Me: *checks my computer for unfinished stuff for this blog*

The unfinished stuff for this blog:

New Post has been published on https://thebiafrastar.com/senate-dems-on-hillary-clinton-2020-absolutely-not/

Senate Dems on Hillary Clinton 2020: 'Absolutely not'

In fact, in the unlikely event that Clinton took a last-minute plunge into the primary, she might struggle to win the backing of any Democrats from a chamber in which she served for eight years.

Clinton has plenty of good will in the 47-member Democratic Caucus. Most of them like and respect her for her service and still smart over her 2016 loss to Trump. But the sentiment that her time has passed is one shared by moderates and liberals alike.

“I don’t think it would be good for her,” said Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.). “She’s been through this war once. The Republicans have made a target out of her for 30 years and she’s still going to [be] that same target. I just think it would be tough.”

“That would be a mistake,” said Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.). Asked to expand, he repeated: “That would be a mistake.”

“Absolutely not,” said Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.).

Philippe Reines, Clinton’s longtime aide and adviser, doesn’t see things that way. On Fox News this week, he declined to rule out a Clinton bid and said that “there might be a reason that she’d be the best person” to take on Trump and govern in the aftermath. But he also acknowledged she’d have to win a crowded primary, a difficult endeavor.

Clinton herself invited the scrutiny, jokingly replying “don’t tempt me” when Trump tweeted that Clinton should take on Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) for the nomination. Meeting the fundraising and polling thresholds to qualify for the debates likely wouldn’t be a problem. And she’s already shown a willingness to mix it up with at least one other candidate — having swiped at Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii) as being backed by the Russians.

But most of her Democratic allies don’t take the buzz seriously and say they are happy with the field as it is, despite griping by some in the establishment about the current roster of Democrat.

“We have a lot of really fantastic candidates out there already. Let’s leave it at that,” said Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii).

Democrats also don’t believe Clinton herself has any real interest in being a candidate again. Her political career has been a grueling one: First Lady of Arkansas, First Lady of the United States, U.S. senator, secretary of State and presidential nominee.

“I can sort of see the expression on her face, of sort of disbelief and dismissal,” said Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) on Clinton seeing reports that she might make a third run for president. “It’s just my instinct that there’s no way she wants to go through this meat grinder again.”

In 2013, every female Democratic senator signed on to a letter to Clinton encouraging her to run for the presidency. By 2015, most of the caucus had coalesced behind Clinton, cutting off oxygen to any potential opponents. Only one Democratic senator, Jeff Merkley of Oregon, ended up endorsing Clinton’s primary opponent, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.).

Clinton’s coronation by the party establishment left many Democrats feeling burned, particularly after she ended up losing to Trump. And today’s landscape couldn’t be more different.

“It’s hard to know whether the world has passed on or not,” said Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.). “I’m a friend of hers and I’m extraordinarily fond of her. But that’s a factor.”

There are a half-dozen Democratic senators currently running for the nomination. And former Vice President Joe Biden already has a bloc of senators and congressmen backing him, including Feinstein. Candidates like Andrew Yang and Pete Buttigieg offer options from outside the Beltway.

None of that would change if Clinton got in.

“I can’t imagine that [Clinton] would want to get back in the race,” said Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), who said she prefers candidates from the middle of the country. “If she wants to, then she goes through the same process as everyone else. And we’ll see what she says in the debates.”

What is true is that many in the party are anxious about what lies ahead. The House is plunging into impeachment, the Senate will have to hold a trial and Democratic voters have a long way to go in pruning the field of presidential contenders.

Yet Democrats largely believe that reaching back into 2016, when Clinton handily won the popular vote but lost the Electoral College to Trump, isn’t the antidote for the party’s current plight. It would shake up the race, but perhaps not in a good way.

“I just want to make sure we want to stay united. There are good people that are running. I can support any one of them,” said Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.).

“The field is somewhat set,” added Sen. Doug Jones (D-Ala.), shaking his head when asked if Clinton should reconsider. “I think we need to move forward.”

New Post has been published on https://thebiafrastar.com/wales-v-england-eddie-jones-calls-for-side-to-be-absolutely-brutal/

Wales v England: Eddie Jones calls for side to be 'absolutely brutal'

Eddie Jones got the ball in hand at an event to announce England’s Rugby World Cup squad on Monday

World Cup warm-up: Wales v England Venue:Principality Stadium, CardiffDate:Saturday, 17 AugustKick-off:14:15 BST Coverage:Live on BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru, plus live text commentary

Coach Eddie Jones has told England they need to be ‘absolutely brutal’ if they want to make it back-to-back Rugby World Cup warm-up wins over Wales.

The two teams meet in Cardiff on Saturday, six days after England ran out 33-19 winners at Twickenham.

“We just need to be absolutely brutal around the tackle and the contest on the ground,” said Jones, whose side open up against Tonga on 22 September.

“If we’re good in that area, we’re in a good position to win the game.”

Wales inflicted a 21-13 defeat on Jones’ side in February on their way to a Grand Slam and the Australian is wary of the atmosphere that the hosts’ matches against their oldest international rivals can generate.

“We know that Wales are going to bring all that emotion and pride,” he added.

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Watch: All the tries as England beat Wales convincingly

“We’re playing against a certain opposition that play a certain way so we want to be able to handle their tactics and be able to adapt and find a way to win.”

Flanker Lewis Ludlam has retained his place in England’s back row after making his debut in last weekend’s win, while wing Ruaridh McConnochie will win his first cap, provided he comes through a late fitness test.

McConnochie in doubt for Wales debut

How to follow the World Cup warm-ups on BBC Sport

“The young players having done so well last week has really lifted everyone,” added Jones.

“From a selection point of view, [we need] players being able to back up and perform game on game.”

The match will be the last time the teams meet before potentially being reunited in either the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals or final.

Gatland promises improvement from Wales

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Gatland expects Wales improvement in Cardiff

Wales coach Warren Gatland has made only three changes from the team beaten at Twickenham last weekend but warned his players that a repeat of that sub-par performance could cost them a starting spot in Japan.

The visitors were 14 points down in as many minutes at Twickenham as they leaked early tries from Billy Vunipola and Joe Cokanasiga.

Davies brothers: Reluctant roomies, Wales team-mates

England defeat can help Wales – Jamie Roberts

Hadleigh Parkes column: Consoling Anscombe and bouncing back

“It’s easy enough to make a lot of changes, but some of the players would have been disappointed with last weekend, and particularly that first 20 minutes,” Gatland said.

“There is a lot of pressure on those guys on the weekend, because if some of them don’t front and don’t perform, they are opening the door for someone else.

“We will be a lot better. We were pretty relaxed on Sunday. We play our best when we are on edge mentally.”

Josh Adams, Liam Williams and Jonathan Davies, all of whom started Wales 21-13 win in February, are in the Wales line-up

The most significant change to Wales starting XV is the return of Dan Biggar at fly-half after first-choice 10 Gareth Anscombe was ruled out of the Rugby World Cup with knee ligament damage.

Biggar will win his 72nd cap but will be starting only his second international match of 2019 as Gatland attempts to rework his gameplan a little over five weeks before their World Cup opener against Georgia.

‘Wales won’t win the World Cup with Biggar’

Elsewhere flanker James Davies comes in to join brother and Scarlets team-mate Jonathan Davies in the side. They are the first brothers to play alongside each other for Wales since Jamie and Nicky Robinson in 2006.

Four-way fight for top spot

After missing out on the chance to take top spot in the world rankings last weekend, Wales will climb to the summit of the international game for the first time if they beat England on Saturday.

However if England manage to win by 15 points or more, something they last did in Cardiff in 2003, they would become the world’s number one team.

Reigning world champions New Zealand will only maintain their near decade-long hold of top spot if they win their Bledisloe Cup decider against Australia earlier in the day and England win by less than 15 points or draw with Wales.

The All Blacks could fall as low as sixth in the rankings if results go against them.

Ireland, who are not in action this weekend, are the fourth team who could top the world rankings on Monday. However Joe Schmidt’s side would need New Zealand to fail to beat Australia and England and Wales to draw in Cardiff.

World Rugby’s full breakdown of this weekend’s ranking ramifications

Wales:L Williams; North, Jonathan Davies, Parkes, Adams; Biggar, G Davies; Smith, Owens, Francis, Ball, AW Jones, Wainwright, James Davies, Moriarty.

Replacements:Dee, W Jones, Lewis, Shingler, Navidi, A Davies, Evans, Watkin.

England:Daly; McConnochie, Joseph, Francis, Cokanasiga; Ford, Heinz; Genge, Cowan-Dickie, Cole, Launchbury, Itoje, Lawes, Ludlam, B Vunipola.

Replacements:George, Marler, Sinckler, Kruis, Singleton, Youngs, Farrell, Tuilagi