The Democratic National Convention had an amazing list of speakers, besides Joe Biden and his wife The list includes Kamala Harris, Hillary and Bill Clinton, Barack and Michelle Obama, Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter, many of Biden’s Democratic rivals for the nomination, several Republicans (John Kasich, Colin Powell, Christie Todd Whitman among others), and a number of public figures from the world of sports and entertainment.
The best that Donald Trump can do is have his four older children, his wife, those connected to his children (son in law Jared Kushner and wife and girlfriend of sons), and Vice President Mike Pence.
Trump has to be in the center of each night’s presentation, which insures he will say stupid comments will hurt him.
And who outside of family connections will speak for Donald Trump? Iowa Senator Joni Ernst, former UN Ambassador and South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, South Carolina Senator Tim Scott, South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem, and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy.
This is not exactly an inspiring list, and means such individuals as the following are not speaking or participating in the Republican National Convention:
George W. Bush, Laura Bush, Jeb Bush, Mitt Romney, Paul Ryan, John Boehner, Dick Cheney, Liz Cheney, Cindy McCain, Jeff Flake, Bob Corker, and apparently most Republicans in the House and Senate presently, although a few might make an appearance.
One can assume most members of the present Trump Cabinet might appear, but they have already lost all credibility as the most corrupt group of cabinet officers in American history.
And one can probably expect the criminal Stephen Miller, responsible for the despicable separation of children, including babies and toddlers, from their parents at the Mexico border, for the simple act of applying for asylum, which is perfectly legal.
This is a human rights crime, and should lead to Miller and the Trump cabinet which voted for it in 2018, facing indictment and prison for this violation of human rights of innocent victims!
It will be an infuriating four days of lies upon lies upon lies, and hard to focus on, as the sight of Trump and his despicable followers in government are enough to make one ill!
Yup! That’s definitely pitiful! Ha! Ha!
i know that You and Your followers may be shocked and surprised to hear this, Ronald; but: There are a significant number of American Voters who regard the Bidens,Obamas, Clintons, Carters, and all the rest of the luminaries who appeared last week at the DNC with the exact same contempt, disgust, and open, overt hatred that You view the lineup at the RNC. A rather significant number of Voters, in fact.
It will be interesting to see how the tv viewer ratings for the RNC compare with that of the DNC’s, eh:
“The final night of the Democratic National Convention drew the event’s biggest TV audience for nominee Joe Biden’s acceptance speech.
“The 10 o’clock hour drew a combined 21.78 million viewers across ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, Fox News and MSNBC. That’s up by about 370,000 viewers from Wednesday’s showcase hour and the largest audience for the four days of the convention.
“Across all four nights, the convention averaged 20.12 million viewers on the six networks. That’s down by 21 percent vs. the 2016 convention’s average of 25.51 million viewers on the same six outlets. Thursday’s coverage slipped by about 22 percent compared to the closing night four years ago.”
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/tv-ratings-tv-ratings-democratic-convention-ends-on-up-note
On the Powell Endorsement of Biden; Or, Wrapping Up The War Criminal Vote
[NOTE: The following was written in late October, 2008 as part of an examination of then-Democrat Party candidate for President Obama. This explores Colin Powell’s endorsement of Obama then, and by simply substituting “Biden” every place You see “Obama,” it is just as applicable today.]
OBAMAmas and OBAManiacs the world around are absolutely all of-a-dither about Colin Powell’s recent endorsement of their man to be the next President. What better way to incontestably demonstrate the qualifications of the junior Senator from Illinois for the highest office in the land than the enthusiastic recommendation and support of a man who has served as Secretary of State and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff? In the service of two different Republican administrations, no less???
One would caution TEAM OBAMA to be careful about what you wish for, because it just might come true.
This is the same Colin Powell who, as Secretary of State, lied through his teeth to the United Nations and the American people in convincing the world and the nation that Saddam Hussein did indeed have Weapons of Mass Destruction, and that therefore, the United States was justified in invading and occupying Iraq. Those WMDs have yet to have been found.
And before that, it was the same Secretary of State Powell who promised the world and America “absolute, incontestable, beyond any reasonable doubt†evidence and proof that Osama bin Laden and al-Qaeda did in fact perpetrate the Terror Event of September 11, 2001, and that therefore, the United States was justified in invading and occupying Afghanistan and launching its whole so-called “War†Against so-called “Global†so-called “Terrorism.†That evidence and proof has yet to have been provided.
And before that, it was Colin Powell in his incarnation as Bush The Elder’s Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff who oversaw Operation Desert Storm, the so-called “liberation†of Kuwait, and who sat by paternally proud as his Navy and Air Force jet fighter bombers mercilessly slaughtered thousands (if not tens of thousands or more) of retreating, fleeing Iraqi soldiers and civilians attempting to get out of Kuwait on the infamous “Highway of Death,†in what one Top Gun American pilot enthusiastically chortled was “like shooting fish in a barrel.â€
But it was before that, long before all that, when Colin Powell earned his place as a candidate for a top spot in the corporation: by showing just how much a team player he was prepared to be. As a senior staff officer for Plans and Operations in the parent command of the infantry platoon that executed the My Lai Massacre on March 16, 1968 during what the Vietnamese Peoples term “The American War,” Powell was an active and willing participant in the initial attempts by his command and then the Army to stonewall and cover-up the Massacre.
So there you have it: Colin Powell, War Criminal. Not just once, but four times over.
Just the sort of guy Obama needs in his corner. Just the sort of guy to lend credibility to his pretensions at being ready to be President. In this, the first decade of The New American Century, a President needs War Criminals in order to be able to deal with what is demonstrably a world that is very dangerous for and to American aspirations, intentions, and pretensions for Century 21.
TEAM CHENEY has amply demonstrated that; it’s full of War Criminals, and look how well IT’S doing. In any event, with people like Colin Powell, and institutions like Goldman Sachs, et al supporting him (see Reflection 3, below), there can be no question but that BHO (Boo? Beau? b-Ho?) is ready for Prime Time.
To those paying attention, it’s been obvious since the 2004 Democratic National Convention Coming Out that Obama has been groomed (like Clinton in 1988, non?). The really important, probably frightening questions is: For What?
[AfterNote: Well, we sure found out, didn’t we?]
###
Jeffrey, in regard to your first posting, notice that MSNBC and CNN had the lion’s share of those who watched!
You can live in your own fantasy world in your judgment of the Democratic luminaries, as compared to the GOP luminaries! The people who read and or comment on this blog know what you are all about, and that is why most of the time they dismiss you,as I usually do. You sure like to promote controversy to get attention, a little like Donald Trump in that regard! 🙁
The vast majority of Americans respect the Democratic luminaries, with a lower amount for the Clintons, but certainly a much higher amount than the Trump Family and the despicable Republicans in Congress who sat silent as he abused his powers and the Constitution! 🙁
Biden gains popularity in post convention polling.
http://www.cnn.com/2020/08/23/politics/biden-poll-bounce-post-election/index.html
RF: “Jeffrey, in regard to your first posting, notice that MSNBC and CNN had the lion’s share of those who watched!”
So? Is that some big surprise? Did You expect the ratings at Fox to be thru the roof? What i noticed more was the drop in total viewing from 2016. Any thoughts on that?
Apparently, the American people think this election is less important than that one. Or at least this year’s DNC is.
RF: “You can live in your own fantasy world in your judgment of the Democratic luminaries, as compared to the GOP luminaries! The people who read and or comment on this blog know what you are all about, and that is why most of the time they dismiss you,as I usually do. You sure like to promote controversy to get attention, a little like Donald Trump in that regard!”
That’s not my judgment of the Democratic luminaries; that is the judgment ~ as i said ~ of i would suspect a significant number of American Voters. Given that the average Real Clear Politics Approval rating of Trump for the last three weeks is 43.7%, i’d say it might be very significant.
And i don’t ask all my questions to either “get attention” or “generate controversy.” i ask them because i believe them to be valid questions, and i am interested in how “progressives” might answer them. And i suspect that the only reason that You and Your followers think that i try to generate “controversy” is because i generally disagree with what You have to say, and all their one-sentence “Likes” they send Your way. After all, that is the functional definition of a “troll,” isn’t it?
RF: “The vast majority of Americans respect the Democratic luminaries, with a lower amount for the Clintons, but certainly a much higher amount than the Trump Family and the despicable Republicans in Congress who sat silent as he abused his powers and the Constitution!”
“The vast majority,” eh? Well, if there is an election in November, we’ll see just how “vast” a majority of Americans respect anybody or anything associated with the Clintons or the Obamas: Which means, first and foremost of all, whether or not they want Biden to be their next President.
And my guess is that for most Voting Americans of any political persuasion, Carter is about as relevant as the other “Forgotten Presidents”: Rutherford B. Hayes, James A. Garfield, Chester A. Arthur, Grover Cleveland, and Benjamin Harrison. Altho, it was on his watch that this whole “Forever War” got started. And who can forget the “stagflation” ~ runaway inflation with high employment ~ that hit its peak with him in the Oval Office? Or his “MEOW,” or Moral Equivalent Of War as regards energy?
And Your “vast majority” respecting all those luminaries at “a much higher amount than the Trump Family” doesn’t really say too much, does it? How high does one have to go to reach That level of respect?
And in regard to my 2d posting: What are Your thoughts on Secretary/General/My Lai Cover-Upper Powell?
Most Americans are sick and tired of Trump and his Republican supporters pushing hatred, fear, and division and embracing Nazis marching in Charlottesville. Most Americans will be rejecting that in November.
Jeffrey, I do not see Colin Powell in the highly critical way that you do.
When one is in the military, or in a leadership position in the military, one does what is seen at the time as obedience to those who command them.
You were in the military, so tell us about your experiences, and look in the mirror as you write!
Exactly! Most Americans stand with Heather Heyer, standing against the hatred and racism that Trump and his supporters push.
Jeff Flake and Charlie Dent are amongst dozens of Republicans who have endorsed Biden today.
http://www.cnn.com/2020/08/24/politics/former-congressional-republicans-endorse-joe-biden/index.html
Trump’s puppet master, Putin, is on the ballots in November.
Why your vote will count in the United States and in Russia.
https://washingtonmonthly.com/2020/08/24/vladimir-putin-is-on-the-ballot-in-november/
Vladimir Putin is on the ballot this November.
You won’t see his name or watch his ads. But make no mistake, Putin has a lot riding on this election and he’s counting on your vote.
What will a vote for Putin mean?
First, Putin is looking to reshape the world order in a way that benefits Moscow, builds his personal power and establishes him as the world’s toughest leader capable of outrageous cunning, manipulation and disruption.
A successful outcome—meaning President Trump is re-elected—means his Russia will be able to wantonly throw its weight around globally. He will assertively create unseen but ever-present fear and dependence in neighboring nations including Belarus, Ukraine, the Baltic states and Georgia. Russia’s renewed and enhanced influence also will be felt in countries farther away and immediately affected by America’s acquiescence to Putin’s newfound power. Countries such as Syria, Libya, Afghanistan, Venezuela, Nicaragua, and Cuba.
Putin’s victory would usher in a world that would be unimaginable to those Americans who endured the Cold War and continue to suffer the 21st century Middle East conflicts fought for oil and influence.
This already was a watershed year for Russia’s President-for-Life Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin—“Vova†for short. He consolidated his domestic power with a sneaky recent referendum that gave him both symbolic and vital constitutional changes.
On the symbolic front, he played up family values and nationalist sentiment with laws against same-sex marriage and a codified “belief in God.†On the substantive side, new constitutional reforms give primacy to Russian law over international norms. One more thing: Term limits changed to allow Putin the presidency through 2036.
Constitutional reforms mean he no longer needs to practice new jiu-jitsu political moves. In the past, Putin had to horse-trade his presidential role for the prime ministership. No more. He can now reside in gilded presidential palaces forever and a day.
Tragically, Putin has mobilized a military and militia around a neo-nationalism that satisfies a popular thirst for pride. While his regime fails to deal with improving his people’s lot, it overcompensates for its economic and material failings by freely pouring the emotion-stirring libations of Russian exceptionalism and nostalgia for a deceptively reclaimable empire.
By drowning—or poisoning and defenestrating—opposition voices like Alexei Navalny, Putin deprives his citizens freedom of speech and choice. Russians are left with little to show for their industrious and inventive nature, feeling impoverished despite their abundantly rich culture and overflowing natural resources. What they are left with is Putin.
Secure in his position at home, Putin now shifts his roving eye around the world to spy where he can assert his parasitic power—which is where November’s election could play into Putin’s hands.
American voters can decide how much of a free ride to give Moscow. Putin already got away with interfering in the 2016 U.S. election, collaborating with the winning campaign as the Senate revealed this week. Putin continues his interference, no longer relying on Wikileaks or Facebook to peddle and amplify divisively toxic narratives. He’s hard at work.
If Putin wins again this cycle, prepare for renewed global adventurism. The carte blanche he received these last few years allowed him to stick around Crimea and stick it to Ukraine. He bleeds American soldiers in Afghanistan. While Congress tried to exact a toll for the illegal Crimean invasion and occupation, the war in Ukraine’s Donbass and for paying bounties to kill our troops, crickets is the only thing we hear from the executive, the perfect soundtrack for an ambitious dictator.
The 2020 election campaign will focus foreign-policy debates on which side will be tougher on China. One candidate will try to pin the other as being soft on China and suggest that Xi Jinping is on the ballot.
China policy differences are a legitimate political target, and the policies of both sides should be viewed with discerningly cold, critical eyes. Beijing seeks regional hegemony in and around the South China Sea and everywhere else in its neighborhood. It has cracked down at home in Hong Kong and it threatens Taiwan. Xi and China do have global ambitions.
Xi, however, is not on this year’s ballot in the United States. There is a strong bipartisan American consensus on the China threat. Both parties are on the same page. They may not agree on how to deal with the threat—are tariffs effective?—but are clear-eyed about China’s intentions and capabilities.
Not so with Russia or Putin. The two parties diverge dramatically. Somehow, a party that was once the most vocal, moral and aggressively determined to counter Moscow has now embraced Putin and his posse. What happened?
Putin is on this year’s ballot, so think twice before marking mail-in ballots or donning masks to go pull a lever. The vote you cast counts in both Moscow and the world.
RF: “Jeffrey, I do not see Colin Powell in the highly critical way that you do. When one is in the military, or in a leadership position in the military, one does what is seen at the time as obedience to those who command them.”
Nice try, Professor; but Powell wasn’t in the military when he lied about Saddam’s WMDs or that he had proof that al-Qaeda did 9/11. He was the Secretary of State. Does that make any difference to You?
And that is certainly true that, in the military, one is obedient to orders. EXCEPT orders that involve the commitment of War Crimes: like the Highway of Death in Kuwait, when Powell was the Chief of Staff; and, most particularly in Powell’s case, like My Lai. when he was a senior staff member of the higher headquarters command of the Platoon that perpetrated the mass murder of civilians.
Colin Powell went right along with the attempt by first his unit, and later the Army, to cover-up that War Crime; he wrote the initial investigative Report stating that no “massacre” had occurred, and that the whole operation was a great success: “In direct refutation of this portrayal is the fact that relations between Americal Division soldiers and the Vietnamese people are excellent.” [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_Lai_massacre]
Compare his performance to that of the Soldiers who :
1] Attempted to stop the Massacre while it was in progress.
2] Wrote a letter to the Commander of US Forces in Viet Nam detailing the massacre, and calling for a formal, criminal investigation.
3] Wrote a letter to numerous Senators and Congressmen detailing the massacre, and calling for a Congressional investigation. [Wiki as above.]
My guess is that the primary reason You don’t see Powell the way i do, Doc, is only because Powell has endorsed Biden, just like he did Clinton in 2016, and Obama before her. After all, Powell knew that Obama wasn’t going to change anything about America’s War Policy that he had championed at the UN; just like he knew Clinton’s intent to continue it had she won in 2016. And now, he’s got Biden who he is certain will “stay the course.”
You concluded: “You were in the military, so tell us about your experiences, and look in the mirror as you write!”
And What, prithee tell, is that supposed to mean or imply: “Look in the mirror as you write!” [sic] ???
Exactly what experiences would You like me to tell You about? i spent 28 years in the military, 22 on active duty, including two in Viet Nam: the first year as an Infantryman, and the second as a Helicopter Door Gunner, with some low-level, rear echelon staff puke jobs in between.
If You’re asking: “Did i see or participate in anything even remotely resembling a My Lai?”, the answer is no. Nothing even close. i saw lots of Jungle, Rice Paddies, and Villages destroyed by, take Your pick: Agent Orange, B-52 strikes, or “free-fire zone” tactical artillery, air, and naval gunfire support. And i saw a smattering of dead or dying civilians here and there [what was later to be euphemized as “collateral damage”], but not a mass murder.
i like to think that ~ if i had been involved in or witnessed something like My Lai ~ that i would have done exactly what those three types of folks mentioned above did: Try to stop it and, failing that, report it to higher headquarters, including the highest headquarters, Congress and the White House. And to the Media, which was an actual, functioning Media, back then; not what it is today.
i suspect i would have done something like that because of the sheer pleasure i got from seeing a Colonel, a couple of Majors, and a Captain go to jail and get thrown out of the Army for fraud, waste, and abuse after an inspection and investigation i participated in as a Senior Noncommissioned Officer assigned to the Office of the Inspector General of the United States Army.
Does that answer Your question?
How The GOP became a cult of personality.
It started years before Trump.
http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/2020/08/24/how-the-gop-became-a-cult-of-personality/
Because of Trump deliberately slowing down the mail, my Netflix rentals for this week are somewhere in the postal twilight zone. Does any know of any way Netflix DVDs can be tracked?
The DVD envelopes have bar codes on them, so I’m sure Netflix has some way of tracking them. You can log into your account and report it as lost if you have to.
Here’s some recent info how the delay is affecting Netflix and Amazon.
https://www.marketwatch.com/story/postal-service-issues-have-affected-netflix-and-amazon-2020-08-19
USPS delays have lead to dead animals and rotten food.
https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-08-20/usps-cutbacks-post-office-chaos
Trump’s idea of law and order if he gets re-elected – yet more instances of cops shooting unarmed black people, while their kids are forced to watch.
https://www.cnn.com/2020/08/24/us/kenosha-police-shooting-jacob-blake/index.html
Trump’s sister, Mary, sounds like me, while I’m yelling at Trump whenever he’s on my TV.
https://www.cnn.com/2020/08/23/opinions/trumps-sister-delivers-staggering-verdict-obeidallah/index.html
Trump’s buddy, Jerry Falwell, has a sex scandal and is going to be resigning from Liberty.
https://www.cnn.com/2020/08/24/us/jerry-falwell-jr-resigns-liberty-university/index.html
Leia – She sounds like the rest of us do as well.
Good riddance to Falwell.
I reported the Netflix movies as lost and requested a replacement shipment.