2016 election
793 pieces tagged “2016 election”, newest first.
Donald Trump vs. the Party of Septuagenarians
I shall pose the question once again that I posed months ago: Why is the Democratic presidential field the field of AARP (American Association of Retired Persons), and where is the party's diversity? Does one really have to be at retirement age and white to be considered a Democratic candidate for president? OK, OK, Elizabeth Warren is related to Hiawatha or Sitting Bull or maybe just to Bull, but she has not yet declared, and the rest of the Democratic Party's aspiring candidates are all white and old enough to be accepting Social Security benefits. The only exception is former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley. He is 52 and often campaigns shirtless to prove some obscure point — perhaps that he is younger than Hillary Rodham Clinton. Possibly he has his eye on President Vladimir Putin's job. Actually, he would have a better chance at the presidency of Russia than the presidency of the good ole U.S. of A. He now is polling at 2 percent here. Could his polling in Russia be any worse?
Reform, Replace, Restart or Innovate?
Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker recently released his replacement plan for the Affordable Care Act and jump-started the presidential debate about how to wind down Obamacare. In his book "Overcoming Obamacare," The Washington Examiner's Philip Klein catalogs the three main schools of thought regarding post-ACA policy: reform, replace and restart. The restart school needs a little explaining. It would repeal the ACA and implement reforms as lawmakers would have at 2009 spending levels, had they a chance.
Letter to a Friend: 'Harsh Immigration' Is Not Why Latinos Hate Republicans
A blunt, P.O.'d talker like Trump strikes a nerve with people who feel like they're falling behind and, more importantly, have been let down by get-along, go-along GOP leaders. These are the Boehners and the McConnells who huff and puff about President Barack Obama and his "out of control" Democratic Party, but by Thursday have moved on to other issues, after having yet again been out-maneuvered by the Democratic Congressional minority.
Hillary Clinton's Record of Malfeasance
From Little Rock to the White House, to Foggy Bottom and...
TV Networks Make Waves for Trump
The fascination of the news media with Donald Trump is ironic, to say the least. For people who have long lamented the domination of Big Money in politics, these reporters are presenting Mr. Big Money himself with a ticker tape parade of free media. It could be considered hypocritical, too. Big Money is a bad thing — unless they're the ones making it. Fox's 24 million viewers for their debate proved Trump's market value; ever since that debate, it's been all media, all the time for him.
Did Obama Just Endorse Biden? Is Hillary's Indictment Near?
"The smartest decision that [Barack Obama] has ever made in politics."
GOP Should Worry Less About Trump and More About Itself
Commentators and political consultants are working overtime to divine why Donald Trump's candidacy is explosively successful despite his breaking all the established rules. They're outthinking themselves. They say he is a flash in the pan, the darling of disaffected independents, the tea party's dream, a Clinton plant or the right wing's narcissistic alternative to Barack Obama. Folks, it's not that difficult. For many Americans — who knows what percentage? — the Republican Party is not an antidote to President Obama's seven-year wrecking ball.
Sorting the Candidates
Despite a nuclear Iran looming on the horizon, the media seem to be putting most of their attention on two candidates for their respective parties' presidential nominations next year. Moreover, Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump each make their own party nervous. If next year's election comes down to Clinton versus Trump, a lot of people may simply stay home in disgust. When we are this far away from the official start of the primary election season, we can usually just say, "It's still early days." Many a front runner this early in the process ended up out of the running by the time the party conventions were held, and totally forgotten by election day. That is the way it usually is. But that is not likely to be the way it will be this time.
Trump Defines Down the GOP
It has come to this: The GOP, formerly the party of Lincoln and ostensibly the party of liberty and limited government, is being defined by clamors for a mass roundup and deportation of millions of human beings. To will an end is to will the means for the end, so the Republican clamors are also for the requisite expansion of government's size and coercive powers. Most of Donald Trump's normally loquacious rivals are swaggeringly eager to confront Vladimir Putin, but are too invertebrate — Lindsey Graham is an honorable exception — to voice robust disgust with Trump and the spirit of, the police measures necessary for, and the cruelties that would accompany, his policy. The policy is: "They've got to go."
The Immigration Swamp
For years, immigration has been the subject of near-constant, often bitter argument within the GOP. But it is true that Trump has brought the debate to a new place — first, with his announcement speech, about whether Mexican migrants are really rapists, and now with the somewhat more nuanced Trump plan. Much of it — visa tracking, E-Verify, withholding funds from sanctuary cities — predates Trump. Even building the Great Wall is not particularly new. (I, for one, have been advocating that in this space since 2006.) Dominating the discussion, however, are his two policy innovations: (a) abolition of birthright citizenship and (b) mass deportation.
It's Time to Take on Trump
Is Donald Trump the Republican Party's "Music Man"? Is he the celebrity con man who's going to lead the GOP's parade of candidates from now all the way until next November? I hope not, but so far that's exactly what the 2016 script is looking like. Trump — a political novice — has been leading the Republican's presidential marching band all over the political landscape. His campaign's theme song should be "Seventy-Six Trombones." Trump — a political novice — has been leading the Republican's presidential marching band all over the political landscape. His campaign's theme song should be "Seventy-Six Trombones."
Clinton's Secret Communication Subterfuge
Will the Truth about Clinton's Illegal Communications Stick?
Scott Walker's ObamaCare Replacement
Step one: Repeal ObamaCare. Step two: Replace it with market reforms.
Sanders and Trump: Two Peas in a Pod?
A new chapter in American politics has begun. Millions of Americans on the right and left have lost faith in their political parties, their government and even the economic system. Only 1 in 4 Americans are satisfied with the way things are going. Policy experts will offer various arguments why at least some of these people are wrong to feel this way, but the discontented will not tolerate arguments that amount to "don't believe your lying eyes — or wallets." In politics, feelings are more important than hard numbers.
Trump's Immigration Plan Is Exactly Why He's So Appealing
The Donald goes with his strong suit in appeal to frustrated voters.