Saturday Open Thread [7.25.15]

Saturday Open Thread [7.25.15]

Lexington: “The Trump technique involves confiding in unhappy Americans that they are victims of a plot—and a plot, what is more, that could be easily thwarted. In his telling, scheming foreign governments have outwitted a soft political elite in Washington and preyed on America’s openness and generosity. He is tapping into a political tradition with deep roots. The Know-Nothings are only one example. The ‘America First’ movement of the early 1940s accused decadent Europeans and well-connected Jews of conspiring to drag America into a new world war. In the 1960s the John Birch Society saw communist cunning at every turn.” “To difficult questions Mr Trump offers appealingly simple solutions, starting with this most painful puzzle for conservatives: if America is the mightiest country in the world, how come it feels so weak? His answer goes beyond blaming Barack Obama and the Democrats. The fault, he insists, lies instead with the governing class in both parties, which has betrayed a great nation.”

The Weekly Addresses

In this week's address, the President speaks to the progress we have made in making our financial system stronger, safer, and more fair in the years since financial crisis. Governor Markell recognizes the 25th anniversary of the American’s with Disabilities Act by sharing efforts both in Delaware and across the country to create a more inclusive society.
Colin Bonini has got some balls…

Colin Bonini has got some balls…

Either that, or he is simply clueless. Just read this and be aware of the fact that he has never voted for a budget. He is simply against budgets. He is a pumpkin-headed know nothing when it comes to budgets, and he is proud of it.
Friday Open Thread [7.24.15]

Friday Open Thread [7.24.15]

Brian Beutler on why Donald Trump terrifies Republicans:
For almost three years now, Republican strategic thought has been roughly divided between two schools. One, represented by Jeb Bush, Marco Rubio, and to a lesser extent Rand Paul, accepts the notion that the party must improve its performance with minority voters, without sacrificing its command of the white vote, in order to remain competitive in presidential elections. The other, represented by Ted Cruz and Scott Walker, rejects this premise. These Republicans hew to the theory, expressed numerically by RealClearPolitics analyst Sean Trende, that making inroads with minorities is not important. The key to winning, they believe, lies with activating a large block of the white electorate that has stood on the sidelines, but would find a natural home in a Republican party if it were led by someone who could channel the political mood of the white working class.
So if you are in the former camp and believe reaching out and changing the party is how you win again, then Trump destroys that path by reminding Latinos and everyone else that Republicans are evil racist bigots. If you are in the latter camp and believe the "missing white voter" is the key to keeping the GOP competitive in elections, then you worry that any attack on Trump alienates them. So in essence, Donald Trump is forcing the courageous choice that Republicans should have made after 2012: Either cast off the racist bigoted tea party or die. If I were a Republican, I would realize that the 2016 election is already lost. I would let Trump and Cruz get the Presidential and Vice Presidential nomination and watch them go down in defeat in an epic landslide. And then I would finally clean house. And it may take a generation, but at least you'd have your party back.
So Draft Biden is a Thing, and it’s holding a local party here in Delaware this weekend….

So Draft Biden is a Thing, and it’s holding a local party here in Delaware this weekend….

We received this in our tip line, and though I cannot attend, I thought I should pass it on. This is an invitation to a "small and informal gathering" at a private residence in the Devonshire neighborhood off Shipley Road (and near the intersection with Naamans Road) in Brandywine Hundred. If you are interested in attending, email and RSVP to draftbiden_de@draftbiden2016.com, and then you will receive the full and exact address. Here is the full, though redacted, invitation:
You are invited to attend a small and informal gathering at my home (XXXXXXXX, Wilmington, DE 19810) this Saturday, July 25th at 1:00pm as part of the "day of action" taking place in all 50 states, to show support of nation-wide Draft Biden 2016 movement. I would be honored if you would please join us. Feel free to bring your friends and family. Please RSVP to draftbiden_de@draftbiden2016.com.
We took a chip out of the wall

We took a chip out of the wall

These (more or less) were the remarks I delivered last night at the PDD event honoring PDD's "Bob Stachnik Progressive Courage" awardees. Thanks for having me here to say a few words about Bob Stachnik on the occasion of awarding these first Bob Stachnik Progressive Courage Award. Having worked with him through the Howard Dean meetup days and into the founding of PDD, I can say one thing with absolute authority - Bob would hate the name of this award. This I know for sure. That is an objective fact.
Thursday Open Thread [7.23.15]

Thursday Open Thread [7.23.15]

Attention Republicans everywhere. You are hereby ordered to cease what you are doing and make your way to your nearest public elementary school forthwith. Once there, you will be forced to retake Basic U.S. Civics so that you might learn how the U.S. Federal Government is structured, and what the roles of each branch of government are. Last night, for reasons passing any understanding, MSNBC host Rachel Maddow had Rick Santorum on her show, and of course, they got into it over gay marriage. Santorum told Maddow that the Supreme Court "is not a superior branch of government" and argued that Congress can still pass a law regarding same-sex marriage. Maddow insisted that Congress could only pass a constitutional amendment that directly contradicts a Supreme Court ruling. Santorum disagreed and said that all three branches of government can determine what is constitutional.