Busted

There's a movement afloat called "Bernie or Bust" wherein participants are vowing that if Sanders doesn't win the Democratic nomination, they'll stay home come Election Day this November.

I won't speak for most Democrats, but I became a member of the Democratic Party because, at least in theory (doesn't always work as it should in today's world), Democrats put people first.  While we have never been perfect, politically we've done a lot more good than ill for the American people.  And that's why our tent is so much bigger than republicans--we're a party of the people, not of overzealous religious organizations or greedy corporate trusts.

I would be hard pressed in my forty years of following the Democratic Party and its liberal wing to find a movement that was more short-sighted than the Bernie or Bust movement.  There would be very real consequences for very real people, most of whom are going to be poor and minorities, if the republican party held all three branches of our government.  And, no, it wouldn't lead to a the revolution so many of its supporters dream would happen--just ask the folks in Wisconsin and my current home state of Michigan, where Scott Walker and Rick Snyder cruised to re-election despite running their prospective states down the shitter.

When you sign on with an organization like Bernie or Bust, you are the antithesis of everything Liberals stand for--you are in effect saying principles are more important than people.

And you should be voting republican in this fall.

Peace,
emaycee

A very real silent majority

I happened to be watching some news story about a Donald Trump rally and in the background you could see some bozo holding a sign which proclaimed that he was part of the "silent majority."  If you're a student of politics, you know this silent majority  bullshit was first expressed by noted psychopath and only American President to resign in disgrace, Richard Nixon, and is a republican rallying cry for idiots who really are too ignorant to realize that the majority of  Americans actually don't fucking agree with them.

Anyhoo, I was thinking about it because my wife, who is the least political person I know (she only votes in Presidential elections and really doesn't spend more than two minutes a year thinking about politics) nearly knocked me out of my chair the other day when she told me that she couldn't believe people were actually stupid enough to vote for Donald Trump and that she found these people quite disconcerting.

Methinks Donald Trump and his minions are going to be mighty surprised this November to discover that the real silent majority in America is going to be folks who think a lot more like my wife than those who gobble up what passes for wisdom uttered from the lips of the Donald.

Peace,
emaycee

Can we please dispense with the bullshit?

In his private life, Antonin Scalia may very well have been a wonderful man.  But as a public figure he was a cretinous goon who in his role as a Supreme Court Justice made life immeasurably worse for the vast bulk of Americans, and especially those who were not white, heterosexual, and wealthy.  For Democrats to claim that he merely "disagreed" with us is the height of disingenuousness--Scalia's actions and words were the antithesis of everything we as a party stand for.

His death also creates a very real gut check for the Democratic Party.  While we may not be able to get an Obama nominee through the Senate, we must make republicans pay for their obstructionism each and every day until his replacement by a Democratic nominee--in the court of public opinion and at the ballot box (especially in this year's Senate races),

By any means necessary.

The time to prop up American's poor and middle class, and to empty the feeding trough that the Roberts court has been for Corporate America, is now.

Peace,
emaycee

Three pennies for three thoughts

1)  Rachel Maddow noted on her show last night that Democratic turnout is down from 2008 in the first two primaries this year and wondered if this was cause for concern for Democrats (it should be noted that it's still at historically high levels).  It may well be, but I wonder if it has more to do with the fact that we have two very good candidates this time around and many Democrats will be happy to support either in November.  In all honesty, we have trouble getting Democrats to vote in the midterms and it's hard to imagine them taking the time for a primary when both candidates are appealing.

2)  At the risk of proving just how bad I am at political prognostication, is it possible that Jeb! Bush can mount a comeback in South Carolina?  Probably not, but with Marco "Hal 9000" Rubio, Ben "Delusional" Carson, and John "The Dullard" Kasich as the only republican establishment candidates left, you have to admit there is an opening for him.  Maybe his Mom can put in a good word for Jeb!....

3) Jim Webb announced today that he will not be seeking the White House as an independent  candidate.  Now it's entirely possible that reality set in and his advisers told him that an oak tree had as good of a chance as he did to be the next President, but I have to wonder if it had anything to do with Michael Bloomberg announcing that he was considering an independent run--pretty sure Webb can't sink a billion dollars into a losing campaign just because he thinks he knows better than the American people who our Presidential candidates should be.

Chutzpah aplenty in Neverland these days....

Peace,
emaycee

Much ado about nothing

For the record, I watched about five minutes of the coverage of Tuesday night's New Hampshire primary election results.  Once the projections were made (and nothing that was a surprise) it was on to bigger and better shows.  How the hell MSNBC spent the rest of the night covering it is beyond me--Christ, you could have called this one for Sanders and Trump three months ago.

That being said, boy was I surprised the next morning when everywhere I turned there were folks telling me that because 91% white New Hampshire had voted overwhelmingly for Bernie Sanders that the revolution had officially begun.  I mean it's over--Hillary can pack her bags and head back to upstate New York.

This despite the fact that the two split the Democratic vote evenly in New Hampshire, the fact that there is absolutely nothing in the national polling that shows Sanders had made the slightest dent in Clinton's rock solid support among people of color, and that the next two primaries are in states that are approximately 60% white (South Carolina) and approximately 50% white (Nevada).  I appreciate the fact that campaigns have to spin their victories (a la Clinton turning an underwhelming victory in Iowa into a big win), and Sanders may well win the nomination, but it won't have anything to do with his victory last night

So wake me when the real revolution begins--Clinton won New Hampshire in 2008 and we all know where that got her:  the Secretary of State gig and an eight year wait for another shot at the oval office.

Peace,
emaycee

Victory lap...

,,,sort of.

Democrats

Nailed it--Clinton won over Sanders in a squeaker and O'Malley has pulled out of the race.

For what it's worth, I'm really beginning to believe Sanders can win the nomination.

Republicans

Can't win 'em all--Cruz ended up topping Trump, but I got Rubio in third (where pretty much every poll had him finishing--can't say I'm a science denier!).  Huckabee, Paul, and Santorum have all ceased their campaigns as I predicted.  Jim Gilmore, on the other hand, told Rachel Maddow that if he got one vote, one stinking vote, he'd consider it a victory.  He got 12 (!) so one supposes he feels he's cruising to the nomination now.  It remains to be seen if he can top that total in New Hampshire.

Not sure if Trump's campaign implodes at this point or passes its first gut check, though if I had to bet a dollar on it I'd put it on an implosion.

Not sure if I'd rather face Cruz or Rubio in November--Cruz is a little more cutthroat, but Rubio's got the traditional media believing he's a credible candidate instead of the lightweight he actually is.

Either way, I still think it's the Democrats race to lose.

Peace,
emaycee

Wrong!

For shits and grins (and it'll probably be a lot more shits than grins) here's my fearless forecast for tomorrow night's Iowa Caucus:

Democrats

Hillary Clinton wins a squeaker over Bernie Sanders.  O'Malley is out of the race before the week is over.

Republicans

Donald Trump wins a close one over Ted Cruz.  Marco Rubio finishes third.  Jeb! Bush stays in the race waiting for South Carolina to put the final nail in his coffin.  Christie and Kasich have put all their chips in the pot for New Hampshire so they live to fight another week.  Fiorina stays in because the big money boys want a woman to stay in the race to bash Hillary because somehow in their small little minds that makes it seem fairer to the rest of America.  Carson fights another week because he's delusional.  Huckabee, Santorum, Paul, and Gilmore pull the plugs on their comatose campaigns.

Just remember when your preferred candidate does much better than my prediction you know who to thank....

Peace,
emaycee

Reasons to be cheerful, 2015 edition

It can be easy in light of the vile words and actions of Donald Trump and his supporters (and other republican candidates), or the never ending strength of the NRA, or another disappointing decision concerning murder by police officers in Cleveland, or another senseless killing by police in Chicago, or the constant stream of hatred directed toward Muslims, or the continued influence of money in our political system, among many, many others to remember that we Liberals had a pretty good year in 2015.

   To wit:

• We have three solid candidates to offer the American people for the Presidency of the United States in 2016--which is three more than republicans have.
• Minimum wage increases were passed from Los Angeles to Rhode Island to New York--with wages as high as $15.00.  There's still work to do, but it's a solid start.
• A treaty was passed with Iran that in the long run will make the Middle East--and America--safer.
• Relations with Cuba were normalized after more than fifty years of poisoned and pointless policy that accomplished absolutely nothing other than securing Cuban-American votes for republicans in Florida.
• Marriage equality is the law of the land--let me repeat that:  Marriage equality is the law of the land.
• Obamacare broke records again this year for sign-ups and the number of Americans without health insurance is at all-time lows.
• A climate accord was reached in Paris that, while imperfect, is nonetheless once again a good start for the good guys.
• Bernie Sanders--a Democratic Socialist?  Who'd have ever thought he'd run such a strong campaign?  And, yeah, it's a long shot he'll win, but it's the best shot the left wing of our party has ever had.

Onward in 2016!

Happy New Year,
emaycee

Game, set, match

During a pause in Saturday's Democratic debate, the three candidates took a bathroom break, and as the women's restroom was farther away, and as it often takes women just a second or two longer than men to use said restroom, Hillary Clinton was a little later than Bernie Sanders and Martin O'Malley to return to her spot at the podium.

Apparently, in the republican party Bizarroworld, this is a legitimate reason to question whether Secretary Clinton has the right qualities to be President of the United States.  Donald Trump, who, unlike the rest of us, pees honey, termed it "disgusting."

Let me tell you this:  if the republican party is resorting to obsessing over how long it takes Hillary Clinton to go pee, the race for the Presidency in 2016 is already over.

They have absolutely nothing to offer the American people.

Peace,
emaycee

Three's a (good) crowd

The most striking takeaway from last Friday's Democratic Presidential Forum with Rachel Maddow was that of the three remaining candidates--Hillary Clinton, Martin O'Malley, and Bernie Sanders--she interviewed, all three came across as legitimately able to be our next President.

And after watching the circus that has been the republican campaign thus far, that's three more than they have out of their fifteen remaining candidates.

Peace,
emaycee

Oops!

Joe Biden to enter presidential race, Fox News reports

This today, from the most watched news network in America.

Is it any wonder why so many republicans are so ill-informed?

Peace,

emaycee

Clueless Joe

Joe Biden speaking recently:

          "I don't consider Republicans enemies.  They're friends."

And it's good to see that Vice President Biden has no intention of improving on his non-existent showing in the 1988 and 2008 Presidential primary campaigns.

Maybe when it's over he and Jim Webb can reminisce about the (not so) good old days.

Peace,
emaycee

A tangled Webb

Jim Webb pulled the plug on his comatose campaign for the Presidency today, explaining that he'd entered the Democratic race accidentally, and really had meant to join the republican race.

It's not true, but it's a lot more plausible than the bullshit Webb passed off today about the Democratic Party moving too fat to the left as the reason for him ending his campaign.  Not sure what planet Webb was on when he became a Democrat, but the ideas put forth in the first Democratic debate are what the Democratic Party has been about since Franklin Delano Roosevelt opened a can of whoop ass on Herbert Hoover in 1932.

Webb will apparently now consider a run as an Independent, because some political advisers from an alternate universe have him believing that somehow he can convince another sixty some odd million Americans to join the three votes he'll get from the America's remaining Conservadems and make him the next President.

Riiiiiiiiiiight...

Peace,
emaycee

The first Democratic Debate, in a word

For those of you who don't have the time for lengthy recaps:

Jim Webb:  Republican
Lincoln Chafee:  WTF?
Martin O'Malley:  SOL
Bernie Sanders:  Inspiring
Hillary Clinton:  Formidable
Joe Biden:  Superfluous
The Democratic Party:  Righteous!

Peace,
emaycee

With or without you

Kevin McCarthy, the Speaker of the House in waiting, today made official what anyone with a brain (note:  this does not include the republican base) already knows:  the Benghazi hearings were nothing more than a charade to hurt the campaign of the President of the United States in waiting, Hillary Clinton.

It will be interesting to see if a) the traditional media does its job in giving this admission the front and center attention it deserves, and if so, b) do Hillary Clinton's poll numbers improve?

It will also be interesting to see how republicans react to one of the dumbest declarations in recent American political history being made by the man who along with Mitch McConnell will be the face of their party at least through the end of 2016.

One thing is for sure, though--after McCarthy's boner and yesterday's inept Planned Parenthood hearings, the republican House delegation is going to remain just as incompetent with or without John Boehner.

Peace,
emaycee

Poll position

For all the doom and gloom coming from the media in recent weeks concerning Hillary Clinton's campaign for the Presidency, an aggregate of polls since last March matching Secretary Clinton against republican challengers shows that if the numbers hold Clinton would win by as big of a margin as President Obama did in 2008.

I could live with that.

While methinks the media's reporting might be a wee bit colored by the dollars they will lose if the race is over by Labor Day 2016, there's a part of me that hopes they continue the Clinton is cratering narrative.  Watching the surprise on republicans' faces--a la Mitt Romney in 2012--as they get their asses kicked for the third straight election is just a little too beguiling.

Peace,
emaycee

On Joe Biden campaigning for the Presidency

In a word, no.

Look, I love Joe Biden--he's a great Vice-President (especially when compared to the King of the Oblivious Assholes, Dick Cheney), he's a great Democrat, and his story is inspiring (the loss of his first wife and baby daughter at the age of 30, and the recent loss of his oldest son Beau to brain cancer are not easy tragedies to suffer with grace, and Biden did that and more, all while in the public eye).  He's a Liberal and he has a wealth of experience.

But...we already have a solid Liberal in the race with Bernie Sanders, and one of the few candidates with more experience than Biden, Hillary Clinton.  I just see Biden muddying the race--he really has nothing to add.  While I understand there are concerns about Clinton's e-mail controversy, poll after poll has shown that Americans don't give a rat's ass.  I also know there are those who are concerned about Sanders' electability, but frankly I think they are much overblown because the Electoral map is so much in our favor and Sanders has a message that resonates far and wide.  Factor in that Biden has made two previous runs (1988 and 2008) and made nary a dent with the party faithful, and you have a campaign not ready for prime time.

Plus I have a hunch that of the three who actually have a chance (Webb and Chafee would be worse but neither has a prayer in hell) to win the nomination, Biden is far and away the one the republicans would want to face.  The parallels to Al Gore (another great Democrat) are uncanny--the VP of a successful administration with a propensity to put his foot in his mouth.

Better to smile and wave and go out on a winning note.

Peace,
emaycee

Idiot idea #2

Jeb! Bush is shooting for a 4% economic growth rate during his Presidency, and the way we're going to do it is by having American workers work more hours, and in turn, this would increase our pay.

Been there, done that, and got screwed in the process.  We already work more hours than everyone else in the rest of the world,  have raised productivity to all-time highs, and all we have to show for it is wage stagnation

Short response:  Fuck You,  Jeb!

And should the Democratic nominee in 2016 be Hillary Clinton or Bernie Sanders, their campaigns should absolutely hammer Jeb! Bush over this comment until he's back in the dark cave from which this horrid idea originated.

Peace,
emaycee

Five for fighting

Jim Webb joined the race for the Democratic nominee for President in 2016 today, becoming the party's fifth candidate and leaving us ten behind the republicans.

We've got our work cut out for us if we're going to catch up.

Webb announced without much fanfare, using only a written note on his website.  Webb appears to be seeking the votes of those who like their candidates dull, with undistinguished careers in Congress, and with very little to offer the Liberal wing. While Webb does have a Liberal bona fides or two (opposed the Iraq War, criticizes the role of money in our politics), he is more or less a Blue Dog Dem and they are currently going the way of the dinosaur and the dodo bird.  Like Lincoln Chafee, he seems intent on knocking down Hillary Clinton a peg, which ought to endear him to many Democratic primary voters about as much as Donald Trump.

Fortunately for Webb, Bernie Sanders joined the race and in about six months Jim Webb can go back to doing whatever it is the Jim Webb's of the world do with the rest of their lives.

Peace,
emaycee

Lincoln Chafee jumps in the Democratic fray for 2016

Who?

Peace,
emaycee