News & Comment

In his first debate, Bloomberg took major hits from all sides, led by Feisty Elizabeth Warren; frontrunner Sanders largely unscathed….--team Bloomberg leaked memo that underscores their arrogance: dire warning that Sanders can win nomination, so also-rans must exit to make way for Mike
--Bloomberg said his target is Trump, but he’s now focused on Sanders, as Alan McLeod reports at MintPress; PBC says the billionaire’s assault will backfire

Surging in state, national polls, Sanders would be target in Las Vegas debate, but Bloomberg will draw most of the fire…--Bloomie has lots of ‘splainin’ to do, and polls show broad support for Sanders despite the media memes of unelectability and “Bernie Bros”
--NY Times opinionist Ross Douthat made a strong case against Bloomberg
--Bloomberg’s indefensible quote of the day is about trans people

Las Vegas is fitting scene for billionaire con man to make his first debate appearance, after flooding media, politicians w/cash….--in massive astroturf effort, Bloomberg buys influence and support, seducing many Democrats and setting up 2-way socialist vs oligarch race
--NY Times exposes how Bloomberg’s money and influence led Emily’s List and Center for American Progress to censor reports critical of Bloomberg

Almost 10,000 people filled a converted Ford automotive assembly plant in Richmond, CA on President's Day; here's what he said.....Richmond is a majority black community that's captive to its main employer, Chevron.  The city has made a big comeback since former Green Party mayor Gayle McLaughlin led a renaissance a few years ago.  It's a perfect site for a Sanders rally, and with my trusty micro recorder, you experience it from the crowd.
 

AG Barr’s criticism of Trump’s tweets about Roger Stone belies his long coverup history, from Iran Contra to Jeffrey Epstein….--Trump claims he didn’t instruct Barr to change Stone’s sentencing memo, and that he has a legal right to micro-manage Justice Dept.
--in new errand to please Trump, Barr names outside prosecutor to look at Mike Flynn prosecution
--in fresh, in-depth interview, investigative reporter and author Nick Bryant says Barr covered up the Franklin scandal Bryant exposed, and isn’t pursuing Epstein’s enablers

Democratic Establishment feeds media echo chamber stoking fears of Sanders, and promoting authoritarian oligarch Mike Bloomberg’s billion dollar ego trip….--NY Times number cruncher Nate Cohn shows Sanders’ path to the nomination while downplaying the prospect
--Iowa caucus debacle puts pressure on DNC Chair Perez as state party chair quits

Bloomberg has dropped cash to buy support from mayors and DNC, which changes debate rules mid-cycle to stop Sanders…
--Hillary Clinton’s not subtle, but NY Times reported Tlaib’s boos and barely mentioned Clinton’s attack on Sanders for 2016
--another failed Dem candidate, John Kerry, is slamming Sanders in Iowa

GOP Sens. Alexander, Murkowski employ insulting talking points to cover their dereliction of duty, violation of oath, contempt for Constitution….--yes, the Democrats blew the impeachment in many ways, but lockstep loyalty to Trump by Republican posers signals the end of 3-branch governance
--and now we have a corrupt, narcissistic dictator who can’t be stopped
--Romney and Collins call for witnesses, but fail to offer any leadership or strong criticism of hypocritical colleagues

After many attempts, Rep. Barbara Lee’s effort to repeal 2002 AUMF passes the House, hoping to limit Trump’s Iran options….--over Iraq’s objections, US plans new bases near Iran border
--first American case of human-to-human transmission of Coronavirus is reported in Chicago, as death toll mounts in China; WHO declares public health emergency

Sanders is rising in the polls, grabbing Boomer votes from Biden after Warren’s slide, and the Clinton wing is scrambling…--review the state by state polling at 538 here
--AIPAC-aligned SuperPac drops negative ad on Sanders in Iowa, watch it here
--at WashPost, Jennifer Rubin needs laugh track for her linkage of Sanders to Trump