| | | | The Democratic leadership vacuum | | In a new CNN national poll, Democrats were asked which party leader "best reflect(s) the core values of the Democratic party."
The top five -- in order -- were Barack Obama (18%), Bernie Sanders (14%), Hillary Clinton (10%), Joe Biden (7%) and Elizabeth Warren (6%).
Why is this important? Because Obama and Clinton are done running for president. And the three remaining leaders will be 79 years old (Sanders), 76 (Biden) and 71 (Warren) on election day 2020.
If any one of that trio beat Donald Trump, they would immediately go into the record books as the oldest first term president in history (Trump holds that title now -- elected in 2016 at age 70.)
Which is fine. But it's not exactly the generational contrast many Democrats hope to drive against Trump in three years' time -- casting him and the GOP as the party of old(er) white men and the Democrats as the party of diversity and the future.
There are some young -- and nonwhite -- faces in the CNN poll, but none of them is seen as a leader in the party just yet.
Cory Booker, a 48-year-old African-American senator from New Jersey, is named as reflecting the core values of the party by just 3% of Democrats. Ditto Kamala Harris, 52, who broke two historical barriers in 2016 by being the first Indian-American woman to be elected to the Senate and the first black woman to be elected to the Senate from California.
Given Trump's deep vulnerabilities, it may not matter who Democrats nominate or whether they are white or black, young or old. But healthy parties are usually rejuvenated by younger, ambitious politicians stepping to the forefront -- particularly in presidential contests. (See 1992. Also, 2008.)
And that might happen in 2020 for Democrats! Some of this poll is simply the result of name identification rather than actual appeal to voters. But the CNN poll does affirm that the likes of Booker, Harris or even New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand have their work cut out for them if they want to push the old bulls out of the pole position for the next presidential nomination.
-- Chris | | After months of speculation, Tennessee Republican Sen. Bob Corker announced Tuesday afternoon that he would not seek a third term in 2018.
"I have always been drawn to the citizen legislator model, and while I realize it is not for everyone, I believe with the kind of service I provide, it is the right one for me," Corker said in a statement announcing his decision.
Corker's retirement comes just 11 days after he and Trump huddled at the White House. Trump reportedly urged Corker to run again in that meeting. But it came after the two men had openly clashed, with Corker raising questions about Trump's competence and readiness to be president and Trump hitting back on Twitter by outing Corker's contemplation of retirement.
The open seat presents Democrats with an opportunity – albeit a less than ideal one. Had Corker run again, no serious Democrat would have challenged him. The open seat might entice a credentialed Democrat, although the political dynamics of the state still heavily favor Republicans. Former Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen would be the strongest Democratic candidate but is very, very unlikely to run. Wealthy businessman Bill Freeman, who ran for mayor of Nashville in 2015, decided against running for governor in 2018 but might have interest in a Senate bid. Chattanooga Mayor Andy Berke's name is also mentioned.
On the Republican side, Rep. Marsha Blackburn is likely the early front-runner unless term-limited Gov. Bill Haslam decides he's interested. Rep. Diane Black would have been an intriguing candidate but is running for governor. Peyton Manning's name will continue to float around unless and until the Tennessee Volunteer great makes his intentions (or lack thereof) public. | | President Donald Trump said Tuesday he will travel to storm-ravaged Puerto Rico next week. The announcement came after increased backlash toward POTUS for his decision to tweet criticism of the NFL rather than acknowledge the damage caused by Hurricane Maria.
"I know many Puerto Ricans, and they're great people and we have to help them. It really was devastated. Some people say, I read it this morning, it's literally destroyed," Trump said, "The infrastructure was in bad shape as you know in Puerto Rico before the storm, and now in many cases, it has no infrastructure, so it's, you're really starting from almost scratch."
Later, during a news conference alongside Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, he elaborated to add that a "massive effort" is underway in Puerto Rico to help the flattened US territory recover. | | "It's a very big ocean."
-President Donald Trump on the Atlantic Ocean, when talking about Puerto Rico relief efforts. | | | | NPR's latest Tiny Desk concert features Steve Martin (playing banjo!) and the Steep Canyon Rangers. Per the article: "These days Martin is working on music full time. He's just released a stellar bluegrass album he recorded with The Steep Canyon Rangers called (perfectly) 'The Long-Awaited Album,' a record filled with often hilarious story songs and world-class performances." | | Attorney General Jeff Sessions addressed Georgetown University law students about "free speech on college campuses" on Tuesday.
CNN's Jessica Schneider wrote this dispatch for The Point:
Sessions arrived onto Georgetown Law's campus where protesters awaited him outside on the steps leading to Bernard P. McDonough Hall, and in the hallways surrounding the auditorium. But inside the roughly 400-person capacity hall, it was a friendly crowd of law students who are active in the school's Center for the Constitution.
The invited students dressed in suits and sat silently as the attorney general gave his speech on the importance of honoring free speech, no matter the viewpoint, on college campuses around the country. But after Sessions' address, a row of students dressed in black stood up, and silently applied black tape over their mouths before sitting back down without uttering a word.
Their silent and brief protest starkly contrasted to the nearly 200 other students and law professors standing outside with bullhorns and signs that read "Sessions is Afraid of Questions" and "Why Do You Silence Dissent But Applaud Hate Speech." Sessions seemed to see the half dozen students mounting their silent protest inside the auditorium, and while not saying anything to them directly, said this in response to a question about all the protesters gathered: "We respect your views no matter what they are, we will defend your views, and the right to express them in appropriate and effective ways."
Read more in CNN's full report here. | | MENENDEZ TRIAL: REPORTER'S NOTEBOOK | | CNN's Laura Jarrett continues her amazing coverage of Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez's trial in New Jersey. Here's her latest feed from the courtroom:
Trial has taken a turn. What was once an episode out of "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous" -- with days of testimony about opulent hotel rooms and private jets with leather couches -- has now begun to focus on the heart of the prosecution's corruption case against Sen. Bob Menendez.
In order to get a public official like Menendez on the hook for bribery, the Justice Department has to convince the jury that the senator used the power of his office through some "official act" to help his friend, Dr. Salomon Melgen, in return for something of value and they had a corrupt agreement.
Today, prosecutors tried to prove one official act: In 2012, Menendez allegedly intervened in a contract dispute Melgen had with the government of the Dominican Republic over cargo screening at the island's ports, pressuring other federal officials to help get the issue resolved in Melgen's favor.
But Menendez's defense team sought to undercut the prosecution's entire theory by showing the senator was generally concerned about security at ports – i.e., think drug smuggling into the United States -- so Menendez wasn't simply trying to get his friend's contract pushed through.
If the jury buys this, then one of the "official acts" the prosecutors allege could drop away if the senator wasn't doing it for a corrupt reason. | | | In honor of tonight's Alabama Senate runoff race, here's a GIF of Roy Moore, who is running as the anti-establishment Republican. Yes, he did pull a gun out of his pocket at a campaign rally. Anyway, tell friends, family, whoever (!) to subscribe to The Point ASAP. | | We'd love to share our other newsletters with you. Follow this link for daily coverage of the world's top stories, savvy market insights, an insider's look into the media, and more. Our authors for The Point are Chris Cillizza and Saba Hamedy. Send your tips and thoughts via email to Chris or Saba. Follow on Twitter: Chris and Saba. | | | Get the Nightcap, a comprehensive summary of the most important political news, delivered to your inbox daily. | | | | | |
No comments:
Post a Comment