March 7, 2019--How to Lose In 2020

Right now, in real time, House Democrats are busy tearing themselves apart and working hard to lose the 2020 election.

The Washington Post is reporting that House Democrats erupted into a full-scale brawl Wednesday, challenging leaders over indirectly sanctioning freshman Representative Ilhan Omar for alleged anti-Semitic remarks amid an outcry over party inaction to President Trump’s divisive comments on race. 

In a closed-door session, Democrats protested plans to vote this week on a resolution condemning religious hatred, a measure prompted by Omar’s comments last week suggesting supporters of Israel have “allegiance to a foreign country.” 

House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer (D-Md.) said Wednesday there may not be a vote this week on any resolution. “We’re discussing what is the best way to address it." 

Many of those speaking out Wednesday were members of the Congressional Black Caucus, who bristled at the notion that Omar would be targeted for a rebuke--even an indirect one, as Democratic leaders had planned--while lawmakers remain silent about Republican behavior, especially that of Trump. 

“I think there’s a big rise in anti-Semitism and racism, and that’s a bigger conversation we need to be having,” said Rep. Cedric L. Richmond (D-La.). “But it starts at 1600 Pennsylvania. It doesn’t start with one member out of 435 members of Congress.” 

It is my view that also at issue is what is implied by the "indirect" rebuke to Omar in the resolution which, originally spoke only about anti-Semitism but subsequently, to broaden the criticism and take some of the onus off Omar, was redrafted to include condemnation of anti-Moslem, racist, and homophobic behavior. 

It is just this kind of identity politics that will ironically fuel the great divider's, Trump's claim that Democrats are about dividing rather than unifying people and how this exposes that Democrats will pander to any interest group in a desperate search for votes.

It also will contribute to making it more difficult for Democrats to nominate a moderate, which in turn means it will be more likely that Trump will find a way in 2020 to secure 270 Electoral votes.

We need to keep our eyes on the prize--winning in 2020. After winning, we can get back to struggling with legitimate and productive disagreements about social policy.

February 12, 2016--The Beginning of the End of Bernie Sanders

In yesterday's debate with Bernie Sanders, Hillary Clinton won by a TKO.

For non-boxing fans, a TKO is a technical knockout. One fighter is doing so poorly that the referee steps in to stop the match.

Last night, the PBS and CBS moderators stepped in and ended it seven minutes early. Not because they lost track of time but because Hillary was overwhelming Bernie to the point that he began to resemble Marco Rubio--no matter the question he kept returning to his default position that the economy is rigged and it is the one-percent who benefit at the expense of the rest of us.

His problem was exposed early when Hillary dismantled his health care plan. Such as it is.

Agreeing that Obamacare is not the final answer--20 million Americans are covered by it but at least that many remain unprotected--she calmly, subtly, and not-so-subtly poked holes in his ideas to pay for it.

This was not that difficult to do because Sanders' numbers do not add up (nary a progressive economist disagrees with that) and he was left on stage unstrung. So much so that I found it hard to watch as I hate uneven boxing matches. American Idol was on TV at the same time and, political junky that I am and far from a fan of Hillary's--Joe Biden where are you--I still found myself switching back and forth.

So where are we?

Again last night a newly-retooled Hillary was politically brilliant at calmly playing to and at times pandering to the next demographics that she and Bernie will face in Nevada (Latinos) and South Carolina (African Americans). Though Bernie also could be shameless in reaching out to these communities, it was obvious that Hillary is much better at it. To be fair, she is also much more experienced in working with and for people of color and more comfortable talking about their issues, experiences, needs, and aspirations.

So it was Clinton by a TKO.

Bernie's only hope was that no one was watching. Aren't we all by now suffering from debate fatigue? Even if that was true, he has a chance in Nevada but will surely lose in South Carolina. The congressional Black Caucus endorsed her yesterday, South Carolina Congressman Jim Clyburn will do so this weekend and, chiming in, the bellwether Reverend Al Sharpton, incapable of turning away from a mealticket, will be on board by the middle of next week.

Among other things, I feel badly for young people (including my niece) who have made such a passionate commitment to Bernie.

But there is some good news--there's a lot to learn about life when things are not going your way and it feels as if you are being unfairly (or fairly) pummeled. It is at those times when the depth of one's beliefs are challenged that it is necessary to dig deep and keep on fighting. To use an old-fashioned phrase--it's character building. Who can't use more of that?