Atticus
Atticus's JournalThe Democratic Party should be making plans NOW for how they will respond to
and HAMMER a Trump refusal to debate prior to the general election. They should be laying down markers now for what formats, venues and hosts will be appropriate.
"Empty chair" debate?
Will networks provide air time even if Trump does not show up?
These are questions best addressed before answers are demanded by the press and the electorate.
As the primaries heat up and trolls including Russians, Trump operatives and
other assorted nasties are competing for our attention on line, over the airwaves and in print, it seems like an appropriate time to repeat the story of the "Procrastinating Sparrow".
It was late September and all the sparrows were happily gorging themselves on autumn's bounty of seeds in the golden afternoon sunshine. There was much chatter about when they should head south, with the older birds counseling that they'd best be on their way. Their wisdom convinced all but one youngster who ridiculed their concern.
"It's a beautiful day and there is plenty to eat everywhere we look. Why should we fly anywhere else?"
"Winter will soon be here" explained one of the elders, "with ice and snow and cold you cannot imagine".
"Ok, so I'll fly south when it starts getting cold." responded the upstart. "Until then, I'll enjoy myself" and he laughed as all the others left him in the sunny meadow and headed south.
For two days he had his pick of the choicest seeds and berries and, as he enjoyed the feast, he often paused to marvel at the foolishness of his former companions.
But then, in late afternoon of what had been a glorious fall day, the wind suddenly shifted and heavy gray clouds approached from the north. As cold air rushed through the meadow the first raindrops began to splat on the tall grasses and "WINTER!" flashed across his small brain.
He took to the air immediately and sprinted southward as fast as he could. But, no matter how fast he flew, the cold and clouds were faster. The rain became mixed with sleet and then turned to snow. The water on his tiny wings began to freeze and he quickly found himself being pulled toward the snowy ground by their weight. As luck would have it, the icy sparrow skidded to a stop in a snow covered barnyard and, heart pounding, assessed his situation.
He could not move his wings, he was exhausted and would soon be covered with snow. He could see no other outcome but death. And, then, as if things were not bad enough, a cow ambled across the yard, stood over him and totally covered him in a fresh "meadow muffin".
At first, the sparrow panicked inside the mound of manure but then, he realized something: he was WARM! The ice was melting off his wings and he could move again! Overjoyed,he poked his head out of the poo pile and loudly chirped a song of celebration. His song was heard by the barnyard cat, who promptly dug him out and devoured him.
USEFUL LESSONS FOR POLITICIANS AND THEIR SUPPORTERS: 1.) Everyone who shits on you is not your enemy; 2.) Everyone who pulls you out of the shit is not your friend; and, 3.) If you are safe, warm and happy where you're at, keep your damn mouth shut!
Does Joe Biden have to wait until the convention before the delegates pledged to
Amy, Pete, etc are officially "his"?
It's a sure bet that Trump will soon be infected with the coronavirus. You just can't have
that many skeevy Republicans kissing your ass without picking up whatever is goin' round.
As basic as it gets: I wish the US had a president. Of course, I would much prefer a Democrat, but
I would prefer any responsible adult who I thought cared about the American people to the arrogant ignoramus now fouling the White House. Some who are about to die from the Covid-19 virus would survive IF we had a president.
Take care of yourselves and each other.
Do I understand correctly that, even when a doctor or hospital does test someone
for Covid-19, the specimen materials (sputum, etc.) have to be shipped to the CDC before THEY determine the result?
If this is so, does it not mean that what we find out about the number of positive test results and their location will be within the total control of the Trump regime?
"Nothing to see here---move along!"
At this point, it is apparent that the Democratic nominee will be either Sanders or Biden.
Short of some totally unforeseen event---like, God forbid, a health event or a plane crash---none of the other candidates have a realistic chance to win. Even if we wind up with a brokered convention, it is unlikely that the delegates would select a third or fourth place finisher over one or the other of the top two.
It is also apparent that, if all the current candidates remain in the race, Sanders will be our nominee, quite possibly as the result of arriving at our convention with a plurality of delegates. Even if one adds the Warren and Sanders votes together (though I don't consider the two equivalents), the "liberal" votes have never equaled those cast for the "moderates". Sanders would, thus, be a nominee selected by a minority of Democrats.
If, however, the "no real chance" candidates were to withdraw or suspend their campaigns, this would permit the consolidation of the majority behind Biden and an outright primary victory.
Why would candidates who have worked so hard for the nomination step aside? Why would their genuinely enthusiastic supporters transfer their enthusiastic support to Biden? Biden, selected by a majority of Democrats, will DEFEAT TRUMP and will have "coattails" long enough to elect a Democratic House and Senate.
Sanders, if nominated, would get my vote, but would lose---the presidency, the Senate and possibly the House.
I haven't posted for several days and I have only looked in a few times. I don't know when
or even if that will change. This post may get canned because I'm sure some won't think it appropriate.
I genuinely do not like to say unkind things and I hesitate to add to the negativity here, but I also don't like ignoring reality. Add to these my lifetime aversion to abiding fools and my absence from DU this past week is easily understood.
We are no longer a community of mostly like-minded people striving to rise above the well-funded bullshit and devise ways to make our country---and the world---a better place. We seem to have devolved into a strident circular firing squad of trolls, cultists and fanboys. Some of the posts are disingenuous, some are willfully ignorant and some out and out lies worthy of the White House. And, as I read some of the incredibly negative right-wing propaganda that is sometimes not just posted but enthusiastically defended when confronted with the facts, I have to ask why I am doing this to myself; why am I sitting here again reading while my stomach turns and my blood pressure spikes?
Most who bother to read this will understand that my rant is not directed at them. Most, I believe, have at least occasionally shared my dismay about the current "ambience" here. But, some---including some who I'd never heard of until recently---sow division and enmity while paying lip-service to party unity; some knowingly (IMHO) repeat rightwing memes; and, others amuse themselves by sidelining serious policy discussions by picking at nits real and invented.
So, I will continue to kibbitz now and then and post occasionally, but I need some time to heal. In the past several days, I have reread "The Prophet" and "On Bullshit" and am into Book II of Plato's "Republic": literary therapy.
Vote Blue, No Matter Who!
I don't interpret Stone's 40 month sentence as "the judge caved" or "bowed to pressure".
I believe that Judge Amy Berman Jackson expects Stone to be pardoned but, by specifically stating that he "lied to protect the President" and by sentencing him to just half of the only specific number of months the DOJ requested, she has made a pardon more politically painful for Trump. And, in the event Trump does not pardon Stone right away, she has made a record that will make it more difficult for an appellate court to find an abuse of discretion.
Like most here, I believe Stone should not be let out of prison till he is moss-covered, but this judge has to deal with the real world and genuine legal concerns. I think her patience and restraint were admirable and her sentencing decision---and her comments--- were in the finest tradition of an independent judiciary.
Profile Information
Member since: 2002Number of posts: 15,124
