Inside the Beltway: Progressives stage a ‘CPAC for liberals’ – Washington Times

Its big doings on Tuesday for those opposed to President Trump. The Center for American Progress convenes a daylong Ideas Conference at an upscale hotel in the nations capital an event rumored to be modeled after the remarkably successful Conservative Political Action Conference, or CPAC. Fox News already has called the conference CPAC for liberals, while Politico reports the event as the first real cattle call of the Democrats nosing around 2020 presidential runs.

Theres something to that. Lawmakers with an eye on the White House are in evidence, along with outspoken Democratic icons. Yes, ever-vigilant C-SPAN will be there beginning at 9 a.m.

On the stage at one point or another: Sens. Elizabeth Warren, Amy Klobuchar, Kamala D. Harris, Kirsten E. Gillibrand, Cory A. Booker and Christopher Murphy; House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi; Reps. Maxine Waters, Keith Ellison and Adam B. Schiff; and Govs. Steve Bullock of Montana and Terry McAuliffe of Virginia, plus Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti.

Former White House Security Adviser Susan E. Rice also will make an appearance. Daily Kos founder Markos Moulitsas and civil right activist DeRay McKesson are among those serving on a panel simply titled The Resistance.

Climate change, reproductive rights and immigration are among the many issues of the day; its that kind of event. The left-leaning press will likely have a jubilant day. Progressive values are under attack, and now more than ever, progressives must not only fight back but also offer the American people a better alternative, advise the organizers.

An evening Progressive Party at a bodacious federal facility features Sen. Charles E. Schumer; tickets range as high as $5,000 each. And just in time, Hillary Clinton has announced that Onward Together, her new political organization, will support Run for Something, a new group that recruits young progressives to run for local office. Co-founder Amanda Litman reports the group already has signed on 10,000 people who are ready to give it a shot.

FIGHTING FOR LAST MAN STANDING

Viewers who back both conservative values and actor Tim Allen are taking on ABC.

Last Man Standing stands out in the sea of network television sitcoms. It is a show that appeals to a broad swath of Americans who find very few shows that extol the virtues with which they can identify; namely conservative values, states a new public petition on Change.org, asking ABC not to cancel Last Man Standing, and calling for a public boycott of the network and its advertisers.

The petition has drawn close to 20,000 signatures in 48 hours.

Last Man Standing was not just selling conservative ideals though, as some of the characters in the show are clearly of the liberal persuasion, yet the characters on the show all manage to get along and take care of one another, despite their politically opposed views. The show is about more than politics though, it is about family. In fact, politics is only a secondary part of the show, but one in which many Americans can readily identify, the petition continues.

Last Man Standing is one of the only shows on broadcast television, and the only sitcom, that is not constantly shoving liberal ideals down the throats of the viewers. And sadly, that is likely the real reason the show has been canceled.

TRUMAN? WELL, MAYBE NOT

It is a major transportation hub in the nations capital and a monumental train station in the classic sense. Union Station is a block from the U.S. Capitol, and has long been a historic landmark in its own right. There are those who seek naming rights for the site, and it is as complex as naming a major sports arena.

For the third time in three years, Missouri Sens. Claire McCaskill and Roy Blunt have introduced legislation to christen the mammoth station Harry S. Truman Union Station. The 33rd president was indeed a Missouri native, and the lawmakers are eager to honor him. But its complicated.

D.C. Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton has approved of the bill in past years. Mayor Muriel Bowser has not revealed her opinion, though her predecessor, former Mayor Vincent Gray, says city residents should have their say in the matter.

An ongoing poll conducted by DCist.com, a local new organization, reveals that 72 percent of Washingtonians would vote nay on the Truman bill if they could.

Truman himself might not have been keen on the idea either, if a 1946 letter to the Independence Examiner is any gauge. Truman contacted the newspaper after it led an effort to rename a local road for the president.

I have no desire to have roads, bridges or buildings named after me, Truman advised the paper.

CLASH OF THE TITANS

An unusual bout takes place Tuesday night: Ohio Gov. John Kasich vs. Vermont Sen. Bernard Sanders, both former presidential hopefuls and both with strong opinions on just abut everything. The pair will face off in a town hall debate before a live audience at 9 p.m. EDT on CNN.

Anchors Jake Tapper and Dana Bash will moderate the event, with attention paid to the continuing drama over Obamacare, Trumpcare, tax reform and other topics of excruciating interest.

POLL DU JOUR

59 percent of Americans say major climate and science marches in Washington, D.C., during April will encourage scientists to become more politically active; 41 percent of Republicans and 73 percent of Democrats agree.

49 percent say the marches will increase efforts to deal with climate change; 32 percent of Republicans and 62 percent of Democrats agree.

48 percent support the goals of the marches; 25 percent of Republicans and 68 percent of Democrats agree.

48 percent say the marches will raise support for more government science funding; 31 percent of Republicans and 60 percent of Democrats agree.

41 percent say the media cover marches too much; 68 percent of Republicans and 26 percent of Democrats agree.

Source: A Pew Research Center poll of 1,012 U.S. adults conducted May 3-7 and released Friday.

Hoots and hollers to jharper@washingtontimes.com

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Inside the Beltway: Progressives stage a 'CPAC for liberals' - Washington Times

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