Suspending Democracy

October 19, 2016, University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Chris Wallace: “I want to ask you here on the stage tonight: Do you make the same commitment that you will absolutely—sir, that you will absolutely accept the result of this election?”

Donald Trump:  “I will look at it at the time. I’m not looking at anything now. I’ll look at it at the time ….”

Chris Wallace: “But, sir, there is a tradition in this country—in fact, one of the prides of this country is the peaceful transition of power and that no matter how hard-fought a campaign is, that at the end of the campaign, that the loser concedes to the winner—not saying that you’re necessarily going to be the loser or the winner, but that the loser concedes to the winner and that the country comes together, in part for the good of the country. Are you saying you’re not prepared now to commit to that principle?”

Donald Trump: “What I’m saying is that I will tell you at the time. I’ll keep you in suspense. OK?”

Um, no.

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Trump Steaks: Tough to Swallow

Donald Trump may play a successful business tycoon on TV, buts he’s made lots of bad deals in the real world: failed casinos, an airline, vodka, a mortgage company, spring water, a sham “university,” a board game, bungled real estate deals, a magazine, a football team, a couple of failed marriages. The Donald’s goofiest venture, though, has got to be Trump Steaks, sold (for some reason) by Sharper Image and through QVC.  Steak “collections” sold for hundreds of dollars but reviews say the stuff was tough and greasy.

DC’s NFL Team Lives Up to Its Name

Washington DC’s professional football team lived up to its name in a game against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday. The DC team, named after a variety of potato (USDA B 2368-4) with a red-pigmented skin, was buried in the turf like its namesake tuber for a 24 – 16 loss. Washington players will have plenty of time to plan their vegetable gardens since, with a 3-7 record, they’re probably gonna be out of the playoffs.

The Party’s Over

We’re starting to get the spin — and the finger-pointing — on Tea Party Republican Ken Cuccinelli’s gubernatorial election loss.  Cooch coulda won if it wasn’t for those hostile Hispanics, Asian Americans  and Black folks. And voters with gay friends. And people who understand science. Oh, and all those unmarried voters and womenfolk.

Sounds like the majority 21st century American population, doesn’t it? The very people the GOP has spurned in its courtship of Tea Party extremists.

But wait. The Cooch was robbed. He really must have been beaten by those Northern Virginia suburbanites who work for federal contractors, angry about the government shutdown. Surely the Tea Party can’t be blamed for … never mind.

No, no, it was the GOP, the party stabbed Cooch in the back … the Libertarian candidate …the Big Money … the Military Industrial Complex …

More:

“How the tea party lost on Tuesday night,” Sean Sullivan and Aaron Blake, Washington Post blog

“Virginia Isn’t the Place Ken Cuccinelli Thinks It Is,” Jill Lawrence, National Journal

“Why Cuccinelli Lost: Hard-Right Conservatism Became A Liability In Virginia,” Daniel Strauss, Talking Points Memo

“Analysis: Tea party reels with Virginia loss, Christie romp,” David Lightman, Dallas Morning News

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Image by Mike Licht. Download a copy here. Creative Commons license; credit Mike Licht, NotionsCapital.com

 Comments are welcome if they are on-topic, substantive, concise, and not boring or obscene. Comments may be edited for clarity and length.

And Now a Word From Karl Rove

Karl Rove, formerly Bush’s Brain, spent the last four years milking billionaires to fund huge PACs to defeat the Democratic president and congressional candidates. He spent the  last year spending all that loot. Post-election return on investment for his American Crossroads Super-PAC? 1.29%. No wonder he can’t handle the truth.

He also can’t handle the paperwork. His Crossroads GPS organization never filed as a charitable organization in its home state of Virginia, as required by law. Crossroads GPS raised and spent tens of millions of dollars. Fee to register with Virginia’s Office of Charitable and Regulatory Programs: $325.

“Karl Rove’s Crossroads GPS Never Filed Legally Required Registration,” Josh Israel, Think Progress

Warren Buffett’s Message for Maryland Voters

Berkshire Hathaway’s Warren Buffett, to MBA students at the Richard Ivey School of Business:

“On my honeymoon I traveled out west. When I visited the casino and saw all these smart well-dressed people participating in a game with the odds against them, it was then that I realized ‘I won’t have a problem getting rich!'”

— “The Moment When Warren Buffett Realized Getting Rich Would Be Easy,” Gus Lubin, Business Insider

Something to think about on Tuesday, November 6th.

Related:

“University of Maryland launches problem gambling center,” Chris Korman, Baltimore Sun

The High Price of America’s Gambling Addiction,” Sheryl Nance-Nash, AOL Daily Finance

“Gambling more of a problem in U.S. adults than drinking,” Kathleen Blanchard RN, eMaxHealth.com

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Short link: http://wp.me/p6sb6-ewD

Image by Mike Licht. Download a copy here. Creative Commons license; credit Mike Licht, NotionsCapital.com

Comments are welcome if they are on-topic, substantive, concise, and not obscene. Comments may be edited for clarity and length.

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