Introduction: Surprise, its been a political week.
In the midst of it all, I wonder who heard this morning's news? That ISIS confirmed their 2nd in command, Abu Muhummad Al-Adnani, was killed by U.S. Military in a precision strike yesterday?
I will confess that the political schedule I have given myself is challenging. A 5:30am start to have coffee and pray with Mary. Watch Fox News, CNN & MSNBC to get the political spin on today's antics. Do a fair days work. Close with BBC, PBN, Local news, and the same three cable channels for the days update. Time on Sunday to get the weeks review. Praise God for prayer and and the many mentors I have who keep me in sound mind. Please pray that I will keep my sense of humor.
Update: Over the last three weeks FiveThirtyEight's forecast has moved: From Clinton 78.4% to Clinton 73.0%
The media continues to hold center stage. I remain convinced that their reporting is geared to glue their respective audiences to their channels. Leaning liberal if that suits them best. I argue that they look for the most sensational negativity they can find including; Trump's use of a teleprompter and his new campaign team; The AP report on the Clinton Foundation and additional emails; Trump's position on immigration; Clinton's Reno attack on Trump; Trump calling Clinton a bigot; Bannon alt-right critique; Duke supporting Trump; Trump going to Mexico; if its negative it is in play!
Sensationalism of the week: CNN: Clinton lead cut in half: Fact: L.A. Times/USC National Poll: Monday 29 August: Tie
Actual change: Florida: Clinton down: From 4.5 to 2.7: Clinton (last week) 312 (this week) 283
I defy anyone to develop a clear opinion on the facts facing this country by listening to Cable media.
Data: We have created three apolitical web pages that provide accurate information on where the race stands.
i) Electoral map: Can Trump Get 270 Electoral Votes
The map is updated each Tuesday evening with cumulative poll data from Real Clear Politics.
Latest Projection: Trump 155: Clinton 283 (excluding states where spread is too close to call)
ii) Trend Analysis: Road to The Presidency
The trend table has 13 rows. One for each week leading up to the election.
Latest Trend: Clinton winning: Dropped from 76.1% to 73.0% in the last week.
iii) Swing States: Analysis of Swing States
This page has the same table as the national prediction, 16 battleground states representing 200 electoral votes.
Pages include links to Real Clear Politics, and FiveThirty Eight, for those looking to dig deeper.
Editorial Opinion
Trump meets with Mexican President Pana Nieto later today. He goes on to speak in Arizona to clarify his position on Immigration. The media, depending where they stand, are embracing this, slating this, or watching to see what happens. Sensibility says that we can not round up 11 million people and truck them out of the country. Sensibility says that you can not build a physical wall and have Mexico agree to pay for it. Sensibility also says that this was Trumps play to win the Republican primary, and he will have to shift to a more moderate position to appeal to a broader coalition. The polls will soon tell us where this is going. I have stopped listening to media speculation and allegations of flip-flop. Pointless!
Clinton continues to take heat as more emails drip out. 30 more allegedly include Benghazi today. Allegations of Clinton Foundation pay to play, while she served as Secretary of State, abound. I am troubled when the two are linked together. No one can dispute the foolishness of Clinton's decision to host a private emails server. Clinton email hunting season has clearly been extended indefinitely.
No one can dispute that the Clinton Foundation has raised a lot of money that has saved the lives on many people in Africa. I sincerely hope that the Foundation will not bow to political optics. In particular that they can find a way for this money printing foundation (what all past President's do) - will continue to leverage the super rich - who may not give 10% as a tithe - but will give more to be seen in the company of the most powerful. This behavior and its potential to be seen as pay to play has been with for as long as there have been super rich being willingness to pay to be seen in the company of the super powerful. There are millions in Africa living today because of this.
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