Political Report # 1180 The shameful foundation of the Clintons' power

By Eric Ruder, Socialist Worker

The stated mission of the Clinton Foundation, set up at the end of Bill Clinton's second term in the White House, is to "alleviate poverty, improve global health, strengthen economies, and protect the environment." But far more important to its operations is the Clinton Foundation's unstated mission: to further entrench the already formidable power of the Clinton family. For more than two decades, both Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton have lived very public lives ensconced in the upper echelons of America's political establishment. Since its founding in 2001, the Clinton Foundation served as a bridge between Bill Clinton's administration and Hillary Clinton's drive to conquer the White House again. The foundation itself has been the subject of countless Republican-inspired inquiries and attacks, including a new IRS investigation of its finances announced in the midst of the Democratic National Convention, though it was overshadowed by Donald Trump's nonstop buffoonery.

Political Report # 1119 Presidential Elections 2016: The Revolt of the Masses by James Petras, LAP Editor

Introduction             The presidential elections of 2016 have several unique characteristics that defy common wisdom about political practices in 21st century America.             Clearly the established political machinery - party elites and their corporate backers -have (in part) lost control of the nomination process and confront 'unwanted' candidates who are campaigning with programs and pronouncements that polarize the electorate.             But there are other more specific factors, which have energized the electorate and speak to recent US history.  These portend and reflect a realignment of US politics.             In this essay, we will outline these changes and their larger consequences for the future of American politics.             We will examine how these factors affect each of the two major parties.