Single Issue Voters

 Group speak fascinates me.  A couple years ago, receipts, meaning evidence, was solely a black term.  Now it permeates every political commentary.  Organically, post debate, journalists universally referred to Trump as taking the bait.  Indeed he did, with the resulting cat and dog story that has morphed into a million memes.

But the most important moment may have been the Ukraine discussion because it may have created another group of single issue voters.   Single issue voting is emotional.  For many on both sides, abortion is an emotional issue which subsumes all other considerations.  Gun regulation is another such issue.  Conversely, the economy/inflation is the most important issue, but not one that blocks out all other considerations.

As I covered in a prior blog, "Pole Dancing,"  Ukraine/Nato/Putin, can be an over powering topic.  Danger to the homeland is emotional.  As Kamala explained, weakening NATO, and conceding Ukraine to  Russia, is an imminent threat to Poland.  Polish Americans are a huge, up for grabs, voting block in Michigan, Wisconsin, and, most importantly, Pennsylvania.  

If Kamala can win upwards of 80% of the Polish American vote the blue wall will encapsulate her victory.

Willy Go Round in Circles

For months Republican Senators have refused to provide aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, without concessions on border security. Democrats caved, and gave them what they wanted. Republicans voted it down. The Senate has now approved the aid package without the southern border provisions.

The only saving grace for the Republican circular firing squad is that they cannot shoot straight.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1TmIhddn0c

Lucy Pulled the Football Again

For months Republicans refused to authorize further aid to Ukraine without restrictions placed on immigration at our southern border.  The two issues are completely unrelated but, Ukraine is so important that the administration capitulated.  After months of legislative time, a bipartisan group of Senators crafted strict border controls.  The administration signaled a willingness to sign such a bill over the objections of the progressive wing of the Democratic party.

Aid to Ukraine is one of the best deals in diplomatic history.  Without risking a single American life, Russian aggression is stymied.  A possible confrontation between NATO and Russia, with nuclear implications, is averted.  Equally important, China learns that we stand behind our allies, discouraging the conquest of Taiwan.  

Republicans, at the direction of the former president, refused to declare victory.  Confronted with a bill that met their demands, they said, "Just kidding."  Lucy may be laughing, but the American people have fallen on their backs.

Defense Industry Must Become a Public Utility

 Cluster munitions may be effective for trench warfare with minimal risk to civilians.  But their sale to Ukraine was not made on policy grounds.  The United States was out of munitions.  The defense industry has overcharged and under delivered.

It is time to stick a pin in our ballooning defense budget.  A recent "60 Minutes" exposed the monopolization of weapon systems.  The defense department is at the mercy of industry.  With no competition, profit margins are excessive.

We already have a model for monopolies.  Two power grids would be inefficient.  So too natural gas pipelines and service.  To keep utilities on the up and up, the rate of return on investment is set by a government body.  Utilities face no risk of losing money, but their  profits are controlled.

The public utility system may be imperfect, but it is infinitely superior to our present system.  

Putin's Party

GOPers who wanted us to stay in Afganistan where we were losing, want us to pull aid from Ukraine where we are winning. If you want to stop Putin, vote Blue. Who would have thought that the party of Reagan would become Putin apologists.

Will The Circle be Unbroken?

As factual arrows pierce the President's flimsy defenses, Republicans and Ever-Trumpers circle the wagons.  Although 30 point headlines drop a dime on him, Trump's poll numbers ascend.

Trump may be a national disgrace, but his continued level of support is a deeper stain.  For the first time since World War II, a european nation's territorial integrity has been breached.  Russia has annexed Crimea and is openly fighting in Eastern Ukraine.

The official bipartisan policy is to support Ukraine.  Yet our president was willing to increase Russia's leverage by denying the prestige of a presidential visit with the president of Ukraine, and delaying desperately needed aid.  He contravened national policy in order to get dirt on the Biden's and support for a discredited theory of Ukraine interference in our election.

Tribalism has propped up silly defenses of indefensible conduct.  Republicans contend that anyone in regular contact with the president cannot testify because of executive privilege.  They further hold that anyone who has testified can be ignored because they were not in direct contact with Trump.  Fittingly the circled wagons use a circular defense.

The second GOP argument is that the alleged sins of the fathers should fall on their sons, even with paternity in dispute.  During the 2016 campaign two editorials were written by Ukrainians that slanted in favor of Hillary Clinton's policies.  Based on this Republicans support the debunked theory that the Ukrainian government interfered in our election, and therefore justify pressuring the new reformist regime.

After being educated at Trump University, and being wowed by the generosity of the Trump Foundation, millions are clamoring to buy the Brooklyn Bridge.