Presidential Election Of 2024

Odd Change Of Support For Both Political Parties: Will It Affect The Future?

Ronald 7 Comments

The tradition has been that African Americans and Latinos, and people who are working class and less educated voters, tend to vote Democratic, and that white suburbanites and wealthy, educated voters vote Republican.

That changed in the Presidential Election Of 2024, but it is hard to know if it is simply a one time occurrence.

What is clear also is that young women are moving more toward the Democrats, while younger men are moving toward the Republicans, but again, that may be an outlier as well.

It makes trying to project ahead for the Midterm Congressional and state elections of 2026, and the Presidential Election of 2028, a massive challenge for both parties.

At this point, Democrats have a tremendous, talented group of Governors, along with a few Senators and Representatives, who are seen as potential national candidates.

Having so many potential candidates may be a blessing, or a curse, while the Republicans, seemingly, have far fewer potential candidates.

Recruitment of candidates for state and national office is in full swing now, as the talent pool will be particularly urgent for Democrats!

Whether the Democrats can reorganize much of the coalition that won the Presidency twice for Barack Obama ins 2008 and 2012 is a crucial matter, as we plan ahead for 2026 and 2028.

Financial Insecurity And Fear Of Immigrants Exploited By Trump, But America IS A Liberal Nation, As Proved In Public Opinion Surveys!

Ronald 5 Comments

Donald Trump won the Presidential Election of 2024, based on two factors: Financial Insecurity, and Fear of Immigrants.

But that does not mean that America is a right wing nation, a MAGA Republican nation.

When one examines public opinion ratings on a host of issues, America is truly a liberal oriented nation, which can, however, be swayed by Financial Insecurity and Fear of Immigrants.

For instance, 69 percent support legal abortion.

90 percent want more gun control laws.

72 percent believe the Climate Crisis is real.

79 percent want the wealthy to pay more taxes.

71 percent support Labor Unions.

73 percent want student loan debt relief.

72 percent want money out of politics.

69 percent support same sex marriage.

65 percent want to end the Electoral College.

89 percent oppose gerrymandering.

65 percent support term limits for the Supreme Court.

So when one considers the large number of women, young people, and people of color in our population, there is still hope for the future.

Shocking Diagnosis On Joe Biden: Time For Compassion And Unity!

Ronald 6 Comments

The revelation on Sunday that former President Joe Biden has stage 4 Prostate Cancer, and that it has metatasized to his bones, is a shock and a time for compassion and unity, as well as prayers for his recovery, which although daunting, is a possibility.

Even President Donald Trump and Georgia Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene have found it possible to send their good wishes and avoid the constant attacks they have unleashed on Joe Biden, while he was President, and now as a former President.

This author and blogger has seen Joe Biden as the most compassionate, decent, empathetic political leader, bar none, since the tragic death of Hubert H. Humphrey a long 47 years ago, in 1978.

At that time, I looked around and saw Biden as the best model to replace Humphrey, and wished for him to become President, with him unable to accomplish this goal in 1988 and 2008.

But I was thrilled when Barack Obama made Joe Biden his Vice President, and their relationship and interaction was only surpassed in American history before and since, by Jimmy Carter and Walter Mondale from 1977-1981.

Looking back now, it is clear that had Joe Biden somehow won a second term, he would, most likely, be forced to resign, and Kamala Harris would have become President.

If only Joe Biden had realized, at his age, that it was time to retire, and had done so earlier, the nightmare America is living through in the present, could have been avoided.

That is the tragedy of a man who wanted the best for his nation, but yet, may have blundered in not realizing his age and mortality earlier than July 2024, when he announced he would not run, and was replaced by Harris.

In any case, let all of us pray for Joe Biden’s recovery, and many more years of life in retirement!

The Problem Of Age In The Presidency Made Clear!

Ronald 3 Comments

At the end of his time in the Presidency, Dwight D. Eisenhower, who left office in January 1961 at the age of 70 years and 3 months, was the oldest President in American history.

Eisenhower made the statement that no one older than himself as he left office should be in the Oval Office.

However, that was not to be, as Ronald Reagan entered the Presidency a few weeks short of 70, and had signs of Alzheimer’s Disease detected by his second term, although he was well protected by his staff who denied any issue, and left office nearly 78 years old. Only years later, was it made clear that he had dementia, and he lived on until age 93, but not even knowing his own wife, Nancy, in the last few years of his life.

And then, we had others even older when winning the Presidency than Reagan, becoming nominees–specifically Bob Dole at age 73 in 1996, and John McCain at age 72 in 2008.

Neither won the Presidency, but the age issue was still there, and then Donald Trump won the Presidency and was seven months beyond the age of 70 when he took the Presidential oath in 2017.

And then, Joe Biden won the Presidency, and took the oath at age 78 in 2021.

And finally, Donald Trump returned to the White House at age 78 in 2025, five months older than Biden was four years earlier.

So the issue of age has become a crisis, and not only for Presidents, but also for members of Congress, and sometimes Governors, who are serving in their 70s and 80s, avoiding retirement.

There is a dire need for some youth in the Presidency, like we had with John F. Kennedy at age 43 in 1961; Bill Clinton at age 46 (and his Vice President Al Gore at age 44) in 1993; and Barack Obama at 47 in 2009.

Sadly, Joe Biden displayed evidence of mental and physical decline, now being debated and published about, and Donald Trump, both in his first, and now his second term, has also shown great evidence of decline.

So in 2028, youth is likely to be triumphant, and all for the better, although one can be sure some political figures who are reaching higher ages, are likely to contend for the Presidential nominations.

The 2028 Democratic Presidential Race Has Begun!

Ronald 3 Comments

Here we are just 114 days since the second Trump Presidency began, a constant barrage of actions and abuses of power, far surpassing Franklin D. Roosevelt in actions, and Richard Nixon in abuses of power.

But also, already, there are clear cut signs of Democratic Presidential activity for the 2028 Presidential election beginning.

Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg had a massive crowd in Iowa last night, amid hints of his planning to run, although he made clear that it was too early for such action to begin now.

Illinois Governor JD Pritzker has thrown down the gauntlet to Donald Trump and the Republicans, with aggressive rhetoric and calls for mass resistance.

Connecticut Senator Chris Murphy has been actively speaking out on the abuses of Trump, and going into Republican congressional districts with Florida Congressman Maxwell Frost to bring pressure on Republicans who could make the difference in the pasaage or failure of Donald Trump’s plans for a “beautiful” budget bill.

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear has emphasized how he has been able to accomplish goals as a Democratic Governor in a Republican controlled state legislature.

Hints are starting to be dropped that New York Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is flirting with the possibility of running for President.

Arizona Senator Ruben Gallego is giving combative retorts to Republicans who are undermining the rights of Latinos, and observers see him potentially running for President.

New Jersey Senator Cory Booker, after his amazing 25 hour personal filibuster against the Trump Administration, is perceived as likely to announce a run for the Presidency.

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, the Democratic Vice Presidential nominee in 2024, is also making speeches as he travels around Midwest states and Republican Congressional districts.

Kamala Harris, the Democratic Presdidential candidate in 2024, is weighing whether to run for the California Governorship, which she would have the edge for, or instead, to try another run for the Oval Office.

This is just a list of the most obvious cases of “hints” of plans to run, but there are many other potential candidacies, including, in no special order:

California Governor Gavin Newsom
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro
Maryland Governor Wes Moore
Colorado Governor Jared Polis
North Carolina Governor Josh Stein
Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar
Georgia Senator Raphael Warnock
California Congressman Ro Khanna
Former Chicago Mayor and Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel
Former Rhode Island Governor and Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo
Sports Media Personality Stephen A. Smith
Corporate Leader Mark Cuban

This potential list of 22 contenders may have others join it, once the Midterm Elections for Congress and the Governorships are resolved!

Essential To Have Younger Voices Advance In Democratic Party

Ronald 8 Comments

If the Democratic Party is to recover from the defeat in the Presidential Election of 2024, and the losing of seats in the US Senate races of 2024, it is essential that younger voices be advanced in the party structure and leadership.

With a few members of the party in both houses of Congress deciding to retire in 2026, this is the time for “new blood” to play a major role in the future.

So in the House of Representatives, this includes such members as:

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York
Jasmine Crockett of Texas
Maxwell Frost of Florida
Ro Khanna of California
Robert Garcia of California
Joe Neguse of Colorado
Brendan Boyle of Pennsylvania
Greg Casar of Texas
Jake Auchincloss of Massachusetts

and includes such members of the Senate as:

Ruben Gallego of Arizona
Chris Murphy of Connecticut
Jon Ossoff of Georgia
Cory Booker of New Jersey
Andy Kim of New Jersey

The call by Democratic National Committee Vice President David Hogg, who is just 25 years old, for a youth movement in the party in future elections, and the advancement of younger members of the party in Congress, makes total sense!

The Hidden Victims Of Donald Trump’s Economic Disaster!

Ronald 3 Comments

As the effects of Donald Trump’s fixation on protective tariffs as a major part of his economic policies take hold, there are many hidden victims, who will suffer the most.

With escalating prices on all kinds of consumer goods, not just dolls or pencils, as stated by Trump in his Meet The Press interview that aired on Sunday, there will be massive suffering and spreading poverty across America.

Many of the white working class people who thought Donald Trump would be preferable to a mixed race woman as President (Kamala Harris), will suffer mightily, as many will lose their jobs, will lose their homes, will be unable to purchase basic “groceries”, including eggs, so much emphasized in the campaign in 2024.

But also, African Americans and Latino Americans will suffer mightily, as they lose opportunities to move ahead, with the attack on DEI (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion), which will affect educational opportunities, and employment prospects.

Additionally, many of “Generation Z”, already having difficulties moving ahead toward independence from their family upbringing, will have to endure the uncertainty of their futures, in an economy which is moving toward a severe recession, if not a Second Great Depression.

With a national government headed by billionaires, the oligarchy that controls so much of the American economic future, having no concern except their own greed, selfishness and further aggrandizement, a revival of the “Gilded Age” of the late 19th century will lead to further exploitation and great human suffering.

And internationally, the nation will be under the greatest threat since World War II, as isolationism, which helped to bring about the horrors of that war, will put American national security at risk.

It is sad to write this “gloomy” essay, but this author and blogger senses that this is the future of America in the age of Donald Trump, and with no certainty that it would be improved once Trump leaves office, if he does, by January 20, 2029, if not sooner!

Trump “Meet The Press” Interview Highly Disturbing!

Ronald 18 Comments

To commemorate his first 100 Days in Office, Donald Trump had an interview with Kristen Welker of NBC’s “Meet the Press”.

Trump expressed doubt that he had to obey the federal courts on the issue of the Alien Enemies Act not being able to be used as a justification of mass deportation of immigrants, with many of them going to the horrendous prison in El Salvador that the Trump Administration is paying to take many deported migrants, many of whom are not involved in any Venezuelan gang, or having an otherwise criminal record. This includes Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia, a case which has been dragging on for nearly two months.

The idea of due process seems insignificant to Trump, and he “passed the buck” to Attorney General Pam Bondi, who is outrageous in her utterances, along with many other Trump Cabinet members!

So America is in a clear constitutional crisis, but also Trump is creating continued crises over his “expansionist” goals in foreign policy.

Therefore, Trump doubled down on the concept of taking Greenland away from Denmark, possibly by military force, and will continue to promote Canada as the “51st State”, when he meets this week with the Canadian Prime Minister, Mark Carney, whose party had an amazing revival in the recent national elections.

He also insulted Texas Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett for being outspoken, calling her low level intellect, a characterization he used in 2024 against his Presidential opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris. So the common theme is to insult intelligent, educated, outspoken black women, a clear sign of racism!

Trump came across during the interview as overly combative, delusional, and clearly intending to defy the Constitution, rule of law, and the federal courts!

Inspirational Members Of Congress Fighting Trump

Ronald 10 Comments

At a time when the Democratic Party has very low public opinion ratings, after the disappointing loss of Kamala Harris to Donald Trump, and the loss of three Senate seats, there are a group of inspirational members of the party in both houses of Congress who are actively campaigning in Republican districts, and speaking out with force against the terrible and tragic effects of Trump.

They include the following in the House of Represenatives

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York
Jasmine Crockett of Texas
Maxwell Frost of Florida
Robert Garcia of California
Ro Khanna of California
Jamie Raskin of Maryland

In the Senate, they include:

Cory Booker of New Jersey
Chris Murphy of Connecticut
Adam Schiff of California
Chris Van Hollen of Maryland
Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota
Bernie Sanders of Vermont

Some of these members, many of them very young, are seen as the long term future of the party, and some are perceived as potential presidential contenders in the future, including

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
Ro Khanna
Cory Booker
Chris Murphy

Of course, there are others, including state governors who are making clear of their pursuit of challenging the actions of Donald Trump, including

JB Pritzker of Illinois
Andy Beshear of Kentucky
Wes Moore of Maryland
Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania
Jared Polis of Colorado

So in the midst of difficult times, there are hopes for the future, as the “bench” of the Democratic Party is strong and vibrant!

Whatever “Honeymoon” Trump Had Is Gone, Based On Public Opinion Polls At End Of First Hundred Days!

Ronald 20 Comments

Donald Trump supporters and the President himself love to say he has had a “honeymoon”, even though his 49.9 percent victory in the popular vote in the Presidential Election of 2024 was the worst since Richard Nixon in 1968 and John F. Kennedy in 1960.

But polls now coming out show Trump’s “honeymoon’, if it existed, is over, as he has the lowest public opinion rating after 100 days in office of any President since public opinion polls began decades ago.

Trump has 44 percent support in the Fox News Poll, down from 45 percent after the first hundred days of his first term!

Meanwhile, Joe Biden had 54 percent; Barack Obama had 62 percent; and George W. Bush had 63 percent at this point of their administrations.

This is a bad sign for Trump, who, one must recall, lost the popular vote by 2.85 million in 2016 and by 7.1 million in 2020!

Trump has never been able to gain majority support of the population at any time, despite his delusions that he is widely accepted!

And in The Economist poll after 100 days, Trump is rated even lower than in the Fox News poll, at 41 percent!