It’s time to Break It Down!

(Note: This is a reprised, amended, and expanded presentation of my original blog post) 

HAPPY 17th ANNIVERSARY “BREAK IT DOWN!” Today, in acknowledgement of another anniversary of this publication, as I have done occasionally in the past, I am revisiting my inaugural post).

Before launching into the post, it’s certainly appropriate to contextualize my original blog. To do that, I note that post was about a young lion, Barack Obama, coming into what would become his era.

Tempus fugit (Time Flies)! Yesterday marked a significant milestone in the life and development of “Break It Down!”  I initiated this blog August 20, 2007, on a lark…almost a dare. That was seventeen years (and 886 editions) ago. Having related the story several times over past years, I will not repeat the complete details today.

I will note, however, that on that summer’s eve, I contemplated and discussed, in five paragraphs, the experience, or in reality the lack thereof, of then Senator Barack Obama, as he navigated the early stages of his historic Presidential Campaign.

So, in a nutshell, the message in Post #1 was five brisk paragraphs and a sign-off:

In an apparent calculated act of derring-do, Obama declares the virtue of inexperience. Gotta love it!

Personal footnote of recollection: I recall Jimmy Carter running the classic “anti-Washington” (i.e., lack of Capitol Hill experience) campaign in ’75-76. You know what, it worked.

The problem was, once JC sent all the reigning bureaucrats & policy wonks home, he was left with an assembly of newbies who didn’t understand how to get things done in DC. The result was that a very smart guy, genuine humanitarian, and erstwhile successful leader presided over what was widely perceived at the time, as a disastrous presidency. President Carter’s solitary term was fraught with numerous failures (see the Shah of Iran, double-digit inflation, runaway gas prices, & the outrageous Interest/Mortgage rate morass) and public relations gaffes (remember the killer rabbit, and the failed helicopter gambit).

Fortunately for former President Carter, he was able to live long enough and subsequently do enough good deeds to distance himself from most of an unremarkable tenure as a one-term president, followed by a resounding defeat by that cowboy actor Teflon guy.

Of course, none of that has anything to do with Obama…except in the unlikely event he prevails. If he does, let’s hope he doesn’t take that inexperience thing too far. As W constantly reminds us, getting to the White House is one thing (after all, he’s done it twice), providing prudent and effective leadership once there is quite another. (Of course, in hindsight, we know President Obama not only prevailed, but went on to win re-election, and serve a second term).

Posted on Monday, Aug. 20, 2007

“Obama Plays the Inexperience Card Redux ’23!” 

So, transition/fast forward to present day. Ironically, not only do we find ourselves amid the Democratic National Convention, but last night, former President Obama, and his wife, former First Lady Michelle Obama were featured speakers at the Convention. Both were charged with making the case for Vice President Kamala Harris, in her quest to succeed President Biden in the coming November Election. 

Barack Obama, who many Democrats, and even some Republicans consider a sterling orator, won wide acclaim two decades ago in 2004, when he addressed the Convention in Boston, an aspiring Senatorial candidate at the time. Fresh off an unexpected landslide victory in the March 2004 Illinois U.S. Senate Democratic Primary, he was catapulted into rising star status within Democratic Party Circles, and he went on to leverage his newfound celebrity into a speaking role at the 2004 Democratic National Convention, which he crushed. He would go on to successfully vie for and win in his race to become a U.S. Senator from the State of Illinois, where he served four years, before his successful 2008 Presidential run.

In addition to the Obamas, last night’s cavalcade of luminaries included former Trump White House Press Secretary, and Communications Director Stephanie Grisham, GOP political strategist and commentator, & CNN contributor Ana Navarro-Cardenas, Senate Majority Leader, and New York Senior Senator Chuck Schumer, Vermont Senior Senator Bernie Sanders, Illinois Governor J. B. Pritzker, New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, Maryland U.S. Senate Candidate Angela Alsobrooks, Mesa, Arizona GOP Mayor John Giles, Junior Illinois Senator Tammy Duckworth, and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff. Not bad for night 2 of 4.

A word about Vice President Harris, whom Former President Trump has denigrated by calling her dumb, claimed she couldn’t pass the Bar, referring to her as a communist, Comrade Kamala, crazy, fascist, lunatic, antisemitic, mocked her laugh, consistently butchered her name, said she is not a very good wordsmith, declared himself better looking, and in front of an audience of Black journalists, declared he was surprised to learn that Harris had “turned Black.” Moreover, quite a few of his surrogates have gone a step further and labeled her a DEI hire, in effect, weaponizing the term.

The low blows may be an indication that Trump actually rues Biden having left the race and is having a hard time figuring out the best way to effectively attack Harris on the campaign trail. For the record, she was elected San Francisco District Attorney. Twice. She was also elected California Attorney General. Twice. She then ran for and was elected to the United States Senate from California, the nation’s most populous state. Finally, she ran for Vice President alongside Joe Biden, and won, defeating Donald Trump and Mike Pence. In the simplest of terms, she has more experience as an elected official than Donald Trump and JD Vance combined. Add Tim Walz 10 years in Congress, and two wins as Minnesota Governor, and the Trump-Vance Ticket clearly pales in comparison to Harris-Walz. All things considered, Trump’s ill-tempered behavior, even if it weren’t his norm, is understandable. 

Three quick points about the 3 speeches that closed out the evening: First, Doug Emhoff humanized Kamala Harris. He did his job. Second, Michelle Obama delivered the speech of the evening, and probably what will be seen as the best of the Convention. She could be President. Third, Barack was Barack. Even though his speech was too long, which was the only ding Fox News anchors could come up with in their post speech hot take, he proved that he can navigate the highs, lows, and inflection points of a speech as well as ever. Together, the three of them perfectly teed up the scene for Governor Walz tonight, and for Vice President Harris tomorrow night.

For her part, Vice President Harris has largely stayed above the fray of personal attacks and has concentrated on contrasts with Trump on the issues. She has cast herself as the clear underdog and is both leaning into the great start her campaign has had, while simultaneously urging her supporters to embrace the fight ahead, because, as she likes to say, when we fight, we win. “Obama Played the Inexperience Card: Kamala’s Got Next!”

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It’s time to Break It Down!

The 2024 Summer Olympics, officially the Games of the XXXIII Olympiad, were branded as Paris 2024. The Games ended with the closing ceremony last Sunday, amid wide-ranging entertainment, and the official passing of the Olympic Flame from representatives of Paris to representatives of Los Angeles, host of the 2028 Summer Olympics.

That’s right, the Summer Olympics are “Coming To America.” But that’s a story for another day. This conversation is an ode to Hoops Heads. As an OG fancier of the game, my favorite moments were the combination of Gold Medals that American Men and Women collected on the hardwood Saturday and Sunday, respectively. Both American squads took the best shot from their Home Team counterparts. Team USA Men held off the Frenchmen, who were led by NBA Number 1 Draft Pick, and Rookie of the Year Victor Wembanyama, of France and the San Antonio Spurs. The Frenchmen were within striking distance with less than 3 minutes to play. That’s when the greatest shooter God ever created, Steph Curry, hit 4 consecutive 3’s, varying in degree of difficulty from average (for him) to amazing (for anyone, even him), leading the Americans to a 98-87 victory, and clenching the Gold Medal. The game was played at Bercy Arena in Paris and the win marked the 5^th consecutive Gold Medal win for the American Men.

Arguably, their semi-final game against the Serbians was their toughest game of the tournament. Team USA trailed for all but a handful of minutes in the 40-minute game, including being down by as many as 17 points, and by 11 entering the 4^th Quarter. Serbia featured Nikola Jokić, also known as the best player in the world today, along with a team of fellow countrymen totally committed to upsetting the Americans. For the vast majority of the game, it looked as if they would succeed. Finally, in the 4^th Quarter, Team USA found the necessary defense, bolstered by the offense of its 4 NBA MVP’s (LeBron, Step, KD, and Embiid) to overcome the Serbs, outscoring them 32-15, and winning by a score of 95-91. With the win, KD won his 4^thGold Medal, the most in Olympic Men’s Basketball History. 

On Sunday, in the signature event of the day, and the final contest of the Games, the American Women took on the Women of France, in another matchup against the Home Team. It was the first time in Olympic History that teams from the same two countries played in the Gold Medal Basketball Games. The game was hard-fought. In fact, while it marked a 61-game winning streak for American Women, and culminated in their 8^th consecutive Gold Medal, breaking a record 7-in-a row won by American Men from 1936-68, it was also just the third time in 61 games Team USA was held to a single digit win.

The game literally went down to the wire. Gabby Williams, a former UConn star playing for France, took and hit a shot at the buzzer. Her foot was on the three-point line, making the shot a 2-pointer, and allowing the American Women to exhale, and escape with a 1-point victory, 67-66, and their record 8^th consecutive Gold. It also marked the 6^th Gold Medal for Diana Taurasi, who did not play in the Gold Medal Game. She is now the most decorated Women’s Basketball Player in Olympic History. 

Paris proved to be a great venue for American athletic competitors. Team USA tied China with 40 Gold Medals, and outdistanced their Chinese rivals 44-27 in Silver Medals, and 42-24 in Bronze Medals. Team USA collected 126 total medals to China’s 91. It’s fair to say, Team USA contemplated the XXXIII Olympiad and thought…”Paris: Home Away From Home!”

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Read my blog anytime by clicking the links: http://thesphinxofcharlotte.com or /http://thesphinxofcharlotte.blogspot.com.

A new post is published each Wednesday. For more detailed information on a variety of aspects relating to this post, consult the link below:

It’s time to Break It Down!

Vice President Kamala Harris revealed her pick to join her on the Democratic ticket, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz. The two are taking on Donald Trump and JD Vance in a match-up that will determine the next President and Vice President of the United States. 

It’s fair to say, for those who bet on such things as this, the odds-on favorite was Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro. In that way, similar to their Republican counterparts, the results were somewhat of an upset, as Vance wasn’t the favorite either. That’s largely where the similarities end. 

Unlike Vance, who served a year and a half of his first term as a United States Senator, Walz served 6 terms as a U.S. Congressman in a formerly Republican District in Minnesota (that flipped back to the GOP) when he left. Vance spent four years in the Marines as a military journalist, Walz spent 24 years in the Army as an Enlisted man. Vance attended The Ohio State University and is a graduate of Yale Law School. Walz attended college on the G.I. Bill and earned a bachelor’s degree from Chadron State College in Nebraska, and a master’s degree in educational leadership from Minnesota State University. Vance worked in a multinational law firm, and in an investment firm. He later published a book, Hillbilly Elegy, that propelled him to fame, and propelled him to his political career. Walz worked as a classroom social studies teacher, and football coach. He was encouraged by his students to run for Congress, where he ran and won in a district that hadn’t been held by a Democrat in more than a hundred years.

You already know the principals, Harris and Trump, and you’ve had a couple of weeks to get to know Vance. Yesterday was the national coming out party for Walz. The 2024 Race for the White House is now properly underway. Oh, there is still the matter of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, in a couple of weeks. But Democratic delegates completed voting this week, voting to make Harris the party’s official nominee. As a result, the GOP has launched its campaign to define Harris and Walz. The ramp up will continue for weeks, but for all practical purposes, it’s on. “The Match-up is Set: Tim Walz Completes the Democratic Ticket!”

I’m done; holla back!

Read my blog anytime by clicking the links: http://thesphinxofcharlotte.com or /http://thesphinxofcharlotte.blogspot.com.

A new post is published each Wednesday. For more detailed information on a variety of aspects relating to this post, consult the link below:

It’s time to Break It Down!

I dare say, most Americans who were of voting age in 2020 remember where they were, and what they were doing January 6, 2021. I was chilling in a lounge chair in front of the TV, watching what devolved into an attack on the U.S. Capitol and then further morphed into a would-be coup. If you’ve never seen what an attempt to stop the peaceful transfer of power, in the world’s preeminent democracy looks like, trust and believe, it’s not a pretty sight. From gallows staged for the hanging of the Vice President, to watching men in tactical gear scaling the Capitol walls, and breaking windows, to seeing Confederate Flag-waving domestic terrorists running amok through the venerable halls of Congress, to watching the video replay of members of Congress, literally running for their lives, it was a mixture of a scene fit for a Marvel Movie, with added elements of Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome. I spent a portion of the time debating with Trump supporters on social media, whether it was actually happening. It was happening.

And yet, as apocalyptic as those scenes were, they may not have been the most nefarious machinations that ensued during Election 2020. That honor, I posit, goes to the schemes in several battleground states to install fake electors, intended to replace the legitimate electors with electors who would vote for Donald Trump, instead of Joe Biden, who won in Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, and the Election, with 306 (of 538) Electoral Votes. Three of those states, Michigan, Nevada, and Wisconsin, filed charges against “fake electors.” Additionally, Attorneys General in Arizona and New Mexico are also investigating the role of “fake electors” in their states.

In December, of Presidential Election Years, electors meet in their respective States and vote for and certify the President and Vice President on separate ballots. This is scheduled to take place on December 17, 2024. Certification battles for this year’s elections are already gathering momentum. For example, in Georgia, conservative Julie Adams spread conspiracies about election workers, concocted a baseless story about ballot couriers drinking beer and doing drugs while hoarding ballots, and boasted of her contentious relationship with local election officials.

In February, Ms. Adams was sworn in as a member of the Fulton County Board of Registration and Elections. She immediately sued all the other board members and the elections director, claiming she should not be forced to certify election results “without access to all elements of the election materials.”

This is just an example of the election certification mischief already brewing. You can bet your bottom dollar, there will be more Tomfoolery in 2024. In 2020, the illicit plots, designs, and tactics were put down due to the systems and the people charged with maintaining and operating them having done their jobs and effectively discharged their duties. Alas, GOP legislatures across the country have enacted new laws, and replaced many of the appointed officials who served as the last defensive barrier against the real effort to steal the 2020 Election. Absent those democracy-saving statutes and appointees, a generating a hyper-enthused voting effort will be more important than ever. Even with that, it will be necessary to keep a watchful eye on a party that has shown, if they cannot win at the polls and the electoral college, they are prepared to resort to other measures.

There is a lot of newly activated Democratic enthusiasm and engagement, due to President Biden stepping aside and endorsing Kamala Harris. It’s important to recognize, however, despite this newly found energy, Vice President Harris is still the underdog, and the onslaught of negative ads and campaigning has not yet emerged in earnest. Republicans have spent most of the past week regaining their footing after the change in opponents, and in mopping up on aisle 3, after the ham-handed rollout of their own candidate for Vice President. Rest assured, there will be shenanigans. To that end, keep your head on a swivel, and know, while the principal battle is at the polls, where it’s essential to have a massive get-out-the-vote effort, the behind-the-scenes administrative minutia will also be critical in determining the result.“Spoiler Alert: They Are Going To Try Again.”

I’m done; holla back!

Read my blog anytime by clicking the links: http://thesphinxofcharlotte.com or /http://thesphinxofcharlotte.blogspot.com.

A new post is published each Wednesday. For more detailed information on a variety of aspects relating to this post, consult the links below:

https://www.cnn.com/2024/07/30/politics/certification-fights-battle-ground-states/index.html

https://www.archives.gov/electoral-college/key-dates

Hard Reset: Forward

Sunday afternoon at 1:46 p.m., Joe Biden withdrew from the race to win the presidency in the upcoming November Election. As an incumbent, he did something few sitting American Presidents have done. In ending his run, he opted out of the quest to continue being President. Lyndon Johnson was the last to forego the effort to repeat. That was 56 years ago, in 1968, a year marked by the assassination of Robert F. Kennedy, Sr., and Martin Luther King, Jr. As in 1968, The Democratic National Convention will convene in Chicago. Prognosticators have forecast the prospect of a long, hot summer, complete with the Democrat’s political convention being marred by violence.

It would be editorial malpractice to write about President Biden’s choice to withdraw without mentioning the drumbeat that grew to a crescendo of revolt against the man, who until Sunday had been the presumptive nominee of the Democratic Party. Like Johnson, Theodore Rosevelt, Calvin Coolidge, and Harry Truman also opted out. However, all four had served more than four years. Each had assumed the office upon the death of the incumbent, and then went on to win a term of their own. They all faced their own exigent circumstances, such as wars, or the economy.

President Biden faced the demon of natural causes. And yes, aging is a natural phenomenon. Joe Biden is simply further along in the annual anniversary cycle than any previous presidential candidate…or President, for that matter. Suffice it to say, Father Time is undefeated, and it did a victory dance on Mr. Biden during his recent debate with Mr. Trump. I have surmised, “The Debate,” as it will forever be known, will go down as one of, if not the most pivotal face-off in the history of political debates.

Yes, there were rumblings from various party voices before the debate, suggesting Biden get out of the race. But let’s be real, the debate was the equivalent of the World Series, the World Cup, and Walt Disney World, all rolled up into one. What had been a series of spring showers evolved immediately into a torrential rain, then quickly escalated into violent thunderstorms, then ultimately morphed into a flat-out relentless tsunami. It all culminated Sunday in Biden leaving the race, and subsequently, very quickly endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris. 

If the first couple of days are any indication, the change has energized the Democratic Party, infusing it in ways that were unimaginable a mere week ago. On successive days, tens of thousands of African American women, and African American men, respectively, coalesced on separate Zoom calls to discuss the issues, and the new candidate, and to donate over a million dollars each. Undoubtedly, there will be many other groups taking similar measures. In fact, her campaign reported raising over $100 million in one day, contributed by 1.1 unique donors, including 62% first-time donors. On the political side, in just two days, Vice President Harris garnered the number of delegates necessary to secure the nomination at the Convention next month.

The early response has been quite impressive. About that, there is no debate. However, the reality is, by all appearances, America is evenly divided on the issues that raise our collective political hackles. VP Harris is the shiny new thing. She has understandably attracted a lot of attention. The GOP, for its part, is being forced to pivot, and adapt. But that’s how politics works. They will zero in and use the hundreds of millions they collect in both huge dark money and in small dollar donations, to attack Harris. In so doing, surely, they will come up with something better than DEI hire, for a woman who was elected as the San Francisco District Attorney, elected as California Attorney General, elected as a US Senator from California, and elected as Vice President of the United States. Compared to GOP Vice Presidential candidate JD Vance, a first term Senator from Ohio, she’s a seasoned political savant. But I digress. This election is, and was always going to be a hard fought, hotly contested battle. The GOP will however, not have “old” Joe to kick around anymore. Democrats will have “old” Donny.

There’s a new sheriff…I mean, a new prosecutor, in town. We now have a “Hard Reset: FORWARD!”

I’m done; holla back!

Read my blog anytime by clicking the links: http://thesphinxofcharlotte.com or /http://thesphinxofcharlotte.blogspot.com.

A new post is published each Wednesday. For more detailed information on a variety of aspects relating to this post, consult the link below:

It’s time to Break It Down!

The Republican National Convention owns TV this week. I suppose that might make for an interesting topic du jour. Then again, the week was preceded by what appeared to have been an assassination attempt on Donald Trump’s life. To be sure, that will be a recurring theme during the Convention in Milwaukee.

Undoubtedly, that could be considered a compelling theme by some. In fact, the serendipitous nexus between the two events might be an even more interesting topic, based upon the way many people view the two events. Without question, that is a cynical outlook. Indeed, I usually endeavor to disabuse my friends and associates from co-signing conspiracy theories. In this case, I’m only going to say, occasionally, things don’t add up, and when they don’t, there’s usually a reason. You saw it; draw your own inferences.

Were it not for all the furor surrounding the events above, the angst associated with Joe Biden’s pending nomination and acceptance at next month’s Democratic National Convention in Chicago would be every news outlet’s lead story. As someone who leans Blue, I’m delighted to see the onslaught against Biden’s mental acuity cede the spotlight, even if only temporarily, to the GOP’s policy differences with President Biden. I know the siege will resume next week, but I’ll take the week off.

I readily stipulate, I’m not a fan of the modern GOP (and make no mistake, the contemporary Republican Party is not the same as the party of Lincoln). I have not been watching the cavalcade of conservative Cognoscenti working feverishly to maximize their 3 to 4 minutes of airtime, lauding their Chosen One. I’m good with the CliffsNotes served up by the news & social media outlets, capturing and communicating all the reasons they favor their preferred old guy to the old guy that heads the Democratic Party, even if he hasn’t met the appropriately high standards of many Democrats.

Occasionally, I like to make it clear that I can find plenty of fault with both of our two major political parties. It is, however, important to set out from the start, that good, bad, or indifferent, we have, as a nation, created a two-party system. To wit, at the end of the day, we are faced with a binary choice. As such, despite a variety of third and other minor parties and candidates, in this and other presidential elections, the prevailing candidate will be either a Democrat or a Republican. Individuals certainly have the right to make other choices, but let’s be blunt. Voting for someone other than the Democrat or the Republican means one of several different things: The candidate for whom you vote will not be the winner; that’s a given. You may not like the idea of supporting a candidate you consider the lesser of evils, however, by doing otherwise, you chance propelling the greater of evils to victory. 

There are 111 days until Election Day; fewer, if you vote early. I urge you to register to vote, if you haven’t already done so…and of course, to exercise your duly earned right. Remember, in most states, you will need to present your valid Voter ID to vote. “The Republican National Convention is Up; the Democratic National Convention is on Deck!”

I’m done; holla back!

Read my blog anytime by clicking the links: http://thesphinxofcharlotte.com or /http://thesphinxofcharlotte.blogspot.com.

A new post is published each Wednesday. For more detailed information on a variety of aspects relating to this post, consult the link below:

It’s time to Break It Down!

First of all, the question is moot, because only President Biden can decide. But let’s be real, it is the ponderous quandary bedeviling Democrats from sea to shing sea, not to mention a good many independents. Since the debate, nearly a couple of weeks ago, which I’ve already deemed an epic failure, the Democratic Party has been aflutter about how to proceed. Except for Joe, and Jill (…and Hunter, who let’s face it, shouldn’t be anywhere near this pending decision), most people who consider themselves Democrats in general, or Biden supporters in particular, have at least considered the possibility that Mr. Biden may not be amply suited to lead the battle that lies ahead for the presidency.

The Bidens have pretty much from the first moments after the debacle that was the debate, signaled their intention to stay the course. Since that fateful evening, a plethora of reports have surfaced suggesting that the President’s handlers have misled the public, and of course, the MAGA Camp has led the assertions the mainstream media, aka, MSM, conspired to downplay the extent to which Biden is physically compromised.

Presidential Election Years are major productions. In addition to municipal, county, and state legislature elections, all 435 House Members, and one-third of U.S. Senators are up for election. In other words, the balance of power in our federal government is up for grabs.

With that reality, it is not surprising that Democrats are fully engaged in a discourse that they see as impinging upon their future ability to maintain or regain the levers of power in the Senate and in the House of Representatives, in addition to holding on to the presidency. Already this week, the Congressional Black Caucus, the House Democrats, and the Senate Democrats have met with the President to do their group assessments of how to proceed. Just keep in mind the two points I raised in the first two paragraphs. First, Only President Biden can decide. Second, He has stated, loudly, forcefully, and consistently, he is staying in the race.

The campaign to advance past the debate has been painful to watch, if you’re a Democratic partisan, and a gleeful spectacle if you lean right, or are a straight up MAGA man or woman. The phrase I’ve become most fond of, as it relates to the conversation is, “You cannot unsee that debate.” And, if you watched it, I don’t believe you can.

Admittedly, I am someone who has questioned the rationality and critical thinking of the MAGAs. After all, to be MAGA means you have synthesized and accepted a great deal of information about Trump, and you still support him, including:

• Called Mexican immigrants rapists and murderers (without noting there are exceptions)
• Insisted John McCain was not a hero
• Said he could shoot someone on 5^th Ave and not lose any votes
• Popularized the Birther movement
• Boasted of grabbing women by the vagina (though that’s not the term he used)
• Said of a female journalist, that she had blood coming out of her eyes
• Mocked a disabled journalist
• Had a $25 million settlement adjudged against for students at Trump University
• Said he trusted Putin over U.S. Intelligence agencies
• Attempted to interrupt the peaceful transition of power after the last Presidential Election
• Convicted of sexual assault
• Convicted of 34 felony counts in the State of New York
• Facing more than 50 other felony charges 

That’s quite the Baker’s dirty dozen…and there are too many other items to proffer an exhaustive list. Just know that all those begin with the day of the escalator ride, and doesn’t include such mind benders as reaching a settlement with the Justice Department in a Housing Discrimination case alleging his apartments didn’t rent to Black tenants, or of purchasing full-page ads calling for bringing back the Death Penalty for the Central Park 5. Ironically, not only did the defendants have their convictions overturned due to DNA evidence, but someone else actually admitted committing the crime. Fortunately, Trump’s calls went unheeded. Not surprisingly, he has declined to apologize. 

That’s correlative of the MAGA mentality. Faced with clear and present evidence, and proceeding onward, as though it either doesn’t exist, or it just doesn’t matter. It is in that light that I liken those who refuse to even consider calling upon Biden to step aside, as MAGA-like. If you don’t even think the conversation warrants being had…that’s stone-cold blind!

Let me be clear, I’m not anti-Biden. In fact, when I consider the alternatives, if it comes down to those two, because not voting, or voting for a 3^rd Party candidate are not options for me, Biden will get my vote. He not only doesn’t have the litany of anti-social behaviors that Trump does, but he’s also a decent citizen, trying to make the world, and our country a better place. 

None of that means his staying in the race isn’t a risky strategy. Current polling favors Trump. But ditching Biden, means starting over. Even an abbreviated system for selecting a replacement will be hampered by dysfunction. The machismo and ego stake would never accommodate elevating the Vice President, without some kind of outsized reaction from those opposed to her. Moreover, if she were leapt over, or sidelined, chaos would almost certainly ensue. 

When Team Biden insisted on having an early debate, this was not what they anticipated. But it’s what they got. Now, we are all left to pick up the pieces, and keep it moving. “Point – Counter Point: Should He Stay or Should He Go?”

I’m done; holla back!

Read my blog anytime by clicking the links: http://thesphinxofcharlotte.com or /http://thesphinxofcharlotte.blogspot.com.

A new post is published each Wednesday. For more detailed information on a variety of aspects relating to this post, consult the link below:

It’s time to Break It Down!

There’s not much left to say. President Biden had one job. Get through the debate without imploding. Test failed. His opponent was putrid, in his own right. Fact checkers, a term Republicans have come to hate, ostensibly, because they refuse to be constrained by facts, determined that in the 90-minute contest, Mr. Trump told more than 30 lies, or at a rate greater than one every 3 minutes.

It didn’t matter. It didn’t matter because Mr. Biden was unable to effectively prosecute the case of his serial falsifying co-debater. In stark terms, that’s political malpractice.

If the abysmal debate were not enough to put Democrats on their heels, The Supreme Court (SCOTUS), in its final read out of case findings issued a determination that Presidents (in a ruling narrowly crafted to protect Donald Trump) have immunity for some conduct as president, and that Trump is covered by this immunity for part of his conduct in his federal election interference case, but possibly not for other actions.

The tough decisions for Biden and the Party don’t end there. In fact, while conquering his Irish stubbornness represents a major challenge, determining who would ascend to the position of presumptive nominee is certain to be at least as difficult to tie down. Based on Monday’s SCOTUS decision, one thing he shouldn’t have to worry about, If Democrats lose the presidency, is being prosecuted by a new Trump administration; something Trump intimated he had every right to do.

The justices voted 6-3, along ideological lines, to reject Trump’s broad claim of total immunity, but did not dismiss the case, because they held, some actions closely related to his core duties as president, and as such, are off limits to prosecutors. Chief Justice Roberts, who wrote the opinion for the majority, said the case would be sent back to lower courts to determine what conduct Trump can be prosecuted for. Last week in this space, I wrote about SCOTUS running out the clock. It’s clearer than ever, the clock is ticking.

While Team Biden would ideally be focused on what the SCOTUS ruling means, both to the country, and to their re-election efforts, they have much more pressing concerns. In the near term, they must decide whether Mr. Biden will endeavor to ride out the storm of controversy generated by his lackluster debate performance, or to accede to the calls of an increasing number of Democratic partisans and donors, and from most Americans to step aside. So far, less than a handful of Democratic members of Congress have directly called for Biden to relinquish his hold on the nomination. This doesn’t mean the conversation has been avoided, or even muted. However, party mavens have largely insisted, the decision is Biden’s to make.

In a perfect world, Vice President Harris would likely be slotted as next in line. That is literally one of the implicit roles of the Veep. Of course, no one ever seriously suggested that politics makes for the stuff of perfect worlds. In fact, the notion of Kamala Harris as President is a polarizing subject. On September 27, 2023, I wrote what may have been my shortest blog post ever. It was so short I’ll place it here in its entirety:

“Political Jeopardy: Kamala Harris for $1000 Alex

What is the real reason so many people are concerned about Joe Biden’s age? Fear of a second Black/First Female President; yeah, I said it! “Political Jeopardy: Kamala Harris for $1,000, Alex!””

Suffice it to say, Trump and the GOP are reveling at their own streak of good fortune, and the Dem’s concurrent turmoil. Who could blame them.

For now, President Biden is battling to maintain his placement at the top of the proverbial political food chain. He has made several low-key appearances, has spoken with donors and advisors, and he has a TV interview scheduled for airing Sunday. Will it be enough? 

Time will tell…but not too much time. “The Debate was an Epic Fail; Now What?”

I’m done; holla back!

Read my blog anytime by clicking the links: http://thesphinxofcharlotte.com or /http://thesphinxofcharlotte.blogspot.com.

A new post is published each Wednesday. For more detailed information on a variety of aspects relating to this post, consult the link below:

It’s time to Break It Down!

Last year at this time I wrote a post regarding the Supreme Court of the United States, familiarly known as SCOTUS. Given the political calendar, and the current stakes, it seems like an apt time to revisit the topic. The Justices will likely complete their current term in the next few days. There are several cases still pending, but none more highly anticipated than Trump v. United States. This matter will see the Court deciding whether, and if so to what extent, a former president enjoys presidential immunity from criminal prosecution for conduct alleged to involve official acts during his tenure in office.

SCOTUS accepted this case February 28, 2024. It was subsequently argued April 25, 2024. A decision on the case and the subsequent citation are pending. As June moves toward a close, marking the typical end of the session, there have already been intimations that completing the disposition of this year’s cases may bleed into July. Still, with the year’s first Presidential debate between President Biden and former President Trump, presumptive nominees of their respective parties, set for tomorrow night on CNN, there is more than a little expectation that the read out for the case may occur today, or tomorrow.

That is not to suggest that SCOTUS will be influenced by the exigencies of the political calendar. Rather, it is a recognition that “We the people,” would like to know the answers to the pertinent questions surrounding Mr. Trump’s immunity, including, Is he immune, and if so, to what degree, and under what circumstances.

Regardless of whether the Court announces it’s ruling this week, it is fair to say, intentional or not, it has already gifted Trump with at least one of the desires of his heart; for all practical purposes, delaying the disposition of the case prior to the November 5^th Election. In an election that is viewed as tight, and one that Donald Trump could conceivably win, the so-called experts have projected that a President Trump would direct his Attorney General to squash the case, as well as any other federal cases against him. In Florida, Judge Cannon, by virtue of the way she has handled the classified documents case, has already ensured that that case cannot happen before the Election. Trump still has pending appeals in the New York falsifying documents case. Then, there is the specter of both an appeal, and the possible removal of DA Fani Willis from the Georgia Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act case, both which must take place before the case proceeds to trial.

In conclusion, the judicial stars have aligned to, in all practical purposes, derail any further pre-Election trials for Donal Trump. That’s huge, regardless of whether he wins. However, if he happens to win, He has the option to make the three federal cases disappear, while if another prosecutor is selected in Georgia, there are questions about whether the case would even be pursued. It absolutely may not. “SCOTUS on Trump: Anatomy of Running Out the Clock!”

I’m done; holla back!

Read my blog anytime by clicking the links: http://thesphinxofcharlotte.com or /http://thesphinxofcharlotte.blogspot.com.

A new post is published each Wednesday. For more detailed information on a variety of aspects relating to this post, consult the link below:

It’s time to Break It Down!

Celebrate Juneteenth!

Donald Trump’s former top strategist, Steve Bannon recently framed the 2024 Election in warlike terms. Trump, Stephen Miller, and Bannon have a penchant for infusing almost any topic with the embers of incendiary speech. The kind of language conservatives consider threatening when directed toward them, but free speech, when they employ it toward others. 

This past weekend, Bannon met with the conservative group, Turning Point, in Detroit. Michigan is a battleground state and one that is expected to be pivotal in determining the outcome of this year’s presidential election. 

Bannon served briefly in Trump’s White House. He was fired in August 2017, part of a major reorganization under then-chief of staff John Kelly, who was brought in to control a chaotic atmosphere. In the years since, Bannon has continued to advocate for Trump; meanwhile, Kelly, a retired general, has sounded the alarm about Trump’s possible reelection.

The stakes of this election must be extremely high from Bannon’s perspective. Already pardoned by Trump for his role in a scheme to allegedly defraud donors of contributions intended to help build a border wall, Bannon was subsequently convicted by a jury in 2022 of the rarely prosecuted crime of contempt of Congress. Bannon refused to cooperate with subpoenas from the committee that investigated the January 6, 2021, insurrection when Democrats controlled Congress. After delays, Bannon must begin serving a four-month prison sentence starting next month.

“Are you prepared to fight? Are you prepared to give it all?” he asked of young activists, telling them they would have to follow in the footsteps of “the team around President Trump” – who he views as Roger Stone, Rudy Giuliani, John Eastman and Alex Jones, people whose fidelity to conspiracy theories has gotten them into legal and financial trouble, but who in Bannon’s mind are political freedom fighters.

“If they steal this election – and they fully intend to steal it – this republic ends,” Bannon said, before going on a riff about how top Department of Justice officials in President Joe Biden’s administration, like Attorney General Merrick Garland, should be prosecuted; the FBI should be completely deconstructed; and anyone convicted in connection to the storming of the Capitol building would be set free.

Comparing the presidential campaign to the D-Day invasion, Bannon encouraged a cheering crowd at the Turning Point Action convention in Detroit to see themselves as filling the positions of fallen soldiers in an assault.

“Are we at war?” he asked the crowd. “Is this a political war to the knife?”

“War to the knife” – Bannon recently used it in an interview with ex-Fox News host Tucker Carlson. A Google search yielded a 1998 book by that name about the Bleeding Kansas skirmishes in the years before the Civil War when pro- and anti-slavery settlers flooded into Kansas and feuded over whether Kansas should enter the union as a free or slave state.

The book, according to its description, attributes the term to the Atchison Squatter Sovereign, which the Library of Congress describes as a pro-slavery newspaper of the era. It’s not clear where Bannon got the term.

“Are you prepared to leave it all on the battlefield in 2024?” he asked of Turning Point activists. “It’s very simple: victory or death!”

He added, “We are going to purge DOJ. We are going to take apart the FBI. The FBI, the American Gestapo … there’s not going to be an FBI.”

While Trump has only said he would be justified in going after political opponents, Bannon is committed to targeting anyone he views as having opposed Trump.

“We are going to get every single receipt, and to the fullest extension of the law, you are going to be investigated, prosecuted and incarcerated,” he said.

Bannon is not alone. The conservative think tank The Heritage Foundation, for instance, has written up its Project 2025 road map to remaking the civil service by firing large numbers of career servants and replacing them with more political voices. For a good, in-depth look at what Project 2025 would and would not do, listen this recent “In the Room” podcast from Peter Bergen, CNN’s national security analyst. Bergen talks to one of the authors of the State Department portion of Project 2025. ““War to the Knife”: Victory or Death!”

I’m done; holla back!

Read my blog anytime by clicking the links: http://thesphinxofcharlotte.com or /http://thesphinxofcharlotte.blogspot.com.

A new post is published each Wednesday. For more detailed information on a variety of aspects relating to this post, consult the link below:

https://www.cnn.com/2024/06/18/politics/bannon-trump-election-what-matters/index.html