2015 - Page 80 of 102

Who’s the Democrats’ Plan B?

March 5, 2015 Buck Banks

Stipulate that the former secretary of state is on a different plane from most other Democrats when it comes to experience, endurance and popularity. And yet, as one damaging report after another emerges, it’s got to be asked: How dumb is it for Democrats to count so completely on this one person? What is their Plan B?

— Jill Lawrence, writing in U.S. News & World Report, noting that as Hillary Clinton becomes encumbered by questions of propriety and transparency, who else does the Democratic Party have to offer.

Pelosi: Netanyahu’s Address was Condescending

March 5, 2015 Buck Banks

I was near tears throughout the Prime Minister’s speech — saddened by the insult to the intelligence of the United States… and saddened by the condescension toward our knowledge of the threat posed by Iran and our broader commitment to preventing nuclear proliferation.

— House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), quoted by The Hill, after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addresses a joint session of Congress.

That Lying O’Reilly

March 3, 2015March 3, 2015 Buck Banks

O’Reilly was there with John Wilkes Booth.
He watched them kill George Patton, forsooth!
Bill can tell a story
That covers him in glory,
But what he can’t do is simply tell the truth.

Rauner Calls N.J. a ‘Disaster’

March 3, 2015 Buck Banks

They’re going down the drain, and they ain’t turning it around.

— Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner (R), having some harsh words for New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R), who campaigned hard for his election last year, the AP reports. Rauner said that New Jersey “is lost” he said the situation in the state is a disaster.

Christie Hits New Low in Home State

March 3, 2015 Buck Banks

35%

Portion of New Jersey registered voters who say they approve of Gov. Chris Christie’s (R) job performance, compared to 51% who disapprove, according to a new Fairleigh Dickinson University PublicMind survey. Those figures mark the lowest approval and highest disapproval ratings ever recorded by the poll.

Buffet: Warren Needs to Be Less Demonizing

March 3, 2015 Buck Banks

I think that she would do better if she was less angry and demonizing. I believe in ‘hate the sin but love the sinner.’ And I’m not sure that I’ve fully convinced Elizabeth Warren that that’s the way to go.

— Billionaire Warren Buffett, saying he isn’t a fan of Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s (D-MA) populist rhetoric, Business Insider reports.

Sanders Admits to Being a Curmudgeon

March 3, 2015 Buck Banks

My wife always reminds me I depress everybody so much that I need to pass out tranquilizers.

— Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), quoted by the Boston Globe, joking about his curmudgeonly demeanor.

Netanyahu: I’m Not Dissing Obama

March 3, 2015March 3, 2015 Buck Banks

My speech is not intended to show any disrespect to President Obama or the esteemed office that he holds. I have great respect for both.

— Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, opening “his high-profile visit to the American capital by playing down any personal dispute with President Obama, but he said that he had a ‘moral obligation’ to warn against the dangers of an American-brokered nuclear deal with Iran,” the New York Times reports.

Majority Thinks Presidents Should have a College Degree

March 2, 2015 Buck Banks

62%

Of voters think it’s important for the President to have a degree, compared to only 31% who think it doesn’t matter, a new Public Policy Polling survey finds. Interesting: “There’s a large partisan divide on the issue: Democrats by an 81%-14% spread think it’s important while Republicans are evenly divided on the matter at 45%-45%.”

Is Huckabee Running or Selling Books?

March 2, 2015 Buck Banks

— Jill Lawrence, writing in U.S. News & World Report, noting that as Hillary Clinton becomes encumbered by questions of propriety and transparency, who else does the Democratic Party have to offer.

I was near tears throughout the Prime Minister’s speech — saddened by the insult to the intelligence of the United States… and saddened by the condescension toward our knowledge of the threat posed by Iran and our broader commitment to preventing nuclear proliferation.

— House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), quoted by The Hill, after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addresses a joint session of Congress.

They’re going down the drain, and they ain’t turning it around.

— Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner (R), having some harsh words for New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R), who campaigned hard for his election last year, the AP reports. Rauner said that New Jersey “is lost” he said the situation in the state is a disaster.

35%

I think that she would do better if she was less angry and demonizing. I believe in ‘hate the sin but love the sinner.’ And I’m not sure that I’ve fully convinced Elizabeth Warren that that’s the way to go.

— Billionaire Warren Buffett, saying he isn’t a fan of Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s (D-MA) populist rhetoric, Business Insider reports.

My wife always reminds me I depress everybody so much that I need to pass out tranquilizers.

— Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), quoted by the Boston Globe, joking about his curmudgeonly demeanor.

My speech is not intended to show any disrespect to President Obama or the esteemed office that he holds. I have great respect for both.

62%

He’s a winsome personality. Everyone here is convinced he’s running…but sometimes I think, ‘well, maybe he’s just selling books.’

— Former Iowa GOP official Craig Robinson, quoted by the Wall Street Journal, on Mike Huckabee’s presidential ambitions.

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.