Donald Trump

Trump Smash: Paul Ryan’s Heroic Media Image Finally Cracks

Becky SarwateLeave a comment

paul-ryan-ballcap

“Fittingly, in a year where Trump is playing human tire fire with one of America’s two established political parties, Ryan’s game with the media has grown more complicated. Now that he’s officially left the #NeverTrump movement, he’s completely beholden to the whims of a candidate who worships no one but himself.

It was never clear to begin with that the Donald gives a shit about Ryan’s awesomely lopsided legislative agenda. And a mere week after his “sudden” endorsement, the Speaker tussled with Trump’s racist, embarrassing feud with U.S. District Judge Gonzalo Curiel. Don’t look now but the con man has been conned.”

Read the full post at Contemptor.

Kasich’s Garland Confusion Reminds Voters He’s The Clumsy GOP Establishment

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Kasich

“In a bizarre way, Kasich’s tenuous grasp of Garland talking points puts him firmly in step with the general Republican establishment, which has demonstrated vacillating, illogical “strategy” since Antonin Scalia died last month. The fingers in the ears approach to the universally respected Garland is hard to comprehend. The party is clearly worried about Trump as standard bearer and its many implications, including any SCOTUS choice he might render. Why then are they willing to roll the dice, risking a Trump, Clinton or Sanders recommendation? Where is the bravado coming from?”

Read the full post at Contemptor.

Missing in Action: The Week’s Overlooked News Stories

Becky SarwateLeave a comment

missing

Trump, blah blah, Marco Rubio’s yuge resignation from the 2016 presidential campaign, whatever. Believe it or not, there’s a whole world out there. Here’s three other stories that caught my attention this week…

– On Wednesday, President Barack Obama announced Judge Merrick Garland as his nominee for the Supreme Court, replacing recently deceased Justice Antonin Scalia. To understate the situation, the controversy surrounding the move is vast. Should a lame duck President (with nearly a year left in his term) be allowed to nominate a justice? Is Congress obligated to give a nominee fair hearings? Are the Executive and Legislative branches of government capable of agreeing on anything? While the media spotlight was focused on these questions, President Obama sat down with Time Magazine for an in-depth discussion on race and body image in which he acknowledges slowly changing standards of beauty. He hopes these shifts inspire the next generation to view themselves and their dreams differently. Read an excerpt of this uplifting interview here.

– Ok fine. This is related to Trump. But we found a unifying issue! On the heels of this month’s Super Tuesday success for The Donald, Google announced that searches for answers to the question, “How can I move to Canada?” went up 350%. This week we witnessed Super Tuesday Part 3 in which the rise of Trump continued and talk of a contested Republican Convention was amplified by members of the GOP establishment. While the nation watched this unfolding mess, the World Happiness Report Update 2016 from the Sustainable Development Solutions Network for the United Nations was released. If you are horrified by the 2016 election cycle and want relocation options to consider besides Canada, you may find inspiration here.

– The world of entertainment is littered with celebrities fighting for more exposure, more money, more everything at the expense of anything else (I’m looking at you Kardashians). But this week, one sports figure stood out for his humble sanity. NBA star and San Antonio Spur Kawhi Leonard still drives the same car he drove in high school despite having signed a $94 million contact extension last summer. Read about his fascinating discipline and love for chicken wing coupons here.

What was on your radar this week?

Can We Please Stop The Farcical ‘First In The Nation’ Iowa Caucuses Already?

Becky SarwateLeave a comment

Iowa-caucuses

“What’s certainly clear is that the paradigm of presidential election pro forma is over. Donald Trump skipped the last debate before caucuses began, has spent very little money on his general campaign (the irony) and thumbs his nose at the establishment and its endorsements. And there’s also the small matter of his never having held a public office. Meanwhile over on the left, a guy who knows a thing or two about winning elections, Barack Obama, labeled Sanders’ campaign a “complete long shot” just a week ago. However, can a man that the National Journal recently dubbed “The Betty White of Politics,” really be considered a million-to-one? Poll numbers seem to disagree with the current President as well.

And since, for better or worse, the predictability of POTUS election cycles has gone the way the Edsel, maybe it’s long overdue that we revisit this entire caucus farce.”

Click here to read the full post at Contemptor.

The Unasked GOP Debate Question: Will Someone, Anyone, Please Drop Out of This Race?

Becky Sarwate1 Comment

Contempt

“So many questions in the aftermath of an ongoing exercise in excruciating national embarrassment. But the most important one remains unanswered today. With 14 candidates left in the field and the actual primaries just a couple months away, is anyone going to make like Scott Walker and go back to screwing up his or her regular day job?”

Read the full post on the Contemptor website.