Chris Cuomo @18:30 plays the “when are you getting out” game.

Phyllis Schlafly posts an Op-Ed in the Investors Business Daily (not coincidentally the delivery vehicle for the only recent poll {377 voters selected} showing Donald Trump under 30% in the past five days) presenting a proposition that the GOPe is looking for a “Plan B” to the current abysmal republican failure known commonly as Jeb Bush.

The Republican establishment designed the process to deliver the 2016 presidential nomination to a business-friendly moderate who avoids so-called social issues. The consultants who rewrote the party rules after 2012 are now trying to explain to their patrons what went wrong and how to fix it.
Plan A, of course, was to assure the nomination of Jeb Bush, whose views are the perfect reflection of the Republican donor class.
But despite many months of campaigning, $114 million of political funds raised through June 30, and two presidential debates watched by a record-setting average of 24 million people, Jeb Bush has dropped to sixth place, registering only 4% in the latest Pew poll. (more)

Agree on all of it, except, well, there isn’t a “plan B” per se’.  Plan-A is the successful nomination, by the apparatus known as “the establishment”, of Jeb Bush.  All subsequent plans B through Z are to insure Plan-A.  Period.

Eggs, meet basket.
The GOPe road map is so heavily contingent on Jeb Bush that no alternate plan was even considered, thought about, discussed or generally presented as plausible.
Every Wall Street luncheon since October 2013; every K-Street breakfast; every Chamber of Commerce dinner; every RNC national and regional rules meeting – ALL OF IT; has been built up based on a cornerstone and central tenet that Jeb would fulfill all of the handshake agreements contained within ALL of those meetings over the past 23 months.
There simply is no other option.  Period. (more…)

Anyone who follows DC politics can predict exactly what path the TPP deal is headed.  In order to avoid the uncomfortable votes and subsequent attachments therein, the GOPe via Mitch McConnell will avoid any vote on TPP until after the primary election; thereby saving the GOPe candidate, and Hillary Clinton, from being exposed as on the wrong side of the electorate.

However, in an effort to avoid this predictable outcome, why doesn’t someone file a repeal bill to the previously passed Fast Track Trade Authority and return the legislative approval process back to the customary 67 vote threshold?
Obviously any brave Republican Senator, looking at you Jeff Sessions, Mike Lee or even Ted Cruz, could easily form a group of supportive co-sponsors for such a bill, and  would be able to assemble easy passage of repeal with a large block of Democrats who also oppose the construct of TPP in current form. (more…)

The Rockingham County Republican Committee conducted a straw poll of 585 visitors to their booth at the Deerfield Fair this past weekend:

Despite multiple polling results reflecting a similar outcome the GOPe continue to advance a more favorable narrative toward Marco Rubio and Carly Fiorina.  Understanding the objectives of the RNC/GOPe “Splitter Strategy“, the approach makes sense. (more…)

Wall Street wants the TPP deal.  The Obama administration wants the TPP deal.  The U.S. Chamber of Commerce wants the TPP deal.  Rupert Murdoch wants the TPP deal.  Fox News wants the TPP deal.  Jeb Bush, Marco Rubio, Carly Fiorina, Mike Huckabee, Chris Christie, John Kasich, Bobby Jindal, Scott Walker, Rick Perry all approve the TPP deal.  Candidates Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio supported fast track trade authority for the TPP deal.
The TPP deal is exceptionally bad for U.S. manufacturing and jobs.

(Via Reuters)  The United States and 11 other Pacific Rim countries have reached a sweeping deal to set up a free-trade zone for 40 percent of the world’s economy, but the accord on Monday faced initial skepticism in the U.S. Congress.
The Trans-Pacific Partnership is the most ambitious trade pact in a generation and could reshape industries and influence the cost of products from cheese to cancer treatments, presenting key issues also for drug companies and automakers.
Tired negotiators worked round the clock over the weekend to settle tough issues such as monopoly rights for new biotech drugs. A demand by New Zealand for greater access for its dairy exports was only settled at 5 a.m. EDT (0900 GMT) on Monday. (more…)

The TPP Trade Deal is looming closer to becoming a finalized reality.  Current negotiations center around Auto Manufacturing, and Japanese negotiators have constructed an outline that would devastate what remains of the U.S. Auto industry.
Unfortunately the K-Street lobbyists, funded by Wall Street through the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, have already greased the legislative skids to all but guarantee the elimination of thousands of jobs. Chamber of Commerce President Tom Donohue gave Senators $18 million in bribe money to insure passage.
The TPP deal encompasses approximately 40% of total global manufacturing.  Trillions of dollars are at stake.

TPP is fully supported by the Obama Administration and the legislative passage of a deal was essentially finalized, through manipulation, by changing the senatorial approvals to a mere 51 votes (Fast Track Trade Authority).
Backstabbing Senators Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio and many others joined with Mitch McConnell and his merry band of usurpers to change the statutory approval threshold in this regard.  The bill passed 60-38
Current TPP negotiations underway in Atlanta, specifically around auto-manufacturing, showcase just how devastating this Trade deal is going to be: (more…)

HatTip iOTW – Here’s a brief snippet from a Jeb Bush interview.  Watch at the :04 second mark for what makes Jeb! smile, perk up and say “Thanks Matt”:

…”Thanks Matt”…

You see, the really funny part – the part that makes the disconnect so well evidenced – the part where Jeb! views the bestest compliment ever – is the same part that makes 95% of the republican electorate cringe and say: no thank you. (more…)

Very enjoyable watch – Courtesy of Joe Dan Media and Intellectual Froglegs

Follow Joe Dan on Twitter and subscribe to Intellectual Froglegs HERE

Many interests within the body politic continue to tell us all there’s a necessary dividing line between Republicans and Democrats, liberals and conservatives, progressives or constitutionalists.  Indeed, if you were to force yourself to watch any number of hours of current news punditry you’d probably walk away with the same understanding.

However, I come here today not to showcase our difference but rather to highlight our common cause.
Throughout the course of my life you and I have each found value in our mutual interests; each serving the other with a clear understanding that we both can benefit from a relationship based on mutual respect and appreciation for the value of labor.
In a larger sense there is a connection that binds us beyond the threads which connect your well-earned individual federation patch to your jacket.  Each person here today is a single member of a larger construct aimed to benefit the group by raising the tides of all ships with as much equality as possible.
But beneath the patches and affiliations there is a larger connective tissue; a connection which flows deeper than economics; a connection that exists larger than the value of our labor; a patriotic connection which binds us all as – Americans. (more…)

Battle of The Cashmere Sweaters ! 

Alternate headline: “Game of Drones” – Doug Ross writes a good article highlighting the latest polls in Iowa and New Hampshire (full pdf below).  Given the scope of the spending by Jeb Bush and John Kasich, it does appear a particular level of futility is evident.


Ohio Governor John Kasich also told reporters recently about Jeb’s team doing opposition research and putting dirt diggers into the Ohio State House to find usable material. (more…)