Democratic Campaign Watch

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Sunday, December 20, 2015

Debates Unedifying

Although the current round of Democratic Presidential debates continue to be educating, they lack the quality of edification.  That is, while there is information to be gleaned the format doesn't lend itself to that roundly satisfying sense of well-being and vigor one would hope for from a democracy.

Hillary Clinton is certainly impressive in her pronouncements from the stage.  But from the little bit I saw of Saturday night's debate her response to Martin O'Malley's point about Wall Street control left much to be desired in terms of the larger point:  corporations have too much control over democracy in America.

Surely, the United States can do better than this.  In fact, the U.S. must do better than this if we are to continue as a world leader.
Posted by The Musical Patriot at 10:24 PM 1 comment:
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Friday, December 4, 2015

Thinking Ahead: No Repeat of 2000

Salon has an article available on line advocating against a repeat of the Nader flirtation which helped assure a Bush theft of the election of 2000.  The article applies practical logic to the situation now in which there are voices on the left saying they won't vote for Hillary Clinton.

Electing a President is serious business.  It is also more complicated than many seem to realize.  Just ask all the candidates who have already fallen by the wayside:  Walker, Jindal, Chafee, Webb.  Even the sitting Vice-President of the United States felt he had waited too long to jump into the race.

It is true that electing a certain President doesn't matter as much as it should.  But this is very different from saying it doesn't matter at all.  The fact of the matter is it does matter a great deal, especially to those on the lower end of the economic ladder.

Speculation as to what Sanders supporters should do next year may seem premature.  But since they themselves seem to be engaging in it, that makes the subject current.  Such supporters should first continue to support the candidate of their choice for now.  But as they do so, they should consider carefully how much the country suffered under G. W. Bush, a man who lost the popular vote by a half a million votes, yet went one to embroil the country in two unproductive and hugely costly wars.

Note:  I am not linking to the Salon article due to my policy against profanity.  
Posted by The Musical Patriot at 12:21 PM No comments:
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Friday, November 27, 2015

Doug Shreffler for President?

Perhaps Hillary Clinton is, say, a bit too hard-edged on foreign policy, or Bernie Sanders doesn't completely inspire confidence.  Martin O'Malley has his good points, but is getting beaten in the "pundit election."  What is a person to do?

As I have in past elections I am offering a more complete list of candidates.  We must remember that in America virtually anyone can declare for President, though the Constitution does specify a few requirements.

On the list found at the link below you may consider Doug Shreffler and about a dozen candidates in the Democratic race for President.  Please just remember that as much as we may revile the major media, there can still be good reasons why certain individuals become noted and popular.


For your reference:
All the Democratic Candidates You Never Knew


Note:  Obviously, this is not my original research.  I can't say for sure these are absolutely all the Democratic candidates for President, as new ones may be popping up.  
Posted by The Musical Patriot at 1:30 PM No comments:
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Tuesday, November 24, 2015

Washington Post Reviews Second Democratic Debate

Catching Up on the News --

The Washington Post summary at the link below, despite being at various times, a bit too breezy (casual), is a pretty good review of what went on at the Second Democratic Debate.  It seems Martin O'Malley was the biggest winner in the sense he clearly brought forth some energetic curiosity from viewers (see graph there).

(Format asks you to click on post for more, including the hyperlink.)  


Washington Post on the Second Democratic Debate
Posted by The Musical Patriot at 10:51 PM No comments:
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Friday, November 6, 2015

Should Socialists Or Anyone Else Support Bernie Sanders?

The answer is complicated. 

The International Socialist Review has an interesting article on the matter.  It asks the question:  Should socialists support Bernie Sanders for President?   I highly recommend this article, no matter how one answers the question.  The article is thoughtful, well-researched with good statistics. 

This article reminds me of the relative limits of options currently available to those on the left.  As the article makes clear, Mr. Sanders is making a valuable contribution to the dialogue.  But as is also clear he is rather compromised. 

Hillary Clinton is in an even worse position, having supported welfare "deform" in the '90's, along with neoliberal policies right along. 

It is not just so clear from the article what a person on the left is supposed to do.  Clearly, doing anything -- such as supporting a Ralph Nader -- which would put a right-winger in the White House is unconscionable. 

The best one can hope for is what Sanders has been suggesting -- a national movement.  But whether he is the one to lead it is another question. 

We have a long ways to go in forming such a national movement.  We seem not even as far along as Spain's Podemos movement, which has itself suffered recently from certain compromises in order to gain elective office.

I urge readers to check into the fall issue of The International Socialist Review for good articles not only on the Sanders candidacy but other matters of great interest to workers everywhere. 
Posted by The Musical Patriot at 1:16 PM No comments:
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Thursday, October 15, 2015

Democrats Said to Be Energized

According to party leaders, Democrats have been energized by Tuesday night's debate.  We must wait to see how that energy will translate itself into action.  
Posted by The Musical Patriot at 12:43 PM No comments:
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Tuesday, October 13, 2015

Democrats' Turn in the Debate Spotlight

The so-called major Democratic candidates for President will appear in a televised debate tonight.  Of key interest is Hillary Clinton's new opposition to the Trans-Pacific trade deal.  This nefarious deal, negotiated in secret, clearly favors the convenience of the large trans-national companies at the expense of American workers.  Mrs. Clinton is of course right to oppose such an atrocious arrangement.  It will be interesting to hear more of what she has to say. 
Posted by The Musical Patriot at 1:48 PM No comments:
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Tuesday, October 6, 2015

Does Grammar Count?

Lincoln Chafee Supporters Best At Grammar:   USA Today


Does grammar count when it comes to being President?  Your blog author would say, definitely, yes. Changed grammar can change the very meaning of an important policy pronouncement.  Considering that the United States remains the pre-eminent nation on earth, holding a large arsenal of nuclear weapons and influencing everything from world economics to food supplies, the President's use of language is key.  

Of course, America has survived other poor grammarians (or non-grammarians) in the White House.  Reagan and both Bushes come quickly to mind.  But the country did suffer.  For poor grammar indicates poor or inattentive thought.  

It's a big subject and I'll leave the details to the experts.  For now, the following may be of interest.  


Grammar Counts
Posted by The Musical Patriot at 6:48 PM No comments:
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Tuesday, September 29, 2015

Michael Dukakis: The Voice of Wisdom. The Voice of Reason

Michael Dukakis, Courtesy Northeastern.edu
Although a year old, the interview linked to here has Michael Dukakis (remember him?) at his best.  Gov. Dukakis is open and fresh in this interview which covers the Democratic defeat in 2014 and the prospects for Hillary Clinton in 2016.  This interview was obviously conducted before the Sanders and O'Malley campaigns.  However, because of the quality of Mr. Dukakis' thoughts, I wanted to bring it to you.


Michael Dukakis on the 2016 Campaign
Posted by The Musical Patriot at 12:20 PM No comments:
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Friday, September 18, 2015

Martin O'Malley No Longer to Be Mocked for Views on ISIL

Another quick link as human tragedy rapidly unfolds 


Evidence for the correctness of Martin O'Malley's views on ISIL are becoming apparent.  The Atlantic monthly details the facts at the link below.

https://youtu.be/UKfYq24eWGg

Martin O'Malley Talks Some Sense on ISIL
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Tuesday, September 15, 2015

C-SPAN's Road to the White House: Martin O'Malley

To view the Martin O'Malley announcement speech, please copy and paste the link material below into your browser.  The actual announcement comes approximately twenty minutes into the speech.
Gov. O'Malley is now the candidate of the position papers.  He is out-thinking everyone.  Here is where the campaign started:



<iframe width=512 height=330 src=http://www.c-span.org/video/standalone/?326212-1 allowfullscreen=allowfullscreen frameborder=0></iframe>
Posted by The Musical Patriot at 1:42 PM No comments:
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Friday, September 11, 2015

News Is Fertile Ground

Today's news is fertile ground for research and reflection regarding the 2016 race for President.  Bernie Sanders is claiming to be leading in Iowa though the lead of one percentage point he quotes is not statistically significant.  Martin O'Malley claims progress in challenging the limiting of debates.  Hillary Clinton is hunkered down, still trying to ride out a flap over her e-mail server issue.  And Vice-President Biden is quoted as saying he's not sure he can put his whole heart into the Presidency.
It seems to me the Democratic Party is in a perilous situation, though the Republicans are worse off for reasons of the electoral map.  For the Democrats it is critical a candidate be selected who can sweep the country and defeat any Republican.  It is difficult at this point to point to an announced candidate who can claim sufficient strength to make such a sweep.

Joseph Biden has shown in the two Vice-Presidential debates that he can more than hold his own against the type of Vice-Presidential candidates the Republicans have put up.  I suspect he could do the same with any of the Republican Presidential candidates currently on the scene.

But as New York  magazine recently wrote, the Republican candidates are simply insane.  This is indeed a scary situation.  Whether it is literally true that all the candidates are clinically insane, they cannot be said to be completely mentally competent either.  So, America simply must defeat the Republicans as they now stand before us.  Which Democrat can best do this has yet to be determined. Mrs. Clinton, whatever her faults, has strong credentials which must continue to be examined, along with the others.  



Posted by The Musical Patriot at 1:18 PM No comments:
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Monday, August 31, 2015

Thinking As Winners

Our campaign is doing so well because we are telling the truth about the reality of American life today. We are talking about a reality in which most of the new wealth and income in this country are going to the top one percent while working families are struggling more than at any point since the Great Depression.

                                                                          -- Sen. Bernie Sanders


Sen. Sanders in Iowa (via Twitter)

Sen. Sanders has pulled within ten points of Secretary Clinton in recent polling in Iowa.  What he says about this feat above is true.  However, no candidate can lay claim to the Presidency based on poll numbers alone.  Sanders knows this.

As voters we are proxies for the conventions, whether they be Democratic, Republican, Green, or some other variety.  As such we must think about not only the Party but the country.  Where do we want this country to be in January 2017?  We have the obligation to think not only about our own lives but strategically on the part of the body politic as a whole.  Which Democrat can not only win the party nomination but go on to defeat the Republican?  Which candidate, then, can not only articulate the best message, but can mount a stiff challenge to an over-financed Republican which will almost certainly be the case in the election of 2016?

What I am setting forth here is a high bar.  But it is reality.  This reality is what is giving me angst.  Too many Democrats are thinking only of the nomination and not the fall election of 2016.  Of course, we have a long way to go and we do not know who the Republican nominee will be.  These are reasons I have been critical in the past of the excessively long campaign season we now have in this country.  (See earlier post to this effect.)  John Kennedy did not even announce his campaign until after the new year of 1960.  Robert Kennedy, owing to LBJ's announcement declining to run in 1968, was even later. 

Yes, I realize it takes time to build a campaign now that the old party bosses have been deposed and campaigning has moved to Big Media.  But my main point is we the voters must think like the bosses -- we must think like winners.  We must think like master strategists.  We cannot afford to do otherwise. 
Posted by The Musical Patriot at 12:13 PM No comments:
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Friday, August 28, 2015

O'Malley Features Executive Experience in Campaign


Martin O'Malley is the most experienced, under-noticed candidate in the 2016 race.  He deserves close examination.  For one thing, he advocates the re-establishment of the Glass-Steagall Act, a smart move.

I will have more on Gov. O'Malley soon.


The O'Malley Candidacy
Posted by The Musical Patriot at 4:35 PM 1 comment:
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Democratic Campaign Watch

At the list linked to below are the major announced candidates from among Democrats, Republicans, and the Greens.  

There is also a handy list of those who have declined to run.

In the past I have published complete lists of candidates, including those unknown.  I will publish this list when it is available.  

Announced Candidates Among Known Individuals
Posted by The Musical Patriot at 4:32 PM No comments:
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Wednesday, August 26, 2015

Edward Kennedy Restores His Position in Senate Race Against Mitt Romney

Here is a historical video showing a rebounding Sen. Edward Kennedy demolishing Mitt Romney's supposed lead in the 1994 Senate race in Massachusetts.  Putting aside for a moment the matter of Kennedy's strong support for mandatory minimum sentencing, the rest of his presentation is solidly and forecefully progressive in content and message.

I am presenting this as something of a response to the tepidness of many of our current candidates.   A new range of Democratic Senate candidates for 2016 is holding some promise of quality and strength.  We badly need to oust the fascist Republican element from the leadership position they currently hold in what has been the world's greatest deliberative body.  This is no joking matter and is an issue which needs steady attention over the coming months.


Video: Kennedy v. Romney 1994
Posted by The Musical Patriot at 8:35 AM No comments:
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Democratic Candidates' Favorability Ratings Stable

Gallup is reporting that "favorability" ratings for Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders have held steady since July.  However, Sanders ratings had shot up in July compared with earlier in the year.

Mrs. Clinton's ratings were over 60% and holding.

Of course one can question just what these ratings mean.  There is a long campaign ahead.  But Mr. Sanders did well to increase his visibility.  And Mrs. Clinton was successful in maintaining her position in this survey amidst looming controversy over her private e-mail account while Secretary of State.



Posted by The Musical Patriot at 8:15 AM No comments:
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Thursday, August 6, 2015

Democratic National Committee Trying to Limit Debates: O'Malley

Martin O'Malley, recently-retired governor of Maryland, is accusing the Democratic National Committee (DNC) of trying to limit the number of Democratic debates leading up to the New Hampshire and Iowa contests.  If true, this is a serious matter.  All qualified candidates deserve a voice.  After all, it is the voters who will make the choice, not a Washington political outfit.  
Posted by The Musical Patriot at 4:37 PM No comments:
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Tuesday, August 4, 2015

Jimmy Carter Says Something Serious Must Happen Before a Halt to Oligarchy

                                                      Pres. Carter on Hartmann Program
Posted by The Musical Patriot at 4:50 PM No comments:
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Monday, August 3, 2015

Will Joseph Biden Run?

Former First Lady Hillary Clinton is suddenly looking less than invincible.  Her candidacy is being rocked by high unfavorability numbers.  The story below tells more.

Mr. Biden has been very impressive in both campaign debates for Vice-President.  I have confidence he could be quite effective against any Republican should he get the nomination.

Also, the concerns about Bernie Sanders being too far to the left are justified, although only in the America of now would Sanders be considered far-left.  His policies are just what we need, and are, in fact long over-due.  However, polls have shown that 50% of Americans would not vote for a Socialist for President under any circumstances.

Under our current system American voters serve almost as surrogate Electors, for better or for worse.  We must be very cagey, thinking ahead to the elect-ability of any candidate.

It is good that there be a campaign process.  The candidates need to go before the people.  And if Vice-President Biden decides to be one of those candidates, I wouldn't mind.


Campaign Bundlers Work to Draft Joseph Biden
Posted by The Musical Patriot at 11:46 AM No comments:
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Friday, July 24, 2015

The Appeal of Bernie Sanders

Over the past several weeks I have watched with alarm as the Republican Party battles within itself, whirling precipitously closer and closer to the far right cliff.

Meanwhile, the Democrats have been busy.  What I have been emphasizing in my writing is something which has been obvious before, but is even more obvious this year:  the fact that capitalism or the profit system isn't working.  The article at the hyperlink below gives some excellent history and some fine analysis of the current situation regarding our much-vaunted profit system.  The focus this time is on the Bernie Sanders campaign.  The analysis and conclusion are constructive.  Most all of this I agree with.  Toward the end the article is not as clear and concise as it could be.  Otherwise it is most useful and interesting.


The Appeal of Bernie Sanders
Posted by The Musical Patriot at 7:03 PM No comments:
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Wednesday, June 3, 2015

Crowd at Sanders Minnesota rally


Sanders on the move in the mid-west, says The New York Times.

Challenging Clinton in Iowa.

4,000 attend rally in Minnesota




-- source:  Sanders campaign e-mail










Posted by The Musical Patriot at 1:19 PM No comments:
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Wednesday, May 27, 2015

Senator Sanders Announces for President

See blog list at left for yesterday's live blogging posts of the Sanders Announcement.  Posts are in reverse chronological order.  
Posted by The Musical Patriot at 12:22 PM No comments:
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Tuesday, May 26, 2015

"...this disastrous Citizens United decision."
"...we need public funding of elections."
Posted by The Musical Patriot at 6:01 PM 1 comment:
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"It is time to break up the largest financial institutions in this country....
If a bank is too big to fail that bank is too big to exist."
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"We must say to the billionaire class: 'You can't have it all!"...
"You cannot take advantage of all the benefits of America if you refuse to accept your responsibilities."
Posted by The Musical Patriot at 5:59 PM No comments:
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"We need paid sick leave and paid vacation time for every worker in this country."
Posted by The Musical Patriot at 5:57 PM No comments:
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"We must establish wage equality for women."
Posted by The Musical Patriot at 5:57 PM No comments:
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"The current minimum wage of $7.25 an hour is a starvation wage and must be raised."
Posted by The Musical Patriot at 5:56 PM No comments:
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"...to benefit the many at the expense of the few."
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The best way to create jobs, says Sen. Sanders is to rebuild our crumbling infrasturure.    He has introduced legislation to fund one trillion dollars to rebuild our infrastructure to create 13 million good-paying jobs.
Posted by The Musical Patriot at 5:55 PM No comments:
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"What is the agenda?... The agenda begins with jobs."
Posted by The Musical Patriot at 5:54 PM No comments:
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"We are going to turn this country around!  That is what this campaign is about."
Posted by The Musical Patriot at 5:53 PM No comments:
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Sanders speech is full of statistics, many of which have become familiar by this point. 
Posted by The Musical Patriot at 5:52 PM No comments:
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Evils of Oligarchs Detailed

Sen. Sanders has today decried the power of billionaires such as the Koch brothers and someone named Sheldon (?).
Posted by The Musical Patriot at 5:52 PM No comments:
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Live Blogging: the Sanders Announcement

Stay tuned here...
Posted by The Musical Patriot at 5:51 PM No comments:
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Friday, May 8, 2015

Will Sanders Candidacy Help or Hurt Efforts to Stave Off Republicans?

An open question is whether the candidacy of Sen. Bernard Sanders of Vermont will help or hurt Democrats' chances in 2016.  With the election a year and a half away, it is too early to tell for sure.  However, as in every nomination battle, there is always the danger of a split within the party leading up to the fall campaign.  What happens depends very much on the way the primary campaigns are conducted.  Clearly, the Sanders campaign helps the Democrats on policy questions.  I have heard Mr. Sanders speak several times now, and he is quite impressive.  He may or may not be the next Robert Lafollette but he is of good character, a solid, patriotic American, and a contender.  That is saying a good deal.

What is to be avoided by all means, is a repeat of 2000, when Ralph Nader siphoned off votes from the Democrats, helping assure a "W" victory with Supreme Court help.  The Bush II Presidency led to two disastrous wars and an economic panic on Wall Street.

It will be up to Mr. Sanders, Ms. Clinton, and any other candidates to make this a constructive debate.  At this point, at least, Sanders' inclusion in the contest is a most welcome addition.
U.S. Senator Bernard Sanders (I), Vermont
Posted by The Musical Patriot at 1:07 PM No comments:
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Friday, May 1, 2015

Wealthy Republicans Spend Huge Amounts to Undermine Democratic Efforts

The absurdist Koch brothers are at it again, according to the article linked to below.  The ingenuity of the Kochs knows no bounds when it comes to undermining Democratic efforts among members of the Democrats' core constituencies.  The latest report from The Washington Post, documents their efforts to curry favor with Hispanics while raising doubts about the Democrats in order to surpress votes.

Do the terms fascist and anarchist apply here?


Democratic Worry Over Republican-leaning Latino Outreach
Posted by The Musical Patriot at 11:38 AM No comments:
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Thursday, April 23, 2015

Bernie Sanders "Leaning Toward" Running for President


Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont says he is "leaning toward" running for President according to Huffington Post, which quotes the Senator directly.  The difficulty is how to find the money to run a credible campaign.  The need for money is because of the capitalistic media, which, except for debates, mostly avoids serious coverage of candidates like Sanders.  This is a tall hurdle to overcome.  I hope he finds a way to do it.


Bernie Sanders "Leaning Toward" Running for President


N.B.  Isn't it ironic that the page linked to here included an ad for a Citi MasterCard?  Citi Group is hardly a group which would escape the criticism of Bernie Sanders.  
Posted by The Musical Patriot at 11:47 AM No comments:
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Thursday, April 16, 2015

The 2016 Campaign So Far: Where's My Sanity Pill?

By way of further preparation, today I examine the matter of early announcements for President by self-selecting "candidates."  Yes, I know this characterization can seem almost snide.  But if one looks at the facts, we see that campaign announcements are coming earlier, and the media glitz factor is going up.  Hillary Clinton, in spite of a folksy message, used all the latest computer "social media," techniques for her announcement.  

This campaign is going to be harder than ever to analyze on the merits.  I'll have more to say about this as time goes on.  

For now, we must all do our best to preserve our sanity, by holding on to the original promise of the country despite these nationalized "social media" campaigns.  

Thanks to The Hill.com

++++++++++

From The Musical Patriot  --  

Ever since Bill Clinton in 1991,  major presidential candidate campaign announcements have been coming earlier.  It's as if the marketing sell campaign has been planned carefully, including the needed announcement date.  The earliest announcement in recent years was Barack Obama in 2007, almost two years before the next election.    Long gone are the days candidates did not campaign, following the conventional wisdom that to do so was beneath the dignity of the office.  Now it is "dignity, shmignity, I'm going for it!"

Dwight Eisenhower could have been called dignified, if not gray.  And Jimmy Carter had his rectitude.  So there is some history for self-selecting, then campaigning and holding one's personal dignity.

But what of the dignity of the office?  Ted Cruz is a grand-stander, not to be taken seriously except for the scary ardor of his "believers."  The other Republican candidates announced so far are little better.  On the Democratic side, as the The Washington Post observed, Hillary Clinton is more a celebrity than a politician.  

There is something slightly oily and seedy about this "campaign" so far which seems new.  The way forward for these candidates has been greased by big money.  The actual dollar amounts will come later, of course.  But for now, as in every year since about 1952, the Presidential election campaign is a media "show," as much as a serious endeavor of a great democracy.  This is a great tragedy.
Posted by The Musical Patriot at 11:05 AM No comments:
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Wednesday, April 15, 2015

The Self-Anointed

Before dealing with Hillary Clinton's announcement specifically, it is helpful to briefly set the stage.  We have already at least two "name" Republicans who have announced their campaigns for President, and now we have former First Lady Clinton.

The media-dominated nature of our Presidential contests is on full display.  Who among the American people would chose Cruz, Paul, or Rubio?  How many even know the names?  And Hillary Clinton is not exactly free from baggage.

I intend to make the profit system itself, that very damaging economic way, an issue in this campaign as far as this blog is concerned.  For instance, it is fine for Ms. Clinton to talk about the middle class.  But doesn't this sound like something from twenty years ago?  After all we have had the Occupy movement and people are concerned about poor people.  Perhaps I am not being completely fair to Ms. Clinton.  But the concentration on the middle class is how the media are portraying her effort from the little I have seen so far.  It is still early.  But we are back to my point about the media dominating things.  How I wish this campaign could be other.

More in coming weeks.  
Posted by The Musical Patriot at 11:19 AM No comments:
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Tuesday, March 24, 2015

Breaking News? No, Heart-breaking News

Ted Cruz for President?   This would be an utter disaster.  It is heart-breaking that someone like this could even seriously be considered.  This idea of self-selecting a candidacy with the full support of the media is perverse and beneath the dignity of the United States of America.

The worst announcement since Lester Maddox.  
Posted by The Musical Patriot at 11:33 AM No comments:
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Monday, March 16, 2015

Developing Story on DEMOCRATIC CAMPAIGN WATCH --

Early this morning I had the pleasure of reading the on-line article linked to below.  This article from the Brookings Institute has some good data on the debacle which was Election 2014.  This election must be understood before Democrats can regain control of the national legislature.

There are many gems here and I want to take my time later to highlight several items.  But before going further, let the reader be reminded of the allegations contained in the research of Greg Palast that voter disenfranchisement very likely played a role in at least one Democratic defeat.  This defeat was probably in Arkansas.  However, I suspect evidence that Kay Bailey Hutchison was also a victim in North Carolina.

Good news, however, also came out of North Carolina with Democratic candidates winning local office in the Raleigh area.

Fortunately, Democrats are not standing still.  The fiasco of Election 2014 must be understood.  It is clear already, though, that this election did not represent a wave election for the Republicans, but was more of a stand-down by voters coupled with dishonest Republican maneuverings.

The Financial Roots of Democratic Troubles in Election 2014
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Friday, March 13, 2015

Democratic Senator Kicked Out of Office by Republican Hijinx: Report

Investigative reporter Greg Palast has uncovered evidence of a vast scheme to disenfranchise voters in the election of last November.  One result was the defeat of a sitting U.S. Senator.  (Palast does not say which one.  I will try to find out.)

This blog was founded last fall as the stakes in the Senate race were being ratcheted up by low-ball politics and a media distracted by a non-existent Ebola pandemic.  I am grateful for the work of Greg Palast as he begins to show just how rotten that election process was, especially in the South.


For more and a link to the Palast story, please click here:
Democratic Senator Kicked Out of Office by Republican Hijinx
Posted by The Musical Patriot at 12:07 PM 1 comment:
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Thursday, March 12, 2015

Logan Act Reference Called Political Bait

I haven't seen a single Constitutional Law professor say this is a real thing, for good reason. I used to teach Constitutional Law. Nobody's going to charge anybody with this. It's not treason either under any reasonable definition. I'd call it a stupid counter-productive political stunt. That's what Hillary called it.   

--  Monica Bauer 
Playwright and Political Science Professor; Writing Fellow at Quinnipiac University
Posted by The Musical Patriot at 1:40 PM No comments:
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Brad Friedman Reports on Hillary Clinton E-mail "Scandal"

Unheard program for reference:
Brad Friedman Covers Hillary Clinton's Supposed E-mail "Scandal"


I have not yet had the opportunity to listen to this program and thus have no comment on it.  I thought you would be interested.  
Posted by The Musical Patriot at 12:15 PM No comments:
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Monday, March 9, 2015

Hillary Clinton E-Mail "Scandal" Blowing Over

The Hillary Clinton e-mail "scandal" appears to be essentially blowing over at this moment.  Evidently, she possibly did not break any laws after all.  At least the facts don't necessarily point in that direction.  It will take time to sort the matter out.

That leaves the question of whether she was trying to cover up anything.  According to Maureen Dowd of New York Times fame, both Clintons are secretive to a fault.  Oh, I suppose so.  Most modern Presidents have been secretive, including Barack Obama.

But there was something seedy about the criticisms of Mrs. Clinton in this matter, as if one were looking to find a scandal, any scandal, in order to ruin her.

This, of course, doesn't give Hillary Clinton a clean bill of health.  But let us hope this 2016 campaign can be first, honest and genuine, and second, substantive.  Dwelling on what kind of e-mail Hillary Clinton used, especially if her e-mails become available, doesn't seem to pass muster.  
Posted by The Musical Patriot at 12:55 PM No comments:
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Friday, March 6, 2015

Citizens Group Issues Useful Statement on Clinton E-Mails

The citizens' watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington issued a statement a few days ago about the Hillary Clinton e-mail situation.  This statement seems to win the prize for pertinence as well as brevity.  Here is the statement:


Statement from Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, March 3, 2015 -- 


“Today’s New York Times report shines a light on a systemic problem throughout the federal government. Agencies simply do not know how to handle emails from a record keeping perspective. That is why President Obama issued an executive order mandating that all agencies have electronic record keeping systems in place by 2016. But that will take new technology, which means money, which is why the President gave agencies several years to comply.
"Secretary Clinton is not the first agency head to go without an official email account. FOIA requests CREW sent during the Bush Administration revealed that then-Attorney General Michael Mukasey and Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff did not have official email accounts, and we understand the practice was even more widespread and continues to the present.
"This issue is not unique to any official or agency. It is an ongoing issue that President Obama’s order is designed to address.”

*******

It certainly seems there is a strong element of making a mountain out of a molehill here.   
Posted by The Musical Patriot at 1:06 PM No comments:
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Tuesday, March 3, 2015

Hillary Clinton Announcement Reportedly Set

Two Internet sources are reporting Hillary Clinton has decided to announce her candidacy for the Democratic nomination in April.  This would be a month sooner in the process than Barack Obama in 2007.

Donors have reportedly begun to grow restive amid allegations of corporate and foreign donations to the Clinton Foundation.  Such allegations could complicate Mrs. Clinton's campaign.

So, here we go again.  The stage is being set for a redux of 2000 in which a Clinton administration member fell victim to charges of being soft on corporatism.  Of course, we shall have to see how the campaign develops.  And the economy itself will likely overshadow everything else.  But if the economy sinks in 2016, Mrs. Clinton will likely receive blame, tied as she was to the Obama administration.

A challenge, whether formal or informal, from the left is a very real possibility, especially in the nomination process.  But with the Green Party also active again, third-party influence next year could once again be a factor.  What a tragedy it would be if a Democrat insufficiently loyal to traditional Democratic ideals (compromised by a sweet-heart relationship to Wall Street), would fail to surmount difficulties, allowing the Presidency to fall to -- whom -- Bush-Bush?   Please spare me.  Spare us.
First Lady Hillary Clinton


Hillary Clinton Announcement Reportedly Set
Posted by The Musical Patriot at 1:42 PM No comments:
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Friday, February 13, 2015

Could Jill Stein Be the Ralph Nader of 2016?

In 2000, you may recall, Ralph Nader served the role of spoiler, allowing one G. W. Bush (Bush the Lesser) to enter the White House.  Nader had some very legitimate criticism of the two-party system and how they had congealed around the profit system, shutting out too many people.

And certainly the Supreme Court, with the approval of the punditry, including  William Safire,  William F. Buckley, Jr., and experts who should have known better such as Brent Scowcroft -- did their part to put W. in the White House.

But without Nader -- who declared that even if he were a spoiler the Republicans wouldn't be so bad -- Al Gore would have won Florida clearly, and would have gone into the White House.

So why is Jill Stein running ( officially, exploring)?  Is she running because she thinks she has a chance of winning, or because running for President is the only way she can get her voice heard? What Dr. Stein has to say is important, and she certainly should be heard.  But after reading her announcement and listening to her question and answer period over the radio, I do not feel Jill Stein, is ready to be President.  Has she a developed foreign policy?  For that matter, has she a developed domestic policy, including a fiscal and monetary policy, and an employment policy?  Just how are we going to employ all these people?

Our situation now is like the house that is slowly sinking.  We know it is sinking;  we can clearly see it.  No one knows why the building is sinking, but one room is already in danger of being lost.  The people in the house know something must be done.  Meanwhile there is an election for the committee which runs this co-operative housing unit.  Now, the house is rapidly sinking.  But the election won't be held until November of 2016.  And besides, the committee is dominated by corrupt individuals who have basically bribed their way into power.  What should the people in the house do?  Should they start fighting amongst themselves over who should lead the committee?  Or should they immediately hire an expert who has the knowledge and resources to study the matter and come up with a solution?

The answer seems obvious.  Yes, our Presidential election next year is going to be important.  But what do we do now? 

The answer lies in the direction hinted at above.  We should seek out people who have the knowledge necessary to right our wobbly ship of state.  Should people do exist;  some are found right in this blog.

I urge you dear reader, to look around, read, and think it over.  We cannot afford to make the same mistake some made in 2000.

Dr. Jill Stein

Posted by The Musical Patriot at 10:12 AM No comments:
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Monday, February 9, 2015

Jill Stein Announces Exploratory Committee

Dr. Jill Stein has announced the formation of an exploratory committee regarding seeking the Presidency under the Green Party banner in 2016.

You may also follow the link below for a video of the press conference.


http://www.c-span.org/video/?324227-1/announcement-2012-green-party-presidential-candidate-jill-stein&live
Posted by The Musical Patriot at 8:13 PM No comments:
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Friday, February 6, 2015

With All Due (Very Large) Respect

Please read this e-mail from Sen. Elizabeth Warren, then see my comments below.


From Sen. Elizabeth Warren:

George —
If you thought the amount of money spent in the 2014 elections was obscene, fasten your seatbelts because we’re in for a rough ride:

Last week, the oil billionaire Koch Brothers pledged to spend $889 million for Republicans in the 2016 elections.

Forget for just a moment all the schools we could build, or the crumbling roads and bridges we could start to repair, or the medical research on Alzheimer’s or autism that we could invest in with that ginormous amount of money.
The deep-down point is that if we thought the playing field was tilted against us last year, it’s only going to be worse in the next election. 

So here we are. We can whimper, we can whine, or we can fight back.
Me?  I’m fighting back—and I’m getting started right now. I want to show the Koch Brothers that we’re ready to fight. So I’m asking you to sign my petition now to commit to restoring the Democratic Majority. 
The Koch Brothers aren’t the only ones we have to worry about. Last week, Republican political operatives linked to Mitch McConnell and Karl Rove launched a new SuperPAC with one goal (and I quote):

“To protect and expand the Republican Senate Majority when Harry Reid, Elizabeth Warren and their army of left-wing activists try to take it back in 2016.”

The Republicans are right: That’s exactly what we’re going to do. We’ll never be able to outspend the Koch Brothers or Karl Rove on the airwaves, but we can build a grassroots team that’s ready to fight for what we believe in. We can fight, and we can win.

We didn’t build this country so that it would work only for the millionaires and billionaires and giant corporations. We will not abandon this country to a bunch of Republicans who say, “I’ve got mine, the rest of you are on your own.”
We’re a country that believes we make the investments together so the next kid can get ahead, and the kid after that. And we’re going to take on Karl Rove and the Koch Brothers so that every kid gets a fighting chance.

Please help us get started. Names—thousands of names and millions of names—matter. Sign my petition to show Karl Rove and the Koch Brothers that you’re committed to taking back the Senate in 2016 and standing up to the powerful interests trying to buy our elections. We need you to be a part of this.


Thank you,
Elizabeth Warren

********************************

With all due respect (and mine is very large), this won't work.  In a moment, I will try to suggest what I think can work in 2016.  What Sen. Warren asks for here is certainly good, and even necessary.

But make no mistake:  What Fascists like the Kochs are doing, when added together, represents a fundamental shift in politics as we know it in America.  True, we did in fact see huge monies flowing into campaign coffers from oligarchs in 2014.  And true enough, this was seen in 2010 and before.

But what we have here is in a new category.  Already, the Kochs' apparent antipathy to Rand Paul is making that tea party favorite seem a less likely candidate.*

And just what do the Brothers Koch mean by the new political infrastructure  they have promised?   Are we going to have undercover corporate/political operatives showing up in our towns and precincts advocating stealth laws and ordinances making it yet harder to participate in democracy?  (Think Florida's draconian control laws affecting voter registration groups, for example.)

Whatever else we do, let us not be naive.  And, please, oh God, please, let us not be complacent.  The good news is, there are things which can be done.  I have only begun to work on a program in my mind.

For now, I suggest consulting sister blogs The Musical Patriot, and Patriot in Exigency.  And, be sure that what I advocate will be legal.  For the time being remember: education is still legal!



*I'll get my source up here soon.

 









Posted by The Musical Patriot at 5:52 PM No comments:
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Democratic Campaign Status

So far, America has been spared any announcement by a candidate for President.  I'm sure there are some declarations out there, but so far we have not had to deal with the fall-out from some tired politician announcing to run.

In normal times such things are interesting to me.  After the debacle of last year's election, after the debacles of 2000 and 2004, I'm less excited.  Primaries of the capitalist parties are of interest to me insofar as they promote or delay the nomination of candidates favorable to large corporations.

But what if, just what if Hillary Clinton were to run on her version of Bill Clinton's campaign slogan, "People Before Profits"?  That would be something.  Who is interested in organizing around this cause?  -- that being to help persuade Ms. Clinton this is the way to go.  Then, if not Hillary, who?  Who will will run under the People's banner in 2016?

More importantly, before we get to 2016, who will support free, fair, and genuine elections in the U.S.?

Once again, it appears the U.S. may have to turn to friends across the sea for help in making this happen.

It's food for thought.  
Posted by The Musical Patriot at 12:49 PM No comments:
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Wednesday, January 28, 2015

Kochs and Their Minions Try to "Buy-Down" Democracy

Let me say first, the purpose of this post is not to wring hands, to be cynical, or to proclaim defeat before the battle is even joined.  There will be plenty of other web writers to do that.  What I do hope to do is raise the appropriate alarm so people can make decisions accordingly.

It is true, as the Washington Post writer says on line, that mainstream journalists are reporting on the new Koch brothers effort to buy the election of 2016 as if it is just another corrupt political deal.  That view is true as far as it goes.  Yet, some kind of line seems to have been crossed in the drive to amass nearly $900 million to influence the election next year.  More details are at the excellent article below.  (Just use caution when reading the cynical twist to the story.)  What we have is a brazen and fairly open attempt to make sure the profit motive remains the motive for American business, even if it means people get filthy rich at the expense of all the rest of us.  The ugliness of this huge.

Any person or persons who would engage in this kind of activity are engaging in a form of emotional self-love.   That is the best way I know to describe it.  And some people absolutely love feathering their own nest, preening, and showing off to others.  After all, as scientists would tell us, it's in our genes.  In the animal world, it is often the male individual who has all the colors and does the showing off.

The business world has often been likened to the animal kingdom.  Think of the expression, "It's a dog-eat-dog world."   Or how about the phrase, "making a killing on the stock market."  Then there is "Birds of a feather flock together."

I think we know these birds.  We have seen them before.  And for awhile they may appear to be succeeding.  But from what I know of history there always comes a reckoning, a time of adjustment, of judgment.

In this case, those being judged are in the true sense all of us.  But those truly guilty are the press and media which have allowed these wealthy plutocrats to get away with murder, as it were.  Yes, I am blaming the press for their cynicism in treating this sort of thing as "just politics."  It is not just politics, in the normal sense of the word.  This is subversion of the two party system at the least, and subversion of democracy, at most.

It is often said of Americans that they usually come through late, but they do eventually come through for you.  So, this is where we are now.  In spite of the never-ending cynicism of the press, there is outrage over what is happening.  People are taking notice and they do care.

The problem is in knowing what to do.  Over the coming days I will be working on line and off line to share some of what I understand about the causes of such selfishness as we are seeing demonstrated by the Brothers Koch.

But mark my words:  this type of political strategy has a certain shelf life and no more.  Let's be about the business, America, of putting our own kitchen in order.  Let's not go through what Greece has gone through.  There has been suffering enough both here and abroad.  

The Oligarchy Spreads Its Wings


Note:  It is my belief that if statutes are examined there will be found laws dealing with the Koch situation.  One problem is that a fascist and politicized Supreme Court majority has been tampering with the laws in this area.  Such tampering also has a shelf life.  Thus, take heart.
Rothbard, Koch*


*Rothbard was a Libertarian thinker.  Charles Koch is a plutocrat.
Posted by The Musical Patriot at 9:53 AM No comments:
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Friday, January 23, 2015

Dis-united Republicans Try to Lead

Republicans Under Pressure to Lead
Posted by The Musical Patriot at 11:58 AM No comments:
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Thursday, January 15, 2015

Why Are We Adjusting?

On its very first day in power in the Senate, Republican leaders pushed a plan to weaken Social Security.  This, of course, was never part of their announced campaign last year.  For these are stealth politicians, connivers of the worst sort, doing the bidding of corporate heads and wealthy financial gurus.  

We the people seem compelled to adjust our behaviors to accept this.  The press here is complicit.  In fact, has the press not, in effect, become colluders in simply a wealth-mongering regime?  Ah, the press.  The American press is in the worst state since the early days of Reagan, when a Democrat-cum-Republican slinked into office and began the largest assault on the concept of government-as-good in recent history.  Mitch McConnell was a beneficiary of the Reagan election.  Many Republicans were.  But must we simply kow-tow to them?

Fortunately, the Senate has rules against democracy by fiat.  Let us hope the Democrats will stand up to this anti-people, Republican-led movement.  I believe they will!  
Posted by The Musical Patriot at 11:48 AM No comments:
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Tuesday, January 13, 2015

The Falsest False Choice of All Time

Other than trying to decide whether to put a hotel on Baltic avenue, trying to decide between Mitt Romney and John Ellis Bush-Bush has to be the falsest of false choices.  The Washington Post in its Sunday edition claimed in a headline that the choice between Romney and J. E. B. is somehow a cataclysmic one.   I confess I am simply unable to read articles with headlines like that.

Yes, I am drawing on my knowledge of last autumn's twisted election, in which Republican dirty tricks carried the day.  So, as Thomas Jefferson decided, I feel the great classic writers of the past (and in my case the present, as well) are more worthy of spending time with than the half-wits of the modern media.  (My apologies to professionals such as Paul Krugman who also write.)  
Posted by The Musical Patriot at 12:30 PM No comments:
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Wednesday, January 7, 2015

America Finds Out What Florida Democrats Have Long Known

Democrats in Florida have long known that Bush-Bush ("Jeb" Bush) has a history of questionable business dealings.  It is also not surprising that the right-wing Tampa Tribune would white-wash this history.  His business history certainly does not qualify him for President and, in fact, is a strike against him.

Instead of salivating over or cringing at a possible Bush-Bush run, let's work to make sure our voting system is sound and credible -- up to international standards for 2016.  This will make the vote legitimate and will be the best way to oppose yet another Bush for President.


Media Matters: Tampa Tribune on Bush-Bush Run
Posted by The Musical Patriot at 7:07 PM No comments:
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Thursday, January 1, 2015

Beginning to Pull Apart the "Republican Sweep" Narrative

Usually, in order to understand a crime, the facts must be gathered, pulled apart, and re-assembled in a coherent form so the jury and judge can understand exactly what happened.

That is now our job here.  Together let us put together a case based on the facts, and only the facts.

We can begin with gerrymandering.  This is certainly not the only technique used by Republicans in recent years, but it is an important one.  We may begin with the article linked to below.

The Role of Republican Gerrymandering in the 2014 Mid-terms
Posted by The Musical Patriot at 8:49 PM No comments:
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About Me

The Musical Patriot
Direct descendant of signer of The Leedstown Resolution, predecessor document to the Declaration of Independence. Holder of two masters degrees in music. Over fifty years' experience in music and sacred music, now semi-retired. Named one of Outstanding Young Men of America by United States Jaycees. Author of article published in national music magazine. Member Steering Committee, local independent business alliance. Former college instructor.
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