Know My Name

The most prominent jurist of her generation, Ruth Bader Ginsburg in life, created a more perfect union.  Her death could tear it asunder.

Politics does not stop for eulogies.  Everything RBG fought for is on the line.   The impact of another conservative on the Supreme Court is obvious.  The impact of the opening is less certain, but equally dangerous.

Through an apocalypse of fires in the west, hurricanes in the Southeast, and a nation ravaged by a plague, the presidential race has remained stable.  That has been good for Joe Biden.  

Every day the electorate focuses on the virus is good for Biden.  Changing the subject to the high court this late in the race may be a low blow.  Will it chase low propensity conservative voters to the polls, narrowing or obliterating his lead?  Or, can the talented Biden team turn the tables, as it did with "Law and Order," and neutralize the risk, and even bring their most flighty supporters to the ballot box?

If hypocrisy was a crime, the GOP senate caucus would convene in the prison yard.  Tit for tat, is not all that.  We need more.  Although the image of  buff and tattooed Rand Paul and Mitch McConnell pumping iron, does ease some of the pain.

After Trump announces his nominee, Biden must do the same.  He can choose someone who will electrify all of his supporters, or motivate just a key part of his base.  If willing, Michelle Obama comes to mind.  Her appeal is broad, but particularly strong with young voters and suburban women.  Alternatively, Biden could chose a prominent hispanic jurist.  Biden must seize the moment or be squeezed by history.

Florida Redemption

 In 2000, Florida gave us hanging chads, and no doubt, a similarly titled porn movie.  Florida was the land of constitutional gore.   But, all can be forgiven.

The 2000 recount was frantic, but not dangerous.  The two, decidedly main stream candidates, calmed their supporters.  Trump is different.   He has ranted that Democrats can only win by stealing the election, and that the getaway car will be mail in voting.   Not surprisingly, most Trump supporters will vote in person, while cognizant of Covid, most Biden backers plan to vote by mail.  

A probable scenario is the so-called red mirage.  In most battle ground states in person ballots are counted on the same day, but mail in ballots can take days, or even weeks.   If Trump is leading on election day, his supporters are primed to reject a different result when all ballots are counted.   Armed vigilantes, including white nationalists, will surround counting centers.  The red mirage could turn into blood in the streets.

But Florida can be our savior.  Florida does not accept ballots that arrive after election day.  In Florida, mail in ballots are often counted first.   If Biden wins Florida on election night, media will report that a blue wave has engulfed the red mirage.  Let the sunshine state cast its ever loving light on us.

Tragic Lane Change Kills Haley's Political Career

 The road to the 2024 GOP presidential nomination is congested.  Ted Cruz is in the right hand lane espousing balanced budgets and conservative values.  He is joined by Tom Cotton, who also straddles the Trump lane.  Marco Rubio keeps on making weird hand signals, so his lane is uncertain, but definitely small.   The Trump lane is clogged with Pence, Don Jr., Mike Pompeo, a bit of Cotton and a few other stragglers.

Before recklessly veering into the Trump pileup, Nikki Halley had a clear path.   She could run as the compassionate conservative following in the wake of George W. Bush, with the added benefits of an immigrant background, pigmentation and removal of the Confederate Flag from the South Carolina state house grounds.  

Merging with Trump was political malpractice.  If Republicans remain the party of Trump, she will never be Trumpy enough, compared to Pence and Trump's eldest son.  But if Trump floundered she was positioned to be the shiny, unsullied object of political affection.