September 18, 2014

An Imbiber’s Self-Interest

September 18, 2014 Buck Banks

They’re off to the polls — all kilted and frisky,
Though many think Scottish independence is risky.
David Cameron’s sweating it,
The bookies are betting it,
But I worry what it means for the price of scotch whiskey.

Cameron Makes an Assassination Quip

September 18, 2014 Buck Banks

I have to say that after the events I’ve been facing over the past few days, assassination would be a welcome release.

— British Prime Minister David Cameron, quoted by National Review, commenting on today’s Scottish independence vote, which could push him out of office.

Rove: GOP Majority Still In Doubt

September 18, 2014 Buck Banks

The president’s job approval numbers are lousy, no Democrat in a competitive Senate race polls regularly above 50%, GOP enthusiasm is high, and independents are trending Republican. The midterm environment is terrible for Democrats — yet each passing day provides evidence as to why a GOP Senate majority is still in doubt.

— Karl Rove, in a Wall Street Journal op-ed.

‘Dark Money’ Spending in 2014 Campaigns Sets New Record

September 18, 2014 Buck Banks

$63 million

Amount of dark-money spent so far in the 2014 cycle — just shy of the $69 million in dark money spent during the ENTIRE 2008 presidential election, according to Mother Jones. This was a new record and seven times the amount of dark money spent by the same point on House and Senate elections in 2010.

Giant Chickens Influencing 2014 Campaigns

September 18, 2014 Buck Banks

An unusually large number of campaigns this year have turned to chicken-suited men — and they’re mostly men — to distract opponents, steal press attention and, occasionally, make a point. … Behind the fowl play: Chickens make good copy, drawing attention to candidates who often are underfunded and looking for free media coverage.

Day: September 18, 2014

An Imbiber’s Self-Interest

Cameron Makes an Assassination Quip

I have to say that after the events I’ve been facing over the past few days, assassination would be a welcome release.

— British Prime Minister David Cameron, quoted by National Review, commenting on today’s Scottish independence vote, which could push him out of office.

Rove: GOP Majority Still In Doubt

— Karl Rove, in a Wall Street Journal op-ed.

‘Dark Money’ Spending in 2014 Campaigns Sets New Record

$63 million

Giant Chickens Influencing 2014 Campaigns

— The Wall Street Journal.

Poetic Justice

Verbatim

“If you are committing fraud against the American people, all of us in public leadership should be trying to stop it and throw you in prison for enriching yourself off the American taxpayer.”

— Vice President JD Vance, on Fox News.

“Your generation has a great bullshit meter, because you’re fed bullshit online all day. And the Democratic Party brand right now is so bullshit.”

— Michigan U.S. Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed (D), quoted by The Atlantic, speaking to college students.

“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.

Numerati

+175,000

“The U.S. State Department announced on Monday that it has revoked more than 175,000 visas during President Donald Trump’s administration so far,” Fox News reports.

$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%