Month: May 2023

It Has Been 15,470 Days Since Jimmy And Rosalynn Carter Left The White House!

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Today marks 15,470 days since Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter left the White House, more than 42 years and five months in retirement.

Jimmy Carter is in hospice, but apparently still alert and aware, based on recent information offered by his grandson Jason Carter, and former United Nations Ambassador Andrew Young.

Now, we have just learned that First Lady Rosalynn Carter has been diagnosed with dementia, a sad but not surprising reality for many people in their 80s and 90s.

On July 7, the Carters will have been married for 77 years; and on August 18, Rosalynn Carter will be 96 years old, only behind Bess Truman in longevity among First Ladies,

And on October 1, Carter will reach 99 years of age!

Let us all pray for these three celebrations to occur for this wonderful couple!

New Hampshire And South Carolina Republican 2024 Presidential Primaries Could Be Very Interesting!

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With two and possibly three Republican Presidential contenders being residents of two of the three earliest states to conduct primaries in 2024, the situation presents the possibility of a unusual set of circumstances.

At the moment, Donald Trump is far ahead of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, and leagues ahead of everyone else who has entered the competition, or plans to do so.

But if New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu enters the competition, the possibility exists that he could surprise the field, and win his state’s Republican primary.

And two South Carolinians, former Governor and former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley, and Senator Tim Scott, have entered the Presidential race, and one or the other could surprise and defeat both Trump and DeSantis.

However, the complication in South Carolina is that Senator Lindsey Graham and Governor Henry McMaster both have endorsed Trump.

The involvement of DeSantis in this situation is hard to conceptualize, as he would seem to have little chance to win either New Hampshire or South Carolina.

At this point, all that can be said is that the early primaries will be very interesting and significant to watch!

Debt Limit Deal A Compromise, But Mostly A Biden Win!

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It seems that the crisis over the raising the federal debt ceiling will be resolved by a compromise, which means no one gets everything they want.

However, it also seems that the Democrats and President Joe Biden will come out better than the Republicans and Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy.

The Freedom Caucus in the Republican Party in the House of Representatives and the Progressive Caucus in the Democratic Party are not happy, but the passage of the deal seems to be likely, although some Republicans in the Senate, such as Mike Lee of Utah, may try to hold up the deal.

But the Democrats are making fewer concessions compared to the Republicans, and Kevin McCarthy may face a no confidence vote from the Republican caucus, although he would seem to be likely to survive, although maybe in a weakened state.

The best part of the proposed deal is to push the debt limit issue off for two years, until after the next Presidential and Congressional Elections in 2024!

National Popular Vote Interstate Compact Gains Minnesota Support, Now At 205 Electoral Votes!

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The movement to change the Presidential Election process from the Electoral College system that has allowed five Presidential elections to be won by the national popular vote loser, has made more progress in the past few days, with Minnesota becoming the 16th state plus the District of Columbia to agree to the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact!

Five Presidential Elections have seen the “vote of the people” denied with the popular vote loser becoming President as follows:

1824 Andrew Jackson loses to John Quincy Adams despite 38,000 vote lead
1876 Samuel Tilden loses to Rutherford B. Hayes despite 252,000 vote lead
1888 Grover Cleveland loses to Benjamin Harrison despite 90,000 vote lead
2000 Al Gore loses to George W. Bush despite 540,000 vote lead
2016 Hillary Clinton loses to Donald Trump despite 2.86 million vote lead

The total number of electoral votes needed to win the Presidency is 270, with the 16 states and DC adding up to a total of 205 electoral votes.

The problem is in a divided America all of the states and DC that have agreed to the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact are “blue” states.

In order of their adoption by the state legislatures and signing by the governors are the following states: (starting in April 2007 until May 2023)

Maryland
New Jersey
Illinois
Hawaii
Washington
Massachusetts
District of Columbia
Vermont
California
Rhode Island
New York
Connecticut
Colorado
Delaware
New Mexico
Oregon
Minnesota

Two states–Maine and Nevada–passed the compact, but in Maine, a followup required vote failed and in Nevada the Republican governor vetoed the legislation. But in the past two weeks, Nevada passed the legislation again, and it seems almost ready to add its six electoral votes to the total, making it, when it happens, 211 electoral votes.

Six other states saw one of the houses of the state legislature pass the bill–Arizona (11), Arkansas (6), Michigan (15), North Carolina (16), Oklahoma (7), and Virginia (13). If these six states were to pass such a bill in the future, it would mean 68 more electoral votes, which with the present 205, would add up to 273, three more than needed, and if Nevada joined the list, it would be 279!

But even if more states were to join this compact, it is likely that there would be a constitutional challenge if, in a future Presidential election, this compact came into reality, and it could cause a major division in the nation.

Henry Kissinger Reaches Age 100: Mixed Views On His Reputation And Legacy!

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Henry Kissinger, arguably the most significant Secretary of State in American history since World War II, turns age 100 today.

Sadly, Kissinger has a very checkered history, seen as outstanding in some ways as National Security Adviser and then the head of the State Department under Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford.

But he has also been held complicit for supporting the prolonging of the Vietnam War under Nixon; backing the military coup in Argentina, which led to brutality and the deaths of tens of thousands of Argentines by death squads; the overthrow of the Chilean democracy in 1973, leading to the brutality of Augusto Pinochet’s dictatorial regime until 1990; support of the Pakistan dictatorship war against Bangladesh and India in 1971; and the bombing of Cambodia in 1970 and after during the Vietnam War.

On the positive side, he was involved in the negotiation of the Paris Peace Accords ending the Vietnam War; pioneering the policy of detente with the Soviet Union; promoting the opening of relations with the People’s Republic of China; and involvement in shuttle diplomacy that ended the 18 Day Yom Kippur War between Egypt and Israel in 1973.

So Kissinger is looked at by experts as both a “war criminal” but also a statesman who won the Nobel Peace Prize for negotiating the end of the Vietnam War.

Kissinger has been unable to travel freely to many areas of the world, since he left office in 1977, as he could have faced arrest for the evil deeds he endorsed and supported.

He will remain controversial in the future after his passing, but one thing is certain!

You cannot study the history of the Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford Presidencies, without realizing the great impact, both negative and positive, of the German Jewish refugee from Nazi Germany!

Ron DeSantis Strikes Out On Day One, And All Downhill From Now On For Good Reasons!

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Ron DeSantis “struck out” on Day One, having problems on Twitter Audio with Elon Musk, and it will be all downhill from now on.

Instead of speaking before an audience of supporters, DeSantis is isolating himself, and talking only to right wing cable and radio shows.

And he is telling us he will be more hardline than Donald Trump was on immigration! And he will consider giving pardons to Insurrectionists from January 6, and even to Trump, if he is convicted!

So DeSantis is against the rule of law, and supporting the sedition and treason of the Insurrectionists, which should, automatically, kill his candidacy!

DeSantis is coming along more than ever as an extreme right wing Fascist, who wants to take away the freedom of women, gays and transgender people, and immigrants!

And he is ignoring evidence of antisemitism in Florida, and warring on Disney, and banning books, and dictating curriculum in public schools and universities, and promoting racism and white supremacy!

Remember he was one of the founders of the Freedom Caucus in the House of Representatives, and a TEA PARTY activist under Barack Obama’s Presidency!

And he wanted to cut Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid while in Congress, and has used his power to fix legislative and congressional districts to promote gerrymandering, which took away representation from African American in the state of Florida!

He has a wife who is very ambitious and dominating, and he has come across as very phony in his public persona, laughing hysterically that looks preposterous, and lacking any empathy, sincerity, compassion, or common decency!

He is the direct opposite of the personality and character of President Joe Biden, and for anyone to support him as the “better” alternative, would need his or her head examined!

Jimmy Carter Is Still Alert And Engaged In Hospice Care: An Inspiring News Event!

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In a time when there is so much bad and distressing news, my day was brightened with the news that former President Jimmy Carter, in hospice since mid February, seems nowhere near death!

I am so thrilled to learn that he is lucid; has regular contact with his wife Rosalynn and his many children, grandchildren and close friends; is in a very positive mood; and is enjoying ice cream, including peanut butter flavor, related to his having been a peanut farmer!

Hospice does not necessarily mean the end of life is near, as some patients live for a few years, so it is hoped by fervent prayer that the 39th President lives to reach one hundred years of age in a year, four months, and one week from now on October 1, 2024!

Carter’s reputation has risen, and once he has passed, this author and blogger believes there will be a reassessment of him, and he will rise into the top third of Presidents, based on the multitude of good policies and deeds, rather than harping on the issues that no President could have controlled, as all Presidents are to a great extent dependent on forces they cannot control!

Is There A Jon Huntsman Or John Kasich In The Republican Presidential Campaign Of 2024?

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With the Republican Presidential race in high gear now, with the entrance later today of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, two days after the entrance of South Carolina Senator Tim Scott, the question arises?

Is there anyone in the Republican Party who has the potential to draw support and acclaim as occurred with former Utah Governor and Ambassador to China Jon Huntsman Jr. in 2012, or former Ohio Governor John Kasich in 2016?

Neither Huntsman nor Kasich went very far in the race, but both gained respect and applause as reasonably decent candidates.

But are there any such individuals now?

Theoretically, there might be with Senator Tim Scott; or possibly former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson; or possibly New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu; or possibly former Texas Congressman Will Hurd; or finally, former Wyoming Congresswoman Liz Cheney.

But it does seem like a long haul to compare any of them to Huntsman or Kasich, realistically!

Horrifying Speculation On Trump VP Running Mate In 2024!

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Speculation has begun on who Donald Trump might select as his Vice Presidential running mate if he ends up as the Republican Presidential nominee in 2024.

Rumor has it that he will pick a woman, which upon first thought, seems not a terrible idea, although one has to speculate which woman in politics would be a reasonable choice to be one heartbeat away from the Oval Office.

So when one hears that Nikki Haley, former South Carolina Governor and United Nations Ambassador might be on the list, the thought would be a mixed one, as she has not come across as reputable in her statements and actions since she left her position at the United Nations.

But when one looks at the other theoretical choices, it is enough to make one terrified!

Who are the other suggested woman nominees?

Georgia Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene

Arizona defeated 2022 Gubernatorial nominee Kari Lake

Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders (former Press Secretary to Trump, and daughter of former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee)

If any of these nightmarish choices was to be the Vice Presidential nominee, then the United States would be in literal looney territory, as all three of these monstrous women would be a threat to the nation and the world!

Can Senator Tim Scott Become The Republican Presidential Nominee In 2024?

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The only black Republican Senator, Tim Scott of South Carolina, has just entered the race for the Presidency.

With only five black Republican House members and Scott the only black Republican Senator, the Republican Party does not have the image of caring about African Americans.

So the question arises whether Scott has any possility of becoming the Republican nominee for the White House.

With South Carolina being a crucial state in the battle for the nomination of both parties, he might have an avenue to advance, but also has to deal with the woman who chose him originally to fill an open Senate seat a decade ago, then Governor and later United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley, who has already announced her own Presidential candidacy,

And Donald Trump has the backing of the South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster and Senator Lindsey Graham, so these complexities make one wonder if Scott has any chance to move forward.

Scott comes across as likeable to his own Republican Senate colleagues, with South Dakota Senator John Thune, the Minority Whip, endorsing him, and even New Jersey Democratic Senator Cory Booker praising him as a colleague across the aisle.

His announcement was inspiring to those who think conservative government is the best, and have no issue with his promotion of Christianity in government.

But such viewpoints are not inspirational to anyone, such as this author and blogger, who believes in progressive and liberal values.

Scott will make the race more interesting for sure, but one has to wonder how Donald Trump will treat him in language and behavior, as the former President’s racism may, once again, show up in his rhetoric.