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From The Reporter’s Notebook
Republicans could use some of the attacks against Hillary Clinton that Donald Trump’s campaign has popularized — such as the “lock her up” chant — to block Clinton’s agenda if she becomes president, TPM’s Tierney Sneed reported. Speaking to TPM at the Republican National Convention last month, some GOP lawmakers had no problem with calls to put Clinton in jail. “Other people who have done much less than Mrs. Clinton has have been fined or gone to prison, and I think the people are worried about there being a double standard in terms of adhering to the law,” Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-VA) said when asked if the chants were appropriate. “That is not good in this county, to have that double standard. The rule of law is extremely important to us and it should applied to everyone.”
Agree or Disagree?
Josh Marshall: “I’m not saying that formal lobbying isn’t an issue. But a lot of money that goes for this kind of lobbying ends up being dumb money. The think tanks are where a lot of most sophisticated work happens. Now, it’s not all black and white. Some corporations have interests in underwriting legitimate research that also aligns with their goals. And there are protectionist think tanks and trade liberalization think tanks. So to some extent, the money just goes to the policy rather than changes. But still, the essence of the practice speaks for itself. It’s probably also worth noting that there are comparable processes at play at major research universities, though much less mercenary in focus. What is probably worth thinking about, beyond seeing the dirty laundry aired, is what’s happened to the disinterested money?”
Say What?!
“From Team Bush, it’s a bitter pill to swallow, but you know what? You get back up and you help the man that won.”
– Jeb Bush’s son told state GOP activists to get in line behind Trump, who routinely ridiculed Jeb Bush as “low-energy,” “weak,” and “pathetic.”
BUZZING: Today in the Hive
From a TPM Prime member: “The down ticket, especially during the mid-terms, is the real strength of the Republican brand. And, it’s hardly in decline. A more radically conservative 3rd party would not last long. US Senators, representatives, governors, statehouses, etc. down to city councils and school boards have in aggregate, nearly continuously over the last 2 to 3 decades, been controlled by Republican politicians. The mainstream Republicans have been flexible enough to bend and not break during the Tea Party populism revolution counteracting Obama’s presidency. Trump may well be Frankenstein’s (Tea Party’s) Monster, but I doubt he will destroy his maker. There will be enough office holders left standing down ticket who can pivot back easily enough to the conservative mainstream that the brand will quickly coalesce and win the 2018 Senate midterms back and strengthen the House.”
Related: If Democrats are having a harder time than expected in a few marquee Senate races in 2016, none of it may matter in the time of Donald Trump.
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