Dinner advice to Romney: Guard your plate!
And so Citizens United, purportedly based on the freedom of speech, bears its sick and twisted fruit -- Mitt Romney will not even be allowed to speak.
23
It's a lot simpler than the article expresses, the Koch's just had their candidate interviews and it was clear Mitt would not be getting their support. Further, Rupert Murdock this past week stated Mitt's time was over. They own the party and Mitt doesn't get an invitation.
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Jeb is looking more corpulent by the week — something he has in common with Carl Rove, a bunch of Rove clones and Christy.
What is it about the fat-frat-boy look that makes Republican voters swoon? Father figure stuff? Go figure.
What is it about the fat-frat-boy look that makes Republican voters swoon? Father figure stuff? Go figure.
49
This seems like great news for Hillary Clinton.
I'd take Bill Clinton's 8 years over the 12 Bush years any day.
I'd take Bill Clinton's 8 years over the 12 Bush years any day.
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"At the moment, he doesn’t face a serious competitor on the center-left side of the party."
Hey Nate, where, exactly is the "center-left" segment of the Republican party? If there ever was such a branch of the GOP, it's become as extinct as a woolly mammoth.
Hey Nate, where, exactly is the "center-left" segment of the Republican party? If there ever was such a branch of the GOP, it's become as extinct as a woolly mammoth.
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There was, but it became endangered after TR formed the Bull Moose party, the progressives never really returned to the GOP after that, but a few still lingered for a while.
The last few went extinct sometime between Goldwater and Reagan.
The last few went extinct sometime between Goldwater and Reagan.
8
Look at the 'let's blow up the water tower in our home town' on principle point of view. Bush believes in work for all people in America and schools that prepare all students for work.
It turns out that there is a common good and a few large donors have corrupted the Tea Party to think that denying work and learning to minorities is a 'principled' approach to the future.
Jeb Bush will be a formidable candidate and the 'not Clinton', 'not Bush' candidates have a lot less going for them than they think.
It turns out that there is a common good and a few large donors have corrupted the Tea Party to think that denying work and learning to minorities is a 'principled' approach to the future.
Jeb Bush will be a formidable candidate and the 'not Clinton', 'not Bush' candidates have a lot less going for them than they think.
3
I don't think the "few large donors" had much trouble corrupting the tea party into embracing racist "principles." I think the Tea Party was mostly about racism to begin with. Look who's in it — relatively well-to-do, white suburbanites who are VERY ANGRY about what, exactly? Can you say, "Black Guy in the White House?"
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Mr. Terry Schiavo Stand Your Ground Bush run.
Run Bush Run.
Run Bush Run.
19
If we get a third Bush as President do we have to declare the USA a total loss or just a third world banana republic?
If it's Bush vs. Clinton does everyone in the USA get a dunce cap and have to go sit in a corner?
Is there any way to get the Supreme court to block any more Baby Boomers from taking office?
If it's Bush vs. Clinton does everyone in the USA get a dunce cap and have to go sit in a corner?
Is there any way to get the Supreme court to block any more Baby Boomers from taking office?
18
Mitt's a private equity guy. Maybe if he had spent the last several years after his loss bringing companies back to the US after breaking them down for export to China, he might have received a massive coronation in 2016. I would guarantee it.
12
One Mitt out of the running. Another Mitt still in the fray!
1
"A reflection of Jeb Bush's strength." . . .
Oh, I hope this isn't a repeat of 2000. George W. Bush's "strength" was that he had a name, he had done so little that there wasn't enough paper trail, and the Republican money boys and the press played him up so that he became virtually inevitable.
Compared to, say, Hillary Clinton, Jeb Bush's resume is thin and mainly about making money for himself and friends. Compared to, say, Hiillary Clinton, Jeb Bush would mean terrible policy positions, and Supreme Court appointments like Clarence Thomas, John Roberts, and Sam Alito.
Oh, I hope this isn't a repeat of 2000. George W. Bush's "strength" was that he had a name, he had done so little that there wasn't enough paper trail, and the Republican money boys and the press played him up so that he became virtually inevitable.
Compared to, say, Hillary Clinton, Jeb Bush's resume is thin and mainly about making money for himself and friends. Compared to, say, Hiillary Clinton, Jeb Bush would mean terrible policy positions, and Supreme Court appointments like Clarence Thomas, John Roberts, and Sam Alito.
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I am an American living in New Zealand, and an independent voter. I have not voted for a Republican presidential candidate since Gerald Ford. However, I refuse to vote for Hillary Clinton. I also refuse to vote for Jeb Bush or any other member of that evil Bush family. Maybe I will have to vote yet again for the Green Party candidate or some other third party candidate. I refuse to vote for the lesser of two evils.
14
So instead you'll vote for the lesser of three evils?
6
This is a sad day for Gail Collins: no more Seamus jokes! :(
15
Paul Ryan defers. Sensible for Mitt to do the same. Reasonable to forecast more going wrong than right for the GOP in 2016 if little else is clear. Primary is a landscape of warlords. Sound plan to maneuver around rather than through them in time, and meet the Democrats in 2020.
1
It really doesn't matter who wins this party's 2016 nomination. Republicans/Tea Partiers simply have no ideas. They are intellectually bankrupt, are driven by the Koch Brothers, and are beholden to money and special interests. One has only to imagine a U. S. foreign policy in which a GOP/TP Congress becomes a forum for foreign governments with agendas at variance with American interests but who may come to feel comfortable insinuating their specific global policies into American affairs. They're trying that now with a Democratic president. Citizens United will never be overturned because this Republican lot will push vigorously for hard-right Supreme Court appointments under orders from the Koch's.
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Hillary 2 terms, Elizabeth Warren 2 terms. 16 years from now we will have a liberal Court. And probably peace in the world too!
8
I thought that The Upshot was a feature designed to ive readers access to a mass of data and the sophisticated statistical expertise necessary to exploit it so they could keep enjoy the fruits of political science alongside the political rhetoric your editors are so fond of giving us. This piece by Nate Cohn is about as scientific as a séance. Please, science, not another opinion about opinions.
16
Jeb Bush's callous and dogmatic meddling in the Terri Shiavo case should be the albatross around his neck that dooms his candidacy once and for all.
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I am from Florida Romney had his chances. I like Bush. He is more appealing to me as an Independent than a "coronation of Hillary".
4
How many members of the Bush dynasty does America need to have in the White House?
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Yes. He's a conservative, but he is compassionate too. He's tough, but also kinder and gentler than a Chris Christie or a Ted Cruz. And thankfully, if he's President, there will be no new taxes. I mean, who likes taxes ?
3
"I mean, who likes taxes?"
Who likes the military, roads, police, firemen, paramedics, healthcare, safe food, safe water, safe air, safe earth, safe cars, safe planes, safe drugs, retirement, etc?
Who likes the military, roads, police, firemen, paramedics, healthcare, safe food, safe water, safe air, safe earth, safe cars, safe planes, safe drugs, retirement, etc?
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But it has been so much fun mocking Mr. Romney!
9
Hillary could never win unless she is up against Bush. She resigned in disgrace from her last job pleading poor health. That is on top of the baggage she was already packing.
Another Bush is just unthinkable for the good of the country. The Koch brothers and the suckers who follow them have to realize that Carl Rove and the Bush bunch (aka Japanese Mafia) have been very bad for the country even if good for them. From S&L fiasco on, there has been nothing they've done that has not destabilized the economy.
Neither party has a decent candidate unless Bernie Sanders can be convinced to accept the Dem. nomination. We HAVE to get rid of corporate welfare and leeching.
Another Bush is just unthinkable for the good of the country. The Koch brothers and the suckers who follow them have to realize that Carl Rove and the Bush bunch (aka Japanese Mafia) have been very bad for the country even if good for them. From S&L fiasco on, there has been nothing they've done that has not destabilized the economy.
Neither party has a decent candidate unless Bernie Sanders can be convinced to accept the Dem. nomination. We HAVE to get rid of corporate welfare and leeching.
12
God bless Bernie Sanders. He would bring a heart back to America.
24
Oh come on. Another Bush? After the last two?
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Wow . What a funny head line. Romney has to be be feeling pretty bad being lower then Bush. That is about as pathetic as you can get.
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The editor and many others (so its not his fault alone) never "renounced" or said he would not run. He factually said, he wanted to let other have a chance to run. He factually said, if asked to run - his response would be "very unlikely". He factually never said "I AM NOT RUNNING".
I'm not saying that he is running, but he has allowed himself he chance as well as the chance for others to run. I'm betting if there is enough dissatisfaction with those candidates, and enough clamoring for his candidacy, he will run.
Why journalist these days never print actual facts, is beyond me.
I'm not saying that he is running, but he has allowed himself he chance as well as the chance for others to run. I'm betting if there is enough dissatisfaction with those candidates, and enough clamoring for his candidacy, he will run.
Why journalist these days never print actual facts, is beyond me.
9
I think the Bush and Clinton dynasties are much more powerful than commonly believed. When G.W. Bush ran, he had the Rangers fund raising arm with 7,000 of the wealthiest families in the country. That is an awesome amount of juice in America's Moneyball electoral system.
People joke about the Bush family rolodex, but that is a powerful base. And I don't think any political family has ever delivered so consistently and so thoroughly for their patrons; the two Bush tax cuts, the prescription drug act, the lax SEC enforcement, the look-the-other-way bank regulation--it was all there.
Most of been a shock for Mitt Romney to find out that he wasn't a Heavy Hitter.
People joke about the Bush family rolodex, but that is a powerful base. And I don't think any political family has ever delivered so consistently and so thoroughly for their patrons; the two Bush tax cuts, the prescription drug act, the lax SEC enforcement, the look-the-other-way bank regulation--it was all there.
Most of been a shock for Mitt Romney to find out that he wasn't a Heavy Hitter.
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You can add the war in Iraq to the list of delivering for the Bush patrons — the military-industrial complex folks in that case.
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I guess it will be interesting to see how much he meant his mentioning that the middle class needs help. Show us how to bring some jobs back to America Mitt. Argue for tax some reform that helps the middle class.
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Romneys's withdrawal is simply a man facing reality. Bush's lack of withdrawal is a man in denial of the facts.
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Don't underestimate the staggering power of the $889 million that the Koch brothers said that their political network will spend during the 2016 campaign. Jeb Bush is an incredibly powerful candidate because of that money.
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The US isn't a serious country. Why don't we start simply ignoring the corporate funded jokers who think they should take over the Presidency. So another Bush says he wants to run. So what? Why should anyone care at all, he has nothing to offer but more wealth shift to the top.
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Another great day for Citizens Corrupted.
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George and Neil (Silverado)were SO great, I am sure everyone will be enthusiastic to vote for Jeb. Plus, he scrubbed thousands of people from Florida's voting rolls to steal the election for his brother. I am sure he would be a wonderful President ;-)
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I betcha Romney got promised a position in a potential Bush administration.
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Bush's strength as the leading liberal corporate-stooge RINO, that is.
3
Ugh, when will the putative the "party of Lincoln" and perhaps a "party of Reagan" (or Goldwater) even begin to take positions that would be consistent with either former president's views and policy priorities? When will they form views consistent with even the existence of a government for all citizens? Jeb Bush is quite conservative by any sane definition.
The ascendant parts of today's GOP might be more accurately called the "party of David Duke." Yes, I know Duke was a Democrat until 1988 - conveniently shifted to the GOP as Reagan's term was ending - but you get my drift.
The ascendant parts of today's GOP might be more accurately called the "party of David Duke." Yes, I know Duke was a Democrat until 1988 - conveniently shifted to the GOP as Reagan's term was ending - but you get my drift.
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@C - Jeb's basic position is simple: everything should be run by large corporations, and he and his buddies should be the CEOs. Do you consider that moderate?
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@Johnathan That's the position of the entire republican party, not just Jeb.
3
One down and at least thirteen more to go. Too bad that the potential democratic field isn't much better.
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On substance and experience, Hillary Clinton, should she run is a formidable and excellent candidate. Respected around the world and in command of the issues she would make an excellent and historic president. The GOP is morally bankrupt, out of touch on the issues and innthenpocket of a few super rich donors.
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@Robert - Counting on Hillary is not very wise. Every time she opens her mouth, she gives evidence of poor political instincts and turns off the voters. The Democrats need a better candidate than that to be effective in 2016.
11
Hardly any different from the republicans...the special interests own both her and Bill. What's the difference between Wall Street and a "few super rich donors"?
8
The fact that the wealthy vet the candidates and then we get to decide from among the "approved" candidates should elicit outrage in anyone who values democracy.
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The Koch Brothers are Fascist. They fit the dictionary meaning of the word. Anyone supported by their money will only be a puppet for their agenda. The American people desperately need a strong third party to put our nation on firm footing once again. We have become what we fought a Revolution to extricate ourselves from. A corrupt and deaf Parliament (congress) and a despotic ruler called King GeorgeIII. ( The now American Presidency). Being a person of wealth and ifluence is not the problem. Being a puppet of the Elite is. We have grave and serious circumstances facing us as a people and a nation. For the most part our press has failed us, our personal freedoms are non existent, and we have a military complex so vast and secretive whose main objective is to do the bidding of the oil barons and that it is frightening. The only recourse left to the American people is the power of the vote. Unless we create a third party that will not matter anymore either.
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Jodi:
The power of the vote is already diminished by the 24/7 stream of right wing poison spewed on the populace by Rupert Murdoch. The fact is propaganda works. And works well. A substantial portion of Americans have been convinced to routinely vote against their own economic self interest.
As for actual voting, well, once it all becomes electronic that is easily controlled and adjusted by software.
I know that sounds plenty 1984ish, but we have a government who has been illegally recording our phone calls and reading our emails. All in the supposed name of "anti-terrorism." They have in effect been spying on innocent Americans for years.
Is it a stretch to say that we effectively live in an only slightly concealed police state?
Regrettably, I don't think so.
The power of the vote is already diminished by the 24/7 stream of right wing poison spewed on the populace by Rupert Murdoch. The fact is propaganda works. And works well. A substantial portion of Americans have been convinced to routinely vote against their own economic self interest.
As for actual voting, well, once it all becomes electronic that is easily controlled and adjusted by software.
I know that sounds plenty 1984ish, but we have a government who has been illegally recording our phone calls and reading our emails. All in the supposed name of "anti-terrorism." They have in effect been spying on innocent Americans for years.
Is it a stretch to say that we effectively live in an only slightly concealed police state?
Regrettably, I don't think so.
36
There are PLENTY of 3rd parties. For instance, in 2012, the Green, Libertarian, Justice and Constitution parties all had wonderful candidates relative to their beliefs. But 98.5 % of voters voted for the 2 rival gangs/brands. I hear a lot of folks complaining about the Dems & Reps, but they still vote for them.
3
A dog on the roof is simply not worth two Bushes in the hand.
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Yes, the Kochs will put up close to a billion, but I think the Democratic candidate is likely to be reasonably well-funded, too. I just hope it is not Hillary Clinton!