National

It is a formidable task to nudge the juggernaut [i.e. the United States] leftward where there is both an uncompromising, obstructive right-wing Republican Party and a sect of the Democratic Party beholden to the plutocracy. It is even more difficult when the citizenry, the poor and the middle-class, have been so beaten down that they no longer feel their worth and they no longer feel they can make a difference. Well, the president has done his part sans TPP and a few other missteps. The next president must be someone who will unabashedly effect liberal policies, progressive policies. Going forward, it is time to ensure that the cleaver is used against the plutocracy, and it is time to ensure the planted seeds are fertilized and grow. [...] Obamacare must morph into Medicare for all (single payer). Social Security must be expanded by taxing all income, wages and capital gains, equally. The federal minimum wage must be increased to what it would have been if it kept up with inflation with an earned productivity benefit added. The defense budget must be retooled away from a corrupt military industrial complex to serve our true defense needs. The entire American infrastructure must be rebuilt. Where the private sector is derelict in maintenance and build-out of critical infrastructure, the government must intervene (universal wi-fi access, electrical grid, etc.).

I want to thank all of you that showed up yesterday to stand up for the Biden family and all the Delawareans who came to pay their respects to Beau and his family. Your decision to peacefully stand up to protect the Biden family from the hateful words and signs that those nitwits from Westboro Church were displaying shows the class and respect that we feel should be shown when a family and state is mourning their loss. I know the Biden family is not in a position to comment on what you did yesterday but, I would like to say thank you for standing up for all of us. With the exception of the spilled coffee, you pulled off a victory over hate and ignorance. By the way, if that gentleman is found guilty I would like to pay his fine.

Jenner’s watershed moment — which coincides with the Supreme Court preparing to rule on whether to allow same-sex marriage nationwide — leaves the GOP and its stable of presidential candidates grappling with how to represent conservatives who don’t wish to accept Jenner and more moderate voters who have already done so.

The percentage of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents who describe themselves as both social and economic conservatives has dropped to 42%, the lowest level Gallup has measured since 2005. The second-largest group of Republicans (24%) see themselves as moderate or liberal on both social and economic issues, while 20% of all Republicans are moderate or liberal on social issues but conservative on economic ones.

“Mrs. Clinton typically offers more muted criticism but was animated on the subject of voting rights… She took on four of her potential rivals by name. She attacked former Texas Gov. Rick Perry for supporting a law requiring voter identification to cast ballots that allows a concealed weapons license for identification but not a student ID. She said Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker was wrong for cutting back early voting, and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie for vetoing a bill that would have extended early voting. And she said former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush was wrong for purging voters from Florida’s rolls ahead of the 2000 election.”