Well, President Trump is at it again tweeting that he will impose a tariff on all Mexican goods entering the U.S.:
On June 10th, the United States will impose a 5% Tariff on all goods coming into our Country from Mexico, until such time as illegal migrants coming through Mexico, and into our Country, STOP. The Tariff will gradually increase [at a 5% increase /month] until the Illegal Immigration problem is remedied,..*
You have to wonder what will they think of next? I have the feeling that this is another one of those snap decisions that will die a quiet death like Trumps proposed 10% tax cut for the middle class.**
There is speculation that Trump has done this to draw attention away from the Report.
If not, he has very bad instincts because if he ruins the economy of Mexico, that will just restart Mexican migration to the States. It goes along with his stopping of aid to Central America. If the economy there gets even worse, more people will come, which seems to be happening.***
* https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/30/us/politics/trump-mexico-tariffs.html
** http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2018/11/they-are-lies-until-proven-otherwise.html
*** https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/analysis-slashing-central-america-aid-could-drive-more-migrants-u-n989741
Friday, May 31, 2019
REPUBLICAN OVER-THE-TOP LANGUAGE
I must say that Republicans are getting scary:
Republicans threaten civil war:
[Senator from Utah Sen. Mike] Lee’s distorted view of the U.S. Constitution, and the legitimacy of the Federal government, is shared by the Koch brothers. And like the Koch brothers, Lee demands, and expects, a quick end to most of the Federal government’s agencies, departments and programs; he claims it is the only prescription to prevent civil war. In that sense, Lee is a Koch acolyte of the first order. It is true the Koch brothers do not threaten violence or warn of civil rebellion against the government, but they did co-create and contribute handsomely to the teabagger movement and Republicans who warned of civil war if they did not get their way.
.................................................................
Lee warned that the only way Democrats can avert violence is if they end their support for a long list of federal programs, agencies, and departments that also happen to be on the Koch brothers hit list going back three decades. Just a sampling of what Democrats have to willingly help eliminate to stave off a violent civil war according to Lee includes, but is not limited to: The interstate highway system, funding for K-12 public education, federal higher education accreditation, early childhood education, the Department of Commerce, housing policy, workforce regulations, and what the typically-Mormon Lee labeled the illegal “huge glut of federally owned land.”*
Lee also believes that federal child labor laws, Social Security, and Medicare are patently unconstitutional. According to his mind, the only means of avoiding civil war is ignoring that part of the Constitution granting authority to Congress to appropriate funds for the general welfare and establishes the federal government as a legitimate governing entity.*
President Trump also is in the act (not surprisingly), liberally using the word Treason;
Early on, Trump was relatively restrained in his treason talk. He even criticized Kim Jong Un’s liberal use of the treason charge. (Trump now calls Kim his “friend.”) He began applying the label more to the Mueller probe, and FBI officials, in 2018. He determined that “leakers are traitors” and said critical news coverage of his talks with Kim was “almost treasonous.” He said an anonymous op-ed writer and the New York Times both committed treason. He said Democrats who did not applaud at his State of the Union address were “Un-American. Somebody said, ‘treasonous.’ ”**
More recently, Trump seems to be edging up in his use of the word Treason, though he doesn't know what the word means.
Asked at a White House event which of his adversaries he had in mind when he accused them of treason, he said, "A number of people. They have unsuccessfully tried to take down the wrong person." He then specified former FBI director James Comey, former acting FBI director Andrew McCabe, former FBI lawyer Lisa Page, and former FBI agent Peter Strzok. (Underlining added)
....................................................................
Here's what the Constitution says (Article III, Section 3): "Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying War against them, or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort."
"Enemy" means a country or an entity that has declared war or is in a state of open war against the US. "Aid and comfort" must be something material, not words of encouragement
I worry this sort of language is going to get someone hurt.
* https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2018/12/2/1815431/-Senate-Republican-warns-of-civil-war-if-Democrats-continue-supporting-the-Federal-government?detail=emaildkre
** https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/for-trump-the-name-of-the-season-is-treason/2019/04/12/f8c5c44c-5d33-11e9-a00e-050dc7b82693_story.html?utm_term=.ef939a824c0e
*** https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/trump-doesn-t-understand-what-treason-means-n1009636
Republicans threaten civil war:
[Senator from Utah Sen. Mike] Lee’s distorted view of the U.S. Constitution, and the legitimacy of the Federal government, is shared by the Koch brothers. And like the Koch brothers, Lee demands, and expects, a quick end to most of the Federal government’s agencies, departments and programs; he claims it is the only prescription to prevent civil war. In that sense, Lee is a Koch acolyte of the first order. It is true the Koch brothers do not threaten violence or warn of civil rebellion against the government, but they did co-create and contribute handsomely to the teabagger movement and Republicans who warned of civil war if they did not get their way.
.................................................................
Lee warned that the only way Democrats can avert violence is if they end their support for a long list of federal programs, agencies, and departments that also happen to be on the Koch brothers hit list going back three decades. Just a sampling of what Democrats have to willingly help eliminate to stave off a violent civil war according to Lee includes, but is not limited to: The interstate highway system, funding for K-12 public education, federal higher education accreditation, early childhood education, the Department of Commerce, housing policy, workforce regulations, and what the typically-Mormon Lee labeled the illegal “huge glut of federally owned land.”*
Lee also believes that federal child labor laws, Social Security, and Medicare are patently unconstitutional. According to his mind, the only means of avoiding civil war is ignoring that part of the Constitution granting authority to Congress to appropriate funds for the general welfare and establishes the federal government as a legitimate governing entity.*
President Trump also is in the act (not surprisingly), liberally using the word Treason;
Early on, Trump was relatively restrained in his treason talk. He even criticized Kim Jong Un’s liberal use of the treason charge. (Trump now calls Kim his “friend.”) He began applying the label more to the Mueller probe, and FBI officials, in 2018. He determined that “leakers are traitors” and said critical news coverage of his talks with Kim was “almost treasonous.” He said an anonymous op-ed writer and the New York Times both committed treason. He said Democrats who did not applaud at his State of the Union address were “Un-American. Somebody said, ‘treasonous.’ ”**
More recently, Trump seems to be edging up in his use of the word Treason, though he doesn't know what the word means.
Asked at a White House event which of his adversaries he had in mind when he accused them of treason, he said, "A number of people. They have unsuccessfully tried to take down the wrong person." He then specified former FBI director James Comey, former acting FBI director Andrew McCabe, former FBI lawyer Lisa Page, and former FBI agent Peter Strzok. (Underlining added)
....................................................................
Here's what the Constitution says (Article III, Section 3): "Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying War against them, or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort."
"Enemy" means a country or an entity that has declared war or is in a state of open war against the US. "Aid and comfort" must be something material, not words of encouragement
I worry this sort of language is going to get someone hurt.
* https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2018/12/2/1815431/-Senate-Republican-warns-of-civil-war-if-Democrats-continue-supporting-the-Federal-government?detail=emaildkre
** https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/for-trump-the-name-of-the-season-is-treason/2019/04/12/f8c5c44c-5d33-11e9-a00e-050dc7b82693_story.html?utm_term=.ef939a824c0e
*** https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/trump-doesn-t-understand-what-treason-means-n1009636
Tuesday, May 28, 2019
GOP TAX MYTH
Republicans keep insisting that tax cuts promote economic growth even though this is proven to be a myth.* The best growth followed the tax increases of President George H.W. Bush ("read my lips no new taxes") followed by another big tax increase by President Bill Clinton.
Much of the tax cuts on companies has been wasted by companies buying back massive amount of stock ($800 billion in 2018).**
Buyback Monsters
Share count reduction since 2010:**
Travelers: 51 percent
AutoZone: 48 percent
Kohl’s: 46 percent
Northrup Grumman: 45 percent
Lowe’s: 44 percent
Gap: 42 percent
IBM: 32 percent
Apple: 26 percent
Source: S&P Global
Home Depot has bought back about 35% of its stock making a phony increase in the earnings per share without any increase in revenues or profits.** Also, such massive buybacks mean the company is slowly liquidating, whether that is the purpose.
A few excerpts from a particularly good recent (April 2019) analysis*** of the 2017 tax cuts follow:
The Trump tax cuts cost the government even more. The Act increases the deficit by $1 trillion over the next 10 years according to the Joint Committee on Taxation. It says the Act will increase growth by 0.7% annually, reducing some of the revenue loss from the $1.5 trillion in tax cuts.
........................................................
The JCT analysis is probably the most accurate since it only analyzes the cost of the tax cuts themselves.
........................................................
Increase in sovereign debt dampens economic growth in the long run. Investors see it as a tax increase on future generations. That's especially true if the ratio of debt-to-GDP is near 77%. That's the tipping point, according to a study by the World Bank. It found that every percentage point of debt above this level costs the country 1.7% in growth. The U.S. debt-to-GDP ratio was 104% before the tax cuts.
.......................................................
Many large corporations confirmed they won't use the tax cuts to create jobs. Corporations are sitting on a record $2.3 trillion in cash reserves, double the level in 2001. The CEOs of Cisco, Pfizer, and Coca-Cola would instead use the extra cash to pay dividends to shareholders. The CEO of Amgen will use the proceeds to buy back shares of stock. In effect, the corporate tax cuts will boost stock prices but won't create jobs.***
This blog has had many discussions on taxes and tax cuts, see: http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2018/08/taxes-discussions-on-reunite.html
* https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/posteverything/wp/2017/09/28/i-helped-create-the-gop-tax-myth-trump-is-wrong-tax-cuts-dont-equal-growth/?utm_term=.afb5b3bd82f6
https://www.politico.com/story/2018/05/14/tax-cut-economic-boom-republicans-584197
** https://www.cnbc.com/2019/02/27/companies-keep-buying-their-own-stock-in-force-led-by-buyback-monsters-like-home-depot.html
*** https://www.thebalance.com/trump-s-tax-plan-how-it-affects-you-4113968
Much of the tax cuts on companies has been wasted by companies buying back massive amount of stock ($800 billion in 2018).**
Buyback Monsters
Share count reduction since 2010:**
Travelers: 51 percent
AutoZone: 48 percent
Kohl’s: 46 percent
Northrup Grumman: 45 percent
Lowe’s: 44 percent
Gap: 42 percent
IBM: 32 percent
Apple: 26 percent
Source: S&P Global
Home Depot has bought back about 35% of its stock making a phony increase in the earnings per share without any increase in revenues or profits.** Also, such massive buybacks mean the company is slowly liquidating, whether that is the purpose.
A few excerpts from a particularly good recent (April 2019) analysis*** of the 2017 tax cuts follow:
The Trump tax cuts cost the government even more. The Act increases the deficit by $1 trillion over the next 10 years according to the Joint Committee on Taxation. It says the Act will increase growth by 0.7% annually, reducing some of the revenue loss from the $1.5 trillion in tax cuts.
........................................................
The JCT analysis is probably the most accurate since it only analyzes the cost of the tax cuts themselves.
........................................................
Increase in sovereign debt dampens economic growth in the long run. Investors see it as a tax increase on future generations. That's especially true if the ratio of debt-to-GDP is near 77%. That's the tipping point, according to a study by the World Bank. It found that every percentage point of debt above this level costs the country 1.7% in growth. The U.S. debt-to-GDP ratio was 104% before the tax cuts.
.......................................................
Many large corporations confirmed they won't use the tax cuts to create jobs. Corporations are sitting on a record $2.3 trillion in cash reserves, double the level in 2001. The CEOs of Cisco, Pfizer, and Coca-Cola would instead use the extra cash to pay dividends to shareholders. The CEO of Amgen will use the proceeds to buy back shares of stock. In effect, the corporate tax cuts will boost stock prices but won't create jobs.***
This blog has had many discussions on taxes and tax cuts, see: http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2018/08/taxes-discussions-on-reunite.html
* https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/posteverything/wp/2017/09/28/i-helped-create-the-gop-tax-myth-trump-is-wrong-tax-cuts-dont-equal-growth/?utm_term=.afb5b3bd82f6
https://www.politico.com/story/2018/05/14/tax-cut-economic-boom-republicans-584197
** https://www.cnbc.com/2019/02/27/companies-keep-buying-their-own-stock-in-force-led-by-buyback-monsters-like-home-depot.html
*** https://www.thebalance.com/trump-s-tax-plan-how-it-affects-you-4113968
Sunday, May 26, 2019
WORKER'S WAGES AND THE DECLINE OF UNIONS
I've seen a figure that compares the decline in workers wages with the decline in unions and include it here.* Many mainly white wage earners have allowed themselves to become disarmed and abandon unions presumably because their increased education levels now should permit them greater negotiating skills. In doing so, they joined a political party that talked them out of unionization and feels they are overpaid,** rather than underpaid. I have previously explored why they made this move contrary to their economic well being (It also includes the figure below.).**
Here are a few quotes in italics from my 2017 item on the topic.***
The problem is that these workers feel the Democratic Party favors women, minorities, and Gays. So the Democratic Party would have to abandon these groups.
......................................................
Even Donald Trump has said on at least two occasions that the American worker is overpaid.
.....................................................
Trump's base says that the wall is the big thing (even over better pay), so it is the emotional things they love.
The figure illustrates the parallel decline of wages with unionization.*
(Click on figure to enlarge)
I realize I am repeating here things I have said before, but my thoughts haven't changed, yet the topic remains current.
* http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/18/union-membership-middle-class-income_n_3948543.html
https://equitablegrowth.org/examining-the-links-between-rising-wage-inequality-and-the-decline-of-unions/
https://data.bls.gov/timeseries/LUU0204906600?years_option=all_years&mod=article_inline
** http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2013/10/a-race-to-bottom.html
https://slate.com/human-interest/2018/05/study-unions-increasingly-represent-educated-workers.html
*** http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2017/07/democratic-economic-initiatives.html
Also, see:
https://www.epi.org/publication/union-decline-lowers-wages-of-nonunion-workers-the-overlooked-reason-why-wages-are-stuck-and-inequality-is-growing/
Here are a few quotes in italics from my 2017 item on the topic.***
The problem is that these workers feel the Democratic Party favors women, minorities, and Gays. So the Democratic Party would have to abandon these groups.
......................................................
Even Donald Trump has said on at least two occasions that the American worker is overpaid.
.....................................................
Trump's base says that the wall is the big thing (even over better pay), so it is the emotional things they love.
The figure illustrates the parallel decline of wages with unionization.*
I realize I am repeating here things I have said before, but my thoughts haven't changed, yet the topic remains current.
* http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/18/union-membership-middle-class-income_n_3948543.html
https://equitablegrowth.org/examining-the-links-between-rising-wage-inequality-and-the-decline-of-unions/
https://data.bls.gov/timeseries/LUU0204906600?years_option=all_years&mod=article_inline
** http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2013/10/a-race-to-bottom.html
https://slate.com/human-interest/2018/05/study-unions-increasingly-represent-educated-workers.html
*** http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2017/07/democratic-economic-initiatives.html
Also, see:
https://www.epi.org/publication/union-decline-lowers-wages-of-nonunion-workers-the-overlooked-reason-why-wages-are-stuck-and-inequality-is-growing/
Sunday, May 19, 2019
HEALTH: HEART ATTACK DEATHS FALL AS LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH
In fact, cancer will replace heart disease as the leading cause of death in the United States within two years [2020], according to US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention projections referenced in the study, published Monday in the medical journal Annals of Internal Medicine.*
The figure is taken from a CDC Fact Sheet on heart attack deaths.**
The greatest concentration of heart disease is in the South.
* https://www.cnn.com/2018/11/12/health/cancer-surpasses-heart-disease-study/index.html
https://www.cdc.gov/Pcd/issues/2016/16_0211.htm
** https://www.cdc.gov/dhdsp/data_statistics/fact_sheets/fs_heart_disease.htm
Also, see:
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/282929.php
Thursday, May 16, 2019
JOHN BOLTON'S WAR
John Bolton has always made me nervous. For one thing, he dearly seems to have wanted a hot war with Iran for years. I was afraid when he became Trumps's national security advisor that he might finally get his wish.
People say they hear the Drums Of War beating and there are signs they may be correct; however, our president feels that Iran can be brought to the table through the increased sanctions brought against them as the economy of Iran is in bad shape.
It does seem like we are trying to goad Iran into a heated conflict. Wendy Sherman, former Undersecretary Of State for Political Affairs gives an outline on how a hot war may be avoided.* On the other hand, Senator Tom Cotton (Arkansas) says we could end the war in two strikes - they hit us and we, apparently, annihilate them, though he says he is not in favor of war.** Ah, the second coming of Shock And Awe. Remember those "Good Old Days" in Iraq in 2003?***
* https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/15/opinion/stop-iran-war.html
** https://nypost.com/2019/05/15/sen-tom-cotton-says-us-could-win-war-against-iran-in-two-strikes/
*** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2003_invasion_of_Iraq
People say they hear the Drums Of War beating and there are signs they may be correct; however, our president feels that Iran can be brought to the table through the increased sanctions brought against them as the economy of Iran is in bad shape.
It does seem like we are trying to goad Iran into a heated conflict. Wendy Sherman, former Undersecretary Of State for Political Affairs gives an outline on how a hot war may be avoided.* On the other hand, Senator Tom Cotton (Arkansas) says we could end the war in two strikes - they hit us and we, apparently, annihilate them, though he says he is not in favor of war.** Ah, the second coming of Shock And Awe. Remember those "Good Old Days" in Iraq in 2003?***
* https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/15/opinion/stop-iran-war.html
** https://nypost.com/2019/05/15/sen-tom-cotton-says-us-could-win-war-against-iran-in-two-strikes/
*** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2003_invasion_of_Iraq
Monday, May 13, 2019
AMERICA DOESN'T WANT A FATHER FIGURE PRESIDENT IT WANTS A ....
... Great Grandfather figure for President. Say you have a child at age 24 and that child has a child at 24 and that child has a child at 24. Well, 3X24 is 72. That makes you a Great Grandfather. Donald Trump will be 73 next month and Joe Biden will be 77 in November. President of the United States seems to be the only job where a geriatric person is preferred.
It wasn't always so. How did this happen?
The first person to be 70 before retirement of the second term was Dwight D. Eisenhower who was 98 days past his 70th birthday. The oldest person to be president past 70 was, of course, Ronald Reagan who was within a week of being 78 by the end of his second term. The present president, Donald Trump, will be 73 next month and counting. Note: all of these are post-WW-II.
I find this trend toward older presidents to be scary.
...............................................................
For the sake of completeness, I'll list the former presidents who lived to be at least 90 yrs old.
The oldest former president, Jimmy Carter, has yet to die and is over 94 and counting. He beats out George H.W. Bush who died at 94+. Gerald Ford and Ronald Reagan had topped 93 when they died. John Adams and Herber Hoover both lived past their 90th birthdays.
It wasn't always so. How did this happen?
The first person to be 70 before retirement of the second term was Dwight D. Eisenhower who was 98 days past his 70th birthday. The oldest person to be president past 70 was, of course, Ronald Reagan who was within a week of being 78 by the end of his second term. The present president, Donald Trump, will be 73 next month and counting. Note: all of these are post-WW-II.
I find this trend toward older presidents to be scary.
...............................................................
For the sake of completeness, I'll list the former presidents who lived to be at least 90 yrs old.
The oldest former president, Jimmy Carter, has yet to die and is over 94 and counting. He beats out George H.W. Bush who died at 94+. Gerald Ford and Ronald Reagan had topped 93 when they died. John Adams and Herber Hoover both lived past their 90th birthdays.
Thursday, May 9, 2019
ROD ROSENSTEIN RESIGNS -- AGAIN!
Rod Rosenstein first announced his resignation last January. Now in a humorous letter, he announces his resignation AGAIN as of May 11.* It actually made some sense for Rosenstein to continue on until the submittal of the Mueller Report, but I am undecided whether Rosenstein wrote the letter or President Trump drafted it. At any rate, Rosenstein signed it, and it was not the time for jokes.
You recall incidents where members of Trump's cabinet had to genuflect before Trump and tell him how great he is. Well, this resignation letter of Rosenstein goes through the same motions:
You will see what I mean from the following quote of widely published resignation letter:
“As I submit my resignation effective on May 11, I am grateful to you for the opportunity to serve: for the courtesy and humor you often display in our personal conversations, and for the goals you set in your inaugural address: patriotism, unity, safety, education, and prosperity, because “a nation exists to serve its citizens.” The Department of Justice pursues those goals while operating in accordance with the rule of law. The rule of law is the foundation of America. It secures our freedom, allows our citizens to flourish, and enables our nation to serve as a model of liberty and justice for all.”**
Note the phrases: "...for the courtesy and humor*** you often display in our personal conversations" and for the goals you set in your inaugural address: patriotism, unity, safety, education, and prosperity, because “a nation exists to serve its citizens.”
Trump displaying courtesy and humor? This is the first I have heard of Trump being courteous. Back in 2017, I wrote a piece on Trump's humor.** In Trump's humor, someone gets hurt (like pummeling CNN man or Hillary getting hit with a golf ball hard enough to topple her.
I have re-read the President's inaugural address,**** but my memory is how of how depressing it was. At any rate, we, and Rosenstein, now know that the President's goal is for the nation to serve him and not the other way around.
* https://www.scribd.com/document/408086955/Read-Rod-Rosenstein-s-resignation-letter
** https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/rod-rosenstein-to-resign-effective-may-11/2019/04/29/1092851c-6ac5-11e9-8f44-e8d8bb1df986_story.html?utm_term=.3fd32ee88f15
*** http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2017/09/trumps-humor.html
**** https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2017/01/20/donald-trumps-full-inauguration-speech-transcript-annotated/?utm_term=.503e6be4841d
You recall incidents where members of Trump's cabinet had to genuflect before Trump and tell him how great he is. Well, this resignation letter of Rosenstein goes through the same motions:
You will see what I mean from the following quote of widely published resignation letter:
“As I submit my resignation effective on May 11, I am grateful to you for the opportunity to serve: for the courtesy and humor you often display in our personal conversations, and for the goals you set in your inaugural address: patriotism, unity, safety, education, and prosperity, because “a nation exists to serve its citizens.” The Department of Justice pursues those goals while operating in accordance with the rule of law. The rule of law is the foundation of America. It secures our freedom, allows our citizens to flourish, and enables our nation to serve as a model of liberty and justice for all.”**
Note the phrases: "...for the courtesy and humor*** you often display in our personal conversations" and for the goals you set in your inaugural address: patriotism, unity, safety, education, and prosperity, because “a nation exists to serve its citizens.”
Trump displaying courtesy and humor? This is the first I have heard of Trump being courteous. Back in 2017, I wrote a piece on Trump's humor.** In Trump's humor, someone gets hurt (like pummeling CNN man or Hillary getting hit with a golf ball hard enough to topple her.
I have re-read the President's inaugural address,**** but my memory is how of how depressing it was. At any rate, we, and Rosenstein, now know that the President's goal is for the nation to serve him and not the other way around.
* https://www.scribd.com/document/408086955/Read-Rod-Rosenstein-s-resignation-letter
** https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/rod-rosenstein-to-resign-effective-may-11/2019/04/29/1092851c-6ac5-11e9-8f44-e8d8bb1df986_story.html?utm_term=.3fd32ee88f15
*** http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2017/09/trumps-humor.html
**** https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2017/01/20/donald-trumps-full-inauguration-speech-transcript-annotated/?utm_term=.503e6be4841d
IT IS JOE BIDEN'S TO LOSE
So Joe Biden has officially entered the Democratic presidential nomination race, and he is alone at the top in all the popularity polls. Though it is still early days, it looks like it is Biden's selection to lose in spite of his carrying a lot of political baggage Curiously, there is a recent CNN SSRS poll where, surprisingly, Beto O'Rourke has the best numbers to beat Donald Trump (52% to 42%) head to head, though Joe Biden is not far behind at 52% to 45%.* I say surprisingly because O'Rourke is way behind Biden in popularity (4.6% to 36.8%) in a Real Clear Politics blended polling numbers from late April.***
My favorites continue to be (no change from March):
Favorite #1 is Beto O'Rourke 47 in September (September 26,1972).
Favorite #2 is John Hickenlooper 67 in February (b February 7, 1952)
Favorite #3 is Amy (True Grit) Klobuchar 59 in May (May 25, 1960)
Beto has sort of disappeared from the TV news media though he seems to be making a comeback. A problem he has maybe is with women A column by Margaret Carlson (Beto O'Rounde Really Blew It) really slams him.**** He seems to have affected Mika Brzezinski similarly, as she won't even mention his name anymore and they do not have him on Morning Joe.
Whether he can recover from this problem remains to be seen.
Amy Klobuchar is faring even worse than Beto at a blended rating of 1.6% by Real Clear Politics.***
Though John Hickenlooper does not even come close to 1% in Real Clear Politics, I'll stick with him through the first debate in June that is not that far off. He is getting quite a bit of TV coverage. It seems early to start the debates, but Democrats have to thin the field of candidates that exceeds 20 at this point.
.............................................................................
Here are the ages as of the geriatric candidates.:*
Bernie Sanders 78 in September (b September 8, 1941)
Joe Biden 77 in November (b November 20, 1942)
John Kerry 76 in December ((b December 11, 1943)
DonaldTrump 73 in June (b June 14, 1946)
Eliz. Warren 70 in June (b June 22, 1949)
John Hickenlooper 67 in February (b February 7, 1952)
* http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2019/02/presidential-candidates-ages.html
** http://cdn.cnn.com/cnn/2019/images/05/01/rel6d.-.trump.and.2020.pdf
*** https://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2020/president/us/2020_democratic_presidential_nomination-6730.html
https://thehill.com/homenews/media/434534-msnbcs-scarborough-hits-orourke-on-his-message-its-all-goop
https://www.thedailybeast.com/beto-orourke-blew-it
My favorites continue to be (no change from March):
Favorite #1 is Beto O'Rourke 47 in September (September 26,1972).
Favorite #2 is John Hickenlooper 67 in February (b February 7, 1952)
Favorite #3 is Amy (True Grit) Klobuchar 59 in May (May 25, 1960)
Beto has sort of disappeared from the TV news media though he seems to be making a comeback. A problem he has maybe is with women A column by Margaret Carlson (Beto O'Rounde Really Blew It) really slams him.**** He seems to have affected Mika Brzezinski similarly, as she won't even mention his name anymore and they do not have him on Morning Joe.
Whether he can recover from this problem remains to be seen.
Amy Klobuchar is faring even worse than Beto at a blended rating of 1.6% by Real Clear Politics.***
Though John Hickenlooper does not even come close to 1% in Real Clear Politics, I'll stick with him through the first debate in June that is not that far off. He is getting quite a bit of TV coverage. It seems early to start the debates, but Democrats have to thin the field of candidates that exceeds 20 at this point.
.............................................................................
Here are the ages as of the geriatric candidates.:*
Bernie Sanders 78 in September (b September 8, 1941)
Joe Biden 77 in November (b November 20, 1942)
John Kerry 76 in December ((b December 11, 1943)
DonaldTrump 73 in June (b June 14, 1946)
Eliz. Warren 70 in June (b June 22, 1949)
John Hickenlooper 67 in February (b February 7, 1952)
* http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2019/02/presidential-candidates-ages.html
** http://cdn.cnn.com/cnn/2019/images/05/01/rel6d.-.trump.and.2020.pdf
*** https://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2020/president/us/2020_democratic_presidential_nomination-6730.html
https://thehill.com/homenews/media/434534-msnbcs-scarborough-hits-orourke-on-his-message-its-all-goop
https://www.thedailybeast.com/beto-orourke-blew-it
Friday, May 3, 2019
DO WOMEN DESERVE A WOMAN PRESIDENT?
I've thought about whether women deserve to have a woman president and come to the conclusion that they don't.
For one thing, there was a woman candidate for president - Hillary Clinton - and you would expect that women would come out in record numbers to vote for her but they didn't. Actually, more women voted for Donald Trump than voted for Hillary.
Consider Hillary. she had seen the White House close up as First Lady. She had been a Senator noted for stretching across the aisle. She worked on children's causes all her adult life, including writing a book about "It Takes A Village To Raise A Child," and she certainly was all for the children's health program SCHIP though she pushed it from the White House and not Congress.*
For reasons I do not understand, Hillary got a bad press. For example, they say she lost Wisconsin because she did not personally campaign there. OK, but what about Michigan and Pennsylvania? You don't hear about these two states.
Michigan was ungrateful to Hillary in voting for Trump over Hillary. Hillary helped the people of Flint, MI, during the water crisis: Mayor Karen Weaver thanked Hillary Clinton, saying the former Secretary of State's concern over the city's water crisis helped spur government action for the residents of Flint.** Hillary also campaigned in Detroit and voted to save the automobile industry.*** The money was there, and had to be released in order to save the American auto industry and four million jobs, and to begin the restructuring. We had the best year that the auto industry has had in a long time. I voted to save the auto industry. *** She also noted that in Michigan, she had about 140 more staffers on the ground than Obama in 2012, spent 166% more on TV ads, and made seven visits during the general election campaign./****
Undoubtedly there is a strange case among some women that women shouldn't have a woman president for various reasons [There was a women's organization in Switzerland (Frauen Verein) who voted against women having the right to vote.]. But I'm sure that the women who would like a woman president greatly outnumber them. There were women who thought they would like a woman president, just not this woman. If women thought Hillary was an SOB, well, if she was a man, other men would say "Yes, he is an SOB but he is our SOB. Why couldn't women do that?
But there were also those who wouldn't vote for her because she didn't divorce her husband, Bill, for his philandering. I presume these are younger women that are unaware of the complexity of married couples. There are many couples who put up with philandering mates (usually men but some women also). Among the reasons may be religion, or the marriage vows, or wealth, or political talent (that may be the case with Hillary).
She was such a threat that Republicans attacked her for 25 yrs. Apparently, it worked.
I'm still having a hard time getting over her loss.
* https://www.factcheck.org/2008/03/giving-hillary-credit-for-schip/
http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2018/03/hillarys-problem.html
** https://www.mlive.com/news/flint/2016/02/flint_mayor_credits_hillary_cl.html
*** https://www.c-span.org/video/?418008-1/hillary-clinton-campaigns-detroit-michigan
https://uaw.org/uaw-member-lloyd-allen-hillary-voting-save-auto-industry
https://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2016/03/07/bernie_sanders_vs_hillary_clinton_on_wall_street_bailout_support_excuse_me_im_talking.html\
**** https://www.businessinsider.com/hillary-clinton-pennsylvania-michigan-wisconsin-what-happened-2017-9
For one thing, there was a woman candidate for president - Hillary Clinton - and you would expect that women would come out in record numbers to vote for her but they didn't. Actually, more women voted for Donald Trump than voted for Hillary.
Consider Hillary. she had seen the White House close up as First Lady. She had been a Senator noted for stretching across the aisle. She worked on children's causes all her adult life, including writing a book about "It Takes A Village To Raise A Child," and she certainly was all for the children's health program SCHIP though she pushed it from the White House and not Congress.*
For reasons I do not understand, Hillary got a bad press. For example, they say she lost Wisconsin because she did not personally campaign there. OK, but what about Michigan and Pennsylvania? You don't hear about these two states.
Michigan was ungrateful to Hillary in voting for Trump over Hillary. Hillary helped the people of Flint, MI, during the water crisis: Mayor Karen Weaver thanked Hillary Clinton, saying the former Secretary of State's concern over the city's water crisis helped spur government action for the residents of Flint.** Hillary also campaigned in Detroit and voted to save the automobile industry.*** The money was there, and had to be released in order to save the American auto industry and four million jobs, and to begin the restructuring. We had the best year that the auto industry has had in a long time. I voted to save the auto industry. *** She also noted that in Michigan, she had about 140 more staffers on the ground than Obama in 2012, spent 166% more on TV ads, and made seven visits during the general election campaign./****
Hillary made a special effort in Pennsylvania but still had a narrow loss.
The former secretary of state wrote that in Pennsylvania, her team had 120 more staffers on the ground than President Barack Obama did four years earlier and spent 211% more on TV ads. She noted that she held more than 25 campaign events in the Keystone State while having major surrogates like Obama and Vice President Joe Biden make appearances as well.****Undoubtedly there is a strange case among some women that women shouldn't have a woman president for various reasons [There was a women's organization in Switzerland (Frauen Verein) who voted against women having the right to vote.]. But I'm sure that the women who would like a woman president greatly outnumber them. There were women who thought they would like a woman president, just not this woman. If women thought Hillary was an SOB, well, if she was a man, other men would say "Yes, he is an SOB but he is our SOB. Why couldn't women do that?
But there were also those who wouldn't vote for her because she didn't divorce her husband, Bill, for his philandering. I presume these are younger women that are unaware of the complexity of married couples. There are many couples who put up with philandering mates (usually men but some women also). Among the reasons may be religion, or the marriage vows, or wealth, or political talent (that may be the case with Hillary).
She was such a threat that Republicans attacked her for 25 yrs. Apparently, it worked.
I'm still having a hard time getting over her loss.
* https://www.factcheck.org/2008/03/giving-hillary-credit-for-schip/
http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2018/03/hillarys-problem.html
** https://www.mlive.com/news/flint/2016/02/flint_mayor_credits_hillary_cl.html
*** https://www.c-span.org/video/?418008-1/hillary-clinton-campaigns-detroit-michigan
https://uaw.org/uaw-member-lloyd-allen-hillary-voting-save-auto-industry
https://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2016/03/07/bernie_sanders_vs_hillary_clinton_on_wall_street_bailout_support_excuse_me_im_talking.html\
**** https://www.businessinsider.com/hillary-clinton-pennsylvania-michigan-wisconsin-what-happened-2017-9
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