Critics of liberals, progressives and Democrats complain that they preach tolerance and acceptance but can still be intolerant and hostile toward those with another political calling — mainly conservatives, fans of President Trump and Republicans. A timely survey now suggests that in reality, the GOP may be more forgiving than their Democratic counterparts.
With his instant name recognition, early-bird polls consistently place former Vice President Joseph R. Biden as the top Democratic contender for president in 2020. Now comes a call for Mr. Biden to go rogue - or at least independent.
Despite a "migration crisis" in Europe and the influence of "anti-immigrant parties," hope springs eternal among those who want to leave their homeland according to a massive international survey conducted in 52 countries.
The press mulled the impeachment of President Trump even before he became the Republican nominee for president. That is a rough guide to how long the "I-word" has been floated before the public.
December heralds lots of year-end lists- best and worst, who's up, who's down. Mediaite.com, which monitors the big doings of the restless press - offers its list of 75 people who are the "most influential in news media," and they hail from broadcast, print and online sources.
Journalists could not stop speculating about the subtle occurrences that transpired in just a few moments during the state funeral service for George H.W. Bush. There in the front row, and very much on-camera was a rare gathering: President Trump was on the aisle seat, with first lady Melania Trump to his left; then came former President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama, former President Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton and former President Jimmy Carter and Rosalynn Carter.
For those who are keeping count, the proverbial "Mueller investigation" began on May 17, 2017, when Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, "the No. 2 Justice Department official, appoints former FBI director Robert Mueller as special counsel to investigate possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia," according to a helpful Reuters timeline of the big doings. If we do all the math, that means that on Dec. 17, the investigation will have gone on for 19 months.
Forty Democrats are mulling a run for the White House according to some counts, many fueled by their disbelief that President Trump not only won the 2016 election, but that he's still in office. Yes, well. It's going to be a noisy lead-up to 2020 — and now we have one more name to add, and he is among the first of the independent hopefuls.
Major Garrett, chief White House correspondent for CBS, has a new book out, and the title tells all: "Mr. Trump's Wild Ride: The Thrills, Chills, Screams, and Occasional Blackouts of an Extraordinary Presidency."
Like President Trump, the conservative brand - the identity, traits and causes of those who espouse this ideology - has been under attack by the news media, along with liberal pundits and educators, Hollywood, progressive strategists and PR shops. This relentless team has created a negative shorthand about conservatives that suggests they are heartless, archaic, racist, etc. - and it has reinforced the rigid polarization between Americans.
President Trump's tenacity in the political and policy arena appears to be paying off. A new American Barometer survey from The Hill released Wednesday finds that 48 percent of American voters now approve of Mr. Trump. The approval is highest among rural voters: 66 percent give the president a cordial nod. Also among the higher numbers: 53 percent of men and Midwestern voters approve, along with 51 percent of baby boomers and 50 percent of Gen X-ers, those over 65 and those who are 35 to 49 years old, respectively.
"Conservatives can't even sneeze without lefties accusing them of fomenting violence. But when lefties do it? It's just speaking truth to power or something. Take Rob Reiner, for instance. He doesn't seem to be at risk of any pushback from liberals for a tweet about Donald Trump," notes Twitchy.com, which monitors the Twitter realm for signs of liberal bias, outrage and other matters.
President Trump can be very canny when dealing with a hostile news media or opinion-mongers, and often wins skirmishes with just a provocative tweet or two. Mr. Trump's campaign, meanwhile, continues to conduct its own opinion polls, and the White House regularly vets news coverage, clearly citing beneficial stories, information and helpful data. It could go a step further, though.
President Trump departs for Mississippi on Monday, bound for a jumbo campaign rally for Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith in an election run-off against Democrat Mike Espy, a former representative U.S. representative and Clinton-era agriculture secretary.
There may be lingering annoyance over the midterm elections, and much of the news media remains at war with President Trump. But one force continues to put Americans in a buoyant mood — and that's the economy at year's end.
What have presidents dined on over the years at Thanksgiving? The White House Historical Society has traced the menus back to Nov. 26, 1789, when George Washington issued a proclamation for a "public thanksgiving," then dined upon turkey, Chesapeake Bay oysters, Potomac rockfish and assorted pies. From that auspicious beginning comes many a menu, and a few interesting moments. A brief selection from the society's records:
The word wizards at Oxford Dictionary have chosen "toxic" as their official word of the year, which they deem to be a word or expression which reflects the "ethos, mood, or preoccupations of the passing year," with a future role in cultural significance.
It is a very persistent phenomenon: the media is biased and hostile toward President Trump. Multiple complex studies from the Media Research Center have confirmed that 90 percent of broadcast news coverage of Mr. Trump and his administration has been negative since the president took office almost two years ago. Now comes confirmation of blatant bias across the entire news media from another source.
Multiple polls have revealed that Americans are tired of political discord and partisan attacks, which started when President Trump ran for office, and continue as he approaches his second anniversary in office. The public associates this rigid negativity with the "do-nothing Congress" and gridlock. Civility - which often proves more efficient and productive than combat in fostering compromise - is rare indeed.
Amid red states, blue states, social strife and political polarization, one analyst now suggests that the United States jettison the "united" part and become a couple of separate nations. This extreme measure likely would disappoint millions of people around the planet who still perceive America as the shining beacon of yore, truly a "united" United States. Plenty of Americans would weep over the thought as well. But it's out there.
