Where in the World Are We? (Joseph Nye) from Democracy Journal
"In the aftermath of the Great Recession, a majority of Americans believed that China was about to overtake the United States. The result is a foreign-policy debate that is often divorced from reality. Yes, the Middle East is in turmoil, and American influence has diminished. But the causes are the revolutions in the Middle East, not American decline, and conditions in the rest of the world are far more propitious. It is a mistake to generalize from the Middle East to the rest of the world. While the United States has many domestic problems, America is not an empire in decline like ancient Rome ..."
Friday, March 25, 2016
GOP Foreign Policy Rifts will Last Long After 2016
The GOP's New Foreign-Policy Populism (Jacob Heilbrunn) from the National Interest
"Whether the GOP will actually nominate Trump or Cruz is an open question. But the rift that they have opened up within the conservative movement over the true faith is not going away any time soon."
"Whether the GOP will actually nominate Trump or Cruz is an open question. But the rift that they have opened up within the conservative movement over the true faith is not going away any time soon."
What Are the Finns Doing in Their Schools?!
Why Finland has the best schools from the Los Angeles Times
"... for five months, my wife, my son and I experienced a stunningly stress-free, and stunningly good, school system. ... Finland doesn't waste time or money on low-quality mass standardized testing. Instead, children are assessed every day, through direct observation, check-ins and quizzes by the highest-quality “personalized learning device” ever created — flesh-and-blood teachers."
"... for five months, my wife, my son and I experienced a stunningly stress-free, and stunningly good, school system. ... Finland doesn't waste time or money on low-quality mass standardized testing. Instead, children are assessed every day, through direct observation, check-ins and quizzes by the highest-quality “personalized learning device” ever created — flesh-and-blood teachers."
How and Why Senate Republicans Might Change Course on the SCOTUS Nominee
Four scenarios that could still put Merrick Garland on the Supreme Court from the Washington Post
"... with the caveat that all of this or none of this could happen, here are four scenarios that could make Senate Republicans switch course and consider Obama's Supreme Court nominee, ranked in order of most to least likely."
"... with the caveat that all of this or none of this could happen, here are four scenarios that could make Senate Republicans switch course and consider Obama's Supreme Court nominee, ranked in order of most to least likely."
WaPo American Electorate Series Pt 1
The Great Unsettling Pt 1 (David Maraniss and Robert Samuels) from the Washington Post
The "Nonreligious" and Young People
How Will Young People Choose Their Religion? from the Atlantic
"Introducing our special project on the changing nature of beliefs and practices among teens, 20-, and 30-somethings. In the United States, fewer young Americans identify as religious or attend regular services than members of any other living generation. People in their 20s and early 30s account for more than a third of the country’s “nones,” an academic nickname for the religiously disaffiliated. Religion is no longer the mode through which many people live their lives, and this relatively new state of affairs affects even those who remain religious: It opens up the possibility of beliefs and practices that are not simply inherited, but actively chosen."
"Introducing our special project on the changing nature of beliefs and practices among teens, 20-, and 30-somethings. In the United States, fewer young Americans identify as religious or attend regular services than members of any other living generation. People in their 20s and early 30s account for more than a third of the country’s “nones,” an academic nickname for the religiously disaffiliated. Religion is no longer the mode through which many people live their lives, and this relatively new state of affairs affects even those who remain religious: It opens up the possibility of beliefs and practices that are not simply inherited, but actively chosen."
The Advanced Age of the Fox News Audience Says A Lot About ... the GOP and its Problems
Republicans are old and getting older. That’s a huge problem for the GOP (Reihan Salam) from Slate
"My lack of interest in Fox News makes sense, though, when you realize that it isn’t a channel for Republicans. It’s a network for old people. As of the end of last year, the primetime median age of Fox News viewers was 68. Mind you, I’m not particularly young. I’m deep into my 30s, and I’m profoundly unhip. ... The advanced age of the Fox News audience tells you everything you need to know about the topics it covers, the look of its most prominent personalities, and its many advertisements for pharmaceutical solutions for older gentlemen who still like to get it on."
"My lack of interest in Fox News makes sense, though, when you realize that it isn’t a channel for Republicans. It’s a network for old people. As of the end of last year, the primetime median age of Fox News viewers was 68. Mind you, I’m not particularly young. I’m deep into my 30s, and I’m profoundly unhip. ... The advanced age of the Fox News audience tells you everything you need to know about the topics it covers, the look of its most prominent personalities, and its many advertisements for pharmaceutical solutions for older gentlemen who still like to get it on."
Clinton and her allies prepare for Trump
Here comes the REAL Trump Opposition Book from the Washington Post
"They are now focused intently on researching the billionaire real estate mogul’s business record, dissecting his economic policies and compiling a long history of controversial pronouncements that have captivated and repelled the nation in this tumultuous election season."
"They are now focused intently on researching the billionaire real estate mogul’s business record, dissecting his economic policies and compiling a long history of controversial pronouncements that have captivated and repelled the nation in this tumultuous election season."
The GOP's Lose-Lose Election Season
Nominating Donald Trump will end the Republican Party as we know it. So will not nominating him (Jonah Goldberg) from the Los Angeles Times
"... he's right that if he's denied the nomination, many – not all, but many – of his supporters will bolt from the convention and the party. Left out of Trump's unsubtle threat: Many anti-Trump Republicans will desert the convention and the party if he's not denied the nomination. ... To wit: This ends in tears no matter what. Get over it and pick a side."
Goldberg is one of the loudest neo-con right-wing pundits out there -- and this is probably the FIRST time I have whole-heartedly agreed with him on anything! But here it is! -- Nuggetsman
"... he's right that if he's denied the nomination, many – not all, but many – of his supporters will bolt from the convention and the party. Left out of Trump's unsubtle threat: Many anti-Trump Republicans will desert the convention and the party if he's not denied the nomination. ... To wit: This ends in tears no matter what. Get over it and pick a side."
Goldberg is one of the loudest neo-con right-wing pundits out there -- and this is probably the FIRST time I have whole-heartedly agreed with him on anything! But here it is! -- Nuggetsman
PUNDIT: Some Things More Important than One Year's Election...
No, Not Trump, Not Ever (David Brooks) from the New York Times
"... there are certain standards more important than one year’s election. There are certain codes that if you betray them, you suffer something much worse than a political defeat. Donald Trump is an affront to basic standards of honesty, virtue and citizenship."
"... there are certain standards more important than one year’s election. There are certain codes that if you betray them, you suffer something much worse than a political defeat. Donald Trump is an affront to basic standards of honesty, virtue and citizenship."
Trump's "Vichy Regime" Already Occupies the GOP
There was No Republican Establishment After All (Frank Rich) from New York Magazine
"Can we please retire the notion that Donald Trump is hijacking someone else’s party? .... Even after the recurrent violence at Trump rallies boiled over into chaos in Chicago, none of his surviving presidential rivals would disown their own pledges to support him in November. Trump is not Hitler, but those who think he is, from Glenn Beck to Louis C.K., should note that his Vichy regime is already in place in Washington, D.C."
"Can we please retire the notion that Donald Trump is hijacking someone else’s party? .... Even after the recurrent violence at Trump rallies boiled over into chaos in Chicago, none of his surviving presidential rivals would disown their own pledges to support him in November. Trump is not Hitler, but those who think he is, from Glenn Beck to Louis C.K., should note that his Vichy regime is already in place in Washington, D.C."
PERSPECTIVE: I was at the last contested Republican conventions.
Here’s what to expect at Trump’s Contested Convention.(Tanya Melich) from Vox
"My first Republican National Convention was in 1952. This year, the party may finally fall apart. ... Passions rule at such times. Delegates, candidates, their followers, and party leaders believe they are deciding the nation's future."
"My first Republican National Convention was in 1952. This year, the party may finally fall apart. ... Passions rule at such times. Delegates, candidates, their followers, and party leaders believe they are deciding the nation's future."
More Money to the #NeverTrump Movement
Donald Trump Is Finally Uniting Top Republican Donors — Against Him from the New York Times
"... officials involved with the political groups have made clear that they are aggressively raising more money to fight Mr. Trump, hoping to deprive him of enough delegates to win the Republican nomination outright. That would set the stage for a contested convention in July."
"... officials involved with the political groups have made clear that they are aggressively raising more money to fight Mr. Trump, hoping to deprive him of enough delegates to win the Republican nomination outright. That would set the stage for a contested convention in July."
A DECISIVE Period in this Election Cycle
Here’s How You Know 2016 Is Already Decided (Doug Sosnick) from Politico
"Regardless of how you do the math, the current environment paints a picture of a Republican Party at the verge of implosion during the most critical period in the presidential campaign. Assuming little changes, years from now people will look back at the decisive nine-day period in mid-October last fall when the stage was set for the 2016 elections."
"Regardless of how you do the math, the current environment paints a picture of a Republican Party at the verge of implosion during the most critical period in the presidential campaign. Assuming little changes, years from now people will look back at the decisive nine-day period in mid-October last fall when the stage was set for the 2016 elections."
In the House, 10 Ratings Changes Favor Democrats
House Republicans Staring Into the Abyss? from the Cook Political Report
"Republicans are sitting on their largest majority since 1928 - 247 seats to 188 - meaning Democrats would need to pick up 30 seats, a daunting challenge given the GOP's immense redistricting advantage and the vaporization of swing districts. But all cycle, Democrats have daydreamed about Republicans nominating an extremely polarizing presidential candidate, and suddenly it's almost certain they will get their wish."
"Republicans are sitting on their largest majority since 1928 - 247 seats to 188 - meaning Democrats would need to pick up 30 seats, a daunting challenge given the GOP's immense redistricting advantage and the vaporization of swing districts. But all cycle, Democrats have daydreamed about Republicans nominating an extremely polarizing presidential candidate, and suddenly it's almost certain they will get their wish."
Trump puts GOP House majority in jeopardy
Trump puts GOP House majority in jeopardy from Politico
"Donald Trump is on the verge of two things once thought to be impossible: winning the Republican presidential nomination, and putting Republicans’ historically large House majority in danger. Democrats have for the past year discussed the GOP’s 30-seat majority as a long-term problem, solvable only by shrinking it over several successive elections. But Trump’s remarkable rise in the GOP presidential race, and the backlash he has already provoked among the broader electorate, has suddenly raised the prospect of a large November wave against Trump and the Republicans who would share the ballot with him."
"Donald Trump is on the verge of two things once thought to be impossible: winning the Republican presidential nomination, and putting Republicans’ historically large House majority in danger. Democrats have for the past year discussed the GOP’s 30-seat majority as a long-term problem, solvable only by shrinking it over several successive elections. But Trump’s remarkable rise in the GOP presidential race, and the backlash he has already provoked among the broader electorate, has suddenly raised the prospect of a large November wave against Trump and the Republicans who would share the ballot with him."
On SCOTUS Nominee, Pressure Coming to GOP Senators
Democrats plan push to force hearings on Supreme Court nomination from the Washington Post
"The approach, which is being implemented in part by a well-organized group led by former aides to President Obama, involves targeting vulnerable GOP Senate incumbents for defeat by portraying them as unwilling to fulfill the basic duties of their office. The idea is to so threaten the Republicans’ Senate majority that party leaders will reconsider blocking hearings on Garland’s nomination."
"The approach, which is being implemented in part by a well-organized group led by former aides to President Obama, involves targeting vulnerable GOP Senate incumbents for defeat by portraying them as unwilling to fulfill the basic duties of their office. The idea is to so threaten the Republicans’ Senate majority that party leaders will reconsider blocking hearings on Garland’s nomination."
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