Friday, July 31, 2015

Breitbart: Time To Get Tough: Trump’s Blockbuster Policy Manifesto

By Stephen K. Bannon, Jul. 12, 2015, Breitbart

The Washington Establishment’s increasing angst and opposition to billionaire real estate mogul Donald Trump’s presidential candidacy is predicated on the notion that his highly-quotable catchphrases—“Take the oil!” or “Build a wall!”—lack substantive policy prescriptions to back them up. In short, the RINO caucus’ knock on Trump is that his solutions are unserious, unmeasured, quixotic.

Yet if the chattering class fears Trump’s recent surge in the polls, they will go into panic-filled paroxysms when they read Trump’s smart and serious bestseller, Time to Get Tough: Making America #1 Again.

Among Trump’s many bestselling, anecdote-filled books, Time to Get Tough (originally published in 2011) stands out as his most penetrating, serious, and detailed enunciation of his political philosophy and policy views. Trump says it’s the “best book I’ve ever written” and is “better than The Art of the Deal.” Trump added, “It’s the hardest I’ve ever worked on a book. And it’s the most thought I’ve ever put into a book.”


ABC News: Shutdown Showdown Over Planned Parenthood Possible, Members of Congress Say

By Ali Weinberg Jul. 31, 2015, ABC News

Anti-abortion activists hold a rally opposing federal funding for Planned Parenthood in front of the U.S. Capitol on July 28, 2015 in Washington.Olivier Douliery/Getty Images

Could a debate over Planned Parenthood funding shut down the government? According to conservative Republicans in Congress, the answer is yes.

Many have been warning that they will hold up measures to fund the government past October if the legislation contains any taxpayer dollars for Planned Parenthood, which became the center of debate again after videos surfaced allegedly showing employees of the group discussing prices for fetal tissue and body parts.

“We can not and will not support any funding resolution ... that contains any funding for Planned Parenthood, including mandatory funding streams,” wrote 18 Republican House members to House leadership Wednesday.

This would present a major hurdle for Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who has repeatedly pledged that the government would not shut down under GOP congressional stewardship.

“We're certainly not going to shut down the government or default on the national debt," he said during a March television interview.


Thursday, July 30, 2015

Fox News: Boehner downplays bid to oust him, says ‘no big deal’

By Fox News, Jul. 29, 2015

House Speaker John Boehner on Wednesday downplayed an insurgent Republican's surprise bid to oust him, calling it "no big deal."

The speaker said the effort by Rep. Mark Meadows of North Carolina to strip him of his post "isn't even deserving of a vote," adding, "You've got a member here and a member there who are off the reservation."

Boehner responded at a news conference, a day after Meadows made his largely symbolic -- but nevertheless unprecedented -- challenge, filing a formal proposal that if approved would force a new election by the entire House to pick a speaker.


The Hill: Senate panel votes to lift oil export ban

By Timothy Cama, Jul. 30, 2015, The Hill

The Senate took a major step toward ending the 40-year-old ban on exporting crude oil Thursday when a committee voted to lift the prohibition.

The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee voted 12-10 along party lines to approve a bill sponsored by Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), the panel’s chairwoman, to lift the ban, while opening more areas to offshore drilling and giving nearby states a share of the royalties.

“It’s the result of collaborative efforts by members of this committee to boost offshore development, allow revenue sharing for coastal producing states and lift the outdated ban on crude exports,” Murkowski said before the vote on the bill.

“It’s three efforts that I believe will improve our energy and our national security,” she added, referring to separate offshore drilling bills for the southern Atlantic coast, the eastern Gulf of Mexico coast and the waters around Alaska, sponsored by Murkowski and other senators.

Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) sponsored the Gulf bill and supported the entire package.

“Obviously, we as a nation would do better if we had greater access to energy development to strengthen our energy independence,” he said.

Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) also supported the measure.


Fox & Friends: Linda Tripp speaking out on her old boss, Hillary Clinton's current ambition – she ‘must never become president!’



Linda Tripp speaking out on her old boss, Hillary Clinton's current ambition – she ‘must never become president!’
Posted by Fox & Friends First on Wednesday, July 29, 2015

FPI: The Latest: Obama slams Huckabee, Kerry and Rubio Clash over Iran Deal, Hillary to lift Cuba embargo?

Wednesday, July 29, 2015

Washington Times: Republicans demand Obama fire IRS chief John Koskinen

IRS Chief John Koskinen
By S.A. Miller, Jul. 27, 2015, Washington Times

Republicans on the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform on Monday called on President Obama to oust Internal Revenue Service Commissioner John Koskinen for obstructing the investigation into the tax agency’s targeting of conservative groups.

If the president refuses, Chairman Jason Chaffetz warned, the committeewill actively pursue contempt charges and an impeachment proceeding to remove Mr. Koskinen, who he said gave assurances the IRS would save email key to the investigation at the same time the emails were being destroyed.

“The reality is what he said was false. He repeatedly made false statements,” Mr. Chaffetz said at a Capitol Hill press conference, where he was joined by more than a dozen fellow Republicans from thecommittee.

Mr. Koskinen should no longer be the IRS commissioner,” said Mr. Chaffetz, Utah Republican. “Mr. Koskinen failed in his duty to preserve and produce documentation to this committee.”


Marco Rubio: The Leaders Of Iran Have A Long History Of Violating Agreements

OANN/Reuters: Hillary Clinton To Call For Lifting Cuban Embargo

By Emily Stephenson, Jul. 29, 2015, Reuters

Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton this week will call on U.S. lawmakers to lift the long-standing economic embargo against Cuba, her campaign announced on Wednesday.

The former U.S. secretary of state will say on Friday during an appearance at Florida International University in Miami that “Republican arguments against increased engagement are part of failed policies of the past,” her campaign said.

President Barack Obama’s administration has formally restored diplomatic ties with the island nation and dropped Cuba from a list of state sponsors of terror.

But Congress has the authority to remove restrictions that prevent Americans from owning property in Cuba or traveling there freely. So far, it has not done so.

Before the Obama administration’s changes, Clinton had asserted the policy toward Cuba, in place for more than 50 years, was not working. She wrote in her memoir that she had urged Obama to move away from the tough stance.

More: www.oann.com

CNN: Trump predicts Clinton flameout, Biden rise

By MJ Lee, Jul. 29, 2015, CNN

(CNN)Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump told CNN's Dana Bash on Wednesday that he would beat Hillary Clinton in a 2016 matchup -- if the former secretary of state makes it that far.

"Believe me. I will beat Hillary," he said in an interview that aired on "The Lead with Jake Tapper."

Trump questioned whether Clinton would even be able to continue her campaign due to her use of her personal email at the State Department.

"What she did is a criminal act. She burned up the emails. She got rid of her hard drive," he said.

Trump also suggested that Democratic candidate Bernie Sanders, the senator from Vermont, could end up with more competition.


More: www.cnn.com

Boston Globe: Trump Lawyer, Citing Emotions, Apologizes For Rape Comment

By Jill Colvin, Jul. 29, 2015, Boston Globe

NEWARK — An attorney for Republican presidential contender Donald Trump apologized Tuesday for making the incorrect assertion that ‘‘by the very definition, you can’t rape your spouse.’’

In a story published Monday night by the Daily Beast website, attorney Michael Cohen was quoted as threatening a reporter with legal action over a story looking into decades-old allegations reportedly made by Trump’s first wife, Ivana Trump, during their divorce proceedings.

‘‘I will come after your Daily Beast and everybody else that you possibly know,’’ Cohen was quoted as saying by the website, advising the reporter with whom he was speaking to tread very lightly or risk ‘‘disgusting’’ consequences.

Cohen, whose e-mail signature identifies him as ‘‘executive vice president and special counsel’’ to the businessman and reality TV star, was answering questions about Ivana Trump using the word ‘‘rape’’ in a deposition to describe a 1989 sexual encounter with Donald Trump, which was first described in the 1993 book ‘‘Lost Tycoon: The Many Lives of Donald J. Trump.’’


Monday, July 27, 2015

The Hill: O'Malley highlights contrast with Clinton on Keystone

By Jesse Byrnes, Jul. 27, 2015, The Hill

Former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley took a thinly veiled shot at his Democratic presidential rival Hillary Clinton on Monday over her lack of comment on the Keystone XL oil pipeline.

"Real leadership means forging public opinion. Real leadership means taking stands on critical issues," O'Malley wrote in an email to supporters Monday afternoon discussing Keystone.

"Our climate, our home, is in trouble if we do not act," O'Malley wrote. "I know where I stand on Keystone XL and I have a plan to end our reliance on fossil fuels by 2050."

His comments came shortly after Clinton refused — once again — to weigh in on the controversial project during a climate change speech in Iowa, which she used to tout part of her newly unveiled climate plan.

Clinton noted that she served in "a leading role" as secretary of State when the Obama administration first considered the oil sands pipeline and said that she would let the project "run its course."


NBC News: Obama Slams GOP 2016 Hopefuls for 'Ridiculous' Rhetoric

By Carrie Dann, Jul. 27, 2015, NBC News

Saying that Americans "deserve better," President Barack Obama offered his most extensive comments on the 2016 Republican field on Monday, accusing candidates like Mike Huckabee and Donald Trump of using rhetoric "that would be considered ridiculous if it weren't so sad."

During a press conference in Ethiopia, Obama slammed Huckabee for saying that the Iran nuclear deal "is marching Israelis to the door of the oven." And he accused GOP critics of violating a rule in American politics that "we don't play fast and loose" on important foreign policy issues.

"The American people deserve better," he said. "Certainly presidential debates deserve better."

Obama referenced Huckabee and GOP frontrunner Donald Trump by name and also criticized Republican Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas for comparing top Iran negotiator Secretary of State John Kerry to Pontius Pilate.

"We have robust debates, look at the facts," he said. "There are going to be disagreements but we don't just fling out ad hominem attacks like that because it doesn't help inform the American people."

More: www.nbcnews.com

Fox News: Clinton, at energy event, won’t take position on Keystone pipeline

By Fox News, Jul. 27, 2015

Hillary Clinton rebuffed a question Monday about her position on the Keystone XL oil pipeline even as she unveiled new energy proposals, opening the door to jeers from Republicans who accused her of "dodging."

The Democratic presidential candidate for months has avoided taking a position on the Canada-to-Texas oil pipeline, which remains under review at the State Department she once led. But given her entry into the White House race, and a new package of clean-energy ideas being put out by her campaign, Clinton was asked again Monday if she would at last weigh in.

Rather than stake out her stance, Clinton said only that she's "confident" the pipeline's impact on greenhouse gas emissions will be a "major factor" in the State Department's review.

"I will refrain from commenting because I had a leading role in getting that process started," Clinton said. "And I think that we have to let it run its course."

She noted that decision would be made by her successor, Secretary of State John Kerry, and President Obama.

CNN/ORC poll: Trump elbows his way to the top

By Jennifer Agiesta, Jul. 26, 2015, CNN

(CNN)In the first national telephone poll since Donald Trump earned rebukes from Republican leaders over his comments about Senator John McCain's military service, the real estate mogul has increased his support among GOP voters and now stands atop the race for the party's nomination.

The new CNN/ORC Poll finds Trump at 18% support among Republicans, with former Florida governor Jeb Bush just behind at 15%, within the poll's margin of error.

They are joined at the top of the pack by Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker, with 10% support among Republicans and Republican-leaning independents who are registered to vote. Trump's backing has climbed 6 points since a late-June poll, while support for Bush and Walker has not changed significantly.

None of the other 14 candidates tested in the new CNN/ORC survey earned double-digit support.

Though Trump currently tops the race for the nomination, his advantage is by no means firm. A majority of Republican voters, 51%, say they see the field as wide open, and that it's too soon to say which candidate they will ultimately get behind. Among that group that see the contest as wide open, Bush has 14% support, while Trump has the backing of 13% and Walker stands at 9%.


More: www.cnn.com

Right Sightings: Deneen Borelli: “I think Donald Trump has turned DC insider Politics on its’ head”



Source: www.rightsightings.com

Boston Globe: Biden’s plans for 2016 still a mystery

By Anne Linskey, Jul. 27, 2015, Boston Globe

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — Democratic activists swarmed to Iowa recently to hear from their 2016 presidential contenders. But the talk at the crammed hotel bar afterward moved to an undeclared potential candidate: Joe Biden.

It’s six months until the Iowa caucuses and the Democratic field still has one big asterisk: the 72-year-old sitting vice president. He has twice before sought the office. Now, even as he is grieving the recent death of his eldest son, he remains the force that could disrupt the Democratic field.

The question of ‘‘will he or won’t he’’ has become a parlor game of sorts in Washington and the early primary states where politicos gather. Most have a strong opinion — and last week in Iowa was no different.

One strategist claimed to have it on good authority that the vice president’s name would appear on the primary ballots. But others say the exact opposite. In interviews with a half-dozen people who have spoken to Biden in recent weeks, nobody offered a clear answer.


Sacramento Bee: Kamala Harris to review group behind Planned Parenthood abortion videos

By Christopher Cadelago, Jul. 24, 2015, Sacramento Bee

California Attorney General Kamala Harris will review whether the nonprofit organization behind controversial Planned Parenthood videos violated state law, her office said in a letter Friday.

Four Democratic congresswomen on Wednesday asked Harris and U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch to determine if officials from the Irvine-based Center for Medical Progress broke any laws when they posed as workers for a biotech company while recording Planned Parenthood physicians without their consent.

Reps. Jan Schakowsky, Zoe Lofgren, Jerry Nadler and Yvette Clarke cited reports that founder David Daleiden filed paperwork to create a phony entity. They also asked the state’s top law enforcement official to look into possible violations of the Invasion of Privacy Act, which bars recording people without their permission.

“We will carefully review the allegations raised in your letter to determine whether there were any violations of California law,” Harris, a Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate, wrote in a reply Friday.

More: www.sacbee.com

The Hill: Poll: Disaffected GOP largely backs Trump

AP/Charlie Neibergall
By Ben Kamisar, Jul. 27, 2015, The Hill

More than half of Republican voters don’t believe Washington politicians represent their views, and a plurality of those voters want Donald Trump to be the party’s presidential nominee.

Fifty-three percent of GOP voters feel that D.C. is unrepresentative of their views, compared to 27 percent of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents in a new CNN/ORC poll released Monday.

Trump holds a strong lead over that share of the Republican electorate — 24 percent of the disaffected back him. Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush is in second with 13 percent of that group, with the rest of the field far behind.

These GOP voters also are more enthusiastic about voting for president and are more likely to see illegal immigration as their top issue. While 56 percent of all Americans want the country to prioritize granting undocumented immigrants legal status, 63 percent of Republicans want the priority to be stopping the flow of illegal immigration and deporting those already in the country illegally.


Daily Caller: Huckabee And Obama Trade Barbs Over ‘Oven’ Comment

By Alex Pappas, Jul. 27, 2015, Daily Caller

Mike Huckabee and Barack Obama are trading barbs after the former Arkansas governor accused the president of sending Israelis “to the door of the oven” by agreeing to a nuclear deal with Iran.

Over the weekend, Huckabee, a Republican presidential candidate, said “this president’s foreign policy is the most feckless in American history. It is so naive that he would trust the Iranians.”

“He will take the Israelis and march them to the door of the oven,” Huckabee said to Breitbart News about Obama and the nuclear deal.

The Democratic National Committee seized on the comments Sunday, alerting reporters to the interview and saying the language is offensive.

Source: www.dailycaller.com

Friday, July 24, 2015

The Hill: Donald Trump makes donation to Ted Cruz

By Megan R. Wilson, Jul. 23, 2015, The Hill

Hotel magnate Donald Trump donated $5,000 to Sen. Ted Cruz’s leadership PAC in January, according to new campaign records.

Trump’s show of support for the Texas Republican's leadership PAC — the maximum allowed under the law per election cycle — is an indication that the men are becoming political allies.

The relationship between Trump and Cruz initially appeared to get off to a rocky start. In August, Trump said he wasn’t sure whether Cruz could be president because he was born in Canada.

But in the months that followed, Trump has spoken favorably about the Tea Party darling, who has been faring well in polls of possible 2016 contenders while making trips to Iowa, New Hampshire and Florida.

At a Republican event at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago Club in Florida, Trump called Cruz a “very special guy.”

“One of the reasons I like Ted Cruz so much, is that he’s not controversial,” he said at the Palm Beach County Republican Party’s Lincoln Day Dinner in February, drawing laughs from the crowd.

More: www.thehill.com

NBC News: Sec. Kerry Fiercely Defends Iran Nuclear Deal to Congress

Flikr
By Halimah Abdullah, Jul. 23, 2015, NBC News

Secretary of State John Kerry, Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz and Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew fiercely defended the Iran nuclear deal as they faced tough questions from skeptical lawmakers Thursday.

In his first testimony before Congress since Iran and six world powers reached a historic accord curbing Tehran's nuclear program, Kerry denied criticism from Republicans that the U.S. was "fleeced" and "bamboozled" in crafting the deal. His appearance was part of the Obama administration's continued lobbying to build congressional support for the deal.

Kerry characterized the deal as the best way to help stymie Iran's nuclear program. Ahead of the hearing, Kerry and Muniz wrote an editorial for theWashington Post further underscoring the need for a nuclear deal with Iran.

More: www.nbcnews.com

Fox News: State Department, Intelligence Watchdogs Reportedly Call For Criminal Probe Of Clinton Emails

By Fox News, Jul. 23, 2015

The inspectors general for the State Department and the intelligence community have asked the Justice Department to open a criminal investigation into whether Hillary Clinton mishandled classified information by using a personal email account while secretary of state.

According to The New York Times, an initial joint memorandum dated June 29 and sent to State Department Under Secretary for Management Patrick Kennedy said that a review of Clinton's email archive contained "hundreds of potentially classified emails."

Clinton, who served as secretary of state during President Barack Obama's first term, has repeatedly denied sending or receiving any classified information on her personal account. However, the inspectors general wrote in a second memorandum last week that at least one of Clinton's emails that had been made public by the State Department contained sensitive information.


ABC News: Republicans Pass 'Donald Trump Act' As Obama Vows Veto

By Benjamin Siegel, Jul. 23, 2015, ABC News

Donald Trump may be thousands of miles from Washington on the Texas-Mexico border, but onCapitol Hill he's center stage in the fight over illegal immigration.

"Donald Trump is trying to get to the White House, but it looks like he’s already infiltrated Congress," said Rep. Tony Cardenas, D-Calif., during debate on the House floor. "This bill on the floor of this House today has Donald Trump written all over it."

The bill, which is formally called the "Enforce the Law for Sanctuary Cities Act," would block states and cities from receiving federal law enforcement funding if they have so-called “sanctuary city” practices in place, blocking the enforcement of certain federal immigration laws. It passed today in the House with overwhelming Republican support in a 241-179 vote, with only six Democrats joining the majority.

Thursday, July 23, 2015

CBS: House Debates What To Do About Sanctuary Cities

By Stephanie Condon, Jul. 23, 2015, CBS

The House of Representatives on Thursday will vote on a bill to bar some federal assistance to so-called "sanctuary cities" -- a move the White House opposes and that some conservatives say doesn't go far enough.

The Enforce the Law for Sanctuary Cities Act would withhold certain Justice Department funding from cities that deliberately avoid enforcing federal immigration laws. Republican Sens. Jeff Sessions of Alabama and Ron Johnson, R-Wisconsin, introduced a similar bill in the Senate on Thursday called the Protecting American Lives Act.

House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, said Thursday that the vote will "put state and local officials on notice" that Congress will not longer let them decide "how and when" to enforce federal laws.


Wednesday, July 22, 2015

ABC: Rick Perry Calls Donald Trump a 'Cancer on Conservatism'

By John Ornitz and Ali Dukakis, Jul. 22, 2015, ABC News

Republican presidential candidate, former Texas Gov. Rick Perry, speaks at the Road to Majority 2015 convention in Washington, June 20, 2015.AP Photo

In the harshest criticism yet leveled by a fellow presidential candidate, Rick Perry launched a sharply-worded broadside against Donald Trump on Wednesday.

"Let no one be mistaken Donald Trump’s candidacy is a cancer on conservatism and it must be clearly diagnosed, excised, and discarded," Perry said during a speech in Washington, DC. "It cannot be pacified or ignored for it will destroy a set of principles that has lifted more people out of poverty than any force in the history of the civilized world and that is the cause of conservatism."

Trump has taken aim against a number of political figures including questioning the war hero status of Arizona Sen. John McCain and calling South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham an "idiot."


Could President Obama’s Complacency In Honoring Our Murdered Marines Be Part Of His Core Beliefs? Maybe We Should Ask The Dalai Lama

By Alexandra D. Datig, Jul. 22, 2015

On July 16, 2015, domestic terrorist Mohammad Abdulazeez, 24, a Kuwaiti-born, naturalized U.S. citizen, opened fire at a military recruiting center and Navy Operational Support Center in Chattanooga, Tennessee.  Five Marines are now dead.  The Marine Corps has identified the five Marines as Gunnery Sergeant Thomas Sullivan of Hampden, Massachusetts, Staff Sergeant David Wyatt of Burke, North Carolina, Sergeant Carson Holmquist of Polk, Wisconsin, reservist Lance Corporal Squire Wells of Cobb, Georgia and Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Randall Smith of Rossville, Georgia.

It took the White House six days to honor our murdered Marines by flying the U.S. flag at half-staff.  It was not until a public outcry that reached the press and social media something was done, all of six days later.  On July 21, 2015 the White House finally issued a proclamation to fly flags at half-staff to honor our service members.  This is an outrage!

While these events were taking place, Candidate for President Donald Trump shocked the nation with disparaging remarks by stating Arizona Senator John McCain “is not a war hero.”  In this case, the White House saw a political opportunity and within 24 hours released a statement saying “there’s no denying” Sen. John McCain “is a hero.”

A so-called anti-war President, the complacency of the President of the United States as it relates to our military, is without a doubt, manifested in his core beliefs and philosophy and got me thinking about an event I attended which some would consider a great honor, but quite honestly I was appalled by. 

In October of 2014, I was invited to hear the Dalai Lama speak at the Boston Marriott Copley.  President Obama calls the Dalai Lama “a good friend” as he did at the 2015 National Prayer Breakfast.  At the event in Boston, audience members had to provide identification and had to go though rigorous security screenings in order to attend.  I was there with a group that was shooting a documentary on one of the speakers.  When the time came for the Dalai Lama to speak, his thick accent was barely intelligible.  For a moment I was holding on dearly to find meaning in the teachings on human rights abuses and discrimination from one of the world's most controversial spiritual leaders.  This until he said “war heroes are murderers."  At that point I was no longer interested in what the Dalai Lama had to say as my father was a combat wounded, Bronze Star and Purple Heart decorated, disabled WW II veteran.

Tuesday, July 21, 2015

ABC News: Kate Steinle’s Father Testifies Before Congress About His Daughter’s Death, Calls for Immigration Reform

By Geneva Sands and Ali Weinberg, Jul. 21, 2015, ABC News

Jim Steinle, the father of Kate Steinle who was shot and killed on a pier in San Francisco less than a month ago, called on Congress today to pass legislation that would take “undocumented felons off our streets for good.”

“The U.S. has suffered a self-inflicted wound in the murder of our daughter by the hand of a person that should have never been on the streets of this country,” Steinle told Senate Judiciary panel during an oversight hearing on immigration policy.

Steinle’s alleged shooter, Francisco Sanchez, had five previous convictions for re-entry after deportation, according to court records, and seven prior felony convictions.

Sanchez, who has been arrested for the July 1 shooting, had been previously released by the San Francisco sheriff's office in April after he was deemed ineligible by local authorities for extended detention.


ABC 7: Blagojevich Awarded Retrial On 5 Counts

CHICAGO (WLS) -- A judge vacated five convictions against former Ill. Gov. Rod Blagojevich, which means he could seek a retrial on those counts and, ultimately, receive a shorter sentence.

The rest of the convictions were affirmed.

If the prosecutor elects to drop the vacated charges, the district court could proceed directly to resentencing, according to the court document USA v. Rod Blagojevich, which was released Tuesday afternoon.

Blagojevich is not eligible for release.

Source: www.abc7chicago.com

The New York Times: John Kasich Enters Crowded 2016 Race Facing Job of Catch-Up

By Sheryl Gay Stolberg, Jul. 21, 2015, The New York Times

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Gov. John R. Kasich, a blunt-spoken and unorthodox Republican who bucked his party by expanding Medicaid under President Obama’s health care law and says politicians must “reach out and help those who live in the shadows,” announced Tuesday that he was joining his party’s long list of candidates for president.

Mr. Kasich, 63, became the 16th prominent Republican to enter the 2016 field. As a two-term governor in a critical swing state — no candidate since John F. Kennedy in 1960 has won the White House without winning Ohio — he is a credible candidate, though his late entry means he has catch-up work to do.

“I have decided to run for president of the United States,” he told a crowd at Ohio State University, his alma mater. “I have the skills, and I have the experience. I have the experience and the testing — the testing that prepares you for the most important job in the world.”


Monday, July 20, 2015

FPI: Trump's Shocks The Nation By Insulting Sen. John McCain, POWs

NBC: Father Says 'Flying Gun' Drone Video Broke No Laws (Video)

By Dan Corcoran and Bob Connors, Jul. 17, 2015, NBC

The father of an 18-year-old boy who built a drone with a gun attached and posted video of it on YouTube with the title "flying gun" says they broke no laws.

The footage appears to show a gun affixed to a drone hovering several feet off of the ground in a wooded area. The gun appears to discharge several times while the drone is in flight. In the posting, Austin Haughwout, 18, describes the device as a "homemade multi-rotor with a semi-automatic handgun mounted on it."

Haughwout's father Brett Haughwout said his son is an engineering student at Central Connecticut State University, custom built a drone device that included a spot for a handgun and the capability to fire it midflight. The gun belongs to Brett.

Brett said the video that shows the drone firing the weapon was shot on their property in Clinton, Connecticut. The father and son duo did "extensive research" before assembling the flying weapon to make sure they wouldn't break any laws.

More: 
www.nbcconnecticut.com

CNN: White House: 'No denying' McCain a hero

John McCain with President Richard Nixon
Source: Boston.com
By Kevin Lipak, Jul. 20, 2015, CNN

Washington (CNN)Donald Trump owes veterans an apology for suggesting American prisoners-of-war may not qualify as heroes, White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said Monday.

Trump drew swift rebuke from members of his own party for downplaying the military heroism of Sen. John McCain, who was held and tortured in Vietnam.

Earnest said when then-Sen. Barack Obama was running against McCain during the 2008 presidential election, Obama "expressed his admiration and deep respect for Sen. McCain's heroism." The numerous political differences between the two men "have not reduced (Obama's) appreciation for Sen. McCain's remarkable service to the country."


More: www.cnn.com

OANN: Tomi's Red, White, Blue & Unfiltered Final Thoughts on the Slaughter of 4 Marines by Another "Mohammad"

USA Today: Trump: I don't need to be lectured

By Donald Trump, Jul. 19, 2015, USA Today

John McCain has called his own constituents who want a secure border “crazies.” No one in the news media or the establishment, including theRepublican National Committee, criticized the senator for those comments.

Now, as respected reporter Sharyl Attkisson has proved point by point, the news media are also distorting my words. But that is not my point. McCain the politician has failed the state of Arizona and the country.

During my entire business career, I have always made supporting veterans a top priority because our heroes deserve the very best for defending our freedom. Our Department of Veterans Affairs hospitals are outdated dumps. I will build the finest and most modern veterans hospitals in the world. The current medical assistance to our veterans is a disaster. A Trump administration will provide the finest universal access health care for our veterans. They will be able to get the best care anytime and anywhere.

Thanks to McCain and his Senate colleague Bernie Sanders, their legislation to cover up the VA scandal, in which 1,000+ veterans died waiting for medical care, made sure no one has been punished, charged, jailed, fined or held responsible. McCain has abandoned our veterans. I will fight for them.


Sunday, July 19, 2015

Latin Post: Rep. Luis Gutierrez Calls on Eligible Immigrants to Naturalize, Vote Against Donald Trump's Anti-Immigrant Rhetoric

By Michael Olega, Jul. 16, 2015, Latin Post

While standing next to an enlarged photo on Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, Democratic Rep. Luis Gutierrez of Illinois called on eligible immigrants to become citizens and register to vote.

During a House floor address, Gutierrez, for the second consecutive week, spoke about Trump and the real estate mogul's anti-Mexican remarks during the presidential campaign trail. According to Gutierrez,Trump's comments are not exclusive to the Mexican population but also Colombians, Dominicans, Hondurans, Puerto Ricans and all Latinos.

"[W]hen Donald Trump says 'Mexican immigrants' are criminals, what do I and other Puerto Ricanshear? I hear him saying all 'Puerto Ricans' are criminals, too, as far as Republicans are concerned. ... And it is clear to all of us that what he is really saying is that all Latinos are suspect, whether we were born here or not," Gutierrez said on July 15.

The Democratic congressman said Republicans are at risk of losing the Latino and immigrant community due to Trump's "racist attacks" on Mexican immigrants. He noted Republicans are making the same mistake made in 1990s California by not accepting immigrants, and as a result, the state voted Democratic.

ABC News: Donald Trump Says He Does Not Owe John McCain Apology

By Benjamin Bell and Emily Shapiro, Jul. 19, 2015, ABC News

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump said he does not owe John McCain an apology for saying the Arizona senator is only a war hero “because he was captured.”

Trump told Martha Raddatz on ABC's "This Week" that he won't be pulling out of the presidential race over his comments, which he made Saturday during a campaign event in Iowa. Trump said he left to a "standing ovation" after speaking at the Family Leadership Council summit.

"When I left the room, it was a total standing ovation," said Trump. "It was wonderful to see. Nobody was insulted."

When speaking about McCain on Saturday, Trump said he likes "people who weren't captured." He didn't back down when asked about the comment.

"People that fought hard and weren't captured and went through a lot, they get no credit," he said. "Nobody even talks about them. They're like forgotten, and I think that's a shame, if you want to know the truth."

Before Trump's comments Saturday, McCain had said the real estate mogul was firing up "crazies." Trump had already found himself embroiled in controversy over comments he made last month regarding Mexican immigrants.

More: www.abcnews.go.com

Saturday, July 18, 2015

ABC: Trump Draws GOP Fire for McCain Remarks at Family Leadership Council Summit

By Josh Haskell, Jul. 18, 2015, ABC News

Ten Republican Presidential Candidates came to Ames Saturday for the Family Leadership Council summit, but presidential candidate Donald Trump made all the headlines early on in the eight-hour event, not because he’s doing well in the polls, but because of his remarks on former presidential candidate and POW John McCain.

"He's a war hero because he was captured," Trump said at the event, hosted by Iowa social conservative activist Bob Vander Plaats. "I like people who weren’t captured."

It’s a comment that stayed in Stephens Auditorium on the campus of Iowa State University long after Trump left. The nine other speakers were former Texas Gov. Rick Perry, South Carolina Sen.Lindsey Graham, Ben Carson, former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, and Florida Sen. Marco Rubio. The event was structured as a Q&A format with national pollster Frank Luntz and the audience asking the candidates questions.


Fox News: As US energy output surges, Republicans lead effort to lift decades-old oil export ban

By Joseph Weber, Jul. 18, 2015, Fox News

Congressional Republicans are leading a bipartisan effort to lift a decades-old ban on oil exports, arguing the recent surge in domestic-energy production and other factors have pushed the embargo past its prime.

To be sure, the United States has recently emerged as the world’s largest energy producer -- largely the result of the relatively new method of extracting natural gas and hard-to-get oil known as “fracking.”

Supporters of the plan, including many in the oil and gas industry, essentially argue that lifting the ban would help the U.S. economy. They say it is now slowing future energy production and exploration and that U.S. companies could profit from getting an abundance of domestic energy products on world markets.

“I’m optimistic about our efforts,” North Dakota GOP Rep. Kevin Cramer told FoxNews.com on Wednesday. “We have bipartisan support and a broad understanding of the issue among members.”


Friday, July 17, 2015

CNN Money: Huffington Post to cover Trump as an entertainer, not a politician

By Tom Kludt, Jul. 17, 2015, CNN Money

In a note to readers on Friday, two top editors for HuffPost said that coverage of the brash billionaire's campaign will be a part of the site's entertainment section.

"Our reason is simple: Trump's campaign is a sideshow," wrote Washington bureau chief Ryan Grim and editorial director Danny Shea. "We won't take the bait. If you are interested in what The Donald has to say, you'll find it next to our stories on the Kardashians and The Bachelorette."

In a separate statement, Grim said that the site had "erroneously been covering [Trump] as an actual presidential candidate."

"Now, the impact he's having on the Republican Party and the immigration debate is itself a real thing, and we'll cover that as substance, but anything that tumbles out of his mouth will land on the Entertainment page," Grim said.

HuffPost trumpeted the announcement on its homepage with a headline that borrowed Trump's signature line from "The Apprentice": "You're fired!"

More: www.money.cnn.com

Fox 40: Seven Prison Workers Charged in Connection With ‘El Chapo’ Escape

By CNN Wire, Jul. 17, 2015, Fox 40

(CNN) — Seven people who worked in the maximum-security prison that held Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman have been charged in connection with his escape, Mexico’s attorney general said Friday in a statement.

The prison workers will be jailed in the state of Guanajuato and the investigation continues, the statement said.

Also Friday, Mexico’s interior minister said that on the night Guzman escaped, it took 18 minutes for guards to arrive at his cell after they lost sight of him on surveillance video.

Investigators are trying to determine whether the guards’ response time contributed to his July 11 escape from the facility west of Mexico City.

“That is part of what the attorney general’s office is looking at — if the protocols were fulfilled in the correct times,” Interior Minister Miguel Angel Osorio Chong said at a news conference.

More: www.fox40.com

CBS: Donald Trump talks a big game, but how much of it is true?

By Stephanie Condon, Jul. 17, 2015, CBS

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump can be a divisive figure, but everyone seems to agree that the billionaire businessman speaks his mind. Whether he always speaks the truth is another question.

"One of the things I respect about Donald Trump is he's willing to stand up and speak the truth and willing to take on Washington," Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, Trump's 2016 GOP rival, said Wednesday after meeting with Trump in New York.

Ironically, Trump hasn't always been straight about his take on Cruz's candidacy. When asked about whether Cruz should be eligible for the presidency even though he was born in Canada, Trump told Politico this week, "I don't know. I mean I haven't looked at it. I have not looked at it at all." Yet as Politico pointed out, Trump said in March that Cruz's birthplace is "a hurdle."

More: www.cbsnews.com