Daily Beast
Cliff Schecter is a columnist for the Daily Beast and Democratic political and PR strategist. He is the author of The Real McCain: Why Conservatives Don't Trust Him and Why Independents Shouldn't.
Schecter is a former CEO of Majority Ohio, a public policy organization, and a former contributor to the Huffington Post and Guardian America.
Gun violence strikes Congress: How will lawmakers respond? Yesterday's attack on a Republican baseball practice was one of 155 shootings involving four or more people since the first of this year. That's almost one such incident every day. Congressman Steve Scalise is still in critical condition . Out of "respect" to him, Congress has cancelled a hearing on bills that would ease regulations on firearm silencers and armor-piercing ammunition. Even Democrats who favor gun control aren't pushing it hard. Whatever happened to limitations on the Second Amendment favored by public opinion?
All pomp and circumstance with Trump's declarations? Republicans hold the White House and both houses of Congress, and President Trump says big things are happening. But, so far, they’re not. After celebrating a House bill on health care, he doesn’t yet have Senate agreement. The tax bill he calls “ahead of schedule” hasn’t even been sent to Congress. His declaration of “Infrastructure Week” was more pomp and circumstance than the major bill-signing it appeared to be.
The political fallout from Trump's "grope and brag" Across the country, Republicans up for re-election are caught between voters who helped nominate Donald Trump and those who can't stand him. House Speaker Paul Ryan has liberated GOP members from the mandate to support their nominee for the White House. Donald Trump says, " the shackles are off " and he's threatening retaliation in what's become a war within his own party. The possible consequences include: a victory for Hillary Clinton; a loss of Republican power on Capitol Hill and widespread public alienation.
Donald Trump: Unlikely hero of a vanishing culture ’Donald Trump is "politically incorrect" in many ways, from racist attacks on Mexicans and Muslims, to questioning NATO and praising Vladimir Putin. He's refused to endorse some GOP leaders even though they've endorsed him. So, why are Trump supporters rock solid, however outrageous he sounds? The answer may lie with millions of white Americans, and the economic anxiety and fear of cultural change ignored by both parties for too long. We hear about Trump's constituency — and the challenge it poses for both political parties, whoever wins in November.
The Race for Control of the Senate and the "Trump Effect" Donald Trump's march to the White House may have riled the Republican establishment, but it's giving Democrats fresh hope that they can reclaim control of the Senate in November. With 34 seats up for grabs – 24 of them now held by Republicans -- Democrats need a net gain of just five to regain control of the chamber. Seven of those are especially at risk, because they're in states that Barack Obama won in 2008 and 2012. The Senate Republican leadership's refusal to grant even a hearing to Judge Merrick Garland, Obama's nominee for the Supreme Court, is adding fuel to the fire. Will Republicans pay a price for balking on the High Court? Will Trump be an albatross that sinks the rest of the GOP? We hear how his surprising success is threatening Republican Senators from Illinois and Wisconsin to Pennsylvania and New Hampshire.
The Grand Old Party Takes Charge on Capitol Hill Republicans now control both houses of Congress for the first time since 2006 — with their biggest Congressional majority since the end of World War II. They might try for some compromises with the Obama White House — to prove they really can govern, or they might choose continued gridlock — assuming that voters will blame the President when things inevitably go wrong. Guaranteed points of contention are the Keystone XL Pipeline, Obamacare and executive actions on immigration and climate change. Many new members have their own agendas, and today we begin to learn what they’ll demand of their more experienced leaders.
Can Gun Violence Research Keep Us Safe? In the 1980's, gun violence was declared a public health issue, but Congress blocked research into prevention by the Centers for Disease Control and the National Institutes of Health. In 2012, after the Sandy Hook massacre, President Obama proposed to resume that effort, and some Republicans agreed. What's happened since? Since the first of this year 5,823 people have been injured by guns and 3,479 have been killed. That's according to the Gun Violence Archive. Is there an "epidemic?" Could efforts to stop it stop short of gun control?
Passing Gun Control before the Sandy Hook Massacre Is Forgotten President Obama and the New York Mayor Bloomberg are coordinating the effort to enact some form of gun control before the Sandy Hook massacre is forgotten. Bloomberg is trying to rekindle it with $12 million in TV spots in 13 states. Yesterday, the President took part in a so-called " Day of Action ." But are they forgetting some major players: the people who actually own 300 million guns that will never be confiscated and never decay? The NRA has the loudest voice in opposition to gun control, but only four percent of gun owners belong. What about those who oppose "control" but care about safety? Are there ways to bring them on board and create a consensus?
McCain POW Experience and the Presidency The one subject that seems to be the third rail in this otherwise no-holds-barred campaign is John McCain's POW experience in Vietnam 40 years ago and how that affects his qualifications now. At the GOP convention last week, numerous speakers described the details of McCain's ordeal as evidence of his moral fiber and suitability for the presidency. Even McCain, who had been reticent to talk abut the details in the past, devoted part of his acceptance speech to the subject. But what is the relevance of those five years to qualities needed in a president? We talk to former POW's who have insight into the question and look at McCain's naval upbringing. Was it a life that prepared him to understand the live of ordinary Americans?
The GOP Candidate in What's Supposed to Be a 'Democratic Year' George Bush has a disapproval rating of 69% , the worst presidential rating in the history of the Gallup Poll. The Wall Street Journal/NBC survey shows that just 27% of voters like the Republican Party. But it also indicates that the Republicans' presumptive presidential nominee, John McCain , who promises more of the same, runs nearly even against Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama . Are the political media giving McCain a free ride? Is he really the "maverick" he's made out to be? We hear about tax cuts, the economy and what he means by "victory" in Iraq. Once the Democrats resolve their nomination fight, will the campaign focus on issues, or will it all be about personality and image?
Is the threat from Russia missing from the Russia meddling probe? There's much being made about the Trump administration's possible ties with Russia. But the bottom line is Russia's effort to influence American democracy. Do the President and his aides care enough to take action before voters go back to the polls?
The Trump agenda: where's the beef? President Trump says big things are happening. After celebrating a House bill on health care, he doesn’t yet have Senate agreement. With James Comey’s public testimony scheduled tomorrow, the President today tweeted his selection of a new FBI Director. Is the Chief Executive all style and no substance? Later, terror attacks in Iran and conflicting claims about who’s behind them.
How was the trip? President Trump's travels got less fun as he went from the Middle East to Europe.
Will the Senate write a healthcare bill in secret? While Democrats and Republicans argue White House relations with Russia, another question is being decided behind closed doors: who gets help buying health insurance and who doesn't? We hear how the pros and cons are being shrouded in secrecy.