Trump Must Be Taken Seriously

“He’s catching on with the average Americans who have had it with foreign wars, our trade policies and a stalled economy.”

-- Drew Ivers, Ron Paul’s 2012 Iowa campaign chairman.

Major newspapers this morning have pointed to the weakness of the "Jeb" Bush campaign as an example of a certain new fluidity in the Republican Presidential race.  That Bush is in trouble as the pundits see it is not arguable.

As I read the situation, we have a fairly unusual situation in America today.  With a weak economy and a foreign policy driven by the American empire, it is not surprising that outsiders and radicals are gaining traction.  This does not surprise me.  It does frighten me.

No one should take Donald Trump lightly.  Although one recent poll purports to show Ben Carson gaining, Trump still leads in New Hampshire and is tied in Iowa with Carson.   Of course, to say that Trump is a serious candidate for the Republican nomination is not the same as saying he is a serious threat to the Democratic nominee next year.  Or is it?

We have to understand what we have here.  The electorate is fed up, to put it in the vernacular.  Someone who has a simplistic message, and who can "market" himself skillfully is bound to have a certain amount of success.  What is frightening is the fascist bent of a Trump or almost all of the Republicans.

I do not use the word "fascist" lightly.  And my statement begs an explanation.  I plan to continue to explain myself as I have over the past several years.  But one definition of fascism is when big business and the government become one.  There is a terrific danger this is what would happen if Donald Trump were to become President.  It is also true of virtually any Republican candidate.  Even "Jeb" Bush literally trade-marked his name.

If Trump were a flash in the pan he would already have folded by now considering his many outrageous remarks (such as saying John McCain is not a true patriot because he got captured in war).  But with a shallow-minded media all too eager to consume the flashiness of a Trump and mirror it back to the public, it is understandable why Trump is still around.

It is understandable, and also extremely concerning.  The media needs to immediately re-think their approach to this man, and the others in a Republican Party which is increasingly a far-right party.  This party has managed to find a position to the right of Barry Goldwater, an amazing feat.  And with the glitz of a Donald Trump, anything is possible -- if he is left unopposed.  The American media needs to "get real," and do everything possible to re-frame the picture, so the country does not end up with a Strangelovian figure in the White House.



Trump Organizes Aggressively in Iowa

The House's Musical Chairs

The House has a new Speaker according to news reports this morning.

The question now is What does it matter?  Will this mean more productive harmony in the Republican caucus?  Will radical and anarchistic members now suddenly toe the line of sweet peace?

The country has been put through an ordeal and needs assurance that the Speaker's game of musical chairs will produce better music, not more of the same discordant cacophony of the past.

We, the people, will be watching, and listening.

Putin Being Looked to for Help By Syrians

It is no longer a secret that Russia has become a key player in the fight against terrorists, including ISIL, within Syria.    And as Russia has stepped into the breach, as it were, the U.S. and its allies have begun a policy pivot, backing the U.S. down from a potential immediate conflict with Russia.  While this result is good news, the U.S. government apparently remains in a state of confusion at lower levels as experts debate just what is to be done to maintain U.S. influence in Syria.

I am not exactly happy to see Vladimir Putin assume this role as U.S. power wanes.  However, I must confess I am grateful someone seems to be providing a more effective shield against terrorism in Syria.  Syria is an important country with a serious history and deserves better than it has been getting for several years.  If President Putin can be effective, and he and his forces are proving that, I say "hurray."  I only wish my own country were equally as effective at this time.


Russia Takes Lead in Fighting Terrorists in Syria

Liberals Win Big in Canada

Note:  Your Musical Patriot has been busy this week finalizing an article for submission to a national music journal.  I appreciate readers' forbearance.  

Canada's new Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau

Canada has taken a turn to the left this week as the Liberal Party managed a convincing win in Parliamentary elections.  The win represents a stunning victory as the Party had been in third place in Parliament before the vote.  More details can be found on web sites such as Reuters'.  For a good analysis of what the election means, the article by Paul Krugman linked to below is very good.

Liberal Party leader Trudeau, son of the former Prime Minister, Pierre Trudeau, had campaigned hard on issues such as economics and climate change.

Overall, I am thrilled with this victory which serves as something of a counter-balance to the Conservatives' victory in Britain earlier this year.

As with so many liberals these days, the one area I cannot agree on is the legalizing of marijuana. Scientific experts do not recommend such legalization, though de-criminalization is another matter.

Otherwise, this victory of the Left-center in Canada is most welcome indeed.


Canada's Liberal Party Garners Convincing Win

The Unbearable Cost

Today I have begun reading Unbearable Cost, by James K. Galbraith, on the cost of war in modern times.  This is a book for any time, although it would have had a particularly salvific effect when read during the Bush II Administration.  As it is now, the book recreates a time some eight years ago when the End of the Age appeared for many of us to be nigh.

We know better now, of course, for the earth still turns.  And yet it is apparent early in the book there is value for today as enduring principles are obviously behind the writing of the book.

I particularly like the analogy between the Bush Administration and a corporate structure. Comparing the Supreme Court to a Board of Directors is a master stroke.  And comparing the Supreme Court of autumn 2000 to a corrupt board is quite accurate.

Several times over the course of the history of this blog I have alluded to the importance of understanding recent history.  The history of the Bush II Administration will do as well as any.  For it was here that America took a new turn in terms of the way the democracy functioned -- or didn't.  In spite of the election of Barack Obama, the democracy -- never completely solid -- was slammed by forces in a way it has never recovered from.

Take the Iraq and Afghani wars, for example.  These were wars begun under specious pretenses, long and costly in duration, even down to the present day.  This is a cost the measure of which can hardly be taken.

But so it is with a corporate view of government.  To some the government runs best when it is conducted in such a way as to control people rather than serve them.  Yet, as Galbraith points out, even a controlling administration must at a certain point bend to popular will.  And herein lies our hope for the future.  Let us make the most of this hope.

The Governing Crisis in Washington

If Congress seems virtually unable to function, at least we have books being written about the problem.  The one linked to below seems to offer something scholarly.   I have not had the opportunity to look over this book.  After I do I will be here with a bit of a review.

In the meantime, perhaps we can take heart from the final chapter which proclaims things will get better "but we are not sure how."


Why Government Isn't Working Now

Speechless in Cyberland

The day after the first Democratic debate I find it hard to express completely my concern over the way we are selecting our next President.  The debate as presented by the Turner creation, CNN, was something like a reality TV show.   The opening was like a Movie of the Week opening, but with a scary movie this week.  Anderson Cooper was second-rate at best, combative, not terribly well-informed, and unfair in his meting out of time.

By far the best ingredient here were the candidates.  All five seemed reasonably competent.  However, the format of the show brought out less than the best all too often.  I understand emotions are on edge in America now.  The Democrats feel what people are feeling and want to do something.  But the free-wheeling nature of this program, complete with audience cheering like something out of "Let's Make a Deal," was cause for serious concern.   

Hillary Clinton does well in defending herself, but says nothing about reinstating Glass-Steagull as O'Malley just spoke about.

Martin O'Malley recommends reinstating Glass-Steagall.  Finally!  And fantastic.

Sen. Sanders is doing a good job answering the question about what he would do differently from Pres. Obama on the economy, as he sees it.

Here is a prediction:  the pundits tomorrow will say that the debate has done nothing to ruin Hillary Clinton's chances in this race.  They may phrase it differently, but that is one of the results of this debate as it has proceeded to now.

However, let us not exclude the voices of anyone else.  And history shows campaigns cannot be predicted with total accuracy.  

Back to Sen. Webb.  He is doing nothing but helping himself.  This is a very serious individual.  

Sen. Webb calls for the President to come to Congress in a situation like Libya.  He is the first candidate to mention this.

Unfortunately, Sen. Sanders takes the tack that Putin is going to regret what he is doing in Syria.  That may or may not be the case, but is Mr. Sanders showing his age here with comments which are straight out of the Cold War? 

Here is Sen. Webb coming forward with credibility on the problems with Syria and the Middle East.  Every single one of these candidates is highly informed, caring, and thoughtful as well as appropriately passionate.  Can the same thing be said of the Republicans?