Greetings and Salutations!
The political situation in the USA continues to be chaotic and dangerous. #45 has apparently stepped back to a secondary role to Elon Musk…doing little but issuing executive orders and signing them in a big ceremony. MUSK, though, is doing his best to fulfill the goals of Project 2025, wrest the power of Congress away, and install it in the Executive Branch. For example, over the past day or two, he has walked into the USAID offices, and done his best to shut it down. He has bullied his way into the payment system of the Government, accessed the mountains of private data there, and starting halting payments (authorized by Congress) to projects and programs he does not approve of.
While there is some blowback from Democrats, it is far less robust than it should be, and shows weakness of resolve at the worst possible time. This has generated some debate over the lack of leadership in the Party. I was involved in one of these discussions recently, and thought I would share it.
DM: GG: who do we have? Schumer? Bernie? Nancy? Jeffries? Cory? Hillary? Kamala? Gavin (he’s definitely out of the game for a while)? We have no one. I fear Trump will push so many buttons or something else might ignite a conflict that prompts him to call out the army. Nothing good for the next several years. I want to live long for my family BUT I also want to see Trump in jail … I know, I know …
DM: GG: Look at ML:‘s posting here re Jeffries.
GG: DM: I wouldn’t be surprised if the match that lights the fire is an invasion of Panama.
DM: GG: possible. Look for a “Remember the Maine” moment. In a few weeks there literally will be no one watching the store. This has been a long game and I am sure the GOP can’t believe how lucky they were that assh*le Trump showed up when he did. too much…
RW: GG: Actually, I think retaking the Panama Canal would be popular. It would ignite and energize the same group that protested on behalf of the Palestinians. That would lead to more support for Trump.
Dave Mundt: While your comment is worrisome, and depressing, I remind myself that the worst of times can bring out the best in the oppressed. I agree that the Democratic party has serious problems right now…and, this crisis has (I hope) brought them to a head so they can no longer be ignored.
One of the problems I have discussed in the past, which is shared by both parties, is that the old guard is desperately clinging to power when it should be mentoring the younger folks and moving them in to be great leaders, and build on the foundations laid by previous leaders. These days, being but a month away from my 70th birthday, my definitions of some of those ages have changed a bit. However, I look at the list of people you provide…and I say “There are some great leaders there, who have simply not had the chance to step up and prove it”. Hakim Jeffries and Kamala Harris have really gone up in my estimation. They are finding their voice, and could well become the strong leaders of (Hopefully) the near future. I will add Pete Buttigieg and AOC to that list.
I do see a small sea change in the Democratic party that I hope will grow. That is the walking away from the “play by the rules and don’t make waves” attitude that has hindered the party for decades. I like to see Congressional hearings where Democrats push to hold the incompetents being installed by the current administration to account for their words, attitudes and actions. We have taken shit from the Republicans for too many years without protesting. It is past time to say “no More” and refuse to let that slide.
As for Hillary Clinton…I can see her in a roll in the government, as she has a lot more positives than negatives. Yes, she is a bit older, but, she still pushes the agenda that is focused on the good of the country as a whole…not just benefiting the very rich.
One other issue that we, as a political party, have got to focus on is unity. I am not saying we have to march in lock-step like the Republicans do…not at all. However, I believe that if we want to regain enough power to save our society, we must join together to support the candidate selected by the party as a leader. It horrified me to see that millions who came out to vote Joe Biden into office stayed home when presented with Ms. Harris as the candidate! I fear that this boycott reveals some very ugly veins of misogyny and bigotry that hide in the hearts of Democrats. I hope I am wrong…but I look at the results of the election, and that is the simplest explanation. Too many Democrats seem unwilling to admit that anyone but the paragon of perfection that is their candidate can do the job. I am reminded of the old truism “Do not let perfection be the enemy of the good“.
Another issue, which may be the death of the Party (and the hopes of returning Democracy to the USA) is the reality that the Democratic Party is so in love with arguing with itself, it gets nothing progressed. As I touched on above, this is a time for Unity…not internal dissent.
God Help Us All!
Protest! Resist! Persist!
Bee Man Dave