Zibaldone

A zibaldone (plural zibaldoni) is an Italian word that translates to a “heap of things,” “hodgepodge,” or “miscellany.”

Couldn’t care less about Natalie Harp and what she does or doesn’t do for a doddering and feeble 80-year-old man. Just another distraction. I’m much more interested in knowing about the stories of possibly unwilling young women in Trump’s past. The failure to release the entire Epstein files and to conduct a full and transparent investigation will be viewed in history as one of the great moral and ethical failures of this time.

Way too early, but the best Democratic candidates in 2028 appear to be Senator Jon Ossoff of Georgia, former Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, Governor Gavin Newsom of California, and Mark Kelly of Arizona. While I am impressed with Jon Ossoff, I would lean toward Mark Kelly of Arizona as the best Democratic presidential candidate today. Best VP candidate could be Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

Way too early, but I don’t think there are any particularly attractive Republican candidates for president. I think J.D. Vance and Marco Rubio are going to sink to the bottom of the Trump Titanic fiasco. I can’t think of a Republican who has shown backbone, integrity, and good judgment during the Trump presidential administrations. Both Vance and Rubio were highly critical of Trump in the past, and now both bow to him on their knees.

Lindsey Graham’s sister, Darline, was endorsed by Trump for the South Carolina Republican Senate nomination. She is a deer in the headlights. She confessed during a recent debate that she was not familiar with national security issues, and then I realized that neither was her brother when he was in the Senate.

Is anyone remotely competent in the Trump administration and cabinet? Every day, and in every way, you see a variety of issues and problems being mismanaged. Hard to believe that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. still has his job. Astounding things that he says and believes…

So there could be a perfect storm brewing…

Rising Treasury rates as investors seek higher returns because U.S. credit is not as reliable as it once was. This could further spike inflation and make it harder to buy homes, cars, etc. In addition, I’m concerned about the prospects for AI. So much money is being invested. Could there be a correction just like there was with Internet stocks 25 or more years ago? A huge correction in the stock market would also have cataclysmic effects on retirement portfolios, personal finances, etc. Just as our military assets are being depleted, so may our financial assets in the very near future!

Every year I look forward to summer, and just about every year summer disappoints me. Too damn hot to enjoy being outside. Summer hibernation with air-conditioning.

Favorite Sports to Watch on TV

College football
Men’s college basketball
NFL football
Pickleball
Philadelphia Phillies baseball
NBA basketball
WNBA basketball — only when Caitlin Clark plays
Men’s professional tennis
1970s heavyweight boxing

State of the Dis-Union

A few fast observations:

The old Democratic strategy of “when they go low, we go high” is a loser.

While I appreciate its intent, peaceful demonstrations, petitions, and letter writing campaigns are passé and ineffective. The age of civil persuasion is dead.

A new political party (Democratic or other) needs a Machiavellian leader, a bit evil but unlike the Republican version, smart. (Maybe Mark Cuban?)

Now the Republicans are concerned about decorum?! Why didn’t this concern apply during Joe Biden’s State of the Union when Lauren Bobert and Marjorie Taylor Greene acted up like spoiled high school sophomores screeching for attention at a school dance.

Congressman Al Green was the only one Democrat with a backbone? When he was removed, all other Democrats should have walked out too.

Likewise, when the Associated Press was barred from White House press room, other legitimate press and news outlets should have left too.

The biggest slaughter this winter was not the Eagles beating the Chiefs in the Super Bowl, but the political thumping Republicans have handed the Democrats since Inauguration Day.

Joe Biden (or his enablers) and Merrick Garland are hugely responsible for the current political mess. They engaged in pillow throwing while Trump and the GOP went MMA.

The “reporter” who asked Zelensky why he was not wearing a suit to the White House must have received his journalism degree from Trump University.

Death knells have been announced periodically for both parties over the decades. However I hear a rattle anytime a Democrat politician speaks.

Communications from Democratic congressmen and women to constituents about how bad Trump is are useless. We get it. Things are bad and about to get worse. Create a plan or strategy and tell us what you are going to do as a party. How about someone stepping up as an effective opposition leader?

I would not count on midterms or any other future elections to change the political direction. First, not sure that they will take place. And second, very uncertain if they take place, whether the results will be “accurate.”

The Party is Over, Democrats!

So I’m wondering next month at the Democratic national convention, whether Joe Biden will give his concession speech for the presidential election. Why wait till November? It sure looks like a large number of Democrats have thrown in the towel and are already conceding that Donald Trump will be our next president.

I have to admit that Trump and his supporters have been awfully lucky (?) the past few weeks. Not only does Trump survive an assassination attempt but his politically appointed judges have provided incredible cover for his various legal misdeeds. Three months ago, Trump was a convicted felon and established rapist. Now he is anointed as God’s chosen one with polls showing him pulling away from Biden in the presidential race.

But let’s not pass blame on the Democratic Party. They win the cocktail party arguments, get the media endorsements and favorable press coverage but given the political power they have, do not use it effectively. Republicans are ruthless in political power games. They take no prisoners! Democrats return GOP haymakers with gloved hand slaps.

You would think that Merrick Garland would be an inspired avenger against the GOP who blocked him from gaining a Supreme Court seat after being nominated by Barack Obama. However, Trump is largely winning on the legal battlefields. Yesterday, the case against him for hiding and destroying secret documents was dismissed. Even though Trump was found guilty in the Stormy Daniels payoff case, I seriously doubt that he faces any real punishment, especially jail. From my perspective, it looks like the prosecution of Donald Trump was done half assed with very little coordination of effort and timing between State and Federal authorities.

The Democratic Party is weak! They need a “killer” not a feeble old man to take up the fight in the 2024 presidential election. If they choose not to replace Biden with another candidate, I sense that a lot of Democrats and Independents are going to stay home on election day.

No Debate about the Debate

Even before Joe Biden uttered a word before the CNN Presidential debate last night, I knew he lost. He shuffled out to his podium like a senior citizen going to wait in line for food donations. His demeanor was emotionless. There was no energy in his walk, his eyes and his demeanor. He epitomized the worst fears of his critics who said he was too old.

So what should the Democrats do?

First, they need Joe to step aside. I’m sure the polls after this debate will be devastating. Joe did have support from last night, but it was from pity.

Second, anyone who has been involved with having Joe run should be fired. Did they think this charade would work through November? I have serious concerns that he will finish his term.

Third, find the best opponent against Trump. Not Hilary Clinton but a young, energetic candidate that can be elected. And find them fast as there are state election regulations requiring that a candidate be named within 40 days.