Election 2016: Challenging Hillary From the Left

Wall Street's Worst Nightmare

Rand Paul's Wikipedia Plagiarism Problem

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Ted Cruz's Ultimate Goal

Sen. Ayotte (R-NH): Defunding Obamacare Didn't Work

Michele Bachmann's 2016 Plan: Pray the Hillary Away

From Right Wing Watch:

After a lengthy interview with Jan Markell about President Obama’s supposed push for an Islamic caliphate, Michele Bachmann spoke to the Christian Right radio host about the 2016 presidential election, immigration reform and the Last Days.

Bachmann pushed back on Markell’s fera that Hillary Clinton will be elected president: “I don’t at all because I look at the story of David and Goliath, all David needed was one smooth stone to fell the giant. It wasn’t the stone, it wasn’t David, it was the strong right arm of a Holy God.”

She said that if “we repent, if we cry out to God, we have no idea what the Lord God will do for us in 2016.”

Maybe Michele Bachmann is jealous that Hillary is the early favourite twice while she almost never had a chance. Maybe she is angry over a federal investigation into her presidential campaign. Maybe she just hasn't taken her meds in a while.

I'm going to go with all of the above.

Sen. Cruz Thinks Obama Might Defund Obamacare

The key remarks mentioned in the title are just after 4:45, but I recommend watching the whole clip.

Neocon John Bolton Backs Marriage Equality

From The New Civil Rights Movement: 

Bolton is seriously considering running for president. It was during an interview with the National Review about what political positions we could expect a Bolton campaign to espouse, that he let it be known he is now pro same-sex marriage. Bolton:

On gay marriage, I support it, at both the state level and the federal level. Gay marriage is something I’ve thought about at length as I’ve looked at my future. I concluded, a couple years ago, that I think it should be permissible and treated the same at both levels.”

The line that jumps out and does a tap dance in that announcement is “I’ve looked at my future.” I think Bolton has made the calculation that marriage equality will soon be necessary for political viability. He has studied the landscape of the next presidential contest and concluded by the time the 2016 election comes around, the voters will reward those who stand for gay equality and punish those who don’t.

Know what? If Bolton changed his position because he’s all about Bolton, and not out of a newfound empathy for the LGBT community, I’m ok with that. Nothing could spread LGBT equality faster than politicians who think it’s in their own best interest to embrace their inner gay. I hope Bolton’s way of thinking spreads through Washington. (There’s a sentence I never thought I’d write.) Because even if it is all about themselves, I’ll gladly welcome all the conservative trolls out from under the discrimination bridge and into the land of liberty and justice for all. (And maybe a little glitter on special occasions.) 

Rick "Google" Santorum Eyes 2016

From Huffington Post: 

Former Republican presidential hopeful Rick Santorum is open to running again in 2016, he said Sunday. 

"I'm open to looking into the presidential race in 2016," Santorum said on "Meet The Press." "But we've got a little ways. We've got elections in 2014 to focus on." 

Santorum is heading to Iowa for three days next week, where he'll attend a GOP fundraiser, a state fair and a leadership summit -- a schedule that's prompted speculation that he's laying the groundwork for another presidential campaign.

Sen. Graham (R-SC): We're in a Demographic Death-Spiral

Michigan Equality Advocates Set Sights on 2016

From the Detroit Free-Press: 

...Gay rights activists plan a 2016 ballot drive to overturn the 2004 constitutional ban approved by voters. Democratic senators last week introduced legislation to put the gay marriage question to voters in 2014, but odds of it passing a Republican-controlled Legislature are slim. 

"We want to go to the ballot, win and make it a sustainable win that is an indication of a climate change in Michigan," said Emily Dievendorf, managing director of Equality Michigan, a statewide gay rights organization. 

She estimated needing to raise $12 million for a ballot initiative in 2016, a presidential election year when the cause could be helped by higher Democratic voter turnout, particularly among young voters. The time until then will be used to raise funds for the signature gathering, push passage of bills prohibiting discrimination against gays and lesbians — supported by nearly seven in 10 voters — and educate the public...

Count Me In...

GOP Rigging The System For 2016

Newt Gingrich: GOP Can't Beat Hillary In 2016

Is Santorum Running Again?

From The New Civil Rights Movement:

Rick Santorum is already planning and organizing his campaign for the Republican 2016 presidential election season. Santorum, who lost badly this year, ran on a platform of religious anti-gay and anti-immigrant hate — exactly the positions that some in the GOP are now just starting to realize hurt Mitt Romney‘s chances, however small they were, of winning the White House.

Santorum is a questionable candidate among younger voters, women, the LGBT community, the African American community, the Hispanic community, and other minorities, and his abrasive and condescending demeanor doesn’t help either. By 2016, America will be so over the Rick Santorums they’ll have to find another country to try to rule.

“A leading evangelical leader who is close to Santorum and asked not to be identified, told The Christian Post on Wednesday that Santorum is ‘organizing and making all the necessary preparations’ for another run in the 2016 Republican primary,” the Christian Post reports...

It could be argued that many of the things that got Republicans in trouble, especially in regards to women, contraception, religion's role in government, etc., will only be exacerbated by Rick Santorum  who is very socially conservative. Meanwhile, if Hillary ends up running in 2016, she will eat him alive. That would be one Hell of a campaign.

Th Wrap-Up: May 14, 2012

Here you can see a bit of Michelle Obama speaking at the Commencement ceremony of Virginia Tech (LET'S GO HOKIES!!!).

Tony Perkins' Thursday was...less than stellar (which in the grand scheme of things is probably good).

Speaking of Mr Perkins, when he of all people says a homophobic "joke" goes too far, it's gone WAY too far. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) should take note of that fact.

Bristol Palin had the temerity to give President Obama parenting advice after saying that his interactions with his daughters' friends helped him "evolve" on marriage equality. Some needs to be taken down a peg...or three.

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops is taking on a diabolical enemy: the Girl Scouts.

Mitt Romney flip-flopped on same-sex adoption in record time, even for him.

Hopefully, this leaked memo to GOP operatives signifies a coming change in Republican policy. Ironically, it comes after GOP strategist Ed Gillespie said Republicans would be campaigning in "traditional" marriage (after President Obama's announcement).

How might marriage equality affect in presidential race in 2016?

And lastly, MSNBC's Tamron Hall lays the smack-down on one of Mitt Romney's surrogates.