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In the wake of her November election loss to Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton has found solace on Broadway. Every few weeks, it seems, a new story crops up detailing the Democrat's attendance at yet another play. Secretly snapped photos of her sitting in the audience make the rounds on Twitter, and,often, she receives a standing ovation.

"She's always been a strong supporter of the arts, so it doesn't surprise me that she'd want to spend her time this way," Heather Hitchens,president of theAmerican Theater Wing, told the New York Times recently. "The theater community is grateful for her presence."

Clinton's relationship with Broadway goes back years, watchingeverything from Avenue Q to You Can't Take It With You. She saw Hamilton before it got big and even benefited from a Broadway for Hillary fundraiser last October featuring Barbra Streisand, Lin-Manuel Miranda and Sarah Jessica Parker, among others.

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She's not the only politician who loves musicalsformer President Barack Obama is a big fan, and so is Vice President Mike Pence, who was booed and confronted by the Hamiltoncast when he caught a performance last year shortly after the Trump ticket won. But people have begun to take notice of the former first lady's frequent appearances.

"I need to get my hands on Hillary's Broadway touring schedule," theater fan and LGBT rights attorney Eric Lesh tweetedin January. "Hillary Clinton is my Broadway missed connection," community strategist Katie Minard added.

If you, like Doc McStuffinscreatorChris Nee, are "thinking of picking a Broadway show and seeing it every night until Hillary shows up," read on. Here's a list of what she's seenand whenover the past few months:

The Color Purple, Jan. 8

Clinton attended the revival's final show with her daughter and husband, the latter of whom exclaimed "Whoa!" when it ended, the Times reported.

The Humans, Jan. 15

Clinton and her husband stopped byGerald SchoenfeldTheatre to see the final matinee show and then had lunch with the producer, director and playwright, according to Broadway World.

In Transit, Feb. 1

Clinton spoke to cast and crew members at the Circle in the Square Theatre, saying, "We can't stop standing up for what we believe in and what we care about."

Sunset Boulevard, Feb. 15

She got to the Palace Theatre three minutes before showtime and happily took photos with supporters during intermission, according to Playbill.

War Paint, April 6

Clinton and aide Huma Abedin went to opening night at the Nederlander Theatre, and afterward star Patti LuPone told reporters she thought the former secretary of state "saw how much it was about women in power."LuPone pointed to one lyric as an example:"A woman scales the wall, climbs high above them all, and, oh, what gates of hell they put her through."

Waitress, June 8

On the same day fired FBI Director James Comey testified about his termination and the ongoing probe into Russia's role in the election, Clinton went to see singer Sara Bareilles at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre, according to the New YorkDaily News. She said she thought the show was funny.

Come From Away, June 19

Chelsea Clintonbrought her parents to see the show at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre, as co-writer David Hein posted on Facebook after the visit. "So many lines in the show resonated differentlyespecially the scene where passengers try to vote for a different destination and are told, 'This is not a democracy,'" Hein wrote. "And Hillary told us, 'This is a show that the world needs now.'"

Oslo, July 2

Clinton waved to a crowd chanting her name at the Lincoln Center Theater as she sat down with her husband, according to the Huffington Post.

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After Donald Trump Won, Hillary Clinton Went to Broadway: Here's Every Show She Saw - Newsweek

Hillary ClintonHillary Rodham ClintonComeys private memos on Trump conversations contained classified material Timeline: Donald Trump Jr.'s contact with Russian lawyer Ex-Bush ethics lawyer on Trump Jr: 'This borders on treason' MORE wants to play a role in next years midterm elections. Its just not clear yet what that role will be.

Clinton has already launched a PAC aimed at helping congressional Democratic candidates in 2018, signaling the former first lady, senator and secretary of State is ready to help her party with fundraising.

She also is looking at the House districts she won in last years presidential contest against Donald TrumpDonald TrumpTimeline: Donald Trump Jr.'s contact with Russian lawyer Ex-Bush ethics lawyer on Trump Jr: 'This borders on treason' Scaramucci defends Trump Jr. amid new report MORE as part of an autopsy of her failed campaign, according to two sources who have spoken to the former secretary of State.

She's very well aware of how she performed in those districts, said one longtime Clinton confidant who has spoken to the former Democratic nominee.

She knows she won Darrell Issa's district by 8, the confidant said, referring to the California Republican who is a top Democratic target. She knows she came close in about a handful of others. She has studied this stuff thoroughly.

Democrats are focused on the Golden State as they seek to win back the House majority.

Ellen Tauscher a Clinton ally and former California congresswoman along with a longtime aide Katie Merrill, have started a super PAC focused on seven of the so-called split districts in that state that voted for Clinton but backed a Republican candidate for the House.

Democrats are still mapping out a game plan for 2018 along with a message for their rudderless party. But another Clinton confidant said part of the plan might be to have Clinton campaign for candidates in the places where she won.

No one can argue that Clinton helping in those areas wouldn't be helpful, the confidant said. That is a priority for her.

If Clinton hits the campaign trail, Republicans are ready to pounce. They say they would welcome Clinton's presence on the stump because it would help GOP candidates.

"For 30 years, Hillary Clinton has essentially been Old Faithful for Republican candidates," said Doug Heye, a Republican strategist. "Her continued prominence only helps GOP candidates with an electorate that historically is more favorable than what they faced in the last presidential election.

"The more Clinton weighs in and tries to tell voters 'I'm baaaack,' the more Republicans will tell her to keep on trucking," Heye continued.

Still,Chris Lehane, a Democratic strategist, added that Clinton, could have a real voice in these places, absolutely.

She can go into those districts and make a case that there is an opportunity to do a course correction and do it in a fairly compelling way, Lehane said, particularly if Democrats strengthen their message and give voters a reason to vote for them.

In May, during a question and answer session at the Code Conference, an event focused on tech, media and politics,Clinton indicated her focus is on winning those House seats for her party.

Everything will change if we win in 2018, she said atthe conference.We have to flip 24 seats. I won 23 districts that have a Republican Congress member, seven of them are in California.

If we can flip those, if we can go deeper into where I did well, where we can get good candidates, I think flipping the House is certainly realistic. Its a goal that we can set for ourselves, she continued.

Republican-held House seats in districts Clinton won

Even staunch Clinton supporters say that while there is room for her to play a role, she also needs to leave room for new leaders to emerge.

Garry Mauro, a longtime friend of the Clintons who led Bill ClintonBill ClintonBill Clinton joins tribute to Alec Baldwin Hillary Clinton looks for her role in midterms Trump lawyers push dismissal of sexual harassment lawsuit MOREs 1992 campaign effort in Texas, thinks the House can be won with the help of the Longhorn state, where there are three split districts.

But he doesnt want Clinton to be front and center.

Would she be well received? Of course, she would be. But were not going to win these races because Barack ObamaBarack ObamaObama to host Dem fundraiser this week Lewandowski: Russian election meddling issue is officially dead Trump says Indonesia is a place Id like to go MORE, Michelle ObamaMichelle ObamaPoll: Melania Trumps approval rises as people get to know first lady Hillary Clinton looks for her role in midterms House dress code debate reignites amid hot D.C. summer MORE, Hillary Clinton or Nancy Pelosi comes to the state and campaigns, Mauro said. Were going to win it because we represent new leadership and new ideas.

I think Secretary Clinton has got to define her role in American politics and she can play a real role in helping the Democratic Party but we need new leadership, Mauro added. She can play a heck of a role. She just cant play the dominant role.

Republicans have signaled they intend to link every Democrat running for the House next year to longtime Democratic leader and former Speaker Pelosi (Calif.), arguing a vote for the local Democrat would put Pelosi in charge.

Its an argument many Democrats are wary of, as it was used successfully against Jon Ossoff the promising Democratic candidate who lost a special election in Georgia last month.

Merrill, who started Fight Back California together with Tauscher, said there is a role Clinton can play when it comes to driving turnout among Democrats and the ability to raise money for Democratic candidates.

Midterm elections are notorious for low turnout and the ability to raise money those are the two places Democrats will have trouble in the midterms, Merrill said, adding that Clinton could contribute by doing digital ads and social media outreach along with tapping into her vast Rolodex of donors.

But Merrill said the California races in particular are going to be won on local issues by talking to the voters about the records of the incumbents.

I think it would be a mistake for any campaign to nationalize these elections, she added. It cant be about Trump or the 2016 election. Its gotta be about these local issues.

Merrill said she expects Clinton to remain an active part of the Democratic Party.

I imagine shell only continue that level of activity, she said.

Read the original:
Hillary Clinton looks for her role in midterms - The Hill

The family and lawyers supporting former Navy sailor Kristian Saucier were hoping President Trump would be receptive to the Hillary Clinton defense.

Saucier was convicted and imprisoned for keeping never-distributed personal photos of classified sections of an attack submarine on his cellphone. He argued that Mrs. Clinton, while secretary of state, did much worse. She mishandled pages of secret material on her personal computer system and got off scot-free.

I think its very unfair in light of whats happened with other people, the president told Fox News Sean Hannity in January.

Mr. Trump referred to the Saucier case on the campaign trail as a way of highlighting Mrs. Clintons scolding reprieve by FBI Director James B. Comey.

With high hopes, Jeffrey Addicott, Sauciers pro-bono attorney at the Center for Terrorism Law at St. Marys University in San Antonio, filed a clemency request with the Department of Justices office of the pardon attorney.

But he did no better with the Trump administration than he probably would have done with a President Hillary Clinton.

The pardon attorney sent out an unsigned rejection letter. It didnt even go to Mr. Addicott, who had filed the parson request, but to one of the sailors previous attorneys.

In my opinion, the deep state torpedoed my petitions, and it never got out of the pardon attorney office at all, Mr. Addicott told The Washington Times.

Conservatives refer to the deep state as federal bureaucrats, including Obama administration holdovers, working to sabotage the Trump administration.

When I finally got a copy of the letter, I concluded it was authentic, Mr. Addicott said. This is extremely unprofessional and indicates not only a shocking level of incompetence at the office of the pardon attorney but signals clearly that our hard work received only a pro forma look and never got out of that office to the [Department of Justice] or to President Trump.

On many occasions, President Trump correctly pointed out the injustice to Kris, and yet he was clearly undercut by a deep state bureaucracy. Nevertheless, the president certainly has the power to energize the office of the pardon attorney and grant the pardon and the pending clemency petition, Mr. Addicott said.

A Justice Department spokesperson declined to comment. The Times made an inquiry to the White House that has gone unanswered.

A lawyer knowledgeable about the pardon system told The Times that without intervention from on high, Saucier stood little chance because he is still serving his sentence and needs a waiver.

The unsigned May 30 rejection letter said: Upon careful review of the information you submitted, we have concluded that it would not be appropriate to grant a waiver of the waiting period in Mr. Sauciers case to permit him to apply for a pardon at this time. Waivers are infrequently granted and then only for particularly compelling reasons.

Mr. Addicott said the disproportionate felony conviction and prison sentence made Saucier a candidate for a waiver.

I cited the extraordinary circumstances of how Kris was wrongfully singled out for the heavy punishment by the federal district attorney when other sailors on the same submarine had received a $300 fine and a one grade reduction in rank, the lawyer said.

As an example of excess prosecution of Saucier, Mr. Addicott said, the Justice Department issued a national press release from public affairs headquarters in Washington for a case that should have been handled by the Navy through nonjudicial punishment.

Mr. Addicott also sent a letter to Attorney General Jeff Sessions asking for an expedited pardon process. An executive assistant wrote back that unfortunately we are unable to offer expedited processing of any individual petition.

Mr. Addicotts request to have the president commute the prison sentence is still pending, but since Saucier is eligible for release in September, he may be out of prison before the commutation review is completed. A federal judge sentenced Saucier to six months of home confinement following release.

Saucier, a machinist mate 1st class, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to a charge of unauthorized retention of defense information six photographs taken of the nuclear propulsion system aboard the USS Alexandria in 2009. A month after Mr. Comey decided Mrs. Clintons fate, Saucier was sentenced to a year in prison. A Navy board handed him an other-than-honorable discharge.

Saucier signed a petition saying the Justice Department cracked down on him to show it is tough on those who mishandle secrets amid the Hillary Clinton wrist-slap.

The reason for the unjust and disproportionate level of investigation and punishment has nothing to do with the appropriate requirements of justice, but is actually directly tied to a national storm of political hypersensitivity precipitated by the misuse of classified information by former Secretary of State Hillary R. Clinton which reached a zenith during the heat of the 2015-2016 presidential election right at the time that I was being investigated for my misconduct by the FBI and Department of Justice, he wrote.

Kathleen Saucier, the sailors mother, told The Times in January: I would like to say to Mr. Trump that I believe that hes our hope to re-evaluate the way things are done in our government and that we, as American patriots, should never have to be in the position that myself and my family and I am sure many others have been.

Read more:
'Hillary Clinton defense' fails to persuade Justice Department to free former Navy sailor - Washington Times

Melania Trump is far more popular than her husband, but she isn't the fairest, ahem, most well-liked, modern first lady of them all. Less than a month after the wife of President Donald Trump finally moved into the White House to join her spouse, the first lady's approval ratings have climbed by 14 points to 51 percent, a Fox News poll published Friday found.

More Americans are also less inclined to dislike Melania Trump than there were before her husband became president, the poll found. About 28 percent of voters don't view her favorably, while35 percent viewed her unfavorably in December before he was sworn in.

Melania Trump's predecessor, in contrast, was beloved by Americans at this point in her husband's first term. Michelle Obama had a favorability rating of73 percent in April 2009.

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The wife of President George W. Bush, who served two terms before President BarackObama, was also more popular than Melania Trump. Laura Bush's favorable ratings rangedbetween 63 percentand 80 percent during the Bush administration.

Melania Trump at a visit to the Copernicus Science Centre in Warsaw, Poland July 6. Laszlo Balogh/Reuters

At the very least, Melania Trump is the most popular adult living in the White House right now. Her husband is viewed unfavorably by 51 percent of voters and favorably by 47 percent of voters, according to the Fox poll.The poll surveyed1,017 voters from June 25-27. It had a margin of sampling error of plus or minus three percentage points.

First ladies often are more popular than their husbands, pollster Gallup has explained, which likely reflects that their role is far less controversial than that of the president, which often results in less-partisan ratings of the first lady.

Meanwhile,Melania Trump is roughly as popularas Hillary Clinton was when she was a few months into her husband's White House term in 1995.In March of that year, Hillary Clinton had a favorable rating of about 49 percent, while President Bill Clinton was liked by about 51 percent of Americans, Gallup found. Hillary Clintonlost her bid to become the first woman president in November to Melania Trump's husband.

Link:
Melania Trump Is Still Not As Popular As Michelle Obama, but She Beats Hillary Clinton in First Lady Rankings - Newsweek

Sen. Bernie Sanders. Win McNamee/Getty Images

Vermont resident Jon Svitavsky announcedon July 5 that he is challenging Sen.Bernie Sandersin his upcoming re-election in 2018. In his most recent race for re-election, Sanders wonover 71 percentof the vote and theDemocratic Partydidnt bother to run a candidate. In the 2016 presidential primaries,Sanders receivedover 86 percent of the votein Vermont. Among the small percentage of people who voted for Hillary Clinton in the state was Svitavsky, a homeless shelter director who is beginning to receive support from other disgruntledClintonsupporters across the country.

Though Sanders enjoys overwhelming support in his home state, his political opponents around the country have isolated and built up naysayers to diminish his popularity. In June 2016, NBC host Joy Reid did aprofilein the Daily Beast on Al Giordano,an anti-Sanders troll who gained a sizable following ofClintonsupporters on Twitter during the primaries. Giordano claimed he would run against Sanders in 2018 but has yet to file and currently resides in Mexico City. In February 2016, the Daily Beast ran ahit piecemeant to perpetuate the whitewashing of Sanders presidential campaign. It featured an interview with a black Vermont resident who claimed Sanders ignored the black community in the state. In October 2016, Politico ran anarticle featuring quotes from several VermontDemocratscomplaining that Sanders wasnt helping Democratsin Vermont, despite the fact thatSandersmade several appearances around the country to campaign on behalf of HillaryClinton. Now Svitavsky, aDemocratfrom Bridport, Vermont, is trying to make another case against Sanders.

Vermont Public Radioreported, Jon Svitavsky, 59, says he believes that Sanders divisive politics have fractured the Democratic Party nationally and paved the way for the rise of Republican President Donald Trump. On his Twitteraccounthe hassharedblog posts written by otherClintonsupporters attacking Sanders. According to Svitavsky, he was recruited by a group called Organizing forDemocrats-U.S.A to run against Sanders. The organization isnt filed with the FEC and has a small following on Facebook. On its Facebook page on June 15, the day after Sanders voted against the bill that included sanctions on Russia and Iran, the group posted, Today OFD represents theDemocratic Partycandidate for U.S. Senate in the State of Vermont.Thats the Sanders'(I) seat.And an actual liberal Democrat fromBurlington, Vermont is running.After Sanders voted to protect Mother Russia today, the decision was made to make this declaration. The day before, the organization published in another post that it is time forDemocratsto unite against the Bernie Bot elements.

Svitavsky told Vermonts NPR affiliate, I think Sanders has hurt our country very badly with what hes done. He added, So not only didBerniedivide theDemocratic Partyand what not, but he continues to bash them, even on the unity tour, saying thatDemocratsand Republicans are the same, and theyre not. ThoughBernie Sandersnever said that or bashed the party on theDNC Unity Tour, Svitavskys biases are shared by several avidClintonsupporters, and he isnt alone in trying to challenge Sanders.

Folasade Adeluola, a Clintonsupporter based in Indiana, also announced she is running to unseatSandersin 2018. Her campaignwebsitefeatures a selfie with her and HillaryClinton.She only has to be a legal resident of Vermont the day before the election to be eligible for the Senate seat, capitalizing on the opportunity to represent people of a state she doesnt live in.

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Bitter Clinton Supporters Try to Unseat Bernie Sanders in Senate Race - Observer