Re: The Day After Headache and What to Do About it

[Christian Dame]

On Wed, Nov 6, 2024 at 3:40 PM Christian Dame <cwd...@gmail.com> wrote:

My dear Herb:

I sincerely hope you are wrong. And there is some historical American precedents to conclude that Americans don't really like 'strong men". The first was  Andrew Jackson, once a populist hero but now regarded as a damaging President (the trail of tears etc.). The second, unfortunately, is FDR. Yes, he was a strong man, but voters turned against his successor for a more "moderate" candidate in Ike. Isn't that the magic of the American system? Of course this dynamic is dependent on continuation of historical freedoms. Especially the freedom to vote. 

For a different perspective see: 

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/06/opinion/donald-trump-2024-election.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare

My guess is that this reflects Tom's view that American politics needs a new paradigm and that elites from both parties are similarly wrong-headed. My question to Tom is how this plays out for common folks. Decreased taxes for everyone, no program expense changes, increased tariffs, and massive new expenditures for deportation must lead to massive interest costs for the federal debt. Don't take my word for it. Check it out. 

If,Herb, your strong man concerns are accurate, then yes, over five years it could lead to a popular vote in the next election for a Netanyahu-type government. Where a strong man continues to define the national character. I assume T will be dead and Vance, his VP, will ascend the throne, the Congress will prove to be subservient, and the SCOTUS will refuse to apply any brakes. Heaven help us then. If so - we will depend on your direct line to the Almighty! Mine is rusty, but I can foresee an oiling and tuneup soon. Maybe even today.          

Best case is that Mr. T will once more pivot and make statements that are demonstrably untrue (ie a lie), and take positions with Congress that are the opposite of his many campaign promises: 

But... I will not depend on it. 

Perhaps  Tom can help us understand how, based on his candidate's promised policy steps, or as our new President's more mild winning statement last night says:

- inflation will be actually be cured

- Chinese tariffs will not hurt common Americans

- Biden, Kamala, Nancy, Schumer, and others will not be prosecuted as "enemies of the people" 

- How he (Mr. T the P.... grabber)will escape sentencing as a convicted felon in NY, and why that jury finding conviction is inappropriate and unfair

- How just settlement of the Ukraine invasion by Russia will end through his personal intervention  (I believe he once said he could "end it tomorrow". Tomorrow has arrived. I pity the Uraninians)  

- How decimation of Gaza civilians and now Lebanese and Syrians by Israel, all with US no limits taxpayer financial and military support, not to mention further US military intervention to protect Israel (US troops are already IN Israel subject to casualties) as it sets out to annex Gaza and the West Bank for self protection, will "win the war" and bring lasting peace to the Middle East.  

- How MAGA translates into corrosion, if not destruction, of NATO as a proven deterrent to Russia. I believe that Europe, and the EU, will in fact find a way to protect themselves from Russia collectively, but the cost will be at US Prestige -  How does that square with MAGA? (of course my analysis of Russia as a proven enemy of the US supported by the CIA, may not be shared by new Pres. T - is that true, Tom) 

- How can we stop worrying about his pal in North Korea who, despite T's bromance, has bigger ICB's after T's walk together. In my view it is merely a matter of time (like say within the next four years) until Japan, South Korea, and perhaps even Taiwan abandon the US nuclear umbrella and develop their own weapons. Who could blame them when the US retreats to MAGA?     

Good News 

-  One good news for American families is that their sons and now daughters will no longer be pledged to fight, defend, and die for far off lands, like France, England, Germany, Taiwan, and N. Korea (T has a buddy there) where we have no cultural connection. My guess is that it goes w/o saying we will not participate in NATO or UN military peacekeeping, no matter how horrific the innocent slaughter. 

Nor will we pledge to militarily defend any of SE Asia (except probably the white folks in Australia and NZ - even these are more likely to be left on their own), nor Africa (I seem to remember some comments from the last T Presidency about his commitment in that area) nor South America. This would include providing relief aid to "garbage dump" PR, except tossing more paper towels.  

  

One exception might be poor Cuba. A short range invasion, even considering American casualties, might give the new President polished credentials as a freedom fighter (for shame against a pitiful adversary). Of course, maybe not. President Trump would now have to administer that broken country - shades of Haiti? Can you imagine the number of new privileged "boat people" invading the US once we have promised to be the successor government responsible for its broken economy? "Protector"? Miami here we come!            

The bad military news is that I'll bet Pres T, based on his statements, is fully prepared to send our sons and daughters to die for US interests in:

a) Mexico - reprise 200 years of interventions with few measurable results, and a continuing animosity - make no mistake Mexicans will not lie down - there will be US casualties if US troops invade to "kill the drug lords" . Has anyone in DC not heard of Villa ? And plenty of US citizens will regard such a move as offensive, disgusting, and counter productive. Casualties are likely to be light but the animosity to last for the next 100 years. As to the impact on actual drug trafficking, it will be deminis without permanent US occupation of some or all of Mexico , a sovereign state. Of course we have been there before. Didn't work out too well.   

b) Ireal - I am sure some Isrealis welcome us to sacrifice our children's blood to ensure continued unlimited financial and military support and continue to turn a blind eye to their takeover of Palestinian lands and a refutation that Palistinians deserve their separate state.  Our troops are already there in harm's way.  What happens when one of them is killed? 

To anyone with a military background like me one knows the US troops will inevitably be pulled into the actual shooting and dying conflict - a la Regan and Lebanon, where over 600 of my Marine Corps comrades were killed because the President: a) ordered them there; and b) ordered them not to load their rifles. Give this draft-avoiding President (who went to military school during Vietnam, and unlike me, never served in the military, getting five deferments for "sore heals") credit. He'll probably tell them to have loaded rifles, just as if they were pointed, as he recently suggested, toward the current VP. This from a guy who never served a day in the military his life, nor ever signed up for alternative service. 

As his former COS, a decorated Marine Corps General, stated he called killed veterans at Arlington "suckers" ( in front of a man whose son gave his life in military service). How will he label the new US casualties ? BTW - don't give me Trump vs Biden military casualties: look at the facts. Many times more under T. 

So Herb - where is the hope that New President T will NOT be a strong man?

1) We can all hope that Mr. T has in fact decided to be the President for ALL the people; 

2) That the new Congress will conclude that laws for everyone are more important than laws for some, like Musk

3)  That SCOTUS decides to reign in Presidential powers, and the powers of corporations to affect legislation and elections, before the populace takes action to effect reforms like term limits, conflict of interest. and even the composition of the court itself

4) that commitments to alliances like NATO are a strength, not a weakness  

4) Most importantly, in my view, is that one person, one vote eventually prevails in selecting a US President, and that in the long term we abolish the electoral college system.    

Of course as I've said to Tom numerous occasions - I could be wrong. I welcome his response to demonstrate how my analysis is wrong.  

        CWD  

On Wed, Nov 6, 2024 at 10:41 AM Herb Davis <herb....@comcast.net> wrote:

Dear Chris, There were lots of reasons for Harris defeat, but suppose we were wrong. Maybe it wasn't about the issues but fear and a strong man to protect the nation. Herb

On 11/06/2024 7:43 AM EST Christian Dame <cwd...@gmail.com> wrote:

 

 

Dear LRPers (congratulations Tom):

Well it’s our turn to be discouraged – note I did not say WRONG, but we clearly were mistaken about many US voter feelings and goals.

As I am getting ready to attend a morbid defeat party tonight, I gave some thought to the reasons for our defeat. I’ll skip opining about the possible role of “sexism and combined prejudice against blacks AND Indians…”; no proof and not worth talking about is my view.

But I do think we Dems missed the boat on three major voter issues: (1) negative views of the national economy; (2) inflation; and (3) immigration reform.

I can think of many dismissed or disregarded factors by the majority voter block as they pulled the lever – most especially the damaging (in my view) long term effects of the substantial (should I say massive) federal debt increase that will, again in my view, inevitably transpire if the new President does what he said he will do, and the Republican Congress supports him, namely:

-        Continuation of his earlier tax cuts

-        Substantial (again should I say MASSIVE) tariffs of 20-50 percent on all Chinese imports

-        Elimination of all taxes on tips and SS plus other as yet unidentified tax cuts (let’s hope they are not just for folks like Elon M) (no mention to date of set off revenues)

-        No reduction in Social Security or Medicare costs (in fact as we know there will be substantial increases as our population ages);

-        Elimination of Obama Care but no plan to replace it (admittedly this will save billions for the government but cost billions for hospitals)

-        Major (need I add MASSIVE again) new federal program costs for border security, completing the WALL, litigation for every detained immigrant, constructing and operating major numbers of detention centers, and transporting millions of illegal immigrants abroad, all at taxpayer expense …to name but a few

My view – Trump voters will be disappointed two years from now with substantially increased consumer costs over today’s which they blamed us Dems for. I can only imagine what washers, dryers, and common kitchen appliances will cost with large tariffs included. Many of those voters will have very weak if any health insurance.  

But these feelings can rightfully be labeled “sour grapes”, I admit. Time will tell.

We Dems rightfully can be accused of missing “it’s the economy stupid…”! We named the beast as we saw it but we did not make a convincing case and voters did not believe us.

The election is over. Time to move on.

Let’s focus on becoming the informed opposition, fighting to limit damage as we see it, protect our allies from prosecution (to my knowledge none of them participated in January 6, nor are they convicted felons), continue to defend women’s reproductive rights, and work to soften the Republican political language so that it works for ALL people.

A chastened CWD  

 

--

Christian W. Dame 

Interim Executive Solutions LLC 

 

Cell: 617-501-5471

Email: cd...@interim-exec.org

Web: Interim-exec.org 

 

IES: Informing, Effecting, and Supporting Nonprofit Transitions 

 

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Christian W. Dame 

Interim Executive Solutions LLC 

Cell: 617-501-5471

Email: cd...@interim-exec.org

Web: Interim-exec.org 

IES: Informing, Effecting, and Supporting Nonprofit Transitions 

--

Christian W. Dame 

Interim Executive Solutions LLC 

Cell: 617-501-5471

Email: cd...@interim-exec.org

Web: Interim-exec.org 

IES: Informing, Effecting, and Supporting Nonprofit Transitions 

[osop...@aol.com]

My two cents:

Here is what I just wrote to a Florida friend:

 In N.C., we did everything right: united party, staff, field offices, volunteers, money, candidate appearances, etc. Still a five-point loss, worse than previous. There is something going on, which I sense is structural and economic rather than cultural and ideological, across the country. That is to say, Dems are being seen as a party of the “haves” (education, financial security) and minorities, as opposed to the “haves less” (small business people, taxi drivers, white working class, plus billionaires).  Wonder what if anything will happen when eggs don’t drop to 5 cents a dozen by mid-terms.

Speaking of which, I am getting tired of seeing the way the term "elite" is being thrown around. All they are are rich, smart and/or accomplished people you disagree with. Is Musk not part of the elite? If, God forbid, you needed brain surgery would you seek out an elite neurosurgeon, or your cousin Frank's friend, who is a great guy?

MP

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[Wib Gulley]

Two more cents:

While the national election was a horror show and Trump carried NC, the other statewide results were good in the old North State.  No blue wave, but statewide we held the Gov and Atty Gen offices and won back the Lt. Gov and Public Instruction offices, beating some truly terrible R’s in the process.  If things hold, we regained seats in the Legislature that would allow D’s to sustain a Gov veto, which is a big deal.  Dems in NC are actually in a stronger position than we have been in 4-8+ years.

Otherwise, I agree with your thoughts about the misuse of the term elite and the strangeness of a R party for the working class led by Trump and Musk.  Really?

Wib

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[osop...@aol.com]

Right. We should start describing ourselves as

"The Free State of North Carolina." Why

should Massachusetts get all the credit?

But, when the tears dry, we should also take

this opportunity for some serious soul-searching

(sans recriminations please) about our party.

M

[David Henderson]

North Carolina is the bright political spot in the South for us ! Keep up the good work. Organize the unorganized!

David

Sent from my iPhone

On Nov 6, 2024, at 4:15 PM, 'osop...@aol.com' via DukeVigil68 <dukev...@googlegroups.com> wrote:



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