Saturday News: President Obama Talks About the Sorry State of American Politics; "J.C. Penney becomes laugh line in Virginia Senate"

by Lowell

Here are a few national and Virginia news headlines, political and otherwise, for Saturday, February 13. Also see President Obama's weekly address, in which he talks about the current, toxic state of American politics.

• Trump and Cruz Trade Punches as South Carolina Turns Fierce
• The sexist double standards hurting Hillary Clinton ("A subtle, even unconscious misogyny is dragging down her campaign.")
• Actions by two Democratic groups could mean huge financial benefit for Clinton
• Bewildered by 2016 race, George W. Bush to return to the trail to boost Jeb (It's scary, but at this point, given how insane, extreme and downright NASTY the current GOP field is, I'm almost looking back on Dubya with a bit of nostalgia. Almost.)
• Clinton seeks to shore up black support in South Carolina
• Trump's potty mouth meets mannerly South Carolina
• The brainwashed rebels of the Bundy siege: Why something like this was eventually bound to happen ("In a conservative bubble that encourages conspiracy theories and violence impulses, it was only a matter of time")
• Jim Gilmore ends presidential bid (Yaaaaaaawn.)
• Madeleine Albright: My Undiplomatic Moment ("I should know better than to tell a group of women to go to hell. But the sentiment behind my statement is true: Women need to help one another.")
• MSNBC's Rachel Maddow: "The Ted Cruz Campaign Has A New Test" Following Ted Nugent's Anti-Semitic Facebook Post
• Fox Guest: "Blacks Should No More Vote For Hillary or Bernie Than They Should The Grand Wizard Of The KKK" (This network is demented.)
• Abortion-banning bill carried over to 2017
• Senate OKs exemption on same-sex marriage (Charming. What next, an exemption for other forms of bigotry?)
• Hospital reform bill survives voice vote
• Lawmakers kill bill that would have required recording of closed meetings
• Jennifer Herrera: Shocking deal from NRA, McAuliffe ("Jennifer Herrera is the Virginia chapter leader of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America.")
• J.C. Penney becomes laugh line in Virginia Senate
• Potomac oil spill came from Dominion, utility admits
• Terry McAuliffe is mastering the art of making deals ("The Virginia governor made a deal to get I-66 widened and tolled.")
• Frank Wagner bill to change Hampton Roads gas tax passes Senate
• Scott Taylor: McAuliffe was lobbied to draw Randy Forbes into Rigell's district
• Virginia NAACP director says Lucas's concerns with Democratic Party are valid (I thought it was just Saslaw, and he clearly needs to go. If it's broader than that, anyone with these kind of attitudes should be gone, immediately; no place for it in the Democratic Party.)
• Senate backs HRVA gas tax increase; House works on tolling plan instead
• Our view: Why are Roanoke Democrats voting in February?
• Atlantic Coast Pipeline to propose new route to avoid sensitive areas of national forests (Just ditch the entire idea, it's idiotic.)
• Bone-chilling wind today and still very cold on Sunday; Some snow likely on Monday

Hillary Clinton Asked If She's "Terrified" By The Thought of President Palin

Good answer by Secretary of State Clinton, although a more accurate one would be "yes, we should all be terrified at the thought of Sarah Palin getting anywhere near the White House."

Mo Elleithee on "Game Change" Revelations: Hillary Clinton "deserves better than that" (UPDATED)

Former Hillary Clinton for President senior spokesman and traveling press secretary Mo Elleithee comments on attacks by his fellow Clinton staffers in the new book "Game Change" by authors John Heilemann and Mark Halperin.

1. Working for Hillary Clinton was one of the greatest honors of my career. I was proud of her as a candidate, and I’m proud of the job she’s doing as Secretary of State.

2. Unfortunately, she wasn’t served well by too many people on the campaign. We were a campaign that was mired by self-serving back-biting, and it appears that hasn’t changed. She deserves better than that.

Elleithee's comments are admirable, but they are also in sharp contrast to what other Clinton staffers had to say. As Politico writes, "The staffers and politicians who served as the anonymous sources for 'Game Change' reveal a deeply unflattering image through the eyes of the people who should admire Hillary Clinton most." In contrast, Mo Elleithee continues to admire Hillary Clinton greatly, believes she is an "an amazing woman, an amazing public servant, an amazing Secretary of State," and add that "while I fully support President Obama, I still think she would have made a great President."

Unfortunately for the Clintons, loyalty like Mo Elleithee's apparently is not common among their former staffers. Sad.

UPDATE: Peter Daou also defends Hillary, making two loyal former Clinton for President staffers. Do I hear three? :)

UPDATE #2: "Draft Hillary" founder and former Clinton campaign staffer (including as a top assistant to Patty Solis Doyle) Adam Parkhomenko weighs in as well.

Mo and Peter are right on. Working for Hillary and Patti Solis Doyle for 6 years was the greatest experience I have ever had. They were two of the most amazing individuals and I am glad I had the opportunity to work with them as well as Mo and Peter. Unfortunately there were a few bad apples that both ruined the campaign and continue to trash talk Hillary in the press (although I am sure they are just the opposite when they see her in person.) If they really believe this crap they are saying why are they so scared to go on the record?

UPDATE #3: Adam Parkhomenko adds on his Facebook page:

To suggest that Patti is the source for 80% of the book’s reporting on Hillary is comical. Over the course of the reporting for the book, the authors talked to a lot of people with very close ties to the Clinton world, and a lot of people dished. It is tragic that the same people responsible for many of the leaks over the past several years have chosen to use Patti as their foil. I guess it goes with the territory.