Illinois Loves Rich Guys With Tax Shelters, Right?
A political candidate worth hundreds of millions of dollars is coming under fire for channeling part of his fortune to…
Welcome Back to Iowa, Rand!
Last week, Iowa Republican Senate candidate Joni Ernst's spokesperson admitted that in a "perfect world," Ernst would "support doing away with the" renewable fuel standard (RFS), a critical component of Iowa's economy that supports thousands of jobs. Well, Joni must just be thrilled that Rand Paul is starting a three day swing through Iowa today, because Rand is already living in her "perfect world" - at a 2012 event in Des Moines, Paul expressed his opposition to the RFS. Who else opposes the RFS? Why none other than the Koch brothers, of course. Koch Industries lobbied for the "Renewable Fuel Standard Repeal Act," and the Kochs' main political entity Americans for Prosperity wants to "permanently eliminate" the RFS. Conveniently enough, AFP has already spent $2 MILLION on ads attacking Ernst's opponent this year to prop up her Tea Party candidacy, while members of the Koch family and Koch Industries have directly contributed $15,000 to Ernst's campaign. One thing is clear: Joni Ernst, Rand Paul, and the Kochs are all too extreme for Iowa.
I Think They Love Me In Iowa Too, Diane!
In just over twelve hours, Chris Christie will make his first appearance of the day in Iowa in an attempt…
Bruce Rauner: The Everyman With The $100,000 Extra Parking Spot
Guys, Bruce Rauner is just like me and you. His campaign bio boasts, "He still drives a 20-year-old camper van,…
Rubio to Speechify About His Non-Existent Support for Working Families
This afternoon, Senator Rubio is scheduled to give a speech in D.C. designed to burnish his middle class credentials: "Finding…
The Grand Old Tea Party Has A New Majority Leader
Kevin McCarthy is your new majority leader, a victory for the Republican establishment in the ongoing battle with its identical twin, the Tea Party. Then again, who can tell who's who? Take a quick look at McCarthy's record on women. He's repeatedly voted against legislation to help women fight back against pay discrimination. He's voted to defund Planned Parenthood and control women's access to reproductive health care services. And oh, last but not least, he co-sponsored extreme, anti-woman legislation to redefine rape as "forcible rape." Sound familiar? It's tragic, really, watching the Tea Party and the Republican establishment continue to fight like this, and over what? We'd tell them to put their differences aside, but there are no differences. Even Speaker Boehner says so. Now that they have a new majority leader, can't everyone just get along in the Grand Old Tea Party?
Paying Off Student Loans Is Easy: Just Get A Massive Book Deal!
Last week, Marco Rubio spoke out in opposition to President Obama's Student Loan Relief Initiative. Specifically, Rubio railed against the idea of forgiveness for student loans after 20 years. It was a notably unsympathetic stance from a Senator who has personal experience with the burden of having massive student loans to pay back. When Rubio was elected in 2010, his financial disclosure showed that he was still encumbered by over $100,000 of debt on his own student loans. Luckily for Rubio, he netted a hefty sum from his book deal in 2012 and was finally able to pay off his debt. As for the rest of us, a lucrative book deal doesn't seem like it's in the cards. And to us normal folk, Marco Rubio has a nice message: You're on your own, pal!
Funnier Than Fallon? Chris Christie's Comedy Of Errors
Chris Christie is taking his scandal-tainted show on the road this evening for an appearance on the Tonight Show. But before he crosses the Hudson via the bridge his aides shut down access to in a cheap political stunt (maybe he's more of a tunnel man), Christie already has people in hysterics with the comedy of errors of his failing governorship. Just a short while back, Chris Christie was considered the clear frontrunner for the 2016 GOP presidential nomination. But one spiraling bridge scandal, a handful of state credit downgrades, and several millions in wasted taxpayer dollars on a joke of a self-exoneration later, Christie seems more likely to succeed Jimmy Fallon than Barack Obama. So before tonight's show, grab some popcorn and check out some of Christie's greatest hits, courtesy of American Bridge:
Scott "Bay State" Brown Still Has Massachusetts Plates
Former Massachusetts Senator Scott Brown, who is publicly flirting with a 2014 Senate campaign in "Massachesett--uh, in New Hampshire," has spent months parading around the state in his famous GMC truck. It seems that Brown was in such a rush, however, that he overlooked crucial details before jumping over the state line to hobnob with New Hampshire Republicans. As you can see below, Brown's famous truck still has Massachusetts plates. Without a New Hampshire license plate to call his own, it's no wonder that while speaking at a fundraiser this summer, Scott Brown tried to recite New Hampshire's famous state motto "Live Free AND Die," before struggling to recover and correcting himself. Perhaps now is the time for Scott Brown to invest in NH plates, if only to remind him what state he's in and what their motto is.
How to Talk to Women: A GOP Training Video
In an admission that today's GOP is stuck in the past, Washington Republicans apparently find it necessary to tutor fellow GOPers on how to run for office without offending female voters and/or opponents. While searching over the weekend, American Bridge researchers uncovered* a secret Republican training video seemingly used to teach GOP officials what not to say about women and their health care. (*just kidding, we made this)