Will The Elderly Stick Us With Trump Or Biden And Then All Die Off In The Pandemic Before The Consequences Are Felt?

James Carville is a vile, mouldering 75 year old man, who long ago lost any relevance he ever had-- other than on Comcast TV. Last night, as Biden was racking up his wins he cackled, "Let’s shut this puppy down, and let’s move on and worry about November. This thing is decided. There’s no reason to keep it going, not even a day longer." The elderly-- who were responsible for Trump's tenure in the White House (and thereby the inadequate response to COVID-19 and many of their own, perhaps untimely, deaths)-- are about to saddle the Democratic Party with another anti-inspirational, insiders-only, vision-free nominee.

Tuesday in Michigan, Bernie's appeal was to the people who will be left after the coronavirus pandemic burns out. He won:

• 83% of 18-24 vote
• 81% of 25-29 vote
• 62% of 30-39 vote
• 51% of 40-49 vote.

Most of the walking dead, like Carville, voted for Biden. The walking dead won. And I guess we don't get a re-vote in a few months, when they're dead. Which reminds me of two things (aside from the fact that I'm 72 years old):

• Most of those expressing great fear of coronavirus to pollsters, said they voted for Biden, the anti-Medicare-for-All Democrat
• Why didn't MSNBC fire Carville at the same time they fired Chris Matthews, their best decision of 2020?

John Harris' Mini-Tuesday wrap-up for Politico-- Biden and Trump: Don’t Stop Thinking About Yesterday-- captured the state of the country's politics: "2020 promises to offer two old men but no new ideas."

16 and 17 year olds aren't allowed to vote. Presumably thiner minds aren't matter enough. Why are people over 85 voting, even if their minds are... over-mature. Maybe there should be some kind of testing... like when old people renew drivers' licenses? "At a transformative moment in history-- when the onrush of changes in climate, technology, demography, and global balance-of-power are creating a new generation of urgent policy challenges in the United States and around the world-- the 2020 race now promises to be effectively devoid of new ideas," wrote Harris. "Instead, this promises to be a race above all about character and personal qualities. It will be waged by old men-- age 73 for the incumbent, age 77 for the presumptive challenger-- whose essential worldviews were formed decades ago and whose essential instincts and preoccupations are backward-looking."

Both candidates are noticeably-- and increasingly-- senile, which seems to be repulsing people under 50 and looking attractively self-affirming to people over 70.

The main idea of Biden’s campaign is, in the phrase that had its origins in a malapropism by Warren G. Harding, a return to normalcy. He has the usual roster of standard Democratic policy positions but they are not animated by an arresting new vision, like Barack Obama’s “hope and change” message of 2008. Instead, Biden’s promise is mostly about the restoration of civility and precedent.

The main idea of Trump’s campaign is by all evidence the continuation of non-normalcy. Disruption was his promise in 2016, and what he has delivered for three years. Increasingly, though, that disruption is less about specific policy goals-- never mind larger ideas—than it is about Trump’s own cult of personality, with its titanic gyrations of whimsy and grievance.

Here’s one to be answered by Trump supporters: If he wins a second term, his most important policy goal will be: What?

Here’s one to be answered by any voter. The State of the Union address, when presidents seeking re-election historically lay out a second-term agenda, was just last month. Yes, you probably remember a carnival-like atmosphere, during which Rush Limbaugh was bestowed the Medal of Freedom and Nancy Pelosi ripped up her copy of the speech. Do you remember Trump’s main new policy initiative or any big promises he intends to make the basis of his re-election?

As a political culture, we are now so immersed in the nonstop news cycle with its premium on insult, indignation, and living in the moment that we scarcely notice when an election that is momentous by any measure winds up with a choice like this one. 2020 will have one candidate who is all about Trump, another who is all about being the opposite of Trump, but no candidate who has defined himself by a new set of arguments about the future, or a new set of remedies about the problems likely to shadow the country or the world in the years ahead.

Bill Clinton, whose 1990s-era policies are largely out of fashion and whose personal lapses are now judged censoriously by Democrats who were once more forgiving, perhaps still might get some credit for knowing something about presidential politics. One of his signature maxims is, Every election is about the future.



Hmm….It would be interesting to get Clinton’s unfiltered analysis of this one. His theme was the Fleetwood Mac song, “Don’t Stop (Thinking About Tomorrow).” Biden and Trump, by contrast, sometimes seem to be urging, “Don’t Stop Thinking About Yesterday.”

Biden began his campaign with what turned out to be a blunder, referring to the Senate that he served in after winning shortly before his 30th birthday in 1972, when he said he managed to work productively even with that era’s segregationists whose views he found repugnant. Though he has dropped fond references to Dixiecrats, he still cites his own history crafting deals in the Senate, and, on a more personal note, his own perseverance through tragedy after the 1972 deaths of his first wife and daughter and the 2015 death of his son, Beau Biden.

Trump, likewise, filters contemporary issues through a personal prism that is decades old. His warnings about the rise of China flow rhetorically directly from his 1980s warnings about what was then seen as the implacable rise of Japan. His descriptions of negotiations with leaders in Congress to other heads of state often use language that sound like the advice he gave in his 1987 book, “The Art of the Deal,” published when he was 42. One of his major first-term policy victories was fulfilling a pledge to replace Clinton’s NAFTA trade deal, passed more than a quarter-century ago.

Even as the world changes dramatically, by all evidence what Democratic voters seem to want this year-- no less than Republican Trump diehards-- is a contest over character and personal traits.

In other words... which candidate lies more? Which candidate has a more repulsive and corrupt family? Which candidate is more incapacitated mentally? Which, in the end, is the lesser of two evils? This is the perfect battleground for someone like Trump-- and will be absolutely catastrophic for a traditional old hawkish pol like Status Quo Joe Biden, who has one chance of getting into the White House: Trump making himself-- if he hasn't already-- too beyond the pale even for the morons who vote in American elections.





Neil Young is also old (74 years old)-- but a brand new voters, so he sounded 18 yesterday when he endorsed Bernie:

I support Bernie because I listen to what he says. Every point he makes is what I believe in. Every one.

In 2016, If Bernie had run instead of Hillary Clinton, I think we would not have the incompetent mess we have now.

Does America have the Democrat party insiders, the DNC to blame for our incompetent mess?

Did the DNC pull every political string to stop Bernie and get Hillary in 2016?

Did that work?

Now, are they trying to stop Bernie Sanders again?

Is Joe the new Hillary?

Is that what you really want?

I think the DNC is more interested in themselves and the power of their party than anything else.

As a new citizen, I was excited to register to vote. Outside the courthouse after I was naturalized, (funny word for it) there was a Democrat Party Registration booth. I registered. My first error as a U.S. citizen will be corrected now.

I am registering Independent. The wheels are in motion. I don’t trust the DNC because I think the DNC is pushing their own agenda over the good of our country.

The thing about Bernie for me is he is consistent. He wants our children to have the best chance at a great education.

The DNC will spread their talking point that ‘Bernie is Divisive.’ They will tell MSNBC and CNN to spread that opinion. They will spread it.

That’s because Bernie is not with the DNC.

Bernie is with you.

Are Bernie’s Policies Radical?

Fight CLIMATE CHANGE like it is real.
Eliminate STUDENT DEBT
Make COLLEGE TUITION Free.
Pay for it all with TAXES ON THE SUPER RICH
$15.00 MINIMUM WAGE
HEALTH CARE AS A HUMAN RIGHT!
The GREEN NEW DEAL for millions of new jobs with a future.

These are Bernie’s ambitious goals on your behalf.
I don’t think these are radical goals. Do you?
These goals are opposed by the DNC. Ask yourself WHY?

Listen to what Bernie says- not what the DNC is selling you from Social Media.

I don’t believe Facebook. It’s corrupt and admits that it is.

Facebook is full of bots and trolls. It’s not AMERICA. Forget social media. Ignore it, and replace it with TRUTH. I don’t believe the Facebook social media cesspool of lies, disinformation from other countries and mis-leading comments.

I believe Bernie Sanders.

I think Bernie is the Real Deal.

I think Democracy is in deep trouble. The solution is big CHANGE. Are you scared of Change?
I believe that in these times Democratic Socialism is good for American workers and students. It’s certainly not Communism. It’s the future for the working class.

The USA is broken, as is our sacred Democracy temporarily broken.
Search for Truth.
We already have socialism in the USA bailing out Wall Street and the super rich. How about the working class and the students who want a real future without debt?
What about them?

Ever wonder why the DNC is against Bernie?
Is Bernie against all the corporations funding the DNC candidate’s political campaigns?
Will Bernie hit their corrupt campaign pocket books?
Will he try to clean the system up?
Is that radical or divisive to America?

Bernie scares the hell out of the DNC. That’s why they’re acting this way right now. They are scared because their own power is challenged. If Bernie wins, they might lose it.
Is it time to get the money out of politics and put the truth back in?
Does this require Strength and Truth?

Bold changes. Bernie Sanders.

Do you think Democracy as we knew it is dying today?
That’s what I think.

If you are a loyal Trump supporter, please write NYA and tell your story. We will print that. We want to know about the positive side of supporting Trump.
We want to know your opinion. What is the positive side?

Was Donald Trump elected because of the negative effect on America of the DNC and the DNC policies of its Democratic candidates?
Did Trump supporters want change?
Do Bernie supporters want change?

It is-- was Time to change America. That’s what Trump supporters thought. That’s what I think.

Until then--
Stand with Bernie,
Stand for the workers,
Stand for the teachers,
Stand for the students.
Stand up for Climate Justice.
STAND for higher taxes on the super-rich to pay for all of the above!
Stand for The American Future.

Stand with Bernie Sanders.

Hey... while we're at it

Nevada Electoral Action Is High In Las Vegas This Year-- Churn, Churn, Churn

Right-wing lunatic Cresent Hardy (left) is sporting a hipster look for his 2018 congressional run

The population of Nevada is 2,940,058. The population of Clark County (the Las Vegas Metro) is 2,155,664. That's where the state's people live. (The only other county with a significant number of people is Washoe--Reno and Sparks-- with 446,903 people.) Clark County elects 3 of Nevada's 4 members of Congress and last year there was turnover as voters ousted a GOP incumbent, Cresent Hardy, in NV-04, with Democrat Ruben Kihuen, and replaced Republican JoeHeck, who left his NV-03 House seat to run, unsuccessfully for the Senate, with Jacky Rosen. Kihuen ran as an unabashed progressive but joined the New Dems, ran up a miserable voting record (ProgressivePunch rates him a "D") and was forced to retire after being caught molesting women. Jacky Rosen is worse. She ran as a nothing and ran up one of the worst voting records in Congress-- ProgressivePunch rates her an "F"-- which, of course attracted Chuck Schumer's attention, who offered to back her in the Senate race against Republican Dean Heller.

That means the same two Clark County seats that flipped red to blue in 2016 are up for grabs again this year. Obama won both districts both rimes he ran. In 2016 Hillary and Trump had close elections. Trump won NV-03 47.5% to 46.5% and Hillary won NV-04 with a more comfortable 49.5% to 44.6%. The 3rd flipped from an even PVI to an R+2 and the 4th went from a PVI of D+4 to a D+3. This cycle's DCCC candidates includes extremely wealthy Mob-connected socialite Susie Lee among their shitty candidate in the list of disastrous Red to Blue program. She's beyond horrible and when she ran in 2016 (in the 4th district primary) she spent the most money ($1,492,274, of which $674,805 came out of her own bank account) and came in a distant 3rd behind Kihuen and Berniecrat Lucy Flores. So far there are 7 candidates running as Democrats in NV-03-- Lee (who was endorsed by EMILY's List and has no issues on her website, Jack Love, Hermon Farahi, Richard Hart, Guy Pinjuv, Steve Schiffman (who seems to be running for mayor of Jerusalem, not for the U.S. Congress) and Michael Weiss (who sounds like a Berniecrat)-- and 6 candidates running as Republicans-- Victoria Seaman, Scott Hammond, David McKeon, Eddie Hamilton Stephanie Jones, and Michelle Mortensen. Some of them may have dropped out by now. By the end of the 3rd quarter only 5 had raised any money:

• Susie Lee (D)- $315,178
• Victoria Seaman (R)- $114,008
• Scott Hammond (R)- $51,700
• David McKeon (R)- $39,695
• Jack Love (D)- $10,950

Now let's look at the 4th district, the bluer one, to replace the disgraced Kihuen. Democrats in the race so far include state Senator Patricia Spearman, Berniecrat Amy Vilela and high school principal John Anzalone. There has been constant chatter that both Steven Horsford, the district’s first representative (who was defeated by Cresent Hardy in 2014) and North Las Vegas Mayor John Lee, are also about to jump into the race. On the Republican side, GOP frontrunner Las Vegas City Councilman Stavros Anthony just announced he's getting out of the race, presumably to make way for Hardy, the ex-Congressman Kihuen had defeated in 2016. Anthony had already raised $141,145 by the end of the third quarter and probably as much by the end of the 4th (which hasn't been reported yet).

In The Trump Era, Who Needs Ethics Rules?

Ro Khanna is holding PhRMA's feet to the fire in the House

Former Congressman Chaka Fattah started his 10 year prison sentence yesterday, after being convicted last June for fraud and bribery charges. Wednesday was a busy day for corrupt lawmakers. Nebraska's most heinous Republican state legislator, Senator Bill Kintner finally announced he is resigning... just as his colleagues were about to kick him out of the Senate. He called a press conference and told the media "To paraphrase Richard Nixon, you won't have Bill Kintner to kick around anymore." He had been fined for having cybersex on state-owned computers with various women. His response to that was to get on twitter and carry on about how the 2 million-plus women who participated in the anti-Trump marches last weekend are two ugly to be sexually assaulted.

Although his resignation doesn't go into effect until Monday, Jim Scheer, the Speaker of the legislature, asked him to stay off the floor and refrain from participating in any debates or votes.

Kintner is a longtime woman hater, having attracted attention in 2013 by responding to a non-political question in a newspaper about what the biggest mystery in the world is: "Women. No one understands them. They don't even understand themselves." But, of course-- as is often the case with right-wing bigots-- women aren't the only group he's disdainful of. Two years ago the Nebraska Latino American Commission condemned him for routinely using racist slurs against Hispanics during debates in the legislature.

In his resignation announcement he portrayed himself as a fighter for the far right crackpots who sent him to the legislature. "[A]s much as my heart says to fight," he said, "my head says it is time to step away from the Legislature... I hesitate to do so as I know my resignation will be hailed as a victory to the progressive and aggressive liberal movement. However, one of the most gifted leaders of all time was King Solomon in ancient Israel-- a man of many gifts and many challenges. In the Bible, King Solomon’s writing in the book of Ecclesiastes, sets forth that: 'To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant and a time to pluck up that which is planted; A time to kill and a time to heal; a time to break down and a time to build up; A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn and a time to dance; A time to cast away stones, and a time to come together.'"



Our old friend Jane Kleeb is now the chairman of Nebraska's Democratic Party. Her statement must have driven Kintner out of his narrow mind: "The Women's March just took down their first politician. The Nebraska Democratic Party welcomes the resignation of Bill Kintner and looks forward to electing a candidate who stands up for women and working class families."

Unfortunately, the governor will appoint another Republican nitwit to the seat and there won't be an election to fill it until 2018.

Now let's skip over to Florida and check on what's up with another typical corrupt conservative 4th Judicial Circuit Mark Hulsey III, who just resigned rather than face an impeachment trial the following day. Like Kintner, Hulsey felt entitled to voice his ugly racist and misogynistic sentiments whenever they popped into his crazy right-wing head. The Jacksonville judge is best known for telling African Americans who came before his bench to get on a boat and go back to Africa.

A sample of the complaints from the Judicial Qualifications Commission reveals a minefield of issues.

“Among other comments: a. You referred to the prior lead Staff Attorney as a “bitch” and a “cunt." b. You have demeaned female Staff Attorneys by referring to them as like cheerleaders who talk during the national anthem. c. You berated a Staff Attorney who failed to remain in the courtroom while a jury was deliberating. During this capital trial, you required the Staff Attorney to provide you with basic information about capital trial procedures, and then, at the end of the two-week trial, you unfairly berated, and blamed the Staff Attorney for mistakes you made during the course of the trial,” the JQC alleged.

Grace-Marie Turner is a far right ideologue working furiously against healthcare. Tuesday, Diane Black (R-TN), one of Congress' most extremist Republicans and chair of the House Budget Committee, had her testify as the president of a crackpot anti-healthcare think tank, the so-called Galen Institute she stated 20 years ago to help the GOP undermine Medicare. Her "Institute" is almost entirely funded by Big PhRMA and she is the go-to lunatic for the Republicans when they want a witness to babble nonsense about preventing Congress from passing legislation that would give American consumers fair drug prices.

Tuesday's Budget Committee hearing was about repealing the Affordable Care Act. There are 22 Republicans on the committee and just 12 Democrats. It hasn't been seen as a likely place for much resistance. But last week, Pelosi appointed two freshman firecrackers to the committee, Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) and Ro Khanna (D-CA) and suddenly all bets are off. Watch Khanna go after Turner in the video up top. It's well known in DC that Turner is a highly paid lackey of the pharmaceutical industry and that she carries their water but she doesn't admit it publicly and the public isn't aware of it. Khanna wanted to make sure that her deceitful, misleading testimony is seen through those lenses. He asked her to disclose her Big PhRMA donors and admit how much she's taken from them in return for repeating their self-serving messages. She refused. "If you're giving testimony to the United States Congress," he reminded her, "the public should have a right to know what financial interests your organization has."

I asked Khanna about the hearing yesterday. He told me that "[b]y pursuing an aggressive line of questioning, I was hoping to inspire Democrats to be bold and fearless in speaking truth to power. We won't win by being polite or philosophical. We will win by taking on special interests and exposing the ulterior and financial motive of the dark forces in American politics. Let's learn from Sanders. Our party needs more young Turks willing to challenge the status quo and stand on conviction."