Interaction with some Bernie Supporters

 

Yesterday, I commented on a post by a Bernie supporter who will not vote for Biden. The thread contained others posting that Biden was as bad as Trump, some with colorful language. No one flamed me, so it all was polite.

 

While many have commented on this issue, often much more eloquently than I, here is an expanded version of my comment:

 

Agreed, Biden is the most inept of the 2020 candidates. And the DNC affirmatively backed him, or any centrist candidate, over Bernie or Elizabeth. But the DNC did not pull the levers in the primaries. The voters chose him. My theory is their anxiety over the unfamiliar, or the unelectable (as promoted by the media).

 

The voters chose comfort food over good nutrition. And here we are. And here’s my endorsement: As long as Biden is breathing and not demented, he is the better choice. Not because of him, but because of the Supreme Court, the Agency heads, the Attorney General, the thousands of appointees, and the return to some respect for the law and the Constitution.

 

Trump converted the Environmental Protection Agency into the Environmental Destruction Agency, the Education Department into the Charter School Department, the Department of Justice into the Department of Injustice, the Department of the Interior into the Department of Oil and Gas, the Department of State into the Invisible Department of State, the Office of the Attorney General into the Office of Trumpism, and every other Federal agency into its opposite. If he is re-elected, the Supreme Court will become the means to undo abortion rights, civil rights, and much of the Constitution’s protections for all citizens, for a generation at least. Biden and his people will reverse most of the damage. Four more years of Trump and Republican evil will cause irreparable harm to the country.

 

For me this overrides everything else... Hold your nose, if you must, but campaign for him and for every Democratic candidate. Focus on holding the House and taking back the Senate, both essential to a brighter future. Donate to swing key states and districts. Donate to voter registration and get-out-the-vote drives. Above all, keep our eyes on the prize: our future. Whatever you think of Biden, he is not the same as Trump and the Republican party. Please?

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Thursday, 11 April 20

 

Remember Politics?

 

I know it sounds so retro, but there is a Presidential election coming in November. A few comments on the rich guys who have left the race...

 

Michael Bloomberg promised to do whatever it took to oust Trump. He promised to spend a billion if needed. He hired campaign staff, and told them they would be working until November. So, after spending about $900 million on his run, he now has fired his staff, closed his PR operations, and donated $18 million to the Democratic National Committee. Kind of like taking his marbles and going home after losing the game. If running for the Presidency is a test of character, well...

 

Tom Steyer spend several years alerting us to the challenge of climate change. After dropping out, hardly a whisper. What about the challenge of Trump continuing to ignore climate issues?

 

Andrew Yang spoke for the people, but now is a TV talking head. Is that enough leverage?

 

Money is needed for voter registration, fighting voter suppression, getting-out-the-vote efforts, running a slick PR campaign against Trump, taking back the Senate, and making sure that the Democratic candidate wins.

 

So how about getting together, pooling your resources, and helping the cause? Will you be the Three Musketeers, trying to save the country, or will you be the three Mouseketeers, dancing in Fantasyland?

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Sunday, 29 March 2020

 

On the Male Ego

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Some years ago, I gave up all my responsibilities in the American Go Association. Had served as President, Chairman of the Board, and leader of our local club. I didn’t feel less capable, or less interested, or less pleasure in being a leader. It was because I wanted to make way for a new generation of leaders. My replacement as President was about twenty years younger. A few years later, most of the Board of Directors were much younger people. Some capable, others less so. Nonetheless, it was their time, their privilege to go in new directions, and to have their own successes, and their own failures. No regrets.

 

Which brings me to the Democratic Party.

 

Bernie Sanders said he had offered to defer to Elizabeth Warren in 2016, but entered the race after she declined. He could have done the same this time, but chose to run again. Perhaps he believed that his strong showing last time was all about him, and that he could do even better. But the reality is that the crowds in 2016 were both pro-Bernie, and substantially anti-Hillary. He was 77 when this race started. Perhaps a time to assume the role of elder statesman, and leader of progressive policies. But he chose to run. When the heart attack came, he could have reconsidered, and endorsed Warren, but he chose to continue. Now, his run probably is over.

 

Joe Biden, too, was 77 when this started. Slower of step, slower of mind. He, too, could have assumed the role of elder statesman, and leader of moderate policies. But he chose to run. Even if he wins, and most of us will vote Blue no matter who, he promises to be a mediocre President who will not move the country forward. An opportunity for generational change has been lost for at least four more years.

 

Tom Steyer is a successful businessman, strong on climate change and other liberal issues, and personable. He could have continued to use his fortune to promote liberal action, voter registration, and Senatorial campaigns. But he chose to run. However, with no governmental experience, and resistance to the idea that a billionaire could buy a nomination, his run is over.

 

Michael Bloomberg is 78. Another candidate for elder statesman. He also entered the race as a successful businessman, plus twelve years as New York City Mayor. Apparently, he wanted to be the better alternative to Biden. Some small problems with race relations in New York, a flat style, resistance to a billionaire candidate, and an encounter with Elizabeth Warren ended his run. At least he has pledged to continue spending through the election, to help flip the Senate and support a Democratic Presidential candidate. It would help if he also supported voter registration drives.

 

What is the common factor here? All older white males with considerable records of success in their fields. All with enormous egos. All suffering from the delusion that they were the best qualified for the Presidency, and that no one else could do the job as well.

Each one refusing to make way for the next generation of leaders.

 

Imagine a primary campaign with none of these four running. What a wide range of possibilities we could have experienced. Well, maybe next time...

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Friday,  13 Mar 2020

 

The Year of Magical Thinking (A Gentle Rant)

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Reflecting upon the Democratic primary campaign, I think about the B-Boys, Biden, Bloomberg and Buttigieg, and understand that magical thinking still is with us.

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Biden: You know me. I'm a nice guy. I was Obama's number two. I've been in the room when major decisions were made. I know the world's leaders. People like me. Of course you should vote for me.

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Set aside the stumbling over words and thoughts. Set aside the lack of accomplishments in recent years. Set aside the vote for the Iraq war. Set aside my weak platform promising going back to the good old days. Set aside my past failed Presidential campaigns. Set aside my poor debating skills.

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I'm here. You like me. I deserve your vote.

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MAGICAL THINKING...

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Bloomberg: The only way to beat a rich, old white man is to elect a richer, older, white man. I was Mayor for 12 years, so I know how to run things. I've spent my money on good things. Sanders is a threat to rich men and capitalism. Just listen to my slick ad campaign. If Trump is a reality show candidate, then I can be a better reality show candidate. You have to vote for me.

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Set aside my changing the rules to get a third term. Set aside my stop-and-frisk racism. Set aside my sexism. Set aside my sense of entitlement. Set aside my Republican past. Set aside my right wing policies.

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MAGICAL THINKING...

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(On the other hand, what Bloomberg has proven is that a professional ad campaign with unlimited money can buy voters, up to 15-20% support. If he follows through on his promise to spend as lavishly on any candidate to defeat Republicans, Bloomberg could single-handedly throw the Presidential and Senatorial elections to Democrats. Let us hope that he means it...)

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Butigieg: I'm really, really smart. I'm so smart I deserve to be President. My time in Afghanistan made me a military expert. My time as a consultant made me a business expert. I'm a smooth debater and speak in complete sentences. I'm young, and the other leading candidates are old. Vote for new generation of leadership. Vote for me.

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Set aside switching from total Medicare-for-All support, to anti-Medicare-for-All. Set aside the empty slogans. Set aside the calculating desire not to offend. Set aside the thin resume. Set aside the absence of any significant accomplishments.

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MAGICAL THINKING...

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What joins the B-Boys is that each has an astronomically big ego. What joins them is some distance from reality. What joins them is not understanding that people want leadership, not entitlement. Wishing will not make it so. Magical thinking will not make it so. The B-Boys need to disengage and leave the campaign to others.

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Saturday, 22 Feb 2020

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Scanning the Candidates

 

On the eve of the real primary, when people finally decide upon which candidate to support, it seems appropriate to capture my thoughts about the field. In part, this exposes a risk of being wrong, very wrong, about the volatile future. In part, I hope that some of it may resonate with others.

 

We have learned (again) how unstable and unreliable the polls are. We have learned (again) how easy it is to buy a share of public support. We have learned (again) how the search for a perfect candidate can overwhelm reason. We have learned (again) how the main stream can drive a story (electability!) to shape the campaign.

 

My reality is that any reasonable Democratic candidate will overwhelm he-who-must-not-be-named in November. Women, African-Americans, and Democrats of all stripes will come together and win. Plus, a focus on voter registration and turnout, helped by Bloomberg’s and Steyer’s many millions, could increase the Democratic vote by over 10%. A sharp choice of Vice Presidential candidate also could energize, instead of stupefy, the public. In short, I believe that Democrats will unify and carry the election. The Senate, too. At least that is what is in my crystal ball...

 

My current opinions of the candidates:

 

BIDEN

 

Nostalgia for Obama should not transfer to Biden so easily. Being Vice President is something Roosevelt’s Vice President likened to being a “warm bucket of spit.” No power, no real responsibilities. Following Obama’s orders. Joe is not Barack.

 

Biden was against busing. He favored making bankruptcy harder for individuals. He supported the Iraq war. He voted for more incarceration. He didn’t support Anita Hill. And, he was not a major figure in the civil rights movement.

 

Biden failed miserably in two previous tries for the Presidency. And now, he struggles to make sense in speeches, challenges voters to step outside, and remains locked on old ideas.

 

He claims that he will “beat him like a drum.” More likely, he will be beaten to a pulp. Biden is the major candidate most likely to lose the election.

 

BLOOMBERG

 

If a rich, old, white man could win in 2016, then a rich, old, white man can win for the Democrats. This is Bloomberg’s main argument. Sorry. Bloomberg is a New York elite with stop-and-frisk baggage. No great ideas. No rousing speeches. He can buy a fair amount of poll support, but he really can’t buy the election.

 

The Democratic National Committee made its bias clear when it waived the donor requirement, allowing him to appear at the next debate. The other candidates played by the rules. The other candidates refused to cross the picket line in California. They should refuse to appear at the next debate as well.

 

Bloomberg’s money should be spent on voter registration and getting out the vote. He could increase Democratic turnout and guarantee a Democratic victory. Just not his own.

 

BUTTIGIEG

 

Look at the eyes: dead. Look at the face: frozen. He doesn’t want to offend. He doesn’t want to be known. A sharp mind issues nice words, but little substance, and intelligence is not enough. He supported Medicare for All, until switching to oppose it. He tried being a progressive, then switched to Biden-lite. No core values. Not ready for prime time at all.

 

KLOBUCHAR

 

The Democratic right wing’s best hope. Her pitch calls for small changes, instead of big ones. Pragmatism, not aspirations. But after a good one-liner, she struggles to follow up. And her militarism will turn off many Democrats. Nonetheless, she has a chance to win, if the electorate goes conservative.

 

SANDERS

 

I supported Sanders in 2016, but feel that his time and his potential success have passed. Great ideas and lots of passion. But he refuses to say how to pay for Medicare for All, for example. Two questions (at least) could cripple his candidacy: (1) In 2016 you were willing to defer to Warren - Why? (2) Now, you are not willing to defer to Warren - Why? I fear that his past statements, rigidity, and anger will not play well in the election.

 

STEYER

 

A really good guy, but in the end, Don Quixote. He spent over a year promoting impeachment. Now he makes climate change his top priority. Sorry, but it is not and should not be the top priority. My top priority is ending the Republican threat to our democracy. Second is universal health care. Climate change is down the list. Like Bloomberg, he should use his money for voter registration and getting out the vote. He and Bloomberg can ensure a Democratic victory, but neither can win the top spot.

 

WARREN

 

She has stumbled on Medicare for All. First, by raising her hand to abolish private health insurance. One doesn’t win by taking something away from voters, even if it makes good sense. Better to say, you will automatically be enrolled in MCA, and if you want to keep paying an average of $8,000/year to keep it when MCA will give you the same benefits, that is your choice. Second, she stumbled by switching to a four year phase-in. Unnecessary, and compromised the urgency for change. Not too late for her to make it better.

 

She lost her temper with Sanders, and it has cost her votes from those who think that it is ok for a man to lose his temper (many examples), but not ok for a woman to do the same. This can be overcome.

 

As I have written before, a vote for President also is a vote for the people she will bring along with her. And in this, Warren is miles ahead of any other candidate. She has assembled teams of big thinkers, and listens to pros and cons. She has reached out to other candidates for ideas. She encourages criticism (who else does this?). She arouses passion in her supporters, and offers them passion to match. She is tough, and vulnerable. Bright, and compassionate. She is real.

 

I remain convinced that Warren’s candidacy can be the unifier for the Democrats, and a winner in November.

 

YANG

 

Another good guy, but a novelty candidacy at best. His insights into the tech society will serve the Democratic President well.

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So here I am, in a nutshell. Let the primaries begin!

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Monday, 3 Feb 2020