VIDEO: The LePage-Cutler bromance blossoms
High-fives, hugs, applauding each other -- the hallmarks of a certified bromance, and yet, also of the Maine gubernatorial debates, thanks to Governor LePage and Eliot Cutler's mutual admiration society. Indeed, in response to a question last night about whether he'd sign a bill raising the governor's pay, Cutler gushed "not mine, but I'd increase... Paul's!" Swoon.
VIDEO: A Fan-tastic Collapse, As Told By Local News
You've probably heard about Rick Scott's #Fantrum by now. So has everyone in Florida with a TV. In case you…
VIDEO: Scott Walker: Working for the Kochs, Not For Wisconsin
Scott Walker made both local and national headlines yesterday when he bluntly stated that his opinion is that the minimum wage "serves no purpose." Thousands of minimum wage workers across Wisconsin would probably disagree with that assertion. But Scott Walker isn't looking out for them -- he's looking out for the Koch brothers and his other wealthy allies.
Rick Scott Delays Debate Over A Fan
At tonight's Florida gubernatorial debate, incumbent Republican Governor Rick Scott delayed - and nearly refused to participate in - tonight's debate because of the presence of a regular old fan. We here at American Bridge were stunned (like just about everyone else in the country following the debate). So we tried to come up with a list of reasons why Scott could have been so afraid of a fan. Here's our best college try:
Top 7 Reasons Rick Scott Could Have Been Afraid of a Fan
1. They're so distracting
2. They're hard to hold onto
3. TOO MUCH BREEZE
The Massachusetts Outsourcers Vs. The New Hampshire Voters
Scott Brown's lackluster campaign is always in need of a lift. Maybe they're hoping for a car elevator kind of lift. That's right, Might Romney's coming back to town! Brown has truly bear-hugged Mitt Romney in this campaign, and it makes sense if you think about it. Sure, Romney lost New Hampshire decisively in 2012, but him and Scott Brown have striking similarities: Two proud Bay Staters who have yielded huge profits from their roles at outsourcing companies. Scott Brown says he won't create one job in New Hampshire. But if you want to create jobs overseas, you can't beat the Brown/Romney tag team!
Maine students react to LePage's student loan plan (VIDEO)
Tonight, Governor Paul LePage will participate in his third gubernatorial debate, and if last week's debates were any indication, LePage will once again trumpet his plan to address the student loan debt crisis: selling student loans to employers. LePage also raised this proposal on Monday during an appearance at the University of Maine, where students were on fall break at the time. Perhaps if he'd had the event when students were actually on campus, they would have told him what several USM students told American Bridge: it's a singularly "bad idea" to sell student loans to employers in exchange for a tax credit.
VIDEO: Shady Rick: What's He Hiding?
As Shady Rick Scott approaches his second debate today, let's take a look at his latest fiasco. A recent lawsuit claims Scott failed to disclose more than $200 million in assets on his tax returns. TWO HUNDRED MILLION. It's not just a legal issue. It's an ethical issue, one regarding transparency and conflicts of interests. Rick Scott has already proven that he's not above making decisions as governor that would be of personal financial benefit. Just look at this headline: Gov. Scott had stake in pipeline firm whose $3 billion venture he and his appointees backed.
One Rauner Hour Equals Two Years Of Minimum Wage Work (VIDEO)
Good news: billionaire Bruce Rauner finally released last year's tax returns. Bad news: they only serve to further emphasize just how out-of-touch he truly is. Rauner made an astounding $30,000 per HOUR last year. To put that in context, it would take a full-time minimum wage worker in Illinois almost two years to earn what Bruce Rauner earns in 60 minutes.
VIDEO: Speaker Tillis, The Divider
Yesterday, it came to light that Speaker Tillis believes that state and federal governments, driven by Democrats, have effectively paid "de facto reparations" by redistributing "trillions of dollars over the years." This is just the latest in a string of offensive comments and comes on the heels of offering this lovely advice to minimum wage workers in last week's debate: "Get educated, as I did."
The Company You Keep… Allen West Endorses Joni Ernst
You can tell a lot about a person by the people they associate themselves with. For Joni Ernst, her cavalry just got even more extreme. Ernst has already credited the Koch brothers with starting her trajectory, said she was "flattered' to be compared to Sarah Palin, trumpeted Glenn Beck's conspiracy theory, and now she's earned the adoration of Allen West, who just cut this spot endorsing her. In case you're not familiar with Allen West, here are a couple of lovely quotes that highlight his worldview, though this is just the tip of the iceberg:
- "When I see anyone with an Obama bumper sticker, I recognize them as a threat to the gene pool."
- "So I’m here as the modern-day Harriet Tubman to kind of lead people on the Underground Railroad away from that plantation [of the Democratic Party]"
- On Social Security benefits: "So once again we are creating the sense of economic dependence which, to me is a form of modern, 21st-century slavery."