Tuesday, June 13, 2017

BloggeRhythms

While the public awaits Senate intelligence committee testimony from Attorney General Sessions at 2PM this afternoon, other news indicate a continuum of moves away from Hillary Clinton as a favorite of the Democrat party. 

According to Daniel Nussbaum @breitbart.com Sunday, “Actor Kevin Spacey donned a gray wig to play Bill Clinton during his hosting gig at Sunday night’s Tony Awards and cracked a joke about Hillary Clinton’s email controversy in between award presentations.”

Imitating the former president’s Arkansas drawl, Spacey-as-Clinton said: “We’ve had some exciting young performers this season. Ben Platt was named one of Time magazine’s 100 most influential people. That’s very impressive. I was on that list a couple times.”

“But Ben, you know who you bumped off that list? My wife,” Spacey continued, as Platt — the star of the Broadway hit Dear Evan Hansen — sank down in his seat in mock embarrassment. “Between you and me, you might be a better singer, but after seeing your show, there’s no doubt Hillary is much better at creating fake email accounts than you!”

What's most important here, however, is that Space's derisive humor drew a supportive "loud response” from the ordinarily Clinton-adoring Tony audience. 

Then, as similar evidence of Clinton slippage, an article appeared @washingtonexaminer.com by Myra Adams. She’s a media producer and political writer, was on the 2004 Bush campaign's creative team and the 2008 McCain campaign's ad council. Thus, she’s one who surely knows what’s she’s talking about.

Ms Adams begins by citing a recent poll finding that “45 percent of Democrats long for a new national leader.” And then she asks and answers her own question, “could Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe be the man to watch? Even McAuliffe himself is dropping hints. Is that laughter I hear from Republicans saying, "Yes, yes, bring him on"? But I also hear echoes of Democrats laughing at the prospects of running against Donald Trump in 2016 and Ronald Reagan in 1980.”

Next come her six reasons why the "GOP should not laugh at Terry McAuliffe's presidential rumblings.

"1. Terry McAuliffe is ambitious, wealthy and power-hungry with nothing to lose.

“By law, Virginia governors can only serve one four-year term. Thus, on January 13, 2018, Governor McAuliffe will become a former governor after only four years of elective experience. But do years in office even matter anymore? Besides, McAuliffe's strength is his political credentials that far exceed other potential 2020 Democratic candidates. Furthermore, in party leadership circles McAuliffe is a living legend.

“For starters, McAuliffe currently serves as chairman of the National Governors Association (NGA). McAuliffe's best friend, President Bill Clinton, was NGA chairman during the 1986-87 term.

“In 2008 McAuliffe was chairman of Hillary Clinton's failed presidential campaign.

“Between 2001 and 2005 he was chairman of the Democratic National Committee. During that time in 2004, McAuliffe served on the Clinton Foundation board of directors.

“In 1996 he served as co-chairman of President Bill Clinton's 1996 re-election campaign.”

“2. McAuliffe is putting out feelers for his 2020 presidential run.

“Translation: Watch out 2020 Democratic hopefuls. McAuliffe is in exploration mode, and if he decides to move forward, prepare to be crushed.”

“3. Good news — bad news, McAuliffe is best friends with the Clintons.

“The good news is that in one day before lunch, McAuliffe could reassemble any part of the Clinton machine worth saving. By afternoon he could enlist his own vast network of loyalists, and by happy hour, "Help Terry Dump Trump 2020" will be ready to roll.

“But the bad news is that McAuliffe is perceived, rightfully so, as a "son of the Clintons." 

Certainly, Clinton fatigue would be McAuliffe's biggest obstacle, along with his dubious past as a wheeler-dealer businessman. (See President Trump, Donald J. for how to handle that problem.) If McAuliffe were to run, he must first establish himself as his own man, and as governor of Virginia and chair of the NGA, he is doing exactly that.”

“4. McAuliffe could suck up all the early oxygen from the rest of the 2020 field.”

“Yes, McAuliffe could easily raise well over a billion dollars – what it will cost to run for president in 2020 — but his skill set extends far beyond fundraising. After decades as a top-tier Democratic Party leader, Clinton acolyte, now Virginia governor and NGA chairman, McAuliffe has formed strong alliances with other national leaders. Potentially those relationships might lead to early endorsements, leaving many vacant seats on what looks like now could be a mini-van full of 2020 candidate wannabes.”

“5. Watch the 2017 Virginia gubernatorial race and 2018 midterm elections.

“Currently, McAuliffe enjoys a 52 percent approval rating. But even more telling will be how active McAuliffe becomes in the Democrat's midterm election quest to win back Congress. If McAuliffe is in the thick of the national fight, it is a sure sign that his own 2020 announcement is forthcoming.”

“6. Who better times two?

“In 2020 who better to contest President Trump than another multi-millionaire businessman with decades of political experience and tons of business and political baggage?

“If McAuliffe "went big" as hinted to ABC News, he will attempt to avenge Hillary Clinton's 2016 defeat. McAuliffe could joke, "You wanted her but you got me." Who better than a close family friend who for decades has stood in Washington's center court playing hardball power games?”

And then, Ms Adams closes by asking: “My fellow Republicans, are you still laughing?”

In answer, although Republicans might not quite be laughing, it’s also doubtful that the premise raised by Ms Adams regarding McAuliffe’s electability is as serious as she perceives.

That’s because she herself presents McAuliffe’s most significant, glaring flaw whereas he’s “another multi-millionaire businessman with decades of political experience and tons of business and political baggage.” However, Trump had no “political baggage” at all.

What’s more McAuliffe’s also “a close family friend” of the Clinton’s “who for decades has stood in Washington's center court playing hardball power games.”

Leading up to the conclusion Ms Adams also reached above: “But the bad news is that McAuliffe is perceived, rightfully so, as a "son of the Clintons." Certainly, Clinton fatigue would be McAuliffe's biggest obstacle, along with his dubious past as a wheeler-dealer businessman.”

Thus, the good news actually applies only to Trump who remains unique as a pure businessman with aspirations that segued into the greatest political success for him possible. While in McAuliffe’s case, he’s merely a long-term political hack who happened to also be a business man. 

That’s it for today folks.

Adios

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