​Correct The Record Wednesday January 7, 2015 Morning Roundup

podesta-emails 5,902 words email

P17 V11 P22 V13 P23

-----BEGIN PGP PUBLIC KEY BLOCK----- mQQBBGBjDtIBH6DJa80zDBgR+VqlYGaXu5bEJg9HEgAtJeCLuThdhXfl5Zs32RyB I1QjIlttvngepHQozmglBDmi2FZ4S+wWhZv10bZCoyXPIPwwq6TylwPv8+buxuff B6tYil3VAB9XKGPyPjKrlXn1fz76VMpuTOs7OGYR8xDidw9EHfBvmb+sQyrU1FOW aPHxba5lK6hAo/KYFpTnimsmsz0Cvo1sZAV/EFIkfagiGTL2J/NhINfGPScpj8LB bYelVN/NU4c6Ws1ivWbfcGvqU4lymoJgJo/l9HiV6X2bdVyuB24O3xeyhTnD7laf epykwxODVfAt4qLC3J478MSSmTXS8zMumaQMNR1tUUYtHCJC0xAKbsFukzbfoRDv m2zFCCVxeYHvByxstuzg0SurlPyuiFiy2cENek5+W8Sjt95nEiQ4suBldswpz1Kv n71t7vd7zst49xxExB+tD+vmY7GXIds43Rb05dqksQuo2yCeuCbY5RBiMHX3d4nU 041jHBsv5wY24j0N6bpAsm/s0T0Mt7IO6UaN33I712oPlclTweYTAesW3jDpeQ7A ioi0CMjWZnRpUxorcFmzL/Cc/fPqgAtnAL5GIUuEOqUf8AlKmzsKcnKZ7L2d8mxG QqN16nlAiUuUpchQNMr+tAa1L5S1uK/fu6thVlSSk7KMQyJfVpwLy6068a1WmNj4 yxo9HaSeQNXh3cui+61qb9wlrkwlaiouw9+bpCmR0V8+XpWma/D/TEz9tg5vkfNo eG4t+FUQ7QgrrvIkDNFcRyTUO9cJHB+kcp2NgCcpCwan3wnuzKka9AWFAitpoAwx L6BX0L8kg/LzRPhkQnMOrj/tuu9hZrui4woqURhWLiYi2aZe7WCkuoqR/qMGP6qP EQRcvndTWkQo6K9BdCH4ZjRqcGbY1wFt/qgAxhi+uSo2IWiM1fRI4eRCGifpBtYK Dw44W9uPAu4cgVnAUzESEeW0bft5XXxAqpvyMBIdv3YqfVfOElZdKbteEu4YuOao FLpbk4ajCxO4Fzc9AugJ8iQOAoaekJWA7TjWJ6CbJe8w3thpznP0w6jNG8ZleZ6a jHckyGlx5wzQTRLVT5+wK6edFlxKmSd93jkLWWCbrc0Dsa39OkSTDmZPoZgKGRhp Yc0C4jePYreTGI6p7/H3AFv84o0fjHt5fn4GpT1Xgfg+1X/wmIv7iNQtljCjAqhD 6XN+QiOAYAloAym8lOm9zOoCDv1TSDpmeyeP0rNV95OozsmFAUaKSUcUFBUfq9FL uyr+rJZQw2DPfq2wE75PtOyJiZH7zljCh12fp5yrNx6L7HSqwwuG7vGO4f0ltYOZ dPKzaEhCOO7o108RexdNABEBAAG0Rldpa2lMZWFrcyBFZGl0b3JpYWwgT2ZmaWNl IEhpZ2ggU2VjdXJpdHkgQ29tbXVuaWNhdGlvbiBLZXkgKDIwMjEtMjAyNCmJBDEE EwEKACcFAmBjDtICGwMFCQWjmoAFCwkIBwMFFQoJCAsFFgIDAQACHgECF4AACgkQ nG3NFyg+RUzRbh+eMSKgMYOdoz70u4RKTvev4KyqCAlwji+1RomnW7qsAK+l1s6b ugOhOs8zYv2ZSy6lv5JgWITRZogvB69JP94+Juphol6LIImC9X3P/bcBLw7VCdNA mP0XQ4OlleLZWXUEW9EqR4QyM0RkPMoxXObfRgtGHKIkjZYXyGhUOd7MxRM8DBzN yieFf3CjZNADQnNBk/ZWRdJrpq8J1W0dNKI7IUW2yCyfdgnPAkX/lyIqw4ht5UxF VGrva3PoepPir0TeKP3M0BMxpsxYSVOdwcsnkMzMlQ7TOJlsEdtKQwxjV6a1vH+t k4TpR4aG8fS7ZtGzxcxPylhndiiRVwdYitr5nKeBP69aWH9uLcpIzplXm4DcusUc Bo8KHz+qlIjs03k8hRfqYhUGB96nK6TJ0xS7tN83WUFQXk29fWkXjQSp1Z5dNCcT sWQBTxWxwYyEI8iGErH2xnok3HTyMItdCGEVBBhGOs1uCHX3W3yW2CooWLC/8Pia qgss3V7m4SHSfl4pDeZJcAPiH3Fm00wlGUslVSziatXW3499f2QdSyNDw6Qc+chK hUFflmAaavtpTqXPk+Lzvtw5SSW+iRGmEQICKzD2chpy05mW5v6QUy+G29nchGDD rrfpId2Gy1VoyBx8FAto4+6BOWVijrOj9Boz7098huotDQgNoEnidvVdsqP+P1RR QJekr97idAV28i7iEOLd99d6qI5xRqc3/QsV+y2ZnnyKB10uQNVPLgUkQljqN0wP XmdVer+0X+aeTHUd1d64fcc6M0cpYefNNRCsTsgbnWD+x0rjS9RMo+Uosy41+IxJ 6qIBhNrMK6fEmQoZG3qTRPYYrDoaJdDJERN2E5yLxP2SPI0rWNjMSoPEA/gk5L91 m6bToM/0VkEJNJkpxU5fq5834s3PleW39ZdpI0HpBDGeEypo/t9oGDY3Pd7JrMOF zOTohxTyu4w2Ql7jgs+7KbO9PH0Fx5dTDmDq66jKIkkC7DI0QtMQclnmWWtn14BS KTSZoZekWESVYhORwmPEf32EPiC9t8zDRglXzPGmJAPISSQz+Cc9o1ipoSIkoCCh 2MWoSbn3KFA53vgsYd0vS/+Nw5aUksSleorFns2yFgp/w5Ygv0D007k6u3DqyRLB W5y6tJLvbC1ME7jCBoLW6nFEVxgDo727pqOpMVjGGx5zcEokPIRDMkW/lXjw+fTy c6misESDCAWbgzniG/iyt77Kz711unpOhw5aemI9LpOq17AiIbjzSZYt6b1Aq7Wr aB+C1yws2ivIl9ZYK911A1m69yuUg0DPK+uyL7Z86XC7hI8B0IY1MM/MbmFiDo6H dkfwUckE74sxxeJrFZKkBbkEAQRgYw7SAR+gvktRnaUrj/84Pu0oYVe49nPEcy/7 5Fs6LvAwAj+JcAQPW3uy7D7fuGFEQguasfRrhWY5R87+g5ria6qQT2/Sf19Tpngs d0Dd9DJ1MMTaA1pc5F7PQgoOVKo68fDXfjr76n1NchfCzQbozS1HoM8ys3WnKAw+ Neae9oymp2t9FB3B+To4nsvsOM9KM06ZfBILO9NtzbWhzaAyWwSrMOFFJfpyxZAQ 8VbucNDHkPJjhxuafreC9q2f316RlwdS+XjDggRY6xD77fHtzYea04UWuZidc5zL VpsuZR1nObXOgE+4s8LU5p6fo7jL0CRxvfFnDhSQg2Z617flsdjYAJ2JR4apg3Es G46xWl8xf7t227/0nXaCIMJI7g09FeOOsfCmBaf/ebfiXXnQbK2zCbbDYXbrYgw6 ESkSTt940lHtynnVmQBvZqSXY93MeKjSaQk1VKyobngqaDAIIzHxNCR941McGD7F qHHM2YMTgi6XXaDThNC6u5msI1l/24PPvrxkJxjPSGsNlCbXL2wqaDgrP6LvCP9O uooR9dVRxaZXcKQjeVGxrcRtoTSSyZimfjEercwi9RKHt42O5akPsXaOzeVjmvD9 EB5jrKBe/aAOHgHJEIgJhUNARJ9+dXm7GofpvtN/5RE6qlx11QGvoENHIgawGjGX Jy5oyRBS+e+KHcgVqbmV9bvIXdwiC4BDGxkXtjc75hTaGhnDpu69+Cq016cfsh+0 XaRnHRdh0SZfcYdEqqjn9CTILfNuiEpZm6hYOlrfgYQe1I13rgrnSV+EfVCOLF4L P9ejcf3eCvNhIhEjsBNEUDOFAA6J5+YqZvFYtjk3efpM2jCg6XTLZWaI8kCuADMu yrQxGrM8yIGvBndrlmmljUqlc8/Nq9rcLVFDsVqb9wOZjrCIJ7GEUD6bRuolmRPE SLrpP5mDS+wetdhLn5ME1e9JeVkiSVSFIGsumZTNUaT0a90L4yNj5gBE40dvFplW 7TLeNE/ewDQk5LiIrfWuTUn3CqpjIOXxsZFLjieNgofX1nSeLjy3tnJwuTYQlVJO 3CbqH1k6cOIvE9XShnnuxmiSoav4uZIXnLZFQRT9v8UPIuedp7TO8Vjl0xRTajCL PdTk21e7fYriax62IssYcsbbo5G5auEdPO04H/+v/hxmRsGIr3XYvSi4ZWXKASxy a/jHFu9zEqmy0EBzFzpmSx+FrzpMKPkoU7RbxzMgZwIYEBk66Hh6gxllL0JmWjV0 iqmJMtOERE4NgYgumQT3dTxKuFtywmFxBTe80BhGlfUbjBtiSrULq59np4ztwlRT wDEAVDoZbN57aEXhQ8jjF2RlHtqGXhFMrg9fALHaRQARAQABiQQZBBgBCgAPBQJg Yw7SAhsMBQkFo5qAAAoJEJxtzRcoPkVMdigfoK4oBYoxVoWUBCUekCg/alVGyEHa ekvFmd3LYSKX/WklAY7cAgL/1UlLIFXbq9jpGXJUmLZBkzXkOylF9FIXNNTFAmBM 3TRjfPv91D8EhrHJW0SlECN+riBLtfIQV9Y1BUlQthxFPtB1G1fGrv4XR9Y4TsRj VSo78cNMQY6/89Kc00ip7tdLeFUHtKcJs+5EfDQgagf8pSfF/TWnYZOMN2mAPRRf fh3SkFXeuM7PU/X0B6FJNXefGJbmfJBOXFbaSRnkacTOE9caftRKN1LHBAr8/RPk pc9p6y9RBc/+6rLuLRZpn2W3m3kwzb4scDtHHFXXQBNC1ytrqdwxU7kcaJEPOFfC XIdKfXw9AQll620qPFmVIPH5qfoZzjk4iTH06Yiq7PI4OgDis6bZKHKyyzFisOkh DXiTuuDnzgcu0U4gzL+bkxJ2QRdiyZdKJJMswbm5JDpX6PLsrzPmN314lKIHQx3t NNXkbfHL/PxuoUtWLKg7/I3PNnOgNnDqCgqpHJuhU1AZeIkvewHsYu+urT67tnpJ AK1Z4CgRxpgbYA4YEV1rWVAPHX1u1okcg85rc5FHK8zh46zQY1wzUTWubAcxqp9K 1IqjXDDkMgIX2Z2fOA1plJSwugUCbFjn4sbT0t0YuiEFMPMB42ZCjcCyA1yysfAd DYAmSer1bq47tyTFQwP+2ZnvW/9p3yJ4oYWzwMzadR3T0K4sgXRC2Us9nPL9k2K5 TRwZ07wE2CyMpUv+hZ4ja13A/1ynJZDZGKys+pmBNrO6abxTGohM8LIWjS+YBPIq trxh8jxzgLazKvMGmaA6KaOGwS8vhfPfxZsu2TJaRPrZMa/HpZ2aEHwxXRy4nm9G Kx1eFNJO6Ues5T7KlRtl8gflI5wZCCD/4T5rto3SfG0s0jr3iAVb3NCn9Q73kiph PSwHuRxcm+hWNszjJg3/W+Fr8fdXAh5i0JzMNscuFAQNHgfhLigenq+BpCnZzXya 01kqX24AdoSIbH++vvgE0Bjj6mzuRrH5VJ1Qg9nQ+yMjBWZADljtp3CARUbNkiIg tUJ8IJHCGVwXZBqY4qeJc3h/RiwWM2UIFfBZ+E06QPznmVLSkwvvop3zkr4eYNez cIKUju8vRdW6sxaaxC/GECDlP0Wo6lH0uChpE3NJ1daoXIeymajmYxNt+drz7+pd jMqjDtNA2rgUrjptUgJK8ZLdOQ4WCrPY5pP9ZXAO7+mK7S3u9CTywSJmQpypd8hv 8Bu8jKZdoxOJXxj8CphK951eNOLYxTOxBUNB8J2lgKbmLIyPvBvbS1l1lCM5oHlw WXGlp70pspj3kaX4mOiFaWMKHhOLb+er8yh8jspM184= =5a6T -----END PGP PUBLIC KEY BLOCK----- *​**Correct The Record Wednesday January 7, 2015 Morning Roundup:* *Headlines:* *Orange County Register opinion: Rep. Loretta Sanchez: “Improving Cuba-U.S. relationship benefits all” <http://www.ocregister.com/articles/cuba-647244-united-states.html>* “As Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton urged President Obama to loosen the embargo and improve relations with Cuba, noting that doing so will help America with our broader diplomatic agenda across Latin America. Without her leadership on this issue, we may not be where we are today.” *FROM MEDIA MATTERS FOR AMERICA: Media Matters For America: “Karl Rove Runs Interference For Chris Christie Amid NFL Playoff Scandal” <http://mediamatters.org/blog/2015/01/06/karl-rove-runs-interference-for-chris-christie/202029>* [Subtitle:] “Crossroads Founder Uses Debunked Clinton Smear To Deflect From $875 Million Revenue Deal Between Cowboys Owner And Christie's Port Authority” *National Journal: “An Economic Boomlet, A Political Shake-Up” <http://www.nationaljournal.com/against-the-grain/an-economic-boomlet-a-political-shake-up-20150106>* “A growing economy would improve President Obama's approval rating, putting Hillary Clinton in stronger position for the presidential race.” *National Journal: “Rubio: Clinton Presidency 'Would Be a Death Blow to the American Dream'” <http://www.nationaljournal.com/politics/rubio-clinton-presidency-would-be-a-death-blow-to-the-american-dream-20150106>* “Rubio holds nothing back in attacking Hillary Clinton.” *Tampa Bay Times blog: The Buzz: “In new book, Rubio attacks Hillary Clinton, offers conservative view to save American Dream” <http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/the-buzz-florida-politics/in-new-book-rubio-attacks-hillary-clinton-offers-conservative-view-to-save/2212650>* “Marco Rubio wastes no time in his new book, American Dreams, going after Hillary Clinton.” *Yahoo: “Republicans quietly set to approve continuation of controversial Benghazi committee” <http://news.yahoo.com/republicans-quietly-set-to-approve-continuation-of-controversial-benghazi-committee-192059799.html>* “The Select Committee on Benghazi will continue to convene in 2015, over the objections of Democrats, after House Republicans pushed through language Tuesday to reauthorize the panel without giving any budget or time limits for its work.” *Washington Post blog: Post Politics: “2016 may yet be the first ‘Instagram election’” <http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2015/01/06/2016-may-yet-be-the-first-instagram-election/>* “Hillary Clinton announced her presidential exploratory committee with a video in 2007, saying while she couldn't ‘visit everyone's living room, I can try.’” *Articles:* *Orange County Register opinion: Rep. Loretta Sanchez: “Improving Cuba-U.S. relationship benefits all” <http://www.ocregister.com/articles/cuba-647244-united-states.html>* By Rep. Loretta Sanchez January 6, 2015 11:57 a.m. EDT In December, President Barack Obama announced that the United States will reopen diplomatic relations with Cuba. This is a historic and monumental step for both countries. The United States first cut ties with Cuba in 1961. It was the beginning of the Cold War, and fears of communist control percolated throughout the country. While times have changed, our relations with Cuba have not. After more than fifty years of a policy that has not worked, I support President Obama’s decision to change course, a decision former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton also supported during her time as our nation’s lead diplomat. As a practical matter, the president’s plan means that the United States will open an embassy in Cuba and begin easing trade and travel restrictions between our countries. These policy changes will have lasting impacts on the Cuban people, as well as America’s economic and national security. The Cuban people have been suffering under the Castro regime for far too long. They have lacked the basic needs of survival – including food and health care. By relieving trade restrictions, the Cuban people will be exposed to more economic opportunities than they have in fifty years, allowing them the chance not only to survive, but potentially to thrive. More importantly, with an increased flow of American people, goods and ideas into Cuba, it is my sincere hope that democratic freedom for the Cuban people will eventually follow. As we open economic ties, we must hold Cuba accountable for improving these human rights issues. There is no doubt that the United States’ economy will benefit from the new policies. While the Cuban embargo has not been lifted entirely, the economic restrictions have been loosened, which means that more Cubans will be able to purchase U.S. goods and services. This means increased profits for American businesses and more jobs for the American people – two ingredients needed for a strong, growing economy. As the second highest ranking Democrat on the House Homeland Security Committee, my top priority will always be our national security. If handled properly, our new course with Cuba will make America more secure. Let me explain why. The United States has always valued our relations with our neighbors, like Canada and Mexico, for good reason. Just like in your own neighborhood, if you have neighbors who look out for each other, you feel more protected. Cuba is a mere 90 miles away from our border, and, as geographical neighbors, it is in our national security interest to improve our relationship. As Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton urged President Obama to loosen the embargo and improve relations with Cuba, noting that doing so will help America with our broader diplomatic agenda across Latin America. Without her leadership on this issue, we may not be where we are today. Secretary Clinton has also emphasized the need for the United States to improve its relationship with the Western Hemisphere as a whole. As she has said, if we do so, “we will be much better positioned to deal with all else that goes on in the world.” The stronger and more united we are as a region, the more secure we will be on the world stage. Improving our relations with Cuba is one step toward this, and a very important step to protecting our national security. *FROM MEDIA MATTERS FOR AMERICA: Media Matters For America: “Karl Rove Runs Interference For Chris Christie Amid NFL Playoff Scandal” <http://mediamatters.org/blog/2015/01/06/karl-rove-runs-interference-for-chris-christie/202029>* By Sophia Tesfaye January 6, 2015, 3:36 p.m. EST [Subtitle:] Crossroads Founder Uses Debunked Clinton Smear To Deflect From $875 Million Revenue Deal Between Cowboys Owner And Christie's Port Authority Fox News contributor and Republican strategist Karl Rove attempted to deflect attention from the latest ethical controversy facing New Jersey Governor Chris Christie by reviving a false smear of Hillary Clinton that was debunked years ago. Christie's appearance at a Dallas Cowboys game as a guest of owner Jerry Jones in his personal suite is "proving to be controversial." As reported by The Washington Post Christie flew to Dallas and accepted the ticket to the game at the expense of the Cowboys' owner, who just so happens to have a business relationship with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey." Christie's NFL experience may have been worth more than $100,000, and "his acceptance of a gift from a business owner with ties to the Port Authority" raises concerns about possible conflicts of interest in the governor's private and political life. As The Wall Street Journal reported, Jones is a direct investor in a deal with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey worth $875 million. Jones is a partial owner of Legends Hospitality, the company recently selected to operate the observation deck of the One World Trade Center, operated by the Port Authority which is jointly controlled by Christie. As David Sirota of the International Business Times, points out, the deal is linked to support from Governor Christie: “Less than two years before Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones paid for New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie's tickets and travel to NFL games, government documents show Christie personally pushed the Port Authority to approve a lucrative contract for a firm part-owned by Jones. Christie nonetheless accepted the gifts from Jones, despite New Jersey ethics rules barring gifts to public officials from persons or entities that those officials ‘deal with, contact, or regulate in the course of official business.’ “On March 19, 2013, Christie and New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo issued a press release announcing their selection of Legends Hospitality LLC to operate the observation deck on the top floor of One World Trade Center. The next day, the Port Authority board - which is appointed by Christie and Cuomo -- specifically cited the governors' announcement in voting to approve the contract for the company, which is jointly owned by the Dallas Cowboys, New York Yankees and Checketts Partners Investment Fund.” On the January 6 edition of Fox News' America's Newsroom, host Martha MacCallum asked Rove whether he believed the incident to be a "problem" for the governor. Dismissing the incident as "a minor thing," Rove downgraded the scandal to a simple issue of what team Christie was rooting for, which he then contrasted with Hillary Clinton, whom Rove falsely claimed "became a New York Yankees fan when she was running for the Senate in New York." Christie, Rove claimed, "has been a lifelong fan of the Cowboys." The claim that Clinton was not a Yankees fan until her campaign for the United States Senate is not supported by the evidence. In fact, Clinton's 2003 autobiography, "Living History," contains a photograph of her wearing a Yankees cap in 1992 -- eight years before she ran for the Senate. And a September 12, 1994 Washington Post article outlined Clinton's lifelong affinity for the New York baseball team. *National Journal: “An Economic Boomlet, A Political Shake-Up” <http://www.nationaljournal.com/against-the-grain/an-economic-boomlet-a-political-shake-up-20150106>* By Josh Kraushaar January 6, 2015 [Subtitle:] Signs of a growing economy should make us rethink political assumptions about 2016. Gas prices are at their lowest level since the worst of the recession in early 2009. The economy grew at an impressive 5 percent rate in the third quarter of 2014, the strongest performance in more than a decade. In December, consumer confidence hit the highest level that it's reached during the Obama administration. The Dow is at near record highs. And a rising number of voters in national polls are indicating they're growing more optimistic about the economic future of the country. If these trends continue, it will have significant ramifications on the outlook of the 2016 elections. A growing economy would improve President Obama's approval rating, putting Hillary Clinton in stronger position for the presidential race. Within the Democratic Party, the populist forces railing against income inequality would have a tougher time getting traction if an economic boom actually raises the fortunes of the middle class. The conservative grassroots will still be a potent force, but prosperity tends to mute voter anger. An improved economy would also change the political impact of hot-button policy debates. Senate Republicans are bringing up legislation to construct the Keystone XL pipeline this month, and should comfortably have enough votes to send a bill to the president's desk. It's a smart political move, on an issue where the president finds himself running against public opinion. But with energy prices at record lows and an improved jobs forecast, the potency of such an issue isn't as intense as it was before the midterms. Liberals might be emboldened to propose a gas tax, which has long been a political nonstarter. Anxiety over immigration often peaks during economic downturns, but subsides when jobs are more plentiful. And if the economy continues to grow, the administration would argue that its controversial lineup of regulations isn't harmful, undermining a major element of the GOP's argument. Meanwhile, Obama's second-term message has evolved from blaming congressional gridlock for the lack of economic growth to taking a victory lap for the suddenly improving economy. It's no secret that a growing economy is greatly beneficial for the party in power. But if the most encouraging economic signs in years are lasting—and that's still a huge if—it would upend long-held assumptions about the state of our politics. It would be encouraging news for incumbents of both parties, who have spent the last decade witnessing a historic degree of volatility in the electorate. Consider: Four of the last five elections since 2006 have been clear wave elections, sweeping one party into power. The recent turbulence within the Republican Party is predominantly a function of an ideological disconnect between the party establishment and its grassroots. But it's no coincidence that the tea party emerged in the wake of an economic earthquake. Concerns over spending and fiscal restraint are driving the base, and these issues become more salient during a recession. To be sure, it's far from certain that the next campaign will be conducted during an economic boom. The gap between macroeconomic growth and personal economic security is still significant, and is a fundamental challenge for policymakers even in flusher times. Wage increases aren't matching the level of economic growth. There's still plenty of economic volatility, with the Dow dropping more than 500 points in the first full week of 2015. Two years is a lifetime in politics, and even the top economic forecasters have struggled to accurately predict future outcomes. The politician with the most at stake is Hillary Clinton, whose likely presidential candidacy is more dependent on factors out of her control than many past candidates. She's already well-defined to most of the public, and is facing the historic reality that few two-term presidents are able to elect a successor of their own party. (Only two such successors prevailed in the 20th century: William Howard Taft in 1908, and George H.W. Bush in 1988.) She'd get the biggest boost if Obama's approval rating hit 50 percent in his final year in office. Given the polarization in the country, that would only be possible with sustained economic growth. The state of the economy will also play a major role in Clinton's still-uncertain campaign message. Will she adopt an agenda centered on income inequality, or promote the economic gains and credit Obama for them? It's also notable that Jeb Bush, in a statement announcing his leadership PAC Tuesday, sounded a populist note by saying it's been a good last eight years for "top earners" but not for most Americans. Betting on continued stagnation may be the safe political bet right now, but that rhetoric could become outdated. The uncomfortable truth about politicians is that they have less influence over the economy than they like to claim—and that voters hold them accountable for. It's notable that after two years of gridlock, with little consequential legislation passed through Congress, we're seeing the first signs of a recovery. Equally as uncomfortable is that, before most candidates even announce their presidential plans, the seeds of the outcome may already be planted. The next election won't be held for another 22 months, but the economic trajectory over the next few will go a long way in determining which party holds the advantage in 2016. *National Journal: “Rubio: Clinton Presidency 'Would Be a Death Blow to the American Dream'” <http://www.nationaljournal.com/politics/rubio-clinton-presidency-would-be-a-death-blow-to-the-american-dream-20150106>* By Tim Alberta January 6, 2015 [Subtitle:] And eight other fascinating takeaways from the senator’s new book. Marco Rubio's new book, American Dreams, reads in some parts like a presidential manifesto—and in others like a conservative guide to governing with a reform agenda in the 114th Congress. That's precisely the crossroads at which Rubio now finds himself—deciding whether to run for the White House in 2016, or roll up his sleeves and focus on policy in the new GOP-controlled Senate. Rubio has spent the past several years maneuvering into position for a possible presidential run in 2016. And the official timing of his book release—Jan. 13—has always seemed orchestrated to coincide with the dawn of campaign season. With that in mind, National Journal, which obtained an early copy of American Dreams, pulled the nine most fascinating passages from the book—ones that could preview what a Marco Rubio presidential campaign looks (and sounds) like: 1. Rubio holds nothing back in attacking Hillary Clinton. The Florida senator takes several strongly worded shots at the Democratic front-runner. "Hillary Clinton has proven herself wedded to the policies and programs of the past," Rubio writes in the book's introduction. "The election of Hillary Clinton to the presidency, in short, would be nothing more than a third Obama term. Another Clinton presidency would be a death blow to the American Dream." Later in the book, Rubio criticizes Clinton's remark last year—"Don't let anyone tell you it's businesses and corporations that create jobs"—and links it with Obama's "infamous declaration, 'If you've got a business, you didn't build that.'" 2. Rubio doesn't apologize for authoring a comprehensive immigration bill, but does offer a new, "piecemeal" proposal. It starts with stemming the flow of illegal immigration. Then, Rubio calls for separate bills introducing an E-Verify system, entry-exit tracking for visas, and an overhaul of the visa process that focuses on retaining high-skilled workers. Once those pieces are in place, Rubio prescribes a solution for the 12 million illegal immigrants in the U.S.: Bring them out of the shadows, deport those with criminal records, give the others temporary "nonimmigrant visas," make them pay taxes and fines to keep it, then, finally, after a decade, allow them to apply for permanent residency. 3. Rubio previews a unifying, aspirational stump speech—one that borrows from the Barack Obama playbook. "I believe deeply in the conservative reform proposals" written about in the book, Rubio writes. "But what they seek to achieve—a rising, striving America for all of us—isn't partisan. There isn't a Republican Dream and a Democratic Dream. There is only one American Dream. Before us lies the chance not just to restore it, but to bring it within reach of more people than ever before. This is our chance to claim our heritage as a people who always leave behind a nation better than the one left to them. My grandparents and parents kept the dream alive. So did yours. Now it's our turn." 4. Rubio makes no mention of his potential 2016 Republican rivals. Unlike his first book, An American Son, Rubio's new book contains no reference to—or acknowledgment of—former Gov. Jeb Bush. In American Dreams, Rubio speaks highly of certain Senate colleagues—but makes no mention of either Rand Paul or Ted Cruz. Nor does Rubio mention Scott Walker, Chris Christie, Rick Santorum, or any other potential GOP opponent. The one exception: Rubio lavishes praise on his friend, Rep. Paul Ryan, whose name is mentioned nearly a dozen times. 5. Rubio goes light on biography, and heavy on policy. Perhaps that's one reason why Rubio mentions Ryan so often. (Ryan, as National Journal reported late last year, is highly unlikely to run—and might consider endorsing Rubio, whom he views as a like-minded reformer.) Whereas Rubio's first book relied heavily on his family's multigenerational immigrant story, American Dreams focuses on major policy debates and proposals—health care, regulation, the tax code, student loans, Social Security, defense spending, and foreign policy, among others. This is part of a conscious rebranding effort to help Rubio be viewed as a young policy wonk, not just an exceptional orator with a compelling biography. 6. Rubio outlines a muscular foreign policy built upon three pillars. Rubio has consistently been the most hawkish voice in the 2016 conversation, and the book articulates something of a Rubio Doctrine. First, he says the U.S. "must boldly oppose efforts by other nations to infringe upon the freedom of international waters, airspace, cyberspace and outer space." Second, he calls for "moral clarity regarding what we stand for and why"—which means "being unabashed in support of the spread of economic and political freedom" and "resisting efforts by rising and resurgent powers to subjugate their neighbors." Third, Rubio advocates a bigger budget for the Pentagon, which he says will "demonstrate a strength in defense capabilities that, as Presidents Washington and Reagan envisioned, leaves our enemies unwilling to provoke us." 7. Rubio agrees with Sen. Elizabeth Warren that "the game right now in America is rigged"—but says the government is rigging it. Rubio makes several mentions of Warren in the book, referring to her at one point as a "liberal populist hero." He implicitly positions himself as her counterpart—a conservative populist hero who faults both political parties for promoting "crony capitalism" that creates excessive government regulation that, in turn, protects big business and stifles competition. "After all, big corporations can afford to influence government, and the little guys can't," Rubio writes. "And the more power government has over the economy, the more those with the power to influence government win." 8. Rubio teaches a college class at Florida International University, and cited Uber to convince his students of the dangers of regulation. When Rubio heard his political-science students discussing the ride-sharing service that their friends use in other cities—and wondering why it hadn't come to Miami—he seized the opportunity. After explaining that Miami has a government-imposed cap on "sedan medallions," he told them Uber isn't legally permitted to compete for their business. "As my progressive young students listened to me explain why government was preventing them from using their cell phones to get home from the bars on Saturday night," Rubio writes, "I could see their minds change." 9. Rubio thinks Obama's apology to art-history professors was "kind of pathetic." In critiquing the higher education system, Rubio emphasizes "the responsibility of students to make their education a wise investment" and not dismiss less glamorous professions. As such, he was "very encouraged, when President Obama told a crowd in Wisconsin last year: 'Folks can make a lot more, potentially, with skilled manufacturing or the trades than they might with an art history degree.' " When Obama apologized for the remark soon after, "I thought that was kind of pathetic and I said so," Rubio recalls. "The point he was making was an important and legitimate one. We no longer live in an economy in which most young people have the luxury of going deep into debt for an education that prepares them for an entry-level job at Starbucks." *Tampa Bay Times blog: The Buzz: “In new book, Rubio attacks Hillary Clinton, offers conservative view to save American Dream” <http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/the-buzz-florida-politics/in-new-book-rubio-attacks-hillary-clinton-offers-conservative-view-to-save/2212650>* By Alex Leary January 6, 2015, 4:16 p.m. EST The following is a quick look at Sen. Marco Rubio's new book, which landed on our desk today. Marco Rubio wastes no time in his new book, American Dreams, going after Hillary Clinton. On page nine of the forward, a lament that the dream is fading for many, the Republican senator from Florida argues Clinton “has proven herself wedded to the policies and programs of the past. “Instead of reforming a higher education system that costs too much money, is too hard for nontraditional students to access and awards too many degrees that do not lead to jobs, another Clinton presidency will be about spending more money on a broken system,” Rubio writes. “Instead of cutting back on regulations that stifle innovation and deny consumer choice, another Clinton presidency will be about enacting regulations her friends in the corporate world use to prevent competition. Instead of reforming an anticompetitive tax code that has made America one of the most expensive places on earth to invest and create jobs, another Clinton presidency will be about raising taxes to pay for a growing government." “The election of Hillary Clinton to the presidency, in short, would be nothing more than a third Obama term. Another Clinton presidency would be a death blow to the American Dream.” But Rubio, whose book will be published by Sentinel on Jan. 13, knows partisan jabs only go so far. He spends much of the book assessing the current state of the country and offering solutions to problems as varied as student loan debt to the strain on Social Security. It's a conservative vision, to be sure, but Rubio takes pains not completely alienate a broader audience. “For our part, conservatives have also failed to address the challenges of the new economy but there are promising sings that this is changing,” Rubio writes. He gives credit to leaders of the so-called conservative reform movement, figures such as the writer Yuval Levin and Rep. Paul Ryan, but the point of the book is to spotlight Rubio as someone who can bring it all home. He doesn't declare himself a candidate for president, of course, but the 43-year-old leaves no mystery that he thinks he's qualified to lead a movement to "restore the land of opportunity." Rubio uses the stories of people he’s met to explain problems, including a Plant City woman named Christine Miller who runs an emergency food bank and tries to empower the poor people who visit her with fiscal literacy programs. The anecdote is a way for Rubio to make a case that while a government safety net is necessary, government should do more to help people get ahead. “Government has succeeded in trapping far too many into poverty as a way of life and it has not done nearly enough to help Americans escape poverty,” he writes. Rubio has long talked about reforming entitlement programs but his ideas will certainly raise new criticism from the left. He talks about changing Medicare, for example, into a premium support program that gives “seniors a generous but fixed amount of money with which to purchase health insurance. They could choose to buy from either Medicare of a private provider, and the choice would be theirs to make.” He also touches on immigration, an issue that has caused Rubio much trouble. “Last summer’s crisis of thousands of unaccompanied minors entering this country proves that both our borders and our immigration system can be overwhelmed very quickly,” he writes. Rubio instead calls for a piecemeal approach, beginning with enforcement. It’s a transition he’s made since he helped write the Senate’s comprehensive bill and drew the wrath of conservatives. Step two out be to “modernize” the family-based immigration system that Rubio’s parents used to come from Cuba to one based on merit. “Once both of these reforms have been passed, then I believe the conditions will be in place to address the most politically sensitive aspect of immigration reform: what to do with more than twelve million people currently here illegally.” “On the one hand, calls to grant amnesty to twelve million people are unrealistic and quite frankly irresponsible. On the other hand, not a single opponent of the Senate bill I helped author proposed that we try to round up and deport twelve million human beings. So how to deal with this dilemma?” He goes on to prescribe another three part process: People here illegally would have to come forward “and be registered.” Those who committed serious crimes or have not been here long would have to leave. Second, people could apply for a temporary nonimmigrant visa, paying fines, taxes and learning English. Third, they would have to remain in that temporary status for at least a decade and then apply for permanent residency. Rubio steers clear of the “citizenship” word, but he’s noted in recent interviews that people who obtain permanent residency could apply for citizenship like any other immigrant who goes through legal channels. “In the end, immigration reform is fundamentally about reforming government and restoring the American people’s faith in the ability of their government to do basic things right. I don’t believe this challenge will be fully met until we have new leaders in Washington who support both the rule of law and the job creating potential of the free market. Until then, the best way to rebuilt trust and reform our broken immigration system is through incremental steps both to fix our immigration system and to realize the full potential of our country.” He also addresses gay marriage, as of yesterday legal in Florida. "Thousands of years have human history have taught us that the ideal setting for children to grow up in is with a mother and a father committed to each other, living together and sharing responsibility of raising their children. It is for this reason and this reason alone that I continue to believe marriage should be defined as one man and one woman. It is neither my place nor my intention to dictate to anyone who they are allowed to love or live with. ... My view on this places me opposite the views of a growing number of Americans. And as attitudes change, we have seen state laws change the definition of marriage as well. I do not agree with or support these changes. But I also do not question that the elected representatives in the individual states have the right to make these changes. "The trend that I will not accept, however, is the growing attitude that believe in traditional marriage equates to bigotry and hatred. Just as California has a right to redefine marriage to include same-sex couples, Florida has a right to define it as one man and one woman." At the end of the book, Rubio turns to foreign policy and gets in a jab at President Obama. “America under this president has simply not been at its strongest. Waiting for our adversaries to unclench their fists so we ca shake their hands has not proven a responsible or effective strategy. The ‘don’t do stupid stuff’ approach has proven self-contradictory,” he writes. “We must instead demonstrate a strength in defense capabilities that, as Presidents Washington and Reagan envisioned, leaves our enemies unwilling to provoke us.“ *Yahoo: “Republicans quietly set to approve continuation of controversial Benghazi committee” <http://news.yahoo.com/republicans-quietly-set-to-approve-continuation-of-controversial-benghazi-committee-192059799.html>* By Meredith Shiner January 6, 2015 The Select Committee on Benghazi will continue to convene in 2015, over the objections of Democrats, after House Republicans pushed through language Tuesday to reauthorize the panel without giving any budget or time limits for its work. The GOP did not allow for a separate up-or-down vote that would have permitted members to debate the continuation of the special panel. The panel cost upwards of $1 million to operate last Congress, when the House voted to establish it. Serious questions surrounding the efficacy of the panel emerged in 2014, as Republicans pumped the brakes on their aggressive attacks in the run-up to the midterm elections. Seven formal investigations already completed have debunked the conspiracy theories surrounding the attack on the Libyan consulate that fueled the special panel’s formation in the first place. In a joint statement released Tuesday and provided to Yahoo News, the five Democratic members of the Benghazi Committee lamented that reauthorization language was bundled into the must-pass biennial bill setting up the rules for each Congress, effectively preventing debate on whether the panel should continue. “We are disappointed that the Speaker incorporated the reauthorization of the Select Committee on Benghazi into the must-pass rules package, which sets no limit on the Committee’s budget or timeframe,” the five Democrats said in the statement. “After eight months and more than a million taxpayer dollars spent, it remains unclear what new questions the Select Committee seeks to answer. Since our members were denied the ability to meaningfully debate or amend the resolution, we now look to the Committee to quickly adopt rules that ensure that our Democratic members are able to participate fully in the The five Democrats who serve on the committee are: Reps. Elijah Cummings of Maryland, Adam Smith of Washington, Adam Schiff of California, Linda Sánchez of California and Tammy Duckworth of Illinois. In November, Yahoo News reported that Speaker John Boehner of Ohio had announced that Rep. Trey Gowdy, R-S.C., would continue to head the committee, even though the decision to extend its existence had not yet been authorized. Tuesday’s rules package for the new Congress took care of that formal technicality, although Republicans will face the challenge of justifying the expense of the select committee by providing information that previous, comprehensive investigations — including those conducted by other permanent, GOP-led House committees — did not. *Washington Post blog: Post Politics: “2016 may yet be the first ‘Instagram election’” <http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2015/01/06/2016-may-yet-be-the-first-instagram-election/>* By Hunter Schwarz January 6, 2015, 4:57 p.m. EST Jeb Bush announced Right To Rise, his Super PAC, Tuesday with two videos. One was in English, one was in Spanish, and they appear to be filmed on a smartphone vertically as Bush walked down a sidewalk. It may not have been the most polished rollout — for one, everyone knows you're not supposed to film vertically on your smartphone — but it's the type of amateur video you're used to seeing while scrolling through Instagram, which is exactly where Bush posted them.(Also, that he filmed vertically seemed to have less to do with him being unaware of the faux pas than it did with the video being made for Instagram, where video is cropped into a square. Only when he shared it on Facebook could you see it was vertical.). It's the latest in Bush's string of direct-to-social-network announcements. He has opted to post content himself rather than the traditional route of simply putting out a press release, sharing a message in the exact manner he wants to directly with voters. His December announcement he was "actively exploring" a presidential run was posted directly to Facebook with the headline "A Note from Jeb Bush." This isn't new, of course. Hillary Clinton announced her presidential exploratory committee with a video in 2007, saying while she couldn't "visit everyone's living room, I can try." Bush's foray into Instagram is the 2016 campaign version of this idea. But while Clinton's video was professionally lit with multiple camera angles and meant to be streamed into voter's living rooms via computers, Bush's video was shot on a city street and meant to be double tapped on an app on voter's phones. It's a "native" campaign ad for the social age. Social media is an ever-evolving component of modern presidential campaigns. Barack Obama's tweet announcing his victory in 2008, for example, was only retweeted 157 times, while the 2012 one was retweeted more than 800,000 times, according to a study on social media use in campaigns conducted by a University of North Carolina professor. Instagram didn't exist in 2008, and in 2012, the Obama account didn't post there until the day after the election. That photo (which used the Nashville filter, if you were wondering) has been liked about 301,000 times. It's likely the 2016 winner will blow that number away: in December, Instagram announced 300 million monthly users, more than Twitter's 284 million. Bush is preparing for the possibilities, asking visitors to the Right To Rise PAC website not only for their email address, zip code, and money, but for their Instagram username. There's no field for any other social network. Instagram may yet be one of 2016's emerging campaign battlefields. Twitter is a social newswires for journalists and political junkies, but its reach is comparatively small. Facebook has the largest reach, but it signaled last year efforts to push back against some campaign efforts to target voters, while Instagram is largely untested. Don't be surprised if one day in 2016, squeezed between your college roommate's brunch photo and a selfie, you see a campaign ad. *Calendar:* *Sec. Clinton's upcoming appearances as reported online. Not an official schedule.* · January 21 – Saskatchewan, Canada: Sec. Clinton keynotes the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce’s “Global Perspectives” series (MarketWired <http://www.marketwired.com/press-release/former-us-secretary-state-hillary-rodham-clinton-deliver-keynote-address-saskatoon-1972651.htm> ) · January 21 – Winnipeg, Canada: Sec. Clinton keynotes the Global Perspectives series (Winnipeg Free Press <http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/Clinton-coming-to-Winnipeg--284282491.html> ) · February 24 – Santa Clara, CA: Sec. Clinton to Keynote Address at Inaugural Watermark Conference for Women (PR Newswire <http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hillary-rodham-clinton-to-deliver-keynote-address-at-inaugural-watermark-conference-for-women-283200361.html> ) · March 19 – Atlantic City, NJ: Sec. Clinton keynotes American Camp Association conference (PR Newswire <http://www.sys-con.com/node/3254649>)