Day: May 21, 2015

GOP Primary Race Is Either ‘Christmas’ or ‘Halloween,’ Depending …

Buck Banks

Nothing much is going on right now in the 2016 presidential campaign – unless you’re a Republican political junkie, in which case every day is Christmas or, perhaps, Halloween. Did you know that Donald Trump might actually run this time, instead of using our nation’s highest office to promote his reality-TV show? Or that the very former governor of New York, George Pataki, thinks he’s a candidate? Are you tremendously relieved that the GOP’s most persistent Dr. Strangelove — former U.N. ambassador John Bolton — has taken his hat out of the ring? I sure am. But that leaves 15 or more candidates either in it or circling.

Joe Klein, writing in Time.

Millionaire Fiorina Stiffed Dozen Campaign Workers for Four Years

Buck Banks

12

Of about 30 people who worked on Carly Fiorina’s failed 2010 California Senate campaign told Reuters they would not work for her again. “Fiorina, once one of America’s most powerful businesswomen, is now campaigning for the Republican nomination in 2016. The reason: for more than four years, Fiorina – who has an estimated net worth of up to $120 million – didn’t pay them, a review of Federal Election Commission records shows.”

Rand Paul Determined to Stick Out from the GOP Crowd

Buck Banks

Sen. Rand Paul didn’t get the same backing from his Republican colleagues than the last time he talked his way through legislative deadlines – but that’s part of the point. This was a stunt that was about his 2016 candidacy, if the campaign merchandising push and online trolling of Ted Cruz and Hillary Clinton didn’t make that clear. It shows, again, that Paul will inject a strain of national-security thinking into the GOP debates that will push his rivals in uncomfortable ways. It’s possible that his timing is off; the march of ISIS, with scenes of beheadings seared into memories, might change the tone of any discussion inside the Republican Party. But Rand standing alone will make him stand out, for better or worse.

— Rick Klein, on ABC News.

Bush Claims Science is Undecided on Climate Change — and He Lives in Florida!

Buck Banks

For the people to say the science is decided on this is really arrogant, to be honest with you. It’s this intellectual arrogance that now you can’t have a conversation about it, even. The climate is changing. We need to adapt to that reality.

— Jeb Bush, hitting back against President Obama’s claim that climate change runs an immediate risk, adding that while it shouldn’t be ignored, it’s still not “the highest priority,” CNN reports.

Clinton Super PAC Struggling to Raise Money

Buck Banks

$15 million

Amount the super PAC supporting Hillary Clinton’s presidential bid expects to collect through the end of June, the Wall Street Journal reports. “The group, Priorities USA Action, is shaking up its senior staff in hopes of jump-starting a fundraising operation that, five weeks after Mrs. Clinton entered the presidential race, has garnered only about $5 million in ‘hard commitments’ … Even if it meets its $15 million short-term expectation, the pro-Clinton group will raise far less than PACs backing some potential Republican rivals.”