Why the Dems Lost

 

    We are two months into the Trump Administration and the Democrats are still wondering why they lost the election. There was a recent poll by Axios that listed a whole slew of reasons why the Democratic Party lost. The list included too woke, Trump’s appeal, Podcasts and social media, Elitist policies, the border, Biden’s fault, inflation, Elitist words, testosterone, Harris’ fault. While all these answers are correct, the poll was missing one important concept or piece of information. The reason the Democratic Party lost is messaging. The list from Axios’ poll is correct but all those reasons combined are the symptoms of their messaging problem. To steal a quote from James Carville, “It’s the economy stupid,” I would change the economy to, “It’s messaging stupid!” The Democrats are lost. If you stand for nothing, you are capable of anything.

    We know exactly what the Democrats are against- anything that Trump supports. We know they hate Donald Trump and now Elon Musk because he is working with the new administration. We know that Democrats are against Title Nine, Netanyahu and Israel defending herself, we know that they are against limiting federal government. But what is the clear and concise message of what Democrats today stand for? 

    When I was growing up in the late seventies and early eighties the Democrats were known for being the party that supported the common everyday American. I come from a split family as far as politics is concerned.My dad’s family an extensive line of Democrats while my mother’s family more Republican. When I was growing up, I used to ask my father, a lifelong Democrat about politics and why he felt it was important to be a Democrat. To quote my dad he said, “The Democrats care about the underdog. They care about people and want to make life better for the average American like me.” Sounds reasonable and I would have to agree that is what the Democratic party used to be. 

    Democrats lost because they spent their time covering up a mentally declining President, lying to the American people that the President of the United States was cognitively fine. We the American people saw the decline of Joe Biden well before the Presidential debate against Trump where his decline could no longer be kept a secret as we watched him stumble over his words and seemed to be on a distant planet other than earth. The media can be held accountable by favoring the left and keeping their secret quiet as well by not reporting on Biden’s decline.

   When it was obvious they could no longer hide his decline, their other mistake was to “promote” Kamala Harris as the new candidate for President without doing a blitz primary all the while screaming, they were concerned for democracy. Seems if they were really concerned about democracy, they would have let the Democrats vote for a candidate to run for President and replace Biden. But they decided for the people it would be Harris. 

    Harris’-Walz message wasn’t clear either. “Joy” being a common theme and “democracy” was the other. But really what was their policy? What was their mission statement or their “why”? At one point Harris did say she wanted “no tax on tips” a Trump promise on his platform. 

    Using Hollywood backfired. Screaming our nation would end with Donald Trump as they let our borders flood with illegal criminals did not help. Identity politics and threatening that women’s rights would end didn't win. Supporting trans in women’s sports,tampons in boys’ bathrooms, Electric Vehicles for all Americans (when we don’t have enough charging stations to support this), Electric School busses, and focusing on “pro-nouns” was not substantive enough to support a person running for the highest office in the land. 

    The American people clearly understood what the Democrats were against and that was anything and everything Trump. What we didn’t clearly understand was what were and are the Democrats for? What do the Democrats want to do to help the American people? Their platform was a hodgepodge of social issues that effect less than one percent of the population. The Democrats have become out of touch with the issues that are important to American people. They failed to produce a message or mission on how they were going to do better. In the end common sense beat “Joy” and “Trump being an end to our democracy.” Without clear and concise messaging from the Democratic Party they will continue to struggle, and we could see a political scenario dominated by Republicans for years to come.

21 Days to Go...

    A few weeks and we will be voting and hopefully know who our new POTUS is. Has anyone really changed their mind on whom they're voting for? I highly doubt it. Here is what I predict. If Kamala Harris loses it will be a combination of different factors like she did not have to go through a blitz primary to become the democrat's candidate, she hid behind the curtain doing easy interviews on Colbert, the View, a podcast called Call Her Daddy (about sex), and Stern. Some will blame misogyny on her loss, some will say racism, some will say not choosing Josh Shapiro as her running mate, or foreign policy. But I think the main reasons are her messaging and her inability to connect with real people. She is just not likeable.

     Let's start with her campaign messaging. She wants us to vote for her for a clear path forward. Okay but the problem there is she is part of the current administration and has been for three and a half years. The Biden/Harris administration has "told" the American people how great things are currently, so why do we need a message that says we need to move forward? Can't we stay in the lane if things are so dandy? Why do we need change and hope if things are going well? Oh, and there is that little thing called the border. The messaging is contradictory. 

     Part two and maybe the biggest hurdle to overcome is likeability and relatability. It reminds me of Hilary Clinton back in 2016 when she was claiming that she carried hot sauce in her purse to appeal to Southern African Americans. She even added a Southern accent while whipping out the hot sauce on one interview. It was ridiculous and insulting. Instead of connecting with a body of people she turned them off and seemed disingenuous. Some will argue that Trump is not likeable and while that is true for some, half the country thinks he is funny. He is consistent with his messaging. With Trump what you see is what you get and admittedly cringeworthy sometimes. But if you catch him on a roll and really listen, he connects with everyday Americans because he is shooting from the hip. I get it if you hate that about him, but it has worked because he is not trying to be someone he is not.  He is not going on ridiculous shows to talk about nothing.  He knows his lane. He is not a politician in the traditional sense. 

     Back to Kamala. She has not given any interviews of substance. She is trying to appeal to anyone and everyone by going on these soft interviews and while it can be fun, she is running for President. The first woman and first African American. It is a big deal, and it is time for our country to most definitely have a woman. The problem is she seems insincere when whipping into Southern accents or worse Jamaican accents when she has spent a great deal of her life in California. She drinks a beer with Colbert, but she probably drinks wine or champagne, definitely doesn't seem like a Miller High Life kind of girl. Her laugh seems phony. She talks in circles when asked tough questions and our msm gives her a pass. Some of these things should not matter but somehow, they do. Be yourself and let the American public get to know you and your policies. We get nervous laughs and word salads instead.

     But back to policies. Kamala hasn't clearly defined how she is going to do all the things listed now on her website, which by the way took months to get up. She hasn't had a hard-hitting interview and when they tried on 60 Minutes it was so bad that they edited it to try to make her look better. Another big problem for many Americans when Trump has been scrutinized every day for years, has gone to interviews on hostile networks and been subject to the democrats rules during the last debates. He has done what he is supposed to do. But she should too. She owes it to the American people if she wants to be the Commander-in-Chief.

     The only thing we know for sure is that we don't know, and won't know until November 6th, and even then, there is a chance that totals won't be all the way in. Pennsylvania waits until the day of the election to count mail in votes, so I predict a delay in that state, although I hope I am wrong on that account. Vote early and in person if you can and say a prayer for our country because we could see a shift that will fundamentally change our country forever. 

I am Weird

 

   Kamala Harris has now coined the Republican party "weird" especially those supporting Donald Trump along with the support of the mainstream media. What happened to the Dems mantra. "We go high when they go low?" According to Webster's Dictionary the word weird is of strange or extraordinary character, or can mean of, relating to, or characterized by witchcraft or the supernatural: magical. According to Dictionary.com it is an adjective that means strange, odd, or bizarre. I also want to define the word "they" according to Merriam-Webster dictionary-the word is a pronoun that means: those ones, those people, animals, or things. "They" can also mean a way to define people in general or to a group of people who are not specified. 

    Number one: I am weird or bizarre because I know that in order to refer to myself, I am she, a woman, I have a vagina and can have children or at least try to have children.  I actually have proof of my body, have two sons to prove I am in fact a woman and the scars to show it. I know what I am and don't need to refer to myself as "they." I am weird. 

    Number two: I am weird because I believe politically that I would like secure borders currently in the United States because there are literally thousands of illegals coming into our country. Many of these illegals are criminals and have killed a Houston 12-year-old named Jocelyn Nungaray as well as the Georgia nursing student Laken Riley just to name a couple. I believe that immigrants should be able to come to the United States, but legally and with a pathway to citizenship. Isn't that weird?

    Number three: I am weird because I support Israel and Benjamin Netanyahu and they're right to fight for their freedom and to defend their country. I mourn the lives of those lost due to war but unfortunately that is the cost of war as we have seen in our own American history.  I am weird because I do not support Hamas, Hezbollah, or the Houthis that are radical extreme groups that want to eliminate Israel with the hopes of then eliminating America.

    Number four: I am weird because I support Title Nine and women's athletics. As an amateur triathlete, I realize the time and training it takes to perform in sports. I am weird because I do not support trans-athletes in the Olympics or any other sanctioned sport. I am weird because I think that transgenders should have their own sports. I am weird because as a swimmer I do not want to change in a locker room with a man transitioning. I am so weird!  

    Number five: I am weird because I think people should show an ID when they vote to verify who they are. I am weird because I think paper ballots in person should be how we as Americans vote with the exception of those in our military that are allowed absentee ballots. I am really weird. 

    Number six: I am weird because I think schools should teach reading, writing, math, science, and history. Sex Education should be age appropriate and left to the parents to decide if they would like their children to participate. 

    Number seven: I am weird because I think that gender reassignment or any kind of hormone therapy to change sex that you need to be an adult or at least eighteen years of age. 

    Number eight: I am weird because the American flag means something to me. The flag represents the hard work and bloodshed that our founding fathers and soldiers sacrificed for our freedoms. I am weird because the flag flies at my home not only on certain holidays but always. 

    Number nine: I am weird because I question how the msm does not show all sides of arguments politically and how some news outlets only support left leaning news. 

    Number ten: I am weird because I support families- in all shapes and sizes as well as blended families.

    I could list ten more reasons that I am "weird." If all those reasons are offensive, I am weird, but really, I am just a girl/woman with an opinion that things in this country are upside down. What I believe is live and let live. I do not want anyone telling me how to live, how to be, or what I am. And I promise not to tell anyone how they should live or what they should be. But don't cancel me and persecute me because I may see things or have a different viewpoint than yours.  I believe in the Constitution of the United States and the blood, sweat and tears of servicemen and women that have fought and continue to fight for my ability to speak freely and live freely. 

    I am weird!

 

Did Anyone Really Win the Debate?

 

     The Presidential debate proved one thing. That one thing is that the American people did not gain any more knowledge in so far as policy or issues. Did the debate change any minds? The tricky part of the population are the undecided voters. Did the undecideds or Independents change their minds from watching the debate or did they say to themselves yes, I am voting for that person... that is unknown, but my hunch is that they are saying to themselves that Biden is in such decline that I cannot vote for him.

     Are the Democrats asking themselves if Biden is still really their guy? I think they are worried but still I think the votes and the partisanship is so baked in that they are making excuses and still in denial over Biden and his ability to lead. Democrats may be secretly questioning Biden, but will they admit it? And will Democrats change their vote from D to R in November? They should be in panic mode but the D's in my orbit say they will vote Democrat. Jill Biden spoke after the debate saying that Joe did a great job and, "answered every question." The Bidens stopped at a local Atlanta Waffle House where Joe said he thought the debate, " went well." Kamala Harris also commented afterwards saying he had a, "strong finish." Really? Denial is a river in Egypt.

     My belief is that the Biden administration called for this debate to see what and how Biden would do. A litmus test. They prepped him, dressed him up and propped him at the podium hoping for a magical fountain of youth to be bestowed on their leader. Their plan failed. You can't fool mother nature. It wasn't fun to see and in his defense his stutter comes out with nerves, I wouldn't wish it upon anyone. It was sad to see the most powerful man in the land struggle over issues and polices and confuse and combine things that made no sense. 

     But if the Democrats don't fix this, he will surely lose in November. The mainstream media is actually admitting something is wrong and they have flipped their script. But is this part of the Democrats plan? As quickly as they have boosted Biden, they are quick to take him down. One of CNN's political headlines today, "CNN-Flash Poll: Majority of debate watchers say Trump outperformed Biden."

     So, what will the Biden's administration next move be? Media outlets like CNN are reporting today that he has committed to the next debate in September. Yikes, are they hoping for a different result? The debate was orchestrated by the Biden administration and all their rules not traditional debating guidelines. How would another debate done by real debating rules serve Biden better? The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over expecting different results.

    Sadly, the biggest losers last night were neither Biden nor Trump, but the American people. We the people are currently the biggest losers due to lack of leadership. We need to show the world that we are still the superpower. The world is looking to us. This alone should bring the country together. We can do better, and we must do better. The best outcome would be for Biden to resign. Give Harris another position other than VP and move forward. 

    Ironically, perhaps the best thing that the debate brought was unity. We can all agree that Biden is in decline and there is nothing that can help him. We are at risk as a nation. If Biden really cares about, "Democracy," then he should resign for the sake of our republic. 

     The only thing for certain is that we don't know what the outcome of the election will be. We do know that it has been a crazy ride, and it will most likely continue to the bitter end. Stay tuned...

Let's Agree to Disagree

    Last week we heard in the news about the commencement speech by the kicker for the Kansas City Chiefs named Harrison Butker. He gave the address at Benedictine College a Catholic school so let's at least acknowledge the context. He has been criticized by many groups including not getting support from the NFL which stated that, “Butker’s  views are not the views of the NFL as an Organization.”

    The speech was appropriate as far as a Catholic organization would support. As a Catholic, I myself am aware of the values and the importance of family to the church and those that are members of the faith. Personally, speaking I agree with Butker as far as what is most important to me in my life. Family in general and my own family have been first and foremost what I have focused on in my life. That being said I think those feeling outraged over what he said should stop and think for a second, put the speech in context and realize that was his right to speak about the topic that he saw fit.  

    Do I think it was appropriate for a commencement speech? I do in that context, but I can certainly understand the controversy it may have caused. Maybe instead of focusing on family life it may have been more appropriate to prioritize the speech to the hard work and dedication it took for all the students to get to graduation. I think that is where he fell short. Prioritizing that the women there will only be happy if and when they bear children is a tall order for any woman especially a young woman just beginning their life. While he did mention that the women would be dreaming and thinking about their jobs and promotions the controversy arises when he said that the only true happy path would be to marry and have a family. While that may be true for some it is not true for all. 

    So where do we go from here? Take it with a grain of salt. Realize it was a Catholic school and move along. I think especially in lieu of many colleges cancelling their commencements due to the radical ideas and speech brought by those speaking against Jewish people, Americans and the American flag we can stomach or at least appreciate a man who loves his wife and family life and is promoting something that is good. Is it good for everyone? No, but I think it beats the pure hatred that has been brought by radical groups protesting on college campuses what is happening to our allies in Israel. It beats blocking a Jewish student from attending a class. It beats saying death to America, death to Jewish people. 

    The fact that the NFL has literal rapists on some of their teams is apparently part of their value system, but being a father and supporting a family is extremely offensive to the NFL. That is very interesting. But the NFL can say whatever they want and support whatever they want. This is still America and we as a people of the United States need to get over the fact that just because we don't agree with someone doesn't give anyone the right to cancel another person-unless there is inciteful violence in the speech which there was not in this case. We still have freedom of speech the last time I looked, although it is being tested every day in this country.

    My younger self as an eighteen-year-old may have found that speech to be offensive, but now I can appreciate the value that my family has given me and that I have dedicated to them. It was a long road for me to get there and it certainly did not happen at my college graduation or even years after. But that is me and that was my choice. Maybe if Butker had spun his speech about different paths and choices that the grads would take in the course of their lives the speech would have been more received. But he did not. So what? We hear things all the time that we agree with or disagree with and that is absolutely fine. We need to get over ourselves and realize that each person has their own views and own experiences, and it doesn't dictate who each of us are as individuals.   

    So instead of being outraged over a college commencement speech that you may not agree with move along and remember that we live in a country that we can speak our own truths. When we can't do that, we are not in our country any longer.  

See attached link to hear Butker’s address

https://youtu.be/-JS7RIKSaCc?si=XSdkH2BReKufhkKB

Could a Strategy be to Vote Third Party?

                            

        The election of 2024 is seven months away.  Do you know who you are voting for?  When I listen to the news and talk radio the general consensus is that about 70% of Americans are dissatisfied with the choices we have in Trump and Biden. The third-party choices of RFK Jr., Jill Stein, and Cornel West are alternative choices but are they better than the two party "favorites?"

     I have a few Independents in my circle. Being an Independent is an easy thing to say you affiliate with because it requires little to no commitment. And let's face it these days no one really wants to have a political conversation with someone that they don't agree with. Gone are the days of sitting around your living room and talking politics with those that are not on the same page. The division Trump has brought has been like nothing I have seen in the thirty plus years I have been following politics. I've seen family and friends both disassociate with myself and others over political affiliation the last few presidential cycles.

      What is your strategy going to be this election? Hold your nose and vote for the lesser of two evils or go for an alternative third party? Maybe if you are one of the people in this country that are Independent it is time to put your money where your mouth is and vote Independent? Maybe you are a Democrat but just can't see how Joe Biden is going to physically survive another presidency, or maybe you're a Republican that is tired of the chaos, you're thinking of voting Independent? According to a national NBC News poll (1,000 registered voters nationwide were polled) finds 26% of registered voters say they could vote for a different candidate than the one they are currently supporting. Basically, one in four voters could change their minds on the presidential race. It is not that voters are sold completely on RFK Jr. or Jill Stein, it is that they are capturing the dissatisfaction that voters have toward the two current options. 

     I don't believe that a third-party candidate will be able to win because of the electoral college piece needed. But by voting third party it could send a message to the people in Washington that the American people are fed up. Maybe a third-party vote would not be such a bad strategy this presidential election.  I don't look at this as a spoiler vote but possibly a chance to change things for the better and send a message to the mainstream candidates about what is important to the American people. Maybe it is time?...

 

You Don't Have to like the President to be Patriotic

     The New York Times recently had an opinion piece titled please Stop Telling Me America is great. The piece speaks to everything that is wrong with America in their view. After reading and watching the video I started wondering if we would be having the same discussion if Hilary Clinton had won the election of 2016? We hear extreme views from the talking heads on the major news networks. We hear extreme discourse towards the country and the president from CNN, MSNBC, NBC and we hear extreme positivity from Fox news. But I believe we are hearing rhetoric from the loudest talking heads and not the pure unadulterated facts from the media. Our 24 news cycle has appealed to our emotions, but not necessarily truth on all accounts.  The Walter Cronkite style of news has turned to opinionated talk shows and radio. The reality of news today is the factual truth lies somewhere in the middle.

     The fourth of July has come and gone and there were many articles and opinions floating around the net and on talk radio regarding patriotism and how Americans are feeling on the subject. Are we still the best country in the world? I believe we are.The people who have a negative feeling towards our country are not really unpatriotic, but dissatisfied with the current president. I think those that are currently not feeling the love for our country are confusing patriotism with disappointment on the election, two very different things. You do not have to like the president to be patriotic. The definition of patriotism according to Dictionary.com is devoted love, support, and defense of one’s country. Nationalism is taking the love of your country a step further and is a state where you feel your country is better or superior to other countries.

     I remember when Bill Clinton was in office and I thought the Monica Lewinsky scandal was the end of the world. How in the world could the president of the United States of America behave in such a way? How could an American president be impeached and not leave the office? Still with my dislike of Bill Clinton I still felt patriotic. I did not agree with his antics and I did not agree with his polices yet I still flew my American Flag on the fourth of July and other federal holidays and I still stood at sporting events to sing our national anthem. I thought we were the best place in the world to live. I’ve liked certain presidents more than others and there have been some that I did not care for at all. Yet, in my heart I’ve always felt the United States is my country and where I want to be. I’ve never felt unpatriotic or ashamed to say I’m an American regardless of what a president says or does.

    Where else can we have discussions about our leaders without serious repercussion? As a woman I can go to school, apply for a job and be employed, walk down the street freely, write a blog, drive a car, and travel from state to state and virtually anywhere as long as my passport is up to date. These freedoms sound like entitlements yet in other places around the world if I were caught without a covering over my head and face I could get in serious trouble. If I lived in China I could not use social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, or YouTube. We as Americans take a lot of our freedoms for granted. These are just a few of many examples regarding real freedom.

     I can still feel patriotic even if I don’t like the president. I can feel proud because my grandfather was a Navy Pilot in WWII and lost his life fighting for freedom. I feel a sense of patriotism as my brother and husband served in the Marine Corps. I feel patriotic because of our U.S. Constitution and because we have a system of checks and balances. I feel proud because we as Americans can have discussions and even arguments about politics and our likes and dislikes of politicians. We have these arguments on social media, in public, on radio waves or television without being arrested.

     I am a Health and Wellness Teacher at a local elementary school and say the Pledge of Allegiance each morning with my students. I never once have thought not to do this because of something the current president said or did. I think about how far we have come as a country and how lucky I am to be living freely each day. I don’t associate what Trump has done or said when saying the pledge with my kids. I can understand the other side of the coin here that some Americans will say that the president represents our country and some may say the current president is a bad representation therefore I do not feel love or patriotism towards my country. I would say the good news is that we have elections every four years so if you are feeling disdain or dislike of our current leader you can vote in the next election; another benefit of being an American and another reason I am patriotic.

     Megan Rapinoe and the Women’s USA Soccer team has been all over the news for their World Cup win and for Rapinoe’s statement that win or lose the team won’t go to the White House if invited by the president. Rapinoe wears the USA jersey while playing soccer. She is a leader on the team with such an amazing responsibility. Her attitude is not helping her case. She had an opportunity to go to the White House and speak to Trump who she dislikes. She could have gone and used her platform to speak to the president about her concerns. But instead of talking to the president she spoke at him using foul language and not even giving the opportunity a chance to arise. The behavior that she despises and claims that Trump uses is the very behavior she used to gain media attention. There is nothing solved here. A complaint is heard but there was no resolution. But again Rapinoe is confusing patriotism with her disdain towards the president. Rapinoe should be screaming patriotism, after all she represents our country and she gets to play soccer doing it.Her position on the team is a privilege not a right. She wears the jersey with the American flag on it. She should be proud and use her platform positively.

    I challenge anyone reading to put aside their feelings towards the leaders and politicians in this country that they do not like. Go out and exercise your right to vote. I have learned over thirty five years of voting that sometimes you get your person, sometimes you don’t. Have no fear it will change with another voting cycle, but never feel like you can’t have love of country just because you don’t have love of your current leader.