there any Muslims in this hospital?'” Jim Bennett told NBC News Wednesday evening.
“I said, ‘Yes, dad, I’m sure there are.'” Jim said of the conversation, which was first reported by the Daily Beast. “And he was very emotional and said, ‘I want to go up to every single one of them and apologize, I want to go up to every single one of them and tell them how grateful I am that they are in this country and apologize on behalf of the Republican Party for Donald Trump.'”
Jim Bennett said that when he later spoke to his mother, Joyce Bennett, about the conversation, she told him that expressing a sense of inclusion for ostracized populations, especially Muslims, had become “something that he was doing quite a lot of in the last months of his life.”
And I totally agree with the Arizona senator. These Republicans are indeed bastards for putting their party before what’s best for the country.
In a recent interview with The Hugh Hewitt Show, McCain said that he cannot see a scenario where a third party candidate will be successful in challenging Donald Trump
“I just think that the people have spoken,” he said Wednesday on “The Hugh Hewitt Show.” “The fact is, the Republicans have spoken.
“Honestly, I just don’t see this scenario,” he told Hewitt. “I think you and I have heard about this ever since it appeared that Trump was going to win the nomination.
“I just don’t see it happening. One of the things that both parties have done over the years is pretty well set a system up that it’s almost impossible to challenge when the two parties have their candidates.”
McCain also shared an anecdote involving former Rep. Morris Udall (D-Ariz.) in describing his frustrations with democracy.
“I had a beloved friend named Congress Morris Udall, we called him ‘Mo’ and he was a Democrat, one of the most amusing guys that ever lived,” he said.
“He ran against Jimmy Carter for the nomination in 1976,” he said.
“After he had finally lost the last primary, … he said, ‘the people have spoken – the bastards.’ I kind of feel a bit like Mo Udall.”
When McCain ran for president in 2008 his slogan was “Country First.” But the decision by Republicans to let a xenophobe lead their party into the 2016 presidential election shows a sick and obvious allegiance their party over the continued progression of the United States.
We use cookies to improve your experience on our site. By agreeing to this, we can analyze browsing behavior and unique IDs on this site. Declining or revoking consent may affect certain features.
Functional
Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes.The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
