Daily Archives

July 18, 2015

12 posts · Saturday

Beginning of the End for Trump?

July 18, 2015 at 7:34 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard 75 Comments

Donald Trump’s “surge in the polls has followed the classic pattern of a media-driven surge. Now it will likely follow the classic pattern of a party-backed decline,” Nate Cohn writes.

“Mr. Trump’s candidacy probably reached an inflection point on Saturday after he essentially criticized John McCain for being captured during the Vietnam War. Republican campaigns and elites quickly moved to condemn his comments — a shift that will probably mark the moment when Trump’s candidacy went from boom to bust.”

“His support will erode as the tone of coverage shifts from publicizing his anti-establishment and anti-immigration views, which have some resonance in the party, to reflecting the chorus of Republican criticism of his most outrageous comments and the more liberal elements of his record.”

Weekly Standard: “Donald Trump confirmed two things during a stop in this central Iowa town Saturday: He has no class and he may well run as an independent when he does not win the Republican nomination.”

Biden Still Mulling White House Bid

July 18, 2015 at 7:31 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard 10 Comments

Vice President Joe Biden “is still very much considering a bid for the White House, people close to Biden say, and will make a final decision at the end of the summer, targeted for September,” the Huffington Post reports.

“The Iowa caucuses are scheduled for early February, meaning Biden would have roughly four months to barnstorm the first-in-the-nation state before the contest turned to New Hampshire.”

Romney and Trump Feud

July 18, 2015 at 4:41 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard 94 Comments

“The difference between Sen. John McCain and Donald Trump: Trump shot himself down. McCain and American veterans are true heroes.”

— Mitt Romney, on Twitter, responding to Trump’s comment that McCain isn’t a war hero because he was captured.

“Why would anybody listen to Mitt Romney? He lost an election that should have easily been won against Obama. By the way, so did John McCain!”

— Donald Trump, on Twitter.

Bonus Trump Quote of the Day

July 18, 2015 at 4:00 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard 23 Comments

“If I do something wrong, I try to do something right. I don’t bring God into that picture.”

— Donald Trump, quoted by the New York Times, struggling to answer if he had ever sought forgiveness from God.

Franklin Graham Urges Halt to Muslim Immigration

July 18, 2015 at 3:46 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard 63 Comments

In the aftermath of shootings in Chattanooga which killed four Marines, Franklin Graham urged in a Facebook post for a halt to all Muslims coming into the United States.

Wrote Graham: “Every Muslim that comes into this country has the potential to be radicalized–and they do their killing to honor their religion and Muhammad. During World War 2, we didn’t allow Japanese to immigrate to America, nor did we allow Germans. Why are we allowing Muslims now?”

Trump Won’t Apologize for McCain Comment

July 18, 2015 at 3:33 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard 39 Comments

If you think Donald Trump should apologize for his comments on Sen. John McCain’s military service, you’ll be disappointed with his latest Facebook post.

Wrote Trump: “I have great respect for all those who serve in our military including those that weren’t captured and are also heroes.”

If you think this incident will derail his campaign, read the comments below his post.

Trump Quote of the Day

July 18, 2015 at 12:37 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard 111 Comments

“He’s a war hero because he was captured. I like people that weren’t captured.”

— Donald Trump, quoted by the Weekly Standard, arguing that Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) is not a war hero.

Quote of the Day

July 18, 2015 at 10:42 am EDT By Taegan Goddard 23 Comments

“If you want to ask me again, I’ll give you the same answer 50 more times. So if you want to waste your time on that question, go ahead.”

— Gov. Scott Walker (R), quoted by the Wall Street Journal, refusing to answer any question about Donald Trump.

Trump Shakes Up the GOP Race

July 18, 2015 at 10:40 am EDT By Taegan Goddard 21 Comments

“Something strange has happened to the Republican presidential field since Donald Trump joined it a month ago: Mr. Trump and Jeb Bush are rising. Everyone else is falling in the polls, or seems stuck in place,” the Wall Street Journal reports.

“Mr. Bush’s support has jumped by about four percentage points in the Real Clear Politics average of polls, rising to 15.5%. Mr. Trump’s support has bumped up more than 10 points since mid-June, to 15% as of Friday. And everyone else? Here’s another view of how support for most of them has fallen during the course of the Trump bump.”

How Will the Economy Impact the 2016 Election?

July 18, 2015 at 10:20 am EDT By Taegan Goddard 55 Comments

New York Times: “They said they believed that unemployment would be the lowest it has been during an election since George W. Bush and Al Gore faced off in 2000, when it stood at 3.9 percent. The median forecast for the unemployment rate when voters go to the polls in November 2016 was 4.8 percent (which would be down from 5.3 percent last month). They saw only a 15 percent chance of a recession starting by next Election Day. Interest rates, inflation and gasoline prices should all be a bit higher than they are now, they said, while staying quite low by historical standards.”

“On its face, all of that points to an election with dynamics similar to 1988 or 2000, when the nominee of the incumbent party (George H. W. Bush in 1988 and Mr. Gore in 2000) could promise continued prosperity. That bodes well for the Democratic nominee, though as Mr. Gore’s loss despite winning the popular vote shows, even a favorable economy doesn’t assure victory, given the workings of the Electoral College.”

GOP May Move On Gay Marriage Law

July 18, 2015 at 6:35 am EDT By Taegan Goddard 48 Comments

New York Times: “Legislation granting protections for tax-exempt organizations and individuals objecting to same-sex marriage on religious or moral grounds is gathering momentum in the House. The bills, drafted by Representative Raúl R. Labrador, Republican of Idaho, and Senator Mike Lee, Republican of Utah, already have 130 co-sponsors. On Thursday, the Republican Study Committee, the largest, most organized group of conservatives in the House, demanded a vote.”

“At the same time, wary Republican moderates have quietly drafted a novel alternative that would actually expand legal protections for gay men and lesbians. Their legislation would narrow the scope of protection offered to groups declining services to same-sex couples seeking to marry.”

Many Republicans Still Puzzled Over Trump

July 18, 2015 at 6:00 am EDT By Taegan Goddard 29 Comments

New York Times: “Mr. Trump is not, as many Republicans have suggested, merely a renegade agitator who sneaked up on the party establishment and threatens to spoil its plans for a tidy, civil primary. Rather, he has become the new starring attraction for the restless, conservative-minded voters who think the political process is in need of disruption.”

“Some align themselves with the Tea Party movement. Others call themselves independents or Republicans who are just fed up.”