Politico:
Former Texas Gov. Rick Perry, who has already emerged as one of the GOP presidential field’s most vocal critics of Donald Trump, ratcheted up his rhetoric again Wednesday as he slammed the real estate mogul as a “cancer on conservatism” and warned that, left unchecked, Trump could spell the demise of the Republican Party.
“He offers a barking carnival act that can be best described as Trumpism: a toxic mix of demagoguery, mean-spiritedness and nonsense that will lead the Republican Party to perdition if pursued,” Perry charged during an address at the Willard Hotel in downtown Washington. “Let no one be mistaken: Donald Trump’s candidacy is a cancer on conservatism, and it must be clearly diagnosed, excised and discarded."
He may have meant "carnival barker", but bqhatevwr. When Trump is keeping you out of the debate, you got a lot to say abut him.
Did the Q-poll yesterday give you heartburn? Here's some antacid via PPP polls:
Clinton is in pretty good shape when it comes to potential general election match ups as well. She leads all of the potential Republican candidates by anywhere from 3 to 13 points, comparable to a month ago when her advantages over them ranged from 3 to 7 points. The Republican who comes closest to Clinton is Rand Paul, who trails by 3 at 45/42. Also coming close are Jeb Bush, Marco Rubio, and Scott Walker all of whom trail by an identical 5 point margin at 46/41.
By far the worst performing Republican against Clinton is Donald Trump, who trails 50/37.
Of course,
none of it matters:
So what’s a political junkie to do? Watch this number: President Obama’s approval rating. As political scientists Robert Erikson and Christopher Wlezien explain in their masterful volume “The Timeline of Presidential Elections,” presidential approval ratings reflect many of the factors that affect how Americans vote — especially their view of the economy. Erikson and Wlezien show that if voters approve of the current president — even as far out as 200 days before an election — that’s a good indication that the incumbent party will win.
Current numbers forecast a close election.
More politics and policy below the fold.
Alex Seitz-Wald:
Mary Rickle [sic], a spokesperson for Netroots Nation, acknowledged that Netroots has struggled with race, but said it went to great lengths to incorporate the protesters. “The progressive movement as a whole, much like the rest of America, has issues that need to be addressed when it comes to race relations and racial justice. Netroots Nation has had issues over the years, and we continue to make steady movements forward,” she told msnbc.
The more interesting conversation has been taking place behind the scenes, where the Netroots protest ripped open a difficult discussion on race and pushed many white progressives to re-evaluate their priorities and themselves through a racial lens.
“I think it is a turning point,” said Patrisse Cullers, another Black Lives Matter activist. The progressive movement is finally “confronting it’s own demons” on race, she added.
Reaction to the disruption was far from positive. Some fans of Sanders or O’Malley complained. Others were concerned the protest overshadowed other progressive causes, and they feared elected officials would never again take Netroots seriously or attend the conference. On private listservs and in closed-door discussions, the debate has been heated and emotional at times.
But with more time, more critics of the protest seem to be coming around.
As an older, white prog myself, I'm trying to learn to listen better. Sure, I could talk. But you learn more by listening.
Greg Sargent:
One subplot of that storyline centers on a corollary question. Can Democrats perform better among non-college whites in 2016 than they did in 2012, by fielding a candidate (say, Hillary Clinton) who enjoys a greater cultural affinity with those voters than Barack Obama did, and by speaking directly to their sense that the economy has been rigged for many years against them?
The new Washington Post/ABC News poll starkly illustrates the challenge Democrats face in this regard. It turns out that an overwhelming majority of non-college whites believes the U.S. economic system is stacked in favor of the rich — but far more of those voters also think Republicans, not Democrats, have better ideas to address that problem.
Pew:
A Year Later, U.S. Campaign Against ISIS Garners Support, Raises Concerns
Just 30% Say U.S. Military Effort Is Going Well
Older piece but a good read from
The Fix:
Yes, there really are two Americas. Just look at this chart.
Matthew Dickenson:
Of course, it is worth remembering two important points. First, polls this early in the nominating process have very little predictive value in terms of forecasting the eventual nominee. Second, these are polls – not votes. To date, I know of no research indicating whether Trump has put together the infrastructure for an effective ground game in Iowa or New Hampshire. Political science studies indicate that the best way to get people to the polls is to contact them personally. This is particularly crucial in low-turnout affairs like the Iowa caucus. There’s no evidence as yet that Trump has developed the necessary organization to do this. So, for now, Trump is exhibiting a lot of sizzle. But we have yet to see any steak.
In the short run, of course, the lack of a campaign organization is not likely to dampen media coverage of The Donald. But the next time you see a political pundit publicly weeping over what The Donald is doing to political discourse in this country, pay no attention to those crocodile tears. The media loves The Donald almost as much as he loves himself. And they are more than willing to show their love by engaging in the endless self-flagellation that is the essence of covering Trump’s run for the presidency. Please, please, stop me before I write another Trump story!
Never mind. He just said something newsworthy. Thank you Donald! May I have another?