2016 Race Could Spell Disaster For McConnell, Josh Marshall Recaps Dem Debate, and Shopping For Organs

By db

December 21, 2015 9:15 a.m.

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December 21, 2015

The Gist: A bombastic or unpredictable GOP presidential candidate like Cruz or Trump could threaten McConnell’s carefully-crafted Senate majority.

Jeb: I ‘Hated’ Being The GOP’s Front Runner

The Gist: Republican presidential candidate Jeb Bush said in an interview that he “hated” being the party’s front runner and feels “much better back here.”

Trump Demands Apology From Clinton Over ISIL Recruiting Comments

The Gist: Donald Trump demanded an apology from Hillary Clinton over her comments during Saturday’s Democratic debate that he was becoming “becoming ISIS’ best recruiter.”

From The Reporter’s Notebook

A Virginia school district was closed on Friday due to intense backlash over a calligraphy assignment that asked students to write the Muslim state of faith in Arabic. One parent said it amounted to “indoctrination.” As TPM’s Caitlin MacNeal points out, Tennessee schools saw similar parental complaints when students were asked to memorize the five pillars of Islam and write “Allah is the only God.”

Agree or Disagree?

Josh Marshall on the New Hampshire Democratic debate: “I continue to be struck by how relatively close—at least nominally—Clinton and Sanders appear to be with respect to ISIS and Syria and counter-terrorism policy generally. The hawk/dove debate we expect to play in Democratic primary races—especially what we might have suspected between these two candidates—is highly, highly muted.”

Say What?!

“No, because I think that my words represent toughness and strength.”

– Donald Trump’s response when asked whether he would change his words if he knew they were being used in ISIS videos.

BUZZING: Today in the Hive

From a TPM Prime member: “There is now little doubt in my mind DWS engineered the Bernie campaign scandal. For me, being in the Clinton camp, that Hillary is going along with this shit really saddens me. Hillary is too smart to be oblivious to DWS tilting the scale so unfairly in her favor. Hillary is aware the positive press after the debate and who they declare the winner is all that matters, not so much the many debate viewers. You didn’t need to do this Hillary. And Debbie, to paraphrase Denny Green, you’re who I thought you were. I’ll vote for Hillary with the same enthusiasm I had shooting our suffering family dog. I wanted her to win, but not this way. To all Bernie supporters, I’m sorry. Your man never had a chance from the start. DWS rigged this campaign early on. “

Related: The Sanders campaign suspended two more staffers after the data breach.

Have something to add? Become a Prime member and join the discussion here.

What We’re Reading

How one renegade country could unravel America’s war on drugs. (Vox)

The body snatchers: what happens when PR campaigns decide who gets an organ? (Toronto Life)

Financially speaking, 2015 was the year of the bears. (Bloomberg)

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2016 Race Could Spell Disaster For McConnell, Josh Marshall Recaps Dem Debate, and Shopping For Organs

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