Tuesday, September 2, 2014

What Co$t Politics?

"Basically, the most likely options for what happens post-November are the continuation of a bad status quo or a slightly worse one, but on the national level, 2014 is merely a warm-up for 2016, when Democrats will be poised for bigger gains with the likely presence of Hillary Clinton on the presidential ticket. In the meantime, serious national challenges like growing income inequality, crumbling infrastructure, a tattered safety net, and the unresolved status of millions of undocumented immigrants (to name a few) will remain unaddressed. It’s hard to find much excitement in an election that will almost certainly guarantee two more years of nothing happening in Washington."

So says Cohen

That is the delusional narrative of Democrats, I guess. I read that and see the same narrow range of debate, nothing done there except exacerbation after the elections, nothing about the underlying economic $y$tem benefiting you-know-who nor the empire's pell-mell rush to war wherever they can start one. 

As for nothing happening, plenty is happening. They want you to not watch what is happening.

Some early return$ for you, with mo$t telling in$ight:

"Campaign cash flowing freely for midterm elections; More than $4b could be spent on political ads" by Philip Elliott | Associated Press   September 01, 2014

DES MOINES — Election Day is just two months off and the national tab for the 2014 campaign already stands at $1 billion. Before it’s all over, the bill for the first midterm election since both Democrats and Republicans embraced a historic change in campaign finance is likely to grow to $4 billion or more. the amount of money poured into politics amongst ma$$ive and increa$ing wealth inequality breaks my heart. 

The elite and corporations making record profits have better things to do with it than care for the people. I know, I know, the dole out $kads of dough to charities, and we are all living well by the kings's good graces, I know. Love ya!

TV ads try to reach the few who are able to be swayed and willing to vote.

It's making me not want to vote. The letter in front of the $ is mattering less and less. 

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Republicans are focused on gaining the six seats Nov. 4 to grab the Senate majority and control Congress for the remainder of President Obama’s term. Five Democratic retirements give the GOP a clear shot to capture control. So do races in conservative-leaning states such as Louisiana, North Carolina, and Arkansas, where white Southern Democrats are rare.

And now New Hampshire is in play.

The GOP figures it’s halfway to its goal, with a solid advantage in open contests in South Dakota, West Virginia, and Montana. Republicans are optimistic about the open seat in Iowa, less so about Michigan, and energized by their prospects in Colorado and Alaska. If a GOP wave materializes, it could be in the Senate.

It will, it should, I'm not saying it will be better, it won't, it will be worse, but that is where the American people are right now. It's the sixth year of another failed presidency as far as the people are concerned, and the latest issues being brought up (immigration, health care) aren't helping.

In the House, Republicans are expected to pad their majority, which now is 233 to 199 with three vacancies. The goal is to match or surpass the 246 seats the GOP held from 1947 to 1949.

It's all gerrymandered, with both parties happy with the perks.

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Even though both political parties are tapping outside groups for seemingly unlimited spending, turnout in the primaries has been at near historic lows. Enthusiasm shows no sign of changing come November.

The above paragraph is $o telling: the more money poured in, the more the people $ee through the corporate-controlled fraud we call AmeriKan democracy.

That means that each vote is going to be more costly than ever before.

And there you have your insight into the mind of the propaganda pre$$ and the internali$ed value $y$tem of their bo$$e$.

The most expensive race, so far, is Kentucky’s Senate race, at $36 million and counting. The ads stack up heavily, with dueling appeals to female voters from Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell and Democratic challenger Alison Lundergan Grimes.

You might want to $cope out the links. 

RelatedElizabeth Warren Defends Israeli Shelling of Gaza Schools, Hospitals 

Just another tool! Nice not knowing you, fraud.

‘‘They are getting annoying because it’s the same thing over and over. Finally it just disturbs you enough until sometimes you think you won’t even vote because of that,’’ said Pamela Blevins, a Grimes supporter in Pike County who plans to vote.

It's like writing this blog!!

In North Carolina, the tab now tops $28 million.

On a recent evening, six of the seven political spots either supported Democratic Senator Kay Hagan or attacked her Republican rival, state House Speaker Thom Tillis. One was a generic pro-GOP ad. None was from Tillis himself.

Taking advantage of her large fund-raising advantage over Tillis, Hagan appeared on the screen to promote her pitch that she’s a middle-of-the-road senator who fits well within North Carolina’s split political environment. ‘‘Not too far left, not too far right. Just like North Carolina,’’ she says.

The heavy spending on ads just feed into the frustrations of North Carolina’s voters.

‘‘I literally turn them off,’’ said Terry Hutchens, 66, of Raleigh, who runs a leasing equipment company.

Welcome to the New Political Order.

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Related:

"Political ads must meet viewers — increasingly skeptical of politicians’ claims and disapproving of politics — where they are, in terms of substance and style, “they don’t want to be treated like idiots or children. They don’t want to be manipulated,” vexing questions: What won’t you ignore?" 

I am.

Looking forward to 2016:

"Bill Clinton campaigns in Rhode Island" by Jennifer McDermott | Associated Press   August 28, 2014

PROVIDENCE — Former president Bill Clinton was in Providence on Wednesday to campaign for a candidate who is running against a politician he backed four years ago.

Out come the knives already, huh?

Clinton headlined a rally at the Rhode Island Convention Center for Democratic candidate for treasurer Seth Magaziner, who is the son of former Clinton administration policy adviser Ira Magaziner.

(Blog editor ju st shakes his head)

The political newcomer is running against former Treasurer Frank Caprio, the Democratic Party’s endorsed candidate. Clinton supported Caprio in his 2010 campaign for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination.

Clinton did not mention Caprio by name and urged voters ‘‘not to be against anybody, but to be for Seth Magaziner.’’ Clinton said Magaziner ‘‘projects hope’’ and will create jobs in Rhode Island.

‘‘You’ve been through a really rough time since this financial crash,’’ Clinton told an audience of about 250 people. ‘‘You deserve as many good jobs as quickly as you can get them, and Seth Magaziner will help you get them.’’

Clinton campaigned for Caprio in 2010 after Caprio had supported Hillary Rodham Clinton in her presidential bid. At that time, Caprio called Rhode Island ‘‘Clinton country.’’ He finished the governor’s race in third.

When asked about the former president now campaigning for his rival, Caprio said, ‘‘I’ve always supported President Clinton, and I look forward to supporting Hillary Clinton if she seeks office.’’

Clinton spent most of his 10-minute speech praising Magaziner’s plan for how to use the treasurer’s office to build the state’s economy and create jobs. Magaziner’s father still works with Clinton at the Clinton Foundation.

Magaziner, a 31-year-old investment professional, said that when Rhode Island voters supported Clinton in 1992, they chose someone with new ideas for stimulating the economy.

‘‘The choice we’re faced with today is the same as the choice we had 22 years ago,’’ he said. ‘‘Do we want change or more of the same? I’m running for treasurer because I know that the office can, and must be, an engine for economic growth in this state.’’

We voted for change six years ago, gave you a filibuster-proof Congress (with Joe Lieberman the gate-keeper?), and all we got was a crappy corporate healthcare governmental ca$h grab out of it.

Wendy Schiller, a political science professor at Brown University, said Clinton’s support for Magaziner — despite his being close with the Caprio family — could sway undecided voters.

Lori Snady-McCoy, a doctor from Barrington, said that she went to the event to hear Magaziner, and that she was a ‘‘pretty big fan’’ of both Clintons. She said that she had not yet made up her mind, and that the former president’s support of Magaziner could sway her.

‘‘Hopefully it means Clinton has looked at his policies and ideas and thinks they are in line with his own,’’ she said.

Magaziner, who most recently worked as a vice president at the investment firm Trillium Asset Management, has promised to bring a fresh perspective to state government.

And that's exactly the per$pective this country needs! Those Wall $treet guys are why the nation is so pro$perous (for a few)

Now with an unemployment rate of 7.7 percent, Rhode Island moved out of last place and is tied with Michigan and Nevada, ahead of only Mississippi and Georgia. It is just now nearing pre-recession employment levels....

(Blog editor just snorts at propaganda narrative, then sighs. $crew this)

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While in the neighborhood:

"Bill Clinton to appear at Democratic fund-raising rally

Former president Bill Clinton is headed to New Haven to help raise money for Democrats. Clinton is scheduled to appear at a rally Tuesday at the Omni New Haven Hotel. He will be joined by Governor Dannel P. Malloy and Lieutenant Governor Nancy Wyman, who are seeking reelection in November. Senators Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy are also scheduled to be on hand for the 11:30 a.m. event. An e-mail sent to Democratic supporters last week said tickets were available online at $50 each. The order form says money raised at the event will be used ‘‘in connection with federal elections.’’

And speaking of $crewing:

"Chelsea Clinton quitting her job at NBC

Chelsea Clinton is quitting her job as a reporter at NBC News. Bill and Hillary Clinton’s daughter has been working at the network since 2011, sporadically doing feature stories on people or organizations doing public-spirited work. The network announced her exit on Friday. Clinton and her husband, Marc Mezvinsky, announced this spring that she is pregnant with her first child."

That is ju st so wonderful.