Citizens of the ultra-progressive Seattle have lost patience with political leaders’ failure to address the homelessness crisis

Citizens of the ultra-progressive Seattle have lost patience with political leaders’ failure to address the homelessness crisis. https://t.co/BZenGm872r via @rufodox pic.twitter.com/dpqkztyQgK

— City Journal (@CityJournal) June 17, 2018

Don’t believe the hype that “Amazon killed the Seattle head tax,” the new levy that the city recently passed on businesses to fund an affordable-housing initiative. The truth behind the city council’s stunning reversal—repealing the tax by a 7-2 vote, just four weeks after passing it 9-0—is that Seattle citizens have erupted in frustration against the city’s tax-and-spend political class that has failed to address the homelessness crisis, despite record new revenues.

As recently as a few years ago, it seemed as if Seattle voters largely viewed our hyper-progressive city council as a harmless oddity in an otherwise tolerant, thriving, liberal city. But times have changed...

While Amazon has grabbed all the headlines, this battle touches on an even deeper paradox of political life in Seattle: we have created one of the most dynamic, innovative, upwardly mobile cities in the nation—a testament to the power of our unique brand of compassionate capitalism—yet we have also spawned a hardcore socialist contingent that wants to tear it all down.

Fortunately, the head tax fight has revealed that some of the core constituencies of the progressive coalition—affluent liberal neighbors, labor unions, and blue-collar workers—are starting to turn against the politics of the far Left....

After years of skyrocketing local taxes and failing public programs, Seattle voters have begun to understand that taxes alone don’t solve problems; what’s needed is strong leadership and sensible public policy. The evidence against the city council’s approach to homelessness is piling up on every street corner and public sidewalk in the city: out-of-control street camping, thousands of discarded hypodermic needles, and property crime rates four times higher than New York City....

There’s a limit to progressivism, even in America’s most progressive city. The backlash is coming.

Seattle’s city council surrenders, will repeal head tax it passed last month https://t.co/XlXqffLekk

— HotAir.com (@hotairblog) June 12, 2018

This is a fine, fine piece of writing by @ToryAnarchist, tackling both Galston and @PatrickDeneen, and trying to get the arguments to the next step. Packed with insight. Read it. https://t.co/qmeBXhbQWO

— Damir Marusic (@dmarusic) June 17, 2018

Yet another Calif. city rebels against sanctuary city law. Will this rebellion elect more Republicans in California?

Yet another Calif. city rebels against sanctuary city law. Will this rebellion elect more Republicans in Calif?https://t.co/vyvcVJh5Jj

— Warner Todd Huston (@warnerthuston) May 22, 2018

Unbelievable https://t.co/WrDjPeCmMx

— Sean Hannity (@seanhannity) May 22, 2018

The Conservative Populist Breakout

The Conservative Populist Breakout http://t.co/tw6NnDoXo3 pic.twitter.com/XH9edm4LH5

— National Review (@NRO) April 30, 2015

"Friends of Abe," the undercover conservative group in Hollywood, now has 2,300 members -- all anonymous. #NRISummit15

— National Review (@NRO) May 1, 2015

"I’d never voted full ticket—not in 20 years of participating in my civic duty. I did on Tuesday. I’ve often considered or voted for third party candidates when at the polls over the last 20 years. Tuesday I did not."

◼ GamerGate: How the Media Gave Away America - Todd Wohling/TechRaptor.net

...Over the past 20 years, I’d spent between 2 and 6 weeks studying candidates and ballot measures to be as informed as possible. This election cycle, I was finished in hours. On this day, I stand before you to say that I did my part to hand the Legislative branch of the American government to the Republicans. Not that one vote matters in the grand scheme of things, but every traditionally Democratic vote that goes Republican is a two vote swing. So the Republicans own the Senate, but not with a “super majority” to completely dictate terms legislatively.

From my new perspective after Tuesday, it’s one down and three to go: Super majority in the Senate, the Presidency, and one Supreme Court justice. I’m disgusted for writing that last sentence....

There are roughly 730 days until Election Day 2016. The media that drove me away from my political leanings is going to need every one of those days to convince me that bashing gamers from August 28th until Tuesday was just a misunderstanding. They will need every one of those days to convince me that my input into the liberal ideology is valued regardless of my hobbies, support for GamerGate, or my gender. The alternative is to hand both the Legislative and Executive branch of the US Government over to Republicans, and as I found out on Tuesday, it is well within my capability to do so.

Tick tock. Tick tock.

Yep it was about #GamerGate I got assaulted in part because after their "research" they determined I was an "internet misogynist."

— Steve Tom Sawyer (@RevueMage) November 16, 2014

Obviously you're upset with the Republicans for not compromising...

As much as they could, last night the American people fired Barack Obama.

◼ America to Obama: Step aside, bro - Herman Cain

The American public realized not long after the 2012 election that they had blown it. Given the opportunity to fire Barack Obama and turn the federal government back in a wise direction, they should have seized the moment and done just that. Instead, they got caught up nonsense like Big Bird and "binders full of women", and in not liking rich, CEO-ish Republicans, and as a result they dropped the ball and stuck the nation with four more years of an unserious, unqualified, inept president.

Oops. Sadly, the Constitution doesn't offer a mechanism for correcting that mistake. Just don't do it again, boneheads.

But what the electorate could do, it did last night. In essence, America told Obama to step aside. By giving Republicans at least a 52-seat majority in the U.S. Senate, and probably its biggest House majority since Franklin Delano Roosevelt was president, the nation sent Obama to the sidelines. Not a single piece of legislation will reach his desk for the remainder of his presidency without massive Republican backing. Obama can veto bills, of course, and he surely will. But what he can't do is shove insane, left-wing nonsense down the nation's collective throat. That's over.

◼ ‘Says it all!’ Obama won’t like these blistering NY Post, Daily News covers... - Twitchy

And hereby hope turns to... NOPE, according to the New York Daily News. pic.twitter.com/yFE6ovHNNu

— Philip Crowther (@PhilipinDC) November 5, 2014

Good morning from the NY Post pic.twitter.com/tgJLfdMuJT

— Busted Coverage (@bustedcoverage) November 5, 2014

In case you missed HuffPo at 3 am pic.twitter.com/BQAIKqD2NX

— Katie Pavlich (@KatiePavlich) November 5, 2014

◼ A Rejection of Liberal Democratic Governance - Fred Barnes/Weekly Standard

Republicans won 7 Democratic seats (so far!), lost none, and took control of the Senate. Harry Reid is history. Democrats thought for sure they’d add some governorships. Nope. They won one but lost 4, including the governor’s race in the reddest of red states, Maryland. In the House, they lost at least 8 seats, probably more when the final results are in. Now there are more House Republicans on Capitol Hill than we’ve seen in many decades....

There’s no reason to haggle over whether it was a “wave.” I’d simply call it a defeat worse than Democrats suffered in 2010. And it wasn’t just a rejection of President Obama and his policies. It was a rejection of liberal Democratic governance and all its excesses from Washington to the hinterlands.

Even Silicon Valley Tilts Republican

◼ After Harry Reid scuttles patent reform, tech companies look elsewhere for a political solution. - Wall St. Journal (image source)

Washington is a disaster zone for innovation, especially for the software firms that make up the growing parts of the U.S. economy. There has been no progress in meeting Silicon Valley’s desperate needs, including patent reform and open immigration for skilled workers.

As a result, technology companies long associated with liberal causes are switching loyalties. In 2010 Democratic candidates for national office got 55% of contributions from tech-company political-action committees. This year Republicans have received 52%. According to the Center for Responsive Politics, companies with PACs giving more to Republicans than to Democrats include Google, Facebook and Amazon.

...Silicon Valley doesn’t need much from government, but it does need reform in areas where government policy has failed. Even liberal Democrats in the tech industry have been mugged by the reality of how Washington now operates.

Shocking Harvard poll: Millennial voters want GOP in charge, abandon Obama

◼ Obama White House bothered, bewildered and on the ropes - Wesley Pruden/Washington Times

The Republicans demonstrated remarkable discipline in this campaign, committing few mistakes and this time saying a minimum of silly and destructive things, standing aside while Barack Obama and his befuddled legion make their incompetence a centerpiece of the campaign. The Republicans have finally taken to heart the ancient wisdom that when your opponent is shooting himself, be kind, considerate and helpful. Stay out of his way.

◼ A new and massive poll of 2,029 18- to 29-year-olds from Harvard’s Institute of Politics just released found that of those who say they will “definitely be voting,” 51 percent want the GOP in charge, 47 percent favoring Democratic control. - Washington Examiner

The unexpected anti-Democratic swing prompted a Canadian Broadcasting Corporation reporter quizzing poll experts on a media conference call to IOP blurted out, "How did the Democrats and Obama screw this up?"



"President Obama’s approval rating continues to remain low. And to give you an idea just how unpopular he now is, Malia Obama just became a Young Republican!"-Jodi Miller

The idea that nothing much will change if the GOP captures the whole Congress is just plain wrong. The politics and policies in Washington are about to change in a major way.

◼ The optimistic GOP story everyone is missing - Larry Kudlow/Washington Examiner

The vast majority of political journalists — and I include some of my conservative colleagues — are missing a very big story.

The Republicans are going to recapture the Senate, picking up more seats than most any forecaster expects. And the House GOP is going to add to its majority. But then comes the big story: The beginning of a new conservative revolution.

The idea that nothing much will change if the GOP captures the whole Congress is just plain wrong. The politics and policies in Washington are about to change in a major way.

Obama may still be president. But he is going to be immediately confronted with a flood of new bills that will change the debate on tax reform, energy, health care, education, international trade and regulations.

Obama will no longer be able to hide behind Harry Reid, who has stopped all voting on these matters. And Mitch McConnell, as Senate majority leader, will be able to move forward the reform ideas of his caucus and House policy leaders like Paul Ryan, Jeb Hensarling, Kevin Brady and many others.

Obama's head will spin with all the new paperwork on his desk. He may even have to cut back on his golf game.

Of course, because of his left-wing ideology, Obama may veto everything. But if he does, he's setting up a new Republican agenda for the 2016 presidential race. Either Hillary Clinton completely jumps the Obama ship, or she's pulled way left by the Democratic party's Bill de Blasio/Elizabeth Warren/Sandinista wing. Either way she's in trouble.... KEEP READING

Jim Moran becomes 3rd House Dem this week to retire

◼ Publicly, House Democrats declare confidence in their chances to retake control of the lower chamber in the 2014 election cycle, even though presidents routinely lose significant numbers of seats in their second midterms. Their actions speak louder than their boasts, however. Jim Moran, a 12-term Congressman in a safe Democratic district and a close ally of Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, called it quits — the third House Democrat to do so this week - Ed Morrissey/HotAir

Moran becomes the third House Democrat to retire just this week. George Miller (D-CA) also represents a similarly safe district, D+17 in Cook, and California is a much safer state for Democrats than Virginia. That’s still the loss of a 30-year veteran of the caucus and another Pelosi ally out the door, which makes the boasts about putting the gavel back in her hands look more and more like either cheap talk or false bravado.

The third, Bill Owens, only won NY-21 thanks to a special election and a split on the Right in the R+2 district. Our own Jazz Shaw worked in that special election fight, and while it’s not a slam-dunk for Republicans, it’s a clear pickup opportunity. If Owens is leaving, that says something about the prospects for Democrats in battleground districts.

This is, of course, retirement season for the House. Incumbents disinclined to campaign again will let their constituents know early enough to allow their party to find a strong candidate rather than wait until the last moment. So far, Republican retirements outstrip Democrats, but only by three, and Republicans don’t have to make up ground against Democrats anyway. Democrats need to retain their incumbents in this midterm election far more than the GOP does — and if high-seniority members in cushy districts are heading for the exits, that suggests that they’re seeing no point in sticking around for another few years of minority status.

GOP Surges Over Dems With Staggering 13-Point Switch

◼ Poll: Big gain for Republican Party - Politico

The CNN/ORC International survey shows Republicans holding a 49 percent to 44 percent lead over Democrats, a swift reversal from just two months ago, when the Democratic Party stood steady with an 8-point lead over the GOP, 50 percent to 42 percent.

Fewer voters now identify themselves as “socially liberal” than they have in the past.

◼ A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 29% of Likely U.S. Voters now consider themselves liberal on social issues such as abortion, public prayer and church-state topics. That’s the lowest number of self-identified social liberals since early last year. - Rasmussen

Just as many (30%) consider themselves moderate on such issues, the highest since October 2012, while 37% say they are conservative, up four points from September.

Whenever three-fourths of the public says government is the country’s biggest problem, that majority includes millions of non-ideological independents and moderates who just want to see American optimism and prosperity restored. They are more open to the conservative message now than they have been since 1980. So, don’t screw it up, Republicans.

◼ Only Republicans can prevent a conservative renaissance - Washington Examiner Editorial

This new consensus is seen in the Gallup poll's finding that three-fourths of Americans view Big Government as the most serious threat to the nation's health. Similarly, the latest Rasmussen Report finds strong majorities support “smaller government with fewer services and lower taxes.” In such a context, Republicans should be poised to regain control of both chambers of Congress in the 2014 election and then elect the next president in 2016.

But the biggest obstacles standing in the way of such renewed GOP success are the two camps that dominate the Republican field, the party's Washington establishment and its Tea Party-led grassroots. Each camp had better sober up about what is required to put the nation back on the right course and how either of them could sabotage the effort.

The establishment GOP must recognize their credibility is also in tatters. For too many years, party leaders promised less spending and elimination of wasteful, duplicative and corrupt federal programs. But it was business as usual in Washington when Republican leaders had the power to deliver on their talk. Today, party leaders will cause more electoral disasters if they think merely talking conservative reform will restore them to power.

Obama's tanking approval rate pulls down Democrats, Quinnipiac poll finds

◼ President Obama’s approval rate is taking a plunge and he is pulling Democratic lawmakers down with him, a new Quinnipiac University national poll finds. - FOX

“A rousing chorus of Bah! Humbug! for President Barack Obama as American voters head into the holidays with little charitable to say about the president,” Tim Malloy, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute, said.

This dissatisfaction with the president’s job performance is also reflecting on congressional Democrats, many of whom are up for re-election next year.

For the first time this year the majority of voters, 41 percent, said they would vote for a Republican over a Democrat for the House of Representatives. A 47 percent majority of voters also said they would like to see Republicans take control of both the House and the Senate in 2014.

“President Obama could be pretty lonely during his last two years in office if voters decide they want Republican majorities in the House and Senate,” Malloy said.

◼ Quinnipiac: Obama's Job Approval Drops to Fresh Low - Ace Of Spades

38%, with 57% (!!!) disapproving. Among Independents, he's at... 30%.

On to the personal ratings:

President Obama is not honest and trustworthy, American voters say 52 - 44 percent and is not a strong leader, voters say 51 - 47 percent. Voters are divided 48 - 49 percent on whether Obama cares about their needs and problems.

◼ Whoa, MSNBC Probably Didn't Anticipate This Focus Group's Description Of Barack Obama - Michael Miller/IJ Review

The NY times bestseller list, CNN and Jay Leno

◼ HARDCOVER NONFICTION

#1. ◼ THINGS THAT MATTER, by Charles Krauthammer. (Crown Forum.) Three decades’ worth of essays from the conservative columnist.

#2. ◼ KILLING JESUS, by Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard. (Holt.) The host of "The O'Reilly Factor" recounts the events leading up to Jesus’ execution.

#3 ◼ MIRACLES AND MASSACRES, by Glenn Beck with Kevin Balfe and Hannah Beck. (Threshold Editions/Mercury Radio Arts.) Little-known stories from the American past.

#4. ◼ GEORGE WASHINGTON'S SECRET SIX, by Brian Kilmeade and Don Yaeger. (Sentinel.) The story of the Culper spy ring, which aided the American cause during the Revolution.

#5. ◼ THE BULLY PULPIT, by Doris Kearns Goodwin. (Simon & Schuster.) The relationships between Theodore Roosevelt, William Howard Taft and the muckraking press.

#9. ◼ GOOD TIDINGS AND GREAT JOY, by Sarah Palin. (Broadside/HarperCollins.) The former vice presidential candidate urges Americans to keep Christ in Christmas....

#14. ◼ DOUBLE DOWN, by Mark Halperin and John Heilemann. (Penguin Press.) Insider reporting on the election of 2012 from the authors of “Game Change.” (Was #6)

◼ CHILDREN'S MIDDLE GRADE

#1. ◼ RUSH REVERE AND THE BRAVE PILGRIMS, by Rush Limbaugh. (Simon & Schuster.) A time traveler lands on the Mayflower. (Ages 8 to 12)

◼ CNN and MSNBC Lose Almost Half Their Viewers in One Year - Noel Sheppard/Newsbusters

◼ Jay Leno Crushing David Letterman in Final Late Night Battles - Breitbart

Reason @jayleno is thriving and @the_lateshow is failing is people now see "liberalism" as tired and square. http://t.co/Z0fDCSrTaX

— Roger Simon (@rogerlsimon) November 23, 2013

The lefties were too busy drinking their Kool-aid, demonizing anyone who stood in the way of their Obamacare program, and so convinced of their intellectual superiority to even consider that maybe, just maybe we extremely extreme extremist terrorist, anarchist, racist, knuckle dragging, extra chromosomed, low sloping foreheaded, heartless, rednecked, mass-murdering haters were right about Obamacare all along.

◼ Comment by "Michael The Magnificent" at Althouse: Whatever happened to the "Republicans are committing suicide" meme?

Mainstream baffled as French turn to far right

◼ France's mainstream political parties were Monday scratching their heads over what to do about a surge by the Front National (FN) after a breakthrough by-election win for the far-right party. - France 24

The ruling Socialist party and the centre-right Union for a Popular Movement (UMP), the party of former president Nicolas Sarkozy, face humiliating reverses in municipal and European elections next year if the FN can sustain its current standing in the eyes of an electorate thoroughly fed-up with record unemployment, rising taxes and a perceived increase in crime and insecurity.

Who Scares You the Most?

◼ I am truly fascinated by the name calling and vitriol directed at Ted Cruz, Mike Lee and other Tea Party folks. - LARRY JOHNSON/NO QUARTER

The essence of the Tea Party is this–Government has grown too big and too hungry. The beast of the bureaucracy can only be tamed by cutting funds and cutting authority. That’s why nitwits (speaking of name calling) like McCain and King are so viciously attacking Cruz and Lee....

...Six months from now the Sturm und Drang of today will be forgotten. Americans will be focused on spring flooding, tornados, a sluggish economy and rising costs from Obama care. Not just the rising costs. Less availability of quality health care, as doctors pull out of the system and hospitals scale back.

What will linger in the memory of many thinking Americans is how much abusive power the Government has. The memory of blocking access to National Parks by the storm troopers masquerading as Park Rangers will leave lasting resentment. The Dems should enjoy while they can the illusion that they are winning the budget battle. They are not. Americans are fed up with a Government that is bloated, has too much power and can so blithely ignore the wishes of the very people who fund it.

We Are All Tea Partiers Now: Americans Say No to Debt Ceiling Increase

◼ A new Fox News poll shows that a majority of American voters--58 percent--would vote "no" on raising the debt ceiling. Only 37 percent of American voters would vote to raise the debt ceiling. - Breitbart

◼ Tea party is the Solution, Not the Problem - Star Parker/Right Wing News

A new Gallup poll shows 60 percent of Americans say the federal government has too much power, the highest percentage ever recorded by Gallup.

Obama is intentionally playing to the cracks in the Republican Party. He knows Republican leadership is weak-kneed. But if Republican leaders cave in, the country is lost. We need principled and courageous leadership now.

The tea party is the solution, not the problem.

Hey, Want to Buy Newsweek?

◼ Guess what comes out every week and no one wants? The answer is Newsweek, a magazine that exists mainly for photoshopped cover trolling. It’s been sold for a buck and like a bad apple, it’s coming around again. - Daniel Greenfield/Front Page Magazine

For Newsweek, the beginning of the end came when its bias collided with the internet during the Clinton Administration. Newsweek had the Monica Lewinsky story first but chose not to run it. Instead the Drudge Report did. And the rest is history. And by the rest, I mean Newsweek.

◼ Just a Buck, Try Your Luck - Ed Driscoll/PJMedia

◼ And, Progressive Newspaper Village Voice Circling the Drain - Warner Todd Huston/Breitbart