Bernie '16?
Salon's Jim Newell makes the case: "At the least, he could play a vital role in setting Clinton’s policy agenda before she moves on to the general election ... The biggest question facing Hillary Clinton heading into 2016, aside from whether she actually wants to run, is what she would want to run on [regarding] the tricky issues, the issues about 'money,' inequality, the distribution of wealth ... What Sanders could do, then, is plant a flag somewhere well out to the left and she could position herself just a touch to the right of it: still left, but 'moderate' by comparison."
And the New Republic's Michael Kazin: "... it would make the Democratic primary about more than the deeds and personality of Hillary the inevitable ... without a shove from the left, Clinton is likely to stick to a mushy moderation, hoping a lengthy battle inside the GOP will result in a nominee too right-wing for the majority of the electorate to stomach."
Sen. Sanders joins Sen. Warren tomorrow at the New Populism Conference in Washington, DC.
Immigration Advocates Prepare Summer Battle
Immigration activists to intensify pressure on House GOP, but tension with Dems on timing. Politico: "Advocates who attended the meeting said Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), in particular, made a forceful case for waiting the 72 days until Aug. 1 — the last day the Senate is slated to be in session before the monthlong break — to try to get legislative reform that would be permanent, rather than an administrative relief that may be temporary ... , there were also differing views ... Many advocates would like to see tangible movement toward legislation by the July Fourth recess. Meanwhile, senators want to give House Republicans until the August break. Advocates told senators that if there is no 'discernible' action by early July, 'we are relying on you as Senate Democratic leadership to be hand-in-hand with us completely on a broad relief both in terms of enforcement reforms and affirmative relief,' said Marielena Hincapie, executive director of the National Immigration Law Center."
Grover Norquist fights Laura Ingraham on-air over immigration. Politico: "'One of the reasons why the people for more restrictionist immigration policy don’t make more progress when they do is they throw around "amnesty" in criticizing every single reform that we’re looking at,' Norquist said ... Ingraham and Norquist also argued over Facebook founder [and reform supporter] Mark Zuckerberg, whom the radio host called a 'billionaire robber baron' ... 'You can be a populist without being snotty at people who have been successful and done stuff,' he said."
Tea Party Over?
Tea Party fizzles in GOP primaries. AP: "The anti-establishment fervor sweeping much of the country seems not to have taken as strong a hold in Kentucky, and well-funded veteran incumbent McConnell, 72, trounced Tea Party backed challenger Matt Bevin ... In Georgia, establishment Republicans could claim another victory. Two mainstream Senate candidates, businessman David Purdue and congressman Jack Kingston, will likely enter a run-off, defeating three conservative candidates including a Tea Party-backed congressman. And in Pennsylvania, incumbent House Republican Bill Shuster defeated Tea Party-backed challenger Art Halvorson, in part by wooing conservatives groups."
Chamber pleased. Bloomberg: "'These results are a big step in the right direction,' said Republican strategist Scott Reed, who advises the nation’s largest business-lobbying group, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. After the 2012 election, Reed said the chamber’s leadership instructed its political operation to 'get more engaged in candidate selection and primaries to identify and support House and Senate candidates that believe in growth, governing and can win in November.' ... the business-backed coalition is also seeking to boost candidates who are more steeped in and supportive of an economic agenda, including ensuring that the nation doesn’t default on its debt."
But Republicans hampered by run-off in Georgia. Politico: "...a nine-week intra-party slugfest at a critical moment in the battle for control of the Senate ... [Perdue's] his critics say his business record and deep pockets will allow him to be portrayed as an out-of-touch elitist ... [Kingston's] conservative voting record on issues like Medicare could be used against him in a general election, and his longtime service in an unpopular Washington give his critics on the right and left ample ammunition."
Breakfast Sides
Americans challenging China on trade hit with Chinese cyberattacks. NYT: "Two large American steel makers, United States Steel and Allegheny Technologies, each lost confidential files in online attacks. The largest solar panel manufacturer in the United States, SolarWorld, lost technological secrets, production cost data, cash flow projections and details of its legal strategy The United Steelworkers union lost computer records containing trade policy strategies and discussions about rare earth metals and auto parts. All four had something in common besides the data thefts: Each was publicly pushing back against China’s trade policies by seeking help from the World Trade Organization or the Commerce Department."
NY Republicans targeting AG Eric Schneiderman. NYT: "Mr. Schneiderman’s name recognition has remained stubbornly mediocre since his election in 2010: More than half of voters polled by Siena College last month had no opinion of him. And Republicans sense an opening ... [Supporters] say Mr. Schneiderman ... has a strong record of accomplishments [such as] pushing for a tougher settlement with banks over foreclosure abuses ... Mary Kay Henry, the president of the Service Employees International Union, said Mr. Schneiderman also deserved credit for fighting wage theft, citing settlements that he reached with Domino’s Pizza franchisees that had underpaid their workers ... Schneiderman may have to look over his shoulder at Mr. Cuomo, who has not made secret his disdain for Mr. Schneiderman’s performance as attorney general."
