November 26, 2020--Post-Democracy

Some friends have been chiding me because, even after what they see to be Trump's outrageous "post-democracy" behavior, I am still not agreeing that he has been attempting to overthrow the U.S. government in a coup to bring Mussolini-like fascism to America. 

I do see authoritarian inclinations, strong ones, but continue to feel that a comparison between, say, 1930s and 40s Italy and today's America is not historically persuasive. Among other things the economies are only loosely comparable.  

I tell my friends that though I still feel that Trump preposterously continues to seek reelection it is less for programmatic reasons than to keep from being prosecuted. 

However, I am already worried about our political future, including what is likely to happen between now and the 2022 midterms and the 2024 presidential election.

I am inclined to be more practical than ideological and so what's specifically on my mind is to do everything I can think of to understand why 54 percent of white women voted for Trump in 2016 and why Trump recently was able to secure 47.2 percent of the popular vote. From a disturbing 73.4 million voters. 

We need to understand this more fully so we can be effective in dealing with the dangerous implications for American democracy.

November 23, 2020--Turkeys

It is a Thanksgiving tradition for the president to pardon from execution a turkey or two.

Trump is anything but a traditionalist, but this year he will do tradition one better--he will pardon a whole flock of turkeys. 

And unlike 2019 when we didn't learn their identities until the end of the White House ceremony ("Bead" and "Butter"), this year's pardonable turkeys will be familiar to us--

"Eric"

"Ivanka"

"Don Jr"

"Jared"

"Melania"

And of course, "The Donald" himself

November 19, 2020--All Quiet

Many are wondering why Republicans in Congress and the heartland have been so reluctant to confront Trump about his refusing to acknowledge that Joe Biden defeated him on Election Day. 

Yes, he's a wounded bully. Yes, he appears to need a few extra days, weeks, or months to come to grips with the fact that he's a loser.

What's the rush? Shouldn't we give the guy a little space? It's hard being thrown out of office.

But of course Trump is using the extra time to try whatever Rudy Giuliani can come up with to undermine the mandate Biden received from voters.

In fact, though, what explains Trump's and Republicans' behavior is best understood through a look at some obvious numbers.

To be specific, 73,526,567 of them. 

The number of people who voted for Trump.

Yes, Biden amassed many more--in total, 79.4 million (5.9 million more than Trump). But if you were a Republican it would be that 73.5 million that would stick in you mind. 

So, again, it's all about getting reelected. Though, before coming to that conclusion let's see how things go January 5th in Georgia.

November 18, 2020--Rudy Time

It is reliably reported in the NY Times that Rudy Giuliani is demanding $20,000 a day to lead the legal defense of his President. 

The former mayor is already doing such a good job I say pay the man what he wants.

He's worth every penny.

 

November 5, 2020--Election Post Mortem

The morning after the vote, yesterday morning, with the counting well under way, I sent the following note to some of my friends--

"I know it isn't good news, but what does it mean and what is going to happen? I'm all out of explanations and insights. You?"

My favorite initial responses were from Rona and Jill Davenport.

From Rona--

"Not what we hoped for but still pretty much what David Plouffe and the Biden campaign thought would happen.  Don't forget the 'red mirage' followed by the 'blue wave.'  And that's what we're beginning to see this morning as the mail-in votes, overwhelmingly Democratic, begin to be counted in Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania.  Florida and Texas were long-shots and North Carolina and Georgia still haven't been called.  

The Senate races are also still happening.  Susan Collins looked like she had a big lead last night.  Not so much this morning with only 69% of the Maine vote in, likely a lot of it from the more rural less democratic counties.  Patience. . ."

And from Jill--

"Oh, God, I can hardly breathe.  

I don’t know what’s happening and for the past couple of hours I’ve been watching the Vuelta a Espagne.  Now I’m going to take Ivy for a walk.  

Things were getting weird last night pretty early.  Dinnertime.  I went to bed and got up at midnight and things were even more weird.  There seems to be a shred of hope in the uncounted ballots and so I’m not knowing how to escape from this emotional whiplash.  

Perhaps we should be prepared for the worst--a quick descent into third worldism.  We can’t escape now, though, even if we wanted to, had the means to do so, and the youthfulness and energy to pursue an escape avenue.  

I love my country and I love baseball and peanut butter and the friendliness which we used to have.  I can’t just roll over and kiss these things goodbye without some kind of fight.  

50 years of robbing us of our bright educations and our finest sensibilities have created the empty fools who follow the empty leader.  And all of this to own the libs, to get back at Obama, to shut down women, and to kill us.  I have little illusion.  

Thanks for geting in touch.  It helps."

Anyone who loves baseball and peanut butter is a good friend to have.

November 3, 2020--Gettysburg Time

What is at stake is nothing less than the fate of our nation.

Lincoln posed that same question at Gettysburg in 1863.

He began--

Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure.

We are testing today the very same thing. Can our nation, conceived as it is, endure.

I am trying to remain optimistic but am not sure how to answer Lincoln's question. We will have part of an answer tonight. And then more in the coming weeks and months.

It is that perilous.

November 2, 2020--How Stupid Is This?

 Trump's 4th or 5th chief of staff, Mark Meadows, already gearing up to run for president in four years, got nailed by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics In Washington (CREW) for illegally spending on himself money raised by Tump's reelection campaign.

In the words of  CREW, Meadows spent thousands on restaurants,  jewelry (I am certain for his wife), cupcakes (yes), and my favorite-- on "Trump-owned establishments."

No wonder Trump has run out of money and can't afford to pay for any last minute attack ads.