2015 - Page 68 of 102

Chris Christie Explains His Bluntness

April 8, 2015 Buck Banks

I try to reach the balance. That’s going to lead to good moments, and some not-so-good moments.

— New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, criticizing politicians who say “the blandest, most vanilla thing” to not offend voters, and defending his own style of communication, the Wall Street Journal reports.

Why Bill Clinton Is Not a Good Campaigner Anymore

April 8, 2015 Buck Banks

I’ve told Hillary that I don’t think I’m good at campaigning anymore because I’m not mad at anybody.

— Bill Clinton, quoted by CNN.

Ben Carson Makes ACA Sound Like Mind Control

April 8, 2015 Buck Banks

If you can control the most important thing a person has — their health and their health care – then you’re well on your way to controlling every aspect of their life.

— Ben Carson, quoted by the Concord Monitor, explaining his opposition to the Affordable Care Act.

Williams Blames Brokaw

April 8, 2015 Buck Banks

Chalk one up for Brokaw.

— NBC News anchor Brian Williams, quoted by Vanity Fair, talking to a friend about why he was suspended from his anchor chair.

El Hispanic Trick

April 7, 2015April 7, 2015 Buck Banks

Democrats say it’s a matter of misrepresentation
By falsification of his voter registration.
Well, his wife is one,
And when all’s said and done,
Maybe Jeb Bush became Hispanic by association.

Hart Cautions Democrats Over Clinton Candidacy

April 7, 2015 Buck Banks

I like Hillary Clinton. I really appreciate what she and her husband have done … but we need new leaders. … If you’ve got to have a billion dollars to run for president, how many people can do that? Only the Clintons and the Bushes and one or two others.

— Gary Hart, telling Politico that the prospect of a billion-dollar Hillary Clinton campaign “ought to frighten every American” and Democrats would be better served by a competitive primary that forced her to speak in more depth about the issues.

Graham: Everybody but Rand Paul Would Make a Better Iran Deal

April 7, 2015 Buck Banks

The best deal, I think, comes with a new president. Hillary Clinton would do better. I think everybody on our side, except maybe Rand Paul, could do better.

— Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), quoted by the Huffington Post, on the nuclear talks with Iran.

Kansas Bans Spending Welfare Benefits on Cruises

April 7, 2015 Buck Banks

$25

New limit on the amount of benefits per day for Kansas welfare recipients under a new law sent this week to Republican Gov. Sam Brownback’s desk by the state legislature, the Huffington Post reports. “The bill also prohibits welfare recipients from spending their benefits at certain types of businesses, including liquor stores, fortune tellers, swimming pools and cruise ships.”

Huckabee: More Sanctions Placed on Indiana than Iran

April 7, 2015 Buck Banks

There’s been more pressure this week to put sanctions on Indiana than Iran. The reason that those corporations put the pressure on Indiana and Arkansas was because the militant gay community put the pressure on them.

— Mike Huckabee, in an interview with Michael Smerconish.

Nugent: Obama Causes Veteran Suicides

April 7, 2015 Buck Banks

Here’s your job, Republican Party. Twenty to 25 of those guys kill themselves every day, and they haven’t told you why and they haven’t told anybody else why but they told me why: because the commander-in-chief is the enemy.

I try to reach the balance. That’s going to lead to good moments, and some not-so-good moments.

— New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, criticizing politicians who say “the blandest, most vanilla thing” to not offend voters, and defending his own style of communication, the Wall Street Journal reports.

I’ve told Hillary that I don’t think I’m good at campaigning anymore because I’m not mad at anybody.

— Bill Clinton, quoted by CNN.

If you can control the most important thing a person has — their health and their health care – then you’re well on your way to controlling every aspect of their life.

— Ben Carson, quoted by the Concord Monitor, explaining his opposition to the Affordable Care Act.

Chalk one up for Brokaw.

— NBC News anchor Brian Williams, quoted by Vanity Fair, talking to a friend about why he was suspended from his anchor chair.

I like Hillary Clinton. I really appreciate what she and her husband have done … but we need new leaders. … If you’ve got to have a billion dollars to run for president, how many people can do that? Only the Clintons and the Bushes and one or two others.

— Gary Hart, telling Politico that the prospect of a billion-dollar Hillary Clinton campaign “ought to frighten every American” and Democrats would be better served by a competitive primary that forced her to speak in more depth about the issues.

The best deal, I think, comes with a new president. Hillary Clinton would do better. I think everybody on our side, except maybe Rand Paul, could do better.

— Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), quoted by the Huffington Post, on the nuclear talks with Iran.

$25

There’s been more pressure this week to put sanctions on Indiana than Iran. The reason that those corporations put the pressure on Indiana and Arkansas was because the militant gay community put the pressure on them.

— Mike Huckabee, in an interview with Michael Smerconish.

Here’s your job, Republican Party. Twenty to 25 of those guys kill themselves every day, and they haven’t told you why and they haven’t told anybody else why but they told me why: because the commander-in-chief is the enemy.

— Former minor rock star Ted Nugent, blaming President Obama for military veteran suicides, the Huffington Post 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.