Monday, May 09, 2016

Voters may not go to the polls in response to who they like in the presidential election, but rather by who they hate in the presidential election.

Courtesy of Reuters:

Nearly half of American voters who support either Democrat Hillary Clinton or Republican Donald Trump for the White House said they will mainly be trying to block the other side from winning, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll released Thursday. 

The results reflect a deepening ideological divide in the United States, where people are becoming increasingly fearful of the opposing party, a feeling worsened by the likely matchup between the New York real estate tycoon and the former first lady, said Larry Sabato, director of the University of Virginia’s Center for Politics. 

"This phenomenon is called negative partisanship," Sabato said. "If we were trying to maximize the effect, we couldn't have found better nominees than Trump and Clinton."

I think we are learning virtually every day why people dislike Donald Trump, many even in his own party, but is this deep dislike of Hillary really deserved?

Actually no.



Courtesy of HuffPo: 

The obvious start is the very open, well honed and relentless GOP attack plan to nail her. It was scripted by the Republican National Committee long before she announced her 2016 presidential run. The plan was to put teams on the ground in Arkansas and anywhere else Hillary and Bill had put their political and personal footprints, then dig up every scintilla of old and new dirt it could dredge up to try and render her candidacy — stillborn before it even became an official candidacy. The RNC planned to churn out inflammatory and defamatory videos reminding voters of the old scandals the GOP worked over endlessly to hammer Hillary on — from Whitewater to the Lewinsky scandal, and her tout of health care reform, which was the prelude to the much harangued Affordable Care Act. 

That is the past. The GOP now with the leadership of numerous House Committees could reel off and spend millions of dollars and hours on trumped up investigation after trumped up investigation to hit Clinton on her alleged coverup in the Benghazi debacle and her alleged misuse of emails as Secretary of State. The aim is to embarrass and discredit her not because of her alleged missteps as Secretary of State, but as a 2016 presidential candidate. 

At the very least, with much of the press obsessively sniffing around and then headlining every spiff of rumor, including gossip and dirt about the emails and Benghazi, helped to paint the picture in the minds of many of Clinton as a liar, cheat and generally untrustworthy candidate. It was a short step from that to Trump to pouncing and minting Clinton as “Crooked Hillary” on the campaign stump. This took a toll. Clinton started out with relatively high favorability ratings in the months just before she announced that she was a 2016 candidate. However, the steady drumbeat of attacks has driven her unpopularity numbers steadily on an upward trajectory. When the GOP and Trump turn the smear guns on her in the run-up to November, the negatives could continue to march higher. It will take every ounce of Democratic Party unity, money, time, and energy, and a massive turnout from core Democrats and centrist independents, to offset the gutter attacks that will be tossed at Clinton.

I have said it before, but it bears repeating, NOBODY spends this much time and resources going after somebody who they are not flat terrified of.

The simple fact is that the Republicans are well aware of what Hillary Clinton can accomplish as President, and have been working to keep her out of the job for almost thirty years.

The troubling part is that apparently Democrats do not have that same confidence in her abilities.

But you have to ask yourself, is that based on what you KNOW about her, or what they have TOLD you about her?

Yesterday I called my mom because, you know, Mother's Day.

After exchanging pleasantries and listening to her complain about my brother we eventually got around to politics.

My mother said that though she really did not like Donald Trump she simply could not bring herself to vote for Hillary based on what she had heard about her.

It took me a bit but I finally learned that Mom had watched a video on Facebook labeling Hillary a liar, and then showing numerous out of context incidences of her "lying."

It took me a good twenty minutes to correct the untruths, which also involved explaining what a  "third trimester abortion" was and why women might want and even need one.

In the end my mother still seemed somewhat unconvinced, disenfranchised if you will, and of course that is exactly the goal behind this relentless assault on Hillary.

And it is also why the conservatives have been helping Sanders behind the scenes all along.

Like I said if you are planning to sit this election out because of your dislike for Hillary Clinton, you need to have a long talk with yourself and determine if that is really how you feel, or if that is the result of thirty years of GOP indoctrination.

52 comments:

  1. Anonymous8:37 AM

    Gosh thanks for the lecture Gryph lol.

    You are obviously the smartest and most seasoned and wisest political know it all in the room.

    What if YOU are completely wrong?

    "Courtesy of HuffPo" lol.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous12:05 PM

      8:37, thanks, I needed that. I've never voted for a Republican but having watched Hillary since forever, I will have to force myself to vote for her. When she managed to avoid a charge of insider trading, when she moved to NY just in time for Moynihan's retirement, I concluded that she's no different from every other conniving power hungry politician. She may be a good, even great, president. But she's been bought and paid for since Bill began sniffing cigars in the White House. On the other hand, I expect Bill knows where a lot of skeletons are buried just in case Hillary needs a bit of help.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous12:51 PM

      Gryph, what a great post! Thank you! +1

      Delete
    3. Anonymous12:51 PM

      @8:37 AM Don't worry your tiny pea sized brain, Gryph isn't completely wrong!

      Delete
  2. Anonymous8:50 AM

    Girl Power! YES! Congrats to ALL-BRAVO!>
    http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_29868603/controversial-west-point-photo-women-cadets-gesture-subject

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    Replies
    1. Anonymous9:14 AM

      If it is about 'girl power', where are the white women with their black panther closed fists raised lol?

      Sorry, but no need to 'whitewash' this, we all know what this is.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous10:22 AM

      http://www.rawstory.com/2016/05/prince-harry-opens-invictus-games-for-military-disabled/

      Delete
  3. Anonymous8:52 AM

    " Azealia Banks endorses Trump as she says Hillary Clinton 'talks to black people as if we're children or pets' "

    http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3581147/Azealia-Banks-endorses-Trump-says-Hillary-Clinton-talks-black-people-children-pets.html

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous12:52 PM

      And who is Aealia Banks?

      Delete
    2. Anonymous12:53 PM

      Gee, where's that legal case that Sarah was threatening against Azealia? Crickets.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous1:17 PM

      She is the black lady speaking truth about the democrats. I thought democrats liked black ladies taking powerful stances, no?

      Delete
  4. Anonymous8:59 AM

    Here's an excellent list with CITATIONS/LINKS on all the flip flopping Hillary has done on major issues. She will say whatever gauged upon who she is speaking in front of.
    https://pastelink.net/1ojh

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    Replies
    1. Anonymous9:54 AM

      Yeah, dont' waste your time going to that link, which is a bunch of copy and pasted cap from Reddit citing all sorts of right wing rags.

      If you want to get into a flip flopping argument, look no further than Trump doing so within MINUTES, sometimes in the same damn conversation, flipping his promises inside out and backwards.

      So take your bullshit link collection and stuff it up your ignorant ass.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous10:06 AM

      Anon 9:54? THANK YOU!!! especially your last sentence...

      Delete
    3. In 2016 election speak, words mean nothing and it is perception, impression, image & gut feeling plus a lot of lizard brain processing.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous10:53 AM

      @9:54
      "all sorts of right wing rags."
      Hardly.
      And many of the same sources are used right here on this blog when it suits the narrative.That's called "cherry picking"
      And most have DIRECT QUOTES from Hillary.
      Please do explain to my "ignorant ass" how her different statements/positions on the same subjects is not flip flopping?





      Delete
    5. Anonymous12:53 PM

      Some people are so threatened by a smart woman. I've had to deal with it all my life.

      Delete
    6. Anonymous1:16 PM

      Lol, in your head 12:53, in your head.

      Delete
    7. Anonymous12:53 PM, You maketh my Berning vagina to laugh

      Delete
  5. Anonymous9:07 AM

    http://www.cbsnews.com/news/hillary-clinton-recently-raised-more-wall-street-cash-than-all-other-candidates-combined/

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    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:10 AM

      ALL politicians (both parties) receive funds from Wall Street! To include Bernie Sanders and The Donald. Don't kid yourself voters...be informed and fact check things.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous12:50 PM

      @10:10
      "ALL politicians (both parties) receive funds from Wall Street! To include Bernie Sanders and The Donald. Don't kid yourself voters...be informed and fact check things."
      Here's who gets the $ from big pharma:
      https://www.opensecrets.org/industries/indus.php?ind=H04

      Delete
  6. Anonymous9:32 AM

    The media is very much to blame for the hate that is being spread about Hillary Clinton.

    And, now The Donald is really piling on....makes me sick to my stomach seeing the nastiness of this pending race! And, asshole Donald hasn't even won the nomination as yet! And, Bill Clinton bares the blame for his affairs, not Hillary!

    Hillary Clinton FOR SURE has my vote!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:17 AM

      Trump's not the only one able to make deals. What sort of deal did/has Hillary strike with Bill? I know many women who think she was weak & wrong (as a "strong woman") for not standing up to her: what did/does he have on her?

      Not a reason, IMO, to vote or not vote for her:
      it should be based on her progressive record, which is weak. On the board of directions for 6 years, she never once voted against the non-union, anti-women stance of Wal-Mart.

      And what has she promised Wall Street and Big Pharma who also gave her 1/3 million for a speech?

      Delete
    2. Anonymous12:55 PM

      Hillary and The Bern voted together 93% of the time in the time in the Senate. I guess Bernie's not a progressive then, either.

      Delete
  7. Anonymous9:32 AM

    Disgust with Hillary is part of the reason that Obama won the 2008 Primary.

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    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:18 AM

      Yes, and it hasn't gone away. If anything is it stronger for her pro-war stance and actions re Libya as SoS since then.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous12:56 PM

      Her pro-war stance? Bernie VOTED for action in Libya and any final decisions were made by President Obama. Some of you have no idea how government works. Secretary of State works FOR the President. Duh.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous2:08 PM

      12:56 - Obama himself says his decision to get involved in the UN military intervention in Libya was primarily because of the urging of Clinton. VP and SecDef were against it.

      Delete
  8. Anonymous9:35 AM

    In A Rare Moment Of Truth Paul Ryan Admits That The Republican Party Is Falling Apart

    http://www.politicususa.com/2016/05/09/rare-moment-truth-paul-ryan-admits-republican-party-falling.html

    ReplyDelete
  9. Anonymous9:36 AM

    It takes a special kind of stupid to make an argument stating one thing, and then provide support for that argument that proves the opposite. Yet that’s exactly what the New York Post did Friday with an editorial attacking Hillary Clinton. The editorial carried the provocative headline: “Hillary’s latest email lie didn’t even last a week.”

    http://www.newscorpse.com/ncWP/?p=31560

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  10. Anonymous9:38 AM

    30% Of GOP Voters Trust Obama/Clinton More Than Trump On SCOTUS Nominee

    http://www.politicususa.com/2016/05/09/republicans-reeling-30-gop-voters-trust-obamaclinton-trump-scotus-nominee.html

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    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:20 AM

      Not enough when more than that % of Dems distrust Hillary and may not vote for her, whereas will GOP voters vote for her and not Trump?

      Delete
    2. Anonymous12:59 PM

      Most Democrats will vote for her; Bernie can only win in the undemocratic caucuses! More have voted for her than for him: 3 million more.

      Delete
  11. Anonymous9:42 AM

    The most sad, truly sad thing about this whole mess is that Hilary Clinton has no equal in the public display to come. There is no one for her to converse with publicly regarding politics and government.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous2:12 PM

      No equal? HAHAHAHA!!!
      So elite no one rises to the level of being able to converse with her? BWAHAHAHA!!
      Oh my goodness, some of you Hillary supporters are so smitten you've completely lost it.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous 9:42 AM, you don't make sense.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous3:04 PM

      2:12- GOP Trump nominee cannot talk policy. He's a truer "know-nothing." That's what 9:42 meant.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous6:11 PM

      @Celia Harrison 3:01 PM Speaking of not making sense, I've read some of your blog posts and you don't make sense more often than not. I would leave that comment on your blog but unfortunately just like the thin skinned Sarah Palin, you block comments from people who don't share your point of view!!

      BTW Reality check...Bernie Sanders won't be the nominee, he's too far behind in the delegate count and he's loosing the popular vote as well.

      Delete
  12. Anonymous9:44 AM

    The Bill Clinton/Hillary behavior during
    his sexual conquests , Trump will keep
    going. However, Bill Clinton "NEVER"
    pointed to his daughter while both surrounded by a huge crowd and TV cameras,
    pointing to her and commenting on her hot body, telling everybody to look and if he
    were younger he would date her. Trump did just that to his daughter Ivanka,
    Trump is condoning fantasizing incest!
    Bill, as wrong as he was,also NEVER put out
    a photograph of a naked woman posed on a
    fuzzy rug handcuffed to his brief case
    in his private plane for all to see. Trump did, plus it was Trump's wife Trump pimped.
    Why can't these two instances be constantly
    used against Trump, women, including his
    wife and daughter as nothing but sex
    objects. At least Bill went outside his
    family, as bad as it was. Trump wants the
    woman vote, so use this against him constantly! Ivanka just gave birth to
    a girl , so Trump is a so called proud
    grandfather of a little girl. As Trump
    as her grandfather, look what she has to look forward to. Disgusting!



    Trump wants the woman vote, so use this against him. Ivanka just gave her father
    a granddaughter. As Trump as her grandfather, look what she has to look forward to . Disgusting!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Anonymous10:10 AM

    Trump wasting no time..

    http://www.nytimes.com/politics/first-draft/2016/05/09/donald-trump-picks-chris-christie-to-head-possible-transition-team/

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    1. Anonymous11:52 AM

      "I know how to deal with debt very well — I love debt — but, you know, debt is tricky, and it's dangerous, and you have to be careful, and you have to know what you're doing," Trump said."

      bankrupt 4 times in NJ and NY. Riigghhtt...

      Delete
    2. And he's got Ben Carson helping him make a list of possible Vice Presidential candidates.

      Delete
  14. Anonymous11:30 AM

    Trump's comment on hearing what Sarah said regarding Paul Ryan:

    Donald Trump didn’t go quite as far on Monday morning, when he was asked in an interview whether he stood behind Palin’s threats. “Sarah Palin has endorsed me, and I like her a lot. I think she’s a terrific person,” he told Chris Cuomo on CNN. “But I have nothing to do with that. You know, Sarah’s very much a free agent. She’s a terrific person but she’s very much a free agent and I didn’t know about this until yesterday. I guess she’s been fighting or she’s endorsing somebody running against Paul Ryan. And I didn’t know about it until yesterday when I read about it.”

    http://www.vanityfair.com/news/2016/05/sarah-palin-threatens-to-end-paul-ryans-career-for-not-backing-trump

    ReplyDelete
  15. Anonymous12:32 PM

    “Sarah Palin has endorsed me, and I like her a lot. I think she’s a terrific person,” Trump said on CNN's “New Day.” “But I have nothing to do with that. You know, Sarah’s very much a free agent. She’s a terrific person but she’s very much a free agent and I didn’t know about this until yesterday. I guess she’s been fighting or she’s endorsing somebody running against Paul Ryan. And I didn’t know about it until yesterday, when I read about it.”

    Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2016/05/trump-republican-opposition-222953#ixzz48C0nHH36
    Follow us: @politico on Twitter | Politico on Facebook

    ReplyDelete
  16. Anonymous1:32 PM

    What this Reuters poll confirms is that America has 2 candidates running for President that are highly disliked and people are voting AGAINST a candidate versus voting FOR a candidate. Sad. I'm one of those voters. I'll hold my nose and vote for Hillary Clinton because I think Trump is insane and the foul, racist agenda he is promoting scares the hell out of me.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous 1:32 PM, You don't have to vote for the lesser of two evils, there is another great candidate. People are working their hearts out to get him elected.

      Delete
    2. The stats for this article are quite askew due to leaving out a third candidate who instead of these two who have low favorability ratings, but Bernie's is high on the scale. His supporters are voting for him because they are passionately wanting him elected. The Republicans hate Hillary and want her to go to prison, that is those who aren't of the 1%.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous6:19 PM

      @Celia Harrison 3:12 PM The stats aren't askew, you're just living in denial!!

      Delete
  17. Anonymous4:25 PM

    Maybe we can opt to have Obama serve a third term while we hash all this out.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Yeah, we should be soooo proud of the process. We can go to the polls this November and vote for the person we hate less. I'm so looking forward to that.

    Instead of voting FOR the candidate I want, like I did with Obama, I get to hold my nose and vote for the candidate I hate less. I'm so thrilled. I just can't wait to vote.

    Is it any wonder there is increasing voter apathy.

    My local station said Kensington, median income $90,000 has a 62% voter turnout. Teralta, just south of them with a median income of $21,000 has about a 20% voter turnout.

    Tell me again how Bernie lied when he said poor people don't vote.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Anita Winecooler5:16 PM

    I'm voting for the presumptive Democratic Nominee, no matter what her name happens to be, that is if she can get the DNC to change the rules and have the one with the most votes and delegates on her side. I'm sure she can get it done.

    ReplyDelete

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