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Money talks and bullshit walks.

An old saying I grew up with.

I am not quite sure of the meaning actually. It is a bit garbled. I looked it up.

And so it goes for the supposed billionaire Donald Trump.

I say supposed because more and more it seems he may nat really have all that cash everyone thinks he has. But that is another story.

I am talking here about the campaign for President of the United States.

Outside Money Favors Hillary Clinton at a 2-to-1 Rate Over Donald Trump.

Now I suppose I should be bothered by this. But the Supreme Court held in the Citizens United case that "outside money" was OK. That organizations outside the actual campaigns could raise as much money as they could for particular candidates.

At the time this was thought to be a Republican initiative to pad the expenses of costly campaigns. If so, it has backfired.

The Trumps have about half the outside money that Clinton does. And right or wrong that is going to make a big difference in this campaign. I guess the GOoPers that wanted outside money got what they wanted. Be careful what you ask for.

Labels: Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton, Hillary Clinton. Donald Trump

I like to read about the "money markets" in election times.

These are the places where people put their money where their mouths are. Betting on the outcome.

I know, it is not the same. But it is a partially legalized version of the old horse betting systems.

Prediction Markets Score the Debate a Rout: Clinton Over Trump

I would bet for Hillary too.

OK. I just broke one of my rules and called her by her first name.

Everyone else is including her own campaign.

In the meantime, while I do not bet real cash, I do have an imaginary stake in the outcome. Her probabilities jumped six points yesterday.

Go Hillary! Go Ms. Clinton! Win, place and show!

Labels: 2016 General Election, Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton

Lop sided.

That is my opinion of last night's debate.

Clinton beat Trump at every turn.

Not that I am biased or anything.

I liked the big headline on Huffington Post.

Orange Crush: Donald Trump Fell For Hillary Clinton’s Trap At Monday’s Presidential Debate

Mean but accurate.

"Very very accurate--so accurate." To put it in Donald language.

The reiterative superlative.

I have read a lot of analysis this morning and have yet to find any opinion that differs from mine except in volume.

At the beginning the new revised version of Trump showed up but it did not last long.

He fell into the old overtalking, bullshit spreading Donald we all know and love to hate.

Clinton was really good at sticking the pins into the bloviator's balloon. Adept at stating her own case. Her attitude was focused and high energy. Laser like.

Donald got lost after awhile and one could see the flop sweat.

I was not really worried that Clinton would be good at this. She has many years of dealing with misogynist jerks, some on the international scale.

And Donald Trump is a misogynist jerk supreme. He couldn't even hide it. Ready for the pounce, Clinton has also perfected the knowing glance into the camera. She knew she was on split screen and knew how to use it well. The faint chuckle as she sticks him yet again.

The jury is not out on this. I may be overly positive about Clinton's performance but very few people are saying that it was even a draw. Clinton had his ass and he knew it.

Labels: Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton

The debate is tonight.

Part of me doesn't want to see it. To be on a different planet.

The election period has not really started and I am over it.

I am happy to be part of the electorate and I know who I am going to vote for.

Do I have to watch this?

Yes.

I have to watch it because I need to know the ins and outs of close up combat between two people who want to "rule the world".

They probably are not going to show any flop sweat in the closeups. The room will be very refrigerated.

But there will be the eye rolls and the jittery hands.

The debate was never a fixture in American politics. At least not the nationally televised one.

Now it is as American as apple pie.

I net out that, like it or not, it is a good thing. We need to see the hand to hand combat now because we will not see it again for four years.

After the election, the curtains will close and the photo-opp and the well rehearsed appearance will be the business of the day.

There might be a difference this time though.

If god forbid, the Trumpfer wins the election it will all be about pulling it out of his ass.

Labels: Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton

The NYTimes has endorsed Hillary Clinton.

This is not a surprise but the vehemence of their support for her is quite impressive. It is a great essay.

And it is a take down of Donald Trump.

The important thing is that they made it about Clinton and not about against Trump. A big difference.

The enumeration of her assets is quite good even from a person who is a fan already.

I have never had any doubt about me in this process. The doubts I have are about the Clinton agonizers who cannot let go of the past.

HILLARY CLINTON FOR PRESIDENT: Our endorsement is rooted in respect for her intellect, experience and courage.

Through war and recession, Americans born since 9/11 have had to grow up fast, and they deserve a grown-up president. A lifetime’s commitment to solving problems in the real world qualifies Hillary Clinton for this job, and the country should put her to work.

Labels: Hillary Clinton

Labels: Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton

Hillary is a "bitch".

There feel better?

And long may she wave.

The fact is that bitches of both genders rule.

I somehow feel that I qualify. As a gay man I suppose you can know that the "inside talk" often uses this word. Bitch.

The Bitch America Needs

So.

Out of the closet and into the streets.

Let's just let it out. Our own inner bitch.

If there is someone who can kick some ass, I think it is Hillary. She is toughness personified and it is finally time to just say so.

She is formidable.

I suspect that the debates are going to be a spectacle of put downs and take downs. Not from the blond boy, the "Gorgeous George" of our times.

But by the bitch.

I have noticed, haven't you, that Clinton has cultivated a different voice. It is a little gravelly. A bit of a snarl behind ready to leap out.

Watch out Donald.

You know, to be completely sexist about it, Donald is susceptible to blondes.

He falls for them and to them. Disarmed. Do you think that Clinton's hair looks a little more golden lately?

I don't want to project into the future.

I am not a fortune teller. But the idea that the big macho man could be taken down by a "girl" is too tasty to resist.

I will wait and see but I think this guy has it right.

She is the bitch we need. The word loses its power when put that way, eh?

Labels: Hillary Clinton

But how much?

It would seem that Hillary Clinton's lead in the polls is insurmountable.

Hillary Clinton Looks Strong Heading Into Fall

But we have been fooled before.

I read all the stuff on the internet that I can stand and not all of it is on the left. I read a few conservative sites as well.

History says that a lead this large at this point is pretty much insurmountable. Or has been in many election cycles.

I try not to be overconfident however.

There is the usual September and October surprises to get past. But these have more to do with incumbents than they do with aspiring candidates.

The Republicans have evidently decided that the money should go to the down ticket race rather than to The Donald.

They too see some handwriting or handwringing on the wall.

This means that Clinton can devote her time to the down ticket as well. Currently it seems possible that she could bring a majority in the Senate along with her. Less so the House but a few outlying pundits see that possibility. I understand this to be a dream more than a reality. The arithmetic doesn't add up in the House.

But it is still exciting and I am excited and as we go into the last weeks it will be a race to remember.

Partly because it would be nice to see Trump fall on his ass.

The Democrats taking Congress would be a big fringe benefit.

Labels: Hillary Clinton

These people are never happy.

Hillary Clinton’s Edge in a Donald Trump-Centric Race Has Liberals Wary

It is a shitty headline but the story is about the malcontents, mostly Bernie followers, the so-called "progressives" who are unhappy that Clinton is trying to hit the central line, veering into Trump country to take the unhappy GOoPers into her electoral landslide.

Hey, she wants a mandate. And that is how you do it.

These people always show up as the whiners and lose their own message in their self pity and politically "correct" coloring of every issue.

And, I think, they are still mourning Sander's flop and will try to make the other Demos pay for it.

It pisses me off. It is over gang. Grab your jocks (if any), pull up your socks and help get behind the mandated election.

Believe me. You will need the landslide and Clinton when the still Republican Congress shows up next year. I am not believing that any Presidential landslide will take enough House seats to do the jobs that need to be done.

More about that landslide? Here is the polling sage Nate Cohn

Labels: Hillary Clinton, lefty fringe, professional left

It is probably overstating it but I think Trump really stepped on his own crank the other night.

Donald Trump Criticizes Muslim Family of Slain U.S. Soldier, Drawing Ire

Here in one spot is the clear demonstration of his prejudices, his ego and his bullying.

He is a taunter. He cannot help himself.

One way to see this is that he is so insecure that he has to rant and bellow and overstate things to protect a fragile self image.

What it shows is that he is a flaming asshole.

Even a dumb yahoo would know better than to continue and irritate people when he is clearly in the wrong.

But that is not Donald. He is a "fightah". He says. What he is really is a poor excuse for a human being. It is shameful that the GOP has allowed him to go unharnessed. Very few have the balls to say what everyone can see.

The first polls are in after the Democratic convention. Clinton got a big bounce now six points ahead of the bloviator. No surprise there.

"You can fool all the people some of the time, and some of the people all the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time." A lesson from the Party's founder that Donald is soon to learn the hard way. Or not.

Labels: Hillary Clinton

I think that Hillary Clinton hit the ball out of the park last night.

I am a late comer to the Hillary bandwagon but now I am enthusiastically on board and ready to roll.

Hillary Clinton Warns of ‘Moment of Reckoning’ in Speech Accepting Nomination

There is simply no other time like the time we have and she has the stuff. I am sure of it. She won me over. All my skepticism and even my long time disappointment with Bill. Bill is not running this time. Simple.

Today we will send some money to help get her started. Putting our bucks where our mouth is.

My Dad, the rock hard Democrat would be very happy today. So am I.

Labels: Hillary Clinton

Well, I have to admit they got me more engaged.

I switched to see what was going on with the Demo-convention last night just as the Big Dog, Bill Clinton, took the podium.

He did a rouser of a speech and did a great job of re-introducing Hillary Clinton to us.

Yeh, us.

I am beginning to feel a part of.

I don't imagine I will sit and binge on it but I sure won't miss Obama's speech tonight.

Bill committed the graceful act of not mentioning the Donald's name at all.

It was all positive assertion of Hillary Clinton's life and works over the years.

I didn't know a lot of her story so it was good for me to sit and listen.

Bill is a spellbinder but he leaves room for the listener to react in the head and in the heart.

A master class on political oratory.

Labels: Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton

I am fine with Tim Kaine as the Democratic candidate for Vice President.

He has a lot of experience. A governor and a senator. And he has a long time playing the political game.

He is also good balance with Clinton in several respects. He is a bit conservative, he has executive experience, he is a good if not glamorous speaker and, above all, he is male.

I know. Gender politics. But the truth is that she needs his weight on the other side and he needs her leadership. Like Joe Biden, he would probably never make it on his own beyond his present level. But he is a good guy. A schmoozer with some warmth which Hillary Clinton has never ever been accused of having. Charisma yes. Warmth, no.

The other thing I like about Kaine is the long term implications. He is a good guy to carry on after Clinton's two terms.

The NYTimes likes him too. Today's praising editorial is here.

So, I am happy.

Now let's lay into those fuckers and beat them so they know they do really really have to reform their Party.

Labels: Hillary Clinton, Tim Kaine

They sure kick The Donald's ass.

I was hoping for an aggressive in-his-face campaign.

It looks like she is going to bring it on.

And then this from Elizabeth Warren. Double barreled.

Labels: Hillary Clinton, Trumpf

She came to California to get her attack suit on,

Hillary's Really Good Day

She hit Trump very hard and specifically.

It is about fucking time.

She has it in her. She is a Clinton by marriage. She helped run the family business all these years. She was Secretary of State. She has the goods.

The Donald definitely does not.

This article is by Gail Collins who is also back in fine form. Funny and wise.

“Donald Trump’s ideas aren’t just different — they are dangerously incoherent,” Clinton said. “They’re not even really ideas — just a series of bizarre rants, personal feuds and outright lies.” She then proceeded to go into, um, details. Like his enthusiasm for a trade war, and flirtation with the idea of defaulting on the national debt. Speaking to voters who sometimes reject Democrats as lacking in patriotism, she asked, in effect, what they were doing hanging around with a guy who says America isn’t great.

Right. Those fucking stupid hats.

It is interesting to find that I am getting my blood up.

I had not had a lot of energy on this but now, I am game.

This may not be my last General Election but it is certainly a sunset special.

Let's go. We aren't even at the conventions and the campaigns are rolling along.

Truly, Donald Trump is an asshole and Ms. Clinton is now beginning to almost say the word.

One more good article then I will shut up for today.

Hillary Clinton’s New Attack on Donald Trump Cheers Her Allies and Worries His

Good. Worry! He is still the Donald and Hillary is growing "up".

Labels: Hillary Clinton

We are in the California Primary now.

I say "in it" because we just got our mail-in ballots and they have to be received by June 7.

There were two ballots this time.

A bunch of committee people and one proposition which I really do not understand but I liked the argument against it and so voted NO.

I am easily swayed.

They have two ballots because as a registered Democrat I have a separate party committee and stuff like that.

I don't vote for some of it because I have no idea. But in the one where there are parties I vote down the line Democrat. If it was a voting machine I would be that one lever guy.

I finally did the deed and voted for Hillary. Sanders has pissed me off a lot lately. I have written about this.

I am not sure that I would have ever given him my vote but I did listen for awhile. I ended up not liking him which was enough to cut him down.

I am not a Clinton lover but look she has more experience than any of these people even Trump who, despite his billions, has not really managed anything.

And of course he is a bona fide asshole. See the photo.

This is Kurt Vonnegut's original drawing. I miss Kurt. So I am using his all purpose drawing.

From here on X= Trump.

Labels: Democratic primary, Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton

Last night we were talking about what The Clintons were doing to prep for a Trump GOP nomination.

Now, as if in answer to our questions, we have this.

Inside the Clinton Team’s Plan to Defeat Donald Trump

Like most "inside stories", this one doesn't tell us much and see-saw back and forth between one opinion and another but the energy is very clear.

They are ready or getting ready. He will be taken seriously. It will be rough.

I think that it will have to be mean and brutal. A takedown.

On target, as usual in my opinion, is Bill who takes the Trumpfer seriously and is ready to roll.

I am glad for this.

There can be a tendency for The Clintons to take things for granted.

Look. The Clintons come out of Arkansas. Have you ever been there? I have. I trained there a couple of times and rode in cabs with mouthy, opinionated, red neck drivers. It pleased me that I never had to go back. Granted, they didn't want me either. The kind of rebellious no-nothing business guys who mocked before they even heard "the gospel" that I was preaching. No wonder those holy rollers have to shout them down.

As a bona-fide child of red-neck families I can attest to the need for hanging tough in their midst.

They might not like you but you will be respected*.

Trump is a bully. Rubio and the others are beginning to get the picture. A little late I think. He will get votes from people that will cheer for the bull in a bull fight. More gore, more.

I have to admit that I like it too.

Batten down the hatches. Even though "they" say that The Donald can still lose, I am not counting on it. The GOP cannot reign him in and no one save Rubio is going to catch him.

Carson and Cruise are only hurting the cause by not folding and giving Rubio their support. But I am not a good coach for the GOoPers. Let them flounder.

*More polls Clinton vs Trump

Labels: Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton

A surprise for Hillary Clinton this morning.

Something, it is said, that she abhors.

Little Separates Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton in Tight Race in Iowa

This should be interesting.

Who would have guessed that a yawner would turn out to be a tight race for the Democrats.

Of course, Iowa is just a small sample of what lies ahead.

We do live in interesting times.

Well, I do anyway.

I am not sure that this affects my outlook yet. I did not want to vote for Hillary. An aversion. But then I get to the question of whether Sanders can win in the General.

I thought not, but then there are surprises all along life's path.

Maybe this is another one of those times.

Put me down as undecided but ready to jump on any bandwagon that passes.

Labels: Bernie Sanders, Hillary Clinton

I am not going to get a vote in the Republican Primary.

I wish I could, even as a spoiler.

But I could not even temporarily change my affiliation. My father would sway my hand. A lifelong Democrat and local political guy, there is no other party.

But I am restless. I am irritable. I am discontent. The Clintons are back and, as usual, Hillary is doing the things that piss people off. Unnecessarily.

They plot and twist and evade. They play politics where there is or should be no need.

Clinton Campaign Underestimated Sanders Strengths, Allies Say

They cannot see beyond their own entitled noses.

I am not a fan of Sanders either. I really do not go along with a lot of his "positions" and I do not much like to watch him talk or speak.

He gives me the creeps.

So, I have become part of the vast number of alienated Democrats.

I was a Joe Biden fan; aware that all the baggage Joe has or had would keep him from the throne.

But he got blindsided by life. He lost his son Beau Biden and he has not recovered. That smile is banked way down.

I see Obama holding him. Hugging him. But the happy warrior is not there now.

I still have my "cup of Joe" mug in the bathroom. It holds my toothbrushes so I see him every day.

I did buy a Hillary bumper sticker though. Four fucking dollars.

I used it to paste over an offensive anti-Clinton sticker a neighbor has/had on his car. He took the Hillary off then I started to peel the sticker itself. It is half off now. I work at it in the dark of night.

So I am combative. But I am not happy.

I am never happy when the Clintons are running things. They are a pox on our Party and I figure I will not see it put back together again in my lifetime.

Labels: Bernie Sanders, Democratic primary, Hillary Clinton

I have high hopes for drama in the upcoming Presidential campaigns.

While the Republicans are stumbling along and weeding out (see Carson collapse this week) we are all waiting to see who will get to "up to" the Clinton machine.

Here is an interesting take, close to my own.

Here is a great article of chop licking in anticipation.

Should it be Trump v. Clinton in 2016, it will be great fun

Here is a sample.

Put it this way: should it be Trump v. Clinton in 2016, it will be great fun, because the Clintons will finally be up against someone as shameless and ambitious as they are. Trump has the reckless audacity to play the political game on the same hard terms as the Clintons have always played it. And that’s as hard and vicious as it may be played.

Hillary has made the mistake that a lot of women make. She is dealing the feminist card without thinking it through.

"It is a woman's turn" is, of course, horse shit.

It may be sad that women still play second string in politics or that only the women who act "like men" have any success. And so on. That is another discussion.

But for Hillary to say that it is a woman's turn as a reason for her nomination or election is pure sexism from the reverse side.

It is as lame as the idea that it was time for a black President. Yes, perhaps, and then a black man who qualified on many other levels came forward and won.

And, if you recall, beat the Clintons all to hell.

Labels: Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton