October 22, 2019--Jack Sputtering

Jack, alone, was slumped in a booth, seemingly talking to himself when we arrived at the Bristol Diner. 

Rona poked me and mouthed that maybe we should leave him alone. 

She whispered, "I think he's unraveling."

"If he is then maybe we should sit with him."  She nodded and led the way. 

"What's up Jack? You seem all out of joint?"

"I'm sick of those assholes."

"Who might they be?" Rona asked.

"Senators."

"Senators?" I said, "All of a sudden you care about them? I thought all that interested you was your president."

"That's my point."

"I'm not following you," I said. "Though I assume you're bent out of shape about the Republican senators."

"You assume correctly."

"I don't see why you're so down on them," Rona said, "They've rolled over for him. They'd be among those who wouldn't care if he shot someone on Fifth Avenue. All they're interested in is covering for him so he doesn't sic his base on them. Primary them, for example. They'll do anything to get reelected and believe if they cover for him, if they look the other way he won't come after them."

"It may surprise you," Jack said, "that I agree with most of that. They're a bunch of slimy hypocrites."

"Of course they're hypocrites. But I'm not getting your problem with them. As Rona said they're protecting him. I assume that's what you'd want them to do. Protect him from the Democrats."

"My problem is that these senators don't care about him but only about themselves. They'd throw him under the bus if they thought they could get away with it. This means the protection they provide is very thin and that makes Trump vulnerable."

"From your mouth to God's ear," Rona said. "I am hoping, to be honest, that they do throw him under the bus. My fantasy is that Pence becomes president. As bad as I think he would be he'd be like a breath of fresh air."

"His own people hate Trump and that scares me."

"Hate him?"

"If you were a Republican senator . . ."

"What a nightmarish thought," Rona said.

"If you were a Republican senator wouldn't you hate him? I don't mean express that openly. No one in their right mind who wants to remain in the Senate or run for president in four years would openly criticize him. As I said, they depend upon him to get reelected. So they show support for him and he reciprocates. Talk about quid pro quo."

"But I don't get the hate part. Why do they hate him?"

"They, all senators from both parties think of themselves as being members of the world's most exclusive club. There are only 100 senators, and they pride themeless on their independence and like to pretend they're above the grimy fray. In their own minds they're statesmen and compare themselves favorably to members of the House where representatives are comfortable doing whatever their leaders tell them to do. For example, how to vote. Look at how powerful Nancy Pelosi is. If she says jump, they jump. These days she even has AOC under her thumb. She housebroke her. Pun intended."

"I'm with you so far," Rona said.

"So how do you think it makes senators feel when they find themselves jumping when Trump tells them to do so? Or when Trump's lackey Mitch McConnell tells them to jump? Not too good, right?"

"I imagine not," Rona said.

"If true, then, a whole lot of Republican senators are not feeling very good about themselves. They're not the independent-minded big shots they like to think they are. They're a bunch of lackeys too. And politically and psychologically that can be dangerous for Trump. It means support for Trump in the Senate is thin because it was coerced and therefore is ready to explode or collapse. If Romney or Lindsey Graham, both still wanting to be president like half the senators do, were to pull the plug on their support for Trump, his presidency could come crashing down. Again, because most of the Republican senators hate him for what he has turned them into. How he has diminished and humiliated them. They know he has contempt for them. He doesn't even make the effort to pretend to pay attention to them much less take them seriously."

"This is quite an indictment," I said, "Sorry, though, for the indictment reference."

For the first time that morning Jack smiled.

January 25, 2019--Joe, Say It Isn't So!

Just as I was about to throw my support (such as it is) behind the still non-candidate, Joe Biden, feeling desperate, though it is still almost two years before the next presidential election, to find someone who can win (forget fall in love with), just as I was about to ignore or rationalize his limitations and faults, including the fact that he'll be 78 in two years, there was a front-page story in Thursday's New York Times which revealed that Joe gave a speech at the Economic Club of Southwestern Michigan, to a "Republican-leaning audience" for which he received $200,000 and, at his insistence, was flown in and out on a private jet (forget carbon footprint issues), now confused and totally depressed I don't think I any longer have a candidate who can win and who doesn't make me nauseous when thinking about her or him in the Oval Office.

Two hundred thousand is an obscene amount of money for any speech other than the Gettysburg Address (you had to be there to really appreciate it), and though I hate it, the corruption and hypocrisy it reveals is not what has me bent out of shape (more or less straight-shooter Biden who grew up poor in Scranton now cashing in and flying around in private planes after a lifetime of public service is not my major problem), it's why Joe was addressing a Republican-leaning audience.

It appears he was there to, wink-wink, endorse for reelection, GOP Representative Fred Upton. Upton is not a troglodyte member of the House--there are much worse: think white supremacist Steve King of Kansas--but the recent midterm election is one in which Democrats put aside differences to regain control of the House and thereby reduce Trump's stranglehold on the nation's government. In other words every vote counted more than usual and there was pay-for-play Biden weighing in on Upton's side.

And it likely helped--Upton won in a squeaker by only four and a half percentage points. Luckily the Dems flipped enough other seats to take control of the House so perhaps Biden can claim he did no ultimate harm. After all, Biden said at the talk, Upton is an alleged "champion" in the fight against cancer and is thus "one of the finest guys I've ever worked with." I know fighting cancer is what Biden is largely about but it feels as if Joe was motivated to endorse him as much for the 200 grand he pocketed as for the cancer fighting. 

Closer to the scene, Eric Lester, who chaired the Democratic Party in Berrien County during the midterms, said he considered Biden's "supportive remarks" about Upton "a betrayal."

Sounds right to me.

November 7, 2018--The Economy, Stupid

Briefly since I was up all night listening to the election results--

First, I did pretty well with my predictions. 

Beto O'Rourke did lose by about three points (which for a Democrat in Texas is remarkable) and one would think that would end any talk about his president possibilities in two years, but last night on MSNBC there was chat about his running and in this morning's New York Times speculation about his potential candidacy.

Then, by far the biggest headline from the evening's results was the Democrats winning control of the House of Representatives. By a somewhat bigger margin than predicted by most. Adam Schiff, who will become chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, essentially announced that in January there will be wide-ranging investigations of Trump and his minions, including demands that they have access to his tax returns. 

The takeover of the House by Democrats will also assure that Mueller's eventual report will see the light of day. Even if Trump fires everyone associated with the investigation Schiff and his colleagues will have the power to subpoena it and make it public. 

And, one bonus from Schiff's ascension, is that we won't have to pay attention anymore to the departing chairman, Trump funky Devin Nunes.

On the Democratic side there did not appear to be any stars waiting for 2020 to be born. Perhaps Gavin Newsome, who will become California's governor might turn out to be credible. I know nothing about him (all talk about California presidential candidates have thus far centered around Senator Kamala Harris), but as my father would point out if he were still around--he has "presidential hair."

Finally (and then back to bed) though James Carville's insight when it comes to national elections is that it's always the economy, stupid, that was not true last night. It was about healthcare, healthcare, healthcare and immigration, immigration, immigration. And, yes, concern about Trump's abhorrent behavior. A full 30 percent said to vote against him was a major reason why they turned out.

Thinking about going forward, it will be important to see how many white women and young people voted, for whom, and by what numbers. Because by 10:00 am today the 2020 election moves to center stage.

October 23, 2018--Political Slut

Midterm election day is just two weeks from today. 

Two weeks at the end of a campaign can be a lifetime in voter mood swings. And, if you agree that this is the most consequential election of our lifetime, I hope you will consider how I am viewing it.

More than anything else voters need to restore some check and balance to the current political situation. James Madison was right--our system is designed to have divided government in order to prevent the emergence of a totalitarian leader. We face that prospect today. It is aided and abetted by the fact that the president and both houses of Congress are in the control of just one party.

Since the president is not on the ballot (except as a self-nationalizing surrogate), it is essential to flip at least one House. I think, forget the Senate. If anything, Republicans are likely to increase their majority there by at least two seats. Three or four incumbent Democratic senators are likely to lose and at most two states will switch from red to blue. Thus, the Senate will almost certainly remain in Mitch McConnell's gulag.

The House, though, is another matter. There, I am projecting, that as many as 35 Republicans will be defeated but only two or three Democrats. Enough to return the House to Democratic control.

But with Trump, the unusual often turns out to be the new usual. He has made this election about himself and has demonstrated the capacity to bring about electoral surprises. For example, two years ago by winning the presidency.

So, I say, when considering who to vote for forget totally issues that may be close to your heart. Become the same kind of political slut I am--obsessed about only one thing: winning.  

If you are passionate about gun control (I am) ignore the fact that the Democrat from your district running for the House is against what you consider to be meaningful gun control, hold your nose and vote for him or her anyway. (The Democratic House challenger here in Maine is featured in his TV ads as comfortable at a rifle range.)

If you are committed to single-payer healthcare--Medicare for all--(as I am) and if your Democratic candidate opposes this because he or she sees it as a budget-buster, for the moment forget that and vote for her or him.

And if you feel so strongly about preserving unfettered abortion rights that in all other circumstances it would be a litmus-test issue for you (I generally do feel this way), for the good of the larger cause, take a few deep breaths and pull the lever for the Democrat running in your district who supports some limitations on abortion--say, late term abortions--because unless he or she does take this position, to line up with the will of her or his potential constituents, the Republican will win and this will undermine the larger agenda--the desperate imperative to win back the House.

You get my point.

After we win, we can go back to debating issues. To do so now is a luxury we cannot afford. 

Also, during this final two weeks get involved. 

Make get-out-the-vote calls. Especially to Hispanic voters. Even if you are agoraphobic or have medical issues, you can do this from home in your pajamas. There is no excuse just to vote. Get directly to work. It is that important. 

There is no underestimating how empowered Trump and his people will feel and be if the Republicans retain control of all three branches of government (also, add the Supreme Court with its 5-4 conservative majority to this list). Unless some limitations are imposed on Trump's power by defeating him in at least the House (where serious investigations can take place as soon as January 1st) it will be a dangerous and depressing two or six more years.

Trump needs to be deflated. Right now. In two weeks.

April 30, 2018--Alter Boy

Devoted to the simplistic macho writing of novelist Ayn Rand, House Speaker Paul Ryan, when it comes time to be a tough guy in real life--as they used to say in my old Brooklyn neighborhood--folds like a cheap camera.

But he had me going there for awhile the other day when I picked up some breaking news that he had fired the House chaplain, Father Patrick Conroy. 

These priests can't keep their hands off those teenage House pages, I thought, like so many in the Congress have been prone to in years past. Remember in 2006 Florida Representative Mark Foley of the wandering hands? 

The Speaker, I thought, liberated by his decision to step aside later this year, in high dudgeon, finally wielded his power. Maybe, I also thought, perhaps he will find a way to croak out a few words of criticism about his president. 

I know, don't hold my breath.

But then, true to his form, when the full story came out, it appears that the Speaker reverted to his craven self.

He sacked the good Father because in one of his morning sermons (which no one usually listens or pays attention to), rather than bringing Jesus into the House, he alluded to the unfairness of the tax cuts Congress was debating with Paul Ryan, about the only subject that makes his heart beat fast or evokes his piety--cutting taxes for the rich--egging his members on. Not that they need much egging.

Last November, when the House was considering the tax bill, in his morning prayer, Rev. Conroy said--

May all members be mindful that the institutions and structures of our great nation guarantee the opportunities that have allowed some to achieve great success, while others continue to struggle. May their efforts these days guarantee that there are no winners and losers under new tax laws, but benefits balanced and shared by all Americans.

With these compassionate words, he was cooked. 

About a week later the father was admonished by the Speaker's office. He claimed, "A staffer came down and said, 'We are upset with this prayer; you are getting too political'."

Because of Ryan's action, a religious war broke out on the floor of the House. Not a burning issue for me, but this flap exposed another fissure in Congress between traditional, mainly Northern Catholics and Southern evangelical Republicans, who want very different kinds of chaplains to lead their daily prayers. 

The Dems are sitting back enjoying the scrum, happy to add this to their list of Republican unforced political errors, hoping it will help them win enough seats in November to take control of at least the House of Representatives.

And while they're at it maybe they'll take a look at the extra-constitutional practice of both houses of Congress having chaplains on the payroll. James Madison, for one, resisted the idea that Congress should employ them if the framers wanted there to be a clear separation between church and state.

Again, don't hold your breath because in the meantime, carved in the marble lintel above the Speaker's chair in the House is, "In God We Trust."

But not to worry, there will soon be lots for Congress to do. Like impeaching the president.

March 15, 2018--Trumpian Sans Trump

I've been arguing for some time that if Democrats want to recapture Congress, much less the White House, we have to erect a big tent that in fact is widely welcoming. Not just a tent for appearances sake.

This means we need to select and support candidates who in addition to sharing our social justice concerns are likely to believe in some things that are Trumpian. Especially in congressional districts in the vital middle of the country where Electoral votes are in play and incumbents can be flipped.

Case in point this week was the election in southwestern Pennsylvania of Democrat Conor Lamb.

He won in a squeaker but astonishingly in a district that went for Trump in 2016 by 20 percentage points. A district where in the previous two congressional elections a Republican was elected unopposed. It's that Republican, that red.

Lamb in his first TV commercial was pictured handling and firing an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle. It was not just to remind us that he had been a Marine but also to signal to his gun-oriented potential constituents that he not only believes in the "right" to bear arms but is comfortable with them. More specifically that he's not a Democrat who if elected will descend in a black helicopter to take away people's guns.

To most of my Manhattan friends this would be enough to lead to disdain for him and doom for his candidacy.

If my friends could somehow manage to get by his comfort with guns what would they think about the fact that as a practicing Catholic he does not believe in abortions?

For pretty much everyone I know in New York City failing these two litmus tests (pro guns and pro "life") would make it impossible to vote for him. And so Rick Saccone (Lamb's opponent) would easily have won and there would be one more Republican in Congress lending enthusiastic support to Donald Trump's regressive agenda. (Saccone Tuesday night claimed that Democrats "hate America and hate God.")

On the other hand, Lamb is dovish and a strong supporter of strengthening and protecting Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and various other social safety nets. He also is a fervent friend to organized labor and was endorsed by virtually all the unions that have a large presence in his district.

And, I almost forgot, though he personally does not support abortions, he unequivocally opposes any efforts to limit them.

In some ways he is Trumpian but his version does not include the actual Trump. Just a congruence of views on a few social issues. Important ones, to be sure, but ones we have to get comfortable with tolerating if we want to win in much of America.

There are 435 congressional districts in the United States, each with a member in the House of Representatives. To take control of the House, Democrats need to flip at least 24 seats. Tuesday night Keystone Staters flipped one. To win the others, and perhaps a dozen more, will require that our tent welcomes and we vote for candidates such as Conor Lamb. 

Like Lamb most middle-of-the-road Democrats will fail some of our traditional litmus tests. But if we want to again became the majority party, we need to attract similar candidates who appeal to their local constituencies and thereby have a chance of winning.

We claim we embrace diversity. If that is more than just words, it is imperative that we put our votes where our mouths are.

May 5, 2017--Winners & Losers

Though Republicans members of the House of Representatives did not pause to see what the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office would say about the consequences of the healthcare legislation they rushed to approve, the New York Times did an instant analysis of who won and who lost.

What the Times found should be no surprise and suggests why GOP House members were in such a hurray to vote--if any of them took the time to read the legislation (few did) they might have been embarrassed to be made aware of what was in the bill and what they were heartlessly voting for.

It also might have given them pause before, like needy children, they rushed to Big Daddy at the White House to have him praise them for their dastardly deed. And, yes, to have a Bud Lite together before heading back to their home districts for yet another ten day-vacation. They had after all had to work for their $174,000 salary for two whole weeks since their last "recess."

Here are the winners and losers--

Winners:

High-income earners--eliminates taxes for couple earning at least $250,000 a year.

Upper-middle-calss people without pre-existing health conditions.

Young middle-class people without pre-existing health conditions.

People who opt to go without insurance--the bill eliminates the individual Obamacare mandate.

Large employers--eliminates employer Obamacare mandates.

People who want less comprehensive coverage.

Losers:

Poor people.

Older adults in most states.

People with pre-existing health conditions in many states.

State governments because of cuts in Medicaid--including, little noticed, for special education.

Hospitals--because up to 24 million people will lose coverage and thus hospitals will have fewer patients. Millions will again seek care in high-cost emergency rooms.

Planned Parenthood which will not be allowed to receive any government funds for at least one year.

April 7, 2017--Congressional Dye Job

There was something familiar looking about Adam Schiff yesterday morning during his appearance on Morning Joe.

As the ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee he's in high demand these days by the media since the Intel Committee is one of two congressional committees investigating the Trump administration's various Russian involvements.

Though their work is supposed to be confidential, since national security may be at stake, he and his fellow committee members, especially the chairman, Devin Nunes have not been shy about appearing on TV and in some cases inappropriately even thinking out loud that they wouldn't be "surprised" if at the end of the day some people who are apparently involved in dealing less than legitimately with Putin and his people will wind up in jail.

2020 presidential candidate  and committee member Joaquin Castro said as much earlier this week. He got lots of headlines for that as did a number of other Democrats who chimed in. Half the Dems on the committees it seems are also thinking about running for president in four years.

I peered intently at Schiff to see what might have triggered my curiosity about the way he looked. Was it that he reminded me of my Uncle Ben or Mr. Gatti, my 5th grade teacher?

I tried squinting to see if would help.

Then there was the first of the morning's breaking news--under pressure to step aside because of his behaving as a Trump apologist, eager to do his bidding, rather than a more-or-less impartial investigator, Nunes "temporarily"suspending his Russian Connection involvement.

Nunes' picture popped up on the screen.

"That's it!" I said to Rona, who had no idea why I was so excited. "They have the same hair!"

"The same what?"

"Hair. Schiff and Nunes. Look." I pointed at the TV, "Not the same hair but the same color. I mean the same dye job. Isn't that amazing?"

"I'm beginning to be concerned about you," Rona said. "Can we watch something fluffy? I've already had my daily fill of this and I'm worried about you. You're in danger of going off the deep end over Trump and his people. Is there a MASH or Seinfeld rerun to distract us?"

"I think I know why they have the same hair color," I said.

"You can tell me on one condition."

"What's that?"

"That after you do we watch an episode of Married With Children. I hate that show but it always gives you a few laughs, which you desperately need. In fact, the next time you go to see Dr. Heller I want you to talk with him about this."

"This? You mean their hair?"

"No, your obsession with everything having to do with Trump. Maybe there's some medication he can prescribe."

Ignoring that, I asked, "Is this just a coincidence? The both of them having the same color dye? What are the odds of that?

"I wouldn't know and I don't care."

"I don't care but I'm sure I know."

"Lord help me."

"They go to the same barber. And I bet it's the House barber."

"The House barber? The House of Representatives has a barber?"

"More than that. A barber shop and a hair salon for female members. I saw them one time when a congressman I was working with walked me around the Capital and showed me that and their gym and swimming pool and sauna and of course the cafeteria and restaurant. Where things are either free or very low cost."

"So your theory is that Nunes and Schiff go to that barber rather than ones in the districts?"

"Exactly. I can hear them telling the barber 'Give me a Nunes or a Schiff.'"

"Like people used to ask for an Elvis or Farrah." Rona was getting into it.

"I wonder what else our representatives are getting as perks. I know they get a minimum of $174,000 in salary and $250,000 a year for office and travel expenses which means that they effectively fly for free."

"And don't forget the free parking at Reagan Airport. Right by the terminals."

"And pensions that are way beyond what ordinary employees or executives get. I looked that up the other day. After 20 years in office they get $59,000 a year. More than twice what they'd get or a typical retiree would get from Social Security."

"This is making me sick to my stomach," Rona said.

"Congress meets only part of the year and so members get 239 days a year off. They work on many of those days back home, but really."

"Can we change the channel?" Rona pleaded with me.

"Here's my favorite thing--they get platinum health care of course, much of the cost of which is subsidized by, you'll never guess, Obamacare. I'm sure when they repeal and replace it they won't be taking away that subsidy."

"Is it any wonder people who are struggling to get by are made crazy by this?"

"At least if Congress did its job. But one more thing," I said.

"As long as it's the last thing."

"I promise. But back to the hair business. Don't you think that if they didn't have their own hair place in the Capital they would benefit by going to barbershops in their home districts? Barber shops and beauty parlors are great places to stay in touch with constituents. Better than town hall meetings where everyone is screaming and yelling."

"Joaquin Castro was right--they need to be put in jail."

September 25, 2013--GOPcare

Forty-two times Republicans in the House of Representatives have voted to repeal or defund Obamacare.

Most recently the end of last week when they did so as part of a budget package to make the entire federal budget contingent upon eliminating it. Effectively, they said, if you want the Affordable Care Act, there will be no government--no Social Security, no Medicare, no national parks, no aid to education, no airport security, no oversight of drugs and medicines, and even (their favorite federal program) no military.

And then they went home for their 6th or 7th vacation of the year.

Additionally, they left a marker back in Washington, saying that unless Obamacare is ended by the end of October they will not vote to raise the debt ceiling. They will not vote to pay for federal programs that they themselves already enacted into law.

Effectively, they are, with this, drawing a legislative red line which asserts that unless the Democrats and the president go along with this they will allow the United States for the first time in history to default on our financial obligations--if you have T-Bills, they will not pay you the interest you thought was guaranteed; and the U.S. dollar will no longer serve as the world's reserve currency because we will have welched on our international debts and obligations.

All because of Obamacare. All because the GOP leadership has caved in to the Tea Party crazies who are really anarchists seeking to eliminate most of our government, seeing nearly all of it profligate and evil.

While spending much of the past two years futilely voting against Obamacare, the Republicans have not put forth a credible alternative health care plan of their own. One to cover the 44 million Americans who who have no coverage, or would have none if Obamacare were to be rolled back--mainly dependent children and lower-income workers whose employers do not provide medical insurance or do not have the $5,000 to $10,000 a year to buy their own insurance.

By not voting in favor of a plan of their own the GOP is rendering a death sentence to hundreds of thousands of Americans who will die prematurely without preventative or on-going care.

I know for these radical Republicans the death penalty is one of their favorite governmental programs; but at least executing people comes after someone commits a heinous crime and is tried and convicted.

To kill people (and that in fact is what we're talking about) because they cannot afford to pay for an operation or cancer-fighting medications is not so different from condemning someone to death through the courts.

One difference--we usually put people in the gas chamber one at a time. Denying people the medical help they need and deserve is nothing short of mass murder.