He's not lying

Donald Trump is not wrong with this video:

When Democrats say these things it's supposedly not violence.  Then they make up falsehoods about violence on the right. Not blanketing all Democrat voters, but those who do espouse violence are vile people.

Friday Musical Interlude - some Japanese Dreampop for you

2014's "Myrtle" by Tokyo band Oeil.

Friday Musical Interlude - Gimme Chocolate

This should get your attention.  From 2014, Japanese Heavy Metal/J-Pop band BabyMetal performing Gimme Chocolate.  It's strange but catchy and it will definitely keep your attention.

Friday Musical Interlude - Social Media Week Mash-up

This week I've been looking at social media and it's impact on society, people, culture, etc.  While I've barely scratched the surface, it's alreadt reached Friday, which is Friday Musical Interlude day.  So I decided to mash up the two things.  Here's a video of a 2017 original song by Joely Rendle, called Social Media Song.

Friday Musical Interlude - Archie, Marry Me

Canadian indie pop band Alvvays, singing their single Archie, Marry Me from 2014.

Friday Musical Interlude - Class Historian

This month I'm going to go with some lesser known songs as a Friday Musical Interlude theme.  Starting out April, Broncho's Class Historian from 2014.

Friday Musical Interlude - Budapest

George Ezra's Budapest from 2014.

Friday Musical Interlude - Neon Light

Blake Shelton's Neon Light from 2014.

Friday Musical Interlude - Lips Are Movin

Meghan Trainor's late 2014 release Lips Are Moving.

Friday Musical Interlude - Uptown Funk

Catchy, old school 70's and 80's style funk fusion from Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars - Uptown Funk. A wonderful contrast to a lot of prefab uninspired music of today.

Still more 2014 in review from Reason TV

Another take on 2014 via Reason TV.

More 2014 year in review from PJTV

Via PJTV:

2014 Year in Review

Looking back at 2014 there was a lot in the news about race relations.  To my way of thinking, that means 2014 was in many ways an unproductive year.  The highlight for me had to be the mid-term elections.  The GOP picked up governorships, seats in Congress and most impressively 10 seats in the senate, slaying the Harry Reid dragon and unfortunately, enabling president Obama to feel free to bypass Congress at his whim,

The ebola outbreak, the North Korean hackers of Sony and the missing Malaysian airlines plane were all interesting stories but diversions from the real issues.  Russia's invasion of the Crimean peninsula, the stagnation that's been passed off as a recovery, the erosion of the middle class under this president, the continued push forward of Obamacare, the decay of American power, influence and respect around the globe are all urgent matters in need of immediate action.

2014 was a largely unsuccessful year for the United States.  But after a midterm election where it appears the American electorate finally woke up to the disaster that has been Democratic leadership, perhaps the country has turned the corner.  Let's hope 2015 turns out to be a much better year.

Top fails of 2014

2014 fail stuff for fun.

Friday Musical Interlude on Saturday

No access to the online universe the last few days has put me multiple posts behind, but catching up will be tough given all of the things going on in the political sphere.  For now, here's a Friday Musical Interlude from Sam Smith, I'm Not The Only One.

Yes, it WAS a wave.

2014 proved to be a wave election.  The president can decry the lack of voter participation but many of those who did not participate were his own voters, and no, they were not all Obama voters.  Trying to make like this loss doesn't matter and that he can proceed with his agenda as if he won, will only serve to marginalize the president further.  I'm not just talking from Republicans here, or even disaffected Democrats.  I'm speaking of the electorate.  I'm speaking of the gravitational center of the nation.  He has removed himself from that locus for the past six years and continuing on his present course will only hasten his lame duck status.  It will serve to cement his legacy as a tone deaf president who was ultimately out of touch with the American electorate, one who promised change in how Washington does business but who instead embodied the worst of the partisanship that preceded him.

From the Rothenberg Political Report;

Yes, that was a wave. A big one. In many respects, it was a wave that was larger and more damaging to Democrats than in 2010.

Republicans now have more House seats, more Senate seats and more governorships than they did after the humongous GOP wave of 2010. They now have the governors of Maryland and Massachusetts, a post-Great Depression record of House seats and, finally, control of the Senate.

Some advice for Democrats, call it what you want.  If you learn that America is still a center-right country it will be better for your party as you might try to reflect that in you candidate selection.  Drifting back from the left towards the center is not a bad thing.  If you don't it'll help Republicans win more elections.  Either way is okay with me. 

Election Fallout Part 1: Obama

President "I Won" (circa 2008) will not be able to bring himself to face the fact that in two midterms in a row he has lost, and done so in record numbers.  He's an ideologue with a progressive agenda.  He will say in his speech today that he'll move to the center and that he'll compromise, but he won't actually do it.  He will use executive actions and his veto power to thwart the results of the election because let's face it, for Democratic politicians, elections don't matter.

From everything like changing the rules for reconciliation and filibustering, to the Cornhusker kickback to the Louisiana Purchase (the Obamacare version) to voting in a lame duck session prior to Scott Brown's swearing in to the senate to vote against Obamacare, politics come before governance.  The evidence is in.

But president Obama cannot say that this has been an anti-incumbency election.  He himself said that his policies were on the ballot.  He's also said that elections have consequences. A & B inevitably mean C - the results of this election were a consequence of his policies.

He can't blame it on an ill-informed or jaded electorate.  Voters saw more advertising in this cycle than most expected.  And the Democrats had a vaunted Get Out The Vote machine they deployed to help them win.  Without that who knows how badly the Democrats would have been beaten.

HE can\t blame it on electoral math.  True the Democrats had to defend red states.  But the Democrats previously had won in those states.  HE lost it for them in those cases by driving Democrat-friendly voters away.  In addition, Republicans won governorships in 3 blue states.  The excuse just won't fly.

But it won't matter to him.  He has an agenda and it comes first.  I expect in private that the president was livid over the results.  And I suspect to see that seething anger in his actions going forward, despite the conciliatory tone he is likely to strike in minutes from now.

Election Recap - Senate summary

Highlights:  The race for control of the Senate was the big one to watch and the Republicans scored big, taking control of the Senate with a minimum of 52 seats in the 100 seat Congress, with the possibility of as many as 54 by the time all is said and done.  While the result wasn't a sweep, the GOP moved from a 45 seat minority to moving to control both the House and Senate.  That's a big deal.  Harry Reid can no longer run interference for president Obama and a number of bills will come across his desk that he never had to consider before.  He can't veto everything.  Things will have to change.

In  Colorado, Cory Gardner unseated Mark Udall.  It's a terrific pick-up for the GOP, ensuring the state's recent trend from Red to Purple does not maintain its momentum.

 In North Carolina: Thom Tillis defeated incumbent Kay Hagan in a hotly contested race and one the Democrats fully expected to successfully defend.  This race was practically called for Hagan early on but Tillis votes kept pouring in and it was a sweet pick-up for the Republicans.

In Iowa Republican  woman Joni Ernst defeated Bruce Braley.  I expect her to shine in the next six years and her victory should help kill the Democratic meme that the GOP have been waging a war on women.

In Kansas, Republican incumbent Pat Roberts survived a challenge from supposedly independent Gregg Orman. While Roberts was expected to struggle, holding on was an important hold for the GOP given the tight margins for control of the senate. Combined with Capito's win in West Virginia the war on women meme should die the death it deserves.

In Georgia, not surprisingly Republican Perdue Defeated Democrat Michelle Nunn, but perhaps a little surprising was the margin of victory.  His win was big enough to avoid a runoff election.

In New Hampshire, Democrat Shaheen fended off Scott Brown but the race was a lot closer than many expected and if I were Scott Brown, I would consider not hanging up my spurs and trying to run at Shaheen again in six years after more firmly planting my stake in New Hampshire.

In Kentucky, supposedly vulnerable Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell trounced the Democrat Grimes. Enough said.

In less clear results,  Alaska has not yet been called but at last count the Republican challenger was ahead of incumbent Begich.  And in Louisiana, the Republicans split their vote, resulting in the need for a runoff election where incumbent Mary Landrieu faces a very tough challenge to hold onto her seat  come January.

And finally in the unexpected race in Virginia, incumbent Democrat Warner and Republican, challenger Gillespie remain in a tight race.  This was probably the biggest surprise of the night and even if Gillespie loses the race was shockingly close and bodes well for future Republican efforts in that state.

All in all a terrific night for the GOP in the U.S. Senate.

Election Recap - Governorships summary

If you needed evidence that the Republican victories were a wave, you need look no further than the governorship races.  Going into the 2014 midterm elections the GOP had a sizable lead in the number of state governors they had (29-21 advantage over the Democrats).  In solidly blue states, enemy territory for Republicans, they made advances.  Illinois, Massachusetts and Maryland the GOP picked up governorships.  Mike Beebe picked up a win in Arkansas, another gain for the GOP in what has become a red state.

Election Recap - Congress summary

In the 2014 midterms all eyes were on the senate because it was kind of a big deal.  Meanhile, no one expected control of Congress to change.  It didn't unless you consider the GOP winning a bigger majority a change in control.  But really it's a change in the dynamic of Republican control and if you are a supporter of the GOP, it's a big change in the dynamic.

Via AP:

The GOP easily won the 218 seats required and was on track to match or surpass the 246 seats they held in President Harry S. Truman's administration more than 60 years ago. President Barack Obama will face an all-GOP Congress in his final two years as Republicans regained control of the Senate...

Democrats had a few bright spots, but their hopes of keeping losses to a minimum disappeared under the GOP onslaught...

Overall, the GOP gained 14 seats and counting; Democrats, just one.