Sunday Morning Coffee 23 February 2020

The headlines late last night declared Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) crushed the Democratic Field in Nevada. Welcome to Sunday Morning Coffee. Some politics with a dash of religion and now coming at you for over 12 years. You may agree or disagree with my opinions. That's OK they are simply my opinions. As always I'd love to hear your thoughts. So, enough already...let's get started!

Nevada

Let me play this one out for you. Sen. Sanders wins with 47% of the vote. Joe Biden is second with 18% and the rest of the pack lag a bit. Then Mayor Pete uses his post Nevada Caucus address to skewer Sanders. Ladies and Gentlemen if you would please gather around because it is now time to form the Circular Firing Squad.

It's what we do.

I was having this conversation just yesterday with a lobbyist. Here is what was said, "You know, the Democrats really do have some great ideas for moving Iowa forward but it seems that, too often, egos or turf gets in the way and people that should be on the same page start throwing grenades at each other. You don't see that among the Republicans. For example, if the Farm Bureau says XYZ is good for agriculture or the economy the GOP falls into line." It's not the same with us. We like to say we have a "Big Tent" but if that tent does not survive the storm...

I know democrats who, right now no matter how bad "45" has been for this nation, say they will not vote for the eventual nominee because it is not THEIR nominee. Be very careful at what you wish for.

Russia

Well now it looks like the Russians really, really want "45" to win a second term and, according to U.S. intelligence, the effort is on. The question is "Why?" and the answer is that, other than Putin being the man love of this president, Russia wins when we are fighting each other. The news is also out that Russia really likes Sanders. Why? Because of the same reason discontent among the electorate. So if a foreign government wants Candidate X or Candidate Y to win...interesting eh?

Socialism

One final thought. Americans elected a socialist president to four terms in office. We were in the midst of the Great Depression and voters turned to Franklin D. Roosevelt a wealthy guy from New York who led this country out of economic chaos and out of a world war. In doing so President Roosevelt passed sweeping socialist changes to the fabric of this nation. In the end those rights and privileges that went to the working families created the most admired country on the planet. So successful that when WWII ended rather than punish our enemies we actually went to work with the Marshall Plan to build back their economies. 

Well before Iowa the knives were out equating socialism with communism. It's what a dumbed-down electorate does. They are not the same thing and never have been. Yet watch, you will hear more about how evil socialism is...mostly because we have a very short memory of what good it did for so many.

Joe Biden

With all of that said one might think that I've switched horses and climbed on the Bernie Bandwagon. I have not. I still like Joe for many, many reasons most of them have to do with leadership, compassion and a record of actually doing what many are suggesting. When I made this decision I did so with the input of several people I admire. Being a candidate you don't want everybody else angry with your decision and I could have stayed out. However the best advice I received was from a former governor of Iowa who said, "Michael, Iowans are good people and they would rather have a senator who tells them the truth rather than tell them what they want to hear." I'll go with it.

Funnel Week in Iowa

It's always a flurry of activity. Years ago I took vacation time to head to the Iowa State Senate to hang out with my mentor Sen. Joe Coleman (D-Claire). That was in the day when members of both parties ate together, played cards together and...yes...had a few drinks together. Security was not like today and because I was attached to the "Dean of the Senate" I pretty much had the freedom to go wherever. Great times with some really interesting folks.

Funnel Week today, with both houses controlled by the GOP, becomes a playground against working families and for corporations and those with a narrow view of what is right and fair.  

True the "Religious Freedom" bill didn't advance but it doesn't mean it is dead. The Republican Party has an issue with folks from the LGBTQ Community and they will bring it back. .

Something that did survive also touched on that icky thing about sex. The Sexual Abuse Statue of Limitations (SSB 3032) survived. Surprising in the fact that it is the GOP who have been busy spending your tax money paying impressive legal fees and penalties for abuse under the Golden Dome. You might have thought they wished to bury that one.

Of course the GOP continues their assault on the rights of women. From abortion facilities licensing to an amendment to the Constitution that reverses a 2018 Iowa Supreme Court ruling that found women have a constitutional right to an abortion to "Fetal Death Certificates" to warnings about medical abortion (suggesting it can be reversed when there is no medical evidence that is possible). 

And of course guns. SF 2224 says people with nonprofessional permits to carry can bring concealed pistols or revolvers into a school district driveway or parking lot.  Remember you can also carry into the Statehouse. But...if you have a pocket knife it will be taken away. Oy....

There are lots and lots of things here and one of the more egregious is the failure of the Iowa State Legislature to help protect residents who live in mobile home parks. Iowa has been awash with reports of out-of-state owners hiking rental rates and kicking people out of their homes. Yet, in true GOP style, the legislature wishes to shield corporations from "over-reaching legislation" rather than protecting Iowans who may not be among the rich and powerful.

And, never mind what they have in store for public education. November 2020 can not come soon enough.

Partly Personal

Sorry for the long rant. Lots of stuff going on.  

If one reads or sees the news one would believe that the only things that comes out of the African American Community are drug deals, homicides, welfare issues and abject poverty. The positive stories rarely make the news and that's too bad. Last night there was a celebration of positive news and education as the Zeta Kappa Lambda Educational Foundation presented scholarships to several amazing young people who are determined do good. 

Scholarships were given to students from Ankeny Centennial High School, Hoover High School, Lincoln High School, Roosevelt High School and Valley High School. And the speeches by the students were amazing. Active in their school, community and organizations that lift up the good
in all people is truly something to celebrate. My thanks to my friend Sam Reed who is on the Black & Gold committee and to the people of the Foundation that make dreams come true.  The image is just some of the winners of valuable scholarships last night.

OK...oh one last thing. Georgie worked the Bike World Warehouse Sale yesterday (and today) so she was not going to be able to attend the Black & Gold Ball with me. So I had to find another date.

I think it worked out all right. As I was saying to friends last night, "But remember she is only eleven and in sixth grade." Yikes!

Finally, if you have a mind to help. Here is my campaign website. Support and donations are always very, very welcome!

Thanks for reading and have a wonderful Sunday!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

Comments

[Cecil Cook]

Glad to see Sanders doing well in Nevada. Here’s why he wasn’t my number one pick for the Iowa caucus:

• He’s 78 years old and has a heart condition. As an old guy myself, I know the limitations that come with age. Haven’t these guys ever heard of mentoring?
• He’s kind of rigid. This may be a function of age, but more than likely it’s just Bernie. For the chief executive job, you need someone who can wheel and deal. Not sure he can do this.
• He’s labeled himself as a democratic socialist. He sees politics as class warfare. This is going to be a tough sell in a general election. Not all rich people are so stupid that they want to destroy the middle class. You gotta leave a door open for them so they can come in and support you at the last minute, pretending that they were your friends all along. That’s politics.
• He’s Jewish. Jews get blamed for everything. With Sanders as president, we can expect to see more synagogue bombings and shootings. Sad to say, but that’s the country we’re living in right now.

Why was Sanders was second choice?

• INTEGRITY. With Bernie more than any of the other candidates, what you see is what you get. You may not agree with the guy, but you know where he stands. Integrity is going to be a big deal in this election.
• He’s right most of the time. That’s pretty good for someone running for president.
• However he labels himself, whatever it is he wants to do, he’s got to get a buy-in from Congress. This is going to be tough going for a guy who doesn’t enjoy the full support of his own party, let alone the opposition party. In the end we might come away from a Sanders presidency with recognition that climate change is for real; some improvement in health care for everybody; and rich people paying their fair share of taxes. All in all, that’s not a bad deal.

Path forward. Sooner rather than later, Bernie needs to pick a younger VP running mate. This would go a long way toward reassuring voters of possible outcomes if Bernie doesn’t make it through to the end of his term. My pick would be Klobuchar. Yeah, I know, she’s kind of annoying, but she’s a tough campaigner, and if she can be restrained from throwing things at her staff, her presence on the ticket might reassure centrist Democrats and cross over Republicans that Bernie would be a better choice for president than a guy who attacks a 16 year-old girl because she made the cover of Time Magazine and he didn’t. Bernie might even take the time to read his intelligence reports instead of firing the person who delivers them. And most likely with Bernie, we’d have permanent department leaders fully vetted by the senate instead of a staff of temporary people appointed on a whim.

[Michael P Libbie]

Thanks for your insight...and comments and thank you for reading! - Michael