A space for observation, discovery, and growth
The Former Vice President Holds a Lead, but its Tenuous. Is He “The One?”
Joe Biden has been a major presence in this campaign, from the beginning – even before he declared his candidacy. Once he did declare, he went immediately to the top of the polls. He still leads in most polls. Slam dunk, right? Not so fast, there.
Yea, Joe
Biden is seen by a lot of Americans as the most electable candidate, the most likely to beat Trump. A lot of people are comfortable with him as a person.
Yes, They Are
Some interesting currents are afoot as we approach a presidential election year. The Democrats have choices to make on two defining issues. Guns and health care are at once rewarding and dangerous for Democrats
Whether one agrees with her positions on these two issues, Elizabeth Warren has done an admirable job of defining the question. Will her party go bold or go home?
There are plenty of nuances at work, of course. But in general, there are two Democratic approaches. Some lean toward modest positions. They do so,
Join the discussion at: Guns and Health Care: Touchstones or Third Rails?
The Number of Participants is Way Down – Now What?
As of Tuesday morning, August 27, 10 candidates have qualified for the September debate(s). There is one more day to qualify. If no one else qualifies, it looks like all 10 will go on for one night. If one or more are added, there will be a drawing to divide them up into two nights, with 6-7 on each night, Some thoughts about all that:
Join the discussion at: Thoughts on the Next Round of Debates
A Proposal to Make a Most Important Day and the Rest of the Election Cycle Work
Before starting this conversation, let’s be clear about something. The national parties do NOT organize primaries (date, open or closed, primary or caucus). States do their own thing, yielding various kinds of chaos and skewed outcomes. The national parties can cajole. They can threaten sanctions at the convention. But they have remarkably little control. More on that later.
A Killer Calendar
Super Tuesday in the 2020 election cycle comes on March 3 this time around.
Republicans in Michigan, Wisconsin, and Elsewhere Have Shown What They Think of Voters
Most of us have heard that in Michigan and Wisconsin lame duck sessions are doing evil work. They are building poison pills for the November elections. Let’s be clear about what is going on, what’s the history, and who should stand against such piracy. The answer to that last question may not be what you think.
What is Going On?
The voters in these and other states came out in record numbers and made their choices clear.
“What Goes Around, Comes Around” has a certain ring to it
“Politics is not beanbag” is a well-known truism. It can be a tough business. Political parties will go to great lengths to win. The histories of both major parties are full of abuse of power and unfair or illegal acts to gain advantage. Gerrymandering was not invented yesterday.
Yet, today’s Republican party has crossed too many lines for most Americans. Process and protocols are pretty simple, yet their importance is significant. When “anything goes” is the norm,
Join the discussion at: A Simple Thing is the Undoing of the Republicans
Electoral reform is now essential. Here are the options.
