October 19, 2018

Trump is having a rally in Montana...and not a single news network, including Fox, is showing it.

That's called progress.

October 18, 2018

ICYMI: Internal GOP Poll: 'We've Lost the Messaging Battle' on Tax Cuts

A survey commissioned by the Republican National Committee has led the party to a glum conclusion regarding President Donald Trump’s signature legislative achievement: Voters overwhelmingly believe his tax overhaul helps the wealthy instead of average Americans.

By a 2-to-1 margin -- 61 percent to 30 percent -- respondents said the law benefits “large corporations and rich Americans” over “middle class families,” according to the survey, which was completed on Sept. 2 by the GOP firm Public Opinion Strategies and obtained by Bloomberg News.

The result was fueled by self-identified independent voters who said by a 36-point margin that large corporations and rich Americans benefit more from the tax law -- a result that was even more lopsided among Democrats. Republican voters said by a 38-point margin that the middle class benefits more.

“Voters are evenly divided on the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act,” the RNC-commissioned report said. “But, we’ve lost the messaging battle on the issue.”

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-09-20/internal-gop-poll-we-ve-lost-the-messaging-battle-on-tax-cuts

October 10, 2018

Ford announces plan to lay off workers after tariffs cost them $1B

"The economy remains strong, but are we starting to see the first signs of stalling? Stephanie Ruhle is joined by Politico’s Ben White to discuss Ford’s plan to lay off workers after they say President Trump’s tariffs have cost them a billion dollars."

https://www.msnbc.com/stephanie-ruhle/watch/ford-announces-plan-to-lay-off-workers-after-tariffs-cost-them-1b-1339996227577?v=railb&cid=sm_npd_ms_tw_ma

(Video inside)

October 9, 2018

Here's a short, inspirational story for my fellow canvassers.

Last Sunday was the final day of canvassing in Indiana, the next month is now GOTV. As I was going through my walk list on Sunday, I knocked on the door of a very nice woman who I'd peg as being in her mid 30s.

I asked her if she was planning on voting for Joe Donnelly. She said that she just moved to Indiana about a month ago from Michigan and had gotten done registering to vote a few days prior, and really needed to do research before deciding who to vote for.

We sat down on a bench outside her house and I asked her what issues were most important to her. She told me that she needed someone who is willing to work across the aisle and not just be a Republican yes man for Donald Trump or a Democratic yes man is they were to win back the House/Senate, and the next important issue to her was healthcare.

I gave her a Donnelly pamphlet and she leafed through it as we talked, with her stopping and pointing out things she liked in it. I told her how as a red-state Democrat, Donnelly has to cross party lines to get work done, because if he wasn't willing to, he never would have been a senator here in the first place and I gave her a few examples of him doing such. As far as health care, I told her about Donnelly's passion to protect pre-existing conditions and Braun's negligence about the issue.

She asked me why I decided to canvass, and I told her it was because I wanted to make a difference, but I know I can't do that from my couch, so I better get on my feet and get to work. She told me to keep at it, and that she's only heard from the Donnelly campaign, not the Braun campaign.

I thanked her for her time, and she told me:

"I have a little more research to do, but I think you just got Joe Donnelly another voter in November."



If she's the only vote I helped get this fall, heck. I did my job.

October 8, 2018

Interesting things heard when canvassing in Indiana:

"Oh, I don't usually vote, my husband takes care of that."

"My father always told me to just put all the names in a hat and draw one out, they're all the same."

October 4, 2018

NYT Opinion: The Senate Should Not Confirm Kavanaugh. Signed, 650+ Law Professors (and Counting).

The following letter will be presented to the United States Senate on Oct. 4. It will be updated as more signatures are received.

Judicial temperament is one of the most important qualities of a judge. As the Congressional Research Service explains, a judge requires “a personality that is even-handed, unbiased, impartial, courteous yet firm, and dedicated to a process, not a result.” The concern for judicial temperament dates back to our founding; in Federalist 78, titled “Judges as Guardians of the Constitution,” Alexander Hamilton expressed the need for “the integrity and moderation of the judiciary.”

We are law professors who teach, research and write about the judicial institutions of this country. Many of us appear in state and federal court, and our work means that we will continue to do so, including before the United States Supreme Court. We regret that we feel compelled to write to you, our Senators, to provide our views that at the Senate hearings on Sept. 27, Judge Brett Kavanaugh displayed a lack of judicial temperament that would be disqualifying for any court, and certainly for elevation to the highest court of this land.

The question at issue was of course painful for anyone. But Judge Kavanaugh exhibited a lack of commitment to judicious inquiry. Instead of being open to the necessary search for accuracy, Judge Kavanaugh was repeatedly aggressive with questioners. Even in his prepared remarks, Judge Kavanaugh described the hearing as partisan, referring to it as “a calculated and orchestrated political hit,” rather than acknowledging the need for the Senate, faced with new information, to try to understand what had transpired. Instead of trying to sort out with reason and care the allegations that were raised, Judge Kavanaugh responded in an intemperate, inflammatory and partial manner, as he interrupted and, at times, was discourteous to senators.


https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2018/10/03/opinion/kavanaugh-law-professors-letter.html

October 2, 2018

Social Media can help Democrats: Check out these Twitter numbers I quickly pulled.

Florida Gov Race:

Andrew Gillum followers: 351,000

Ron DeSantis followers: 37,000


Florida Senate race:

Bill Nelson followers: 360,000

Rick Scott followers: 240,000 (And this is combined for two accounts he has)


Indiana Senate race:

Joe Donnelly followers: 109,000

Mike Braun followers: 8,000


Missouri Senate race:

Claire McCaskill followers: 450,000

Josh Hawley: followers 21,000 (Again, this is combined for two accounts he has)

This is only a small sample of competitive races, but it continues access the board. Democrats are having significantly social media presences than their opponents, which can be huge for turnout.

October 2, 2018

I live in redder than red Elkhart County Indiana...and the support for Donnelly here is unreal.

Here's your optimistic post from me today.

My drive to work is about 20 minutes, and on the way every day, there are 5 houses with Joe Donnelly signs in their front yard. One house I pass has a Mike Braun sign. Five-to-one. I'm not driving through the city either, these are rural areas I'm passing through.

I'm also my precinct chair and spend time on Saturday's canvassing for the Donnelly campaign. It was my first year getting actively involved, and I've been amazed at the number of Democrats meet when canvassing who say they've never voted in midterms before, but are sure as hell going to vote for Donnelly this November.

Just thought I'd let everyone know. Happy Tuesday!

September 28, 2018

Avenatti: Swetnick will take her story directly to the American people this weekend.

https://twitter.com/MichaelAvenatti/status/1045659704205234176

"Because @realDonaldTrump and the Senate Republicans refuse to allow my client Julie Swetnick to testify, we will be taking her story directly to the American people this weekend. This is about a search for the truth. Details to follow."

September 27, 2018

So, how does this end?

Just curious to see what DU thinks.