2014 - Page 76 of 98

Americans Think the Poor are Poor Because They Failed

April 18, 2014 Buck Banks

44%

Of Americans think poor people are poor mostly because of a lack of opportunities, while only 30% said it’s mostly because of their individual failings, new HuffPost/YouGov poll finds. “While Democrats and independents in the new survey were more likely to think the rich, poor and unemployed got where they are mostly due to outside circumstances, Republicans in the poll largely said the opposite. They tended to think the poor are poor because of individual failings, rather than lack of opportunities (48% to 23%), and that they have a poor work ethic rather than good jobs being unavailable to them (49% to 21%).”

Fox News Poll Plumbs Obama’s Lying

April 18, 2014 Buck Banks

37%

Of respondents to a new Fox News poll think President Obama lies “most of the time,” while another 24% say he lies “some of the time.” Twenty percent of voters say “only now and then” and 15% “never.”

They Looked Jewish

April 17, 2014 Buck Banks

What’s an angry white supremacist to do?
They don’t make ’em wear stars like they used to.
So it’s prudent to inquire
Before you open fire
Whether your intended targets indeed are Jews.

Most Americans Don’t See Obama as Black

April 17, 2014 Buck Banks

52%

Percentage of Americans who don’t see President Obama as black but instead consider him mixed-race, a new Pew Research poll finds.

Panetta: Obama Has ‘Mixed Record’ On National Security

April 17, 2014 Buck Banks

The president has made some tough decisions. But it’s been a mixed record, and the concern is, the president defining what America’s role in the world is in the 21st century hasn’t happened. Hopefully, he’ll do it and certainly, she would.

— Former CIA Director Leon Panetta, telling the New York Times that President Obama had a “mixed record” on making difficult national security decisions and suggested that Hillary Clinton would be better.

Vilsack Says He’s Not Presidential Material

April 17, 2014 Buck Banks

I don’t have sizzle.

— Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, quoted by ABC News, when asked if he’d consider running for president again.

Bloomberg Expects Not to Have to Wait at Pearly Gates

April 16, 2014 Buck Banks

I am telling you if there is a God, when I get to heaven I’m not stopping to be interviewed. I am heading straight in. I have earned my place in heaven. It’s not even close.

— Michael Bloomberg, quoted by the New York Times.

Schlafly: If Women Earn More, They’ll Get Married Less

April 16, 2014 Buck Banks

“While women prefer to HAVE a higher-earning partner, men generally prefer to BE the higher-earning partner in a relationship. This simple but profound difference between the sexes has powerful consequences for the so-called pay gap. Suppose the pay gap between men and women were magically eliminated. If that happened, simple arithmetic suggests that half of women would be unable to find what they regard as a suitable mate.

— Phyllis Schlafly, writing in the Christian Post, as reported by Wonk Wire.

Dems Edge GOP in Generic Congressional Ballot

April 16, 2014 Buck Banks

48% to 42%

Margin by which Democrats have staked out a lead over Republicans in the generic Congressional ballot, a new McClatchy-Marist poll finds. However, just 45% approve of President Obama’s job performance, while 52% disapprove.

Christie Favors Abolishing Campaign-Donation Limits

April 16, 2014 Buck Banks

The idea you’re going to take money out of politics is just not going to happen. None of these laws change that. So let’s just have transparency to it.

— New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R), voicing support “for an end to campaign-finance limits, which he said have led to a system that has obscured the sources — but not stemmed the rise — of money in politics,” the Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

44%

37%

Of respondents to a new Fox News poll think President Obama lies “most of the time,” while another 24% say he lies “some of the time.” Twenty percent of voters say “only now and then” and 15% “never.”

52%

Percentage of Americans who don’t see President Obama as black but instead consider him mixed-race, a new Pew Research poll finds.

The president has made some tough decisions. But it’s been a mixed record, and the concern is, the president defining what America’s role in the world is in the 21st century hasn’t happened. Hopefully, he’ll do it and certainly, she would.

— Former CIA Director Leon Panetta, telling the New York Times that President Obama had a “mixed record” on making difficult national security decisions and suggested that Hillary Clinton would be better.

I don’t have sizzle.

— Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, quoted by ABC News, when asked if he’d consider running for president again.

I am telling you if there is a God, when I get to heaven I’m not stopping to be interviewed. I am heading straight in. I have earned my place in heaven. It’s not even close.

— Michael Bloomberg, quoted by the New York Times.

— Phyllis Schlafly, writing in the Christian Post, as reported by Wonk Wire.

48% to 42%

Margin by which Democrats have staked out a lead over Republicans in the generic Congressional ballot, a new McClatchy-Marist poll finds. However, just 45% approve of President Obama’s job performance, while 52% disapprove.

The idea you’re going to take money out of politics is just not going to happen. None of these laws change that. So let’s just have transparency to it.

— New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R), voicing support “for an end to campaign-finance limits, which he said have led to a system that has obscured the sources — but not stemmed the rise — of money in politics,” the Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

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%

$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.