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babylonsister
babylonsister's Journal
babylonsister's Journal
February 22, 2019
Live TV
Mitch McConnell is on the verge of facing the 18 longest days of his political life
Analysis by Chris Cillizza, CNN Editor-at-large
Updated 4:35 PM EST, Thu February 21, 2019
Video at link~
(CNN) Mitch McConnell's life is about to get a lot more complicated.
As soon as Friday, the Democratic-controlled House will vote on a privileged resolution to terminate President Donald Trump's invocation of the National Emergencies Act to secure funding to build a wall on the country's southern border. Speaker Nancy Pelosi (Calif.) has penned a letter urging all members of Congress to vote for the resolution and, given the Democratic majority in the chamber, it seems certain to pass.
Which means that it will be sent to the Senate. Where it will be required by law to be voted on within 18 days. Which could well be the longest 18 days of the Senate Majority Leader's political life.
As CNN's Michael Warren wrote way back on February 12 when considering the political impact of Trump declaring a national emergency on the wall:
Uh, yeah. And every sign points to this nightmare scenario for McConnell happening -- and happening soon.
On Thursday, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer made clear that if the House passes the privileged resolution, he will ensure the Senate votes on it.
Which is a problem for McConnell because of, well, math.
more...
https://amp.cnn.com/cnn/2019/02/21/politics/national-emergency-resolution-castro-donald-trump-mcconnell/index.html?fbclid=IwAR2C6PGRKn4kC0iCHO6QC2vFAS4QjoWeVlHqKWMTWraA0LLrWjlHgRINaQw
Mitch McConnell is on the verge of facing the 18 longest days of his political life
Live TV
Mitch McConnell is on the verge of facing the 18 longest days of his political life
Analysis by Chris Cillizza, CNN Editor-at-large
Updated 4:35 PM EST, Thu February 21, 2019
Video at link~
(CNN) Mitch McConnell's life is about to get a lot more complicated.
As soon as Friday, the Democratic-controlled House will vote on a privileged resolution to terminate President Donald Trump's invocation of the National Emergencies Act to secure funding to build a wall on the country's southern border. Speaker Nancy Pelosi (Calif.) has penned a letter urging all members of Congress to vote for the resolution and, given the Democratic majority in the chamber, it seems certain to pass.
Which means that it will be sent to the Senate. Where it will be required by law to be voted on within 18 days. Which could well be the longest 18 days of the Senate Majority Leader's political life.
As CNN's Michael Warren wrote way back on February 12 when considering the political impact of Trump declaring a national emergency on the wall:
"Doing so could set off a chain of events on Capitol Hill that risks splitting the Republican conference, undercutting other parts of Trump's agenda and likely opening the administration's actions to legal challenges. It may also provide a clarifying moment that Republicans on the Hill have managed to avoid since Trump took office -- casting an up or down vote on whether to build the full-scale wall Trump desires."
Uh, yeah. And every sign points to this nightmare scenario for McConnell happening -- and happening soon.
On Thursday, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer made clear that if the House passes the privileged resolution, he will ensure the Senate votes on it.
"This issue transcends partisan politics, and I urge all senators -- Democrats and Republicans -- to support this resolution to terminate the president's emergency declaration when it comes up for a vote in the Senate," said Schumer. "Identical companion legislation to the House resolution will soon be introduced in the Senate."
Which is a problem for McConnell because of, well, math.
more...
https://amp.cnn.com/cnn/2019/02/21/politics/national-emergency-resolution-castro-donald-trump-mcconnell/index.html?fbclid=IwAR2C6PGRKn4kC0iCHO6QC2vFAS4QjoWeVlHqKWMTWraA0LLrWjlHgRINaQw
February 22, 2019
Posted on Thu, Feb 21st, 2019 by Reuters
Trump and his kids are being sued for running a marketing scam
By Jonathan Stempel
NEW YORK (Reuters) – U.S. President Donald Trump and his adult children on Thursday urged a federal judge to dismiss a racketeering lawsuit accusing them of using the family name to promote sham marketing opportunities to vulnerable, financially struggling investors.
Calling the lawsuit “implausible,” the Trump family said in a filing in federal court in Manhattan that the four plaintiffs failed to prove there was fraud or intent to cause harm, or that any statements by Donald Trump caused losses.
A spokeswoman for the plaintiffs, who went by pseudonyms, had no immediate comment.
They accused the Trump family of having received millions of dollars of secret payments from 2005 to 2015 to endorse American Communications Network, which charged $499 for a chance to sell videophones and other goods, and two other businesses.
The lawsuit said the Trumps deliberately conned victims into believing Donald Trump stood behind the investments and thought they would pay off, when the real goal was to enrich themselves. They said this violated a federal anti-racketeering law known as RICO.
Other defendants included an affiliate of the Trump Organization and Trump’s adult children Donald Jr., Eric and Ivanka.
more...
https://www.politicususa.com/2019/02/21/trump-and-his-kids-are-being-sued-for-running-a-marketing-scam.html
Trump and his kids are being sued for running a marketing scam
Posted on Thu, Feb 21st, 2019 by Reuters
Trump and his kids are being sued for running a marketing scam
By Jonathan Stempel
NEW YORK (Reuters) – U.S. President Donald Trump and his adult children on Thursday urged a federal judge to dismiss a racketeering lawsuit accusing them of using the family name to promote sham marketing opportunities to vulnerable, financially struggling investors.
Calling the lawsuit “implausible,” the Trump family said in a filing in federal court in Manhattan that the four plaintiffs failed to prove there was fraud or intent to cause harm, or that any statements by Donald Trump caused losses.
A spokeswoman for the plaintiffs, who went by pseudonyms, had no immediate comment.
They accused the Trump family of having received millions of dollars of secret payments from 2005 to 2015 to endorse American Communications Network, which charged $499 for a chance to sell videophones and other goods, and two other businesses.
The lawsuit said the Trumps deliberately conned victims into believing Donald Trump stood behind the investments and thought they would pay off, when the real goal was to enrich themselves. They said this violated a federal anti-racketeering law known as RICO.
Other defendants included an affiliate of the Trump Organization and Trump’s adult children Donald Jr., Eric and Ivanka.
more...
https://www.politicususa.com/2019/02/21/trump-and-his-kids-are-being-sued-for-running-a-marketing-scam.html
February 21, 2019
Poll: 33% of Kentucky voters approve of McConnell
By Tal Axelrod - 02/21/19 02:55 PM EST
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s (R-Ky.) approval rating is underwater in Kentucky ahead of his reelection race next year, according to a new Public Policy Polling (PPP) survey released Thursday.
About 33 percent of registered Kentucky voters polled approve of the job McConnell is doing, while 56 percent disapprove and 11 percent are unsure. Additionally, 32 percent think McConnell “deserves to be reelected,” and 61 percent think it’s “time for someone new.”
The PPP poll was conducted on behalf of the Ditch Mitch Fund, an advocacy group that opposes McConnell. McConnell’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Hill.
more...
https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/431002-poll-33-of-kentucky-voters-approve-of-mcconnell?fbclid=IwAR24UZ10d7powFRAbvSV_jwGE3qOtfjXc6rPwNLpLBgoHtaGPp2wK7h8cG8
Poll: 33% of Kentucky voters approve of McConnell
Poll: 33% of Kentucky voters approve of McConnell
By Tal Axelrod - 02/21/19 02:55 PM EST
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s (R-Ky.) approval rating is underwater in Kentucky ahead of his reelection race next year, according to a new Public Policy Polling (PPP) survey released Thursday.
About 33 percent of registered Kentucky voters polled approve of the job McConnell is doing, while 56 percent disapprove and 11 percent are unsure. Additionally, 32 percent think McConnell “deserves to be reelected,” and 61 percent think it’s “time for someone new.”
The PPP poll was conducted on behalf of the Ditch Mitch Fund, an advocacy group that opposes McConnell. McConnell’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Hill.
more...
https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/431002-poll-33-of-kentucky-voters-approve-of-mcconnell?fbclid=IwAR24UZ10d7powFRAbvSV_jwGE3qOtfjXc6rPwNLpLBgoHtaGPp2wK7h8cG8
February 21, 2019
Posted on Thu, Feb 21st, 2019 by Jason Easley
El Paso Sues Trump For Damaging Their Reputation And Economy
The county of El Paso has sued Donald Trump for damaging their reputation and economy with his bogus national emergency declaration.
Trump tried to use El Paso as a prop, and now they are suing him
Read the lawsuit @ link~
Page 1 / 41
Trump has lied about immigration and crime in El Paso for weeks. He has damaged the reputation of the entire region, and local leaders are fighting back with a lawsuit that is intended to stop the wall and protect democracy, according to local leaders.
Trump’s attempt to use El Paso to push his agenda has backfired
Before Trump arrived in El Paso, local leaders passed a resolution condemning his lies and make it clear that he was not welcome in their community. Beto O’Rourke drew twice as many people to a counter-rally than came out to see the president.
Trump rally will be most remembered for one of his supporters attacking a BBC cameraman.
El Paso isn’t allowing itself to be used as a pawn in Trump’s racist and efforts to carry out a discriminatory policy agenda on the border. El Paso isn’t just condemning Trump. They are suing him and standing up for the values and good name of their community.
El Paso Sues Trump For Damaging Their Reputation And Economy
https://www.politicususa.com/2019/02/21/el-paso-sues-trump.htmlPosted on Thu, Feb 21st, 2019 by Jason Easley
El Paso Sues Trump For Damaging Their Reputation And Economy
The county of El Paso has sued Donald Trump for damaging their reputation and economy with his bogus national emergency declaration.
Trump tried to use El Paso as a prop, and now they are suing him
KTSM9 reported, “El Paso County has officially sued the President of the United States. The lawsuit, filed along with the Border Network for Human Rights against President Donald Trump and members of his administration, was filed on Wednesday. The suit claims that the President’s emergency declaration regarding the situation on the U.S.-Mexico Border damages El Paso’s reputation and economy.”
Read the lawsuit @ link~
Page 1 / 41
Trump has lied about immigration and crime in El Paso for weeks. He has damaged the reputation of the entire region, and local leaders are fighting back with a lawsuit that is intended to stop the wall and protect democracy, according to local leaders.
Trump’s attempt to use El Paso to push his agenda has backfired
Before Trump arrived in El Paso, local leaders passed a resolution condemning his lies and make it clear that he was not welcome in their community. Beto O’Rourke drew twice as many people to a counter-rally than came out to see the president.
Trump rally will be most remembered for one of his supporters attacking a BBC cameraman.
El Paso isn’t allowing itself to be used as a pawn in Trump’s racist and efforts to carry out a discriminatory policy agenda on the border. El Paso isn’t just condemning Trump. They are suing him and standing up for the values and good name of their community.
February 21, 2019
CNN in Damage-Control Mode With Dems Over GOP Operative Hire
The hiring of longtime Republican operative Sarah Isgur has set off alarms for Democrats. Now the network is doing some cleanup.
Maxwell Tani,
Sam Stein
02.20.19 8:13 PM ET
The Democratic National Committee has sought and received assurances from CNN that the network’s new politics editor, Sarah Isgur, will not be involved in the debates that the channel hosts and moderates for the Democratic primary.
The assurances were provided after the committee expressed reservations to CNN over Isgur’s history in Republican politics and after officials at the committee raised concerns over her alleged connections to a now-retracted Fox News story on the debunked Seth Rich conspiracy theory.
CNN announced this week that it had hired Isgur to help oversee the network’s coverage of the 2020 election. Until late last year, she had served as Jeff Sessions’ top spokesperson at the Department of Justice after previously working on campaigns for Carly Fiorina and Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX).
Her hiring set off a round of recriminations from journalists, who argued that the longtime Republican operative had no prior experience in the news industry, and from Democrats, who believe she brings a clearly established ideological agenda with her to her new post.
Inside the DNC, the reaction was one of what one source called ”disbelief.” Officials there attempted to get clarity over what role she would actually play in campaign coverage. Ultimately, a senior DNC aide told The Daily Beast that CNN assured them Isgur would not have involvement in Democratic debates. It remains unclear the extent to which she will be involved in other elements of the network’s Democratic primary coverage.
more...
https://www.thedailybeast.com/cnn-assures-dnc-ex-sessions-aide-sarah-isgur-wont-work-on-democratic-debates?ref=home
CNN in Damage-Control Mode With Dems Over GOP Operative Hire
CNN in Damage-Control Mode With Dems Over GOP Operative Hire
The hiring of longtime Republican operative Sarah Isgur has set off alarms for Democrats. Now the network is doing some cleanup.
Maxwell Tani,
Sam Stein
02.20.19 8:13 PM ET
The Democratic National Committee has sought and received assurances from CNN that the network’s new politics editor, Sarah Isgur, will not be involved in the debates that the channel hosts and moderates for the Democratic primary.
The assurances were provided after the committee expressed reservations to CNN over Isgur’s history in Republican politics and after officials at the committee raised concerns over her alleged connections to a now-retracted Fox News story on the debunked Seth Rich conspiracy theory.
CNN announced this week that it had hired Isgur to help oversee the network’s coverage of the 2020 election. Until late last year, she had served as Jeff Sessions’ top spokesperson at the Department of Justice after previously working on campaigns for Carly Fiorina and Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX).
Her hiring set off a round of recriminations from journalists, who argued that the longtime Republican operative had no prior experience in the news industry, and from Democrats, who believe she brings a clearly established ideological agenda with her to her new post.
Inside the DNC, the reaction was one of what one source called ”disbelief.” Officials there attempted to get clarity over what role she would actually play in campaign coverage. Ultimately, a senior DNC aide told The Daily Beast that CNN assured them Isgur would not have involvement in Democratic debates. It remains unclear the extent to which she will be involved in other elements of the network’s Democratic primary coverage.
"[Chairman] Tom Perez and the DNC expressed to CNN that they have serious concerns with the hire," the aide said. "They continue to talk to the network about how this impacts 2020, and as of Wednesday, they got assurances that Flores would not be involved in debates."
more...
https://www.thedailybeast.com/cnn-assures-dnc-ex-sessions-aide-sarah-isgur-wont-work-on-democratic-debates?ref=home
February 21, 2019
Mueller Is Driving the Timing of His Report
February 21, 2019 at 7:32 am EST By Taegan Goddard
Mueller Is Driving the Timing of His Report
https://politicalwire.com/2019/02/21/mueller-is-driving-the-timing-of-his-report/Mueller Is Driving the Timing of His Report
February 21, 2019 at 7:32 am EST By Taegan Goddard
Marcy Wheeler: “I’m fairly certain the concerns about Barr coming in and forcing Mueller to finish this are misplaced. I say that, in part, because Mueller seemed to be preparing for this timing. I say it, too, because Barr is too close to Mueller to do that to him.”
“That says that Mueller is choosing this timing (and choosing not to wait for the appeals to be done). Whatever reason dictates this timing, by doing it in this window, Mueller can ensure the legitimacy of what happens, both legally (because Barr will be in place) and politically (because it will be clear Rosenstein presided over it).”
“So whatever comes next week, people on both sides should accept that it is the outcome of the investigation that Mueller deemed appropriate.”
“That says that Mueller is choosing this timing (and choosing not to wait for the appeals to be done). Whatever reason dictates this timing, by doing it in this window, Mueller can ensure the legitimacy of what happens, both legally (because Barr will be in place) and politically (because it will be clear Rosenstein presided over it).”
“So whatever comes next week, people on both sides should accept that it is the outcome of the investigation that Mueller deemed appropriate.”
February 21, 2019
Mueller's report, perhaps to be
released next week.
Bombshell? Gawd, I hope. Any possibility it's not?
February 20, 2019
Other choice quotes from Happer, who, shockingly, has received money from the fossil-fuel industry:
more...
https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2019/02/william-happer-climate-change-panel?fbclid=IwAR1QweqVTOlpx4-r4pwlhu0D10PWKCYFnj6NsFXv-jo9JmbJ9w-6xMOAMt0
Trump's New Climate Czar: Carbon Dioxide Has Been Treated Just Like "Jews Under Hitler"
Where on earth do they find these cretins??
Trump’s New Climate Czar: Carbon Dioxide Has Been Treated Just Like “Jews Under Hitler”
William Happer, who is spearheading a proposed White House panel on climate change, believes CO2 “has undergone decade after decade of abuse, for no reason.”
by Bess Levin
February 20, 2019 4:10 pm
Last year, on the Friday after Thanksgiving, the Trump administration released a terrifying report about climate change, which might as well have been simply titled, “You Should Be Shitting Your Pants Right Now.” The second volume of a federally mandated assessment, the 1,656-page investigation laid out the devastating costs associated with not taking immediate steps to combat climate change: $141 billion from heat-related deaths, $118 billion from rising sea levels, $32 billion from infrastructure damage by the end of the century, and so on. At the time, Donald Trump simply brushed the whole thing off, telling reporters, “I don’t believe it,” even though, by his own admission, he’d only read “some” of the report and his mind was probably elsewhere during the relevant sections (i.e. wondering if all the turkeys he didn’t pardon were going to rise up and peck him to death) But with certain lawmakers, irksome citizens, and, um, the director of national intelligence insisting that climate change is the most imminent threat of our lifetime, the White House knew it needed to do more to convince people this whole thing was a hoax. And reader, the administration has truly outdone itself this time.
The Washington Post reports that the White House is assembling a panel to “assess whether climate change poses a national security threat,” headed by a guy who makes coal lobbyist-turned-Acting E.P.A. Administrator Andrew Wheeler look like a radical environmentalist. Yes, the administration has hired some real crackpots before, but this guy laps those suckers by miles. So, just who is William Happer? According to the Post, he’s a former Energy Department staffer under George H.W. Bush who joined this White House in September to work on “emerging technologies,” and, naturally, has no formal training as a climate scientist. But what he lacks in relevant knowledge he makes up for in a deep and abiding love for carbon dioxide, which he said during a summit in December 2016 is “not a pollutant at all” and is “actually a benefit to the earth,” despite having been unfairly maligned by “decade after decade of abuse, for no reason.” And, of course, he thinks that abuse has some historical parallels.
“The demonization of carbon dioxide is just like the demonization of the poor Jews under Hitler,” Happer explained to CNBC in 2014, after yelling at Andrew Ross Sorkin to “shut up” about him supposedly being a climate-change denier. In January 2017, he added in an e-mail to a Jezebel reader that the vilification of carbon dioxide also “differs little from . . . the Soviet extermination of class enemies or ISIL slaughter of infidels.” (Upon learning that Jezebel would be writing an item about the correspondence and his views, he responded, “If I understand the thrust of the article you are writing, your organization is well named. The original Queen Jezebel had an innocent man, Naboth, smeared and stoned to death so her husband, King Ahab, could steal his vinyard [sic]. You can smear me, as the original Jezebel did, but if you want to physically destroy me, you may find it [a] bit harder.”)
Other choice quotes from Happer, who, shockingly, has received money from the fossil-fuel industry:
“If plants could vote, they would vote for coal.” November 2015
“It’s not as though if you double CO2 you make a big difference. You make a barely detectable difference.” November 2017
“Let me point out that if you have a well-designed coal plant, what comes out of the stack of the plant is almost the same thing that comes out of a person’s breath.” December 2016
“I am trying to explain to my fellow Americans the serious damage that will be done to us, and indeed to the whole world, by cockamamie policies to ‘save the planet’ from CO2.” March 2016
“Warming and increased CO2 will be good for mankind.” May 2010
“It’s not as though if you double CO2 you make a big difference. You make a barely detectable difference.” November 2017
“Let me point out that if you have a well-designed coal plant, what comes out of the stack of the plant is almost the same thing that comes out of a person’s breath.” December 2016
“I am trying to explain to my fellow Americans the serious damage that will be done to us, and indeed to the whole world, by cockamamie policies to ‘save the planet’ from CO2.” March 2016
“Warming and increased CO2 will be good for mankind.” May 2010
more...
https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2019/02/william-happer-climate-change-panel?fbclid=IwAR1QweqVTOlpx4-r4pwlhu0D10PWKCYFnj6NsFXv-jo9JmbJ9w-6xMOAMt0
February 20, 2019
https://www.rawstory.com/2019/02/jared-kushner-may-benefited-trump-white-house-scheme-sell-nuke-plants-saudis-house-dem-report/?fbclid=IwAR2Ce80OVSsJnlJlB3toiAWYbuiLiEMOyvJmBEFpgNy7VH1EYus_pw-C_M0
Jared Kushner may have benefited from Trump White House scheme to sell nuke plants to Saudis: House Dem report
Brad Reed
19 Feb 2019 at 11:30 ET
A new report issued by House Democrats this week claims that key Trump administration appointees overrode the objections of top national security officials and attorneys to promote the sale of nuclear power plants to Saudi Arabia — and these sales could have directly benefited Trump son-in-law Jared Kushner.
Per the Washington Post, the report, which was issued on Tuesday by House Oversight Committee chairman Rep. Elijah E. Cummings (D-Md.), claims that top national security officials including former national security adviser H.R. McMaster warned the administration against plans to sell nuclear power plants to the Saudis.
These national officials called for a halt to such sales in 2017 and cited “potential conflicts of interest, national security risks and legal hurdles.”
Despite this, however, Energy Secretary Rick Perry and other Trump appointees continued to push the sales of nuclear power to the Saudis.
Of particular interest in the report is the revelation that the Saudi nuke sales could have benefited Kushner, whose family in 2017 was desperate to secure investment capital at a troubled property in Manhattan.
Jared Kushner may have benefited from Trump White House scheme to sell nuke plants to Saudis...
https://www.rawstory.com/2019/02/jared-kushner-may-benefited-trump-white-house-scheme-sell-nuke-plants-saudis-house-dem-report/?fbclid=IwAR2Ce80OVSsJnlJlB3toiAWYbuiLiEMOyvJmBEFpgNy7VH1EYus_pw-C_M0
Jared Kushner may have benefited from Trump White House scheme to sell nuke plants to Saudis: House Dem report
Brad Reed
19 Feb 2019 at 11:30 ET
A new report issued by House Democrats this week claims that key Trump administration appointees overrode the objections of top national security officials and attorneys to promote the sale of nuclear power plants to Saudi Arabia — and these sales could have directly benefited Trump son-in-law Jared Kushner.
Per the Washington Post, the report, which was issued on Tuesday by House Oversight Committee chairman Rep. Elijah E. Cummings (D-Md.), claims that top national security officials including former national security adviser H.R. McMaster warned the administration against plans to sell nuclear power plants to the Saudis.
These national officials called for a halt to such sales in 2017 and cited “potential conflicts of interest, national security risks and legal hurdles.”
Despite this, however, Energy Secretary Rick Perry and other Trump appointees continued to push the sales of nuclear power to the Saudis.
Of particular interest in the report is the revelation that the Saudi nuke sales could have benefited Kushner, whose family in 2017 was desperate to secure investment capital at a troubled property in Manhattan.
“The Cummings report notes that one of the power plant manufacturers that could benefit from a nuclear deal, Westinghouse Electric, is a subsidiary of Brookfield Asset Management, the company that provided financial relief to the family of Jared Kushner,” the Post writes. “Brookfield Asset Management took a 99-year lease on the family’s deeply indebted New York City property at 666 Fifth Avenue.”
February 20, 2019
Don’t Dismiss Bernie Sanders
February 20, 2019 at 9:01 am EST By Taegan Goddard
Don't Dismiss Bernie Sanders
https://politicalwire.com/2019/02/20/dont-dismiss-bernie-sanders/Don’t Dismiss Bernie Sanders
February 20, 2019 at 9:01 am EST By Taegan Goddard
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) kicked off his presidential campaign by raising an impressive $4 million in just 12 hours. He also won an immediate endorsement from Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT), who had backed Clinton four years ago. And he signed a campaign manager with deep experience in the party, a strong contrast with the disjointed campaign he built in 2016.
Those are all good reasons for his Democratic rivals to take him seriously.
But a more important reason might be his demonstrated ability to energize younger voters.
The best Democratic nominee to go up against President Trump is one who can rebuild the Obama coalition — the women, minorities and young people who turned out in record numbers to twice elect Barack Obama.
Several current candidates can potentially energize women voters (Kamala Harris, Amy Klobuchar, Kirsten Gillibrand) and voters of color (Kamala Harris, Cory Booker). But Sanders is the only candidate — so far, at least — with a proven appeal to young people.
A recent Quinnipiac poll found that young voters like Sanders by a stunning 57% to 29% margin, while older voters do not, 40% to 45%. That’s a remarkable feat for the oldest candidate in the race. He’s obviously delivering a message that young people want to hear.
That said, Sanders is still mostly a factional politician and, for the last 30 years at least, Democrats have nominated candidates who can build broad coalitions. One of the current candidates, perhaps Kamala Harris, might also prove appealing to young voters. Or maybe it will be a new entrant to the race like Beto O’Rourke.
But until then, Democrats should not dismiss Sanders. He holds one of the keys to putting the coalition back together that allowed Democrats to hold the White House for eight years.
Those are all good reasons for his Democratic rivals to take him seriously.
But a more important reason might be his demonstrated ability to energize younger voters.
The best Democratic nominee to go up against President Trump is one who can rebuild the Obama coalition — the women, minorities and young people who turned out in record numbers to twice elect Barack Obama.
Several current candidates can potentially energize women voters (Kamala Harris, Amy Klobuchar, Kirsten Gillibrand) and voters of color (Kamala Harris, Cory Booker). But Sanders is the only candidate — so far, at least — with a proven appeal to young people.
A recent Quinnipiac poll found that young voters like Sanders by a stunning 57% to 29% margin, while older voters do not, 40% to 45%. That’s a remarkable feat for the oldest candidate in the race. He’s obviously delivering a message that young people want to hear.
That said, Sanders is still mostly a factional politician and, for the last 30 years at least, Democrats have nominated candidates who can build broad coalitions. One of the current candidates, perhaps Kamala Harris, might also prove appealing to young voters. Or maybe it will be a new entrant to the race like Beto O’Rourke.
But until then, Democrats should not dismiss Sanders. He holds one of the keys to putting the coalition back together that allowed Democrats to hold the White House for eight years.
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