Tag: Sanity

LAS VEGAS ? Former President Barack Obama warned Nevadans on Monday that staying home during November’s midterm elections “would be profoundly dangerous to our democracy,” saying in a speech that these elections are “more important than any I can remember in my lifetime, and that includes when I was on the ballot.” “We have a chance to restore some sanity in our politics,” Obama said at a packed rally at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas campus. “Ultimately there is only one real check on abuses of power, there’s only one real check on bad policy and that is you and your vote.” “Don’t boo. All that stuff is nice to do. Just vote!” he said, reprising a favorite line from his days on the presidential campaign trail. While he never called out President Donald Trump by name, Obama directly criticized some of his successor’s most controversial rhetoric and policies on issues like health care, immigration and the deficit. “I know you can bet on anything here in Vegas, but you don’t want to bet that Republicans are actually going to protect your health care,” Obama said at the event following an introduction by some Democrats on the ballot here, including Senate candidate Rep. Jacky Rosen and gubernatorial candidate Steve Sisolak. The former president urged the audience to “remember who started” the ongoing economic recovery Republicans are touting ahead of the November elections, noting that Democrats had to deal with a recession upon his election 10 years ago when the GOP ran “things into the ground.” And he poked fun at GOP deficit hawks who opposed his proposals then turned around and blew a hole in the nation’s budget by passing tax cuts that disproportionately benefited wealthy Americans. “I never knew if I was 100 percent Democrat before, but I feel that I know what I’m definitely not,” she added. The focus on turning out Hispanic voters was evident at the rally, which took place in a state with a rapidly growing Latino population. “Republicans right now are trying to say, ‘Democrats don’t think like you, look like you, or believe in the same things as you,’” he said.

Podcasts can slow down and really study a topic or event, bringing in the kind of nuance that's too often lacking in our current discourse. "Ground Game," The Associated Press Believe it or not, American politics extends beyond the White House, even though Trump dominates so many headlines. A recent episode gave detailed insight into what goes into the AP's decision to call a race. While you won't find hot political takes here, it's anything but dry. © 2018 npr "Political Gabfest," Slate If you like your political roundtable talk a little spicy, Slate's "Political Gabfest" offers astute and lively debate that's well worth a listen. His delightful "Whistlestop" podcast has been churning out episodes of presidential history for years. (I included his book, based on the podcast, in a presidential biographies project I did for this site a few years back.) The podcast is still going, dipping into the past to give us essential context for events of the present. Recent episodes focus on the failed nomination of Robert Bork to the Supreme Court by Ronald Reagan in 1987. With any luck, these podcasts won't just keep you up to date on political happenings without immersing you in the digital echo chamber — maybe you'll keep your sanity and learn some U.S. history along the way.

Tom Wolf in a state that President Trump won in 2016, Obama told the crowd that the approaching election “is more important than any I can remember in my lifetime.” The former president carried Pennsylvania in both of his presidential races, and Democrats hope the state can help them retake control of Congress from the GOP. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) Noting that the coming elections are not for the White House, Obama highlighted a tendency among some constituents to sit on the sidelines. “The Republicans in Congress right now … they’re no check on the White House. They’re bending over backwards to shield … folks from scrutiny and accountability,” he said. On Nov. 6, you have a chance to restore some sanity to our politics.” He went on to say that people across the political spectrum “should be concerned about the current course of this country,” apparently taking a subtle swipe at President Trump. “You don’t have to be a Democrat or a Republican … to say that it’s not good to pressure the attorney general or the FBI to use the criminal justice system to punish political enemies," Obama said. "That’s what they do in some dictatorships. I might just complain. I might say to Michelle, ‘Hey, that’s not fair.’” Obama's trip is the latest in a string of appearances before the midterms. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Barack Obama has taken another swipe at Donald Trump as he called the upcoming US midterm elections "a chance to restore some sanity in our politics”. The former US president has been back on the campaign trail in support of fellow Democrats ahead of the crucial vote. "When you look at the arc of American history, there's always been a push and pull between those who want to go forward and those who want to look back, between those who want to divide and those are seeking to bring people together, between those who promote the politics of hope and those who exploit the politics of fear," he said. "If we don't step up, things can get worse," he told the audience at the Anaheim Convention Centre. "In two months, we have the chance to restore some sanity to our politics. We have the chance to flip the House of Representatives and make sure there are real checks and balances in Washington." Speaking about the Democrat campaign, Mr Obama said to loud cheers: "We're going to put on our marching shoes, we're going to start knocking on some doors, we're going to start making some calls." But California Republicans said Mr Obama's appearance would have little impact, and may even help their party. "It reminds the Republicans why these midterms are important." Mr Obama is expected to deliver a similar message in another campaign speech in Cleveland on Thursday.

By ELLIOT SPAGAT, Associated Press ANAHEIM — Former President Barack Obama said Saturday that November midterm elections would give Americans “a chance to restore some sanity in our politics,” taking another swipe at his successor as he raises his profile campaigning for fellow Democrats to regain control of the House. “If we don’t step up, things can get worse,” the former president told the audience at the Anaheim Convention Center. “In two months, we have the chance to restore some sanity to our politics. We have the chance to flip the House of Representatives and make sure there are real checks and balances in Washington.” Obama gave shout-outs to seven Democratic candidates in competitive House districts across California that are considered crucial to the party’s efforts to oust Republicans from control. Four of those districts are at least partly in Orange County, a formerly reliable GOP bastion that went for Hillary Clinton in the 2016 presidential election. “We’re going to put on our marching shoes, we’re going to start knocking on some doors, we’re going to start making some calls,” he said to cheers. Clinton trounced Trump by more than 4 million votes in California in 2016 and carried Orange County by 9 percentage points. In Orange County, Republicans held a 13-point edge in voter registration 10 years ago but that has shrunk to 3 points while independents, who tend to vote like Democrats in California, have climbed to 25 percent. Environmental lawyer Mike Levin is seeking an open seat to replace retiring GOP Rep. Darrell Issa in a district that includes part of Orange County. California Republicans said Obama’s appearance would have little impact and may even help their party.

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Former President Barack Obama said Saturday that November midterm elections would give Americans "a chance to restore some sanity in our politics," taking another swipe at his successor as he raises his profile campaigning for fellow Democrats to regain control of the House. "If we don't step up, things can get worse," the former president told the audience at the Anaheim Convention Center. "In two months, we have the chance to restore some sanity to our politics. Four of those districts are at least partly in Orange County, a formerly reliable GOP bastion that went for Hillary Clinton in the 2016 presidential election. Clinton trounced Trump by more than 4 million votes in California in 2016 and carried Orange County by 9 percentage points. In Orange County, Republicans held a 13-point edge in voter registration 10 years ago, but that has shrunk to 3 points, while independents, who tend to vote like Democrats in California, have climbed to 25 percent. Each of the seven candidates that Obama campaigned for on Saturday fit that description. California Republicans said Obama's appearance would have little impact and may even help their party. Says Pence, "The truth is, the American people in 2016 rejected the policy and direction of Barack Obama when they elected President Donald Trump." Fox released an excerpt on Saturday.