As noted in the roundup this morning, the Wall Street Journal editorial page, never one to waste a self-righteous crusade, has demanded that burnt orange windbag Donald Trump to release "his returns going back at least a decade before Super Tuesday on March 1 so Republican voters can know what they’re voting for." The editorial also reasons that, releasing the returns "is also a matter of practical politics," because Mitt Romney waited too long to release his in 2012, damaging his chances.
Since Trump enjoys virtually 24/7 media coverage, I'm pretty sure Republican voters already know exactly what they're voting for. Plus, Trump's campaign strategy has been the exact opposite of "practical politics" thus far, making the editorial's reasoning dumb, irrelevant, they are awarded no points, etc. etc. They've all but guaranteed that Trump will release his returns some time during his second term.
Naturally, the best part of the editorial are the quotes pulled from Trump's interviews with ABC's George Stephanopoulos from last October and CBS's John Dickerson from last Sunday:
- "'Maybe' he’d [release them] when 'we find out the true story on Hillary’s emails.'"
- "We’re working on that now."
- "I have very big returns, as you know."
- "I have everything all approved and very beautiful and we’ll be working that over in the next period of time."
- "[The returns will be released] over the next three, four months."
- "We’re working on them very hard, and they will be very good."
At this point, we don't know who is working very hard these very big, very beautiful, very good returns, but let us reiterate: get out while you still can.
[WSJ]
[A McClatchy-Marist] poll reported that roughly two out of three registered voters — 64 percent — would be in favor of increasing taxes on annual income over $250,000. President Obama reiterated in his deficit-reduction speech last week that he favored allowing taxes to rise on families in that income level. Independents favored that plan of action at roughly the same percentage as the country at large, with more than eight in 10 Democrats also behind the idea. A majority of Republicans, 54 percent, opposed it. The poll was conducted both before and after Obama’s Wednesday speech, with support for higher taxes on wealthier Americans picking up afterward. Meanwhile, fully four in five registered voters oppose cutting Medicare and Medicaid. The House GOP’s fiscal 2012 budget, largely crafted by Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), makes fundamental long-term changes to both health entitlement programs, converting Medicaid into a block grant and turning Medicare into a type of voucher system. [