Democratic Party

Loss Of A True Statesman: Florida Governor And Senator Bob Graham!

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The state of Florida and the nation has lost a true statesman, former Governor and Senator Bob Graham, who passed away at the age of 87.

Graham was a class act as Florida Governor from 1979-1987, and as a US Senator from 1987-2005.

A leader who was of Presidential stature, he was on the short list for Vice President for Bill Clinton in 1992 and Al Gore in 2000, and briefly sought the Presidency himself in 2004.

He was a very effective governor of the Sunshine state, a true star when compared to recent Republican governors Rick Scott and Ron DeSantis. His emphasis was on promotion of the environment and advancement of education.

Graham was Chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee from 2001-2003, and worked to oppose the Iraq War under George W. Bush as based on faulty intelligence.

A half brother with the same last name, Phil Graham, came to own the Washington Post.

Florida has not been the same politically since Democrats such as Bob Graham left office, and as Republicans took over state government and domination of Congressional seats.

Changes In Voter Registration Across America

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Changes in voter registration, while not a guarantee of voting patterns, are in flux in recent years.

Examples include the following trends:

The more educated one is, the more likely that such people are registered Democrats.

The less educated one is, the more likely that such people are registered Republicans.

The more rural location of an individual, and the more religiously devout an individual is, the more likely he or she is Republican.

Evangelical Christians, devout Catholics, and Orthodox Jews are more likely to be Republicans.

Those who live in urban areas are still much more likely Democratic registered, while those in suburbia are more evenly divided, but more Democratic than traditionally in recent decades when they were more likely Republican.

The Hispanic-Latino population is less reliably registered Democratic than in the past, particularly those who identify as evangelical Protestants, while if Catholics, still more likely Democratic.

While women are more likely to be registered Democratic, white women have moved toward Republican orientation.

With the reality that all of these trends are in flux, it is clear that trying to predict future voting patterns and election results is a gamble, and there are no guarantees.

Israel-Hamas War A Nightmare Scenario For Joe Biden Campaign!

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The Israel-Hamas War, now six months old, has seen the death of 1,200 Israelis and 33,000 Gazan Palestinians.

More than 100 hostages of the 240 originally kidnapped on October 7 remain in Gaza, and famine is spreading in the Gaza Strip.

There seems to be no end to the bloodshed and hostage situation, and the war has divided the Democratic Party, with the left wing progressives condemning the war’s continuation, and Joe Biden being unsuccessful in influencing the strategy of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

So as a result, many American Jews are angry at Biden for bringing pressure on Israel, while Arab-Muslim Americans are angry that Biden has not done more to stop the carnage.

And many Israelis are furious at Netanyahu for failure to negotiate the release of the remaining hostages.

The idea that Republicans and Donald Trump would have a better alternative that would win over the Jewish population and the Arab-Muslim population in the upcoming Presidential Election of 2024 is to believe in fairy tales.

However, if either group sits on their hands and stays home, it would dramatically undermine the Joe Biden campaign, and likely help Donald Trump to win.

Martin Luther King Jr Anniversary Of Assassination, And Race Relations In America

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It has been 56 years since the assassination of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr in Memphis, Tennessee.

The nation has observed his January birthday as a national holiday since 1986, but sadly, racism, and white supremacy have not declined.

In fact, due to Donald Trump and his MAGA Republican followers, the Republican Party exudes racism, as well as nativism, misgoyny, and many strains of antisemitism.

The struggle of Republicans against DEI (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion) has harmed the nation, and the Supreme Court backtracking since 2013 on voting rights protection, presents a major challenge for the short and long term future of the struggle against the advancements of the civil rights movement in the 1960s and beyond.

The Democratic Party, as imperfect as it is, is still the best hope for the future in that regard.

Massive Fundraising Event For Democrats With Biden, Obama, Clinton!

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For all those who believe the Democratic Party offers the best hope for the future, last night’s massive fundraising event at Radio City Music Hall in NYC with Presidents Joe Biden, Barack Obama, and Bill Clinton in attendance, was a magnificent event!

A total of $26 million was raised for the fight ahead for American democracy, the US Constitution, and the rule of law!

All three Presidents are united in their fight against the autocratic, Fascist threat of Donald Trump, and many reasonable and patriotic conservatives and Republicans are also committed to the struggle for the future against this evil man!

When one looks back at the Presidencies of Obama and Clinton, and the accomplishments of Joe Biden, and compares them to the dismal record of Republicans in the White House, one knows that we are engaged in a righteous cause, the most challenging time since World War II!

Senator Joseph Lieberman Passing Reminds Us Of His Significant Role In American History

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Former Connecticut Senator Joseph Lieberman passed away yesterday at the age of 82, tragically as the result of complications from a fall.

This sad news reminds us of his significant role in American history and politics.

A comparatively conservative Senator for a Democrat, specifically on foreign policy, while quite liberal on most matters of domestic policy, Lieberman became the first Jewish candidate on a national Presidential ticket as the Vice Presidential nominee for Al Gore in the Presidential Election of 2000.

Coming to the Senate after defeating liberal Republican Senator Lowell Weicker in 1988, and backed by conservative advocate William F. Buckley, Jr, who called Lieberman his “favorite Democrat”, he lost the Democratic nomination for his seat in 2006, but ran as an Independent and defeated his Democratic and Republican opponents, serving his fourth and last term until 2012, when he retired.

Lieberman was closely associated with Republican Senators John McCain and Lindsey Graham as “hawks” on the Iraq War, and McCain considered him for the Vice Presidency in 2008, before choosing the disastrous Alaska Governor Sarah Palin.

Lieberman was always highly controversial, but also remembered as very principled and a major factor in American politics for more than a generation.

For a person such as this author who sees himself as “progressive”, Lieberman often irritated with his overly hawkish views on foreign policy, and he did not show adequate support for either Barack Obama or Joe Biden, including engaging in the NO LABELS movement, which seems, fortunately, to be going nowhere in the upcoming presidential election.

Some Reasons Why Donald Trump And Republicans Will Lose in 2024

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Despite conflicting public opinion polls, there are many reasons to believe why Donald Trump and the Republican Party are on the road to defeat in 2024!

Among them are the following:

If one uses Ronald Reagan’s argument in 1980, “Are you better off than you were years ago?”, and use it in reverse, most certainly, economically, the nation is far better than it was in 2020, by any economic statistic! The stock market is booming; unemployment is at a 50 year low; inflation is coming down; and more jobs have been created than under any modern President in a four year term!

Also, Donald Trump brags about ending Roe V Wade, and this ending of abortion rights has become a major motivator among the vast majority of women and the men who love them, and will motivate many voters to be sure to vote and get others to vote!

Donald Trump also tells Republicans to reject the strongest immigration bill in a generation, and the crisis on the border is worse, as a result, and it will reverberate on Republicans in the Fall. With various conservative groups backing the legislation, it can be used as a weapon against Trump in the upcoming election, and harm the party chances in Congress!

The Republican House of Representatives has been a disaster, leading to some Republicans quitting early, not wishing to hang around, and leaving the Republicans with just one vote more than a majority, subject to change at any time, if anyone in their slim majority resigns, dies, or is in the hospital for an extended period. And Speaker Mike Johnson is in danger of being the second Speaker to be removed in the same Congress. So the Democrats have a great issue as they get ready for the election, which should guarantee a Democratic majority in that chamber in the upcoming 119th Congress of 2025-2027!

Donald Trump being indicted on 91 counts in four cases is not going to help promote loyalty of Republicans, as already, there are indications that a substantial number did not want him to run, and instead supported Nikki Haley. The idea that independents or Democrats will vote for Trump is not realistic, and already, he has a record of never winning the popular vote in either 2016 or 2020!

With so many former Trump Administration officials refusing to support Trump this time around, since they see how dangerous he is on foreign policy, and his plans for a dictatorship, this will also strengthen the case for Joe Biden as a center of stability and democracy!

And with Trump saying the January 6 Insurrectionists are “hostages” that he would free from prison is not a way to win support or strengthen Republican prospects!

With all these factors, Democrats have the advantage, but have to be concerned about keeping support of African Americans, Hispanic-Latino Americans, Asian Americans, Arab-Muslim Americans, Jewish Americans, and the younger Generation Z first time voters.

So there is plenty of work still ahead!

Republican 118th House Of Representatives A Total Disaster!

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The 118th Congress (2023-2025) has been a total disaster, with the House of Representatives controlled by the extremist right wing Freedom Caucus, which deposed Kevin McCarthy as Speaker of the House, and now is moving toward deposing Mike Johnson, because of his cooperation with Democrats to adopt a budget bill and avoid default. Looney Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia has taken the first steps to call for possible removal of Johnson from the Speakership.

This chaos has led some Republicans to quit the House of Representatives early including Ken Buck of Colorado and Mike Gallagher of Wisconsin.

So now, once Gallagher leaves in April, the split will be 217-213 in the House, meaning the Republicans only have a ONE vote margin!

So any further craziness, and the Democrats will gain control of the House of Representatives, an unbelievable situation!

Hooray! :) 14 Year Anniversary Of The Affordable Care Act (ObamaCare)!

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Celebrations are in order for the 14 year Anniversary of the Affordable Care Act (ObamaCare), President Barack Obama’s greatest achievement, despite constant attempts of Republicans to destroy it over these years since 2010!

The Affordable Care Act now gives health coverage to 21 million Americans, and is a further extension of health care coverage beyond Medicare and Medicaid, all brought about due to Democratic Presidents, as well as Social Security!

It is not a perfect law, as nothing is, but far better than if these laws had never been passed.

And it is ironic that in 2017, it was a critic of the Affordable Care Act, Arizona Senator John McCain, who was the opponent of Barack Obama in the Presidential Election of 2008, who saved the legislation, and this just a year before his passing.

This anniversary is being celebrated by both President Obama and President Joe Biden, and everyone well knows that President Donald Trump tried so hard to destroy this legislation and coverage, and pledges to do so if he is returned to the Oval Office, along with threats against Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid being targeted yet once again by Republicans!

Ohio Goes MAGA On Senate Race–Bernie Moreno Vs Sherrod Brown!

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The state of Ohio–the home of six American Presidents from 1869-1923, all Republicans–has gone MAGA in choosing the Republican nominee for the US Senate race against incumbent three term Democrat Sherrod Brown.

Bernie Moreno has become the Donald Trump endorsed candidate, with extremist views, against a mainstream Democrat, who has been very popular and effective in three terms in the US Senate.

Sherrod Brown should have an advantage in this race, as a more mainstream Republican, Matt Dolan, who had been endorsed by Ohio Republican Governor Mike DeWine and former Republican Senator Rob Portman, was unable to stop the more extremist Moreno from winning the Senate nomination.

Moreno has been extreme and inconsistent in his views on many issues, and has also gone from being a Trump critic to being a Trump sycophant.

Already, Moreno is calling Sherrod Brown a “Commie”, so one can see what a nasty campaign he will wage!

This Ohio Senate race is crucial for Democrats’ hopes of keeping a Senate majority, and it will be the most highly watched race over the next eight months!