• I’m sure I’m not the first person to observe this and I’ve probably stolen it from someone, somewhere on Twitter.  The term “fake news” has morphed from objectively false articles spread on Facebook by Russia or others trying to influence the 2016 election to anything that is critical of Trump.  And Republicans appear to be taking the stance that the only credible witnesses in the impeachment are those that are defending the President.  And a NeverTrumper is no longer someone who might otherwise support a Republican candidate, but because of Trump is now “independent.”  Now it just means someone who doesn’t support the President.
  • While I am decidedly not a Republican, I think I can call myself a NeverTrumper.  And I’m proud in doing so.
  • I still like Julian Castro, but I’ve been saying for a bit that I’d like to see him drop out.  He just has no path to the nomination.  Further evidence of that is the fact that he did not qualify for the November debate.  The December debate is even harder to qualify for, so very unlikely he’ll make that one either.  He’s not competitive in Iowa.  To borrow his line, it’s time to say Adios to Julian.  But, go endorse someone when you do.
  • Like Tim Ryan did.  He’s in for Biden.  Neither Biden nor Ryan are/were my preference, but I’m glad he endorsed.  C’mon Beto, don’t ride the fence.  Endorse someone.
  • The horserace has gotten interesting lately.  Michael Bloomberg is looking to get in, but he’s not going to compete in the first four contests.  Deval Patrick is in and will compete in the first four.  He might also be competitive in New Hampshire and South Carolina.  Neither of these guys are in the next debate.  Still time to make the December debate I guess.  But with Biden and Buttigieg in the moderate lane and with the strength of Biden, Harris and Booker in the African-American community, it’s hard for me to see how they have any chance for the nomination.  Plus, Bloomberg is a billionaire and Patrick works for Bain Capital.  That’s just easy pickins’ for Warren and Sanders.  Expect shots to be taken by both at the next debate.
  • A recent poll has Mayor Pete up in Iowa, with Biden second, then Warren and Sanders.  Seeing Mayor Pete in front shouldn’t be a surprise, but with Biden second, I’m not sure I think that reflects how Iowa is really going to play out.  All indications are that the organizations of Mayor Pete and Elizabeth Warren are the best among all the candidates.  Biden, on the other hand, doesn’t appear to be putting his all into Iowa.  So, could Warren have fallen?  I think yes.  But I don’t see her falling below Biden.  I think 1-2 are going to be Warren and Buttigieg in some order.
  • I wrote back in the summer that I thought Pelosi should get the impeachment over in the Fall.  Part of my reasoning was to get vulnerable Senators on the record.  I think now I would probably prefer that they keep investigating and not worry about a Fall deadline.  Still, I am going to get my wish.  The Democrats are going to impeach the President for, at least, abuse of power.  He extorted and/or bribed Ukraine to get them to investigate his political rival to make it easier for him to be reelected.  Assuming the Dems phrase this well, Susan Collins and Cory Gardner and Marth McSally and Thom Tillis are going to answer whether they think it is OK for the President to do that.  And that vote will harm them either way they go.
  • It should be no surprise that I think Trump should be impeached and removed.  I stand with Senator Lindsey Graham from South Carolina, who once said, “You don’t even have to be convicted of a crime to lose your job in this constitutional republic if this body determines that your conduct as a public official is clearly out of bounds in your role.  Impeachment is not about punishment. Impeachment is about cleansing the office. Impeachment is about restoring honor and integrity to the office.”  If only you lived by those 1999 words about the Clinton impeachment in 2109.