Here are my observations and opinions from my selected news of the day.
(Courtesy Gary Varvel)
WHILE WE WAIT FOR THEIR RETURN – In a “dear colleague” letter to fellow Democrats, the smug Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) says in one breath that he is preparing to hand off the impeachment proceedings to the House Judiciary Committee, but adds that the investigation may continue.
“If other witnesses seek to show the same patriotism and courage of their colleagues (is that what they were doing?), and decide to obey their duty to the country over fealty to the president, we are prepared to hear from them,” he offered.
In a sickening display of magisterial wordsmithing, Schiff said he was “immensely grateful to the members and staff, who have worked long nights as a team for months, doing their work selflessly and skillfully.” That falls flat with those who watched the Democrats during the hearings, but especially when he made a special acknowledgment of the “important work of Maxine Waters.”
Hard telling what will happen when the lawmakers return from still another recess. Will they report to Mother Nancy what they heard from their constituencies while in their districts?
Will she follow the advice of Rep. Brenda Lawrence, the Detroit area Democrat who has flipped on impeachment? “Our democracy is bigger than Donald Trump, we need to act,” she said in June. In October, Lawrence was still pushing for the president’s impeachment with “clear examples of violations,” but she wanted it “done by Thanksgiving.”
REP. BRENDA LAWRENCE, under the thumb of Mother Pelosi. (aaronpgoldstein/reuters)
Now, in a dramatic flip flop, she’s pushing for censure. “Knowing how divided this country is, I don’t see the value of kicking him out of office,” she said, while conceding no conviction in the Republican-controlled Senate.
But when the media inquired of her decision at her office, they were told “she supports impeachment.” Typical liberal doubletalk. Did Mother Nancy get to her?
MEANWHILE, Gabi Grossbard, a Republican businessman in Southfield, has announced his intent to unseat Lawrence. He says he believes in the America of hope, opportunity, and equality (who doesn’t?), and adds that he is a self-described “moderate conservative,” who will focus on education, efficient services (this isn’t a mayoral race), community support and economic growth.
While Michigan is a swing state, Lawrence’s district voted heavily for Hillary Clinton in 2016.
REP. CINDY AXNE (D-IA), who represents Iowa’s 3rd District (Des Moines and Council Bluffs area) that voted for Donald Trump in 2016, recently told reporters that she didn’t run to impeach the president. Does that mean she won’t support his impeachment?
THE POLLSTERS have been busy seeking the opinions of blacks and Hispanics on the impeachment of the president and his reelection.
Both Rasmussen and Emerson polls show a significant gain in popularity for the president among blacks, at surprising 34 percent and 34.5 percent, respectively, according to columnist Roger Simon, who believes that if Trump were to garner even 18 percent of the black vote, he would easily win in 2020.
THE DAILY SHOW got a bit of a surprise when its correspondent Roy Wood, Jr. asked, “Which candidate do you think best understands the needs of the black voter?” according to Deanna Fisher, writing in Victory Girls.
One answered Warren and two said Sanders before the fourth said Trump.
Flustered, Wood asked the gentleman to explain. “Some of the stuff I’ve heard he’s already doing, like prison reform,” he replied, adding, “he’s been hanging around black people as long as I can remember. They loved him until he ran for president as a Republican. Trump was the man.”
In the wrap up, Wood asked how many thought Trump would win in 2020. Four of the six raised their hands.
Wood closed with a prayer that the supporter’s truck wouldn’t start on Election Day.
RUBEN NAVARRETTE, never Trumper (blogspot.com)
THE LATINO SIDE – Not since I left Texas in 2014, have I written in opposition to the columnist Ruben Navarrette, Jr., who claims to be a Mexican-American Never Trumper.
After seeing his op-ed in USA Today, “Millions of Latinos are Trump Supporters. Here’s what they’re thinking,” I was curious if he had come to his senses and saw how the Democrats have been taking them for granted as they do blacks. No, he didn’t.
After Barack Obama promised Latinos in 2008, he would make immigration reform his top priority, he received 67 percent of the Latino vote. But Obama failed to deliver on his promise.
Fourteen months into his first term, he explained that “immigration reform will have to wait as he ticked off a list of “more important” agenda items. “It will be addressed,” he said, “but not just yet.”
During Obama’s campaign in 2012, I wrote a piece, “Obama toys with Hispanics.” I quoted him – “I can guarantee that we will have in the first year an immigration bill that I strongly support and that I’m promoting. I think it’s time for a president who won’t walk away from comprehensive reform when it becomes politically unpopular.”
Although he accused George W. Bush of wanting to deport all of the estimated 12 million illegal immigrants during his campaign, Obama deported more illegals each year than Bush.
Obama was reelected in 2012 with 71 percent of the Latino vote.
Still, the pathetic Navarrette writes, “Why should any self-respecting Latino vote to reelect President Donald Trump, arguably the most anti-Latino chief executive in U.S. history,” referring to what he calls anti-Latino bigotry.
Navarrette continues to live in the past, dredging up Trump’s concern that U.S. District Court Judge Gonzalo Curiel – a U.S. Born citizen of Mexican descent – couldn’t fairly adjudicate a lawsuit because “He’s a Mexican.” That was months before Trump won in 2016.
After interviewing a number of Latino Trump supporters, Navarrette was noticeably disappointed that, “They’re ambivalent about their heritage, relatives, ancestors,” they’re Americans.
Despite his disdain for Trump, Navarrette recalls that he got 28 percent of the Latino vote in 2016, and is likely to get between 25-30 percent in 2020, allowing that “anything north of 30 percent is a decent showing for a Republican, and anything beyond 40 percent will make a GOP candidate (say it Ruben – Trump) virtually unbeatable.”0
Navarrette claims, “Latinos aren’t monolithic and we don’t vote as a bloc.”
And Trump says, “We’ll see what happens.”
AN INTERESTING THOUGHT – “You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it.” – Anonymous
LAUGH-OF-THE-DAY – I’m not sure of the creative genius who came up with the idea, but I understand you can purchase a whoopie cushion with the likeness of Rep. Eric Swalwell, who is believed to have farted while doing a live interview.
May God continue to bless the United State of America.
