JaneAusten

So Paul Ryan says he will no longer spend time on supporting Trump but will focus on House races. Does he un-endorse Trump? Well Next Paul Ryan assured angry members he is NOT unendorsing Trump Coward of the century, the gutless wonder.

So from Robert Costa with WaPo - GOP political reporter "In calls this morning, many Rs privately want to defect from Trump. But they say the debate gave them pause since he roused their base." Lots of profiles in courage candidates in the GOP I see. They know the presidency is lost but are afraid to abandon Trump for fear of losing the House and Senate also.

Uhm we are not talking about his base who eats up everything he says. We are talking about level headed voters. That was my point. Those were watched by millions and clips went out everywhere even to those who didn't watch. I thought most people would have known how extreme his views were. I guess some just didn't pay attention until now. Unless you've been following the election from the primaries you wouldn't know. It's not like the conventions had 150 million viewers. And most people honestly don't pay attention to what the pundits say or spend their time watching endless CNN etc news coverage 7 days a week. So you pay attention to key events that happen after Labor Day. I don't see why it's surprising people would not have heard this.

Uhm we are not talking about his base who eats up everything he says. We are talking about level headed voters. The only thing positive that Trump was acknowledged to have done is rile up his base which already support him. Nothing he did gained him undecided voters or gained him any ground with women. No one accepted the answer on the tapes he gave. The other aspect that was not liked was his posturing. People did not like the idea he seemed to stalk Clinton all over the stage, hovering behind her when she talked. The visual from that is a killer. Chris Matthews said this debate was no game changer and the big story hasn't changed. It's still about the tape. He did nothing to alleviate that and that's still the item that most people are thinking of and will continue to talk about. The best anyone could say is that he seemed more composed than the last debate. LA Times is saying Clinton won http://www.latimes.com/projects/la-na-pol-second-presidential-debate-scorecard/

I think many pundits were ready to call this for Trump until the numbers came in showing Clinton with a decisive in some cases or smaller margin of victory. Most are talking about his "I will appoint a prosecutor and jail you" comment and shocked by it. The CNN focus group was interesting. Majority don't believe him. And the answer to the tape question by he and Hillary - his panned hers accepted. He stopped the bleeding from his base but won no new voters Chris Matthews actually finally said very nice things about Clinton looking calm and presidential. And this "Trump ended first debate by questioning Clinton's stamina; he ends second debate by praising her tenacity and drive" He called her a fighter and never quitting. I went to Chris Cilizza's review and he spun what I imagine is going elsewhere too - that Trump did so much better (he seemed enthralled with the "late great Lincoln" line) and Hillary struggled, but it didn't matter because Trump ruined it with his ugly little show with Juanita and friends. If that is a spin elsewhere it probably does help even them out somewhat (although I think that will happen regardless of spin - this is a very polarized country). He also put up a tweet of that Bill and Chelsea photo with "Slick Willie" underneath, which...tells you again how he feels about the Clintons. My favorite part was that he was upset that they didn't shake hands during the debate, because decorum is still important, even in a race like this. If that doesn't tell you how out of touch the Beltway is, nothing will. You'd be wrong about the Cilizza stuff. It has not resonated anywhere. Most indicate he performed better but he still didn't win. That's it. The stuff that stuck out is he didn't answer the tape question, he also threatened to jail Clinton.

CNN poll indicated Clinton won. Not really a surprise I guess. YouGov poll showed 47% think Clinton won, 42% think Trump won.

I have to credit her. That's a pretty intelligent well thought out response showing her class and maturity. Actually one of the best responses I have seen to any of Trump's crap.

So more republican defections "Reince Priebus cancels TV appearances, advises RNC staffers to "do what's best for them." It's every man for himself in the Republican party." Carl I know you are a pessimist but this implosion of the GOP is a thing of beauty to watch. Sadly it had to come at the expense of putting the American people through one of the worst political stretches in history.

Trump donors want their money back. http://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-donors-angry-want-their-money-back-after-lewd-tape-leak/?ftag=CNM-00-10aab7e&linkId=29717675

Condoleezza Rice calls for Trump to step down http://www.politico.com/story/2016/10/condi-rice-donald-trump-229385

John McCain withdraws support http://www.politico.com/story/2016/10/mccain-trump-229380 I wish I could believe this was oh so noble.

Do we know the source? A network, specific journalist, someone on Hillary's campaign? Could it be someone from Trump's team? I had to laugh at the tweet about the tax returns using the line from that movie When a Stranger Calls... "The tax returns are coming from the inside of the house." I assume the rest of the stuff is coming from Access Hollywood. They were actually preparing to release the video we all saw when someone sent Fahrenthold the tape. Word is it was Billy Bushes cameraman. And rumor is Access Hollywood was going to release it with the Billy Bush stuff edited out to protect him I guess. Too late. But my guess is there is much worse out there like perhaps a real porn tape with Trump full blown porn star

I think it's important for everyone to stand up against the GOP. Frankly why did it take Trump talking about sexually assaulting white women for this to be the breaking point. His comments and behavior towards blacks, latinos, disabled people, and yes women were all out in the open. I realize hearing the words though the actual voice is more damaging, but we cannot let these people off the hook, particularly the cowards who refused to say anything and were willing to put a psychopath into the most powerful job in the world for the sake of what? Supreme court justices. And honestly they haven't learned a thing if they are all now flogging their support around that dirtbag Pence. You know when Romney lost, the GOP acknowledged they needed to expand their base and become more inclusive and they did #crickets. They have now alienated every minority group that exists, alienated women all smashed to smithereens. And yet their lack of self awareness is stunning. By the way, Access Hollywood told Don Lemon they have lot more stuff even more damaging than what we have heard.

The beauty of this is it overshadows another nothing drop from WikiLeaks on Clinton. And before I get jumped on, people care. The same ones over at Fox who always do plus Andrea Mitchell Word is there is more video evidence of Trump awaiting release.

She has no credibility but ok.

If Clinton wins decisively and I think she will, it will make a difference IMO. But unlike the democrats of old, the Clinton led version is not going to play nice guy. The word is the DNC is saving up all this data (the clips, words etc) of the current serving members of the GOP(Ryan, McConnell, McCain, etc..) for 2018. And in retrospect I believe they know that it's going to hurt them even more. Once the Trump train moves on and sanity returns, I can't imagine most level headed Americans being ok with the GOP turning a blind eye to Russia tampering with our elections. And if anyone doesn't think the DNC isn't saving those nuggets is fooling themselves.I don't care if it's considered dirty, I am just happy that finally the democrats are not sitting back and letting the GOP run over them. Time will tell but I hope that they can keep people motivated, pissed etc to get these same people out to vote in 2018.

So apparently the entire leadership of the state of Utah has insisted Trump step aside and have withdrawn their support.

This has been brought up. Voting has already started, ballots printed. No way can they replace him on the ballot now. Actually, they can replace him at any point up until election day. For major party candidates, the name on the ballot is largely irrelevant. People are technically voting for the party's electors in that state, not the candidate themselves. If Trump were to step down (he must step down, the party can't rescind the nomination once it's been awarded), the RNC would choose a new nominee. They don't have to choose Pence or any of the people who were in the primaries. They can choose any registered Republican willing to do it. They could try to distance themselves from Trump by going with someone like Kasich, Romney or Jeb Bush, none of whom ever endorsed him. They would try to change the names on the ballots by election day but, if they can't, it doesn't matter. Any votes cast under Trump's name (like on absentee ballots that have already been sent out) would go to the new Republican nominee. So ok what about people who still want to vote for him? Do they write in Trump or check the box off? Because many of the deplorables would still want to vote for him.

This has been brought up. Voting has already started, ballots printed. No way can they replace him on the ballot now.

From Mitt Romney "Hitting on married women? Condoning assault? Such vile degradations demean our wives and daughters and corrupt America's face to the world." Still all the gutless wonders currently serving condemn his words and still support him. I'll at least give the Governor of Utah some credit, although far too long IMO.

No one but Trump supporters, the alt right, and the like give a f*ck about Julian Assange and whatever rubbish he's trying to spread now. This isn't going to get any traction. Apparently there's some Bernie Sanders stuff in there too, which might get a reaction, but most of the people who'd care are likely voting for Jill Stein anyway. There is nothing in the WikiLeaks stuff. Nothing. Only stuff the same people supporting the Orange Clown think is a big deal. Frankly if they are waiting for Assange to take anyone down at this point it's not happening. Supposedly the notes from her Wall Street speeches came out also (from WikiLeaks) so we'll see about that so far nothing. The Podesta emails released have already been found to have been tampered with before release. But the sex tape is too damaging. Chris Matthews who I cannot stand is right. The speech stuff is not something other than political junkies would care about. This is an issue that relates to every American.

Matt Lauer what?

The DNC finally is getting some balls this election. They are saving up every piece of information on GOPers like any of them serving now who have not denounced the Orange Clown to use in 2018 midterms. I hope they work their asses off to get people out to vote. And one thing that makes me giddy in the midst of the Trump meltdown and Clinton solidifying her place in history, is President Obama solidifying his own. He's going to be exiting the White House with a higher approval rating than St. Ronald of Reagan. If anything will sting the GOP this will be the most crucifying IMO.

He's not exactly breaking any news with this, so I don't think it will hurt her. I also see Hillary as extraordinarily ambitious. She wouldn't be where is if she weren't. I don't see anything wrong with that. I'll also agree that she's not going to transform anything, but with Trump running, the status quo never looked so good. As for Bill, well, if he couldn't control his impulses when he was literally in the oval office, there is no reason to think he's doing so now. Again, I don't much care under the circumstances. I expect HRC to play blocker against the republicans, more than I expect her to actually get a lot of her own agenda accomplished. If scandal comes along that shouldn't stop her from blocking the way it derailed Bill Clinton's time in office. At least, that's my hope. I don't think it will hurt her either, but I don't like how he links her to Bill, as that as anything to do with how she could run the country. Also, in my opinion, he was using "unbridled ambition" as an insult. I like the fact that she's determined and also detailed-oriented (something else that she is given a hard time about). It's possible she won't be a transformational president, but he makes it sound like she hasn't done anything in her entire career, which to me, is insulting. Especially for a "friend" to say that. All Powell has shown is that he is not above the snarky pettiness people always accuse women of . I've seen it myself in the workplace. Men are cattier than women are by far. He also shows his own sexist talking about her being ambitious as if he wasn't or any other man who's risen in the ranks. But it's the same sexist stereotype women these days continue to have to fight about. Anyone thinking there is no longer sexism or gender bias is living in a fantasy world.

it's not hard to lie when you're a sociopath, and Pence is a sociopath. I haven't seen that many say Kaine won. I've seen more trying to hype Pence as their latest daddy figure. Well all the press is at least calling Pence a liar. And even Chris Matthews acknowledged that this was more about Pence 2020 than Trump 2016 because he knows Trumps going to lose. I thought Kaine did what the campaign wanted which was to attack Trump. I never expected to hear any policy discussion. There hasn't been much yet anywhere.