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Editorial Rips Iowa Democratic Caucuses as Unfair

February 4, 2016 at 12:35 pm EST By Taegan Goddard 113 Comments

A Des Moines Register editorial blasts the Iowa Democratic caucuses:

“What happened Monday night at the Democratic caucuses was a debacle, period. Democracy, particularly at the local party level, can be slow, messy and obscure. But the refusal to undergo scrutiny or allow for an appeal reeks of autocracy. The Iowa Democratic Party must act quickly to assure the accuracy of the caucus results, beyond a shadow of a doubt.”

First of all, the results were too close not to do a complete audit of results. Two-tenths of 1 percent separated Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton. A caucus should not be confused with an election, but it’s worth noting that much larger margins trigger automatic recounts in other states.

Second, too many questions have been raised. Too many accounts have arisen of inconsistent counts, untrained and overwhelmed volunteers, confused voters, cramped precinct locations, a lack of voter registration forms and other problems.”

Roberts Insists Justices Are Not Partisan Players

February 4, 2016 at 12:28 pm EST By Taegan Goddard 68 Comments

Chief Justice John Roberts said that “partisan extremism is damaging the public’s perception of the role of the Supreme Court, recasting the justices as players in the political process rather than its referees,” the Washington Post reports.

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Rubio Accuses Cruz of Dirty Tricks Too

February 4, 2016 at 12:24 pm EST By Taegan Goddard 12 Comments

Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) joined the criticism of Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) following reports that the Cruz campaign told Iowa caucusgoers that Carson was dropping out of the race, TPM reports.

Said Rubio: “Obviously we’ve all seen the reports of the rumors that he spread about Ben Carson, and we know those weren’t accurate… I think it goes back to what I’ve said before, and that is a willingness to say or do anything, in this case spread a false rumor about Ben Carson.”

Extra Bonus Quote of the Day

February 4, 2016 at 12:08 pm EST By Taegan Goddard 13 Comments

“I may have personally brought Congress’ approval rating down from a root canal and moved it closer to a colonoscopy.”

— former Rep. Trey Radel (R-FL), quoted by Roll Call, on his resignation in 2014 after getting caught buying cocaine.

Smirking Drug CEO Antagonizes Lawmakers

February 4, 2016 at 12:01 pm EST By Taegan Goddard 66 Comments

Embattled drug executive Martin Shkreli antagonized lawmakers “by smirking and posing for pictures during his first appearance on Capitol Hill even as he refused to answer questions about drug prices,” The Hill reports.

Within minutes of being escorted out of the hearing, Shkreli tweeted: “Hard to accept that these imbeciles represent the people in our government.”

The video is extraordinary.

Why Sanders Is Hitting Clinton Hard on Wall Street

February 4, 2016 at 10:15 am EST By Taegan Goddard 16 Comments

This piece is only available to Political Wire members.

Sen. Bernie Sanders is pummeling Hillary Clinton this week on her ties to Wall Street — from accepting enormous speaking fees from banks to raking in millions in donations from bankers.

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Carson Will Cut Staff as Fundraising Dries Up

February 4, 2016 at 9:47 am EST By Taegan Goddard 27 Comments

Ben Carson will cut more than 50 campaign staff positions as part of an overhaul and downsizing of his campaign, the Washington Post reports.

“Salaries are being significantly reduced. Carson’s traveling entourage will shrink to only a handful of advisers. And instead of flying on private jets, Carson may soon return to commercial flights.”

Trump Nosedives In New National Poll

February 4, 2016 at 9:42 am EST By Taegan Goddard 74 Comments

A new Public Policy Polling national survey finds Donald Trump leading the GOP presidential field with 25%, followed by Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio both at 21% and Ben Carson at 11%.

Trump is down 9 points since the last survey while Rubio is up 8 points and Cruz is up 3 points.

Trump Says Obama Visited Mosque Because He’s ‘Comfortable’ There

February 4, 2016 at 9:19 am EST By Taegan Goddard 36 Comments

Donald Trump told Fox News that President Obama visited a mosque because “maybe he feels comfortable there.”

Said Trump: “We have a lot of problems in this country. There are a lot of places he can go, and he chose a mosque.”

He added: “That’s his decision. That’s fine.”

Bonus Quote of the Day

February 4, 2016 at 9:08 am EST By Taegan Goddard 49 Comments

“I agree in many ways with Bernie Sanders. They say, ‘Gosh, Ted, you sound exactly like Bernie, saying it’s all big money and lobbyists and corruption.’ Well you know what? That’s right. It is! Washington is corrupt.”

— Sen. Ted Cruz, quoted by the Washington Post.

Bush Begs Audience to Clap

February 4, 2016 at 8:19 am EST By Taegan Goddard 78 Comments

Jeb Bush finished a fiery riff about protecting the country as commander in chief but was met with total silence, the New York Times reports.

Sounding defeated, Bush said, “Please clap.”

Santorum Can’t Name Any Rubio Accomplishments

February 4, 2016 at 8:13 am EST By Taegan Goddard 39 Comments

Despite endorsing him for president, Rick Santorum struggled in a Morning Joe interview to list any of Marco Rubio’s accomplishments.

Said Santorum: “Well, I know he included something that went after the insurance companies in the most recent omnibus. He fought for that, to stop bailing out insurance companies. That’s one thing I’m familiar that I just saw recently. But — and again, he was on the campaign trail and accomplished that.”

He added: “The bottom line is there isn’t a lot of accomplishments, Joe, and I just don’t think it’s a fair question to say — over the last four years where nothing has happened and then blame one person because he didn’t get accomplishments done. Neither did President Obama.”

Gov. Chris Christie piled on in a later interview: “Rubio has not accomplished anything of note in his career in the United States Senate or in his time as speaker of the house in Florida. So it’s time for the boy in the bubble to come out of the bubble and answer these questions and tell us things rather than just continue to give the same speech he’s been giving for the last 6 years.”

The Great GOP Realignment

February 4, 2016 at 8:09 am EST By Taegan Goddard 15 Comments

Joshua Green: “It’s easy to view this year’s Republican primary as a cult of personality and no more—the rise and fall of a colorful billionaire who stars in the greatest reality show on television. But what’s happening is much broader than Trump and Cruz. It’s an extension of a shift in Republican politics that’s been under way for several years.”

“Although the media is portraying the outcome in Iowa as a repudiation of Trump, it’s better understood as a repudiation of the party establishment—just the latest in a series of uprisings dating to the 2010 election. At the congressional level, the GOP has already realigned itself to reflect this anger. Almost 60 percent of House Republicans were elected in 2010 or after. They’ve radicalized their party in Congress and driven out its establishment-minded speaker, John Boehner.”

Trump Leads as Rubio Surges In New Hampshire

February 4, 2016 at 7:54 am EST By Taegan Goddard 40 Comments

The latest Suffolk/UMass-Lowell tracking poll in New Hampshire finds Donald Trump leading with 36%, followed by Marco Rubio at 15%, Ted Cruz at 14%, Jeb Bush at 8%, John Kasich at 7% and Chris Christie at 5%.

In the Democratic race, Bernie Sanders leads Hillary Clinton, 58% to 36%.

Sanders Questions Whether Clinton Is a Progressive

February 4, 2016 at 7:25 am EST By Taegan Goddard 123 Comments

Sen. Bernie Sanders continued to question Hillary Clinton’s progressive credentials, the Washington Post reports.

Said Sanders: “I do not know any progressive that has a super PAC and takes $15 million from Wall Street. That’s just not progressive.”

Quote of the Day

February 4, 2016 at 7:07 am EST By Taegan Goddard 49 Comments

“I don’t know. That’s what they offered.”

— Hillary Clinton, quoted by Politico, when asked if she lacked judgment in accepting $675,000 in speaking fees from Goldman Sachs.

Christie and Bush Take Aim at Rubio

February 4, 2016 at 7:03 am EST By Taegan Goddard 12 Comments

“Frustrated and flailing as his candidacy threatens to slip away, Gov. Chris Christie is embarking on a scalding effort over the next week to discredit Sen. Marco Rubio, the man he blames for undermining his campaign and whose ascendancy he deeply resents,” the New York Times reports.

“And Mr. Christie has a secret ally: Jeb Bush.”

“Mr. Christie, whose White House hopes hinge on a strong showing in New Hampshire, is unleashing the kind of cutting and personal attacks that brought him renown in New Jersey but that pose a far greater risk in a presidential campaign, where they can harm the assailant as much as the intended target.”

Clinton Continues to Rake In Wall Street Cash

February 4, 2016 at 7:01 am EST By Taegan Goddard 14 Comments

Washington Post: “Even as Hillary Clinton has stepped up her rhetorical assault on Wall Street, her campaign and allied super PACs have continued to rake in millions from the financial sector, a sign of her deep and lasting relationships with banking and investment titans.”

“Through the end of December, donors at hedge funds, banks, insurance companies and other financial-services firms had given at least $21.4 million to support Clinton’s 2016 presidential run — more than one of every 10 dollars of the $157.8 million contributed to back her bid.”