A mediocrity in the Oval Office would be a welcome improvement. If I live to be a hundred, I don't think I will understand two things:
1) How so many voters could not recognize an obvious bullshitter, and
2) How the Democratic Party establishment could put forth a nominee so obviously out of touch with the public--and such a poor campaigner to boot.
When the Whig Party disintegrated, several small xenophobic and racist parties became locally significant.
One columnist was opining this morning that the problem in the states that are not doing well is not the lack of jobs, but rather the lack of good-paying jobs. He attributes it to local and state governments beggaring their neighbors to gain poorer and poorer jobs from bigger and bigger corporations, and suggests that only some (unspecified) national measures can put a stop to it. The whole process was well described by Karl Marx a century and a half ago; it is the natural path of capitalism. Will the kids rescue us?
1) Most of his supporters thought that because he was wealthy he was superior. He used key words they like: "winning", etc. He gave them permission to hate the people they already hated. He promoted violence, and they were already straining at the leash.
2) The Democratic Party establishment is completely out of touch with the people they hope to represent. Just days ago Debbie Wasserman Schultz was on TV saying "The Democratic Party is already a grassroots party". No, it isn't! It's a party that will not give up corporate money, a party that thinks money is the key to winning rather than the issues people care about. I think Bernie put it best: "The Democrats don't mind going down with the Titanic as long as they still have first class seats". And I think that's a good nutshell summary of why they have lost so many seats, governorships and local races over the last decade. They are too passive and they have always let the Republicans form the message, and then they remain passive.
I think it may yet be possible to give the institutional Democratic Party a heart-brain transplant [implant?], but I wouldn't bet on it happeint. BTW, I noticed yestere'en that Brand New Congress has a new slogan (available on bumper stickers and clothing): "Repeal and Replace Congress." Back to my work simulation...
I have yet to see a large entity change itself much...from Church to Public School to, well, any organized group. Administration ruins so much. At any rate, I strongly believe we need a new party, or none.
It's all over Facebook that Cheetolini took Bannon off the Security Council. The speculation is that Cheetolini was jealous of all the attention Bannon was getting. I wondered if it was all those postcards addressed to "President Bannon" that were sent during the #idesoftrump?
Some said today that Bannon was on the SC to keep an eye on Flynn, so he was no longer needed. Interesting. Wouldn't that say there was collusion related to Flynn?
Wait, I thought it was Obama's fault that Syria has chemical weapons and that it uses them on its own citizens. Didn't a member of the current administration say today on national television that Syria used Chemicals weapons on its people because Obama was weak and let Russia have a free hand in Syria? How can it possibly be the Great White Leader's fault?
Yes, I think Bannon got too uppity to suit Trump; hard to conceive of a better explanation.
What Does the Federal Government Spend Your Tax Dollars On?[Click] Both the current spending graph and the distribution by year have surprises for me. I thought the military gets quite a bit more than it does, and the proportion as a percentage of GDP has largely been shrinking for decades.
Today I wrote to Rep. Peter Welch's health aide asking for Peter to again support the National Nurse Act [Now called the National Nurse Act of 2017, H.R. 1651] as a cosponsor, as he has done in the past numerous times.
AND, I have come down with a Grammie cold (sore throat and all) which may postpone AGAIN our trip to visit baby Grandson in Maine. 😧
West Cook DFA had a very interesting meeting tonight with one of Congressman Davis's staffers. The major focus was on health care, one of our three central issues, where we were warned that no Congressional bill is ever truly dead. He doesn't really think the Republicans will be able to pass anything resembling their AHCA, but we must be prepared to kill the zombie over and over again.
There was also broader discussion of our role as progressive activists. The staffer said one thing that particularly resonated -- I wish I could remember the words he used. But the fundamental point is that we need to keep pounding home the issues we stand for. The specific positive issues, rather than just being against things or people. I have strongly believed that all along, but I don[t see it happening either here or in what I hear from the Democratic Party establishment.
But the implication is that we can turn the establishment around if we keep pounding on what we stand for. Our powerlessness is a myth.
Peace keepers are first.
ReplyDeleteWar makers are last.
But, of course, it's all President Obama's fault... Grrr.
ReplyDeleteWhite House blames passive Obama for ‘heinous’ attack in Syria
http://www.timesofisrael.com/white-house-blames-passive-obama-for-heinous-attack-in-syria/
Of course they do, when it was more likely Tillerson assuring Assad that the US had no plans to remove him from power.
DeleteA mediocrity in the Oval Office would be a welcome improvement. If I live to be a hundred, I don't think I will understand two things:
ReplyDelete1) How so many voters could not recognize an obvious bullshitter, and
2) How the Democratic Party establishment could put forth a nominee so obviously out of touch with the public--and such a poor campaigner to boot.
When the Whig Party disintegrated, several small xenophobic and racist parties became locally significant.
One columnist was opining this morning that the problem in the states that are not doing well is not the lack of jobs, but rather the lack of good-paying jobs. He attributes it to local and state governments beggaring their neighbors to gain poorer and poorer jobs from bigger and bigger corporations, and suggests that only some (unspecified) national measures can put a stop to it. The whole process was well described by Karl Marx a century and a half ago; it is the natural path of capitalism. Will the kids rescue us?
Alan
1) Most of his supporters thought that because he was wealthy he was superior. He used key words they like: "winning", etc. He gave them permission to hate the people they already hated. He promoted violence, and they were already straining at the leash.
Delete2) The Democratic Party establishment is completely out of touch with the people they hope to represent. Just days ago Debbie Wasserman Schultz was on TV saying "The Democratic Party is already a grassroots party". No, it isn't! It's a party that will not give up corporate money, a party that thinks money is the key to winning rather than the issues people care about. I think Bernie put it best: "The Democrats don't mind going down with the Titanic as long as they still have first class seats". And I think that's a good nutshell summary of why they have lost so many seats, governorships and local races over the last decade. They are too passive and they have always let the Republicans form the message, and then they remain passive.
Agreed, Susan. And they're never going to change.
DeleteI think it may yet be possible to give the institutional Democratic Party a heart-brain transplant [implant?], but I wouldn't bet on it happeint. BTW, I noticed yestere'en that Brand New Congress has a new slogan (available on bumper stickers and clothing): "Repeal and Replace Congress." Back to my work simulation...
Delete--Alan
I have yet to see a large entity change itself much...from Church to Public School to, well, any organized group. Administration ruins so much. At any rate, I strongly believe we need a new party, or none.
DeleteIt's all over Facebook that Cheetolini took Bannon off the Security Council. The speculation is that Cheetolini was jealous of all the attention Bannon was getting. I wondered if it was all those postcards addressed to "President Bannon" that were sent during the #idesoftrump?
ReplyDeleteHahaa, I hadn't thought of the postcards!
DeleteSome said today that Bannon was on the SC to keep an eye on Flynn, so he was no longer needed. Interesting. Wouldn't that say there was collusion related to Flynn?
LOL Susan
DeleteAccording to the Beeb, Bannon was only placed on the Security Council to keep an eye on Flin...who was removed in February.
Wait, I thought it was Obama's fault that Syria has chemical weapons and that it uses them on its own citizens. Didn't a member of the current administration say today on national television that Syria used Chemicals weapons on its people because Obama was weak and let Russia have a free hand in Syria? How can it possibly be the Great White Leader's fault?
ReplyDeleteYes, I think Bannon got too uppity to suit Trump; hard to conceive of a better explanation.
ReplyDeleteWhat Does the Federal Government Spend Your Tax Dollars On?[Click] Both the current spending graph and the distribution by year have surprises for me. I thought the military gets quite a bit more than it does, and the proportion as a percentage of GDP has largely been shrinking for decades.
—Alan
Ah, but Trump will rectify that. Don't you worry. He's gonna make our military the biggest and bestest EVER!
DeleteToday I wrote to Rep. Peter Welch's health aide asking for Peter to again support the National Nurse Act [Now called the National Nurse Act of 2017, H.R. 1651] as a cosponsor, as he has done in the past numerous times.
ReplyDeleteAND, I have come down with a Grammie cold (sore throat and all) which may postpone AGAIN our trip to visit baby Grandson in Maine. 😧
West Cook DFA had a very interesting meeting tonight with one of Congressman Davis's staffers. The major focus was on health care, one of our three central issues, where we were warned that no Congressional bill is ever truly dead. He doesn't really think the Republicans will be able to pass anything resembling their AHCA, but we must be prepared to kill the zombie over and over again.
ReplyDeleteThere was also broader discussion of our role as progressive activists. The staffer said one thing that particularly resonated -- I wish I could remember the words he used. But the fundamental point is that we need to keep pounding home the issues we stand for. The specific positive issues, rather than just being against things or people. I have strongly believed that all along, but I don[t see it happening either here or in what I hear from the Democratic Party establishment.
But the implication is that we can turn the establishment around if we keep pounding on what we stand for. Our powerlessness is a myth.
Well said, Bill.
Delete