Tag: politics

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.

A Nation on Edge: The Dangerous Consequences of Partisan Politics

Donald Trump is a survivor. He has weathered indictments, impeachment attempts, business failures, deep-seated animosity from half the nation, a failed reelection bid, and now, an assassination attempt. This latest incident may not only cast him as a hero but could also bolster his chances of winning the 2024 presidential election.

The occurrence of such an event should not come as a surprise. The volatility, hatred, and intense partisanship that define contemporary American politics inevitably breed violence. The current climate makes such “craziness” almost inevitable.

In the immediate aftermath of the assassination attempt, accusations flew, suggesting that Joe Biden or liberals, implicitly or otherwise, were responsible for the shooting. However, given Trump’s incendiary rhetoric, it could be argued that he was an accomplice to his own shooting. The political polarization pot has been stirred, and the maelstrom is just beginning.

This moment is critical in American history. We are in dire need of sound and rational judgment. Unfortunately, such judgment seems to be lacking among our national political leaders, the media, and, regrettably, within many of our citizenry.

Evil vs. Dumb

This should have been an easy presidential election to figure out. There are three candidates. I guess there are people who take RFK Junior seriously. I can’t. The apple has fallen very far from the tree in his case. And like Donald Trump, he also has been involved in a sexual assault. he holds very many strange, political and scientific views. His vice presidential choice makes Sarah Palin look like John Quincy Adams.

The Republican party is just plain evil. They no longer are interested in a democracy or what average Americans want in their political leadership or direction. Plus their nominee is a convicted felon who has also been indicted for a variety of federal and state violations. I seriously doubt that he will spend one hour in a jail cell for all the crimes he has committed. More likely he will be taking the presidential oath of office next January in Washington DC. What a country!!

This leads me to the Democratic Party. Good intentions, absolutely stupid and timid leadership, and badly out maneuvered by the Republican party. Their political platform probably represents what most Americans are in agreement with but that only matters if we are talking about a working democracy. They made a bad mistake in following the dictum of Michelle Obama, who said, and I paraphrase “when they go low, we go high.” How is that worked out for the Democratic Party and for the nation as a whole?

So now there is angst about the candidacy of Joe Biden for re-election. Biden is holding out that he can remain Trump’s opponent based on the support of his family and inner political circle. Just as I saw with my own eyes on January 6, 2021 that Donald Trump initiated and fomented a hostile political takeover so I also see and hear that Joe Biden is regrettably not up to the job as he is just too old. Time is unbeaten and Joe is another one of its victims. Looks like Joe needs a push out the door…

Many Democrats supposedly are rallying around the President. They point out his achievements over the past 3 1/2 years which are commendable and considerable. I think he has brought honor back to the presidency. But what the Democratic Party needs today is a killer. A leader who will not take any prisoners and will win the presidential election in November. Two of the most important qualifications for any Democratic candidate is youth and energy. Then make that contrast with an old and feeble Donald Trump.

The Democrats had four years to either put Trump in jail, in exile or out of business. Timidly, they have not accomplished anything. The Democrats lack a “closer”, a visionary, a political heavyweight who can take on the Republican party.

I will be interested to see who in the Democratic Party stands up and demands the job. Whoever it is has only about 3 to 4 weeks to make his or her case.

Don’t Hate the Playa, Hate the Game!

The Louisiana Senate recently passed a bill that requires public schools to display the Ten Commandments in classrooms.

I admire men and women of religion and conviction. I am surrounded by family and friends of faith. I would not tried to dissuade them from their beliefs. Most of them live exemplary lives, and they walk the talk of their faith and convictions.

However, I don’t like religion. As a teenage boy, I saw no logical or rational sense in it. Religion, any faith, was filled with hypocrisy, myths, superstition and bizarre beliefs. Six decades later, my feelings about religion remain unchanged, perhaps even stronger.

In the last few decades, politics has corrupted religion and religion has corrupted politics. Has there been anything more galling than the country’s most notorious felon and sexual assault perpetrator pitching the sale of his bibles?

Hate, bigotry and venom are spit from the pulpits of many churches. Regrettably, these types of messages resonate favorably with many sitting in the pews. As I mentioned, I know of men and women who are inspired by their religion and perform good works. Unfortunately I see and hear too many others who wrap religion around their twisted politics and daily life.

As an agnostic, I don’t want religion to factor into political life. Stay away from issues related to personal freedom, abortion, same sex marriage, euthanasia, books and education!  Religion’s worst enemies are science, history and philosophy. I’d rather hear more of that than church pastors and evangelicals bilking their flock of money.

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Bürgerkrieg (Civil War)

Ah the NBA and Stanley Cup playoffs are ending. Baseball is in full swing. Caitlyn Clark is the new American heroine and Taylor Swift continues to captivate audiences on her worldwide tour. Millions of Americans are on or about to enjoy their well deserved vacations. Summer is here, full of festivals, concerts, community activities, fireworks, and music fairs. Americans are enjoying the extended sunlight by playing golf, pickleball or heading to the shore to swim and lie comfortably on blankets in the sand serenaded by the timeless tunes of War’s classic song:

Cause it’s summer

Summer time is here

Yes it’s summer

My time of year

The stock market continue to reach for new highs. Unemployment is low. The economy and job market have largely recovered from one of the great health and financial challenges in the history of the world. There are no American soldiers involved in active combat. Indeed there was a recent commemoration of the 80th anniversary of D-Day, where  American soldiers braved heavy artillery and gunfire from German forces to start the last days of tyranny.

Amidst this idyllic picture, what could disrupt our enjoyment of the sun, warm nights, and the sounds of children playing in the park?

Discordant and rabid voices are baying hatefully at political rallies clad in red hats and clothing like SS troopers at a 1930’s Nuremberg rally. Clutching their flags, Bibles and sometimes guns, they pledge allegiance to an ideology of hate, revenge and promised retribution. Like their leader, they know little of history or truth. There is no discussion of compromise. They wish to destroy democracy by employing their ruse of democracy—-the people want a dictatorship!?

As we revel in the joys of summer, it is crucial to remain vigilant. The threats to our democracy are real, and they come from within. Hopefully  people will not be complacent by the warmth of the season. The future of our nation depends on awareness, actions, and unwavering commitment to the principles of democracy and justice.

Takeover: Hitler’s Final Rise to Power by Timothy W. Ryback (Review)

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

310 pages

What struck and scared me as I read this book was how similar the political situations in Germany in the early 1930s were to the United States currently. Each country was and is going through a burgerkrieg (civil war) where there exists intense, political differences that often resulted in violence. Hindenburg stayed in office as he feared Hitler gaining political power. Hindenburg was accused of dementia and suffering from the ravages of old age. Today, Joe Biden fears a Trump presidency and the end of democracy in the United States. Biden too, is accused of suffering from dementia and being too old to serve another four year term.

In both the cases of Hitler and Trump, there were events that could have and should have ended their political pursuits. Hitler persevered through many defeats, political, personal and strategic.

I was not familiar with the appropriate knowledge of German history from 1918 till 1933 when Hitler seized power. Ryback provides the necessary background, history, and important men during this period. This book may provide a greater service in understanding what is happening in the United States today by looking back at what happened in Germany in the 1930s.

Shown below are my notes from this book..

“It has been said that the Weimar Republic died twice. It was murdered, and it committed suicide. There is little mystery to the murder. Hitler vowed to destroy democracy through the democratic process and he did.”

Trump and Hitler similarities
Neither were drinkers
Both felons
Both thin skinned
Both very poor liars (If you tell a lie long enough and keep repeating it…Goebbels)
Both suffered election defeats that they refused to accept
Both overestimated crowd sizes at various rallies and events
Both were counted out after electoral and political defeats and came back
Both sought to annul election results and lost
Both seeking to establish dictatorships embraced by the populace
Both opposed by older men (Hindenburg and Biden) who feared their rise to power
Both promising “revenge” on their political opponents when they gain power
Both used immigration issues (Hitler-Polish, Trump-Mexicans and South Americans) to stir up enthusiasm from their political base

Oswald Spengler knew both men. (referring to Hitler and Strasser). The author of the two volume landmark treatise Decline of the West was considered one of the leading conservative thinkers of today. Spengler found Hitler to be “clueless, indecisive, in a word, dumb. “

Adolf Hitler gave thousands of young Germans a chance from escape from reality Time wrote in December 1931. Hitlerites had uniforms, brass bands, roaring mass meetings, plenty of free beer. (Trump MAGA rallies 2020-2024)

The next day, Vorwarts (German newspaper) splashed the news in a banner headline, “Hitler wants to rule!” The editors were frantic at the thought. “The appointment of Hitler is out of the question because he lacks even the most basic qualifications”, they wrote. “You cannot trust a government to the leader of a party in recent days has been responsible for perpetuating countless horrific acts of violence without discrediting the authority of the state before the eyes of the entire world, not to mention the majority of its own people. “There was also the fact that Hitler served prison time for treason against the very state he was now seeking to rule.”




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Quick Thoughts on Trump Conviction

Half of me thought that the Trump trial would result in a hung jury. The other half of me thought that Trump might be filed guilty of 10 or less of the 34 charges he faced.

I’m very surprised that Trump was found guilty of all the charges against him. How good were Trump’s lawyers? They couldn’t get him clear of at least one charge! Based on some of the things that I read about the trial, Trump’s lawyers may have been lacking in, presenting the best case for him.

What angers me the most are the people who are still supporting Trump. Don’t you people have any shame? There is an argument that this verdict will only help Trump get reelected. It’s possible, but given the actions of Trump’s jury today, I feel a little bit more hopeful that Trump will not be successful.

Politics in this country is such a huge mess. I blame the political parties, the press (or at least most of them), and just too many disinterested and ignorant voters.

News Ticker Shock

Nikki Haley supporting Trump…”I will be voting for Trump.”

Justice Alito caught flying another flag outside his home supporting insurrection

60% of Americans think that we are in a recession (poll)

“United Reich” wording posted to a video on Trump’s Truth Social media account

RFK Jr. VP pick Nicole Shanahan profiled as drug user and adulterer in NY Times article

Putin ‘launches space weapon’ while his forces carry out nuke drill near Ukraine

Daily marijuana use outpaces daily drinking in the U.S., a new study says

RIP Democracy?? 11/5/2024

  1. Democracy may be dead. 50/50 that this November’s elections results will not be accepted by the losing party.
  2. Donald Trump, MAGA, Fox News and the Republican Party are holding the bloody knives in democracy’s demise or in Kristi Noem’s case, the smoking gun. There is also huge crowds cheering this on.
  3. My sense is that our current political culture and craziness could not have taken place 50 or 60 years ago. Back then, anyone who had a whiff of scandal would not be electable and would not have a political future.
  4. To have a viable and working democracy, there needs to be a majority of smart people, large enough to suppress dumb people. That does not exist today. Not even a majority of reasonable, intelligent voters can offset the rising number of dumb ones.
  5. The end of democracy actually started after the election of Barack Obama when the Republican party decided to strictly become a party of obstruction. They were determined and largely successful in stonewalling Obama’s agenda for eighth years. Remember when the Republican party blocked the nomination of Merrick Garland as a Supreme Court Justice in 2016?
  6. The Democratic Party shows absolutely no spine. There are times you have to fight as dirty as your opponent and the Dems have failed to do that.
  7. Most of my intellectual life, I have been a student of Nazi Germany. I have been fascinated by the rise of Hitler and how the German people largely supported him. Maybe soon I will get to experience a similar government and dictatorship here in the U.S. that existed back in 1934 Germany.
  8. There is too much influence of religion in politics. Religious people tend to believe almost anything, especially those claims not grounded in fact, truth, or science. Easily manipulable, religious people are the least tolerant and the least likely to be persuaded by evidence or reason.