June 2, 2016

Another poll shows Sanders, Clinton even in California

"Less than a week before California voters head to the polls on Tuesday, the Democratic race between Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders is effectively tied in the state, according to the results of the latest Field Poll released Thursday, as reported by local media outlets, including the Sacramento Bee and San Francisco Chronicle.
Clinton leads Sanders 45 percent to 43 percent, with 12 percent undecided or unreported. In the last survey in April, Clinton led Sanders by 6 points — 47 percent to 41 percent. The results in the latest Field survey mirror those of the NBC News/Wall Street Journal/Marist poll out Wednesday evening, which showed Clinton with a lead of 49 percent to 47 percent.
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Sanders has devoted most of his resources to winning California, holding multiple events in the state in recent weeks as he looks to bolster his case with superdelegates at the Democratic National Convention. Both Hillary and Bill Clinton will return to the state carrying the largest delegate prize in the days leading up to the Tuesday vote.

While Sanders holds a double-digit advantage over those expressing no party preference (54 percent to 40 percent), Clinton leads by a slightly smaller margin among the nearly 8 in 10 likely Democratic primary voters who identified as Democrats (49 percent to 40 percent).
As has been the case in nearly every state and national poll, Sanders holds wide advantages with voters under the age of 40 and fwith irst-time voters, while Clinton leads among voters older than 40. Clinton and Sanders are within the margin of error among white, non-Hispanic voters (where Clinton leads 44 percent to 43 percent) and among Latino voters (Clinton 46 percent, Sanders 42 percent). Among African-American voters, Clinton leads by 21 points — 57 percent to 36 percent. But among Asian-Americans, Sanders leads 47 percent to 34 percent. In all instances, Sanders has either cut into Clinton's advantage with all groups or, as is the case with non-Hispanic white support, Clinton's level of support has slightly dipped.

Sanders voters indicated a higher level of enthusiasm for their candidate compared with Clinton voters, with 65 percent of those backing the Vermont senator saying they are enthusiastic about their choice compared with 45 percent who said the same of Clinton. And while Sanders' favorability numbers have largely held steady over the past several months in the survey, Clinton's image rating has dropped to 64 percent favorable in the latest survey, down 6 points from April.


Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2016/06/poll-california-hillary-clinton-bernie-sanders-223810#ixzz4AQj4QySU

June 1, 2016

Clinton tech aide plans to take the Fifth at deposition

"A former information technology adviser to Hillary Clinton plans to exercise his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination at a deposition next week and wants to prevent any video recording being made of the session.

Lawyers for former State Department tech specialist Bryan Pagliano said in a court filing Wednesday that there's no valid reason to make an audio or video recording of the session since Pagliano doesn't plan to answer any of the questions he's asked by the conservative group Judicial Watch, which is pursuing a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit related to Clinton's private email server. The group is scheduled to take Pagliano's deposition on Monday.


"Mr. Pagliano will invoke his right under the Fifth Amendment and decline to testify at the deposition," Pagliano's lawyers Mark MacDougall and Connor Mullin wrote. "Given the constitutional implications, the absence of any proper purpose for video recording the deposition, and the considerable risk of abuse, the Court should preclude Judicial Watch, Inc. ... from creating an audiovisual recording of Mr. Pagliano’s deposition."

Acting on a request from another former aide to Clinton, Cheryl Mills, U.S. District Court Judge Emmet Sullivan already ruled that videos of the sessions should be put under seal. However, Pagliano's lawyers say there's still a chance the video could emerge later either with or without permission from the court.



http://www.politico.com/story/2016/06/bryan-pagliano-fifth-amendment-223796#ixzz4ANFjzegt

I can't say that I blame him.

June 1, 2016

WSJ/NBC Poll: Hillary Clinton Holds 2-Point Lead Ahead of California Primary

"Democratic candidates Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders are deadlocked in California ahead of next week’s high-stakes primary, a new Wall Street Journal/NBC News/Marist poll shows, raising the prospect of a surprise outcome that would give Mr. Sanders confidence to carry his campaign into the party’s convention next month.

Mrs. Clinton leads the Vermont senator by just 2 percentage points among likely Democratic primary voters, 49% to 47%, well within the survey’s margin of error. The poll signals a closer contest than expected just weeks ago.

The fate of Mr. Sanders’s presidential bid rides heavily on the outcome in California—the last major contest of the primary season and the one that awards the most delegates.

Mrs. Clinton can win enough delegates on June 7, when six states hold nominating contests, to claim the Democratic nomination, without winning the primary in California. She essentially has the nomination, thanks to the support of superdelegates, who can switch their allegiance at any time.

Mr. Sanders has been campaigning in California every day since May 21, hoping to build his vote total to bolster his argument to superdelegates ahead of the July nominating convention that he is the party’s stronger candidate.

A win in California could also strengthen Mr. Sanders’s hand in pushing for the party platform to better reflect his liberal agenda.

At the least, a Clinton loss in California would cast a long shadow over her campaign as she seeks to unify the Democratic Party after an unexpectedly competitive—and divisive—primary process. In particular, Mrs. Clinton needs to make inroads among the younger voters who have fueled Mr. Sanders’s campaign.



Among Democratic primary voters age 18 to 29, the poll found, 80% favor Mr. Sanders, while Mrs. Clinton garners almost twice his support among primary voters age 45 and older. Mr. Sanders also outpaces the Democratic front-runner by a wide margin, 72% to 28%, among those voters who would be participating for the first time.

The good news for Mrs. Clinton is that it looks like she has already banked a larger share of the early vote. She leads among Californians who have already cast ballots, 58% to 41%. She also beats Mr. Sanders in the state’s two biggest urban centers, the Bay Area and Los Angeles County.

Mr. Sanders holds a slight lead, 49% to 46%, among Latino voters, who account for more than a quarter of likely Democratic primary voters.


http://www.wsj.com/amp/articles/hillary-clinton-holds-2-point-lead-ahead-of-california-primary-poll-finds-1464814829

June 1, 2016

Thurston Moore (Sonic Youth) and Bernie Sanders to release collaborative single

" It's no secret that Bernie Sanders has found an avid group of supporters among the music crowd. Neil Young gifted him a song, Vampire Weekend, Grizzly Bear, and Red Hot Chili Peppers performed at his rallies, and Killer Mike has become a campaign spokesman.

Now, the Democratic presidential candidate has teamed up with Sonic Youth co-founder Thurston Moore for a collaborative single. Entitled “Feel It in Your Guts”, the track “is a twelve-string acoustic piece laced with excerpts from Bernie Sanders’ speeches, touching on topics like the worship of money, economic inequality, social justice, and the need for basic human rights for all people.”

Joyful Noise Recordings will release 1,000 hand-numbered copies on square, white flexi-disc vinyl, with a screenprinted cover art by David Kloc. Every copy will be given away for free to those who make individual donations to Sanders’ campaign. The track is also available as a free digital download. "


http://consequenceofsound.net/2016/06/thurston-moore-and-bernie-sanders-to-release-collaborative-single/
I'm curious what this will sound like.

June 1, 2016

CBS: Ex-Bill Clinton adviser says there's a chance Hillary Clinton won't win nomination

"A former political adviser and pollster to former President Bill Clinton says there's a chance Hillary Clinton won't win the Democratic nomination for president.

In an op-ed for The Wall Street Journal, Douglas Schoen laid out possible scenarios.

"A Sanders win in California would powerfully underscore Mrs. Clinton's weakness as a candidate in the general election. Democratic superdelegates--chosen by the party establishment and overwhelmingly backing Mrs. Clinton, 543-44--would seriously question whether they should continue to stand behind her candidacy," he wrote.

California is among six states holding primary contests on Tuesday and the Golden State has 475 delegates up for grabs.

Schoen argues that Sanders might offer a rules change at the Democratic National Convention that would require superdelegates to vote for the candidate who won their state's primary or caucus.


"If Mr. Sanders wins California, Montana and North Dakota on Tuesday and stays competitive in New Jersey, he could well be within 200 pledged delegates of Mrs. Clinton, making a vote in favor of the rules change on superdelegates more likely," Schoen said. In 2008, the gap separating Clinton from then-Sen. Obama was 102 pledged delegates -- about half of Clinton's lead over Sanders.

Schoen also said that Clinton's argument that she would be a strong candidate to beat Donald Trump in November doesn't reflect recent polls that show the race could be very close."


http://www.cbsnews.com/amp/news/ex-bill-clinton-adviser-says-theres-a-chance-hillary-clinton-wont-win-nomination/

June 1, 2016

Did Hillary have the interview with Chris Hayes today?

Hillary was supposed to have an interview today at 4pm but was a no show. They had a count down to the interview and everything.

May 31, 2016

Hillary Clinton Won't Say Whether She Backs Death Penalty For Dylann Roof

"For nearly a week now, Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign has refused to answer a simple yes or no question: whether she favors the Department of Justice's decision to seek the death penalty for Dylann Roof, who is accused of killing nine people last year at a historically black church in Charleston, South Carolina.

The Huffington Post first posed the question to Clinton's campaign on May 25, one day after the Justice Department made its announcement. We followed up twice that day, and once the day after. We tried again this Sunday and Monday.

The campaign only responded to one of those emails, and did so off the record -- but needless to say, it didn't answer the question.

The Clinton campaign's reluctance to weigh in on the issue stands in contrast to her Democratic opponent, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), whose campaign confirmed that he opposed the Justice Department's decision shortly after it was announced.

Sanders steadfastly opposes the death penalty on moral grounds and on the belief that it does not deter crime, as its proponents suggest. Clinton has said she does support the death penalty in "certain egregious cases."

The death penalty isn't generally a top concern for voters, but knowing candidates' stances on it does provide a sense of how they weigh politics and morality. Learning whether Roof qualifies as an "egregious case" in Clinton's mind would help voters figure out where she stands, but so far, her campaign refuses to provide any clues."


http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/hillary-clinton-dylann-roof-death-penalty_us_574db120e4b055bb1172c1c0/amp

May 31, 2016

DID BERNIE SANDERS GIVE DONALD TRUMP A TASTE OF HIS OWN MEDICINE WITH A NEW NICKNAME?

"Donald Trump has become known for crowning his opponents with brutal, simplistic nicknames, much in the way of a middle school playground bully. Trump’s method of sticking his primary opponents with nicknames and then relentlessly hammering them in was one of the reasons why Trump emerged at the head of the pack during the race for his party’s nomination. Defining his opponents and casting them in the most negative light possible has become a trademark, and one that he returns to time and again, as it has thus far proved to be a successful move. Low Energy Jeb. Little Marco Rubio. Lyin’ Ted. And now, as the Republican nomination is officially his, Trump has turned his penchant for nicknames to the other side.


Crooked Hillary. Goofy Elizabeth Warren. Crazy Bernie.

But it seems as though “Crazy Bernie” may be giving Donald Trump a taste of his own medicine by bestowing a rather cutting nickname on the candidate.

Mr. Macho.

Like Trump’s own nicknames for his opponents, it’s short and certainly not sweet, and, knowing Donald Trump’s penchant for vigorously defending his manhood — there was, after all, that time during a nationally televised debate that he felt compelled to assure his voters about the adequate size of a body part that had recently been slandered — “Mr. Macho” will cut to the quick."


http://www.inquisitr.com/3152735/did-bernie-sanders-give-donald-trump-a-taste-of-his-own-medicine-with-a-new-nickname/

May 31, 2016

Bernie Sanders Pulls Slam Dunk at NBA Game

"Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders scored a slam dunk Monday night by showing up at an NBA playoff game in Oakland.

The Associated Press
Prodded by Trump, Sanders Doesn’t Say Yes - or No - to Independent White House Run
With the crucial California presidential primary scheduled for next Tuesday, Sanders is scrambling for all the attention he can get, and he made a brilliant move by attending the Western Conference final game between host Golden State and Oklahoma City. Golden State won, 96-88, sending the California team to the pro basketball championship series against Cleveland.

The candidate arrived during halftime at Oakland's Oracle Arena with actor Danny Glover after a campaign rally nearby. They sat in Section 108, Row 15, behind a basket. The Vermont senator stood out in the crowd because he was wearing a blue shirt and was surrounded by fans in orange Golden State shirts.

The average price for a seat at the game was $960, according to ESPN, and it wasn't immediately known where Sanders got his ticket. He gleefully signed autographs and posed for pictures. Some spectators chanted, "Bernie! Bernie!" – generating big grins from the candidate.

The overwhelmingly favorable publicity could be valuable to Sanders as he competes with Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton in Tuesday's presidential primary. Clinton spent the holiday weekend in her home state of New York but is expected back in California Thursday for a five-day campaign swing.

After the game, Sanders tweeted, "Last week, Golden State was down three games to one. Tonight, they finished off a great comeback in California. I like comebacks.""

http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2016-05-31/bernie-sanders-pulls-slam-dunk-at-nba-game

Let's hope that Bernie can pull off a similar upset! On a side note tho. An average price of $960? That's crazy!

May 31, 2016

Poll: 50% Say Clinton Should Keep Running Even If Indicted

"Most continue to believe likely Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton is a lawbreaker, but half of all voters also say a felony indictment shouldn’t stop her campaign for the presidency.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone and online survey finds that 43% of Likely U.S. Voters think Clinton should immediately stop campaigning if she is charged with a felony in connection with her use of a private e-mail server while secretary of State. Fifty percent (50%), however, think she should continue running until a court determines her guilt or innocence. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

Voters were evenly divided on this question in January, but at that time we didn’t include the name of any candidate.

Among Democratic voters, 71% believe Clinton should keep running, a view shared by only 30% of Republicans and 46% of voters not affiliated with either major party.

Forty percent (40%) of all voters say they are less likely to vote for Clinton because of the e-mail issue, while nearly half (48%) say it will have no impact on their vote. Just eight percent (8%) say the issue makes them more likely to vote for the former first lady.

Sixty-five percent (65%) consider it likely that Clinton broke the law by sending and receiving e-mails containing classified information through a private e-mail server while serving as secretary of State. This includes 47% who say it’s Very Likely. These findings are unchanged from January. Thirty percent (30%) still say Clinton is unlikely to have broken the law with the e-mail arrangement, with 16% who say it’s Not At All Likely."

http://m.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/general_politics/may_2016/50_say_clinton_should_keep_running_even_if_indicted

This is an interesting poll and it's kinda what I expected.