Clinton Versus Trump flip on Press conferences, teleprompters and terrorist attacks rhetoric, George H.W. Bush to support Hillary Clinton

Clinton Versus Trump flip on Press conferences, teleprompters and terrorist attacks rhetoric, George H.W. Bush to support Hillary Clinton By Zeke J. Miller ( republished with permission of the author and Time Magazine)

After weeks of railing against Hillary Clinton for failing to hold a press conference for more than 200 days, it is Donald Trump who is retreating from the press corps. The GOP nominee hasn't held a press conference since July, and has avoided unfriendly media interviews for weeks, preferring Fox News—and Sean Hannity in particular—to get his message out without scrutiny. Trump has also largely stopped giving his free-wheeling rally speeches, in favor of scripted addresses read off teleprompters. Trump's caution comes with improving poll numbers, as he's made up some ground on Hillary Clinton's lead. But it remains to be seen how long he can keep it up. Trump has spoken openly about being bored by this style of campaigning. He has also eschewed formal debate preparations, and Monday's showdown could see the return of the true Trump.

Trump and Clinton traded blame Monday for promoting extremists after the weekend's apparent terrorist attacks. Clinton accused Trump of using rhetoric that gave "aid and comfort" to terrorists—one of the definitions of treason outlined in the Constitution. Meanwhile, Trump blamed Clinton for failing to anticipate the rise of ISIS when she was Secretary of State and blamed her for the Iraq War drawdown which he himself supported.

George H.W. Bush may become the first president in modern memory to support a candidate of the opposite party. His office is not confirming or denying a report that he has decided to support Hillary Clinton over Donald Trump. Sheldon Adelson opens his checkbook for Donald Trump—but at no where near the $100 million-level originally reported. And Donald Trump, Jr. compares refugees to Skittles.

A daughter of Robert Kennedy, Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, said in a Facebook post that former Republican President George H.W. Bush told her he's voting for -- wait for it -- Hillary Clinton.

Townsend, a Democrat who served as Maryland lieutenant governor for eight years and goes by Hartington online, posted a photo with the former president to Facebook: "The President told me he's voting for Hillary!!" wrote Kennedy Townsend, a niece of President John F. Kennedy.

Jim McGrath, a spokesman for Bush, did not confirm nor deny the claim.

"The vote President Bush will cast as a private citizen in some 50 days will be just that: a private vote cast in some 50 days," McGrath told CNN. "He is not commenting on the presidential race in the interim."

Townsend met with Bush at the family compound in Kennebunkport, Maine, during a board meeting for the bipartisan Points of Light Foundation.
Sources with knowledge of the conversation told CNN's Jamie Gangel they were surprised and disappointed that she had publicly shared a private conversation with the former president.

If George H.W. Bush ultimately votes for Clinton, he isn't likely to sway his entire family. Marvin Bush, the former president's youngest son, has said he would vote for Libertarian Gary Johnson. George P. Bush, George H.W. Bush's grandson, has backed Donald Trump.
And Jeb Bush, Trump's former primary rival, has said he won't vote for Trump or Clinton.