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Tuesday Reads: The Hillary and Bernie Show and Other News

The scene at the site of the Hillary-Bernie rally in Portsmouth, NH Tuesday morning.
The scene at the site of the Hillary-Bernie rally in Portsmouth, NH Tuesday morning.

Good Morning!!

Bernie Sanders will supposedly endorse Hillary Clinton this morning at 11:00 at a joint rally in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. I’m not sure if I can bring myself to watch it, but I’ll give it a try. I’m still not convinced he will actually “endorse” her, and I’m afraid he’ll manage to say something nasty. From what I’m seeing in the news and on Twitter, this is going to be more of an anti-Trump thing, rather than a feel-good unity appearance.

Politico: Sanders to join Clinton for New Hampshire rally.

Sanders will campaign with Clinton, and is expected to endorse her, at a high school in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, at 11 a.m. Tuesday, less than two weeks before the Democratic National Convention begins in Philadelphia.

The Vermont senator’s campaign announced his participation minutes after the Clinton team’s email hit inboxes, with both announcements sharing the same language that the two former primary rivals will “discuss their commitment to building an America that is stronger together and an economy that works for everyone, not just those at the top.”

“Expected to endorse her.” See what I mean? No one seems to know for sure if he really will.

People beginning to gather for the event in Portsmouth, NH.
People beginning to gather for the event in Portsmouth, NH.

Also from Politico: Clinton and Sanders unite for the war on Trump.

For weeks now, Hillary Clinton’s campaign has been engaged in a project to win over the staunchest — and loudest — of Bernie Sanders’ supporters in the places where they’ll matter most in November.

Using one-on-one meetings, social gatherings, and public campaign events, Clinton’s operatives have been quietly working to court his backers in battleground states Sanders won during the primary or where they fought in especially contentious contests — in some cases relying on personal appeals from staffers as senior as campaign manager Robby Mook.

The first return on that investment comes Tuesday when Sanders joins Clinton on stage here for the formal display of unity the party’s been waiting for in advance of the July convention….

Even with the specter of Donald Trump looming, however, in states like this one — where Sanders beat Clinton by 22 points five months ago — the unification effort hasn’t been easy. It’s been an even tougher challenge in states where the primary was particularly tense — places like Iowa, Michigan, Nevada, and Colorado, where in some cases suspicion still lingers.

But defusing those tensions has been a focus of top party brass ever since the Nevada Democratic Party convention exploded into chaos in May, and the Clinton team’s efforts — often run out of the local offices, but occasionally escalating to the Brooklyn headquarters — have ramped up since the last primary vote was held in June.

Read more about the completely one-sided “unity” efforts at the link above. Here’s another hint about how much unity there will be:

I don’t recall Hillary having special speakers at her New Hampshire unity rally with Obama in 2008, do you? Maybe I missed that.

It sounds like Al Giordano agrees with me.

https://twitter.com/AlGiordano/status/752752509576327168

In other news, the Republican National Convention begins next Monday in Cleveland. I wonder if Donald Trump will be able to find enough speakers to fill the TV time. Ted Cruz has agreed to speak, but not to endorse Trump. Apparently Trump is planning to have his current wife and his children give speeches. Joni Ernst has been given a prime-time slot, according to The New York Times. I suppose Newt Gingrich and Chris Christie will speak. And yesterday Paul Ryan agreed to give a short speech.

The Salt Lake Tribune: Part-time Trump critic Paul Ryan to speak at Republican convention.

Although we don’t yet know who else will fill out the Republican National Convention speaker list, we now know one: The speaker himself. Paul Ryan, who has not been the biggest Donald Trump fan, will speak in Cleveland next week, offering what an aide says is “the sharp contrast between Republican ideas and four more years of Obama-like progressive policies; and the need for conservatives to unite around Republican candidates in advance of a critical election.” [Politico]

Most Republican office-holders and operatives seem to be trying to find excuses not to attend the convention and many are trying to avoid even saying Donald Trump’s name.

GOP

Politico: GOP operatives dread Trump convention.

Many GOP regulars are skipping Cleveland entirely. (“I would rather attend the public hanging of a good friend,” says Will Ritter, an up-and-coming Republican digital strategist who worked on the three previous conventions.) And among those who are making the trek, there’s an overwhelming sense it won’t be fun at all. At a time when many Republicans are deeply dissatisfied with their nominee, pessimistic about their prospects for victory in the fall and alarmed about the direction of their party, there’s a reluctance about attending the convention more typically reserved for going to the DMV, being summoned for jury duty or undergoing a root canal.

“This is the first year in the past two decades that Republicans aren’t excited about attending the convention. Normally, we’re all jazzed up about getting together and celebrating our nominee,” said Chris Perkins, a GOP pollster who has attended every Republican convention since 1996. “There’s nothing to celebrate this cycle. I’m going because I have to, not because I want to.”

Those who are going often say they’re doing so out of a sense of obligation — to meet with clients or to hold meetings before making a beeline back to the airport. As the Republican Party prepares to nominate a figure who is registering historically high disapproval ratings, some don’t want to advertise their presence in Cleveland. “Don’t use my name,” said one senior party strategist. “I don’t want anyone to know I’m there.” (A few days after the interview, the strategist got back in touch, having decided not to go, after all.)

More embarrassing details for the GOP and Donald Trump at Politico.

Quicken Arena in Cleveland, site of 2016 GOP National Convention
Quicken Arena in Cleveland, site of 2016 GOP National Convention

This is interesting from NBC News: Federal Judge Rules for Anti-Trump GOP Delegate.

A federal judge blocked enforcement Monday of a Virginia law binding delegates to support the primary winner at the nominating convention.

It was a victory for Carroll “Beau” Correll, a delegate to the Republican national convention who argued that the law violated his First Amendment rights to vote for his preferred candidate. Correll supported Ted Cruz in the primary, while Donald Trump received the most votes in the state.

Correll said in an interview that the Trump campaign got “morbidly humiliated” by the outcome of the case.

“They put all their chips on the table and they lost all of them — if I were them I’d go hide in a closet in Trump Tower,” he said.

In a follow up statement, Correll made a plea to the like-minded, writing:

“To national political figures that are on the sidelines and awaiting your calling, I implore you to take a step forward from the darkness and into the light. Show us that you have the courage to stand for leader of the Free World, appeal to the better angels of our nature, and to deliver this Republic from the abomination of a Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton presidency.”

As a practical matter, the decision appeared to affect at most only some of Virginia’s delegates. Some legal experts even said the ruling may apply only to Correll himself, though it was filed as a class action on behalf of all the state’s Republican delegates.

The truth is that delegate cannot be legally bound to vote for the candidate who won their state. I wonder how many will try to avoid voting for Trump?

 In this April 8, 2013, file photo, President Barack Obama embraces Scarlett Lewis, mother of Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting victim Jesse Lewis, after speaking at in Hartford, Conn. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File) (Susan Walsh)
In this April 8, 2013, file photo, President Barack Obama embraces Scarlett Lewis, mother of Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting victim Jesse Lewis, after speaking at in Hartford, Conn. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File) (Susan Walsh)

President Obama will be in Dallas today to honor the five police officers who were murdered by Micah Johnson. The Washington Post reports:

Obama will try Tuesday to help grief-stricken Dallas begin to heal less than a week after its officers were killed and others wounded by an Army veteran-turned-sniper. Obama has denounced the shooting as a “vicious, calculated and despicable attack on law enforcement” by a “demented” individual.

Just a few weeks ago, Obama spent hours in Orlando, Florida, consoling the loved ones of 49 people who were killed in a shooting rampage at a nightclub.

In what has become an unwelcome but regular duty of his presidency, Obama was preparing to address an interfaith memorial service in Dallas for the officers. They were killed last Thursday while standing guard as hundreds of people peacefully protested the police killings of black men in Louisiana and Minnesota earlier in the week….

Portions of both shootings were videotaped and broadcast nationwide, leading to fresh outrage, protests and scores of arrests. The killings also put the country on edge, heightened racial tensions and pushed the issue of the use of deadly force against black males by white police officers to the forefront.

Obama will seek to bridge those issues with his tribute to the fallen five, which include a former Army Ranger, a Navy veteran and a newlywed starting a second family.

As Dakinikat wrote yesterday, we are seeing Ferguson-like events in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The situation is similar in St. Paul, Minnesota, where Philando Castile was killed by police after being stopped for a broken taillight. From Fox News 9, July 10: Protest shuts down I-94 in St. Paul: 21 officers injured, 102 arrested.

Hundreds of people protesting the shooting death of Philando Castile gathered Saturday night at the Governor’s Residence on Summit Avenue in St. Paul, Minn., then marched onto Interstate 94, shutting down the highway for more than 5 hours. Sunday morning, St. Paul police confirmed 21 officers from multiple agencies were injured, and 102 people were arrested. None of the injuries were serious.

Around 8 p.m., the crowd marched onto the eastbound and westbound lanes of I-94 at Lexington Avenue, forming a wall. Police closed the interstate from Highway 280 to downtown St. Paul, then reopened both directions by 1:49 a.m. Sunday. A total of 50 people were arrested on I-94, booked into Ramsey County Jail on third-degree rioting charges. State Patrol officials said at least eight people arrested were from outside Minnesota.

A second clash with police on Grand Avenue at about 4 a.m. led to 52 arrests for public nuisance and unlawful assembly. Those individuals were booked and released.

Sunday morning, St. Paul Police Chief Todd Axtell confirmed 21 officers were injured by projectiles, including fireworks, rocks, bricks, concrete chunks and glass bottles. An officer now has a broken vertebrae after being hit by a concrete block in the head. At the height of the confrontation, police said some people started arming themselves with rebar from a nearby construction site. Police then used smoke and to clear the crowd. After the freeway was cleared, one officer was hit in the face by a bottle thrown by a protester on a St. Paul city street.

A couple of updates from NOLA on Baton Rouge:

Police advance on peaceful protesters in Baton Rouge, LA
Police advance on peaceful protesters in Baton Rouge, LA

Baton Rouge police tactics in Alton Sterling shooting protests questioned.

Baton Rouge police are facing criticism for the tactics used to deal with protests in the wake of Alton Sterling’s officers-involved fatal shooting, with groups like Amnesty International questioning whether police are committed to protecting First Amendment rights.

Protests on Sunday (July 11) have become a flashpoint for those criticisms after police ordered protesters off the street, then arrested people standing on private property when they refused to leave the area.

Police have said the group was targeted because they blocked a residential street hours before, but most of the arrests on Sunday were made while people were on private property — some with authorization of the owner.

Jamira Burley, a senior campaigner for Amnesty International, was in Baton Rouge over the weekend observing the protests and said she was deeply concerned about several aspects of the police response.

She said police responding in heavy military-style gear and vehicles, their decision to arrest people during an otherwise peaceful protest on private property, and the high number of arrests all appeared to be aimed at scaring protesters into not returning to demonstrations.

More at the link.

Baton Rouge DA recuses himself from Alton Sterling shooting investigation.

Baton Rouge District Attorney Hillar Moore III recused himself from the ongoing investigation into the fatal police shooting of Alton Sterling during a press conference Monday (July 11).

Moore said he is stepping down because of a personal relationship with the parents of one of the officers involved in the shooting. He said a new prosecutor will be appointed to oversee the pursue of any criminal charges for officers Howie Lake II and Blane Salamoni.

Again, read the rest at NOLA.

This is an open thread. If you’re planning to watch the Bernie and Hillary joint appearance this morning, you can use this as a live blog. Feel free to post links on any other topics you are following today.

 

Comments

84 responses to “Tuesday Reads: The Hillary and Bernie Show and Other News”

  1. bostonboomer Avatar
    bostonboomer

    Have a great Tuesday, Sky Dancers!

    1. dakinikat Avatar

      You too BB!

      1. bostonboomer Avatar
        bostonboomer

        Thanks! It’s gonna be hot here today and hotter for the rest of the week.

        1. dakinikat Avatar

          It’s awful here already. Even Temple wanted to cut her walk short.

  2. bostonboomer Avatar
    bostonboomer

    //platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

    1. dakinikat Avatar

      I read that Weaver was on TV yesterday stating that this would be a new phase in the Sanders’ campaign. WTF do you think he meant by that?

      1. bostonboomer Avatar
        bostonboomer

        Good grief! I hate to think.

        1. dakinikat Avatar

          Okay he just said she won and he’s talking about why she must be our next president. What a relief!

  3. bostonboomer Avatar
    bostonboomer

    ABC News will live stream the Bernie/Hillary rally.

    http://abcnews.go.com/Live

    C-Span also has it scheduled.

    http://www.c-span.org/video/?412571-1/bernie-sanders-set-endorse-hillary-clinton

  4. Fannie Avatar
    Fannie

    Good morning and thanks……..will tune in to the so called endorsement of Bernie.

    1. bostonboomer Avatar
      bostonboomer

      It has started on C-span.

  5. janicen Avatar
    janicen

    I have it on CNN now. I didn’t realize CNN hired David Gregory as a talking head. Who gives a crap what that hack has to say?

    Now I’m watching old people explain what young people are thinking. Makes sense.

  6. janicen Avatar
    janicen

    Seems like David Gregory is saying, “No matter what Hillary does, she will be wrong.”

  7. bostonboomer Avatar
    bostonboomer

    //platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

    1. janicen Avatar
      janicen

      LOL!

  8. janicen Avatar
    janicen

    Here they come. Hillz and Bern arriving at the same time shaking hands with the crowd.

    I love seeing that old asshole eat crow. Here’s your revolution, dude.

  9. bostonboomer Avatar
    bostonboomer

    Bernie doesn’t look very happy, but then he never does.

    1. janicen Avatar
      janicen

      Hillary looks quite pleased, though!

  10. janicen Avatar
    janicen

    Hillz has to grin and bear his bullshit for a while. Enough Bernie, the revolution is done. Incrementalism is the way.

    1. joanelle Avatar
      joanelle

      What is wrong with the DNC, kissing BS’ A_s, caving on everything

      1. NW Luna Avatar
        NW Luna

        My thoughts also.

      2. Minkoff Minx Avatar

        I thought the same thing. And since then, any txt message I get from the Hillary campaign is full of kissing Sanders ass.

  11. bostonboomer Avatar
    bostonboomer

    So far he is just thanking his supporters and using lines from his stump speech about how many people voted for him. “We have begun a political revolution to transform American, and that revolution continues.”

    1. bostonboomer Avatar
      bostonboomer

      Jeeze he’s still going on about himself.

  12. janicen Avatar
    janicen

    Asshole is still making the distinction about the Super Delegates. Fuck you, Bernie. You lost.

  13. janicen Avatar
    janicen

    Bernie, “Secretary Clinton has won.”

  14. bostonboomer Avatar
    bostonboomer

    “Secretary Clinton has won the Democratic nomination process.” He looks like he just smelled something awful.

    1. bostonboomer Avatar
      bostonboomer

      “I will do everything I can to make sure she becomes the next president.”

      1. bostonboomer Avatar
        bostonboomer

        Finally, “I am endorsing Hillary Clinton.”

    2. janicen Avatar
      janicen

      His breath.

      1. bostonboomer Avatar
        bostonboomer

        LOL

    3. joanelle Avatar
      joanelle

      He always looks as though he’s smelled something awful

  15. janicen Avatar
    janicen

    He finally said the word “endorse”. The crowd erupts.

    1. janicen Avatar
      janicen

      And now we’re back to talking about Bernie again. Yawn.

  16. Delphyne49 Avatar
    Delphyne49

    He finally, finally endorsed!

  17. bostonboomer Avatar
    bostonboomer

    //platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

  18. Fannie Avatar
    Fannie

    Yup, Bernie sounds good, Yup he does.

  19. janicen Avatar
    janicen

    Ooooh! He’s even saying something nice about Obama!

  20. Fannie Avatar
    Fannie

    Okay, Bernie, okay. Let Hillary speak to your endorsement.

  21. janicen Avatar
    janicen

    I called my daughter to make sure she saw this historic moment. She said, “You mean a white guy actually admitting he got beat by a woman?”

    LOL!

    1. bostonboomer Avatar
      bostonboomer

      ROFLOL!

    2. NW Luna Avatar
      NW Luna

      Nailed it!

    3. Minkoff Minx Avatar

      Lol 😉

    1. janicen Avatar
      janicen

      I’d say Khaleesi over Cersei, but it’s funny nonetheless.

      1. Ron4Hills Avatar
        Ron4Hills

        What shall we call her dragons? Billarion, Baraksis, and Elizagar!

  22. janicen Avatar
    janicen

    Did Hillary say “tuition free college” or is Bernie just trying to force his agenda?

    1. NW Luna Avatar
      NW Luna

      No, I don’t think so. She’s had a tuition-free community college and debt-free state 4-yr college plan in her policies for some time.

  23. bostonboomer Avatar
    bostonboomer

    Somebody get the hook!!

    1. janicen Avatar
      janicen

      I know. But at least now, he’s talking about Hillary. Finally.

  24. Delphyne49 Avatar
    Delphyne49

    Bernie, Bernie – time to wrap it up! Like now.

  25. janicen Avatar
    janicen

    One mistake Hillary makes, is she talks over the crowd when they chant, “Hillary, Hillary, Hillary”

    She should let them go for a bit, then stop them.

    1. NW Luna Avatar
      NW Luna

      I agree, she should enjoy and bask in it, then continue. But she’s not a Bernie, so she doesn’t really want to accept the admiration.

    2. joanelle Avatar
      joanelle

      yes, and when she tries to talk over the crowd she has to shout – thus giving the media another negative to write about

  26. bostonboomer Avatar
    bostonboomer

    //platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

  27. janicen Avatar
    janicen

    She also needs to tone down her speaking right now. She’s sounding like Bernie, she needs to sound like herself.

    1. janicen Avatar
      janicen

      She’s found her voice and she’s killing it now.

  28. Fannie Avatar
    Fannie

    BB……………BB……………..21st Century…………..BB………..21st Century………….BIG and BOLD, lets go Hillary.

  29. pdgrey Avatar
    pdgrey

    I admit I haven’t read the post today. I had to go to the doctor. I came in when the Dallas memorial was on.
    Obama was incredible. I only wish the country could hear what he said as I did. It makes me sad.

    1. Sweet Sue Avatar
      Sweet Sue

      He was wonderful, and when the speakers all joined hands during the second stanza of The Battle Hymn, I sobbed.

      1. Fannie Avatar
        Fannie

        He was truly outstanding………….I can’t understand why GW Bush wouldn’t shake hands with him after that speech.

        1. pdgrey Avatar
          pdgrey

          I can

          1. pdgrey Avatar
            pdgrey

            Especially after jeb’s interview last night.

        2. Fannie Avatar
          Fannie

          It pissed me off too. Looked like he was drunk and dancing and having fun. If it would have been my husband, I’d yanked his ass.

          1. Sweet Sue Avatar
            Sweet Sue

            That was very strange. Like I can’t believe my eyes strange.
            I told my husband that Bush looked like he’s in the middle stage of dementia.

  30. pdgrey Avatar
    pdgrey

    BB, I have read your post. thanks. Great post! I didn’t know about the DA.

    1. NW Luna Avatar
      NW Luna

      It would be more funny if they not so pathetically hateful. That reminds me, I saw a bumper sticker yesterday that said: “Bernie. Because fuck this shit.” Yeah, real eloquent reason there.

  31. pdgrey Avatar
    pdgrey

    Flashback from Charles Pierce
    Is this not our news?

  32. pdgrey Avatar
    pdgrey

    I’m not ashamed to say that I hope he gets off.
    http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/corey-menafee-loses-dishwashing-job-yale-racist-stained-glass
    I guess that makes me a lawless liberal. I don’t care.

    1. NW Luna Avatar
      NW Luna

      I think he should get off, too. Or be given no sentence. He has admitted to the action, and Yale isn’t pressing charges.

  33. pdgrey Avatar
    pdgrey

    OK, one more, since I am alone and don’t want to over comment, ha.
    After all the crap supreme court judges on the right have done, I love Ruth saying FU, I won’t be here that long anyway! Assholes. Yea for her
    http://wonkette.com/604018/donald-trump-so-mad-at-notorious-rbg-says-judges-arent-sposed-to-have-opinions

    1. NW Luna Avatar
      NW Luna

      Love RBG! And I don’t think there’s any such thing as over commenting here. Probably just a fluke of schedules that a lot of us weren’t commenting earlier.

      Though I must admit to solacing myself lately with lots reading and spinning and other activities to take my mind of the horrible state of current events (Hillary excepted).

    2. Earlynerd Avatar
      Earlynerd

      THANK YOU for that link.

      This had me whooping out loud from the comments:
      ” Smokahontas
      ‘Especially considering she’s like 4 feet tall!’
      ZangoCrudmonger
      ‘Fractals.’”

    3. pdgrey Avatar
      pdgrey

      RBG ran out of “Fcks” al time a go. And I am very very glad!
      http://www.esquire.com/news-politics/politics/news/a46677/ruth-bader-ginsburg-donald-trump/

  34. NW Luna Avatar
    NW Luna

    LOL! I just watched some video of the Hillary and Bernie event. Hillary looks as if she has to keep suppressing witty rebuttals to Bernie’s speech. Bet she really was.

  35. Beata Avatar
    Beata

    1. NW Luna Avatar
      NW Luna

      That is poignant, Beata.

  36. Ron4Hills Avatar
    Ron4Hills

    I know it will seem like I am obsessed with race lately, but I have two more comments to make on the subject.

    1) Paul Ryan is FOS, “Some people in America FEEL less safe…”

    What a joke. How about some people ARE less safe.

    Instead of saying people have a right to FEEL like they are equally protected, how about DEMANDING that we actually have equal protection under the law?

    When will the right wing and it’s kneecap sucking media allies quit pretending that the issue is Black folks perception of law enforcement?

    How about admitting the the law enforcement confronted by non-whites, is very different from the law enforcement confronted by whites!

    2) The Morning Joke round table was rubbing there hands with glee this morning because Trump has pulled even or ahead in a few swing state polls. They acted as if there is some mystery about “how is he doing it!”

    Blacklash, pure and simple. When white people get scared they turn to conservative demagogues. Well, the events of the past week scared the living sh!t out of everybody.

    Hopefully, Hills will not continue to suffer because of the nightly coverage protests.

    She is right to push for unity and hopefully we can get there.

    I don’t think that Trumps “panic whitey” strategy has legs. For one thing he HIMSELF scares many white voters for different reasons.

    1. janicen Avatar
      janicen

      I question the polls. I think, if the election were held today, she would crush Trump in a landslide.

      1. pdgrey Avatar
        pdgrey

        That poll is rated C at fivethirtyeight.

    2. NW Luna Avatar
      NW Luna

      I don’t think you’re obsessed with race at all. I’m horrified and angry and sad. Some people are less safe. Ryan and his ilk are doing one of the usual tricks to attempt to belittle a legitimate problem — talking about it as if it was an emotional reaction, which implies that the solution is just to quit being emotional and then everything will be OK. Ryan can’t see outside his safe secure shell of rich white male privilege. If he ever could he’d be scared shitless because he’d know he wasn’t safe.

      As for Trump, he is a nightmare. But Hillary will crush him.

  37. NW Luna Avatar
    NW Luna

    BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg says it [new PM May’s] was a “confident” speech with a surprisingly forceful focus on social justice, social mobility and extending opportunity to those who have maybe been left behind – which she suggests could possibly have been made by a Labour politician.

    “There was a radical note to that speech which maybe not everyone might have been expecting,” she adds.

    Despite this, the BBC’s political editor says the new prime minister should be under no illusion about how “tough a ride” she will have.

    ….

    As PM, Theresa May says she will prioritise “not the mighty nor the wealthy nor the privileged few” but working people and will do everything she can to help people to get on in life.

    http://www.bbc.com/news/live/uk-politics-36570120