ON THE RECORD. . .
“There’s no successful businessman in America who actually thinks the most successful businessman in America is Donald Trump.” — President Obama
“Let’s be honest, the Republicans have nominated the looniest of the right-wing lunatics to become our country’s next Commander-in-Chief." — Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), 6/21/16
"Trump needs an escape plan. The Republicans need an escape plan. The delegates can provide it. They can demand that he and his family separate from the family business. They can demand that he release his taxes. They can demand that he pony up several hundred million dollars in lieu of significant fundraising. He can decline and walk away. He can call the GOP a bunch of losers and go back to doing what he has always done — fleecing unwary customers, giving money to Democrats, pretending to be philanthropic and playing golf." -- Jennifer Ruben 6/23/16
"When it comes to the presidency, I will not vote for Donald Trump. I will not cast a write-in vote. I’ll be voting for Hillary Clinton, with the hope that she can bring Americans together to do the things necessary to strengthen our economy, our environment and our place in the world. To my Republican friends: I know I’m not alone." -- Former Bush Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson
“Like the dog that chases the car only to amaze itself by catching it, those who campaigned for Brexit own what comes next.” -- Gary Younge in the Guardian 6/24/16
"Those in the United States who think their own nation can’t possibly be suicidal enough to vote Donald Trump into office in November should consider that Great Britain just voted to do something equally fatal." -- Bill Palmer 6/24/16
“There’ll come a time when the love of country will trump hatred of Hillary.” -- Lindsey Graham, calling Trump’s attacks on the American-born judge presiding over a pair of Trump University scam cases “the most un-American thing from a politician since Joe McCarthy.” 6/7/16
“Democracy in 2016: Vote first, Google later, hope for the best.” -- Sarah Bennett@thesarabennettn on Brexit
“The good thing is, we have a candidate who doesn’t need to figure out what’s going on in order to say what he wants to do.” -- Trump campaign chair Paul Manafort 6/27/16
"I'm overjoyed. I have to tell you, I was fighting back tears a moment ago, as I was reading the SCOTUSblog, and the first line that came out saying that the Fifth Circuit opinion or decision had been reversed. It's incredible news for the women of Texas. It's incredible news for women throughout this country." -- Wendy Davis, the former Democratic Texas state lawmaker known for filibustering a Texas anti-abortion law. 6/ 27/16
“When Donald Trump says he’ll make America great, he means, make it even greater for rich guys just like Donald Trump. Great for the guys who don’t care how much they’ve already squeezed from everyone else. Great for the guys who always want more. Because that’s who Donald Trump is: The guy who wants it all for himself. And watch out, because he will crush you into the dirt to get whatever he wants. That’s who he is!” -- Elizabeth Warren 6/27/16
“She made up her heritage, which I think is racist. I think she’s a racist, actually because what she did was very racist.” — Donald Trump attacking Sen. Elizabeth Warren. 6/27/16
Dear @nytimes, could you pass a message to @realDonaldTrump for me? Please stop sending campaign begging letters to MPs. It's pathetic! -- Stuart McDonald MP @Stuart_McDonald one of the numerous members of the British parliament who have complained that they have received multiple emails from the Trump campaign asking for a donation.
"Republican activists hermetically sealed off from reality and from the perspective of common-sense voters are rotten decision-makers when it comes to finding a nominee who can win 65 million or so votes." -- Jennifer Rubin 6/29/16
“The Trans-Pacific Partnership is another disaster done and pushed by special interests who want to rape our country, just a continuing rape of our country. That’s what it is, too. It’s a harsh word: It’s a rape of our country.” —Donald Trump 6/28/16
“It would be horribly tragic if my ability to protect myself or my family were to be taken away, but that’s exactly what Democrats are determined to do by banning semi-automatic handguns.” --Posted on Facebook by Houston mom Christy Sheats, the now infamous mother who chased her two daughters out the front door while shooting them to death, before she herself was shot and killed by police.
Chances of winning the election according to @NateSilver538:
Clinton - 79%
Trump - 20%
IN THIS ISSUE
1. Andy Borowitz: British Lose Right To Claim That Americans Are Dumber
2. The DAILY GRILL
3. From MEDIA MATTERS (They watch Fox News so you don't have to)
4. Late Night Jokes for Dems
5. From the Late Shows
6. Political Ads/Statements
7. Charlie Cook: The Tectonic Shifts Underlying the Campaign
8. In new polls, support for Trump has plunged, giving Clinton a double-digit lead
9. After Brexit, here are further British downgrades
10. Report by the Democratic Members of the Benghazi Select Committee
11. MarkFiore cartoon: Paul Ryan’s Publicity Stunt
12. The Benghazi Conspiracy Theory
1. Dana Milbank: Nobody brings the crazy quite like Trump
2. Eugene Robinson: Brexit's Cautionary Tale for Trump Supporters
3. Catherine Rampell: President Trump would be the biggest threat to the U.S. economy
4. Brian Klaas and Marcel Dirsus: The isolationist catastrophe of 'Brexit'
5. Paul Waldman: Republicans accomplish their Benghazi mission
6. John Avlon: Donald Trump On Brexit: Great Time To Play Golf at My Resort
7. Nick Cohen: The Brexit figureheads had no plan besides exploiting populist fears and dismissing experts who rubbished their thinking
8. Laurie Penny: I want my country back
| FYI |
1. Andy Borowitz: British Lose Right To Claim That Americans Are Dumber
Across the United Kingdom on Friday, Britons mourned their long-cherished right to claim that Americans were significantly dumber than they are.
Luxuriating in the superiority of their intellect over Americans’ has long been a favorite pastime in Britain, surpassing in popularity such games as cricket, darts, and snooker.
But, according to Alistair Dorrinson, a pub owner in North London, British voters have done irreparable damage to the “most enjoyable sport this nation has ever known: namely, treating Americans like idiots.”
“When our countrymen cast their votes yesterday, they didn’t realize they were destroying the most precious leisure activity this nation has ever known,” he said. “Wankers.”
In the face of this startling display of national idiocy, Dorrinson still mustered some of the resilience for which the British people are known. “This is a dark day,” he said. “But I hold out hope that, come November, Americans could become dumber than us once more.” Read more at http://www.newyorker.com/humor/borowitz-report/
2. The DAILY GRILL
"To cover up her corrupt dealings, Hillary Clinton illegally stashed her State Department emails on a private server. Her server was easily hacked by foreign governments—perhaps even by her financial backers in Communist China—putting all of America in danger... So they probably now have a blackmail file over someone who wants to be president of the United States." -- Donald Trump
VERSUS
" I think I read that and I heard it and somebody ... " -- Trump’s response when asked what evidence he'd seen of a hack.
"Where?" -- NBC News Anchor Lester Holt.
"Somebody gave me that information,"Trump said. "I will report back to you."
"If some of those wonderful people (in the Pulse nightclub) had guns strapped right here-right to their waist or right to their ankle … and one of the people in that room happened to have it and goes 'boom, boom,' you know what? That would have been a beautiful, beautiful sight, folks." -- Donald Trump
VERSUS
"No one thinks that people should go into a nightclub drinking and carrying firearms," That defies common sense. It also defies the law." --NRA lobbyist Chris Cox on ABC's This Week. 6/26/16
3. From MEDIA MATTERS (They watch Fox News so you don't have to)
Amid Economic Turmoil, Right-Wing Media Spin Brexit As Good For Trump http://mediamatters.org/research/2016/06/24/amid-economic-turmoil-right-wing-media-spin-brexit-good-trump/211183
CNN Hosts Countless Pro-Trump Guests -- Why Does It Need Corey Lewandowski?http://mediamatters.org/blog/2016/06/24/cnn-hosts-countless-pro-trump-guests-why-does-it-need-corey-lewandowski/211178
Fox News Praises Trump’s Widely Panned Brexit Response Because He Was “In The Right Place” http://mediamatters.org/blog/2016/06/24/fox-news-praises-trump-s-widely-panned-brexit-response-because-he-was-right-place/211194
On CNN, Christiane Amanpour Highlights How Brexit Results Were Fueled By Trump-Like "Demagoguery" And "Xenophobia" http://mediamatters.org/video/2016/06/24/cnn-christiane-amanpour-highlights-how-brexit-results-were-fueled-trump-demagoguery-and-xenophobia/211173
NBC's Chuck Todd Highlights How 10 Percent Of Trump's Campaign Spending Has Gone Back To Trump's Family Businesses http://mediamatters.org/video/2016/06/26/nbcs-chuck-todd-highlights-how-10-percent-trumps-campaign-spending-has-gone-back-trumps-family/211205
CNN's Fareed Zakaria: The British Tabloids "Scaremongering" In Favor Of Brexit "Are Basically Their Fox News" http://mediamatters.org/video/2016/06/26/cnns-fareed-zakaria-british-tabloids-scaremongering-favor-brexit-are-basically-their-fox-news/211198
Select Committee Democrats Identify Fox News As Vector For Benghazi Misinformation - Benghazi Democrats Highlight Seven Instances Of Misinformation On Fox’s Airwaves http://mediamatters.org/blog/2016/06/27/select-committee-democrats-identify-fox-news-vector-benghazi-misinformation/211224
Fox Pushes Benghazi Lies After Congressional Report Shows No Wrongdoing By Clinton - Melissa Francis, Catherine Herridge Push Falsehoods That Obama, Clinton Were Unaccounted For During Benghazi Attacks http://mediamatters.org/video/2016/06/27/fox-pushes-benghazi-lies-after-congressional-report-shows-no-wrongdoing-clinton/211220
A Comprehensive Guide To Benghazi Myths And Facts http://mediamatters.org/research/2016/06/28/comprehensive-guide-benghazi-myths-and-facts/211240
Fox Analyst Tells Clinton Benghazi Deaths Are "Blood On Your Hands" https://mediamatters.org/video/2016/06/28/fox-analyst-tells-clinton-benghazi-deaths-are-blood-your-hands/211252
Fox’s John Bolton: No New Information In GOP Benghazi Report Because Committee Was “Obstructed” http://mediamatters.org/video/2016/06/29/fox-s-john-bolton-no-new-information-gop-benghazi-report-because-committee-was-obstructed/211277
4. Late Night Jokes for Dems
"A new Election Commission report just came out saying that the Trump campaign isn't doing so well financially, and is practically broke. It's not good — in fact today, Trump stole a bunch of towels from his own hotel." –Jimmy Fallon
"The report revealed that Donald Trump's campaign started this month with only $1.3 million, which is almost $8 million less than Bernie Sanders' campaign. Even Bernie was like, 'How does it feel to be poor, you LOSER!'" –Jimmy Fallon
"Today members of the conservative Christian clergy met with Donald Trump. They came out of the meeting proclaiming 'THERE IS NO GOD!'" –Conan O'Brien
"Hillary Clinton's shortlist for running mate includes Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Sen. Tim Kaine, and HUD Secretary Julian Castro. Meanwhile, Donald Trump's shortlist includes 'anyone from the cast of 'Entourage.'" –Conan O'Brien
"Hillary Clinton gave a speech in Columbus, Ohio, where she called Trump an uncaring businessman. Which I guess is supposed to be an insult, except those are the exact words he has printed on his business card." –Jimmy Kimmel
"Clinton's senior adviser said if we were to put Trump behind the wheel of the American economy, he would drive us off a cliff. That's ridiculous. He's going to drive us into a wall, a nice beautiful wall paid for by Mexico." –Jimmy Kimmel
"At a meeting with nearly 1,000 evangelical leaders today, Donald Trump told the attendees that Hillary Clinton is not worthy of their prayers. Although I'm pretty sure Hillary's prayers were already answered when Trump won the GOP nomination." –Seth Meyers
"Last night, the Federal Election Commission announced how much cash each campaign has on hand. And Hillary Clinton is burying Donald Trump $42 million to $1.3 million. I always knew those huge skyscrapers were overcompensating for something in his pants. I just never imagined it was his wallet." –Stephen Colbert
"$1.3 million isn't even enough to afford a one-bedroom apartment in Trump's own building. Not that he would want it. I hear the landlord is a jerk." –Stephen Colbert
"Donald Trump fired his campaign manager, Corey Lewandowski. Trump said Lewandowski was controversial, impulsive and short-tempered — and will make a great running mate." –Jimmy Fallon
5. From the Late Shows
Full Frontal with Samantha Bee: Oh Shit, Brexit
Donald Trump and Little Donald (8th Grade Impressionist)
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver: Brexit Aftermath
6. Political Ads/Statements
Tested: New Clinton Ad Features Trump on Brexit
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ET6ml9Ds70Q&feature=youtu.be
Japanese Donald Trump 2016
The Briefing: Trump in Scotland
Correct The Record: Trump On The Economy, In His Own Words
7. Charlie Cook: The Tectonic Shifts Underlying the Campaign
Everyone pretty much agrees that this is one of the most unusual presidential elections in history, but the focus is too much on quirky personalities. To be sure, Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump are unconventional presidential candidates. But this election isn’t really about them or about Hillary Clinton either. This race is about shifts in the electorate that have prompted voters to behave in ways they never have before.
The phenomenon is not confined to the U.S. We are seeing similar aberrations in Britain, Germany, and, to a lesser extent, France. On Thursday, Britain voted decisively to leave the European Union. Most card-carrying members of the British establishment were dismayed by this effort, and they warned of catastrophic economic consequences if the U.K. opted to go it alone.
While not exactly analogous, some of the same dynamics that are fueling the effort for Britain to leave the EU can also be seen in the rise of Donald Trump.” 6/24/16 Read more at https://www.nationaljournal.com/s/637989?unlock=KJ78JX7AKS1870DY
8. In new polls, support for Trump has plunged, giving Clinton a double-digit lead
A new Reuters/Ipsos poll shows Hillary Clinton leading Donald Trump by 14 points, 47% to 33%, with another 20% saying they wouldn’t support either candidate.
The HuffPost Pollster average shows Clinton ahead by six points, 45% to 39%.
A Post-ABC poll of registered voters finds Hillary Clinton leading Donald Trump 51% to 39%. 64% see Trump as unqualified for the presidency, and 70% say the idea of Trump as president gives them anxiety.
The latest NBC News/SurveyMonkey tracking poll shows Hillary Clinton has widened her lead over Donald Trump to eight points, 49% to 41%.
9. After Brexit, here are further British downgrades
Britain’s value lies not just in its economic properties but in its intellectual properties.
The pound may have experienced a drop of 7.6 percent, which is, as the New York Times notes, 21 times its usual average daily move, since the vote to Brexit.
But a similar devaluation is taking place across the board in Britain’s intellectual exports. Here are a few other downgrades.
Henry VIII has been downgraded to a normal-sized man with no more than three wives.
Monty Python’s Flying Circus has become Monty Python’s Petting Zoo.
Boris Johnson has been downgraded to Donald Trump.
All “theatres” are now “theaters.”
All “colours” are now “colors.”
E. M. Forster’s ‘A Room With A View’ has been downgraded to ‘A Room.’
Encyclopedia Britannica has been downgraded to Wikipedia.
‘Pride and Prejudice’ has been downgraded to Prejudice.
“Keep Calm and Carry On” is now “Carry On!”*
Great Britain is Britain.
Alexandra Petri 6/24/16 More at https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/compost/wp/2016/06/24/after-brexit-here-are-further-british-downgrades/
10. Report by the Democratic Members of the Benghazi Select Committee
This report makes 21 findings based on the evidence we obtained, and it debunks many conspiracy theories about the attacks. In general, the report finds:
• The Defense Department could not have done anything differently on the night of the attacks that would have saved the lives of the four brave Americans killed in Benghazi, and although the military’s global posture prevented it from responding more quickly that night, improvements were made years ago.
• The State Department’s security measures in Benghazi were woefully inadequate as a result of decisions made by officials in the Bureau of Diplomatic Security, but Secretary Clinton never personally denied any requests for additional security in Benghazi.
• The Intelligence Community’s assessments evolved after the attacks as more information became available, but they were not influenced by political considerations.
• Administration officials did not make intentionally misleading statements about the attacks, but instead relied on information they were provided at the time under fastmoving circumstances. http://democrats Honoring_Courage_Improving_Security_and_Fighting_the_Exploitation_of_a_Tragedy.pdf
11. MarkFiore cartoon: Paul Ryan’s Publicity Stunt
12. The Benghazi Conspiracy Theory
Last month, researchers at Fairleigh Dickinson University asked a number of Americans whether or not they believed in a variety of political conspiracy theories.
Did they think that it was definitely true, for example, that George W. Bush knew about the 9/11 attacks before they happened? That President Obama is hiding personal details from his background? That global warming is a myth?
Most people said that none of the six theories presented were definitely true — but the responses varied. Only 30 percent of supporters of Donald Trump, for example, rejected all six of the theories, a lower figure than backers of any candidate still in the race at that point.
And no conspiracy theory had a higher percentage of people saying it was definitely true than one that is particularly salient this week: "As Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton knew the U.S. Embassy in Benghazi was going to be attacked and did nothing to protect it."
Twenty-three percent of respondents said that this idea was "definitely true" — including 44 percent of Republicans and fully half of Trump supporters. By contrast, only 40 percent of Trump supporters thought Obama was hiding important information about his early life (i.e., his birthplace). 6/28/16 Read more at https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2016/06/28/for-hillary-clinton-the-benghazi-damage-has-been-done/
| OPINION |
1. Dana Milbank: Nobody brings the crazy quite like Trump
Trump’s dystopia is frequently at odds with reality here on earth. He and his followers live in a dark place where life ranges from bad to horrible, conspiracies abound and allegation passes for truth.
In his much-anticipated speech outlining his general-election themes against Clinton, Trump had much to work with from her record. But he went instead with conspiracies and inventions.
Trump’s volume of disinformation is so heavy that even the nimblest fact-checker can’t keep pace. And that’s no accident: In Trump’s dystopia, things are so bad — so utterly and desperately awful — that no allegation, no matter how sinister, seems implausible to his followers.
In Trump’s dystopia, no horror is impossible. 6/22/16 Read more at https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/nobody-brings-the-crazy-quite-like-trump/
2. Eugene Robinson: Brexit's Cautionary Tale for Trump Supporters
I hope U.S. voters are paying attention. The Brexit solution is pure counterfeit but the underlying issues are real. In Britain as in this country, working-class incomes are stagnant and immigration, to some, seems out of control. Globalization seems to benefit the well-off and well-educated at the expense of everyone else. The temptation is to take refuge in nationalism -- forget the rest of the world, take care of our own, fend for ourselves. Build a wall.
That is Trump's message. But the gap between what he promises and what he can possibly deliver is even wider than in the Brexit example.
Brexit could end up breaking Britain into pieces -- without addressing any of the problems it was supposed to solve. I hope Trump supporters pay attention. Catharsis is not a plan. 6/28/16 Read more at http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2016/06/28/brexits_cautionary_tale_for_trump_supporters_131030.html
3. Catherine Rampell: President Trump would be the biggest threat to the U.S. economy
These days, America’s recovery looks vulnerable to a lot of scary economic shocks. Most of these come from abroad: Britain’s potential exit from the European Union, for instance, or a “hard landing” from years of rapid economic growth in China.
But right now, the single biggest threat to the U.S. economy is the risk of a President Donald J. Trump.
Moody’'s report released Monday by Moody’s Analytics, forecasts the consequences of several of Trump’s major economic policy proposals. It finds them — in no uncertain terms — catastrophic.
Moody’s did not try to model the consequences of Trump’s two riskiest (read: dumbest) economic proposals, because too little detail was available: his flirtation with a default on U.S. debt and his desire to bring back the gold standard. (On the other hand, his policies look a little less dire, but still very bad, if you assume negotiations with Congress would water them down a bit.)
Overall, the picture painted by these forecasts is terrifying. It suggests voters here — not so unlike our friends across the Atlantic who favor Brexit — may voluntarily bring a Category 5 economic hurricane upon themselves. And for what? To “shake things up”? To give the middle finger to “the establishment?” To make Washington a little more entertaining, or a little less politically correct? 6/20/16 Read more at https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/the-biggest-threat-to-the-us-economy/
4. Brian Klaas and Marcel Dirsus: The isolationist catastrophe of 'Brexit'
On Thursday British voters willfully walked off a cliff when they decided to leave the European Union. The “Brexit” victory is a defeat for Britain, Europe and the global economy.
Tens of millions of Britons voted for isolation — to go it alone — rather than for cooperation. The European Union just lost a sixth of its economy, roughly akin to Florida and California seceding from the United States. The impact on the British economy could be catastrophic. Europe’s unified stance against a reemerging and aggressive Russia will be splintered.
Moreover, the vote doesn’t mean that debates over Britain’s relationship with Europe, or its place in the wider world, are suddenly resolved. It does mean that politicians — and not just those on the banks of the Thames in Westminster — need to wake up. On both sides of the Atlantic, governments and politics are not working.
Brexit voters and Trump supporters sporting “Make America Great Again” hats believe they have lost too much for too long. Their complaint is understandable. But turning inward will only make their problems worse and the world more dangerous. Britain narrowly succumbed to isolationist populism Thursday. Let’s hope Americans don’t make the same mistake by voting for a Trump presidency come November 6/23/16 Read more at http://www.latimes.com/opinion/op-ed/la-oe-klaas-dirsus-leave-victory-in-britain-20160623-snap-story.html
5. Paul Waldman: Republicans accomplish their Benghazi mission
Benghazi long ago did its job, bringing down Clinton’s favorability ratings and spreading the idea that she’s untrustworthy, even if people don’t quite know what it was that she did wrong. They won’t find anything to help them in the Republicans’ report, which talks a lot about failures of security and coordination, but contains no revelations about wrongdoing on Clinton’s part. And don’t think they didn’t do everything they could to find them.
Since there were no earth-shattering revelations, you might ask what the point of all this was, if after this spectacularly lengthy and expensive investigation we didn’t actually learn much that we didn’t already know, other than some details here and there.
But ah, the emails. That we got. And that gives Republican officials and voters something they can hang their visceral loathing of Hillary Clinton on. Even those who long ago gave up hope in the absurd conspiracy theories swirling around Benghazi (like the idea that Clinton issued a “stand down” order that directly led to the four deaths) now say that it’s the email server that demonstrates the true depths of her villainy. “She oughta be in jail! Because, you know, that email thing!” they say (and Donald Trump says it too), which sounds a lot more like a substantive critique than “God I just hate that b-tch.”
Over on Fox News, they’re characterizing this report as a hundred-megaton bombshell of damaging revelations about Clinton. I’m sure that this afternoon all the conservative radio hosts will be singing the same tune. The fact that it didn’t actually find anything new about Benghazi to pin on Clinton isn’t at all important. As a political tool, which it was from the moment John Boehner created the select committee, it has amply served its purpose. 6/28/16 Read more at https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2016/06/28/republicans-accomplish-their-benghazi-mission/
6. John Avlon: Donald Trump On Brexit: Great Time To Play Golf at My Resort
Global markets were tanking and the British Prime Minister had resigned, but it was in many ways a victory for The Donald and his overseas conservative populist allies who argue that Muslim immigration, pushed by distant elites, was killing local jobs. Trump’s “America First” slogan and the Brexit crews’ Britain First sentiment seemed ascendant, the right message at the right time from the right wing.
The happiest man on the broader continent today might be Vladimir Putin. European alliances of liberal democracies are crumbling and the Republican nominee wants to abandon NATO and Asian allies alike, which is great news for expansionist powers. When Putin is cheerleading your policies, you might want to reconsider your position. Going forward, the burden of association on Trump and conservative populists will also now include formerly fringe far-right figures like Marine LePen and Geert Wilders, whose ideas cannot be dissembled from white nationalist bigotry. You will be known by the company you keep.
Which is why Trump’s impulse to greet geo-political upheaval as a moment to advertise his business interests does a deep disservice to his supporters. 6/24/16 Read more at http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2016/06/24/donald-trump-on-brexit-great-time-to-play-golf-at-my-resort.html
7. Nick Cohen: The Brexit figureheads had no plan besides exploiting populist fears and dismissing experts who rubbished their thinking
Not since Suez has the nation’s fate been decided by politicians who knowingly made a straight, shameless, incontrovertible lie the first plank of their campaign. Vote Leave assured the electorate it would reclaim a supposed £350m Brussels takes from us each week. They knew it was a lie. Between them, they promised to spend £111bn on the NHS, cuts to VAT and council tax, higher pensions, a better transport system and replacements for the EU subsidies to the arts, science, farmers and deprived regions. When boring experts said that, far from being rich, we would face a £40bn hole in our public finances, Vote Leave knew how to fight back. In Johnsonian fashion, it said that the truth tellers were corrupt liars in Brussels’ pocket.
The real division in Britain is not between London and the north, Scotland and Wales or the old and young, but between Boris Johnson, Gove and Farage and the voters they defrauded. What tale will serve them now? On Thursday, they won by promising cuts in immigration. On Friday, Johnson and the Eurosceptic ideologue Dan Hannan said that in all probability the number of foreigners coming here won’t fall. On Thursday, they promised the economy would boom. By Friday, the pound was at a 30-year low and Daily Mail readers holidaying abroad were learning not to believe what they read in the papers. On Thursday, they promised £350m extra a week for the NHS. On Friday, it turns out there are “no guarantees”.
If we could only find a halfway competent opposition, the very populist forces they have exploited and misled so grievously would turn on them. The fear in their eyes shows that they know it. 6/25/16 Read more at https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/jun/25/boris-johnson-michael-gove-eu-liars
8. Laurie Penny: I want my country back
This morning, I woke up in a country I do not recognize. David Cameron’s big gamble – the future of Britain against his personal political ambitions – has backfired so badly that we’ve blasted clean out of the EU. By the time I’d put the kettle on, the stock markets were in free fall, Scotland was debating a new independence referendum, Sinn Fein was making secession noises, and the prime minister had resigned.
There’s not enough tea in the entire nation to help us Keep Calm and Carry On today. Not on a day when prejudice, propaganda, naked xenophobia and callous fear-mongering have won out over the common sense we British like to pride ourselves on. Not on a day when we’re being congratulated by Donald Trump, Marine Le Pen, and nobody else. Well done, turkeys. Santa’s on his way.
Nigel Farage, the rich, racist cartoon demagogue, boasts that this victory was won “without a single shot being fired”. Tell that to the grieving family of Jo Cox, the campaigning Labour MP gunned down last week. Farage promised that unless something was done to halt immigration, “violence will be the next step”. It looks like we’ve got a two-for-one deal on that one.
So, here’s the thing. This was never a referendum on the EU. It was a referendum on the modern world, and yesterday the frightened, parochial lizard-brain of Britain voted out, out, out, and today we've all woken up still strapped onto this ghost-train as it hurtles off the tracks. Leave voters are finding they care less about immigration now that their pension pots are under threat. Maybe one of the gurning pundits promising them pride and sovereignty should have mentioned that, but they were too busy lying about the NHS. The curtain has been torn away and now we all have to look at the men behind it. They are not good men. 6/24/16 Read more at http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk/2016/06/i-want-my-country-back
10. Kathleen Parker: With Warren on Clinton’s stump, it’s double trouble for Trump
Watching Hillary Clinton beaming sidewise onstage as Elizabeth Warren taunted Donald Trump brought the Wrigley twin ditty to mind: “Double your pleasure, double your fun, with double good, double good, Doublemint gum.”
Instead of two happy twins riding a tandem bicycle to celebrate chewing gum, the Clinton-Warren sixties sister-clones — wearing blond bobs and shades of blue — rode Trump with a gobsmacking double punch.
Like Trump, Warren has that certain something that fills arenas and draws people to their feet. That’s where the similarities end. A Harvard law professor before she ran for the U.S. Senate, Warren is smart, eloquent on consumer protection issues and passionately committed to well-defined principles. One needn’t agree with her to appreciate her vigor, as well as a steely-eyed softness that comes across in person.
Unlike Trump, she’s in possession of an agreeable personality. Even when yelling across a surging crowd, she manages to avoid sounding strident. Close up, she’s warm, engaging and nonthreatening.
Most important, she allows Clinton to step back from the fray and gives everyone a chance to imagine what a two-woman ticket could look like. Too much the same? Too soon for two? For whom?
It may be true, as someone wrote me, that Clinton’s greatest virtue is her opponent. But it’s also plain that Warren is her greatest asset.
Talk about a twofer. 6/28/16 Read more at https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/with-warren-on-the-stump-its-double-trouble-for-trump/