Year: 2015

The GOP Translation of Obama’s State of the Union Speech

Buck Banks

You won nothing in November. The 2014 election had no consequences for my Administration whatsoever. You may have beaten my party and members of my team in the mid-term elections, but you’ve never beaten me. And, now you never will. All this talk about compromise and working together means you do what I want, because I’m not meeting you halfway on anything. My veto pen is ready and inked up. I will fight you and your agenda til the movers come on January 20th, 2017. I am still the President.

— GOP pollster Neil Newhouse translates President Obama’s State of the Union address.

Idaho Won’t Name Giant Salamander State Amphibian

Buck Banks

They were ugly, they were slimy, and they were creepy. And I’ve not gotten over that. So to elevate them to the status of being the state amphibian, I’m not there yet.

— Rep. Ken Andrus (R), who voted against the measure a grade school student’s request that the Idaho giant salamander be named the state amphibian,” the Idaho Statesman reports. Andrus recalled being repulsed by them as a young boy.

Republican Voters Prefer Romney Over Bush

Buck Banks

52%

Of all Republicans “still maintain a positive view of the party’s 2012 nominee, compared to just 37% who said the same about Mr. Bush, the former Florida governor,” a new Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll finds. “Mr. Romney does more than 20 percentage points better among self-identified tea party supporters and core Republican voters than does Mr. Bush, who last ran for office in 2002.

Republican Voters Support Raising Taxes on the Wealthy to Reagan-Era Levels

Buck Banks

53%

Percentage of Republican voters who said they support raising the personal income tax on those earning $1 million a year to 50%, “the same rate taxed under President Reagan,” with 33% opposing, according to a new GBA Strategies poll. When asked whether they support raising the tax rate on personal income above $1 million annually without the Reagan reference, 36% of Republicans supported the plan and 47% of Republicans were opposed. The rest were undecided.