MORNING MESSAGE
There
is a style of politics where you win by creating a lasting “first impression”
before your opponent has a chance to respond ... But times have changed. Now
there is the Internet ... people have the capacity to analyze the attack and
might see that what they first heard is not the story at all. And then they are
as likely to turn on the attacker as believe the attack. This is happening to
the story about Sanders' proposals, and [Prof. Gerald] Friedman’s analysis of
their effect on the economy...
SIGN UP FOR "DEMOCRACY AWAKENING" TELE-TOWN HALL MARCH 1
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to join the Democracy Awakening Tele-Town-Hall March 1 from 8 to 8:30 p.m.
ET featuring Robert Reich, NAACP President Cornell Brooks, Sierra Club ED
Michael Brune, Greenpeace USA’s Annie Leonard – to hear why thousands are
converging on DC in April to pressure Congress for a democracy that works for
all.
CLINTON RIPPING OFF SANDERS?
Sanders
chides Clinton for borrowing his rhetoric. WSJ quotes: “…I am delighted that
Secretary Clinton … seems to be adopting more and more of the positions that we
have advocated – that’s good – and in fact is beginning to use a lot of the
language and phraseology that we have used … [But] you can’t say she hasn’t
championed these issues before.”
Clinton
expresses support for public health insurance option. Politico: “Clinton’s
campaign has updated its website to note her continued support for the
government-run health plan that was dropped from Obamacare during the law’s
drafting … [The] website suggests she won’t try to push the public option
through Congress, but instead will work with governors using existing
flexibility under Obamacare ‘to empower states to establish a public option
choice.'”
Spike
Lee endorses Bernie Sanders in SC ad. The Hill: “‘When Bernie gets into the
White House he will do the right thing,’ Lee says in the 60-second ad,
mentioning Sanders attendance at the March on Washington led by Martin Luther
King, Jr. ‘No flipping, no flopping,’ Lee says…”
And
Sanders receives endorsement of National People’s Action reports
Politico.
GOP CAUCUS in NEVADA ToNIGHT
Trump
expected to win again. Politico: “‘This is the perfect state for Trump,’
said one top Nevada conservative. ‘Being a flashy billionaire with ties to
gaming is a positive here.'”
Cruz
and Rubio hope for a surprise. W. Post: “If the two senators can mobilize
their supporters — just 20,000 voters could be enough for a landslide,
operatives here say — then a win is within reach. Both campaigns have carefully
tailored strategies to exploit what they think is a weak ground game that makes
Trump vulnerable.”
Republican
leaders worry Trump is unstoppable. Politico: “…there is precious little
time for the anti-Trump field to consolidate … some foresee him steamrolling
through Super Tuesday a week later, when a quarter of the party’s delegates are
awarded … eating into Rubio’s vote share is John Kasich … One senior party
operative on Monday evening described ‘building irritation’ with Kasich among
GOP elders for staying in the race…”
Cruz
goes farther right on immigration. W. Post: “Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Tex.)
significantly sharpened his stance on immigration Monday, stating that he would
find and deport the more than 11 million undocumented immigrants living in the
United States.”
OBAMA BIDES TIME ON SCOTUS
Obama
not rushing Supreme Court pick. The Hill: “…a quick decision poses political
risks for Obama. It could fuel accusations that the president is charging ahead
without properly consulting with members of the Senate. And it could open Obama
up to scrutiny about whether he took enough time to vet his nominee…”
Senate
party caucuses meet separately today. NYT: “It will be the first time
lawmakers will have been together for strategy sessions since the death of
Justice Antonin Scalia.”
Public
believes nominee deserves vote. Politico: “According to a survey by the Pew
Research Center, 56 percent of Americans believe the Senate should hold hearings
and vote on the president’s designated successor, while 38 percent say the
Senate should wait until the next president.”
REPUBLICANS FEAR CLIMATE CLAUSE
Republican
worry that Obama has a climate regulation trump card. Grist: “…Rep. Scott
Perry (R-Penn.) introduced the Energy Sovereignty Act [which is] a mere 97
words. And the intent is unusually clear: ‘To repeal section 115 of the Clean
Air Act.’ Section 115 is a never-before-used portion of the Clean Air Act that
grants the U.S. EPA broad powers to regulate pollutants that affect another
country if that other country is also acting to curb such pollution. Since 195
nations reached an agreement in Paris … some climate policy wonks and legal
scholars say Section 115 can now be deployed…”
Waters
are rising. NYT: “…increasingly routine tidal flooding is making life
miserable in places like Miami Beach; Charleston, S.C.; and Norfolk, Va. … they
are straining life in many towns by killing lawns and trees, blocking
neighborhood streets and clogging storm drains, polluting supplies of freshwater
and sometimes stranding entire island communities for hours by overtopping the
roads that tie them to the mainland.”
Progressive
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