May 23, 2011 - Pensito

S.C. Tea Party Fizzles

May 23, 2011 Buck Banks

Poor S.C. Gov. Nikki Haley — she looks awfully lonesome on the State House steps addressing a crowd of about 30 Columbia Tea Party supporters, as estimated by the State newspaper. It was supposed to have been so different, if only Donald Trump hadn’t dropped out of the presidential race and canceled his appearance with Haley, say party organizers, about 2,000 people would have attended.

GOP Governors’ Aggression Creating Backlash

May 23, 2011 Buck Banks

The cycle of over-reach and backlash is in over-drive these days — with significant implications for the 2012 presidential election. In pivotal swing-states where voters narrowly elected Republican governors in 2010 — like Florida and Ohio (with 47 electoral votes between them) — evidence of buyer’s remorse is piling up fast.

John Avlon, writing in the Daily Beast.

Obama Camp Expects Close Race — Unless It’s Gingrich or Palin

May 23, 2011 Buck Banks

Unless it’s Palin or Gingrich, we expect a very close race no matter who emerges.

— An adviser to President Obama’s 2012 re-election bid, quoted by the Washington Post.

This Is All the GOP Has to Offer

May 23, 2011 Buck Banks

There may be some Republicans who are waiting for a white knight to emerge. I think it’s going to be a long wait. I think the field is largely complete, and I think the field is very good.

— GOP fundraiser Fred Malek, quoted by the Los Angeles Times.

What Didn’t Happen Saturday

May 23, 2011 Buck Banks

Eclectic Method – The Apocamix from Eclectic Method on Vimeo.

Day: May 23, 2011

S.C. Tea Party Fizzles

GOP Governors’ Aggression Creating Backlash

John Avlon, writing in the Daily Beast.

Obama Camp Expects Close Race — Unless It’s Gingrich or Palin

Unless it’s Palin or Gingrich, we expect a very close race no matter who emerges.

— An adviser to President Obama’s 2012 re-election bid, quoted by the Washington Post.

This Is All the GOP Has to Offer

There may be some Republicans who are waiting for a white knight to emerge. I think it’s going to be a long wait. I think the field is largely complete, and I think the field is very good.

— GOP fundraiser Fred Malek, quoted by the Los Angeles Times.

What Didn’t Happen Saturday

Poetic Justice

Verbatim

“The man is afraid of the voice of the people and that the people understand and know what he’s doing. He’s trying to stifle the ability of journalists to let the people of America know what’s really going on with their government.”

— “Kamala Harris called President Donald Trump’s ban of CNN, MS NOW and Politico from the White House ‘absolutely abhorrent,’” The Wrap reports.

“Not one of them is trained in technical skills. Not one research PhD, as opposed to China, where half the cabinet is science and technology PhDs. We’re led by grifters and fools.”

— Columbia professor Jeffrey Sachs, on X, on President Trump’s 35-person cabinet.

“Mr. President, some of your immigration enforcement efforts have gone too far… The same Hispanics who helped you get to the White House in 2024 feel betrayed today.”

— Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar (R-FL), breaking with President Trump in a direct-to-camera video.

Numerati

1,000

10%

“The unprecedented spate of mid-decade redistricting for the U.S. House has changed the congressional districts for one-tenth of Americans and significantly altered the makeup of at least one-fifth of districts, according to a new study,” the Associated Press reports.

71%

A new Fox News Poll finds 71% of voters think the Trump administration lacks a clear strategy for ending the Iran War, including 95% of Democrats, 83% of independents, and 43% of Republicans. Sixty percent say U.S. military action against Iran was the wrong decision, while just 37% say it was right.

$9.5 billion

“The Trump administration last year spent $9.5 billion on paid administrative leave for federal workers as part of its plan to shrink the government and save taxpayers money, according to a new estimate by a congressional watchdog,” CNN reports.

470

Reuters has documented at least 470 targets of retribution under Trump’s leadership – from federal employees and prosecutors to universities and media outlets. The list illuminates the sweeping effort by the president and his administration to punish dissent and reshape the government.