Day: March 9, 2015

Lots of Republicans Don’t Support Jeb Bush

Buck Banks

42%

Of Republican primary voters say they couldn’t see themselves supporting Jeb Bush for the GOP presidential nomination, compared with 49% who said they could, according to a new Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll. “The results underscore an early theme of the Republican nominating contest: Mr. Bush might be the favorite of many top donors and operatives, but he faces hurdles in appealing to the party’s voters, giving him little room to maneuver in what promises to be a crowded field.”

Clinton Defends Foundation

Buck Banks

My theory about all of this is disclose everything and then let people make their judgments. I believe we have done a lot more good than harm and I believe this is a good thing.

— Bill Clinton, defending his foundation’s acceptance of donations from foreign governments, “pointing to the track record of his global philanthropy as Hillary Clinton nears an announcement on a 2016 presidential campaign,” the AP reports.

50 Years After ‘Bloody Sunday’

Buck Banks

sfPresident Obama spoke at a ceremony in Selma, Ala.,marking the 50th anniversary of the events of “Bloody Sunday” when more than 600 nonviolent voting-rights protesters were attacked by Alabama state troopers as they marched for voting rights. His remarks are below.

It is a rare honor in this life to follow one of your heroes. And John Lewis is one of my heroes.

Now, I have to imagine that when a younger John Lewis woke up that morning fifty years ago and made his way to Brown Chapel, heroics were not on his mind. A day like this was not on his mind. Young folks with bedrolls and backpacks were milling about.

Veterans of the movement trained newcomers in the tactics of non-violence; the right way to protect yourself when attacked. A doctor described what tear gas does to the body, while marchers scribbled down instructions for contacting their loved ones. The air was thick with doubt, anticipation, and fear. They comforted themselves with the final verse of the final hymn they sung:

No matter what may be the test, God will take care of you;

Lean, weary one, upon His breast, God will take care of you.

Then, his knapsack stocked with an apple, a toothbrush, a book on government – all you need for a night behind bars – John Lewis led them out of the church on a mission to change America.

[…]

O’Malley Defends Clinton … Kind of

Buck Banks

I like Hillary Clinton and I respect Secretary Clinton. I didn’t come here to talk about Secretary Clinton. I can tell you that in any of my dealings with her, or with the president, they have always been decent and straight up and honest with me. I also know for a fact that that foundation’s done a lot of good work to help a lot of people that are in need around the world — and I’ll leave it to them to answer more specific things.

— Former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley (D), quoted by Bloomberg, during a visit to New Hampshire.

Unemployment Fell in Every State in 2014

Buck Banks

50

Number of states where unemployment fell in 2014. “Unemployment fell in every state and the nation’s capital last year—something that hadn’t happened since 1984,” the Wall Street Journal reports. “Unemployment fell the most in Illinois, where the rate dropped 2 percentage points from the prior year to an average 7.1%. The rate declined by 1.8 points in Colorado, North Carolina and Ohio. … North Dakota, at the center of the nation’s energy boom of the past few years, had the lowest jobless rate of any state at 2.8% last year.”

More Than Half of Americans Now Support Gay Marriage

Buck Banks

56%

For the first time, a majority of Americans support same-sex marriage, according to the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. Overall, support is up 8 points since 2012 and 45 points since 1988. “Support for same-sex marriage among Republicans increased from 31% in 2012 to 45% in 2014. This increase is larger than the increase among Democrats and independents, although Republican support still lags behind those groups.”