Shock and Aww…Shucks
As a scion of a political dynasty, Jeb Bush has some built-in advantages over his competitors. Family connections to donors and advisors have filled Bush's campaign coffers, bringing him media attention and immediate relevance. But in the post-Citizens United world that simply won't be enough. Under the bright lights of the presidential campaign, Jeb has proven to be lackluster on the trail, with a record to regret. There's no denying that his path to victory requires him to get the base on his side -- the same base that doesn't like his stances on Common Core or immigration, or for that matter his last name. And no amount of money is going to change that.
Scott Walker swings right to support gay marriage constitutional amendment
Scott Walker's in good company now that he supports a constitutional amendment to let states continue to ban marriage equality: Ted Cruz filed the same amendment. This move comes on the heels of Walker arguing to restrict legal immigration -- an extreme position that lines him up with Rick Santorum.
Divorced from Reality: GOP Slate Opposes Marriage Equality
As the Supreme Court hears oral arguments today on a landmark gay marriage case, every single GOP presidential candidate continues to oppose gay marriage, with Scott Walker going as far as supporting a constitutional amendment to ban marriage equality and Ted Cruz offering legislation that would invalidate thousands of legal marriages. 61 percent of Americans support marriage equality according to a recent Washington Post-ABC poll. Here's the heated rhetoric from the candidates vying to be our next president: Mike Huckabee: Changing my stance on same-sex marriage "is like asking someone who’s Jewish to start serving bacon-wrapped shrimp in their deli, or asking a Muslim to serve up something that is offensive to him, or to have dogs in his backyard." Scott Walker: " I believe marriage is between one man and one woman…I believe it’s reasonable for the people of America to consider a constitutional amendment that would affirm the ability of states to do just that."
Can’t make this up, Jeb Bush money edition
SHOT: “‘I don't think you need to spend $1 billion to be elected president of the United States in 2016,’ Bush…
Talk about a bad press day…
Here's hoping at least some of that high-dollar Miami hotel bill Jeb's running up this weekend while his opponents are in Iowa is set aside for an open bar for the communications staff -- they must need a drink after reading this morning's clips. Washington Post: "Republican presidential hopeful Jeb Bush supports President Obama’s trade deal, praises his management of the National Security Agency and agrees that Congress should have moved faster to hold a vote on new attorney general Loretta Lynch. And that’s all since last week." Republican insiders speaking to Politico: "'[Common Core] is the number-one issue Bush faces in Iowa with caucusgoers,' ...'Right now, it’s a big issue among suburban GOP women...which is a demographic that is central to him winning New Hampshire.'”
Despite what Walker's saying now, he's on record supporting cuts to Social Security
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel is reporting that Scott Walker refuses to discuss Social Security because he hasn't decided to run for president (nice one, Gov). Even if Walker refuses to tell people how he would cut benefits, he's on record supporting serious cuts to the program. As far back as 2000, he supported then-Texas Gov. George W. Bush's plan to partially privatize Social Security. One has to believe that the Kochs took Walker's stance on cutting Social Security into account when they declared him one of the five contenders in their invisible primary.
Caution: Attempting to Follow Rubio on Immigration May Result in Vertigo
Marco Rubio's run for president should come with a warning label: Caution: Attempting to Follow Marco Rubio's Twists and Turns on Immigration May Result in Vertigo. According to BuzzFeed, in an article headlined "Marco Rubio Rakes In Donor Money By Touting Immigration Record — Behind Closed Doors": "...the candidate’s aggressive advocacy for the Senate’s 2013 immigration bill has proved to be a substantial draw within the GOP money crowd — and his campaign has shown little hesitation about cashing in. Even as Rubio labors to publicly distance himself from the legislation so loathed by conservative primary voters, he and his aides have privately highlighted this line in his resume when soliciting support from the deep-pocketed donors in the party’s more moderate business wing." Rubio is literally saying different things to different audiences to curry favor and cash with diametrically opposed wings of his party. There's no doubt, he has to do it politically. But his litany of zig-zags are patently shady and shows how untrustworthy he is.
Rarely Is the Question Asked: Is Our Children Learning?
The right-wing attack dogs have it out for Jeb on education, and the governor is running for the hills. Once seen as a part of his platform he would highlight, Jeb's support for Common Core has provided fertile ground for conservatives to sully his record. But instead of taking the principled position and arguing his case, Bush has caved completely.
Yo bro, I think you got a problem…
Every younger sibling has to deal with hand-me-downs, but for most this ends at some point. That's not the case for Jeb Bush and he doesn't seem to mind. As the Washington Post noted today, "Far from running from or downplaying the views once expressed by his brother, George W. Bush, Jeb Bush is embracing them — and emphasizing them." This might seem odd to anyone who lived through Bush's two terms; it doesn't even make sense to W:
ICYMI: Roll Call: Marco Rubio’s Opening Speech Had a Goof
The problem with the senator’s statement is that the government is neither taxing, nor borrowing, nor regulating like it did in 1999. In fact, in 1999 there was a surplus, shrinking the debt owned by the public. Taxes were much higher in 1999 — 19.2 percent of gross domestic product, versus 16.7 percent in 2013, with President Barack Obama agreeing to permanently extend the Bush-era tax cuts for 99 percent of taxpayers at the end of 2012.