Obama Was Joking, Trump Wasn’t

by Nancy LeTourneau May 6, 2016January 9, 2022

At the White House Correspondent’s Dinner last weekend, President Obama made a joke about Donald Trump’s foreign policy experience. The Republican establishment is incredulous that he is their most likely nominee — incredulous, shocking. They say Donald lacks the foreign policy experience to be President. But, in fairness, he has spent years meeting with leaders […]

Political Animal, Politics

This is What a Landslide Election Looks Like

by Martin Longman May 6, 2016January 9, 2022

It’s not too strong to say that Jeb Bush and the dynasty he represents were humiliated by Donald Trump, so it’s really not a surprise that neither his father nor his brother will be making the trek to Cleveland to watch The Donald’s coronation as the head of the party. In retrospect, Jeb probably wishes […]

Political Animal, Politics

Political Analysis is Hard

by Martin Longman May 5, 2016January 9, 2022

In 2008, I blogged as a forceful advocate of Barack Obama’s candidacy during the primaries, and I retain a lot of the readership I built up over that campaign, which means that there are a lot of Clinton-bashing commenters in the threads of pretty much anything I write. I come at politics with a progressive […]

Political Animal, Politics

Clinton’s Pre-emptive Response to the Coming Attempt to Normalize Trump

by Nancy LeTourneau May 5, 2016January 9, 2022

The reason Republicans like Sen. Susan Collins have adopted a “wait and see” approach to the candidacy of Donald Trump is that they are counting on a systemic attempt to normalize him. David Roberts tells us why that is what we can expect. [T]he US political ecosystem — media, consultants, power brokers, think tanks, foundations, […]

Political Animal, Politics

The “Wait and See” Republicans

by Nancy LeTourneau May 5, 2016January 9, 2022

Republican reaction to Donald Trump as their presumptive presidential nominee is all over the map. Of course there are those who are lining up to support him, some are digging in their heels and saying #NeverTrump, and a few are simply planning to remain silent. Regardless of how you feel about Trump’s candidacy, it is […]

Political Animal, Politics

Can Trump Win Over Sanders’ Supporters?

by Nancy LeTourneau May 2, 2016January 9, 2022

MJ Lee at CNN says that the Trump campaign is going to make a play for Sanders’ supporters. Trump’s advisers say these comments are a preview of more explicit overtures the campaign is ready to make to Sanders’ supporters once the populist liberal exits the 2016 race. That strategy is based on the broad areas […]

Politics

The Trump Effect on Young Voters

by washmonthly April 25, 2016January 9, 2022

If the results of a new national survey of millennial voters are any indication, the candidacy of Donald Trump could wreak long-lasting, generational damage to the GOP. A poll by the Harvard University’s Institute of Politics finds that just 17% of young Americans ages 18 to 29 have a favorable impression of Trump, and that […]