NEWS AND OPINION:
It could be a record: Between Monday and Friday this week, there will be 18 fundraisers in a dozen states for Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton’s campaign. Sometimes she appears in person, sometimes former President Bill Clinton is there on her behalf; even former Clinton adviser James Carville is joining in the effort.
So let’s see. On Monday, the busy Mrs. Clinton attended events in Washington D.C. and Maryland, on Wednesday she’s in Iowa, Thursday it’s off to New York, and Friday she’ll be in Missouri and Oklahoma. Her travels, incidentally, also include four town hall meetings and a factory tour along the way. The potential “first gentleman” will also be at work: Mr. Clinton appeared Monday in Rhode Island and North Carolina, then it’s on to Pennsylvania Thursday. On Friday, his itinerary includes Illinois and Indiana. Mr. Carville visits Florida on Tuesday.
Democratic primary rival Sen. Bernard Sanders of Vermont will have none of it — and cannily campaigns off the big-money aura of the Clinton camp.
“Here’s the truth: Backed by almost one million contributions, we raised more money last FEC fundraising quarter than every Republican campaign, and just as much as Hillary Clinton,” Mr. Sanders notes in his latest message to fans.
“Our campaign is funded by people who have had enough of corrupt billionaires and super PACs buying our elections. The political media thinks we’re naive for taking this approach. But we will prove them wrong.”
THE POWER OF METTLE
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“The answer to terror is tougher citizens, not tougher government. In light of the recent attacks, we should remember our heritage and apply it today. Tough citizens don’t give government more power in a crisis. They know that government cannot always be there to protect them. Police and bureaucrats didn’t stop the hijackers of Flight 93 on September 11, the shoe-bomber later that December, the underwear bomber in 2009, or the Thalys train attacker this year. Neither did thicker cockpit doors or ineffective TSA screening. These acts of terrorism were stopped by ordinary citizens.”
— Op-ed by Paul Mueller, assistant professor of economics, and Steele Brand, assistant professor of history, both at The King’s College in New York City, in USA Today.
WHY COLLEGE TUITION IS OUT OF CONTROL
A comprehensive new report from the Chronicle of Higher Education offers a window into the ever-expanding, ever more expensive campus. Using Department of Education data and other sources, the Chronicle analysis finds that the median compensation for chief executives at private colleges in the U.S. is now $436,429 a year; 32 of those presidents earn over $1 million. Columbia University’s Lee Bollinger tops the list at $4.6 million annually.
Among public colleges, the median compensation for presidents is $428,000. Penn State’s Rodney A. Erickson was the highest paid, earning just over $1.4 million last year.
A 90-MINUTE ’SOCIAL OCCASION’
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“When their schedules permit, President Obama and Secretary Hillary Clinton enjoy the opportunity to catch up in person. This afternoon they met privately for an informal lunch here at the White House for about an hour and a half. They discussed a wide array of topics, but this was mostly a social occasion.”
— From the White House pool report issued on Monday, as filed by Chris Johnson of the Washington Blade.
WEARY OF MASS MURDER COVERAGE
The public appears to be either weary or leery of the news media’s obsession with violent, extreme events. A new Rasmussen Reports survey finds that 47 percent of Americans believe the press covers mass murders too much, while a mere 12 percent say the media don’t cover mass murders enough. A more forgiving 33 percent say the level of coverage is “about right.”
The survey of 1,000 U.S. adults was conducted on December 2-3.
EVEN THE ADVISERS GET SOME DEBATE ACTION
The 2016 campaign grows ever more expansive. These days there are presidential debates, and then there are, well, presidential adviser debates. Americans for Tax Reform and the Conservative Reform Network have organized a “presidential campaign debate” focused on the need for tax policies appropriate for today’s economy. In this case, however, representatives for five Republican hopefuls are facing off rather than the candidates themselves.
On behalf of the Jeb Bush camp, it’s Danny Heil; for Sen. Ted Cruz, it’s Harold Furchtgott-Roth. Kerry Knott appears for Gov. John Kasich, while Steve Moore will represent Sen. Rand Paul. And it’s Jonny Slemrod there on behalf of Sen. Marco Rubio.
POLL DU JOUR
• 64 percent of Americans say the U.S. military response to the Islamic State has not been aggressive enough; 90 percent of Republicans, 66 percent of independents and 52 percent of Democrats agree.
• 64 percent overall disapprove of the way President Obama is handling the Islamic State threat; 93 percent of Republicans, 70 percent of independents and 31 percent of Democrats agree.
• 60 percent overall disapprove of the way Mr. Obama is handling terrorism; 91 percent of Republicans, 64 percent of independents and 26 percent of Democrats agree.
• 60 percent overall say U.S. military action against the Islamic State is going “badly”; 81 percent of Republicans, 62 percent of independents and 40 percent of Democrats agree.
• 53 percent overall favor sending U.S. ground troops to combat the Islamic State; 75 percent of Republicans, 49 percent of independents and 39 percent of Democrats agree.
Source: A CNN/ORC poll of 1,020 U.S. adults conducted Nov. 27-Dec. 1.
• Doggerel and caterwaul to jharper@washingtontimes.com.
• Jennifer Harper can be reached at jharper@washingtontimes.com.
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