Month: October 2017

Clapper: Russia Stole the U.S. Election

Buck Banks

“The Russians have succeeded beyond their wildest expectations.”

— Former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper, telling Politico that no matter how much President Trump rants about the “Russia hoax,” the 2016 hacking was not only real and aimed at electing Trump but constituted a major victory for a dangerous foreign adversary.

How Low Can Trump Go?

Buck Banks

38% to 58%

A new NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll finds President Trump’s job approval rating has declined to the lowest point of his presidency, 38% to 58%. “Looking ahead to the 2018 midterm elections, which take place a year from now, 48% of registered voters in the poll say they prefer a Democratic-controlled Congress, while 41% want a Republican-controlled Congress.”

American Politics Hits a New Low

Buck Banks

71%

A new Washington Post-University of Maryland poll finds 71% of Americans say the nation’s politics have reached a dangerous low point, and a majority of those believe the situation is a “new normal” rather than temporary. “The poll finds that 7 in 10 Americans view the Trump administration as dysfunctional. But dissatisfaction extends well beyond the executive branch: Even more Americans, 8 in 10, say Congress is dysfunctional, and there is limited trust in other institutions, including the media.”

Trump Campaign Chair Indicted on 12 Counts

Jon Ponder

The Hill:

President Trump’s former campaign chairman, Paul Manafort turned himself in to the FBI on Monday after being indicted on 12 counts, including conspiracy against the United States.

Other counts in the indictment include conspiracy to launder money, false statements and seven counts of failing to file reports of foreign bank and financial accounts…

The indictments were reportedly returned by a grand jury on Friday, and were unsealed after the defendents were permitted to surrender themselves, according to a statement from the FBI.

How to Talk to Republicans – Joy Reid Demonstrates

Jon Ponder

Last week, before the rest of us knew that indictments of Paul Manafort and Rick Gates were pending, Fox News and the rest of the Trump media apparatus attempted to deflect attention from the coming bad news by reintroducing the already thoroughly debunked allegation that Hillary Clinton was bribed by Russians in a uranium deal when she was secretary of state.

On Sunday morning, MSNBC’s Joy Reid debated the allegation with Jen Kerns, a reporter for the “Washington Examiner,” a right-wing propaganda sheet.

[…]

Democrats have 16-Point Lead in Generic Ballot

Buck Banks

16 points

A new CNN poll finds Democrats lead in the generic congressional ballot by a 16-point margin, 54% to 38%. Washington Post: “If that were actually to turn out to be the case, of course, we’d be talking about a Democratic landslide — and almost definitely a Democratic takeover of the House that is so difficult given the map. But even if it’s just close to reality, it could be a very bad omen for the Republican Party in a historically tough first midterm election under a president of their own party.”