From the Heartland

Blog Template.
For John, BLUF:  The Democrats, with a magnificant machine, lack a selling message.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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Does Tim Walz think we still want to hear from him?

Here is the sub-headline:

A disastrous campaign doesn’t seem to have sparked any reflection

From The Spectator, by Millinneal Grace Curley, March 24, 2025

Here is the lede plus three:

If you thought an embarrassing loss in November would result in Tim Walz taking a hint, you thought wrong. The Democratic party is seeing its popularity continue to decline, even from that low point. A recent NBC poll showed the party’s favorability rating hitting a low not seen since 1990.

Yet Walz seems hell bent on sticking around. This leads those of us who just suffered through his three month stint as a vice presidential candidate to ask: are the Dems really doing this again?

Despite the lack of demand, Walz is riding a non-existent wave of momentum and making headlines as he goes. While appearing on the This Is Gavin Newsom podcast, Walz and Newsom tried to unpack why the Democrat party is losing support from men.

Of course, who better to expound on this topic than the man who was specifically selected as Harris’ running mate to help improve her standing with the male demographic, and managed to make things worse for her! He is an expert in this field.

I think Grace Curley captures it here.  Governor Tim Walz may represent some vision of masculinity, but he falls well short in appealing to the young male demographiv.

The Democratic National Committee seems to have lost the sent along the campaign trail.  Yes, it is still early days for the Mid-Terms, but still, the need to be thinking about getting their act together, rather than rely on saying "Orangeman Bad" and vandelizing Teslas .

Regards  —  Cliff

A Relook at Voting History

For John, BLUF:  An interesting dive into history that looks at a big political myth.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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The Goldwater landslide myth

Here is the sub-headline:

Alabama political columnist needs a history lesson

From Don Surber Substack, by Reporter Don Surber, 15 October 2024.

Here is the lede plus ten:

It’s that time in the presidential election year when lazy journalists roll out their frightening fairy story about Nixon’s southern strategy. The fable is meant to portray Republicans as racists. It is of course a lie but it goes like this, as reported by Steve Flowers whose weekly column appears in over 60 Alabama newspapers. He served 16 years in the state legislature.

He wrote:

Lyndon Johnson was the Democrat nominee for president. Johnson carried 44 states and won the presidency by a landslide. Senator Barry Goldwater of Arizona carried only his home state and the five deep south states, including Alabama. Goldwater carried Alabama overwhelmingly, thus the label given to the Republican victory in the south was ironically the Goldwater Landslide.

The so-called “Solid South” had been Democratic more out of tradition and protocol than philosophy. Both national parties took the south for granted in national elections. The Democrats ignored us because we were in the barn and the Republicans ignored us for the same reason.

The 1964 election was the turning point when the deep south states voted for Barry Goldwater. The south has never looked back. It was the race issue that won them over. Goldwater and the Republican party captured the race issue.

Let us look at the facts.

Goldwater was one of only 6 Republican senators who opposed the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The other 27 voted for the act — clearly a higher percentage of the support than the Democrats who split 44-23 on passage of the law. The two-thirds majority was necessary to overcome a Democrat filibuster.

Goldwater indeed carried 5 of the 11 Confederate states with his stand against civil rights. Four years later, Nixon too carried 5 of the 11 Confederate states.

None of them, however, were the 5 states Goldwater carried. Those five states all went to a Democrat which shows that if Nixon had a Southern strategy of wrangling klansmen into the Republican Party, he failed miserably.

For example, Goldwater received 87% of the vote in Mississippi in 1964. Four years later, Nixon received less than 14% of the vote in that state.

Of course, Nixon had no such designs on the South. He was an ardent supporter of civil rights as vice president and therefore, President of the Senate.

This is different from how the "Nixon Southern Strategy" is normally portrayed.

It should be pointed out that the Candidacy of Alabama Governor George Wallace iin 1968 impacted who got which Elecoral College votes.

This year we are seeing such blocks breaking up as votes look to issues rather than to racial groups.

Regards  —  Cliff

Fire the DNC

For John, BLUF:  The author sees the current problems of the Democratic Party as a collective problem of the Democratic Natinoal Committee, reflecting on the broad leadership of the party, which seems to have adopted "go along to get along".  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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Memo to the DNC:  You share the blame for Biden’s bait-and-switch

Here is the sub-headline:

The loyalty of millions of voters is being sorely tested by the failure of the Democratic National Committee to hold the president to his implicit campaign pledge to serve one term

From The Boston Globe, by Columnist Larry Edelman, 1 July 2024.

Here is the lede plus four:

If the Democratic Party were a publicly traded company, the mishandling of the presidential nomination process by its board of directors — the Democratic National Committee — would likely have sparked a revolt by investors. Here’s how an activist investor might respond.

To: Jaime Harrison, chair, Democratic National Committee
Re: Thanks for nothing

A lifelong Democrat, I’ve voted for each and every one of our party’s presidential nominees since 1980 — sometimes enthusiastically, other times not. I think I’ve pulled the lever for exactly one Republican in an election at any level: Bill Weld, for governor of Massachusetts. And he might as well have been one of us. (Even the Globe endorsed him in 1990.)

But my loyalty — and the loyalty of millions of Democrats like me — is being sorely tested by the failure of you and the rest of the DNC leadership to hold President Biden to his implicit campaign pledge to serve one term.

This is a view, and one worth considering.

I am a Registered Republican, but even I see the present problems within the Democrstic Party as not being good for our Democracy.  We do not need for the Democratic Party to implode, and then perhaps fragment,  While I don't expect the Democratic Party to emerge as the Party of my youth, I do hope it emerges as a party capable of winning elections, not as the representative of some angry minority that fails to reflect the values of the average American.

Regards  —  Cliff

Trump v Clinton--The Judicial Event

For John, BLUF:  Former Candidate Donald Trump is suing former Candidate Hillary Clinton, over Ms Clinton slinging mud during the 2016 campaaign.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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Trump Sues Hillary Clinton, Others Over Russia Collusion 'Conspiracy'

Here is the sub-headline:

Trump also named the Democratic National Committee and former FBI Director James Comey, among other prominent figures.

From The Huffington Post, by Reporter Andre Ellington, 24 March 2022, 05:03 PM EDT.

Here is the lede plus one:

Former President Donald Trump is suing his 2016 Democratic opponent Hillary Clinton and others, accusing them of a “malicious conspiracy” and again claiming they rigged the 2016 election against him.

The lawsuit repeats a common Trump claim that Clinton and other Democratic politicians conspired to create a “false narrative” that he received help from Russian allies to win the 2016 election. It comes over five years after Trump defeated Clinton in that election.

This is The Huff Post, so I expected a lot of nay-saying.  And I got it.

Fraankly, I don't expect Former President Donld Trump to win this lawsuit.  What I hope for is a "Disclosure" Phase in the trial that brings more information to the front, for us mere voters to look at.  Much of this has been previously broomed by the media, such as The Huff Post.

We are talking lawyers here, so they may drag it out past the next Presidential Election, in 2024.

Regards  —  Cliff

Sussmann Indictment Could Go Either Way

For John, BLUF:  Blogger Ed Morrissey is no stranger to government scandle.  In the early days of blogging his blog, Captain's Cabin, helped bring down a Canadian government.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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Sussmann indictment:  "Bizarre coda," or harbinger of deep-state exposure?  Update:  Watch Sullivan?

From Hot Air, by Blogger Ed Morrissey, 20 September 2021, 2:41 PM ET.

Here is the lede plus two:

Just what does the indictment of Michael Sussmann portend? MSNBC’s Barbara McQuade called it a “bizarre coda” to John Durham’s investigation, which seems to be the most unlikely bet on this last-minute action by the special counsel.  To get there, McQuade tries to shift focus to an early-on debunked part of the overall-debunked Russia-collusion theory, and overlooks Sussmann’s links at the same time:

It is hard to see how the case Durham filed on Thursday against Washington lawyer Michael Sussmann meets Justice Department standards.  The indictment alleges that Sussmann met with FBI General Counsel Jim Baker in September 2016 to provide information about connections between a Russian bank and the Trump Organization.  The FBI was unable to substantiate any links between Alfa Bank and former President Donald Trump’s businesses, but the charge against Sussman — making false statements to the FBI — doesn’t allege that the substance of the information was false.  Instead, Sussman is accused of having misrepresented on whose behalf he was providing it.

Well, yes, and that misrepresentation turned out to be highly material.  Sussmann at the time represented the DNC and had been providing assistance to the Hillary Clinton campaign, a connection that Sussmnan kept hidden from the FBI.  Sussmann passed along the rumor that Vladimir Putin-connected Alfa Bank had a server dedicated to Donald Trump’s finances to Fusion GPS and Christopher Steele, which had the effect of laundering that claim right back into the Steele dossier.  He also passed that information to the FBI, without informing agents that he was working for Trump’s opponent at the time, as the indictment alleges:

At the end Mr Morrissey rings in President Biden's National current Security Advisor, Mr Jacob "Jake" Sullivan.

This looks ugly.

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

Bad Counting Diminishes Our Reputation as a Nation

For John, BLUF:  Yes, this is almost a week old, but it is still on topic, since several States still haven't achieved settled vote totals.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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The U.S. Inability To Count Votes is a National Disgrace. And Dangerous.

Here is the sub-headline:

Nations far poorer and less technologically advanced have no problem holding quick, efficient elections.  Distrust in U.S. outcomes is dangerous but rational.

From Greenwald at Substack, by Reporter Glenn Greenwald, 4 November 2020.

Here is the lede plus one:

The richest and most powerful country on earth — whether due to ineptitude, choice or some combination of both — has no ability to perform the simple task of counting votes in a minimally efficient or confidence-inspiring manner.  As a result, the credibility of the voting process is severely impaired, and any residual authority the U.S. claims to “spread” democracy to lucky recipients of its benevolence around the world is close to obliterated.

At 7:30 a.m. ET on Wednesday, the day after the 2020 presidential elections, the results of the presidential race, as well as control of the Senate, are very much in doubt and in chaos.  Watched by rest of the world — deeply affected by who rules the still-imperialist superpower — the U.S. struggles and stumbles and staggers to engage in a simple task mastered by countless other less powerful and poorer countries: counting votes.  Some states are not expected to finished their vote-counting until the end of this week or beyond.

The same data and polling geniuses who pronounced that Hillary Clinton had a 90% probability or more of winning the 2016 election, and who spent the last three months proclaiming the 2020 election even more of a sure thing for the Democratic presidential candidate, are currently insisting that Biden, despite being behind in numerous key states, is still the favorite by virtue of uncounted ballots in Democrat-heavy counties in the outcome-determinative states.  [One went to sleep last night with the now-notorious New York Times needle of data guru Nate Cohn assuring the country that, with more than 80% of the vote counted in Georgia, Trump had more than an 80% chance to win that state, only to wake up a few hours later with the needle now predicting the opposite outcome; that all happened just a few hours after Cohn assured everyone how much “smarter” his little needle was this time around].

Further on Mr Greeewnwald wrote:

After the pervasive voting problems in the 2018 midterms, I wrote an article with my Brazilian colleague Victor Pougy describing the extraordinary speed and efficiency with which Brazil — a country not exactly renowned for its speed and efficiency — counts its votes.

Brazil is not a small country. It is the fifth most-populous nation on the planet.  Although its population is somewhat smaller than the U.S.’s (330 million to 210 million), its mandatory voting law, automatic registration, and 16-year-old voting age means the number of ballots to be counted is quite similar (105 million votes in Brazil’s 2018 presidential election compared to 130 million votes in the 2016 U.S. presidential election).  And on the same date of its national elections, it, too, holds gubernatorial and Congressional elections in its twenty-seven states.

And yet Brazil — a much poorer and less technologically advanced country than the U.S., with a much shorter history of democracy — holds seamless, quick vote counts about which very few people harbor doubts.  The elections are held on a Sunday, to ensure as many people as possible do not have work obligations to prevent voting, and polls close at 6:00 p.m.

For the 2018 presidential run-off election that led to Jair Bolsonaro’s victory, 90% of all votes were counted and the results released by 6:00 p.m. on the day of the election: the time the last state closed its polls.  The full vote tally was available within a couple of hours after that.  The same was true of the first-round voting held three weeks earlier — which also included races for governor, Senator and Congress in all the states:  full vote totals were released by computer shortly after the polls closed and few had any doubts about their accuracy and legitimacy.

That is an indictment for sure.  This election is an embarrassment to our nation.  Specific examples of vote counting, like Philadelphia, PA, is especially embarrassing.  Worse, it is a slap in the face from Democratic National Committee Chairman Tom Perez and his apparatchiks.

Then there was the tampering with the information available to the voters by social media.  This says that social media is part of a partisan press and does not deserve exemption from being sued.

We need to get back to honest elections.  Gsining office is not more important than personal integrity.  In addition, throwing the bums out does not justify cheating to achieve that goal.

And, no, I am not advocating a voting age of 16.  I would like to return to 21.  As for Sunday voting, that would be fine with me.  Mail-in voting is fine, but the envelope has to be returned by the day before the election.  No late ballots, no excuses.

Regards  —  Cliff

Political What If

For John, BLUF:  What happens if Candidate Joe Biden drops out for one reason or another?  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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If one is doing long term planning it is usually helpful to plan out branches and sequels.

Here are definitions for the terms branches and sequels:

1. Branches provide a range of alternatives often built into the basic plan. Branches add flexibility to plans by anticipating situations that could alter the basic plan.  Such situations could be a result of adversary action, availability of friendly capabilities or resources, or even a change in the weather or season within the OA.
2. Sequels anticipate and plan for subsequent operations based on the possible outcomes of the current operation—victory, defeat, or stalemate.

As we look at the political landscape we see out there the question posed by last week's article from The New York Post.  There is a chance the revealed EMails are authentic.  There is also a small, but greater than zero, chance that the EMails released point to Candidate Biden being unacceptably compromised with regard to one foreign power or another.

This, in turn, leads to the question of if Candidate Biden is sufficiently compromised that the Democratic National Committee (DNC) feels it must replace him on the ticket before the 3 November General Election.

A momentous step, replacing Candidate Biden shouldn't be that hard mechanically, in that all of us who vote are voting for a slate of Electoral College Electors.

But, who would be the replacement?  Would the DNC just fleet up the Vice Preidential Candidate, Sentor Kamala Harris?  Is there an alternative, such as Senator Bernie Sanders, or an outlier, such as Governor Andrew Cuomo?

Then the DNC has to make this all copacetic with the various states.

Then the DNC has to socialize this with the voters.  That will require a major advertising effort. There are less than two weeks left.

Then the People vote.  The question is, what if one voted early for Candidate Biden, but doesn't wish for that vote to transfer to the new DNC Candidate?  Will it be possible for those early voters to call back their vote and substitute a new ballot?  Or, will they be disenfranchised?  A major monkey wrench in the works would be some court ruling that all votes cast before the switch are invalid and need to be done over?  Ouch!

It is all verey unlikely, but good planning requires that it be a branch considered.

As an aside, Congress decides the date of the election.

Regards  —  Cliff

Standing Together

For John, BLUF:  I cn remember when Protestants thought Czatholics weren't actually Christian.  Now we see inter-faith support being displayed.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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Black Pentecostal leaders:  Amy Coney Barrett 'persecuted' for charismatic faith

From Catholic News Agency, by Reporter Christine Rousselle, 25 September 2020.

Here is the lede plus two:

A letter released Friday by Black Pentecostal and charismatic Christian leaders has decried criticisms of Judge Amy Coney Barrett’s charismatic Catholicism, ahead of her possible appointment to the Supreme Court.

“Today we stand with, and speak in defense of, Judge Amy Coney Barrett,” the Sept. 25 letter said.

“As black Christians we will not stand by in silence as our sister in the faith is persecuted for the ‘political crime’ of her beliefs,” said the letter, which was signed by numerous clergy members, scholars, and religious leaders.

Do the Democrats not understand the United States, or do they just see it through the eyes of Black Lives Matter and the Fascist ANTIFA?

On the othger hand, this might just be the genius of Donald J Trump.

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

Old Gray Lady Handicaps the Race

For John, BLUF:  I am suspicious of anyone claqiming to know what is going on in the Presidential Race.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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Five Things Biden and His Allies Should Be Worried About

Here is the sub-headline:

Interestingly, the suburban vote may not be one of them.

From The Old Gray Lady, by Columnist Thomas B. Edsall, 23 Sepotember 2020.

Here is the lede plus five:

There are at least five reasons Joe Biden’s consistent lead over Donald Trump does not guarantee him a lock on the White House.

First, there are indications that Trump’s base of support — whites without college degrees — is more energized and committed to voting this year than key Democratic constituencies.  And there is also evidence that polling does not reflect this.

Second, Latinos, who are key to the outcome in several crucial states — Arizona and Florida, for example — have shown less support for Biden than for past Democratic nominees.  Many Hispanic voters seem resistant to any campaign that defines them broadly as “people of color.”

Third, absentee voting is expected to be higher among Democrats than Republicans, subjecting their ballots to a greater risk of rejection, a fate more common to mailed-in votes than to in-person voting.

Fourth, the generic Democratic-Republican vote (“Would you be more willing to vote for a Republican or Democratic candidate for Congress?”) through early July favored Democrats by more than 10 points, but has since narrowed to 6 points.

Fifth, the debates will test Biden’s ability to withstand three 90-minute battles against an opponent known for brutal personal attacks.

Since we are all free to identify as we please, I identify with the "déclassé base".  The Dems have been putting us down since before the "Bitter Clingers" comment.

If Michael Moore is worried the puppet masters apparatchiks at DNC Hq should be worried.

As for Blacks and Latinos, if you and your mates are doing OK now, or recently, then Donald Trump's "What do you have to lose?" makes some sense.  And, I suspect, Blacks and Hispanics are not a single package, but rather two cultural groups, competing for attention and power.  Are they additive, or are they competitors for a somewhat restricted set of rewards from Congress?

There is the fact that DJT wields the Saul Alinsky "Rules" better than the Democrats.  Look at the SCOTUS vacancy.  The President had the perfect reaction to RBG's passing.  Then, no nominee named until after internment.  And potential nominees who will put Senator Harris in an awkward corner, during Committee Hearings.

If COVID-19 is the key, then New York and New Jersey and Connecticut will be in the Trump Camp.  Those states, allowed to do it their way, have done it poorly.

Then, there is the media.  They discredit themselves daily. I understand The Old Gray Lady is now backing away from their claims re the 1619 Project.

The Columnist seemed to downplay education as an issue, but I think Winnie the Flu has made it an important issue, especially as kids go back to school, or not.

And, finally, there is "Finally, there are many Americans who do not believe that Donald Trump, or the modern Republican Party, will allow a fair election.".  With Democratic Party states allowing "Mail In" ballots, and extra days to count and ballot harvesting, you think Republicans are sanguine?  No, we are not.  After one election a poll worker told us my Absentee Ballot was allowed, my Wife's not.  Mailed the same day, at the same Post Office.  In our Commonwealth the SecState distinguishes between Absentee and Mail In.  You need a Philadelphia Lawyer to get an Absentee ballot.  Mail In?  No sweat.  I will skip over write in campaigns.

Aside from that, no strong opinions.

Regards  —  Cliff

4 November

For John, BLUF:  Given that the use of "Mail in Ballots" promises untold delays in determining the results of the 3 Novembeer Election, one wonders why the President's question about delaying the election is much different in outcome.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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Consulting My Magic 8-Ball

From The chicago Boyz, by Sgt. Mom, 3 August 2020.

Here is the lede plus one:

So, last week the Daughter Unit asked me when the new civil war would kick into high gear. Note she said ‘when’ not ‘if’ – for we’ve been in a cold civil war for some time now.  I’d say this cold civil war became manifest with upsurge of Tea Party demonstrations in 2009, and has rumbled along all through the Obama administration, building up reservoirs of bitter anger and resentment ever since.  My personal SWAG is that things will get interesting (and even more interesting for certain values of interesting) late in the evening of November 3, 2020, when the polls close and the first election results are reported.

And no, it won’t make a particle of difference who wins; Trump or Biden, or whoever has replaced Biden as the Great Dem Party Hope.  My sidebar prediction is that the higher echelons of the Democrat Party will realize, probably shortly following the party caucus to be held sometime this month, that Joe Biden has finally and definitively lost track of his single remaining marble, and that there is no possible and convincing way that he can be propped up as a viable candidate.  Whoever has the VP nomination will move up to the top of the ticket and one of the remaining hopefuls will be a replacement.  For all we know, the Dem Party higher-ups may even have decided that what the hell, they don’t have serious hope at all for 2020, and are only naming candidates for this year with an eye towards establishing visibility and a track record for 2024.

In any case, on election night, it will not matter a single particle if the winner is Trump or A Dem Candidate To Be Named Later.  The knives will be well and truly out and on both sides.  If Trump wins, the lefty wokerati will be outraged, insane with rage that they have been let down again.  Their fury after Trump won in 2016 will be as a light thunderstorm compared to the Cat-5 hurricane of fury which will strike in cities which have already demonstrated an inclination to tolerate riots and mob action – all egged on [m]by the national establishment press.

I am hoping for no Civil War.  I will not be surprised in the Democratic Establishment replices their Presumptive Candidate Joe Biden sometime before the election.  I do see President Trump having negative factors holding him back, but I see the Democrats suffering from even greater disabilities, the ongoing civil disorder being amongst them.

Hat tip to Ms Sarah Hoyt, via the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

Abandoning America

For John, BLUF:  Maybe we need a new definition of America, but it seem the Progressives are looking to abandon the past and go a new direction.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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Rubicon Crossed – DNC Official 2020 Position:  Celebrating July 4th Equals White Supremacy….

From The Conservative Tree House, by Sundance, 29 June 2020.

Here is the lede plus one:

Under normal conditions one might expect to identify this moment as the official moment the rubicon of DNC insanity has been crossed.  However, it’s 2020;… therefore as soon as you think the boundaries of DNC stupidity have been reached, the DNC will bring out their stupid boundary stretchers.

In a tweet earlier tonight the DNC takes the official position that celebrating the fourth of July is the equivalent of celebrating white supremacy: [Archived]

I can see how he is reading this, but a Guard House Lawyer might argue that this is just about Mount Rushmore and Native Americans.  On the other hand, it isn't a stretch to see this as just over the top Progressive abandonment of the American Experiment.

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

Views on Joe Biden

For John, BLUF:  This is the kind of messy thing that makes folks not like politics.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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Four blog posts, in order, by Law Professor Ann Althouse, on the Biden Affair:

Vice President Joe Biden Interviewed by Ms Mika Brzezinski:

Mika Brzezinski confronts Joe Biden with the Tara Reade allegation and he says "unequivocally" that it "never happened."

The President Questioned at a Press Conference:

"It could be false accusations.  I know all about false accusations.  I’ve been falsely charged numerous times.  And there is such a thing.  If you look at Brett Kavanaugh, there’s an outstanding man. He was falsely charged...."

From the Mickey Kaus Kausfiles, "The Frankening":

"Back in late 2017, it looked like Franken was going to weather the charges of inappropriate conduct against him, until Democrats apparently decided to sacrifice him..."

Columnist Andrew Sullivan column at NY Magazine:

"By Biden’s Own Standards, He Is Guilty As Charged."

You pays your money and you takes your chance.  As the late Writer William Safire would tell you.

This may be a bit of a problem.  What are we judging this by.

• Absolute:  The Law.  The statute of limitations has run out and thus there is no crime.  Thus Joe Biden can’t be guilty.
• Relative to others:  To Donald J Trump, who Democrats presume has, in the past, raped one or more people.  Then it is a wash.
• Relative to his own standards, as articulated as a Senator:  He helped set up the rules for college students.   He is guilty.
• Relative to the Democratic Party.  It depends.
• If it was your own Daughter?

Hat tip to Ann Althouse.

Regards  —  Cliff

FBI Misled

For John, BLUF:  The question is, was the FBI Misled, or did the FBI, knowing the facts, mislead the nation?  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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While you were focused on the pandemic, it was revealed the FBI knew the Steele Dossier against Trump contained Russian disinformation

Here is the sub-headline:

Rather than colluding with the Russians, which the Mueller Report conclusively rejected, Trump was the victim of a Russian disinformation campaign exploited and promoted by Democrats, the media, and the FBI.

From Legal Insurrection, by Blogger William A. Jacobson, 11 April 2020.

Here is the lede plus three:

In one of the least surprising, yet most important, developments in the years-long Russia-collusion hoax, a recently declassified portion of the DOJ Inspector General’s Report on the FBI investigation of the Trump campaign has revealed that Trump was the target of a Russian disinformation campaign.  And the FBI knew it.

So rather than colluding with the Russians, which the Mueller Report conclusively rejected, Trump was the victim of a Russian disinformation campaign exploited and promoted by Democrats, the media, and the FBI.

The revelation concerns the so-called Steele Dossier, a document commissioned by the Hillary Clinton campaing and the Democratic National Committee.  The Dossier, containing allegations that Trump was compromised, turbo-charged the FBI investigation of the campaign and, after it was published by Buzzfeed, stoked anti-Trump derangement at MSNBC and elsewhere.

Yet it’s now revealed that the FBI knew at least no later than 2017 that much of the dossier was Russian disinformation.

For some people, Orange Man is so Bad that any action against him, true or false is justified.  In fact, I expect that for many suffering Trump Derangement Syndrome even things obviously false are, in their eyes, true.

This isn't the first time that the views of his opponents relative to a President were wildly off the mark, and won't be the last.

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

Whither the Democrats?

For John, BLUF:  This election year has been one of the more interesting, and not in a good way.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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Will the Democrats junk Joe?

Here is the sub-headline:

Amid the coronavirus crisis, Democrats have found a new Great Left Hope in Andrew Cuomo

From The Spectator, Columnist John Fund, 1 April 2020.

Here is the lede plus four:

Joe Biden is the presumptive Democratic nominee.  Yet many Democrats have ‘buyers’ remorse’ as the COVID virus has driven Biden off centerstage and into a hastily-built basement studio in his Delaware home.

Biden has tried to remain relevant to the public through TV broadcasts, but those appearances have been gaffe-prone and interspersed with lapses in lucidity.  Last Friday, he announced on CNN that ‘I speak to all five of my grandkids,’ which must make his very much alive sixth grandchild feel a little neglected.  Dave Catanese of McClatchy found his interview last Monday painful to watch:  ‘Joe Biden struggled mightily at the top of his MSNBC interview where he looked to be reading from notes to answer a question.’

Democrats openly worry about the lack of enthusiasm for Biden.  A new Washington Post/ABC poll found 86 percent of Trump supporters enthusiastic about their choice.  Only 74 percent of Biden backers said the same thing.  Most ominously, the poll found that 15 percent of Democrats who still back Bernie Sanders say they’d vote for Trump, not Biden, in November.  That’s more than the 12 percent of Sanders voters who plumped for Trump in 2016.

The fear that Biden could buckle before a relentless GOP negative campaign or Trump’s bullying in debates is palpable among many Democrats.  Lloyd Constantine, a former senior policy adviser to New York governor Eliot Spitzer from 2007 to 2008, is unsparing:  ‘Biden is a melting ice cube.  Those of us who have closely watched as time ravaged the once sharp or even brilliant minds of loved ones and colleagues, recognize what is happening to the good soldier Joe.’

Constantine and others have found a new Great Left Hope.  New York’s Gov. Andrew Cuomo has caused many pundits to swoon with his blunt no-nonsense daily briefings on the virus.  Kathleen Parker of the Washington Post concluded ‘The governor’s in-charge demeanor and straight talk remind us of what a leader looks like and acts like.’  Last week, cable news networks even skipped covering a speech by Biden to cover a Cuomo news conference.

My wife noted the attraction of Governor Andrew Cuomo when Fox News first started televising his daily news briefings.  I am thinking Governor Cuomo is a real threat to the nomination of former Veep Joe Biden.  It is a long way to the convention, 13-16 July 2020.  Even further to November and the election.

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

The People be Darned

For John, BLUF:  "Never let a crisis go to waste".  Is that chiseled in the wall of the DNC?  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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Senate Democrats block economic rescue bill after Pelosi pulls powerplay in House

Here is the sub-headline:

Senate spends all weekend negotiating a bipartisan deal.  Agreement reached. Pelosi flies in from California, whips out her unrelated ‘wishlist,’ and says no.  Senate Democrats then vote against proceeding on a bill they negotiated.  Jaw dropping.”

Freom Legal Insurrection, by Ms Mary Chastain, 22 March 2020.

Here is the lede plus one:

The supposed bipartisanship to help the economic fallout from the Wuhan coronavirus fell apart on Sunday after Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi returned to DC.

Coincidence?  Probably not because the minute she gets back, shows off her “wishlist,” the Democrats vote no on a bill they negotiated.

What is it with the House Speaker, Nancy the Ripper?

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

Tulsi Suspends Campaign

For John, BLUF:  Yes, amongst the Democrats she was my favorite.  And DNC Chairman Tom Perez did her wrong.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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Here is the first paragraph of Candidate Tulsi Gabbard's EMail this morning:

I want you to hear this from me first, C R. I owe you an incredible debt of gratitude for all you’ve done as the heart and soul of our people-powered campaign: Today, I’ve made the decision to suspend my campaign for the presidency.

Here is the Video of her talk.  Click here and not on the picture.

Note that she suspends, but does not end.

Also, ahe endorses Candidate Joe Biden.

Regards  —  Cliff

Sunday Dem Debate

For John, BLUF:  I admit I had forgotten about the debate and was watching a Hallmark mystery movie.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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Live-blogging the Democratic debate:  coronavirus edition

The JALTCOH Blog, by Blogger John Althouse Cohen, 15 March 2020.

Here is the conclusion:

My verdict:  Biden won. Sanders is so far behind that in order to make any real progress in turning things around, he would have needed to have a fantastic performance while Biden stumbled badly.  That didn't happen.

We are still a ways from the Democratic National Convention, 13-16 July 2020, at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

The other thing of interest is that Former Vice President Joe Biden committed to putting a woman on the Ticket, as the Vice Presidential nominee.  Who was not revealed.  Possibilities include Senator Klobachur, Senator Warren, Senator Kamala Harris, Senator Gillibrand, former DNC Chairman Donna Brazille and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.  Given the terrible way the Democratic National Committee Chair Tom Perez has treated Representative Tulsi Gabbard I double she is in the running.  I am guessing the call will go to .

As a side note, a guest on Fox and Friends Mr Tony Katz, just made the point that the lack of an audience seemed to hurt Senator Sanders, who feeds off the crowd.  He also made the point that to know what is happening in the hinterland, follow the reporting of Reporter Salena Zito.

Hat tip to Ann Althouse.

Regards  —  Cliff

Tulsi Still Alive

For John, BLUF:  Yes, Rep Gabbard is a Democrat, but I like the cut of her jib.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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Tulsi Gabbard might have just qualified for the next Democratic debate

From The Washington Examiner, by Reporter Brad Polumbo, 3 March 2020.

Here is the lede plus one:

Rep. Tulsi Gabbard might not be polling well in the 2020 Democratic primary race, but she does add something valuable to the conversation.

Now, after Super Tuesday results show that she placed second and won a delegate in American Samoa, it appears Gabbard may have qualified for the next Democratic debate.  If the qualification rules going forward stay the same that they were for the Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada, and South Carolina debates, then you would only need to win a single delegate to earn a spot on the debate stage. Under this standard, Gabbard would now qualify.

And here is an update:

UPDATE:  A Democratic Party spokeswoman suggested on Twitter the party will raise the delegate threshold, calling into question Gabbard's qualification.

I think the DNC is missing the boat by sending Representative Tulsi Gabbard to Coventry.

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

Carter Page Sues the DNC, et al

For John, BLUF:  This is actually a sad outcome, in that if the Presidential Campaign of 2016 had not involved Deep State actions this would probably not have come to pass.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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BOOM:  Carter Page Sues DNC Over Bogus Steele Dossier:  'This Is Only the First Salvo'

Here is the sub-headline:

From PJ Media, by Reporter Matt Margolis, 30 January 2020.

Here is the lede plus one:

Fox News reported Thursday morning that former Trump campaign adviser Carter Page has filed a lawsuit in federal court against the Democratic National Committee (DNC) and the law firm Perkins Coie for their role in funding the unverified Steele dossier that was used to justify surveillance against him.

Page's attorneys described the suit, which was filed in U.S. District Court in the Northern District of Illinois’ Eastern Division on Thursday, as the “first of multiple actions in the wake of historic” Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) abuse.

“This is a first step to ensure that the full extent of the FISA abuse that has occurred during the last few years is exposed and remedied,” Page's attorney John Pierce told Fox News.  “Defendants and those they worked with inside the federal government did not and will not succeed in making America a surveillance state.”

Pierce added, “This is only the first salvo.  We will follow the evidence wherever it leads, no matter how high."

And well he should.

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

Democrat Debate Stage

For John, BLUF:  The Democratic Party Presidential Debates are boring and arbitrary in their choice of candidates.  But, if it make the party faithful happy I guess it is OK.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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Do FEC Records Prove Michael Bloomberg Bought His Way onto the Democrats' Debate Stage?

From PJ Media, by Reporter Matt Margolis, 1 February 2020.

Here is the lede plus one:

On Friday, the Democratic National Committee announced a major change of their debate requirements for the upcoming primary debate February 19 debate in Las Vegas, removing the individual donor threshold, thus opening the door for billionaire Michael Bloomberg to participate.  Because Bloomberg is self-funding his campaign, it was impossible for him to meet the 225,000 individual donor threshold to participate in the debates.

The donor threshold was controversial when it was first rolled out last year, but that doesn't mean everyone's happy now that it is gone.  Current and former candidates were, in fact, outraged at the news because the DNC refused prior requests to change the rules to ensure more diversity on stage.

"The DNC didn’t change the rules to ensure good, diverse candidates could remain on the debate stage," tweeted Elizabeth Warren.  "They shouldn’t change the rules to let a billionaire on. Billionaires shouldn't be allowed to play by different rules—on the debate stage, in our democracy, or in our government."

. . .

Tulsi Gabbard's response was slightly different.  Instead of moaning about the Democrats not changing the rules to ensure diversity on stage when Democratic voters apparently preferred older and whiter candidates, she accused Bloomberg of buying the DNC.

Once more representative Tulsi Gabbard is spot on.

But, in fairness to Mayor Bloomberg, the DNC sold out to him.  It is on them.  They are no better now than they were under Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz, back in 2016.  They should have stuck with Ms Donna Brazile.

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff