Twenty Twenty Update: Money Matters

The mother's milk of consultants, spinmeisters, pollsters, and those that love them has the punditocracy all squirming for a teat this week.

But maybe we should consider impeachment first?

Americans are about evenly split over impeaching President Donald Trump and removing him from office, as support for that move has risen among independents and Republicans, according to a new CNN poll conducted by SSRS after the announcement of a formal impeachment inquiry by House Democrats last week.

About half, 47%, support impeaching the President and removing him from office, up from 41% who felt that way in a CNN poll in May. The current level matches the high point for impeaching Trump in previous CNN polling -- 47% said they felt that way in September 2018.

New CBS poll:

55 percent of Americans -- a solid majority -- approve of the decision to open an impeachment inquiry.

And a plurality, 42-36, say Trump deserves to be impeached over the Ukraine matter.https://t.co/51DRxi602r pic.twitter.com/eD8LenhrLk

— Greg Sargent (@ThePlumLineGS) September 29, 2019

Indeed the tide and the sea has changed, quickly, and continues to do so even as this is blogged.  And we'll wait to see if the next debate spends too much time talking about it, at the expense of -- in my and Ted Rall's opinion -- more important topics.

-- With respect to Cory Booker and Julian Castro, the two candidates who threatened to leave us last week if they didn't meet their cash targets ...

(Booker) raised more than $6 million over the last three months, with a third of that coming in the past 10 days after he warned he would have to drop out of the Democratic presidential race if he didn't take in more cash by Monday's fundraising deadline.

Despite that flood of money, Booker says he still needs more. His campaign is pressing donors to contribute $3 million in the month of October alone to help cover a budget they predict will surpass $7 million for the final quarter of the year.

So the "Going Out of Business" sale will last at least another thirty days.

"I think that was unfortunately hyperbolic writing in a fundraising email."@JulianCastro's CM @MayaRupert shot down reports that it'll be the end of Castro's campaign if he doesn't qualify for the November debates https://t.co/cWPnNX3z3Y via @CBSNews

— Alexandra Samuels (@AlexSamuelsx5) October 1, 2019

Psyche, all you Castro donors.

-- Something's Berning.

Amazing job, @BernieSanders supporters:

🐦 More than $25.3 million raised this quarter

🐦 From 1.4 million donations

🐦 All grassroots funded. No begging powerful people for money at closed-door fundraisers

A lot of people counted you out. But they should not underestimate us

— Tim Tagaris (@ttagaris) October 1, 2019

Somebodies don't like it.

Bernie raises $25.3 million, more than anyone of any Qtr.

MSNBC can't handle it.

On-screen graphic shows $24.3 million

Talking head says, "24 million"#MSNBCisFOXNEWS pic.twitter.com/ntTuan8B4a

— Working Class 👩🏿‍🏫 👷🏼‍♀️ 👨🏻‍🍳 👨🏽‍🔧 (@net_enforcer) October 1, 2019

These stories are one day apart. pic.twitter.com/fswinigRog

— pete buttigieg is a republican (@proustmalone) October 1, 2019

Bernie raises an extraordinary $25.3 million in the 3rd quarter of a crowded primary, while neoliberal darling Pete Buttigieg only raises $19.1 million. You'd think that @MSNBC would be hard-pressed to spin this, but no. They just lie. #FakeNewsIsReal pic.twitter.com/PrjcEZUilN

— elaine layabout is bro residue (@elainelayabout) October 1, 2019

Nate Silver is a joke 😂 https://t.co/rkbwZe4bTc

— David Doel (@daviddoel) October 1, 2019

Have we had enough of that?

Biden hasn't revealed his # yet but he told donors in LA last week he had 670k donations at $46 — which would translate to only $10.8 million in Q3.

But but but: Biden campaign official says that not "full picture."

So what is?

Campaign wouldn't say.https://t.co/GXUhjxnvYn

— Shane Goldmacher (@ShaneGoldmacher) October 2, 2019

-- That's enough obsessing over filthy lucre for me, but let's note this.

Schwarzman is worth $17 billion.

He would pay over $1.1 billion more in taxes under Bernie's plan to tax the extreme wealth of the top 0.1%.

Schwarzman also compared Obama to Hitler when he tried to close the carried interest loophole. Disgusting.https://t.co/2NKYrJIMc8 https://t.co/YLAUKpzFW3

— Warren Gunnels (@GunnelsWarren) October 2, 2019

Also note that all these people are Jewish, and we're in the middle of the High Holy Days.

This is why so many hard working, honest people are afraid to challenge real power in our country. #Bernie2020 is getting closer, & tonight @blackstone CEO Stephen #schwartzman made a not so subtle threat on his life. This is BEYOND unacceptable & should not be tolerated. Period. https://t.co/g44a4r8ot1

— Jen Perelman (@JENFL23) October 2, 2019

I just don't have any words.

-- Happening today:

Here’s the lineup for our #2020GunSafety Forum with @GiffordsCourage & @MSNBC:
10 AM PT @PeteButtigieg
10:30 @JulianCastro
11:00 @CoryBooker
11:30 @ewarren
Break
1:00 @JoeBiden
1:30 @BetoORourke
2:00 @amyklobuchar
2:45 @BernieSanders
3:15 @AndrewYang
3:45 @KamalaHarris
Tune in!! pic.twitter.com/3EMYsqXmYh

— March For Our Lives (@AMarch4OurLives) September 30, 2019

Note that the times listed are Pacific.  Underneath this is a tweet from Mark Charles requesting inclusion, and another listing the Libertarian potential nominees.  I'll leave that to your discovery.

-- Should we be surprised?

Dems seek lobbyist cash to fund Milwaukee convention

Ugh, this article does not make me love our power elites anymore... revolting bunch of entitled pricks... https://t.co/xwcbU3wpA5

— Daniel (@UvKLvr47) September 30, 2019

Another update on Friday, with more on the next debate.