MORNING MESSAGE
The
first shadow is that of the extremist Republican right ... Their free-market
voodoo and corporate pandering is promoted by wild-eyed believers and cutthroat
cynics who know that their ideas are unpopular and their theories disproved ...
The second shadow is that of a new fundamentalism, both political and religious
... They’ve claimed their religion on behalf of their political ideology, but
despise what it and all spiritual traditions really represent ... The third
shadow is that of Trump himself, a bloated bleached-blond Narcissus transfixed
by his own silhouette.
(SOME) REPUBLICANS CONVENE IN CLEVELAND
“Surprises”
promised as convention begins. W. Post: “After promising details for weeks …
convention organizers unveiled a partial speaking schedule Sunday … The theme is
scheduled to shift Tuesday from [Monday’s theme of]
veterans and Benghazi to the economy. The most notable speakers on ‘Make America Work Again’ night will be Donald Trump Jr. and Tiffany Trump…”
veterans and Benghazi to the economy. The most notable speakers on ‘Make America Work Again’ night will be Donald Trump Jr. and Tiffany Trump…”
Trump
brings “law and order” message to convention. NYT: “…it was unclear if a
thunderous response to the shooting in Louisiana will help allay voters’
concerns. While Republicans often run on law-and-order themes, an indelicate
approach could carry considerable danger at a moment of such unusual political
instability.”
Republican
senators stay away from convention. NYT: “[Ohio Sen. Rob] Portman once
looked forward to a convention in Cleveland that would turbocharge his
re-election campaign. Now he joins other swing-state Republican senators who are
shying away … busily campaigning at home … The convention avoiders include four
of seven senators on the ballot in states President Obama won twice.”
Secret
money funds convention. Time: “The RNC’s near total dependence on private
money is the direct result of a series of recent federal rule changes that
eliminated public funding for conventions and made it easier for parties to rake
in unlimited sums of private cash, with no extra oversight … the public won’t
find out who the major corporate funders are to either the Republican or
Democratic conventions until sometime in the fall.”
“Art
of the Deal” ghostwriter rips Trump in New Yorker interview: “I put lipstick
on a pig. I feel a deep sense of remorse that I contributed to presenting Trump
in a way that brought him wider attention and made him more appealing than he is
… I genuinely believe that if Trump wins and gets the nuclear codes there is an
excellent possibility it will lead to the end of civilization.”
TRUMP PICKS FREE TRADER FOR VP
Trump
says he’s for “free trade” after picking pro-TPP Mike Pence for VP. WSJ: “In
Sunday’s [“60 Minutes”] interview, Mr. Pence downplayed any differences between
them. ‘What I hear Donald Trump saying is let’s look at these trade agreements
and reconsider them and renegotiate them,’ he said. Added Mr. Trump: ‘I’m free
trade, but I want to make good deals.'”
“In
Choosing Mike Pence, Donald Trump Moves Closer to Big Donors” reports NYT:
“… the [Koch] network … signaled that it would stay out of the presidential
race, instead focusing on Senate elections. A spokesman for Freedom Partners,
James Davis, said on Thursday that Mr. Trump’s choice of running mate was
unlikely to change that decision … the choice of Mr. Pence could yet yield
financial dividends. Mr. Pence has his own relationships to donors aligned with
the Kochs…”
CLINTON EMBARKS ON "COUNTER-CONVENTION"
Clinton
campaign won’t cede stage this week. WSJ: “The presumptive Democratic
nominee plans to punch back with a week’s worth of counter-programming aimed …
[The campaign] will focus on the theme ‘better than this’ … Across the country,
Democrats also will hold voter registration events this week…”
Clinton
addresses NAACP today. NYT: “…Clinton is expected to build on her previous
calls, including imploring white Americans to have more empathy for
African-Americans who fear encounters with the police.”
Sanders
supporters look toward running for office as The Guardian reports from last
month’s People’s Summit.
BREAKFAST SIDES
NLRB
considers grad student unionization. WSJ: “The National Labor Relations
Board is expected … this summer in a ruling that could pave the way for graduate
students at private schools across the country to unionize … Since most of the
current board members are Democrats appointed by President Barack Obama,
observers expect the board is more likely to side with the students and the
union.”
Republican
Minneapolis Fed President Neel Kashkari eyes breakup of big banks.
Bloomberg: “While his push to find a new solution for dealing with large
banks has been lauded by Democratic Senator Bernie Sanders and a policy wonk at
the libertarian Cato Institute alike, he’s been criticized for appearing on the
scene with his own proposals to fix problems the Fed has been grappling with for
years.”
Progressive
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