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| Obama makes case for 'Buffett rule' - US politics live | Obama makes case for 'Buffett rule' - US politics live |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| 1.55pm: Now even Fox News is saying that Rick Santorum is "to discuss the future of his campaign," and the tweets are flying to that effect. | |
| 1.50pm: Start your Twitter rumour engines now: | |
| who can write the most speculative tweet about Santorum in the next 30 minutes? | |
| You have 10 minutes until Rick Santorum starts speaking at 2pm. | |
| 1.44pm: Here's what's fuelling the "Santorum to drop out today" rumours: a report from the National Journal just out: | |
| Brian Nutt, Santorum's Pennsylvania director, said he had been given no indication that the former senator was poised to drop out of the race after participating in a campaign conference call Tuesday morning. But he also avoided giving a firm denial. | |
| "I honestly can't give you an answer one way or another," Nutt said. | |
| He added: "I can't confirm anything. It would be news to me, because those aren't the conversations I've had." | |
| That's kind of oblique. My feeling is: he's not dropping out but who the hell knows. | |
| 1.35pm: Exciting rumours going around that Rick Santorum may say he's dropping out of the presidential race at a "rally" planned for Gettysburg at 2pm. Finally, some news. | |
| 1.04pm: Hey, it's George Bush? That guy who was president from 20 January 2001 until 20 January 2009. The 9/11 one. Yes, that one. No, that's Dick Cheney, the other guy. Texas. That's it. | |
| Anyway, he's back, well, he's appearing in public, in New York City even. And he's amused that the tax cuts enacted during his administration are known as the Bush tax cuts: | |
| I wish they weren't called the Bush tax cuts. If they're called some other body's tax cuts, they're probably less likely to be raised. | |
| So who has been making such an effort to tie this tax cut albatross around George Bush's neck? Hmm, let's see. Clue: it rhymes with Nepublican Cational Rommittee. | |
| And George Bush was on fire with the jokes: | |
| It's got to be a staggering thing for some of the cynics. I publish a book, and now the Bush Institute is publishing a book. They didn't think I could read, much less write a book. | |
| That was a joke, by the way. We knew he could read, thanks to The Pet Goat. | |
| 12.42pm: The Elizabeth Warren v Scott Brown Senate election in the Bay State – or the "Massachusetts' red-hot US Senate race" in the words of pollsters Rasmussen – remains neck and neck: | 12.42pm: The Elizabeth Warren v Scott Brown Senate election in the Bay State – or the "Massachusetts' red-hot US Senate race" in the words of pollsters Rasmussen – remains neck and neck: |
| The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of likely voters in Massachusetts shows Warren edging Brown by one point, 46% to 45%. One percent (1%) likes some other candidate in the race, and eight percent (8%) are undecided. | The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of likely voters in Massachusetts shows Warren edging Brown by one point, 46% to 45%. One percent (1%) likes some other candidate in the race, and eight percent (8%) are undecided. |
| Of course polls done seven or eight months before an election are always highly accurate. Actually, they aren't. | Of course polls done seven or eight months before an election are always highly accurate. Actually, they aren't. |
| 12.25pm: Univision's Jordan Fabian reports on Ozzie Guillén's apologetic press conference in Miami today: | 12.25pm: Univision's Jordan Fabian reports on Ozzie Guillén's apologetic press conference in Miami today: |
| Guillén sought to his original statement, claiming that it was lost in translation. | Guillén sought to his original statement, claiming that it was lost in translation. |
| "It was misinterpreted, what I mean in Spanish," he said in English and Spanish. He said what he meant was that: "I cannot believe that somebody hurt so many people over the years is [still in power]. | "It was misinterpreted, what I mean in Spanish," he said in English and Spanish. He said what he meant was that: "I cannot believe that somebody hurt so many people over the years is [still in power]. |
| "I do not love him, I assure you," he added. | "I do not love him, I assure you," he added. |
| Guillén, a native of Venezuela who has lived in Miami for 12 years, in the past has drawn fire for making controversial statements, including past praise and criticism for Venezuelan strongman Hugo Chávez. | Guillén, a native of Venezuela who has lived in Miami for 12 years, in the past has drawn fire for making controversial statements, including past praise and criticism for Venezuelan strongman Hugo Chávez. |
| In Spanish, Guillén clarified that he denounces hardline leaders in Cuba, Venezuela, Nicaragua, and all over Latin America. | In Spanish, Guillén clarified that he denounces hardline leaders in Cuba, Venezuela, Nicaragua, and all over Latin America. |
| "I'm not doing this to play politics," Guillén said in Spanish. | "I'm not doing this to play politics," Guillén said in Spanish. |
| 12.14pm: Memo to Rick Santorum – even Republicans are tired of the Republican presidential non-contest, according to a new Pew poll: | 12.14pm: Memo to Rick Santorum – even Republicans are tired of the Republican presidential non-contest, according to a new Pew poll: |
| According to the survey, 74% of Republican voters say they think Mitt Romney will be the party's presidential nominee – only 21 percent think there's still a chance someone else will emerge. Perhaps even more telling, a plurality – 47% – of Republicans now thinks the primary's continuation is bad for the GOP. Only 36% say it's helpful. | According to the survey, 74% of Republican voters say they think Mitt Romney will be the party's presidential nominee – only 21 percent think there's still a chance someone else will emerge. Perhaps even more telling, a plurality – 47% – of Republicans now thinks the primary's continuation is bad for the GOP. Only 36% say it's helpful. |
| That's a 15-point swing from March, when a narrow plurality of Republicans thought an ongoing race helped the Republican Party. Forty-seven percent of the party faithful wanted the race to continue then, compared to 43% who thought it was harming the GOP. | That's a 15-point swing from March, when a narrow plurality of Republicans thought an ongoing race helped the Republican Party. Forty-seven percent of the party faithful wanted the race to continue then, compared to 43% who thought it was harming the GOP. |
| It's mildly surprising that only 74% of Republicans think Romney will be the nominee, but then again I can show you polls about the percentage of the population who are not entirely sure about the world's flatness. | It's mildly surprising that only 74% of Republicans think Romney will be the nominee, but then again I can show you polls about the percentage of the population who are not entirely sure about the world's flatness. |
| On the other hand, people keep urging Rick Santorum to drop out to avoid damage to his 2016 chances. But the truth is the reverse: he has even less chance in 2016, so he may as well keep hitting his head against this brick wall. | On the other hand, people keep urging Rick Santorum to drop out to avoid damage to his 2016 chances. But the truth is the reverse: he has even less chance in 2016, so he may as well keep hitting his head against this brick wall. |
| 11.52am: The combined effects of the economic downturn and tougher immigration laws has led to what the Christian Science Monitor calls "net zero" migration between Mexico and the US: | 11.52am: The combined effects of the economic downturn and tougher immigration laws has led to what the Christian Science Monitor calls "net zero" migration between Mexico and the US: |
| One million Mexicans said they returned from the US between 2005 and 2010, according to a new demographic study of Mexican census data. That's three times the number who said they'd returned in the previous five-year period. | One million Mexicans said they returned from the US between 2005 and 2010, according to a new demographic study of Mexican census data. That's three times the number who said they'd returned in the previous five-year period. |
| And they aren't just home for a visit: One prominent sociologist in the US has counted "net zero" migration for the first time since the 1960s. | And they aren't just home for a visit: One prominent sociologist in the US has counted "net zero" migration for the first time since the 1960s. |
| It's a complex issue, of course, but this CSM article is an excellent piece of reporting. | It's a complex issue, of course, but this CSM article is an excellent piece of reporting. |
| 11.35am: Barack Obama's "evolving" views on gay marriage continue to be a source of disquiet among some of the president's supporters – with the LA Times reporting on a push to include support for gay marriage in the Democratic party's official platform at the national convention later this year: | 11.35am: Barack Obama's "evolving" views on gay marriage continue to be a source of disquiet among some of the president's supporters – with the LA Times reporting on a push to include support for gay marriage in the Democratic party's official platform at the national convention later this year: |
| But some political advisors argue that an election-year epiphany on the issue would be seen as simple political opportunism at a time Obama's campaign is eager to highlight principled decisiveness. And gay marriage remains controversial among at least one major constituency the president needs: African American voters. Pastors of black churches, for example, have led the effort for a referendum in Maryland to overturn the state's new law allowing same-sex marriage. | But some political advisors argue that an election-year epiphany on the issue would be seen as simple political opportunism at a time Obama's campaign is eager to highlight principled decisiveness. And gay marriage remains controversial among at least one major constituency the president needs: African American voters. Pastors of black churches, for example, have led the effort for a referendum in Maryland to overturn the state's new law allowing same-sex marriage. |
| 11.15am: Newt Gingrich Delusions of Grandeur Watch, part eleventy-twillion. | 11.15am: Newt Gingrich Delusions of Grandeur Watch, part eleventy-twillion. |
| Via the always-excellent GOP12 blog, here's Newt on Fox News drawing parallels between himself and the winner of the Master golf tournament: | Via the always-excellent GOP12 blog, here's Newt on Fox News drawing parallels between himself and the winner of the Master golf tournament: |
| Yesterday afternoon, I joined millions of Americans in watching the Master's, and the two guys who ended up in the sudden death were, neither one, in first place when the last round began. | Yesterday afternoon, I joined millions of Americans in watching the Master's, and the two guys who ended up in the sudden death were, neither one, in first place when the last round began. |
| Now neither of them dropped out. | Now neither of them dropped out. |
| Newt's trouble is that, in reality, the parallel is not between Gingrich and Bubba Watson. The correct parallel is between Newt Gingrich and ... let's see ... Jose Maria Olazabal. Who missed the cut. Just like Newt. | Newt's trouble is that, in reality, the parallel is not between Gingrich and Bubba Watson. The correct parallel is between Newt Gingrich and ... let's see ... Jose Maria Olazabal. Who missed the cut. Just like Newt. |
| 11am: So Ozzie Guillén, the manager of the Miami Marlins, has made his appearance at a press conference just now to apologise for his praise of Fidel Castro. | 11am: So Ozzie Guillén, the manager of the Miami Marlins, has made his appearance at a press conference just now to apologise for his praise of Fidel Castro. |
| Guillén said the reaction left him "sad and embarrassed" – but he also said his comments were misinterpreted by the journalist who interviewed him, and that he neither loves nor admires Castro. | Guillén said the reaction left him "sad and embarrassed" – but he also said his comments were misinterpreted by the journalist who interviewed him, and that he neither loves nor admires Castro. |
| It's hard to know exactly how one misinterprets "I love Castro" as comments go. But who can say? | It's hard to know exactly how one misinterprets "I love Castro" as comments go. But who can say? |
| Guillén begins his comments in Spanish, but CNN cuts away because they don't have simultaneous translation. #fail | Guillén begins his comments in Spanish, but CNN cuts away because they don't have simultaneous translation. #fail |
| Another great moment in US television, thanks to CNN. | Another great moment in US television, thanks to CNN. |
| 10.45am: What did Ozzie Guillén actually say that was so bad? It was in an interview with Time magazine, which has hidden the interview behind its paywall, and the Miami Herald's 2,000 word article can't bring itself to repeat the remarks – but USA Today gives us the quotes: | 10.45am: What did Ozzie Guillén actually say that was so bad? It was in an interview with Time magazine, which has hidden the interview behind its paywall, and the Miami Herald's 2,000 word article can't bring itself to repeat the remarks – but USA Today gives us the quotes: |
| Usually defiant in the face of criticism, Guillén has instead sounded remorseful and said he's had difficulty sleeping since a Time magazine online story that ran Friday quoted him as saying, "I love Fidel Castro." | Usually defiant in the face of criticism, Guillén has instead sounded remorseful and said he's had difficulty sleeping since a Time magazine online story that ran Friday quoted him as saying, "I love Fidel Castro." |
| Later in the story he added, "I respect Fidel Castro. You know why? A lot of people have wanted to kill Fidel Castro for the last 60 years, but that [expletive] is still here." | Later in the story he added, "I respect Fidel Castro. You know why? A lot of people have wanted to kill Fidel Castro for the last 60 years, but that [expletive] is still here." |
| 10.40am: A sign that Fidel Castro remains as potent as ever in US politics: the manager of the Miami Marlins, the famously loose-tongued Ozzie Guillén, has just been suspended by his team for five games after he praised Castro in public comments. | 10.40am: A sign that Fidel Castro remains as potent as ever in US politics: the manager of the Miami Marlins, the famously loose-tongued Ozzie Guillén, has just been suspended by his team for five games after he praised Castro in public comments. |
| The Marlins, which has just changed its name to adopt Miami and opened a brand-new ballpark in the city's Little Havana area, have been pummelled for Guillén's remarks, as the Miami Herald reports: | The Marlins, which has just changed its name to adopt Miami and opened a brand-new ballpark in the city's Little Havana area, have been pummelled for Guillén's remarks, as the Miami Herald reports: |
| Dozens gathered outside Marlins Park to voice their protest to Guillén's comments, some carrying signs expressing their disgust. One turned his body into a two-sided billboard, writing "No excuses – Fire him now" on one placard and on the other, "Mr [David] Samson, Do you still keep Guillén if he had said, 'I love Hitler'?" Samson is the Marlins' team president. Neither Samson nor owner Jeffrey Loria sat next to Guillén during Tuesday's grilling by English and Spanish-language media members. More than a dozen video cameras perched atop tripods lined the back of the room, and the 60-some-odd seats Marlins staff set up for reporters were not enough. | Dozens gathered outside Marlins Park to voice their protest to Guillén's comments, some carrying signs expressing their disgust. One turned his body into a two-sided billboard, writing "No excuses – Fire him now" on one placard and on the other, "Mr [David] Samson, Do you still keep Guillén if he had said, 'I love Hitler'?" Samson is the Marlins' team president. Neither Samson nor owner Jeffrey Loria sat next to Guillén during Tuesday's grilling by English and Spanish-language media members. More than a dozen video cameras perched atop tripods lined the back of the room, and the 60-some-odd seats Marlins staff set up for reporters were not enough. |
| In his nine years as a big-league manager, Guillén has spat out insult after insult in his blunt style, offending, among others, gays, opponents of illegal immigration and even fellow Venezuelans. | In his nine years as a big-league manager, Guillén has spat out insult after insult in his blunt style, offending, among others, gays, opponents of illegal immigration and even fellow Venezuelans. |
| 10.30am: Barack Obama travels to Florida today to push his "Buffett rule" in a call for millionaires to pay higher taxes, as US politics awakens from its Easter slumber. | 10.30am: Barack Obama travels to Florida today to push his "Buffett rule" in a call for millionaires to pay higher taxes, as US politics awakens from its Easter slumber. |
| Here's a summary of the latest news: | Here's a summary of the latest news: |
| • Rick Santorum is resuming his campaign for the Republican presidential nomination after his young daughter was hospitalised last week. Santorum's daughter, Bella, was discharged from the hospital and returned home early Monday evening. The 3 year-old suffers from a rare genetic condition. Responding to the Santorum family's difficult moment, the Romney campaign opted to pull an attack ad it had planned to launch against the former senator in Pennsylvania. | • Rick Santorum is resuming his campaign for the Republican presidential nomination after his young daughter was hospitalised last week. Santorum's daughter, Bella, was discharged from the hospital and returned home early Monday evening. The 3 year-old suffers from a rare genetic condition. Responding to the Santorum family's difficult moment, the Romney campaign opted to pull an attack ad it had planned to launch against the former senator in Pennsylvania. |
| • President Obama has overtaken Mitt Romney in a new poll from Washington Post/ABC News. Last month Romney was two points ahead of the president in the same poll, now Obama is up by seven percentage points, 51% to 44% among registered voters. | • President Obama has overtaken Mitt Romney in a new poll from Washington Post/ABC News. Last month Romney was two points ahead of the president in the same poll, now Obama is up by seven percentage points, 51% to 44% among registered voters. |
| • A campaign leaflet from Santorum's failed 2006 Senate race in Pennsylvania republished by the Associated Press has called the candidate's conservative credentials into question. Titled "50 Things You May Not Know About Rick Santorum," the document highlights how Santorum directed federal money to Pennsylvania and worked with Bono to combat Aids and global poverty. The positions of Santorum 2006 don't quite square with Santorum 2012, who has cast himself as the conservative alternative to Mitt Romney. | • A campaign leaflet from Santorum's failed 2006 Senate race in Pennsylvania republished by the Associated Press has called the candidate's conservative credentials into question. Titled "50 Things You May Not Know About Rick Santorum," the document highlights how Santorum directed federal money to Pennsylvania and worked with Bono to combat Aids and global poverty. The positions of Santorum 2006 don't quite square with Santorum 2012, who has cast himself as the conservative alternative to Mitt Romney. |