Here are my observations and opinions on my selected news of the day.
DEMOCRATS IN INTERNAL STRUGGLE – “We are on an out-of-control roller-coaster going 100 miles per hour, and we have no functioning brake,” said a leading Democrat strategist who is alarmed by the rising tide of socialism within the party. “No one is leading, and the void could not be more clear.”
That assessment was part of Josh Kraushaar’s excellent piece, “Democrats Are Boosting Trump’s Reelection Prospects,” in National Journal.
“Their top 2020 presidential hopefuls are embracing the socialist-minded economic policy, from a Green New Deal to single-payer health insurance. It’s playing right into the president’s hands.”
In my last post I wrote about the Democrat presidential candidates that have endorsed the Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez Green New Deal that imposes a top-down revolution of our society centered on climate change.
‘But when you look at polls breaking down the actual Democrat electorate, you’ll find limited support for such socialist-minded schemes,” says Kraushaar. “It’s easy to see how Democrats could be giving President Trump a lifeline to a second term despite his widespread unpopularity.”
With all of the announced candidates leaning left, Kraushaar points out that they’re splitting that share of the vote evenly, calling it a self-destructive approach. “At the same time,” he says, “there’s plenty of evidence that many rank-and-file Democrats are looking for a pragmatist who can actually win the presidency.”
By pandering to the left, Kraushaar wonders if they have “created an opening for someone like (Joe) Biden or Sen. Amy Klobuchar to run a more mainstream campaign.”
KLOBUCHAR SAYS “NO” TO MAINSTREAM – In late breaking news Sunday, she announced her entry in the presidential race. Senator Klobuchar couldn’t resist saying that she, too, will support AOC’s wacko Green New Deal. In a statement that needs translation, she cited the need to “heal the heart of our democracy and renew our commitment to the common good.”
I will elaborate on Klobuchar’s campaign in the days ahead.
IT USED TO BE THE FRINGE LEFT, but now the “Democrat party is being open and up front about what they want to do to this country,” says Rush Limbaugh. “Now it’s mainstream and they think they can win elections with this stuff.”
And, you can bet the media will be right there to support them.
Sen. Jeff Merkley, representing the left-leaning state of Oregon, was critical of President Trump’s resolve that America will never by a socialist country while appearing on CNN with Erin Burnett.
Trying to walk a fine line, Merkley said “It is a society coming together to increase the standard of living of our seniors. And that is pretty the much the definition (of socialism),” he said while avoiding Burnett’s attempt to get him to support socialism. “But you don’t see that as socialism, right, in terms of the word? It is a word of significance.”
COLUMNIST PEGGY NOONAN, a writer who I admire one day and am disappointed with another, scored in the disappointment column in Saturday’s Wall Street Journal piece, “Can Trump Handle a Foreign Crisis?”
“He’ll face one eventually, and there’s good reason to worry the administration will be unprepared,” she wrote.
How unfair. Noonan feeds on the stories that have come out in tell-all books and articles that have appeared in left-leaning anti-Trump media. “It’s a White House frequently at war. They don’t get along, they leak, they don’t trust each other. There is a high turnover, a constantly changing cast of characters, a lack of deep experience,” Noonan feels a need to pile on.
With the departure of Jim Mattis, John Kelly and H.R. McMaster, she says “a cumulative 123 years of military and diplomatic experience left with them.” Citing a meaningless total number of years figure is something a journalist fresh out of J-school would do.
Noonan goes into JFK being tested and quotes presidential historians, who are on the record of opposing Trump. She suggests that “It might be a good idea to have regular situation-room meetings on what-if, and how to handle what-ifs, and to have deep contingency planning with intelligence, military and civilian leaders discussing scenarios.” Gee, how innovative and perceptive of you, Peggy.
I would remind Noonan of those who thought President Trump’s insulting language toward Kim Jung Un and his “fire and fury” threat would lead us into war with “Little Rocket Man” sending ICBMs our way.
WHEN YOU’RE THINKING ABOUT VIRGINA, and the political scandal there, you should put a few things into perspective. Four of the top six richest counties in the U.S. are in Virginia and abut Washington DC on the south. The average pay per capita is $105,000 and an estimated 178,000 people work for the federal government.
Both Virginia senators and seven of its eight representatives are Democrats.
Maryland’s Howard County, the second richest county, abuts Washington DC on the north with an estimated 145,000 of its residents working for the federal government.
SURPRISE! – A CBS/YouGov poll revealed that 76 percent of those surveyed after the State of the Union address approved and 24 percent disapproved. Of note was the 82 percent approval by Independents. Fifty-six percent thought the address would unite rather than divide the country, while just eight percent disagreed.
In addition, regarding the president’s immigration effort, 72 percent approved and 28 percent opposed. Is there a crisis on the border? Seventy-one percent said yes, 29 percent no.
Newt Gingrich, a student of political history, said: “Every once in a while, a speech is so effective and powerful it changes the trajectory of history … (his) was that kind of speech.”
Pelosi looks as if she is looking at a menu from the Outback. (static.businessinsider.com)
JUST FOR GIGGLES – I didn’t catch the name of the comedian, but he said Speaker Pelosi looked as if she was looking over the menu at Outback during the State of the Union Address. Actually, she was leafing through the pages of President Trump’s address, which he handed to her after reaching the podium. She could have been less obvious as she shuffled the pages, but …
AND ANOTHER quoting my daughter-in-law speaking of AOC: “What is she, nuts?”
May God bless the United States of America.
