Democrat Loser Cartoons

What is Hillary Clinton doing now?

Hillary Clinton has been lying low since she was defeated by Donald Trump in the US presidential election last month.
She has gone from campaigning across America to hiking and dog walking near her home in Chappaqua, New York. The former secretary of state and first female presidential nominee of one of the two major political parties has also been spotted shopping for Thanksgiving dinner and visiting a bookstore in Rhode Island.
"Clinton appears to be in the midst of a well-deserved self-care break," says Michelle Ruiz at Vogue, but her critics and supporters know that a "30-year public servant likely isn't going to go quietly into the night".
In her concession speech, Clinton urged her supporters not to grow weary or lose heart "for there are more seasons to come – and there is more work to do".
But what exactly might that entail?

A senior campaign worker told People magazine that Clinton "really didn't contemplate losing" the election and suggested that "no one around the campaign really seems to know what Hillary will do next".
If Clinton were to run again – and win in 2020 at the age of 73 – she would become the oldest person elected to a first term, although Trump will be 74 by then. Nevertheless, as a member of Democratic

royalty, she could wield considerable influence as an "elder stateswoman" within the party.

In a tongue-in-cheek interview with Zach Galifianakis in September, she said if Trump won she would "try to prevent him from destroying the United States". However, she could well pursue non-political routes to achieve this.
Romper suggests that Clinton could "dedicate more time and energy by returning to the Clinton Foundation", the charity which she and husband Bill established 19 years ago. This would enable her to continue working for the causes she is most passionate about, such as women's rights.
She might also consider writing an autobiography, hoping to emulate the success of her husband's 2004 memoir, My Life, a mammoth bestseller that shifted more than two million copies.
She has already written one autobiography, 2003's Living History, but as a sitting senator for New York with her eye on the White House, the juiciest titbits of her political and personal life would have been off limits.
After 30 years in the public eye, from the low of the sex scandal that almost led to her husband's impeachment to the high of being named Democratic presidential candidate, Clinton must have more than a few tales to tell. A frank autobiography could offer a fascinating insight into a woman often depicted as reserved and cold.
But she might also simply decide to step away from life in the public eye and enjoy retirement. Her daughter, Chelsea, and son-in-law, Mark, have two young children of their own and Clinton has previously spoken of her delight in being a grandmother to two-year-old Charlotte and six-month-old Aidan.
They were also part of her concession speech, when she thanked her family for all their support during the campaign. "To Bill and Chelsea, Mark, Charlotte, Aidan, our brothers and our entire family, my love for you means more than I can ever express," she said. "You criss-crossed this country on our behalf and lifted me up when I needed it most."

Lewandowski: Trump's 'Thank You' Speech With Gen. Mattis 'A Home Run'

Former Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski applauded President-elect Donald Trump's speech in Fayetteville, N.C., which was part of his 'thank you' tour.
Lewandowski said the speech, which included an appearance by secretary of defense nominee Gen. James 'Mad Dog' Mattis [Ret.], was "a home run".
"I think this [thank-you tour idea] is so smart-- Seeing the people and reminding them that the power is not in Washington, but out in the states [and] saying 'thank you' for the support they gave Donald Trump in this election."
He commended Trump's promise to keep the American military the "best fighting force" this country has seen.
Lewandowski also said it is again appropriate to say "Merry Christmas" in America again, an apparent reference to some critics who have said that the Obama administration has secularized some aspects of holidays.
"It's not a pejorative word anymore," he said.

Mattis says he's 'grateful' to be nominated as defense secretary; House GOP introduces waiver language

President-elect Donald Trump's pick to lead the Department of Defense said Tuesday that he was "grateful" to be nominated as House Republicans introduced a must-pass spending bill that included language designed to expedite his confirmation.
Retired Marine Gen. James "Mad Dog" Mattis briefly joined Trump on stage at the president-elect's "Thank You" rally in Fayetteville, N.C.
"I’m grateful for the opportunity to return to our troops, their families, the civilians at the Department of Defense," Mattis said in brief remarks. "I know how committed they are and devoted they are to the defense of our country [and] the defense of our Constitution. And with our allies strengthened and with our country strengthened, I look forward to being the civilian leader, so long as Congress gives me the waiver and the Senate votes to consent."
"You're going to get that waiver," Trump said as Mattis left the microphone. "If you don’t get that waiver, there are going to be a lot of angry people."
Mattis retired from the military in 2013. However, since federal law requires the secretary of defense to be off active duty for at least seven years, Congress would have to approve a waiver allowing Mattis to lead the Pentagon.
Shortly before Trump took the stage, House Republicans included a proposal to expedite the waiver in legislation to keep the government funded into next spring.
The bill would prevent the government from shutting down this weekend and buy several months for the new Congress and incoming Trump administration to wrap up more than $1 trillion worth of unfinished agency budget bills.
However, it also includes language meant to force Senate Democrats to consider whether to oppose the entire spending bill over Mattis' confirmation, risking a government shutdown over the matter.
The legislation requires Mattis to receive 60 Senate votes to receive the waiver. However, the legislation would limit debate on the measure to 10 hours.
For Mattis to receive the waiver, at least eight Senate Democrats would have to join 52 Senate Republican to approve it.
Trump himself was less bombastic Tuesday evening than at a similar rally last week in Cincinnati. The president-elect attempted to strike more of the healing notes traditionally delivered in the weeks after a bruising campaign. He even stopped the crowd when it started to boo the media.
"We will defend American jobs. We have to look at it almost like a war," Trump thundered. "We want the next generation of innovation and production to happen right here in America.
"We will heal our divisions and unify our country. When Americans are unified there is nothing we cannot do -- nothing!" he added. "I'm asking you to dream big again as Americans. I'm asking you to believe in yourselves."

Trump offers Iowa Gov. Brandstad ambassador to China post, sources say

President-elect Donald Trump has offered the key post of U.S. Ambassador to China to Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad, two GOP sources with direct knowledge of the matter told Fox News early Wednesday.
Branstad met with Trump at Trump Tower in New York Tuesday afternoon.
When reporters asked Branstad if Trump had offered him a job following their meeting, the governor said he couldn't comment, but was proud he supported Trump and was excited about a Trump presidency and the "quality of the people that he's attracting to the Cabinet."
Trump's offer was first reported by Bloomberg.
Trump and Vice President-elect Mike Pence will hold a "Thank You" rally for supporters in Des Moines on Thursday. In last month's presidential election, Iowa voters backed the Republican ticket for just the second time since 1984.
Branstad, 70, was an early and staunch supporter of Trump, and his son, Eric, served as the state director for Trump's campaign in Iowa.
If Branstad accepts the role, he would assume the post at a pivotal moment in U.S-China relations, following Trump's Dec. 2 phone call with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen.
The conversation broke nearly four decades of U.S. diplomatic protocol. Trump followed that with a series of Twitter posts over the weekend challenging China's trade and military policies.
As a presidential candidate, Trump repeatedly accused China of manipulating its currency and trying to "rape our country" with unfair trade policies.
Bloomberg reported that Branstad has a longstanding relationship with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The pair first met in 1985, when Xi, then a provincial agricultural official, visited Iowa.
More recently, Brandstad gave a dinner for Xi in Des Moines in 2012 and has visited China four times in the past seven years.
At a campaign rally in Sioux City Nov. 6, Trump called Branstad up the stage, saying the governor "would be our prime candidate to take care of China."
Trump has pledged to be more "unpredictable" on the world stage, billing the approach as a much-needed change from President Barack Obama's deliberative style and public forecasting about U.S. policy. But Trump's unpredictability is likely to unnerve both allies and adversaries, leaving glaring questions about whether the foreign policy novice is carrying out planned strategies or acting on impulse.
China's authoritarian government likes predictability in its dealings with other nations, particularly the United States. The U.S. and China are the world's two largest economies with bilateral trade in goods and services reaching nearly $660 billion last year.
While there have been sharp differences between Beijing and Washington on China's island building in the South China Sea and over alleged Chinese cybertheft of U.S. commercial secrets, the two powers have cooperated effectively on climate change and the Iran nuclear deal.