The Self Immolation of the Democratic Party

I am breaking my oath of not wanting to write more about politics, one originally made out of self preservation, the Trump Presidency being so egregiously offensive and yet so blindly praised by his obedient, ardent followers, that it was affecting my health.  It was also made out of extreme cynicism about the whole process, where Tweeting 240 characters can replace planning, thinking.  I’m stunned that our country has stumbled along this far under Trump’s monarchy, but I suppose it has been conditioned to respond well to reality TV material.

But as time went on, and we got through another day, my spirits were slowly being revived knowing that before we know it, we, the American People, will have a chance to cast him off to the garbage heap of dangerous politicians and demagogues.  This, in spite of the failures of Robert Mueller and the Impeachment process, both “hail Mary” passes into the end zone.  Yes, the upcoming election will right all.

Until last night. In full disclosure, my degree of cynicism made me ignore all previous debates.  What is the sense listening to a score of candidates blab their talking points.  Now that the “race” is down to a more manageable number, perhaps this was the moment when I hoped a moderate Democrat could gather some momentum.  Instead, we’re still left with Bernie Sanders, perhaps even more so.

Don’t get me wrong.  I “like” Bernie in many ways, but, as unrealistic as Trump’s tax cuts were, I think Sanders’ proposals will just further drive the national debt to unsustainable levels.  And he is as evangelistic in his demeanor about it as Trump has been about his border issue.  Just what we need facing off in November, two “true believers,” with one being able to call the other a “socialist” or a “communist,” terms as scary to the American electorate as “atheist.”

Bloomberg’s response under the attack by Elizabeth Warren regarding non-disclosure agreements his company may have because of sexual harassment or discrimination issues surprised me.  He should have immediately turned his ire on the legal system rather than trying to respond to her.  In an organization the size of Bloomberg’s, and the ease with which employees can bring suits, there will always be these. Actually, it's a perfect segue to arguing for tort reform.

In any case, it makes no sense for me to analyze the fine differences between the so called “moderate” Democrats (I think all have their hearts in the right place though), but my point is the Democrats are failing to set themselves up strategically.  If they think they can win with Bernie on the ticket, I anticipate a Trump reelection.  My ideal ticket would be along the lines of an Amy Klobuchar for President and someone such as Cory Booker as VP.  My thinking is strictly strategic and with the focus on beating DJT, nothing else.  I know this sounds heedless and cynical, but given how our futures have been compromised, and the Presidency devalued by Trump, that should be the singular goal of the Democratic Party.

“He Died Like a Dog”

When I write in this space I attempt to avoid political topics.  But sometimes you get to the point of screaming invectives and this is the only place to rationally collect thoughts and get it all out.

My over-the-edge moment was the language that DJT used to describe the Special Forces operation to take down al-Baghdadi.

I wanted to wait for the exact transcript to be published to make sure I heard what I thought I did.  Courtesy of NPR, here is some of what he said, as well as my reactions.

We thought, for three days, this is what was going to happen. It was actually — look, nobody was even hurt. Our K-9, as they call — I call it a dog, a beautiful dog, a talented dog — was injured and brought back. But we had no soldier injured. And they did a lot of shooting, and they did a lot of blasting, even not going through the front door. You know, you would think you go through the door. If you're a normal person, you say, "Knock, knock. May I come in?" The fact is that they blasted their way into the house and a very heavy wall, and it took them literally seconds. By the time those things went off, they had a beautiful, big hole, and they ran in and they got everybody by surprise.

I call it a dog?  A beautiful dog?  A talented dog?  A lot of shooting, a lot of blasting, you would think you go through the door? Knock, knock, may I come in?  A beautiful, big hole?

He was asked how did he see exactly what happened.

Well, I don't want to say how, but we had absolutely perfect — as though you were watching a movie. It was — that — the technology there alone is really great.

Watching a movie?  Really great?

Then, the self congratulatory moments:

I kept saying, ‘Where's al-Baghdadi?’ And a couple of weeks ago, they were able to scope him out. You know, these people are very smart. They're not into the use of cell phones anymore. They're not — they're very technically brilliant. You know, they use the Internet better than almost anybody in the world, perhaps other than Donald Trump. But they use the Internet incredibly well… and that's why he died like a dog, he died like a coward. He was whimpering, screaming, and crying.

They use the Internet better than anybody…[but] Donald Trump?  He died like a dog?  (I get it, colloquial street talk but an insult to dogs everywhere!)

All the late night TV shows have made appropriate comic fodder of it all.  But this is the President of the United States talking aimlessly, irresponsibly, putting himself front and center of a very dangerous but successful mission.

DJT is obviously not a “dog person.”  Although dogs love unconditionally, it would be hard even for them to warm up to such a person.

Our last dog, Treat, a Miniature Schnauzer who was born on Halloween, and thus her name, was ill for a year before she died.  We took her to vets, even for Acupuncture.  But we could see it was a losing battle and she did too.  She looked at us with mournful eyes one day, lying in her bed.  We agreed we had to end her pain and ours.  This decision was made on, of all days, the very day we were going to my mother’s funeral.  We called the Veterinarian before we left to bring her in afterwards to euthanize her as we did our last Schnauzer, something we never wanted to go through again.  But it was time.  When we got back from the funeral, she had just passed away, peacefully in her bed, almost as a gift to us.  We still miss her so much.

DJT’s entire speech and press conference revealed a person who lacks the characteristics of man’s best friend, loyalty, gentleness, affection, and courageousness.  Thankfully, a dog had our Special Forces’ back.  Trump’s elementary school level oratory abilities alone expose his lack of leadership skills, as well as his severely damaged psyche.  This is not the behavior of a President of the United States.  And it makes me fearful of ever having to face an immediate national crisis on his watch. 

It’s Time to Rumble

Before the Democrats destroy themselves in their debates, here’s my 2 cents so I can look back and remind myself how wrong I was.

The Democratic Party must strategize, not so the “best” man/woman runs against Trump, but so the most electable ticket is running.  The priority is to defeat someone who should not have been elected in the first place, a confluence of events which perfectly came together to elect the unelectable.  One can simply list these, the modern-day enigma of the Electoral College, the bogus Russian inspired Facebook accounts which spewed propaganda into swing states, Wiki Leaks, team Trump’s nescient campaign tactics (e.g. the meeting with the Russians), Hillary’s arrogance not campaigning in rust belt states, Comey’s eleventh hour reversal on Hillary’s email, and one could go on to document Clinton’s popular vote Pyrrhic victory, while going down where it counts in the Electoral College.  I tried to detail them following the election more than two years ago. 

So if that was the result, how to reverse it in 2020?  The Democrats seem to live in a MSNBC echo chamber.  Biden is the “safe” candidate while Elizabeth Warren seems to be emerging as the progressive favorite.  I worry about Biden in a head to head with Trump.  Yes, he’ll say all the right things. Everyone on MSNBC agrees upon the non-Presidential nature of Trump, that he is corrupt, a liar, and an embarrassment in the international community.  The retort to that was emblazoned on someone’s tee shirt I saw on TV at Trump’s recent Orlando rally: “I didn’t elect a Saint.”  They don’t care.  They feel that Trump is the first politician who has their backs; how ironic is that given he was born with a tarnished silver spoon and has lavished his rich friends with most of the “benefits” of his presidency.

Elizabeth Warren on the other hand is not the “safe” candidate, but sort of like the hand grenade Trump was in 2016.  But will it explode in the Democrat’s faces?  Dare they chance it?  Trump has already branded her a “socialist.” Have the Trump supporters ever considered SOCIAL Security, public schools, Medicare, Medicaid, and all the benefits they would never want taken away (oh, except Medicaid if it was needed by the good-for-nothing unemployed or indigent).  Warren would be tougher on the financial system which is gamed to benefit those who are part of the Plutocracy.  But is that going to bring out the rust belt voter?  If she runs for President, the now favorite Trump mantra will be emblazoned in our brains, “Freedom vs. Socialism,” 24 x 7, Fox and Friends, taking up the cause.   

I’m hoping for a candidate from the “flyover” country and I’m focusing on Senator Michael Bennet of Colorado, Governor Steve Bullock of Montana, or Representative Tim Ryan of Ohio, all more moderate candidates from fly-over states, ones who can drain some of the on the fence Republican voters, capture the independents, and retain the Democratic base.  Pragmatism over idealism. Perhaps someone such as Kamala Harris would run as the VP on the ticket to satisfy the more progressive minds and get a woman on the ticket.  In other words, I’m simply hoping for a WINNING ticket against Trump and all he symbolizes. 

Warren vs. Trump might be fun in the Twitter universe, but I’d be concerned about what people would do in the privacy of the voting booth.  How many people are there, who were Republican, and now call themselves “Independents” and who claim they detest Trump personally but are sympathetic to his “accomplishments” (like what, stacking SOTUS with conservatives)?  I’m not saying a fly-over candidate is going to win all these people over, but some?  Especially in the important swing states? 

In any case, this is a rumble, a gang war coming up.  Grab your zip guns even though they have AR-15s. Confront him with the least assailable ticket.
 

P.S.  Coincidentally, a MarketWatch article published the day after I wrote this sort of underscores the argument :  “If [Warren is] the Democratic nominee, that may help Trump, too. Politicians from Massachusetts generally blow presidential elections, and always for the same reason. They can’t campaign in Middle America.” The opinion is based on shifts in the betting odds. Money on the line beats any poll and the Democrats, as in 2016, may be taking this for granted, especially with a far left of center candidate from a Blue coastal State.

 

A Cuban Humanitarian Crisis in the Making

The Cuban people have been pursuing the benefits of becoming more of a capitalist society.  This was evolving even before President Obama made it possible for Americans to once again visit the island.  Since then it has been accelerating, particularly in the tourist related industries with cruise lines being able to dock there.  The Cuban tourist industry had been dependent on European and Canadian visitors, but after Obama’s effort at detente more Cubans secured governmental licenses to work as private entrepreneurs, mostly in the tourism and related industries. 

The Trump administration has been diligently working on dismantling anything remotely connected with Obama.  It had been slowly reversing détente with Cuba and last week suddenly, without warning, went into high gear by eliminating “people to people” visits, including those by American cruise lines.  In one fell swoop, it cruelly damaged our relations with the Cuban people.   I underscore “people” as they are the ones who will mostly suffer this action.

Here was a golden opportunity to further win over the Cuban people, neighbors only 100 miles off shore. Instead, we could have undertaken a humanitarian effort to address food shortages (don’t our farmers have an excess of food capacity because of the China trade war?).  In part these shortages are due to the Trump administration’s U.S. trade embargo, as well as poor central planning by the Cuban government, and the decline in aid from Venezuela because of its political turmoil.  The confluence of all three has hastened a serious food shortage.

The Bolton hardliners see isolating Cuba as a way of punishing the Cuban government for helping keep Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro in power.  But the US clearly has another agenda and that is to overthrow the Cuban government.

So much more could be won by continuing to help the Cuban people on their path to democratization by supporting their ability to make a living through entrepreneurship.  Many Cuban’s now make their living as guides, taxis drivers, managing B&Bs and running restaurants. 

We were among the 800,000 who have visited the island via a cruise line, and as we had booked it before the first of the Trump reprisals went into effect, we were able to engage independent Cuban guides and tours without any effort. 

Our guide in Havana said his main income now was from being a guide rather than work as a well educated engineer.  Our guides in Cienfuegos and Santiago de Cuba were now full-time guides, working for Cuban companies which would not have been possible only a few years before.  Each guide enlisted a driver for one of the old 50s cars for the day.  These men diligently and proudly keep up these old automobiles.  They cleverly fabricate parts which haven’t been available in decades.  They too have become victims of this ill conceived decree as well. Entrepreneurship is burgeoning in Cuba and we are helping to kill it.  

To put a face on this argument, here are the guides pictured with Ann:

 Our Havana Guide:

   Our Cienfuegos guide:

 

   Our Santiago de Cuba guide:

 

A strategy of working with the Cuban people on the one hand, and negotiating with the government on the other would seem to be preferable.  It certainly was bearing fruit under the Obama administration.  It is yet another failure of the cold and compassionless Trump administration; I feel for the Cuban people.  Those we met had such high hopes that American tourism would lead them all into greater prosperity and increase the chances of repairing relations between governments.  I can imagine how this cruel act will be turned into anti-American fodder by the Cuban government.