Presumptuous Politics

Monday, July 25, 2016

Wasserman Schultz to step down as DNC chairwoman, amid email fallout

You need to cut back on that booze lady.

PHILADELPHIA – Debbie Wasserman Schultz announced Sunday she will soon step down as Democratic National Committee chairwoman, amid the fallout over leaked emails indicating an anti-Bernie Sanders bias in her operation -- a stunning development just hours before the start of her party's convention.
In a written statement, the controversial party leader said she was "privileged to serve as the DNC Chair for five and a half years."
She said her first priority is serving the people of her Florida congressional district while stressing the importance of helping elect Hillary Clinton, adding: "Going forward, the best way for me to accomplish those goals is to step down as Party Chair at the end of this convention."
She said she would still "open and close the convention," which begins Monday in Philadelphia, and address delegates "about the stakes involved in this election," in her role as party chair.

She apparently will step down at the end of the convention. Vice Chairwoman Donna Brazile is slated to take over as interim chair during the rest of the general election campaign.
The announcement came just hours after reports first surfaced that Wasserman Schultz may be denied a speaking role at the convention, and that she would not be presiding -- a decision apparently made under pressure from the Clinton campaign and the White House.
Rep. Marcia Fudge, D-Ohio, the former chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus, will instead preside over the Democratic proceedings as convention chairwoman. On the sidelines, party officials were already discussing Wasserman Schultz' role as DNC chairwoman.
One Democratic source told Fox News, “Debbie is being forced out sooner than later.”
The rapid-fire set of developments ahead of the convention kick-off raise immediate questions about whether the party can unite its battling factions in Philadelphia this week.
Officials were clearly trying to prevent anger over the email leak controversy and other issues from disrupting proceedings. The emails only bolstered claims from Sanders – and Republican nominee Donald Trump – that the system was rigged against the Vermont senator.
Trump tweeted after the DNC news broke:
Sanders himself blasted the DNC and Wasserman Schultz in interviews earlier Sunday, demanding her resignation as party chairwoman.
“I think [Wasserman Schultz] should resign. Period. And I think we need a new chair who is going the lead us in a very different direction,” Sanders told ABC’s “This Week” on Sunday, hours before the resignation was announced.
He later issued a statement thanking her for her service, and saying she made "the right decision for the future of the Democratic Party."
President Obama and Clinton both issued statements thanking Wasserman Schultz for her service.
"I am grateful to Debbie for getting the Democratic Party to this year's historic convention in Philadelphia, and I know that this week's events will be a success thanks to her hard work and leadership," Clinton said, adding that she will serve as "honorary chair of my campaign's 50-state program to gain ground and elect Democrats in every part of the country" and act as a surrogate.
The WikiLeaks document dump, which included emails from January 2015 to May 2016, purportedly came from the accounts of seven DNC officials. In a May 5 email, a DNC employee asked a colleague to collect information on his religious beliefs – claiming it might sway voters in West Virginia and Kentucky. In that particular email, Sanders' name was not mentioned, but he was the only other candidate in the race at that time against Clinton.
DNC chief financial officer Brad Marshall wrote, “This would make several points difference with my peeps. My Southern Baptist peeps would draw a big difference between a Jew and an atheist.”
Others from Wasserman Schultz herself contained very strong language, raising questions about her status as an ostensibly neutral party official.
Responding to Sanders’ complaints the party hasn’t been fair to him, she wrote to a staffer in an April email: “Spoken like someone who has never been a member of the Democratic Party and has no understanding of what we do.”
Responding to the same staffer a month later regarding Sanders campaign manager Jeff Weaver blaming the Nevada state party for a raucous convention, she wrote, “Damn liar. Particularly scummy that he barely acknowledges the violent and threatening behavior that occurred.”

Clinton says there is 'Hillary standard' for her on campaign trail

Presumptive Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton said in an interview broadcast Sunday that chants of "lock her up" at last week's Republican National Convention in Cleveland made her feel "very sad," while also suggesting she faces more scrutiny than other politicians.
Clinton told "60 Minutes" in an interview alongside her running mate, Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine, that she didn't know what the GOP convention was about, "other than criticizing me."
"I seem to be the only unifying-- theme that they had," she told CBS News. "There was no positive agenda. It was a very dark, divisive campaign."
Clinton added that GOP speakers painted a negative picture of the country "that I did not recognize. So I was saddened by it."
She also said she feels as if she faces more scrutiny than other politicians.
"I often feel like there's the Hillary standard and then there's the standard for everybody else," she told CBS.
When asked to explain further, Clinton pointed to "unfounded, inaccurate, mean-spirited attacks with no basis in truth" she said "take on a life of their own."
"People are very willing to say things about me, to make accusations about me that are, I don't get upset about them anymore, but they, they are very regrettable," she said.
When asked in the interview about what she calls Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump in response to his repeated use of the term "Crooked Hillary," Clinton said she has no nickname.
Clinton said she won't "engage in that kind of insult-fest that he seems to thrive on."
Clinton added that she will focus on how Trump "has hurt people in business time after time after time," and will also call attention to the "total disregard that he has shown toward large groups of people in our country."
Clinton's running mate Tim Kaine said the repeated use of the term "Crooked Hillary" and chants of "lock her up" at last week's Republican convention was ridiculous.
The Virginia senator added that "most of us stopped the name-calling thing about fifth grade."
When asked by CBS’ Scott Pelly if he would be ready to be president if needed, Kaine said he was “ready to lead.”
"I think I'm ready to lead. I-- I'm ready first to be a supportive vice president so that the presidency of Hillary Clinton is-- is a fantastic one," Kaine said. "But if something were to put that in my path, as much as any human being would be ready, I'd be ready."

Sanders backers plan convention protests, adding to chaotic kick-off

PHILADELPHIA – The Democrats’ convention kicking off Monday still faces the potential for rowdy protests from Bernie Sanders delegates and supporters, despite the ouster of Democratic National Committee leader Debbie Wasserman Schultz serving as somewhat of a peace offering to liberal factions of the party that have accused her of tipping the scales for Hillary Clinton.
Sanders supporters were angry over leaked emails that show the Florida congresswoman and her team blasting Sanders and discussing ways to undermine him.
While her resignation could calm that storm, the liberal wing still appears intent on protesting over other grievances including Clinton, the party’s presumptive presidential nominee, picking Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia as her running mate.
Norman Solomon, a Sanders delegate from California, said Sunday that Clinton picking a centrist like Kaine is an “assault” on the progressive agenda. He said the roughly 1,250 Sanders delegates connected to his Bernie Delegates Network are considering walking out during the Virginia senator’s expected acceptance speech at the Wells Fargo Center, and they are even looking into contesting his nomination.
He said their response “reflects anger and disappointment” over Clinton and like-minded Washington Democrats’ control over the party.
“We don’t know exactly what to expect” on the convention floor, Solomon also said.
The uncertainty and rancor on several fronts puts the Democrats in a similar position as the Republicans when they entered their convention a week ago looking to soothe tensions between their presidential nominee and those who backed his primary rivals.
Only the clashes on the Democratic side have already outmatched last week’s fireworks in Cleveland, with Wasserman Schultz’ resignation standing as a stunning development on convention eve.
The political spectacle already has distracted from the historic convention where Clinton is set to become the first female presidential nominee of a major party.
While Wasserman Schultz has been largely sidelined from the convention -- though she will open and close it -- Sanders is set to speak Monday. In a written statement, he praised the DNC chairwoman for stepping down.
“Debbie Wasserman Schultz has made the right decision for the future of the Democratic Party. While she deserves thanks for her years of service, the party now needs new leadership that will open the doors of the party and welcome in working people and young people. The party leadership must also always remain impartial in the presidential nominating process, something which did not occur in the 2016 race,” he said.
The resignation comes after WikiLeaks on Thursday released roughly 20,000 DNC emails, with more revelations emerging Sunday about Wasserman Schultz criticizing the Vermont senator to staffers.
“He isn't going to be president,” she wrote in one May 21 email, also saying that Sanders vowing at the time to replace her as chairwoman was a “silly story.”
Clinton chief strategist Joel Benenson, on "Fox News Sunday," defended the fairness of the primary elections and said the DNC would conduct a full review of the emails. He said people should not jump to conclusions.
"The DNC’s impact in these things is minimal compared to the results. What candidates and campaigns spend and do on the ground, talking to voters day in and day out, that’s what determines who wins,” he said.
Solomon suggested Sunday that the Sanders delegates’ frustration goes beyond the Kaine pick to include convention rules, climate change and the party platform, which they think fails to include enough of Sanders’ hard-fought progressive agenda.
On Sunday in Philadelphia, several large protests took place near City Hall, in nearly 100-degree temperatures and under the watchful eye of city police officers.
“A lot of Democratic supporters labeled Bernie Sanders supporters conspiracy theorists. The WikiLeaks confirms what we thought all along,” said Perry Mitchell, a 32-year-old Maryland who came to Philadelphia to participate in protests.
Most of the protests focus on concerns about clean energy.
“You see both parties are controlled by the oil and gas industry; those are the big donors,” said Wendy Brawer a protester from New York City. “But in a movement, you still have to do something to create change. Changing your lifestyle means you’re part of the solution. People have to use less.”

Sunday, July 24, 2016

Secretary of State John Kerry Cartoons

Kerry: Air conditioners as big a threat as ISIS

Idiot Secretary of State Kerry (aka: Lurch?)

Idiot

Secretary of State John Kerry said in Vienna on Friday that air conditioners and refrigerators are as big of a threat to life as the threat of terrorism posed by groups like the Islamic State.
The Washington Examiner reported that Kerry was in Vienna to amend the 1987 Montreal Protocol that would phase out hydrofluorocarbons, or HFCs, from basic household and commercial appliances like air conditioners, refrigerators, and inhalers.
“As we were working together on the challenge of [ISIS] and terrorism,” Kerry said. “It’s hard for some people to grasp it, but what we–you–are doing here right now is of equal importance because it has the ability to literally save life on the planet itself.”
Kerry said that most of the substances banned in the Montreal Protocol have increased the use of HFCs and claimed that the coolant was thousands of times more potent than CO2. He added that the increase of HFCs has led to the trend of global climate change.
“The use of hydrofluorocarbons is unfortunately growing,” Kerry said. “Already, the HFCs use in refrigerators, air conditioners, and other items are emitting an entire gigaton of carbon dioxide-equivalent pollution into the atmosphere annually. Now, if that sounds like a lot, my friends, it’s because it is. It’s the equivalent to emissions from nearly 300 coal-fired power plants every single year.”
Members of the Montreal Protocol have met their obligations and have aided in the shrinking of the hole in the ozone, as well as created jobs and improved the quality of life, Kerry said.
Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Gina McCarthy was also present at the negotiations and is serving as the lead negotiator for the United States. McCarthy has said that her goal is to enact the HFC agreement by the end of the year.
New EPA rules along with the global deal would band HFCs in the United States and push for alternative chemicals for use in appliances. The negotiations are part of President Obama’s climate agenda to combat global climate change.

Wikileaks dump appears to show DNC favored Clinton campaign

Democratic National Committee (DNC) Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) (2nd R) attends a LGBT Pride Month reception at the White House in Washington, U.S. June 9, 2016

A new trove of leaked emails seem to show that top officials at the Democratic National Committee openly mocked and criticized Sen. Bernie Sanders during the primary race against Hillary Clinton -- a startling revelation that raises questions about the Democratic Party’s impartiality and an issue that could play out poorly at the party’s convention this week in Philadelphia.
WikiLeaks posted close to 20,000 emails and 8,000 attachments Friday sent or received from top Democratic officials that seem to suggest the committee’s chairwoman, Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz and other higher ups tried to tip the scales in Clinton’s favor. WikiLeaks dubbed the document dump the “Hillary Leaks series.”
Sanders has repeatedly claimed that he thought the system was “rigged” during the primaries.
Republican candidate Donald Trump weighed in Saturday morning, tweeting: “Leaked e-mails of DNC show plans to destroy Bernie Sanders. Mock his heritage and much more. On-line from Wikileakes (sic), really vicious. RIGGED.”
The leaks, from January 2015 to May 2016, purportedly came the from accounts of seven DNC officials and feature conversations by staffers debating everything from how to deal with media requests to syncing the party’s message with interest groups in Washington.

Now Playing Leaked DNC emails show effort to undermine Bernie Sanders

The officials are: Senior Adviser Andrew Wright, National Finance Director Jordan Kaplan, Finance Chief of Staff Scott Comer, Communications Director Luis Miranda, Northern California Finance Director Robert Stowe, Finance Director of Data & Strategic Initiatives Daniel Parrish and Finance Director Allen Zachary.
In one email, DNC staffers were looking for ways to blunt Sanders’ popularity with Democrats. In a May 5 email, a DNC employee asked a colleague to collect information on his religious beliefs – claiming it might sway voters in West Virginia and Kentucky. In that particular email, Sanders name was not mentioned but he was the only other candidate in the race at that time against Clinton.
DNC chief financial officer Brad Marshall wrote, “This would make several points difference with my peeps. My Southern Baptist peeps would draw a big difference between a Jew and an atheist.”
Stephen Hayes, a columnist at the Weekly Standard, told “Special Report” on Fox News that the emails show a clear pattern of Wasserman Schultz and the DNC “thumbing the scales’ in favor of Clinton and scheming for ways to “thwart” Sanders.
A May 15, 2016 email, shows the DNC was in close contact with news websites on articles related to the Democratic Party, Sanders and Clinton.
A Real Clear Politics article claimed that Sanders supporters are causing a lack of unity at the Democratic National Convention. Wasserman Schultz took issue with the headline and told another Democratic official the “headline needs to be changed.”
What followed was a back and forth between DNC officials to pressure Real Clear Politics to change their story.
The last email on the thread between DNC officials reads, “Done. Article has been updated.”
The Real Clear Politics story headline was corrected to reflect that the incident in question involved the Nevada state convention and not the national one.

Clinton, Sanders compromise could limit role of superdelegates in future campaigns (A day late and a dollar short?)

Sanders looks like he's crying!

The Democratic National Convention's rules committee Saturday defeated an attempt by supporters of Sen. Bernie Sanders to abolish superdelegates in future presidential campaigns, but later approved a plan that could see their influence significantly reduced.
The Sanders and Hillary Clinton campaigns worked out an agreement to create a so-called "unity commission" to revise the nominating process, including changing superdelegate rules. The plan won near-unanimous support from the committee.
The 21-member commission will study a number of issues, including how to improve access to caucuses and how to broaden the party's appeal. For superdelegates, the commission's recommendation is that Congress members, governors and other elected officials should remain as unpledged delegates, but that other delegates would be bound proportionally to the primary results of their state.

Sanders campaign manager Jeff Weaver endorsed the plan, saying it would "result in the reduction of superdelegates as we know them by two-thirds." The Clinton campaign also expressed support for the commission.

Any changes to superdelegate rules would still be subject to DNC approval. A report by the commission is due by Jan. 1, 2018.
The compromise was reached after a lengthy meeting in which Sanders supporters grew increasingly frustrated as their efforts on superdelegates were voted down.
Discussing his proposal to eliminate superdelegates, Aaron Regunberg, a Sanders delegate and a Rhode Island lawmaker, argued that the current system does not reflect the "core values" of the Democratic party.
Supporters of the effort said earlier Saturday that they had enough support to potentially bring the issue to a vote on the convention floor in Philadelphia next week. But it was not immediately clear whether that would still happen after the passage of the compromise plan.

As the various amendments were voted down, Sanders supporters in the back of the hall expressed their frustration, shouting: "Shame ... shame ... shame!"
"Young people in the Democratic Party are very, very angry," Indiana delegate Jonathan Little said during debate on one of the amendments. "The party is very close to splitting."
Sanders has been critical of superdelegates during his contentious primary fight with Clinton for the nomination. His supporters argue Clinton's substantial superdelegate lead may have influenced the outcome of the race, although Clinton also led Sanders with pledged delegates. Late in the race, Sanders sought to flip superdelegates with little success.
There are 713 superdelegates, mainly members of Congress and members of the Democratic National Committee. Clinton leads Sanders with superdelegates 602 to 48. Combining pledged delegates and superdelegates, Clinton leads 2,807 to 1,894.
With the convention just days away, the hearing was one of the last opportunities for Sanders' supporters to push their agenda.
The party platform debate concluded recently with a draft document that included many of Sanders' priorities, including proposals for a $15 federal minimum wage, abolition of the death penalty and steps to break up large Wall Street banks.

Trump pushing for a 'Philly fight?'

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump on Saturday called on Bernie Sanders supporters to unite against presumptive presidential Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton.
Trump tweeted: “The Bernie Sanders supporters are furious with the choice of Tim Kaine, who represents the opposite of what Bernie stands for. Philly fight?”
Clinton on Friday announced Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine as her running mate. Kaine, an experienced politician seen as a strong centrist, was widely thought to be Clinton’s safest pick.
But the Trump campaign wasted no time in slamming Kaine on social media.
“Tim Kaine is, and always has been, owned by the banks,” Trump tweeted. “Bernie supporters are outraged, was their last choice. Bernie fought for nothing!”
Trump also name-checked Sanders during his primetime speech on the last day of the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, reaching out to Sanders supporters join the Trump train.
“I have seen firsthand how the system is rigged against our citizens, just like it was rigged against Bernie Sanders. He ever had a chance,” Trump said. “But his supporters will join our movement, because we will fix his biggest issue.”