Author: Ronald

Is Bernie Sanders An Unstoppable Juggernaut? Not So Fast!

Ronald 14 Comments

Senator Bernie Sanders’ impressive win in Nevada is a warning sign to many mainstream Democrats that he is unstoppable.

Not so fast, as one cannot judge the battle for the Democratic Presidential nomination based on three small states.

Super Tuesday will be the decisive moment, if any candidate can win the vast number of delegates from the 14 states having primaries on that date, including California, Texas, Minnesota, Colorado, Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Massachusetts.

After Nevada, however, the candidates that still have a chance to stop Bernie are likely Pete Buttigieg and Joe Biden, with the bet being that Pete is more likely.

The debate on CBS this coming Tuesday, followed by the South Carolina Primary on Saturday, will be the stepping stone for Tuesday, March 3!

News Of Russians Promoting Bernie Sanders A Delicate Issue That Requires A Lot Of Thought

Ronald 14 Comments

The news of the Russian government promoting Bernie Sanders as the alternative to Donald Trump is a delicate issue that requires a lot of thought.

This blogger and author is NOT claiming that Sanders is collaborating with Vladimir Putin, far from that, and any statement that Sanders is a Communist is totally preposterous! It demonstrates total ignorance of Sanders’ record, and of what Communism really is!

But it seems to make clear that Russia wants the person considered easiest to defeat to oppose Donald Trump.

And many intelligent progressives feel that Sanders is precisely that person!

So this is just further reason to prefer Elizabeth Warren or Pete Buttigieg as the best alternative for the Democratic Presidential nomination, unless Joe Biden has a total revival, which seems highly unlikely!

Further Reflection On Elizabeth Warren: Improved Prospects For Nomination

Ronald Leave a comment

The performance of Elizabeth Warren in the Las Vegas Democratic Presidential debate has sunk in, along with interviews she has had on CNN and MSNBC since her devastating criticism of former NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

It now looks as if Warren might very well be Donald Trump’s worst nightmare, despite his calling her Pocahontas, as she has the support of many people who see her genuine nature and law school professor expertise as appealing. She has a very appealing personality and character, and grows on you as you watch her statements in interviews, and respect her intelligence and energy.

Warren would be a great debater against Donald Trump, who is not good at debates, as he is far better in appealing to partisan audiences who worship him.

This blogger and author now think that while he supports Pete Buttigieg for the nomination, that an alternative of Warren for President and Pete for Vice President would be a good team against Donald Trump and Mike Pence.

Imagine Warren against Trump and Buttigieg against Pence, scenarios which would definitely favor the Democrats!

On the other hand, Bernie Sanders would carry the burden of being a “Socialist”, which this author knows is no threat, but would be seen as so by many Americans.

This, along with Sanders’ age, his recent heart attack (which he has recovered from so well), and his grouchiness, make him not the ideal choice for the Presidency. The reality is that what he wants to do would never make it through the next Congress, unless it was an FDR or LBJ Congress, meaning 60 percent or more Democratic, which will not happen!

The Las Vegas MSNBC Democratic Presidential Debate: Combative, Confrontational, And Fascinating, All At The Same Time!

Ronald 3 Comments

Yesterday’s Las Vegas MSNBC Democratic Presidential debate can be described as combative, confrontational, and fascinating, all at the same time!

The six way debate, adding former NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg to the mix, clearly made Elizabeth Warren look much better, as she challenged Bloomberg, and made him look weak and befuddled.

It seems clear that Bloomberg has lost his image of invincibility gained by spending nearly $400 million in advertising.

Bernie Sanders also did well, and clearly is the front runner, but the question remains if he can overcome the “Socialist” label, which is misunderstood by millions of Americans, who think it is the same as Communism, which it most certainly is not.

The fear is that Sanders will lose the election due to the “Socialist” label, and that greatly concerns this author and blogger.

Joe Biden showed improvement in the debate, but the question remains if he is capable of the challenge ahead, as he seems to many to be a bit slower in response and debate skills, from what he was in 2008 and 2012, when he debated Sarah Palin and Paul Ryan.

Pete Buttigieg put in another good performance, and helped to promote an image of Amy Klobuchar as temperamental in her reaction to his challenges to her about failing to know who was the President of Mexico.

Overall, the loser of the night was Bloomberg, and the major winner was Warren.

We shall see what effect this debate has on the upcoming Nevada Caucuses and South Carolina Primary.

Tonight’s MSNBC Democratic Las Vegas Debate Will Be Fascinating To Watch

Ronald 23 Comments

Tonight’s MSNBC Democratic Las Vegas debate will be fascinating to watch as former NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg will be tested for the first time in what is expected to be a spirited, confrontational event.

Bloomberg will be criticized for spending $400 million to “buy” the election, and it is expected he will come out sparring with all of his other five rivals, but particularly Bernie Sanders, Joe Biden, and Pete Buttigieg.

Bloomberg’s controversial policies and statements on race, gender, and sexuality, in and out of office will be the hotbed of the debate, and it will easily be the most interesting debate held so far.

There are many skeptics of Bloomberg’s record and statements, and it will be interesting to see how well he does in defending himself.

While he is not on the ballot in Nevada or South Carolina, Bloomberg will certainly have an effect on the fortunes of his rivals, as how they do in the two weeks before Super Tuesday will have an impact on March 3 and beyond.

Strong Possibility That Democrats Will Have A Tumultuous National Convention, Reminding Us Of 1968

Ronald 9 Comments

There is a growing feeling that the Democratic Party will be divided all the way to the national convention in the second week of July in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Neither the progressive nor moderate wings seem likely to be able to gather enough delegates to lock up the nomination before July, as things now stand.

The Nevada Caucuses, South Carolina Primary, the 14 states on Super Tuesday, and 10 other states in the two weeks following Super Tuesday, might decide, but no certainty at this time.

The longer the struggle goes on, the more likely, horrible to say, that Donald Trump COULD win reelection, and destroy the Constitution and rule of law, making it impossible to recoup the damage that has been done during these three years of his Presidency.

The last time the Democrats were totally divided was 1968, and it led to the victory of Richard Nixon over a good, competent, decent man, Hubert Humphrey, who would have been far better than Nixon was.

The question remains: who is best equipped to win the Midwest, the area that had Hillary Clinton won, Donald Trump would not be President today, creating a constitutional crisis never ending!

Eleven Presidents With Compassion And Empathy, And Eleven Presidents Who Had Neither

Ronald Leave a comment

Since today is Presidents Day, this author and blogger is posting two entries after the one yesterday, to commemorate the holiday.

So here is the second entry today, and the third and last entry to celebrate Presidents Day!

The most important traits that any President should have, but many do not, is compassion and empathy.

There are Presidents who have compassion and empathy as very clear parts of their personalities, and there are those who have absolutely no such compassion or empathy, making them uncaring and harsh in personality.

A list of eleven Presidents WITH compassion and empathy would include the following in chronological order:

John Quincy Adams

Abraham Lincoln

James A. Garfield

Theodore Roosevelt

Franklin D. Roosevelt

Harry Truman

John F. Kennedy

Lyndon B. Johnson

Jimmy Carter

Bill Clinton

Barack Obama

Those eleven Presidents who most lacked compassion and empathy chronologically would include:

John Adams

Thomas Jefferson

Andrew Jackson

John Tyler

Andrew Johnson

Woodrow Wilson

Herbert Hoover

Richard Nixon

Ronald Reagan

George W. Bush

Donald Trump

Debate and discussion on this and the earlier two entries is welcome!

The Twelve Smartest and Twelve Dumbest Presidents In American History

Ronald Leave a comment

America has been fortunate in having a large number of smart, intelligent Presidents in its history.

This author would judge the twelve smartest Presidents, chronologically, to be as follows:

John Adams

Thomas Jefferson

John Quincy Adams

Abraham Lincoln

James A. Garfield

Theodore Roosevelt

Woodrow Wilson

John F. Kennedy

Richard Nixon

Jimmy Carter

Bill Clinton

Barack Obama

Who would be the smartest of all? Probably a tie between Jefferson and John Quincy Adams!

And who are the 12 dumbest Presidents in chronological order?

Andrew Jackson

William Henry Harrison

Zachary Taylor

Franklin Pierce

James Buchanan

Andrew Johnson

Ulysses S. Grant

Benjamin Harrison

Warren G. Harding

Calvin Coolidge

George W. Bush

Donald Trump

And who is the dumbest President in American history? Probably a three way tie among Harding, George W. Bush, and Trump!

Ten Most Narcissistic Presidents In American History, Other Than Donald Trump

Ronald 1 Comment

Everyone knows that Donald Trump is, by far, the most narcissistic President in American history.

There is no other President who “loves himself” to the extent that Trump does.

But narcissism is not uncommon among political leaders, and major personalities past and present in the arts, business, and sports.

Other than Trump, what other Presidents stand out for their narcissism?

This author’s judgment is that Lyndon B. Johnson has lost the title of most narcissistic President to Trump, but there is no doubt of his high level of that trait.

Following LBJ, the order would seem to this author to be as follows:

Theodore Roosevelt

Andrew Jackson

Franklin D. Roosevelt

John F. Kennedy

Richard Nixon

Bill Clinton

Woodrow Wilson

Andrew Johnson

Ronald Reagan

I welcome debate and discussion on this blog entry!

The Urgent Need To Switch The US Senate To Democratic Control In 2020 And Beyond

Ronald Leave a comment

The Presidential race is heating up, but one must never forget that the battle for control of the US Senate by the Democrats is urgent.

The Senate has become the place that proposed legislation dies much too often, as now when 395 House passed bills are lying dormant, as Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell refuses to call them up for consideration and a vote.

If any progress is to be made in the next four years on urgent domestic issues, the Senate MUST go over to Democratic control in 2020.

And certainly, the future of the Supreme Court and lower courts is doomed if the Republicans keep control of the Senate and the White House.

At the most basic level, Ruth Bader Ginsburg is reaching 87 this year, and Stephen Breyer is reaching 82, and they cannot go on forever in service.

If they are replaced by right wing Justices, the Constitution and rule of law is in as much danger as a second term of Donald Trump in the Oval Office.

So emphasis on Senate control going to the Democrats is a top priority, and over the next months, this blog will examine the Senate races which will determine the future of American government after 2020!