Since the debates no doubt will be the main topic of interest tonight, this is truly an open thread, with no excerpt posted to spur discussion. What is included is the 5th edition of a poll that’s been appearing since March inquiring of participants here whether or not they have made a firm decision about whom they will support in the Democratic primaries. It’s not about WHO you will support like the regular Straw Poll but whether you have made a firm decision about backing any candidate in the primaries, whoever that is. See below.
TOP COMMENTS • HIGH IMPACT STORIES
QUOTATION
“Our resplendent economic autocracy does not want to return to that individualism of which they prate, even though the advantages under that system went to the ruthless and the strong. They realize that in thirty-four months we have built up new instruments of public power. In the hands of a people’s Government this power is wholesome and proper. But in the hands of political puppets of an economic autocracy such power would provide shackles for the liberties of the people. Give them their way and they will take the course of every autocracy of the past – power for themselves, enslavement for the public.”
~~Franklin D. Roosevelt, Annual Message to Congress, 1936
TWEET OF THE DAY
BLAST FROM THE PAST
On this date at Daily Kos in 2006—Campaign Finance Reform: Moving Forward:
Following yesterday's Supreme Court decision invalidating Vermont's campaign finance reform law, you might be wondering whether there's any hope for further proposals to reduce the impact of wealth on the political process.
There is.
To be clear: yesterday's decision strong suggested that any restrictions on a campaign's own spending would be held unconstitutional, as would limits on individual contributions to campaigns set so low as to prevent challengers from waging competitive races.
But the door is wide open for states to introduce voluntary measures to even up the playing field, and here I am referring to Clean Elections.
On
today’s Kagro in the Morning show: The NЯA den of thieves continues to collapse. (I thought those guys never got robbed, because guns.) Trump hates treaties (but loves treats). Joe (Biden) vs. the Fiscal Cliff. WTF with Jerry Falwell Jr. & the pool boy? WTF with Duncan Hunter & half of DC?
BELOW IS THE 5TH ROUND OF A POLL PREVIOUSLY TAKEN HERE ON MARCH 9, APRIL 7, MAY 8, and June 11.
One additional response choice has been added to this edition of the poll.