Alt Timeline - President Clinton in the Middle

[MAINEiac4434]

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[America Needs R'hllor]

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[Pollster]

So sorry, I've been incredibly busy. Hoping to get back to this next week!

[RC (a la Frémont)]

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[SamTilden2020]

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And I will seventh this, only if this doesn't become a mammoth comment chain like a certain JFK tl...

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BREAKING: Clinton to nominate Sen. Capito to direct budget office


1/4/17 - Hillary Clinton stunned observers this morning with the announcement of the nomination of a second Republican - West Virginia Sen. Shelley Moore Capito - to her cabinet. The Clinton team announced this morning that Capito will lead the administration's budget office, giving her significant sway over the implementation of Clinton's agenda and representing a major olive branch by Clinton to the GOP.

Notably, the seat will create a vacancy in the United States Senate that will be filled by West Virginia's Democratic Governor Jim Justice, who will be inaugurated just over a week from today. Justice's appointment will presumably be a pickup for Democrats and will leave the partisan balance of the Senate at 53-47. Justice released a statement shortly after the announcement congratulating Capito on the appointment, and saying that "finding a Senator worthy of the people of West Virginia will be a top priority for my administration."

Interestingly, Capito's replacement by a Democrat will give West Virginia two Democratic Senators, a peculiar situation for a state that gave almost 70% of its vote to Donald Trump last November.

Sanders slams Capito nomination, calls it "an egregious betrayal of the trust of the American people"


1/4/17 - Speaking to MSNBC's Andrea Mitchell just hours after the announcement of Sen. Shelley Moore Capito's nomination to direct the budget office, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) tore into the decision, calling it "an egregious betrayal of the trust of the American people."

Sanders made clear that his criticism is not of the character of Sen. Capito, whom he "respects deeply," but instead of the implications that her nomination makes regarding "the direction in which this administration plans to take the economy."

Sanders ran a primary campaign against Clinton for the Democratic nomination in 2016, primarily attacking her from the left on economic policy.

When asked if Sanders would vote to confirm Capito, the Senator laughed and responded, "I think I have made my position on this very, very clear." A represenatitive for the President-elect did not respond to a request for comment.

BREAKING: Collins, Murkowski will vote for Flake for Senate GOP leader


1/6/17 - In a joint statement released Friday morning, Republican Senators Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski, of Maine and Alaska, respectively, announced that they would support Sen. Jeff Flake's (R-AZ) bid to become the leader of the Senate Republicans in the 115th Congress, in a major blow to Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY).

The two Senators, both of whom are known for bucking their party semi-regularly, are the first Republicans to announce their support for Flake's longshot bid, stating that "the Republican Party must evolve from the party of no to the party of go, and must begin this new Congress with a sign to the American people that we are ready to lead again."

The office of Senator Flake released a statement thanking the Senators for their support and urging others to follow suit. Confronted by reporters on his way to his office, Senator McConnell said that he was "saddened" to hear the news but claimed he "wasn't worried" about his reelection bid, and that he "is focused on leading the Republican Party through what is sure to be a difficult four years."

Report: Trump wants to get back into politics, "actively plotting" next move


1/7/17 - Sources close to defeated Presidential candidate Donald Trump (R-NY) say that the businessman is eager to return to the political scene and is "actively plotting his next move as Hillary Clinton's inauguration gets closer."

An aide told Politico that Trump "really enjoyed campaigning more than anybody thought he would - including himself" and that "the rallies especially really gave him newfound energy." Importantly, Trump remains popular with the Republican base, with recent polls showing that close to 90% of the Republican Party still has a favorable opinion of him despite his loss in November.

Trump has been uncharacteristically quiet since his election loss, declining all television interview requests and tweeting only once, just days after the election, to cast the blame for his defeat. One source close to Trump says that "losing is incredibly bad for the brand," and that Trump "does not want to bring more attention to his defeat."

Another aide tells Politico that Trump "still talks regularly to Steve Bannon" and that the two "are figuring out how to influence the political scene as much as they can." The aide said that Bannon in particular "salivates at the idea of primarying Republicans out of office" and believes that "Trump's star power could help him do just that."

A spokesman for Trump confirmed that he is interested in being "politically active going forward" but would not confirm how he plans to do it, nor whether or not Trump would campaign for primary opponents to Republican incumbents in 2018. "All of that," the spokesman said, "is up in the cards."

BREAKING: Meryl Streep announces Senate candidacy in Golden Globes speech


1/8/17 - Legendary actress Meryl Streep announced her candidacy for the special election to replace Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT) - who is vacating his seat to serve as President-elect Hillary Clinton's Secretary of State - in her acceptance speech upon receiving the Cecil B. DeMille Lifetime Achievement Award at the Golden Globes this evening.

In a speech that lavished praise upon Hillary Clinton and tore into Donald Trump, Streep announced that "with that highest and hardest glass ceiling above me finally shattered, I am proud to announce my candidacy for the United States Senate, to succeed the great Chris Murphy." Streep - an ardent supporter of Clinton in 2016 - made the announcement to a wild standing ovation from the crowd.

A spokesperson for Streep confirmed that the announcement is not a joke and that Streep has hired a campaign manager, set up a campaign website, and has begun taking donations. According to her official campaign website, Streep - a resident of Salisbury, Connecticut - is running on a platform of economic fairness, increased access to affordable healthcare, expansion of womens' rights, and stricter punishment for hate crimes.

Streep is likely to face a Democratic primary against whoever is appointed by Connecticut Democratic Governor Dan Malloy - an announcement of which is expected in the coming days. The winner of the Democratic primary will face a Republican in a special election expected to be held in July - the only notable Republican to express interest so far is former Rep. Chris Shays, who national GOP leaders believe could put the seat in play.

Spokespeople for Clinton, Murphy, and other national Democrats declined to comment on Streep's announcement.

[MAINEiac4434]

MERYL 2018

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Next update coming within the next 48 hours.

[MycroftCZ]

LOVE this TL. Keep it up!

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BREAKING: Clinton will not re-nominate Garland to SCOTUS as President


1/9/17 – In a statement issued early Monday morning, the Clinton transition team announced that the President-elect would not re-nominate outgoing President Obama’s pick for the Supreme Court, Merrick Garland, after her inauguration later this month.

“President-elect Clinton deeply admires and respects Judge Garland and is disgusted by the treatment he received in the United States Senate this past year, particularly by Leader McConnell,” the statement from the transition team read. “However,” it continued, “at this time the President-elect also believes it to be important that she establish her own, independent path once in the oval office.”

Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell released a statement following the announcement saying, without a hint of irony, “the American people will not tolerate this treatment of President Obama’s Supreme Court nominee.” Senator Jeff Flake (R-AZ), who is challenging McConnell for the leadership post, slammed McConnell in a statement following the announcement that read “Today’s victory for the American left is brought to you by Mitch McConnell and his disastrous leadership.” The announcement is sure to intensify the GOP leadership battle that was already proving to be more competitive than many originally thought.

Streep raises over $600k in 12 hours following televised campaign announcement, Lembo says he’s “staying in it”


1/9/17 – A spokesperson for Meryl Streep’s Senatorial campaign announced this afternoon that the actress has raised over $600,000, all in small individual donations, for her campaign entirely within the 12 hours following her televised campaign announcement while accepting a lifetime achievement award at Golden Globes Sunday night.

Both local and national Democrats have been mum on Streep’s candidacy, with one notable exception. Kevin Lembo, the Connecticut State Comptroller who was announced last week to be Gov. Dan Malloy’s pick to hold Chris Murphy’s Senate seat, released a statement shortly after Streep’s fundraising announcement welcoming the actress to the race but affirming that he is “staying in it” and that he would officially file to run for the seat as soon as filing opens.

Streep’s name recognition and early fundraising strength appear to foreshadow a tough battle for the nomination, and it is yet unclear if state and national Democrats are willing to expend resources to support Lembo. Former Rep. Chris Shays is currently the only candidate running for the Republicans.

A special primary and general election will be scheduled upon Murphy’s confirmation.

Report: RNC attempting to recruit Scarborough to run against Streep


1/12/17 – Sources within the Republican National Committee told CBS News this morning that RNC chairman Reince Priebus is attempting to recruit former Republican Congressman-turned TV anchor Joe “Morning Joe” Scarborough to run in the upcoming Senate special election in his home state of Connecticut.

One source told CBS that Priebus believes that Scarborough notorious condemnation of Donald Trump during the 2016 election would be an asset in Connecticut, a state that Republicans have not carried in a Presidential election since 1988, and where President-elect Clinton decisively defeated Mr. Trump by a double-digit margin.

Other sources say that Priebus believes Scarborough to be the only candidate who could bring the same “star power” as Streep to the race, and that he has told the popular morning TV anchor that the RNC would be willing to spend heavily on his behalf.

A spokesperson for Scarborough denied the reports, but told reporters – somewhat randomly – that Scarborough would be flying to Washington, D.C. this coming Saturday to have lunch with his “old friend,” U.S. Senator Cory Gardener (R-CO). Gardener is the chair of National Republican Senatorial Committee, the committee tasked with electing Republicans to the Senate, and it is possible the two are meeting to discuss the race.

Former Rep. Chris Shays is currently the only other Republican running for the seat.

Poll: Clinton leads all top 2020 challengers as inauguration looms, GOP field wide open


1/15/17 – With less than a week to go until her inauguration as the United States’ 45th President, a new NBC News/WSJ poll shows Clinton poised to enter office in a strong position with the public. The poll, debuted on Sunday morning’s “Meet the Press” by Chuck Todd, shows Clinton’s favorability improving and gives her a very early lead over her potential Republican rivals in 2020.

Clinton is viewed favorably by 54% of registered voters and unfavorably by 43%. She is strong with Democrats, who approve of her 91% to 5%, and stable with independents, who approve of her 58% to 40%, but unsurprisingly remains deeply unpopular among Republicans, who disapprove of her by a huge 85% to 11% margin.

In a hypothetical 2020 match-up, Clinton leads all of her potential Republican challengers by comfortable margins. Speaker of the House Paul Ryan performs the best of all the GOP candidates, trailing Clinton by five points, 46% to 41%. Clinton leads Florida Senator Marco Rubio 48% to 40%, and leads both Ohio Governor John Kasich and former Indiana Governor and Trump running mate Mike Pence by the same 47% to 40% margin. Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker, who is currently embroiled in a developing voter fraud scandal that has received a good amount of national attention, trails Clinton 49% to 39%.

Clinton’s best performance, however, is against 2016 nominee Donald Trump, whom Clinton defeated by 50% to 45% in November. The poll finds the President-elect leading her vanquished foe 54% to 43% - the exact same figure as her current approval rating. Todd was quick to point out that, while Clinton leads Trump by the widest margin of all the candidates, Mr. Trump receives a larger percentage of the vote than any of the other potential GOP nominees.

The poll also finds a wide-open race for the GOP nomination in 2020. Speaker Ryan leads with 13%, while Pence follows with 11%. Kasich and Rubio are both tied with 7%, while Walker trails at 4%. 58% were undecided.

Notably, the organization did not release any numbers for a hypothetical primary that contained Mr. Trump. This prompted a tweet from former Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski which read: “Interesting that NBC/WSJ poll didn’t put #Trump up against other Repubs. Maybe they didn’t want @RNC to sh**t their pants so early in the morning!”

Other Republicans such as Sens. Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Tom Cotton (R-AK) and Governor Rick Scott (R-FL) expressed disappointment at being excluded from the poll.

BREAKING: McConnell team in “full panic” as GOP opposition grows following Clinton’s SCOTUS announcement


1/15/17 – Sources close to Senate GOP leader Mitch McConnell have told numerous outlets that the Senator and his team are in “full panic mode” following a week of GOP defections in his battle against Sen. Jeff Flake (R-AZ) for the party’s leadership post.

The announcement from President-elect Clinton’s transition team that Merrick Garland, whom McConnell markedly refused to hold a vote for when President Obama nominated him to the Supreme Court in 2016, would not be re-nominated sparked a firestorm within the GOP. Many party insiders believe Clinton’s pick will be significantly further to the left than the centrist Garland, and they place the blame squarely on McConnell for not accepting what many now believe to be a fair compromise with President Obama in hindsight.

The same day as the announcement, Senators John McCain, Dean Heller, and Marco Rubio announced that they would support Flake over McConnell. The three Senators, all from states that Clinton carried in 2016, cited the need for “new leadership within the party.” They were followed later in the week by South Carolina Senators Lindsay Graham and Tim Scott, who released a joint statement in support of Flake. Additionally, Senators Ted Cruz of Texas and Mike Lee of Utah released a joint statement announcing that they would not for McConnell, but did not commit to voting for Flake.

Senators Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska announced earlier this month that they would support Flake over McConnell as well.

Additionally, sources close to McConnell tell reporters that the Senator believes that “a sizeable group” of Senate Republicans plan to vote for Flake but have yet to announce it. With the GOP currently controlling 48 seats in the Senate (Senator Capito is unlikely to be confirmed before the January 25th leadership vote), either McConnell or Flake needs the votes of 24 of their colleagues to win, presuming that each man votes for themselves.

Clinton announces nomination of Langevin to top CIA post


1/16/17 – With less than a week to go until her inauguration, President-elect Clinton’s transition team announced today that Congressman Jim Langevin (D-RI) would be nominated to head the CIA. Langevin’s nomination comes one day after Clinton addressed The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD), pledging increased support for and research into disability treatment. Langevin, who is disabled and uses a wheelchair, has long been an advocate for the community.

Langevin sits on the House Committee on Homeland Security and is a prominent voice in favor of enhanced cybersecurity. Cybersecurity is likely to play a major role in the forthcoming Clinton administration after a Presidential campaign marked by widespread cyberattacks and meddling by Russia.

Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo, a Democrat, praised Langevin’s nomination and announced that a special election for his House seat would be scheduled following his confirmation by the Senate, which she said should happen “swiftly."

[MycroftCZ]

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Big update!

Obama announces national voter engagement tour during farewell address


1/17/17 – In his farewell address to the nation Monday night, outgoing President Barack Obama announced that, following a vacation, he would spend the remainder of 2017 and 2018 traveling the nation, holding rallies, and engaging Democratic voters nationwide.

“If you’re one of those voters who showed up for me but didn’t show up for their State Rep a year later, you’re not getting a pass from me, and I’m coming for you,” he announced to the large crowd of supporters in Chicago. A spokesperson for the President - whose tenure in the White House officially ends this Friday at noon with the inauguration of his hand-picked successor, Hillary Clinton - told reporters that Obama would visit all 50 states, and that a schedule would be released following the Obama family’s long-planned and long-awaited vacation.

The move is a response to intra-party critics of Obama who have accused the President of doing little to help the party win down-ballot during his Presidency, allowing the GOP to make massive gains nationwide in the midterm elections in 2010 and 2014.

Sources close to the President say that First Lady Michelle Obama as well as Obama’s former Attorney General Eric Holder will play a major role in the soon-to-be former Commander-in-Chief’s post-Presidency activities.

The announcement was met with positive reactions from elected Democrats. Senator Claire McCaskill (D-MO), an Obama ally who is expected to face a tough re-election battle in 2018, told MSNBC that “President Obama’s announcement is certainly terrific news for us Democrats who have relied heavily on the support of the Obama coalition in the past and will even more so in the future.”

BREAKING: McAuliffe will appoint Perriello to Kaine’s Senate seat


1/18/17 – In a press conference in Richmond, Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe announced that he would appoint former Congressman Tom Perriello to the Senate seat currently occupied by Tim Kaine upon Kaine’s inauguration as Vice President of the United States this Friday.

McAuliffe was never reported to be considering Perriello for the seat, but sources close to the Governor say that he decided upon the appointment after hearing from reliable aides that Perriello was planning to mount a challenge to Lt. Governor Ralph Northam in the Democratic primary for Governor of Virginia. McAuliffe believes the race, which will be held in November this year, will be extremely competitive and wants to avoid a bruising Democratic primary, the source said.

At the press conference, Perriello thanked McAuliffe for the “distinguished honor” and announced that he would run for a full term in 2018, saying he is “looking forward to working for Virginians again and returning to the Senate for a full term in the years to come.”

The appointment received effusive praise from outgoing President Barack Obama, a longtime Perriello ally, who released a statement saying that McAuliffe “could not have picked a better guy for the job.” Kaine also offered praise for the pick, and stated that he is “looking forward to swearing in my good friend Tom Perriello as one of my first official acts as Vice President.”

Clinton inaugurated as 45th President of the United States


1/20/17 – Hillary Rodham Clinton took the oath of office at the nation’s capitol today, officially becoming the 45th President of the United States and the first woman to ever hold the office.

Former President and now-First Gentleman Bill Clinton was accompanied by daughter Chelsea Clinton, son-in-law Marc Mezvinsky and granddaughter Charlotte as he held the Bible that previously belonged to Hillary Clinton’s mother, Dorothy, on which Clinton swore the oath. Chelsea Clinton’s newborn son Aidan, who turned seven months old just one day prior, was not present at the ceremony.

Senator Al Franken (D-MN), the first sitting Senator to formally endorse Clinton’s Presidential bid, served as the master of ceremonies for the inauguration. Franken received widespread praise for his humorous introductions of various performers and other individuals.

“Ladies and gentlemen, it is my honor and privilege to introduce the 45th President of the United States, Miss America herself, Hillary Rodham Clinton,” Franken announced, to raucous laughter, as he introduced the newly inaugurated President Clinton in a subtle jab at Donald Trump, who lost the election to Clinton and was the longtime owner of the Miss America pageant. Following the inaugural ceremony, Hillary and Bill Clinton participated in the traditional walk down Pennsylvania Avenue before attending the inaugural ball later that evening.

Vice President Tim Kaine was also sworn in this morning by Supreme Court Associate Justice Sonia Sotomayor.

BREAKING: Clinton stuns the nation, calls for universal basic income in inaugural address


1/20/17 – Stunning pundits, observers, and even her closest advisors, President Hillary Clinton called for a universal basic income Friday afternoon in her inaugural address to the nation.

“And finally,” Clinton stated after an approximately 15-minute long address in which she laid out her priorities as President, “we must work to ensure that all Americans enjoy a basic income, by creating a new fund that would use revenue from shared national resources to pay a dividend to every citizen.”

The line provoked audible gasps at the ceremony, and appeared to catch many attendees by surprise. Even Chelsea Clinton, the President’s daughter and confidant, appeared caught off guard by the remarks.

“I did a double-take,” said one prominent Democratic Senator who spoke on conditions of anonymity. “If you had told me that was coming, I would have laughed you out of the room.”

The issue did not come up in neither the general election nor the Democratic primary. The position would have put Clinton to the left of her primary rival, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), who performed significantly better than many expected in the primary race by pushing economically left-wing policies. Senator Sanders’ office declined a request for comment.

Republicans were quick to pounce on the line, with Sen. Bob Corker (R-TN) saying that the President “basically endorsed socialism.” Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) told reporters that “President Clinton’s announcement today that she intends to pursue fully blown socialist policies is picture-perfect proof that elections have consequences.”

White House Press Secretary Brian Fallon, who also seemed stunned by the announcement, told reporters that the plan would addressed in further detail at a later date.

[Pollster]

Bill Clinton under fire for falling asleep during wife’s inaugural address


1/20/17 – First Gentleman and former President Bill Clinton is under heavy scrutiny this afternoon after he appeared to have fallen asleep while his wife, President Hillary Clinton, delivered her inaugural address this earlier today.

Video coverage of the event purported to show the ex-Commander-in-Chief dozing off while his wife spoke about improving workplace conditions, sleeping for multiple minutes before being shaken awake by a Secret Service agent seated behind him. At one point, former Vice President Joe Biden purportedly glared over at Clinton, before leaning forward and saying into former President Obama’s ear, “is Bill asleep?” Other political figures present at the inauguration also quickly noticed the faux pas.

“Will this man EVER stop disappointing his wife??” tweeted comedian and commentator Kathy Griffin, a supporter of Hillary Clinton but critic of the 42nd President.

“All Bill had to do today was hold a Bible and not fall asleep. That was literally his only obligation. That’s it,” mused MSNBC anchor Chris Hayes later that evening.

Others poked fun at the situation, with many on Twitter bringing up Clinton’s past salacious activity in jokes.

“Must’ve been a wild night at the DC strip clubs. I bet they missed him after all these years,” tweeted Bill Maher, host of HBO’s Real Time with Bill Maher, which airs its first episode of the season tonight.

“Dreaming of McDonalds and Monica,” tweeted late night TV host Stephen Colbert, alongside a photo of Clinton asleep.

As was the standard response to a Clinton gaffe on the campaign trail, the White House left it to the Office of the First Gentleman to respond to the situation. “You’ll have to ask the First Gentleman exactly what was going on and why,” read a statement from White House Press Secretary Brian Fallon. Bill Clinton’s office has yet to respond to a request for comment.

Trump congratulates “my friends” the Clinton’s on inauguration in rare post-election tweet


1/20/17 – In a rare post-election public statement, Donald Trump, the businessman and defeated Republican nominee for President, tweeted his congratulations to “[his] friends” Bill and Hillary Clinton on the latter Clinton’s inauguration earlier this afternoon.

Trump, a former ally and donor to both Clinton’s, ran a scorched-Earth Presidential campaign against Hillary, and never publicly conceded defeat, sending out Vice Presidential-nominee Mike Pence to do so instead. Trump reportedly angered both Clinton’s by phoning Bill Clinton on election night to offer his congratulations and refusing to speak to Mrs. Clinton.

Hillary Clinton defeated Trump, winning the popular vote 50% to 45% and the electoral college by a close 287 to 251 votes. Trump performed unexpectedly strong in the Midwest, but his gains were offset by Clinton’s similarly unexpected strength along the nation’s southern coast.

In the months following the election, Mr. Trump has been uncharacteristically quiet, declining all television interview requests and tweeting only once prior to today, to blame his campaign advisors for his defeat. Recent reporting his indicated that Trump intends to remain in Republican politics, and is working with former advisor Steve Bannon to plan his next move.

Reports of illegal activity stemming from collusion with the Russian government by the Trump campaign have surfaced since the election, but official statements from governmental agencies have been minimal and the Justice Department has refused to confirm whether or not the Trump campaign or anybody associated with it was or is under investigation.

Republican leaders have been eager to distance themselves from Trump since the election, despite Trump’s continued popularity with the Republican base according to recent polling.

Senate confirms Clinton cabinet picks at record pace


1/21/17 – The United States Senate hit the ground running Friday evening confirming a record number of Hillary Clinton’s cabinet picks to their posts.

The nominees, all of whom underwent unexciting confirmation hearing during the past few weeks, were all brought up for fast-track votes by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, and now await their commissions by President Clinton.

Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT), Clinton’s nominee for Secretary of State, was confirmed by a vote of 58-41. All 51 Senate Democrats (Murphy did not vote) voted yea, and were joined by Republican Senators Susan Collins, Bob Corker, Cory Gardner, Lindsay Graham, John McCain, Rand Paul and Marco Rubio. Senator Jeff Flake (R-AZ) abstained.

Former Governor of Kentucky Steve Beshear was confirmed to head the Health and Human Services department by a vote of 98-2. Only Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Mike Lee (R-UT) voted nay. Beshear’s confirmation hearing drew national attention when he was introduced to the committee by none other than Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, who defeated Beshear in a Senate race in 1996. McConnell stated that Beshear “is the former opponent for whom I probably have the most respect, and the most admiration. I am proud to call him my friend.” Political pundits were quick to note that Beshear had previously floated the idea of challenging McConnell again in 2020, and that McConnell urging his confirmation likely averted what could be a tough re-election battle.

Clinton’s nominations of Michele Flournoy to Defense, campaign chairman John Podesta to Energy, and former Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm to Labor all passed on party line votes, with only Susan Collins (R-ME) defecting from the GOP to vote in favor of Granholm. Ted Cruz slammed the confirmations of Flournoy and Podesta, calling them “a luxurious gift to our enemies abroad,” adding that “our nuclear arsenal will be managed by a man who couldn’t keep his email secure.”

Surprisingly, three Democrats: Joe Donnelly of Indiana, Joe Manchin of West Virginia, and Claire McCaskill of Missouri, voted against the confirmation of Martin O’Malley to the Homeland Security post, citing his poor handling of riots in Baltimore during his tenure as Governor of Maryland. He was still confirmed by a vote of 51-49, with Susan Collins and Dean Heller (R-NV) splitting with the GOP to vote with the Democrats. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer was seen speaking with Heller on the Senate floor just moments before Heller cast the decisive yea vote.

Confirmations will continue next week, with a vote scheduled for the nominations of Sheryl Sandberg at Treasury first thing Monday morning.

[MAINEiac4434]

I'd love to see President Clinton's approval ratings after promising to send a check to every American.

[America Needs R'hllor]

I'm loving every moment of this. It's extremely realistic. Can't wait to read more!

[MycroftCZ]

Love this TL so much! Bill Clinton falling asleep at Inauguration is GREAT!

[Pollster]

BREAKING: Sandberg Treasury nomination fails on Senate floor following liberal defection in major defeat for Clinton


1/23/17 – In a stunning and unexpected floor vote this morning, the United States Senate rejected the nomination of Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg to the Treasury Secretary post in a major defeat for President Hillary Clinton just four days into her Presidency.

Senators Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and Russ Feingold (D-WI) joined all 48 Senate Republicans to oppose the nomination. The move came as a surprise to pundits as Warren and Feingold had not commented publicly on Sandberg’s nomination, while Sanders only once expressed skepticism but never reiterated his concerns. None of the three Senators announced beforehand that they intended to vote against the nomination.

Both Democratic and Republican Senators seemed stunned, with audible gasps coming from the Senate chamber as Feingold delivered the decisive “no” vote. The vote was not expected to be in jeopardy, and Vice President Tim Kaine was not called to Capitol Hill in preparation for a potential tie vote.

When asked by reporters why she voted the way she did, Warren responded “It was a bad pick,” before reentering the Senate chamber to vote on another nominee. Sanders and Feingold did not comment. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer waved off reporters, saying he had “other business to tend to.”

White House Press Secretary Brian Fallon is expected to face numerous questions regarding the nomination at his very first press briefing this afternoon.

GOP sees opening in Rhode Island special election


1/23/17 – A new report in Politico details the thinking among Republican leadership that the party has a potential pickup opportunity in Rhode Island’s 2nd congressional district, where a special election will be held in early May to replace Rep. Jim Langevin, whose confirmation to head the CIA was overshadowed this morning by the Senate rejecting the nomination of Sheryl Sandberg to the Treasury.

The district, which contains most of the state outside of the Providence, Newport, and Pawtucket areas, does not at surface level look like a ripe target for Republicans, having re-elected Langevin in 2016 by a wide 58-31 margin. However, at the Presidential level, the district swung from a daunting 60-38 Obama victory to a much less intimidating 51-44 victory for Clinton, and Republicans believe they could close that single digit gap in a low-turnout special election in the middle of the Spring.

Adding more hope to the GOP’s prospects in the district is the fact that a potentially strong candidate has already expressed interest in running. Allan Fung, mayor of the town of the Cranston and the GOP’s nominee for Governor in the 2014 race, has told local radio that he is strongly considering running, and has reportedly discussed the race with House Speaker Paul Ryan and Rep. Steve Stivers (R-OH), the head of the NRCC.

There is reason to believe Fung would be a formidable recruit for Team Red. In the gubernatorial election, Fung lost the 2nd district to eventual winner and incumbent Democratic Governor Gina Raimondo by only 316 votes, amounting to a margin of just 0.16% (in a three-way race where a third-party candidate took 21%) as he was losing statewide by 5%. Strategists believe that, with the political environment naturally favoring the party that doesn’t hold the White House, Fung could easily make up that margin.

“This is one of those traditionally Democratic, overwhelmingly working-class districts where Donald Trump made major inroads last year,” said a Republican strategist with close ties to GOP leadership. “With that trend likely to continue with Hillary in the White House, it’s easy to see how Republicans can capitalize on it.”

For now, Fung is mum on his plans, and his office declined a request for comment. Perhaps tellingly, no Democrats have yet expressed interest in the race.

Report: McConnell-aligned Super PAC’s ad campaign “backfiring severely” as GOP heads toward toss-up leadership vote


1/23/17 – Sources on Capitol Hill tell reporters this morning that GOP Senators are under immense pressure to pick a side in the fast-approaching leadership vote between longtime party Senate chief Mitch McConnell and challenger Jeff Flake.

A television ad campaign - launched in states with key GOP Senators by the McConnell-backed Super PAC Senate Leadership Fund - which told constituents to call their Senators in support of McConnell has reportedly “backfired immensely,” according to three key sources.

The ads, which praised McConnell for “firmly standing in the way of Barack Obama and Nancy Pelosi’s liberal agenda,” prompted many Republican Senators, including some up for re-election in 2018 in safe red states, to report that their offices were receiving calls in opposition to McConnell by the thousands. One Republican Senator, who supports Flake but has not publicly announced so yet, told Politico on the condition of anonymity that “as soon as those ads hit the airwaves, my office got a sh**tstorm of calls telling me to ditch Mitch.”

In response to the ad campaign, Senator Flake released a statement saying “All Mitch McConnell can promise the American people is obstruction and a legacy of zero accomplishments. If endless Washington gridlock and partisan fighting is what you seek, Mitch McConnell is the guy for you. If you want principled leadership, constructive results, and stable governance, Jeff Flake is proud to stand with you.”

McConnell’s spokesperson has not responded to a request for comment.

[Pollster]

Poll: Republicans divided over Flake and McConnell one day before vote, Clinton approval on the rise


1/24/17 – A new CBS/YouGov poll shows that Republican voters are just as split as their elected officials over who should lead the party in the U.S. Senate.

Among registered Republican voters, those surveyed prefer McConnell to Flake 36% to 32%, a lead well within the sample’s margin of error. A combined 32% were unsure or were unaware of the contest.

McConnell’s lead is likely due to his advantage with name recognition. 29% of Republicans had never heard of Flake at the time of the survey, while only 9% did not know McConnell. Both Flake and McConnell are underwater with Republicans, with Flake at 20-32 and McConnell far under at 25-56.

Among the general public, McConnell’s numbers are even worse, dropping to 18-69.

This makes him the nation’s most unpopular politician, with Nancy Pelosi in second place at 20-58, and Paul Ryan following at 27-60.

President Hillary Clinton is riding a high with voters, despite a rocky start to her Presidency after a prominent cabinet nomination failed on the Senate floor in a highly publicized vote on Monday. Clinton is up to a 55% favorable rating with voters, a 1% increase from a poll taken right before her inauguration that had her at 54-43. This poll found Clinton’s unfavorable numbers unmoved, still at 43%.

The poll found that Clinton’s surprising announcement of her support for a universal basic income for all Americans is modestly popular with voters. A 40% plurality believe it to be a good idea, to 36% who say it is a bad idea, with a combined 24% saying they are unsure or need more information about the plan before coming to an opinion.

When asked whether they planned to vote for the Democratic or Republican candidate for Congress in the 2018 midterm elections, voters gave the Democrats a slim, early lead of 2%, 41-39.

Report: Schumer didn’t request whip count before shocking Sandberg vote


1/24/17 – Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer did not request a whip count of Democratic votes prior to the failure of Sheryl Sandberg’s nomination to be Treasury Secretary on Monday, MSNBC reported late Tuesday night.

“If this is true,” said Rachel Maddow, who was on air as the reporting came in, “this represents a massive blunder on the part of the Senate Majority Leader.”

Joy Reid, a fellow MSNBC anchor who was making a guest appearance on Maddow’s program at the time, added that “if any Democrats were having doubts about Chuck Schumer’s ability to take over for Harry Reid, this amplified those doubts ten-fold.”

“Harry Reid would have never let this happen in a million years,” added Maddow. The reporting was subsequently confirmed by CNN and Fox News.

Senate Majority Leaders typically request whip counts, usually from the Senate Majority Whip, of their caucus members’ positions and voting intentions before bringing a major or high-profile vote to the Senate floor. The failure of Schumer to do so explains why the vote on Sandberg proceeded despite the sufficient number of nay votes within the Democratic caucus to sink the nomination.

Leader Schumer’s office quickly responded with a forceful statement denying responsibility, which said that “The rejection of the nomination of Ms. Sandberg, who is immensely qualified and a terrific pick for the job for which she was nominated, is the result of a small and unrepresentative faction of our great caucus. These Senators were clearly seeking the attention of the media, and it is a shame that they decided to put their own political and personal gain before that of the nation’s.”

Reid, responding to Schumer’s statement on air, said that “if this is the type of rhetoric and infighting we can expect from the Democratic Party, it’s going to be a long four years.”

Wisniewski enters race for NJ Governor as GOP struggles to find a candidate


1/25/17 – New Jersey State Assemblyman John Wisniewski announced that he was entering the Democratic primary for Governor today, challenging Phil Murphy, who has been running since the end of the summer of 2016.

Democrats are widely expected to take back the state’s governorship in 2017, largely due to the unpopularity of the incumbent Republican Governor, Chris Christie. A poll taken just before Christmas found Christie with a horrendous 19-73 approval rating, and found a generic Democrat leading a generic Republican by 21 points in the gubernatorial race, 43-22.

Murphy’s immense personal wealth, and his willingness to donate a large portion of that wealth to his campaign, has scared off many potential Democratic challengers. Wisniewski, who endorsed Bernie Sanders in the 2016 Democratic primary and chaired the liberal firebrand’s statewide campaign, says he is not deterred, telling a crowd that “this won’t be the first time I’ve taken on big money, and I have a feeling it won’t be the last.”

Along with his campaign announcement, Wisniewski released a poll showing him trailing Murphy in the primary by seven points, 35-28. However, once respondents were told about Wisniewski’s key role in the investigation of “Bridgegate,” his support for Sanders, and his pledge to weed out “big money corruption in Trenton,” Wisniewski led Murphy by five points, 39-34. “Once they learn about the Wiz,” he said, “they love the Wiz!”

Republicans have struggled to recruit a candidate for the race. Lieutenant Governor Kim Guadagno was widely seen as the party’s likely nominee going into the race, but was removed from contention after she accepted a nomination from President Clinton to serve as the Secretary of Transportation, and was confirmed by the Senate during the cabinet confirmation vote-a-rama on Friday nearly unanimously, with only Ted Cruz (R-TX) voting against her confirmation.

The only other Republican to be the subject of speculation is Rep. Tom MacArthur, whose South Jersey Congressional district swung from 52-47 Obama to 51-45 Trump.

“This race is incredibly appealing to any Jersey Republican in the House who has statewide ambitions in the long-term, since losing this race – which many think is the likely outcome regardless of the candidate – makes you look like a good sport and a team player, and to top it off, you don’t have to give up your seat because it’s an off-year.”

When pressed, MacArthur’s office commented that “the Congressman is focused on serving his constituents and is not running for Governor at this time.”

[Dr. MB]

I like what’s happening so far. This Hillary is a lot more tolerable than the real life one.

[BigVic]

If only this was real life. Trump blaming his campaign advisors for his losses in the Sun Belt and Southwest