Category: Politics

Forget Trump, Forget Biden

Half a century ago, a politician from Minnesota challenged a sitting president for the Democratic presidential nomination. His name was Eugene McCarthy, and the U.S. senator’s candidacy helped drive then-President Lyndon B. Johnson to decide not to run for re-election 1968. Following McCarthy’s 42% showing in New Hampshire, Senator Robert F. Kennedy (D-N.Y.) entered the race. Kennedy’s entrance was the final straw and President Johnson decided to withdraw. 

Rep. Dean Phillips (D-Minn.), who on Friday announced his candidacy challenging President Biden for the Democratic presidential nomination, must believe that history can be repeated.

The Minnesota Democrat, who has been teasing a run for months, filed paperwork with the Federal Election Commission on Thursday night. He registered his campaign committee as “Dean 24 Inc.”

If history can be repeated then California Governor Gavin Newsom is another likely Democratic candidate.  He has been burnishing his qualifications with trips to Israel and China. He is a known left leaning moderate.

The truth is that President Joe Biden looks old and appears tired. Back in 2019 it was Pete Buttigieg who positioned himself as a moderate and called for generational change in political leadership.

Has that time finally come?

I believe the answer is YES!

Republicans are the Disfunctional Political Party

Republicans have had a lot of bad elections since Donald Trump took over the party. They lost the popular vote for president in 2016, they lost the House in 2018, they lost the presidency in 2020, and they lost the Senate in 2021.

Now to add to their incompetence they ousted their House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.

Most of the top Republican candidates running for president in 2024 reacted grimly to the ouster of House Speaker Kevin McCarthy by a faction of hard-liners in their own party. One contender Vivek Ramaswamy, the loudmouth of the candidates, embraced the chaos and the front-runner, Ron DeSantis, notably did not denounce the move.

This is a Republican Party that has lost its mind.

They are so far away from Ronald Reagan that it is like the GOP today is not the real Republican Party.

The Democrats do not have to say or do a single thing.  The Republicans have proven that they cannot govern.

And there is a lot on the table today.  This past weekend, Congress passed, and President Biden signed, a short-term continuing resolution (CR) that continues to fund the federal government through November 17.

The CR does not provide funds for Ukraine and without that funding Russia will have won that war and likely be deciding which country to invade next.  Those are all NATO nations and an attack on any of them draws the United States into war because we are part of NATO.

One thing we do know is that Republican Party behavior assures we will have a government totally controlled by the Democratic Party and that is a good thing.

It’s called Intimidation

Donald Trump was in the court room for his fraud trial in New York. He sneered and glared at New York Attorney General Letitia James as he passed her on his way out at lunchtime; she, by turn, left smiling.

That will be Trump’s likely method at all the trials he faces and of course his name calling.

“Asa Hutchinson, I call him Ada … the guy has zero, why would be on stage,” Trump said before insulting former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who he called “sloppy Chris Christie.”

“He’s like a deranged person, he suffers from Trump derangement syndrome,” Trump said.

He also called out former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, calling her “bird brain.”

And we all know that Trump calls Ron DeSantis Ron Desanctimonius.

Trump is 6′ 3″ and weighs 243 lbs. So he is a big man. Between his size and his behavior he is an intimidating person.

Happily Jack Smith, Special Counsel, has a career that spans multiple stints in the Justice Department and international courts, which until his appointment had allowed him to keep a relatively low profile in the oftentimes brassy legal industry.

Trump himself repeatedly denounced Smith in speeches and on social media, calling him “deranged” and a “psycho.”

I doubt Smith will be intimidated.

Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California, an advocate for liberal priorities, dies at age 90

Dianne Feinstein October 14, 2020 questions Supreme Court nominee Judge Amy Coney Barret

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California, a centrist Democrat and champion of liberal causes who was elected to the Senate in 1992 and broke gender barriers throughout her long career in local and national politics, has died. She was 90.

Feinstein died on Thursday night at her home in Washington, D.C., her office said on Friday. Opening the Senate floor, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer announced that “earlier this morning, we lost a giant in the Senate.”

“Dianne Feinstein was one of the most amazing people who ever graced the Senate, who ever graced the country,” Schumer said, his voice cracking. “As the nation mourns this tremendous loss, we know how many lives she impacted and how many glass ceilings she shattered along the way.”

Senator Feinstein has long advocated for commonsense laws to reduce gun violence. Most notably, she achieved passage of the landmark, federal Assault Weapons Ban in 1994 and has advocated for its reinstatement since it expired in 2004.

GOP Second Debate

This debate was a sad affair.  Within minutes of starting, the moderators had lost control.  The participants interrupted each other and that made them all appear to be arguing children.

The first part of the debate was all about illegal immigration at the southern border.  All of them saw that as the leading issue for Americans.  None of them offered a reasonable solution.  In all of America’s history the illegal entry has not been curtailed.  Most of those entering the country are running away from places that make their lives miserable.  They have decided it is worth the gamble.  The question not asked or answered is how can people be induced to stay in their home countries. That is a subject does not fit into a presidential debate.

Discussions about abortion and health care were limited with none of the debaters offering solutions.

Balancing the federal budget received attention with current and former governors pointing out that they had done it in their states.  None told us how they would do it if they became president.

Skipped or given little attention was the war in Ukraine or Social Security and Medicare.

Attacks on Donald Trump were limited which I found surprising.

Vox.com wrote “The candidates who showed up at the Reagan Library in Simi Valley, California engaged in a largely vapid exchange of canned lines and talking points, repeatedly attempting to create “moments” that didn’t quite land.”

Watching a re-run of an old movie on TCM or the Hallmark Channel would at least be entertaining.

There Should be an Age Limit for our Government Leaders

If you are an old news reporter (Andrea Mitchell is 76, Wolf Blitzer is 75), an old entertainer (Mick Jagger is 80) or an old plumber some might say things like “Why don’t you call it a day and retire?”   Of course there is no harm if you continue to work.

But there are jobs that you are not allowed to have due to age. Commercial airlines cannot employ pilots after they reach the age of 65. Firefighters, law enforcement, and air traffic controllers have maximum age limits due to the stress in those jobs.  What about those elected to office in government?

2024 Republican presidential candidate, former Governor Nikki Haley, weighed in on Senator Mitch McConnell’s recent health scare on Thursday, saying “It’s sad. No one should feel good about seeing that.” Haley went on to say that the Senate was the most privileged nursing home in the country, and she reiterated her support for mental competency tests for politicians over the age of 75.

Senator Mitch McConnell is 81. Senator Dianne Feinstein is 90. Senator Charles Grassley is 89. Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi is 83. There are three members of the House of Representatives over 80 years old.  President Joe Biden is 80.

While all of these people have the perspective of many years of experience they also live sheltered lives today. Photo Ops do not make them knowledgeable about the impact of natural disasters.  Nor do visits to factories and schools make them knowledgeable.

This report about Biden is concerning

“I have no home to go to,” said Biden, who lives at the White House on weekdays and spends most weekends in Delaware, where he has two homes.

Asked Sunday if he was saying that he’s homeless, Biden said that was not the case.

“No, I’m not homeless,” he said. “I just have one home. I have a beautiful home. I’m down here for the day because I can’t go home home.”

Donald Trump is 77.  He will be 78 if elected in 2024. That is too old for the job of leader of the free world!

Just as we amended the constitution to limit presidents to two terms we now need to limit the number of terms someone can serve in the House of Representatives and the Senate.  We also need an age limit for members of the Supreme Court, congress and the presidency. 75 seems like a reasonable limit.

This can only be done when congress rises above its own self interest.  

GOP First Debate

I watched the entire debate.  There were just a few significant take aways.

First was the fact that six of the eight candidates said they would support Trump for president even if he was found guilty of trying to overturn the results of the election.

Second Ron Destantis remained mostly quiet.  Where as Chris Christie stood for honoring the constitution rather than honoring Donald Trump.

Vivek Ramaswamy said that Donald Trump was the greatest president of the United States and supported Trump at every opportunity.  He is an unlikely winner of the GOP nomination but his love of Trump makes him the leading candidate for Vice President under Trump.

Finally the candidates offered no consequential plans if they were elected president.

Patriot

How do you define Patriot?  Donald Trump brought up the question in both words and behavior. Is it hugging the flag?

Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) February 29, 2020

Does this picture make Trump a patriot? The Oxford dictionary definition is “a person who vigorously supports their country and is prepared to defend it against enemies or detractors.”  He is conveying that he loves the flag and what it stands for.

Merriam-Webster definition is “a person who loves his or her country and supports its authority and interests”

The United States creates a missile system and titles it the “Patriot System” that is meant to defend the country.

What about those of us that love the country and attack its laws and regulations that we see as harmful?  Are we too patriots?