* Both Republicans and Democrats are winding up their work on party platforms prior to the conventions later this month. These documents don’t get a lot of respect from the general public in that no one pays much attention to what is/isn’t included. But there’s still a lot we can learn from them. For example: According to Republicans, pornography is a “public health crisis,” but apparently gun violence is not. Their approach can actually be summed up pretty well with 140 characters on twitter.
Things the GOP will protect us from: same-sex marriage, porn, medical pot, health insurance.
Things it won’t: 32,000 gun deaths a year.
— LOLGOP (@LOLGOP) July 12, 2016
* When it comes to some of the disagreements that arose during the drafting of the Democratic Party platform, Margaret Hartmann sees a win/win.
Despite the Sanders camp’s losses, his policy director, Warren Gunnels, said the campaign achieved “at least 80 percent” of its goals over the weekend. “I think if you read the platform right now, you will understand that the political revolution is alive and kicking,” he said.
It’s hard to say how much of that should be attributed to Sanders himself, and what represents the party’s general move to the left in the past few years. As the Washington Post’s David Weigel explains, the Sanders campaign “absorbed existing progressive movements and organizations,” such as the anti-fracking campaign, and the “Fight for $15” minimum-wage campaign. Plus, the Democratic Party lost its conservative wing during the Obama years…
Both sides can walk away from Orlando feeling like they got a good deal. From Clinton’s perspective, she gave Sanders supporters a few platform concessions, but has no obligation to adhere to the tenets laid out by the party. Meanwhile, Sanders ensures that the progressive values he fought for will be part of the Democratic Party for years, if not decades — which isn’t so bad for a guy who didn’t win the nomination.
* There’s a war of words going on between Donald Trump and the Notorious RBG.
Ginsburg in recent days has ramped up her criticisms of Trump’s campaign. She has said he’s a “faker” who should release his tax returns, that she “can’t imagine” a Trump presidency, and that “everything” would be up for grabs with him occupying the White House…
“I think it’s highly inappropriate that a United States Supreme Court judge gets involved in a political campaign, frankly,” Trump told the Times by phone. “I think it’s a disgrace to the court and I think she should apologize to the court. I couldn’t believe it when I saw it.”…
Trump went on to say that it was “beneath the court” for Ginsburg to criticize him and argued that her comments would only further energize his supporters.
“And I would hope that she would get off the court as soon as possible,” he added.
* Today was the 11th time during his presidency that Obama spoke at a memorial service for the victims of a mass shooting. Occasionally, the weariness showed in his tone.
* Finally, we’ll end the day with the song Dallas Police Chief David Brown quoted to the families of the officers who were slain last Thursday night.
