February 2020 - Page 5 of 11

On the Line

February 14, 2020 Buck Banks

The listeners were the problem, says Trump, in retrospect.
Without the listeners, he could speak his mind, unchecked.
Now that will stop,
No one will eavesdrop,
And all Trump’s calls with foreign leaders will be absolutely “perfect.”

Bloomberg Edges Biden In Florida

February 14, 2020February 14, 2020 Buck Banks

27%

A new St. Pete Polls survey in Florida shows Michael Bloomberg leading the Democratic primary race with 27%, followed by Joe Biden at 26%, Pete Buttigieg at 11%, Bernie Sanders at 10%, Amy Klobuchar at 9% and Elizabeth Warren at 5%.

There Are No Limits to McConnell’s Venality

February 14, 2020February 14, 2020 Buck Banks

“If you’re asking me a hypothetical about whether this Republican Senate would confirm a member of the Supreme Court due to a vacancy created this year — yeah, we would fill it.”

— Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), on Fox News.

Trump Fundraiser Costs $580,600 Per Couple to Attend

February 14, 2020February 14, 2020 Buck Banks

$580,600

“President Trump will be the guest of honor at a Saturday fundraiser at the palatial Palm Beach estate of billionaire Nelson Peltz,” the Washington Post reports. “Trump’s fellow guests: donors who gave $580,600 per couple to support the president’s reelection, making it the most expensive such fundraising event since Trump took office.”

Trump Siphoning Another $3.8 Billion to Border Wall

February 14, 2020February 14, 2020 Buck Banks

$3.8 billion

Politico: “The surprise reprogramming of another $3.8 billion… means the Pentagon will have forked over nearly $10 billion since last year to help pay for President Trump’s border wall.”

Sanders Leads Nationally at 29%

February 14, 2020February 14, 2020 Buck Banks

29%

A new Morning Consult poll finds Bernie Sanders leading the Democratic presidential race nationally with 29%, followed by Joe Biden at 19%, Mike Bloomberg at 18%, Pete Buttigieg at 11%, Elizabeth Warren at 10% and Amy Klobuchar at 5%.

Nadler Makes a Subtle Suggestion to Trump

February 14, 2020February 14, 2020 Buck Banks

“You know, Nixon actually resigned.”

— House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler responded to President Trump’s demand to get “bad people out of our government!”

Pro-Trump Groups Raised $60 Million in January

February 14, 2020February 14, 2020 Buck Banks

$60 million

Associated Press: “Pro-Trump groups raised more than $60 million in January and have more than $200 million on hand for this year’s general election, shattering fundraising records on the path toward a goal of raising $1 billion this cycle. The Republican National Committee and President Donald Trump’s campaign have raised more than $525 million since the start of 2019 together with two joint-fundraising committees.”

Kelly: What Makes an ‘Informed Citizen’

February 13, 2020 Buck Banks

“You have to be careful about what you are watching and reading, because the media has taken sides. So if you only watch Fox News because it’s reinforcing what you believe, you are not an informed citizen.”

— Former White House chief of staff John Kelly, quoted by the Morristown Daily Record, on working for President Trump.

Yovanovitch Warns State Department Is in Trouble

February 13, 2020 Buck Banks

“Vacancies at all levels go unfilled and officers are increasingly wondering whether it is safe to express concerns about policy, even behind closed doors.”

— Former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch said Wednesday that the State Department is “in trouble” and that the department is being “hollowed out,” CNN reports.

27%

A new St. Pete Polls survey in Florida shows Michael Bloomberg leading the Democratic primary race with 27%, followed by Joe Biden at 26%, Pete Buttigieg at 11%, Bernie Sanders at 10%, Amy Klobuchar at 9% and Elizabeth Warren at 5%.

“If you’re asking me a hypothetical about whether this Republican Senate would confirm a member of the Supreme Court due to a vacancy created this year — yeah, we would fill it.”

— Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), on Fox News.

$580,600

$3.8 billion

Politico: “The surprise reprogramming of another $3.8 billion… means the Pentagon will have forked over nearly $10 billion since last year to help pay for President Trump’s border wall.”

29%

A new Morning Consult poll finds Bernie Sanders leading the Democratic presidential race nationally with 29%, followed by Joe Biden at 19%, Mike Bloomberg at 18%, Pete Buttigieg at 11%, Elizabeth Warren at 10% and Amy Klobuchar at 5%.

“You know, Nixon actually resigned.”

— House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler responded to President Trump’s demand to get “bad people out of our government!”

$60 million

“You have to be careful about what you are watching and reading, because the media has taken sides. So if you only watch Fox News because it’s reinforcing what you believe, you are not an informed citizen.”

— Former White House chief of staff John Kelly, quoted by the Morristown Daily Record, on working for President Trump.

“Vacancies at all levels go unfilled and officers are increasingly wondering whether it is safe to express concerns about policy, even behind closed doors.”

— Former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch said Wednesday that the State Department is “in trouble” and that the department is being “hollowed out,” CNN reports.

Poetic Justice

Verbatim

“We are done, Americans are done with endless conflict in the Middle East, spending trillions of dollars, American lives… this is insane and we have to call it for what it is.”

— Rep. Jason Crow (D-CO), on CNN.

44%

— Former President Bill Clinton, quoted by Deadline, in his July 4th message.

Numerati

$4,600

11

30%

A new American Research Group poll finds just 30% of Americans say they approve of the way Donald Trump is handling his job as president and 67% say they disapprove.

61% to 35%

81

A Reuters analysis of Trump’s public comments from June 23 through July 6 (13 days) — when a string of left-wing Democratic candidates won their party’s primaries in New York — found he invoked communism 81 times.