RationalWiki:What is going on with the elections?/August 2016

August 2016
Clinton has given a speech in Ohio [http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/clinton-james-clad-joint-appearance-cincinnati? about American exceptionalism with a former Dubya official.] This comes after more neocons and corporations jump on the bandwagon. Angela Corey, the Florida State Attorney who oversaw Trayvon Martin & Marissa Alexander cases, has lost her primary. The Supreme Court won't reinstate North Carolina's voter ID laws. Meet the man siphoning money from Donald Trump. Fucking damn. CLP wipe out in NT, ALP landslide. Only have one seat, leading in one in doubt seat. Giles is even losing, albeit by 11 votes, but there's a 20% swing there. One seat has a swing of 39% away from the CLP. FBI says foreign hackers penetrated state election systems. (Autoplay video) Transcript of Hillary Clinton's speech on the Alt Right (it's mostly about just Trump) Poll commissioned by South Carolina Democratic Party shows Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump tied in South Carolina if you take it as a four-way race. Yes, tied. The Associated Press released an analysis of Clinton's meetings while Secretary of State that appears to be shoddy and misleading. The Clinton campaign asked the AP to revise or delete a Twitter post about the story, but the AP has refused. Hillary Clinton has criticized for-profit colleges, while Bill Clinton has earned millions from a position at the world's largest for-profit education company. Trump is between a rock and a hard place, trying to "pivot" on immigration to appear less racist without losing the support of his xenophobic base. [http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/trump-clinton-celebrity-supporters-not-very-hot Trump: The celebrities supporting Clinton? They're sixes at best!] Robert and Rebekah Mercer, major funders of the Trump campaign and Breitbart, are now funding John McCain's Republican primary challenger. Michele Bachmann is advising Trump on foreign policy. Yes, you read that correctly. Nigel Farage to speak at a Trump rally. Ray Kurzweil was right — the singularity is near, and it's made entirely of stupid! How to electorally shoot yourself in the foot: Tom Tancredo pens a Breitbart op-ed criticizing Mormons for their pro-immigrant stance. All True Christians™ know you're not supposed to take all that "love thy neighbor" claptrap seriously! Trump is already helping Putin consolidate control of Ukraine. Right-wing talk radio host Charlie Sykes, who has been vocally anti-Trump, is starting to realize how people like him helped fuel Trump's rise. How Trump Exposed America’s White Identity Crisis. Trump's real endgame: A white nationalist media empire? Ukrainian-Americans are surprisingly not thrilled about Trump. The lawyer who represented Hulk Hogan in his lawsuit against Gawker is now representing Melania Trump and threatening to sue publications. (More details.) Sean Hannity is advising Trump's campaign. I'm sure Trump will condemn this example of the crooked media playing favorites any day now. In the most shocking news of all time, many Trump campaign staffers' personal public Internet posts contain bigotry, conspiracy theories, and musings about armed rebellion. Giuliani: [http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2016-election/giuliani-fuels-clinton-health-rumors-again-again-n635841 Clinton's health is terrible! Look it up on the Internet!] Allegedly as far back as 2011, Donald Trump and the chief executive at NBC/Universal discussed a Trump run for POTUS so he could continue to star in The Apprentice from inside the White House. The secret donor of the "Children of Israel" ghost corporation funding GOP Super PACs. How Breitbart turned on Ted Cruz. Surprising no one, House Republicans plan to keep alleging that Clinton committed perjury. Get ready for them to start impeachment proceedings on her first day in office if they keep the House. Trump might want to get the message about his "pivot" to his security staff, because they seem to keep kicking non-whites out of his rallies. Trump campaign produces first general election ad. Summary: IMMIGRANTS WILL KILL YOUR FAMILY!!! The ad cites white supremacist John Tanton's Center for Immigration Studies. Trump to black voters: "What do you have to lose?" Rejected slogans: "C'mon, it'll be fun!", "You don't want people to think you're a wuss, do ya?", and "All the cool kids are doing it!" Trump's 'campaign' chairman Paul Manafort quits. The North Carolina Republican Party continues to not be a fan of early voting, especially on Sundays and at college campuses for some reason undoubtedly rooted in fiscal conservatism. Amusingly this touches off another family spat. Three people have accused one of Trump's foreign policy advisers, Joseph Schmitz, of anti-Semitic statements and actions while he served as Defense Department inspector general. Also two others claim he called Obama a Communist in a 2015 speech. Another adviser with ties to Gazprom has praised Putin and his allies and criticized U.S. policy towards Russia. The far-right fever swamps are continuing to flog conspiracy theories about Clinton's health. Apparently this was started by the respected news sources National Enquirer and Infowars. Your 2016 U.S. conservative media food chain: Infowars/National Enquirer -> Breitbart/Fox News -> Trump's mouth. Newt Gingrich of all people says on Fox News that this is nonsense. Hillary Clinton told the FBI she was advised by Colin Powell to use a private e-mail for non-classified communications. Former DNC chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz accidentally admits she played a role in pushing for Hillary Clinton's nomination. A CNN news anchor points out that Donald Trump is losing in all the polls. In response, his lawyer asks, "Says who?" Does anyone remember that time when conservatives attacked Obama for eating a hot dog with mustard? Now, the alt-right is attacking Hillary for, wait for it... sitting on stools. Michael Moore says Trump never wanted to be president, it started as a lark for a payraise from NBC. Bringing his pivot round 360 degrees, Trump appoints Breitbart.com head Stephen Bannon to run his campaign. Disagreeing with the elite consensus on trade, immigration, or foreign policy does not make one a Trump "enabler". "This isn't the year for ideological purity. Don't vote for Jill Stein." Trump campaign brings on board both Roger Ailes and a Breitbart executive. Insert joke here. Hillary Clinton has picked former Colorado Democratic Senator and Interior Secretary Ken Salazar to be the chair of her presidential transition team. As interior secretary, he opened the Arctic Ocean for oil drilling, and oversaw the botched response to the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico; he has also strongly supported the TPP. Sick of these liberal media Shillary lies from pollsters, Breitbart runs its own poll, so there! ... Clinton comes out five points ahead of Trump. You might think the Libertarian Party ticket would be getting more attention from anti-Trump Republicans, but it turns out they can't get past Johnson's love of the devil's lettuce. Something something cutting off your nose to spite your face. Clinton is starting to run away with the election, with NBC News's poll tracking currently putting her at 283 electoral votes. Note that's without Ohio or Florida. Donald Trump's campaign staffing choices get even more horrifying, as more Russian connections are put out in the open. Guccifer 2.0 has doxed 200 Democratic House members in his latest datadump. In response, both Twitter (Autoplay video) and Wordpress have blocked him The feminist criticism of Hillary Clinton. The GOP has their perfect candidate, and her name is Hillary Clinton, the true conservative of 2016. This is why the "Hillary consensus" is damaging the Left. (Autoplay video) Hillary Clinton is bragging about being endorsed by John Negroponte, the US ambassador who turned Honduras into a training ground for the Contras. Staff close to her campaign say that they are encouraging Condoleezza Rice, James Baker, George Shultz and Henry Kissinger to endorse her. A spokesperson for the Trump campaign gives proof for being brainless detached from reality [http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/obama-afghanistan-trump_us_57af33d8e4b007c36e4ef660? claiming that Obama started the Afghan War], a conflict which was well into its eighth year when he took office in 2009. Hillary Clinton continues to do increasingly well in the polls. The Labour Party has won its appeal against the leader of the Labour Party and can stop Labour Party members voting in Labour Party elections, due to fears that the Labour Party has been infiltrated by supporters of the leader of the Labour Party. In two interviews (some analysis), Trump basically confirms what many have suspected: he thinks he's winning because he has big crowds at his rallies, and he doesn't really care whether he wins the election. The RNC is starting to make plans to "cut him loose" and try to save what they can. Two members of the Kennedy family condemn Trump in op-ed for his "Second Amendment" remarks, as does Ronald Reagan's daughter. Trump: "Obama is the founder of ISIS." Supporter Hugh Hewitt hilariously tries to walk him back to something resembling sanity ("Obama lost the peace in Iraq") but Trump rebuffs him and doubles down on his exact statement (because he's obviously dog whistling to the far right that Obama is a Muslim who hates America). Trump's economic adviser says that "Capitalism is more important than democracy". New State Department emails appear to show that Clinton Foundation donors called in favors during Clinton's tenure. Donald Trump's Second Amendment comments weren't criminal. Trump is in fourth place among black voters. Poll shows that birtherism continues to flourish, with only 27% of Republican respondents agreeing that Obama was born in the U.S. Moreover, the responses were uncorrelated with knowledge about the U.S. political system; i.e., more knowledgeable Republicans were just as likely to not believe Obama was born in the U.S. According to a new poll, one in five registered Republicans want Trump to drop out of the race. Trump campaign's spending so far on general election ads: $0. But why waste money on ads when you're a winner who wins all the time? Donald Trump totally didn't just call for the assassination of Hillary Clinton. He just advocated "second-amendment remedies" to stop her. The father of the Orlando shooter showed up at a Hilary Clinton rally. In before Trump makes a bad comment. Republican Senator Susan Collins of Maine says she won't support Trump. She was last reelected in 2014 and is not up for reelection until 2020. Far-right Internet scream chambers' latest conspiracy theory is about Hillary's supposedly terrible health being covered up. Those exposing The Truth include Gamergate "lawyer" Mike Cernovich and, of all people, Martin Shkreli (yes, the douchebag pharma CEO). The "Never Trump" movement appears to have finally talked someone into running: Republican Evan McMullin launches Presidential campaign as an independent. 50 high-ranking Republican national security officials sign anti-Trump letter. Over 100 Americans are rich enough to buy the whole presidential election. The Trumps made their fortune by exploiting their workers, the state, and the commons. Trump also doomed Atlantic City by turning it into a personal profit generator. Trump’s economic advisers are also his biggest donors, in what I'm sure is a total coincidence. Gee, I wonder what their "advice" is. Scott Rigell (R-VA) endorses the Libertarian Party ticket, becoming the first member of Congress to do so. (He's also retiring at the end of this term.) Trump got around to endorsing Paul Ryan, John McCain, and Kelly Ayotte on Friday, though other Republican candidates continue attempting to triangulate around Trump. The Tangerine Terror has a new endorsement... from the American Nazi Party. The ANC got shellacked (autoplay video) in the local and regional elections in South Africa, the Democratic Alliance made significant gains across the board. However, the 8 percent nationwide for the batshit insane "Economic Freedom Fighters" of Julius Malema is cause for worry. Idiotic Indiana governor Mike Pence, Trump's VP pick, argued against evolution in Congress because it is just a theory. He then predicted that through further scientific study, the truth of his faith will be revealed. Republicans usually have the military and veteran vote in the bag. But then Trump opened his mouth. Trump’s poll numbers are so bad his supporters are making up new ones. New Australian One Nation senator Malcolm Roberts' antisemitic sovereign citizen crankery makes the Canberra Times. The guy was too conspiracist for Andrew Bolt. Bernie Sanders wrote an OpEd for the Los Angeles Times: "I support Hillary Clinton. So should everyone who voted for me" A pro-fracking businessman hosts a fundraiser for Clinton in Colorado (Autoplay video) The Intercept has created a four part series on how money from abroad has entered the 2016 presidential election thanks to Citizens United. Tea Party Republicans lose to moderates in Kansas's state primary elections. Apparently Jill Stein of the Green Party has chosen her running mate (The Young Turks). The fact that it took us two days to notice should tell you something. He seems even kookier than she is. Reince Priebus, Newt Gingrich and Rudy Giuliani are preparing an intervention with Trump. (Oh, you're going to confront a narcissist and challenge their self-image? We'll go make popcorn.) Australia's new far-right One Nation senator Malcolm Roberts is not just a climate crank, he's into Freeman on the Land woo. (Original PDF from his climate crank site. He actually sent this to the Prime Minister at the time.) North Dakota's voter ID law has been struck down for being discriminatory against Native Americans. Trump wants to talk to Bill Gates to see how we can close that Internet up. (Bill is not a fan.) Trump: "If we have [nuclear weapons, why can't we use them?" ] Today's Trump Topics: Trump supporters are hitting the ground to support Paul Ryan's primary challenger, Tea Party lunatic Paul Nehlen, after Trump flipped Ryan the bird and refused to endorse him. Meanwhile, Pence endorsed Ryan and McCain. So much for working together. GOP insiders are starting to freak out, with rumors of a planned "intervention" (kinda late now, guys). Trump campaign spokesperson: Obama and Hillary are responsible for Khan's death! Oh wait, sorry, just Hillary. Corey Lewandowski: hey, has anyone been talking lately about how Obama is a secret Kenyan Muslim? So a pretty normal 24 hours of Trump then. House Freedom Caucus member Tim Huelskamp of Kansas loses his primary after being deep-sixed by the GOP House leadership, and now Freedom Caucus members are angry. (Well, angrier.) Hillary gets her first endorsement from a Republican member of Congress, Richard Hanna (R-NY). (He's retiring, so he doesn't have to worry about getting primaried.) Election Update: Is Clinton’s Lead A Bounce Or A New Equilibrium? (Fivethirtyeight) Trump: [http://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2016/08/01/ailes-trump-sexual-harassment-fox-news-women-gretchen-kelly-greta-news-column/87915454/ hey ladies, if you're being sexually harassed, you should know to keep your mouth shut. And find a new company. And a new career.] Trump gets the excuses ready well ahead of time: he's "afraid" the election "is about to be rigged". Sally Bradshaw, one of the authors of the post-2012 GOP "autopsy", jumps the GOP ship. Trumpster fire, post-DNC edition: Trump responds to the Khan family's appearance with insinuations about radical Islam and claims he's made just as many sacrifices as they have. 17 Gold Star families demand an apology, the VFW condemns Trump, and poor old McCain, Ryan, and friends (even Pence!) once again attempt to condemn Trump while simultaneously continuing to support him. Oh, and Roger Stone and Al Baldasaro (the Trump campaign adviser who wants Hillary executed for treason) come right out and say on Twitter that the Khans are Muslim Brotherhood sleeper agents, citing nutjob Theodore Shoebat. What we know about Donald Trump and his taxes so far from the '80s and '90s. Either he's bad at record-keeping or he tried to commit tax fraud several times. Also he apparently forged his accountant's signature on a return (don't worry; it's only a crime when poor people do it). Clinton's possible court shortlist emerges. I'm not with her because I am a superpredator.