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A potential Bernie Sanders-Donald Trump debate – and wouldn’t that be worth watching – got its own hashtag on Twitter, while Democratic warrior Bob Mulholland took Sanders to task. That led us to recall the 1992 tale of Seventh Veil. We glance at one source of Sanders’ financial support, welcome the Memorial Day weekend, observe Sen. Orrin Hatch’s embarrassing Merrick Garland belly flop. Let’s rumble.
Take that
No stranger to close races involving women, Democratic National Committee member Bob “ChicoBob” Mulholland emailed an open letter chastising Sen. Bernie Sanders for being dismissive of Sen. Barbara Boxer, who was “verbally attacked and physically confronted” by Sanders’ supporters in Las Vegas earlier this month.
Mulholland accused Sanders of having campaign manager Jeff Weaver “imply that Senator Barbara Boxer was lying about fearing for her safety.”
“Why,” he asked, “do men like you dismiss it when a woman says she felt threatened?”
We old-timers will recall that in 1992, Mulholland came to the aid of Boxer in her first Senate campaign by confronting her challenger, conservative television personality Bruce Herschensohn. At a stop in Chico, Mulholland declared: “Should the voters of California elect someone who frequently travels the strip joints of Hollywood? Can you answer that, yes or no?” Evidently, Herschensohn had gone to the Seventh Veil, a Sunset Boulevard strip club.
Mulholland, who is backing Hillary Clinton, concluded the letter to Sanders by recalling how hard Democrats worked to elect Boxer in 1992, “and I don’t remember any help from you.” Then again, it’s hard to imagine Sanders going undercover at the Seventh Veil.
Take a number: $4.355 million
National Nurses United’s super PAC has spent $4.355 million and counting to help Bernie Sanders defeat Hillary Clinton.
“He is going to win the last states,” predicts RoseAnn DeMoro, executive director of the union that includes the California Nurses Association. What if Sanders and the nurses fall short? “Clinton is not going to be an easy sell” to her organization or other Sanders backers. “It’s a very volatile situation right now. It should be Bernie. There will be a revolt if it’s not Bernie.” Or perhaps another candidate. If Sanders somehow loses the nomination, DeMoro could envision a Joe Biden-Elizabeth Warren ticket in a brokered convention.
Our take
Editorial: Angelique Ashby and Darrell Steinberg are playing by the rules. But voters should be aware of the special interests backing them with lots of cash.
Editorial: As the mercury rises, being safe on the rivers will be a little easier this year. HT Swabbies Restaurant & Bar.
Dan Walters: California’s cap-and-trade carbon emission system may be failing.
Julie Flapan and Andrea Deveau: California needs a plan for computer science classes.
Their take
Sen. Orrin Hatch writes in The Deseret News what he thought of his meeting with Merrick Garland. Oddly, Hatch had not yet met with Garland. The Deseret News published the op-ed prematurely, then took it down. But nothing ever disappears from the inter-web. Remarkable. On multiple counts.
The San Francisco Chronicle says Californians deserve more than a succession of rallies, photo opportunities and fundraisers from a major presidential candidate. Looking at you, Hillary Clinton.
The Redding Record Searchlight says the Obama administration’s rigid policy on housing does not help the homeless. To the contrary, people in need of housing get kicked out.
The Los Angeles Times says presidential candidates are ducking climate change. It’s much easier to spew platitudes, level silly attacks, and overpromise.
The Mercury News in San Jose says House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy claims to be supportive of Silicon Valley, but not on the issues that matter: net neutrality, immigration and support for LGBT workers.
Mike Madrid in Fox & Hounds praises Sen. Holly Mitchell’s bill to rein in asset forfeiture, SB 443.
Syndicates take
Michael Gerson: Syrian fire will continue to burn.
Charles Krauthammer: The arrow of history.
Dana Milbank: Paul Ryan’s soap opera with Donald Trump.
Gail Collins: Memorial Day weekend ranting.
Nicholas Kristof: Sore, happy feet on Pacific Crest Trail.
Tweet of the day
Mark Halperin @MarkHalperin: Just now on #WADR: @BernieSanders campaign manager Jeff Weaver re @realdonaldtrump debate: “We hope he does not chicken out.”
The Take renews its promise to use all its clout to secure prominent seats for RoseAnn DeMoro, as you read first in The Take.
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