Trump v Clinton – likely, but not yet assured

The party nomination process for this year’s presidential election set a clear direction last Tuesday.  The probability is now very high that Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump will represent the Democratic and Republican parties respectively in November.   However, each faces threats to their nomination.  For both candidates these threats could end their pursuit of the nomination, and in Clinton’s case continue into the general election cycle.

Iowa Caucuses Result

Iowa is the first state in the nation to begin the party nomination process in presidential elections.  It has been that way since 1972.  It is a unique form in the nation using caucuses rather than primary elections.  As Iowa only awards 1% of the delegates it is rather inconsequential, except that it is first.  This brings a great deal of attention to the state.

Beyond being first, what does Iowa tell us?  Its track record in predicting the nominee for the Democrats is only 40%.  With Republicans it is slightly better, but still only 50/50.   So winning isn’t really predictive.  As Iowa is not a winner takes all state and the delegates are distributed based on the percentage each candidate receives its practical meaning in the race for delegates is also subdued.

NBC to Replace WHDH Channel 7: Southeastern Massachusetts Needs to Speak Up

NBC Universal, a subsidiary of Comcast, recently announced it will end its relationship with Boston’s WHDH-TV Channel 7 and substitute a network-owned station beginning in 2017. This change could have a major negative effect on households on Cape Cod and in Southeastern Massachusetts that now receive NBC network programming over the air using antennas, or may desire to in the future. Regional government representatives and community organizations need to understand the potential impact of the NBC change and attempt to influence the outcome.

Sunbeam Television Corp. owns WHDH. President Ed Ansin has said he intends to contest the change with the Federal Communications Commission. Ansin’s argument appears to be that Comcast made commitments as part of its FCC-approved purchase of NBC Universal. He may argue that if Comcast uses NBC-owned WNEU-TV Channel 60 in southern New Hampshire to replace WHDH, with the signal reaching half the audience, this may violate commitments Comcast made before the FCC.

Carly Fiorina on Planned Parenthood

Presidential candidate Carly Fiorina made an impassioned and forceful comment during the recent Republican presidential debate about fetal tissue harvesting by Planned Parenthood.  Many in the media assessed her statement the most effective and powerful moment of the debate.   Fiorina’s reproach of a moral transgression that “erodes at the character of our nation,” appeared heartfelt and sincere.

The Sanders and Trump Effect

Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump have more in common than one might think.  Though neither is likely to be elected president, both are attracting large numbers of supporters.  Though they are at opposite ends of the spectrum they are both tapping into public sentiment that rejects the economic and political status quo, and a portion of the electorate that is willing to look far outside the perceived political class of both parties for answers.

Presidential Foundations or Pre$idential FUndations

For most of the United States’ history the transfer of power on inauguration day marked the end of public life for the departing president.  In the latter part of the 20th Century this began to change.  Laws were introduced to provide a pension to former presidents and secure their presidential papers.  By the 1970's, in a dramatic shift, former presidents began to cash in on the prestige of the presidency.  The trend runs counter to hundreds of years of wise counsel and is viewed by many with increasing concern.

Until the late 1900's presidents largely returned to their former private life after leaving office.  There were a very few exceptions along the way; John Quincy Adams became a member of the House of Representatives; Andrew Johnson became a Senator;  William H. Taft became a member of the U.S. Supreme Court.  But most, like President George Washington, returned to their farms and businesses, careful to remain out of the public eye and disengaged from national level discourse.

President Harry S. Truman left office in January, 1953 penniless.  He went to the train station in Washington D.C. and returned home to Missouri.  There was no presidential pension, no secret service detail, and no presidential library.   His term ended, his perceived duty was to return to private life and allow those who followed in the office the opportunity to govern.  His honor and integrity disallowed any action “that would commercialize on the prestige and dignity of the office of the presidency.”

NoBushClinton2016

NoBushClinton2016 is a rallying cry for action to end the Bush and Clinton dynasties and take a new direction in national leadership.

America’s political system is ramping up for the 2016 presidential election.  The two leading candidates for the Democratic and Republican parties are Hillary Clinton and Jeb Bush, respectively. Each has formed a leadership political action committee (PAC) to prepare for a run.  Both are expected to announce their candidacies in the coming weeks.

The Bushes and Clintons served at the pinnacle of American power without interruption for three decades beginning with Vice President George H.W. Bush in 1981.   They remain as power brokers even while holding no political office; Bill Clinton serves as the de facto head of the Democratic Party.  Some are concerned that potential Democratic candidates are holding back for fear of the long shadow cast on the party by the Clintons.   The Bush family, too, maintains a position of power within the Republican Party.  Jeb Bush has been depicted as waiting “his turn” while his brother served as president. Now, with his family and its powerful supporters behind him, his nomination is highly probable.