While the 2016 campaign sucks up all of the oxygen in the media, President Obama continues work on his Clemency Initiative. Today he commuted the sentences of an additional 42 individuals – bringing his total to 348. He has now surpassed the previous 7 presidents combined in the number of commutations. But, given that all […]
Donald Trump
Posted inPolitical Animal, Politics
“Out of Left Field”
Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan’s response to Donald Trump’s racist attacks on U.S. District Judge Gonzalo Curiel: Trump comments on Judge Curiel “out of left field .. i completely disagree w/the thinking behind that.” – Paul Ryan on radio just now — Jon Ward (@jonward11) June 3, 2016 Out of left field? Really? Here is […]
Posted inPolitical Animal, Politics
Obama’s Anti-Trump Secret Weapon
President Obama just put Trump In a very-classy-and-beauitful-gold-plated box with his announcement that he now supports an increase in Social Security benefits. If Trump supports the idea he pisses off mainstream Republicans at a time he’s trying to court them. If he opposes it, he annoys his own base of crotchety white seniors. Most of […]
Posted inPolitical Animal, Politics
Ethnic Heritage on the Courts
Even as legal experts express their alarm over Donald Trump’s remarks about U.S. District Judge Gonzalo Curiel (who is presiding over the fraud cases against Trump University), the presumptive Republican presidential nominee decided to double down. In an interview, Mr. Trump said U.S. District Judge Gonzalo Curiel had “an absolute conflict” in presiding over the […]
Posted inPolitical Animal, Politics
Clinton is Defining Trump
In our soundbite culture, memes develop about politicians that become almost impossible to break. We’ve seen that over the last few years with regards to Paul Ryan. Much of the media defines him as a “wonk,” no matter how unserious his policy proposals actually turn out to be. In the 2000 election, George Bush was […]
Posted inPolitical Animal, Politics
Quick Takes
* Hillary Clinton gave an important speech today on national security. I highly recommend that you watch the video and/or read the transcript. She focused a lot on the danger Donald Trump would pose as Commander-in-Chief. So it really matters that Donald Trump says things that go against our deepest-held values. It matters when he […]
Posted inPolitical Animal, Politics
Hurdles in Trump’s Midwest Strategy
I doubt it matters very much that Michigan’s embattled Republican governor, Rick Snyder, won’t be endorsing Donald Trump for president. Given Snyder’s performance on the Flint water issue, who would want his endorsement? Gov. Snyder says he’s going to stay focused on retaining a Republican majority in the state’s House of Representatives. Yet, as Jenna […]
Posted inPolitical Animal, Politics
Donald Trump and the Courts
Usually when the judicial branch of government comes up during presidential campaigns, the discussion focuses on what kind of judges the candidate would nominate to the Supreme Court. For Donald Trump – his list of potential nominees is cause for concern. But that doesn’t even begin to capture the problem. We’re hearing a lot lately […]
Posted inPolitical Animal, Politics
A Look at the Trump Campaign
Let’s take a moment to imagine the following scenario: how should the press cover a presumptive presidential nominee under the following circumstances? Voters The potential for the 2016 election to widen America’s racial voting chasm even further is nothing new. But Washington Post-ABC News polls have also identified a related dynamic: White Americans are splintering […]
Posted inPolitical Animal, Politics
If Trump Isn’t a Change Agent
Mitch McConnell is trying to reassure concerned conservatives that their presidential nominee won’t be an apostate. And even as the presidential nominee, Trump won’t redefine the Republican Party, McConnell says. In an interview with Bloomberg Businessweek, Trump predicted he would transform the GOP into a “worker’s party” over the next five to 10 years. “My […]
