HUFFPOST HILL - Olympians Aiming For Strong Showing In Rio Straw Poll

The Olympics are set to distract Americans from the presidential race, and folks looking to take a break from all of the corruption, cheating and allegations of impropriety should turn off the Olympics. Joe Lieberman said he hasn’t decided which presidential candidate he supports, though it’s not clear how this is supposed to make Harry Reid do him favors. And both the AARP has been pressured out of the American Legislative Exchange Council, though not due to ALEC’s goal of reclassifying Walmart greeters as livestock. This is HUFFPOST HILL for Friday, August 5th, 2016:

TRUMP TO ENDORSE RYAN, RYAN CAMPAIGN CASTS GIGANTIC AMOUNTS OF SHADE – Christina Wilkie: Donald Trump plans to endorse House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) on Friday during a campaign rally in Green Bay, Wisconsin, according to multiple news outlets.  The endorsement comes just three days after Trump told The Washington Post he was ‘not quite there yet’ on supporting Ryan, who will face challenger Paul Nehlen in a primary on Tuesday.  Ryan endorsed Trump in early June, but only after publicly deliberating over the decision, telling reporters in May that he was ‘not quite there yet.’ Trump’s refusal to endorse Ryan ― using Ryan’s own phrase ― was widely viewed as payback for the House speaker’s hesitation earlier this year.  ‘I like Paul, but these are horrible times for our country,’ Trump told the Post. ‘We need very strong leadership. We need very, very strong leadership. And I’m just not quite there yet. I’m not quite there yet.’”

DONALD TRUMP EVINCES HUMAN QUALITY FOR FIRST TIME – He admitted an error. Alana Horwitz Satlin: “Donald Trump walked back a claim that he saw a video of U.S. officials giving Iran a $400 million payment, a rare retraction from the normally stubborn businessman. ‘The plane I saw on television was the hostage plane in Geneva, Switzerland, not the plane carrying $400 million in cash going to Iran!’ he said in a Friday tweet. Friday’s statement contradicts claims he made earlier in the week that he had seen “secret” video of cash being unloaded off a plane in Iran. Presidential nominees from the two major parties are typically given access to classified information via intelligence briefings, though his campaign said those briefings hadn’t begun yet.” [HuffPost]

TRUMP SOOOO BAD – Sam Stein and S.V. Date: “It’s not just Democrats who are amazed by the collapse. Underscoring the extent to which Trump’s campaign has bewildered political professionals, Republicans are also shaking their heads at their candidate’s indifference to basic campaign norms ― a strategy that worked in the primaries, but is proving disastrous in the election’s closing months. ‘I don’t think we’ve ever seen anything quite like this,’ said David Kochel, a former strategist for Mitt Romney and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush’s presidential campaigns. ‘To have a candidate who reflexively takes the bait on any perceived slight, picks needless fights with his own party after the convention, constantly punches down and obsesses with his own cable news coverage is something we’ve never seen before.’” [HuffPost]

Deficit growing: “The federal budget deficit was $514 billion for the first 10 months of fiscal year 2016, CBO estimates ― $49 billion more than the shortfall recorded during the same period last year.” [CBO]

STRONG JERBS RERPERT – “U.S. employment increased more than expected in July and wages picked up, which should bolster expectations of an acceleration in economic growth and raise the probability of an interest rate hike from the Federal Reserve this year. Nonfarm payrolls increased by 255,000 jobs last month as hiring rose broadly after an upwardly revised 292,000 surge in June, the Labor Department said on Friday. The unemployment rate was unchanged at 4.9 percent as more people entered the labor market. Highlighting labor market strength, average hourly wages increased a healthy eight cents. May payrolls were revised up to 24,000 from the previously reported 11,000.” [Reuters]

GOOD JOBS REPORT ALSO BAD – Ben White: Friday’s surprisingly strong jobs numbers could carry an unwelcome September surprise for Hillary Clinton, courtesy of Janet Yellen and the Federal Reserve…. But it also raises the politically dangerous prospect that the Fed could boost interest rates in September, in the heart of the campaign. That could spook markets, slow already tepid growth and complicate Clinton’s path to the White House. ‘No question this jobs report along with June has raised the likelihood of a September rate hike,’ said Nariman Behravesh, chief economist at IHS.” [Politico]

Check out Marc Lamont Hill on this week’s HuffPost Politics podcast.

DELANEY DOWNER – Newt Gingrich apparently has no plans to pay back dozens of small businesses that made yard signs and TV ads for his 2012 presidential campaign. Gingrich filed a document with the Federal Election Commission this week detailing a debt settlement plan to finally terminate his 2012 presidential campaign committee. The document shows that “Newt 2012” plans to stiff 114 businesses and consultants that are altogether owed $4.6 million….The debt settlement plan document indicates the “total amount to be paid to creditors” is zero dollars.  [w/ HuffPost’s Paul Blumenthal]

Like HuffPost Hill? Then pre-order Eliot’s book, The Beltway Bible: A Totally Serious A-Z Guide To Our No-Good, Corrupt, Incompetent, Terrible, Depressing, and Sometimes Hilarious Government

Does somebody keep forwarding you this newsletter? Get your own copy. It’s free! Sign up here. Send tips/stories/photos/events/fundraisers/job movement/juicy miscellanea to huffposthill@huffingtonpost.com. Follow us on Twitter – @HuffPostHill

THIRD PARTY CANDIDATES HINDERING CLINTON’S ADVANTAGE OVER TRUMP  – Steven Shepard: “Clinton’s lead over Trump shrinks when voters are allowed to choose one of the major third-party candidates in the race. Yet the Libertarian Party’s presidential ticket — composed of former GOP Gov. Gary Johnson of New Mexico and former GOP Gov. Bill Weld of Massachusetts — appears to draw more from voters who might otherwise be aligned with Clinton, especially younger voters. The same is true of Green Party nominee Jill Stein — though to a lesser degree, since Stein doesn’t earn nearly the same level of support as Johnson. Here’s why Democrats should be concerned: As Trump’s support has dwindled in recent days — leaving the GOP nominee with just his fervent supporters — some soft voters might be moving into Clinton’s camp when asked on a two-way ballot, but defecting to a third candidate when given other options.” [Politico]

Here is the latest chilling video of police shooting an unarmed black teenager.

TRUMP CAMPAIGN CAN’T STOP, WON’T STOP TAKING YOUR MONEY James Dennin: “You used to love Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, but now you’ve had a change of heart — and want to cancel your recurring monthly donation to his campaign? Too bad…there is no option on Trump’s website to cancel monthly contributions or remove your credit card information: Once you’ve set up a donation, you may only switch from one valid credit card to another. On Wednesday, CNN reporter Jeremy Diamond tweeted a screenshot of an email from a disenchanted Trump donor who alleged that the campaign has not returned voice message requests to cancel contributions (The identity of the alleged donor is not shown).” [Mic]

AARP PRESSURED OUT OF ALEC – Wait, AARP was part of ALEC? Daniel Marans: “AARP announced on Thursday that it plans to let its membership in a controversial conservative group expire at the end of the year, a clear response to mounting pressure from its members and progressive organizations. AARP is one of many organizations that sponsor the American Legislative Exchange Council, a powerful corporate-backed lobbying group focused on influencing state-level legislation. The Center for Media and Democracy, a Wisconsin-based progressive research and advocacy outfit, exactly a week ago revealed the mammoth seniors group’s sponsorship of ALEC’s annual meeting last month in Indianapolis, Indiana. Almost immediately, a number of liberal groups and labor unions, including Social Security Works, the American Federations of State, County and Municipal Employees, and ClimateTruth.org, launched a public campaign to get AARP to cut its ties to ALEC.” [HuffPost]

JOE LIEBERMAN OUT-NO LABELS NO LABELS – His bizarre ego aside, we really don’t get what constituency this appeases. Fox Business: “Former Independent Party Connecticut Senator Joe Lieberman says he still hasn’t made up his mind on which candidate he plans to back for president. Instead, Lieberman explained what he is doing in the meantime, during an interview on the FOX Business Network. ‘“I’ve been spending a lot of time with a group called ‘No Labels,’’ he said. ‘Jon Huntsman and I, former Republican governor of Utah, [are] really trying to do something that may seem naive or idealistic, but to sort of build the groundwork of people in both, parties who after the war is over—the war this is this campaign—, will be prepared to try to build a peace that will enable our government to get something done for the American people.’” [Fox Business]

Shut up, Joe.

WHY HUELSKAMP WENT DOWN – Tim Carney explains: “’You can’t underestimate the a—hole factor,’ one House Republican said when I asked why Huelskamp lost. Rejecting corporate welfare can easily get you a prim/ary challenge funded by K Street. But Michigan’s Justin Amash and Kansas’ Mike Pompeo (who voted with Huelskamp on almost all his offending votes) easily survived their primary challenges two years ago. Other free-marketeers who buck party leadership sit pretty — think of Tom McClintock, Jim Jordan or Thomas Massie. Ask around among House conservatives, and conservative staff, and you’ll hear high praise for Huelskamp’s record and regret about his job performance. Committee chairmen would approach Huelskamp and ask ‘how can I win your vote on this bill,’ and Huelskamp wouldn’t engage. He didn’t just fight Speaker John Boehner — he raised money off of fighting Boehner.” [Examiner]

BECAUSE YOU’VE READ THIS FAR – Enjoy our 360 degree video of Arlington National Cemetery.

NOW JUST WHAT IN SAM HILL…  Dana Hedgpeth, Justin Jouvenal and Antonio Olivo: “The mayor of Fairfax City has been arrested and charged in connection with what authorities say was a methamphetamine-for-sex scheme. Richard ‘Scott’ Silverthorne, 50, was arrested as part of an undercover sting by police, authorities announced Friday. The scheme involved Silverthorne offering of meth in exchange for group sexual encounters with men, police allege.” [WaPo]

‘I Ran the C.I.A. Now I’m Endorsing Hillary Clinton’ – Your latest helping of heartfelt patriotism that is sorta preening. Mike Morell: “During a 33-year career at the Central Intelligence Agency, I served presidents of both parties — three Republicans and three Democrats. I was at President George W. Bush’s side when we were attacked on Sept. 11; as deputy director of the agency, I was with President Obama when we killed Osama bin Laden in 2011. I am neither a registered Democrat nor a registered Republican. In my 40 years of voting, I have pulled the lever for candidates of both parties. As a government official, I have always been silent about my preference for president. No longer. On Nov. 8, I will vote for Hillary Clinton.” [NYT]

COMFORT FOOD

– The “Trump or Jesus?” quiz isn’t very difficult.

– Manhole covers aren’t suppose to do this.

–  The cars of the future, as envisioned in 1956.

TWITTERAMA

@SamAdlerBell: I Was In Charge of Attaching Electrodes to Terror Suspects’ Testicles at Abu Ghraib — Now I’m Endorsing Hillary Clinton

@elisefoley: Sometimes, like now with the Olympics starting, I just really want to know what’s new with Rafalca.

@MartinShkreli: media is ridiculous. who thinks they can make a living summarizing news. google can do that automated. bye bye “journalists”.

Got something to add? Send tips/quotes/stories/photos/events/fundraisers/job movement/juicy miscellanea to Eliot Nelson (eliot@huffingtonpost.com) or Arthur Delaney (arthur@huffingtonpost.com).

 

Source link

HUFFPOST HILL - Olympians Aiming For Strong Showing In Rio Straw Poll