Politics | e-commentary

K “The Great American Race (‘GAR’) begins in earnest this month. America consigns two years to select its Great Kahuna whereas Australia only devotes a more reasonable two months.”

J “And the race is rigged at every turn and twist on the track. Some candidates such as Bernie in 2016 find that the ‘D’ division of the ‘War and Wall Street Party’ itself operates a rigged preliminary heat. Many citizens are forced to drive a long distance to get to the betting window and/or are required to stand in a long line. Some citizens do not even get to bet on a horse at all. The Great Voting Gauntlet (‘GVG’) dissuades and discourages many citizens.”

K “The Great American Race (‘GAR’) is also the Great American Crime (‘GAC’).”

J “Do the GAR and the GAC add up to the GAG (‘Great American Game’)?”

. . .

J “The Supreme Court agreed last Friday to take up some of the unresolved questions regarding partisan gerrymandering. The two cases consider rulings involving maps in North Carolina and Maryland drawn by Republicans and Democrats, respectively, so extreme that the lower courts say they violated the rights of voters.”

K “Perhaps we are off and running.”

J “Or on and stopping.”

. . .

K “The way I see it, the courts are the people’s second to the last resort before the people resort to the streets. If the Court abdicates its duty to address the matter with ballots, the people will at some time address the matter with bullets. The Executive branch is effete and enervated yet admittedly still too powerful. The Legislative branch is a product and a by-product of the problem. The answers are not easy or elegant. Failure to address the problem and provide a partial answer is a complete failure and capitulation. The suite or the street, that is the question.”

J The way I see it, the courts are the people’s second to the last resort before the people resort to the streets. If the Court abdicates its duty to address the matter with ballots, the people will at some time address the matter with bullets. The Executive branch is effete and enervated yet admittedly still too powerful. The Legislative branch is a product and a by-product of the problem. The answers are not easy or elegant. Failure to address the problem and provide a partial answer is a complete failure and capitulation. The suite or the street, that is the question.”

. . .

K “The Court of last resort may be the court of second to the last resort.”

J “Unless the populace just does not care or does not understand.”

. . .

[See the e-commentary at “Partisan Gerrymandering: From Ballots To Bullets? Oh, And Happy National Voter Registration Day! (September 24, 2018)” and “Five Red Rich Republican ‘Catholic’ Corporatist ‘White’ Boys . . . Versus . . . Four Blue Comfortable Democratic ‘Jewish’ Individualist White ‘Girls’ . . . And All By-Products Of The S.I.C. (October 2, 2017)”.]

Bumper stickers of the week:

Election Day should be a national holiday

The suite or the street, that is the question.

GAR + GAC = GAG

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Darkness . . . And Light. Oh, And Happy Winter Solstice! (December 17, 2018)

Posted in Economics, Education, Energy, Environment, Politics, Society on December 17, 2018 by e-commentary.org

. . .

J “There is far too much darkness. I know what needs to be known and I know what needs to be done. And I know what needs to be known because I rejected so much of what I was told I needed to know. And yet what needs to be done cannot be done. The whole system is laced with so many checks and balances that keep a concerned citizen in check and everything out of balance.”

K “And there is far too little light. I understand so much, yet I do not understand why I do not have the good sense and the maturity to quit caring.”

. . .

[See the e-commentary at “The Power Of Small Thinking (March 12, 2018)” and “On Standards & Quality (July 20, 2015)”.]

Bumper stickers of the week:

Think big!

I think big, therefore I am

Happy Winter Solstice!

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Partisan Gerrymandering: From Ballots To Bullets? Oh, And Happy National Voter Registration Day! (September 24, 2018)

Posted in Partisan Gerrymandering, Politics, Supreme Court, Voting on September 24, 2018 by e-commentary.org

. . .

K “‘Don’t bother me,’ opined the Chief (Justice) to the Indians. ‘I closed the doors to the Supreme Court. If you want to change polity, you must resort to bullets not ballots. My Supreme Court is in business to help big business, it is not in business to help little people,’ proclaimed the Chief. ‘The game is gamed. The franchise is foreclosed. The ballot box is buttoned up. Go away. Go home.’”

J “He does not get it. ‘In order for nonviolence to work, your opponent must have a conscience,’ observed Stokely Carmichael. We have a problem. And he gets it.”

K “A (Supreme) Court without a conscience.”

J “In a Country without a conscience.”

. . .

K “If Roberts and gang do not want to protect the public against partisan gerrymandering, they should resign and let someone else do the job.”

J “They like the money. They like the power. They like to impose their will.”

. . .

K “I vote for the ballot.”

J “I second the vote.”

K “Now we need to get the Chief to focus on protecting the ballot rather than promoting the bullet as the means to bring about peaceful change.”

J “He just does not get it.”

. . .

[See the e-commentary at “Sweet Senate Alabama (December 18, 2017)”.]

Bumper stickers of the week:

Vote

“Those who make peaceful revolution [resolution] impossible will make violent revolution inevitable.” John F. Kennedy (Ted could have polished/improved/cadenced the statement by saying “peaceful resolution” rather than “peaceful revolution”.)

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NFL Protests: Celebrating And Revering A Grand American Tradition (September 25, 2017)

Posted in Politics, Race, Society, Sports, Trumpi on September 25, 2017 by e-commentary.org

. . .

K “Makes you proud to be an American.”

J “Makes me proud to be an American.”

. . .

K “Makes me proud to be an American.”

. . .

K “In 1967, Muhammed Ali refused to be drafted into the Army and kill folks who never threatened him or America. In 1968, Tommie Smith and John Carlos responded to winning gold and bronze medals at the 1968 Mexico City Games with a silent and stirring protest on the victory stand with raised fists each sporting a single black glove.”

J “Never forget that Australian Peter Norman who won the silver medal that day joined Smith and Carlos in brandishing the Olympic Project for Human Rights (OPHR) badge and then joined them in a banishing when each returned to the country he represented with dignity and grace. A year later in 1969, Curt Flood challenged a different type of draft in Major League Baseball by refusing to be treated and traded like chattel. In 1970, Oscar Robertson pursued a class-action lawsuit against the N.B.A. that led to the free agency rules applied today.”

. . .

J “Yesterday, many players and teams responded individually, creatively, uniquely and privately. Standing and putting one’s hand on one’s heart is the custom and practice and the customary practice. Sitting on the bench is too easy, casual and non-committal and akin to sitting on one’s hands.”

K “And no one in sports wants to ride the bench and sit out the game. What about the team collectively taking a knee which is often a sign of deference and respect and then during the last few stanzas of the Anthem standing in unison, locking arms and slipping hands across the hearts?”

J “And what about also locking arms with the owners or the police or a few fans?”

. . .

K “The sinuous route towards ‘a more perfect union’ is not straight and not clear.”

. . .

[See the e-commentary at “Ali (June 6, 2016)”, “The Ali Gedenkschrift/Festschrift (June 13, 2016)”, “Columbus And The Redskins (October 14, 2013)” and “The Confederate Flag: What Does It Mean To You? (July 6, 2015)”.]

Bumper stickers of the week:

Stand up for those taking a knee

“Dissent is the highest form of patriotism.” Howard Zinn

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King Seale Newton X Day (January 16, 2017)

Posted in Politics, Race on January 16, 2017 by e-commentary.org

. . .

K “Changes in civil and voting rights laws emerged from an unwitting and uncoordinated two-prong strategy. Some Blacks and a very few Whites presented a militant option and opportunity. Most Blacks and almost all Whites pursued a non-violent option and opportunity. Those in power preferred the non-violent option, yet the threat of force was a compelling undercurrent.”

. . .

J “Celebrating a day around King’s birthday should be expanded to celebrate all of those who campaigned for civil and voting rights.”

. . .

K “King Seale Newton X Day.”

J “All day. As they say in the Midwest.”

. . .

K “In the next few weeks, we can add the names of women.”

. . .

[See the e-commentary at “King Daze (January 20, 2014)” and “King (January 16, 2006).”]

Bumper stickers of the week:

King Seale Newton X Davis Day

“Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable.” John F. Kennedy

“Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did. It never will.” Frederick Douglass

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Suffer Clinton. The Devil. We know. (November 7, 2016)

Posted in Blue States / Red States, Elections, Political Parties, Politics on November 7, 2016 by e-commentary.org

. . .

K “The ‘D’ division of the War and Wall Street Party foisted a candidate who passionately believes in pursuing war and protecting Wall Street. The ‘R’ division of the W.W. Party forwarded a candidate who may not be as passionate about pursuing war and protecting Wall Street but then with him who the devil knows. He is a nativistic, nihilistic and narcissistic nut job.”

J “Add Nazistic to that list. And misogynistic, racistic, and xenophobic.”

. . .

K “He is also supported by the Middle Finger Party. Some of the more reflective people who support The Donald are thoroughly disgusted with a government and economic system that is corrupt to the core.”

J “The Middle Finger Party is not the Middle Way Party.”

K “I am confident that the only profitable party – The War and Wall Street Party – is the Wrong Way Party.”

. . .

K “Her entourage includes punks, thugs, grifters, drifters, shop lifters, lifers, ex-cons, cons, future cons, neo-cons, neo-libs, criminals, war criminals, war mongers, inside traders, outside traders, traitors, terrorists, ne’er–do–wells and cattle rustlers (hereinafter “Kennedy School/Goldman Sachs” archetypes).”

J “His gang includes punks, thugs, grifters, drifters, shop lifters, lifers, ex-cons, cons, future cons, neo-cons, neo-libs, criminals, war criminals, war mongers, inside traders, outside traders, traitors, terrorists, ne’er–do–wells and cattle rustlers (hereinafter “Wharton School/Fly By Night REIT” archetypes). But we do not even know who he will put on the public payroll.”

. . .

K “Clinton is a globalist and Trump is a nationalist.”

J “So that means that Clinton will usher in a World War and Trump will usher in a Civil War.”

K “They do not call it the Peace and Wall Street Party.”

. . .

J “I concede that Clinton privately supports and will sign the Trans-Pacific Partnership because it benefits the international corporations that fund and bribe Clinton, Inc.”

K “Trump’s challenges to the international trade agreements, if genuine, are challenging because truly free trade can provide mutual benefits to many but not all. He cannot reject all of the treaties carte blanche with executive orders.”

. . .

K “Three score years ago, Adlai Stevenson ran against Dwight Eisenhower. Statesmen both. The nation could not go wrong with either candidate.”

J “In two generations, a ‘win-win’ option then is replaced with a ‘lose-lose’ dilemma now. That must be what they call progress.”

. . .

J “Vote against Trump. And for Clinton.”

K “In the final analysis, it all comes down to the Supreme Court. Vote for the crook over the crazy man. With extraordinary reluctance. Then despair.”

J “It has gotten old.”

. . .

J “Vote.”

K “Vote.”

. . .

[See the e-commentary at “Better the crook we know than the crazy man we don’t? Applying The Conservative Tie Breaker. (June 20, 2016)”, “The ‘War and Wall [Street] Party’ On The War Path (February 1, 2016)”, “The Donald: The Consummate Republican. Sort Of. (March 28, 2016)”, “On Male ‘Diss’ ‘Coarse’ And Electioneering (March 21, 2016)”, “A Second Party: Trump or Sanders? (March 14, 2015)”, “Trans-Pacific Partnership / United Nations Convention On The Law Of The Sea (May 25, 2015)” and “The First Look At The ‘Second Political Party’ (January 3, 2011).”)

Bumper stickers of the week:

Vote.

Vote Clinton. With extraordinary reluctance. Then despair.

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Clinton, Inc., Trump, Inc., Bush, Inc., Kennedy, Inc., O’Bama, Inc. (October 24, 2016)

Posted in Awards / Incentives, Bush, Cameo In Courage Award, Citizens United Decision, Clinton, Collapse, Kleptocracy, O'Bama, Politics, Profile In Courage Award, Schooling, Supreme Court on October 24, 2016 by e-commentary.org

. . .

J “The Kennedy Corporation is in remission.”

K “Earnings are down, but the brand is still in play. They are keeping a spot at the round table with their ‘Profile In Courage Award’ that is bestowed on other members of the Ruling Class.”

J “That’s it. I need to give an award to get a reward.”

. . .

J “After the proclamation by the Republican wing of the Supreme Court in Corporations United that two step corruption is legal and encouraged, the ‘Clinton Global Initiative’ provided the template. The rich and powerful now can formally invest in and own those in public office.”

K “The Owners now can formally own the owned. ‘Bush, Inc.’ should get more credit because it was one of the first corporations to offer ‘preferred shares’ dubbed ‘Rangers’ and ‘Pioneers’ and the like. The investment opportunity was first profiled in the e-commentary titled ‘The “Ownership State” and “Bush, Inc.” (April 11, 2005)’ years before Citizens United was foisted on us.”

J “Trading interests in Senators is also discussed in the e-commentary titled ‘Commodities Futures / Future Commodities (March 8, 2010).’ Add a few shares of a United States Senator to your 401(k) portfolio.”

. . .

K “Yet the ordinary citizen cannot be a large shareholder.”

J “The ordinary citizen still can toil as a sharecropper for the shareholders. The citizen cannot own anyone or anything of substance. And only the Owners can own the apparatchiks. It is very subtle.”

K “There is no ‘Nader, Inc.’ I looked it up.”

. . .

K “‘Kennedy, Inc.’ has executed a Memorandum of Understanding with ‘Harvard, Inc.’, ‘Bush, Inc.’ with ‘Yale, Inc.’, ‘Trump, Inc.’ with ‘Penn, Inc.’, ‘Clinton, Inc.’ with ‘Stanford, Inc.’ and now ‘O’Bama, Inc.’ with ‘Harvard, Inc.’ and ‘Chicago, Inc.’.”

J “They sure have inked a lot of inside deals. Yet ‘Clinton, Inc.’ plays the field and also owns and is owned by ‘Yale, Inc.’.”

K “Clinton clearly plays the field, yet so do some of the others. If there is a formal MoU, the kids just show up in the Fall; if there is not a formal MoU, the kids are encouraged to call ahead and let the administrators know they are matriculating. Unless something more sexy comes up in the interim.”

J “That’s what I heard. Seems to work. Well.”

. . .

K “The kids who should not make it, do. The kids who should make it, don’t.”

. . .

K “There is so much inbreeding and cross breeding.”

J “With predictable consequences.”

. . .

[See the e-commentary at “The ‘Ownership State’ and ‘Bush, Inc.’ (April 11, 2005)”, “Corporations United (February 15, 2010)”, “Commodities Futures / Future Commodities (March 8, 2010)”, “Schooling The Apparatchiks For the Kleptocrats (December 7, 2015)” and “On Merit and the Meritocracy (January 11, 2010).”]

[See the incisive commentary of America’s greatest political, economic and social commentator of the last century, George Carlin. Professor G. William Domhoff’s classic examination of power in America, Who Rules America?, could serve as the written text and footnotes to accompany Professor Carlin’s public presentations. Both develop observations developed earlier by Professor C. Wright Mills in The Power Elite.]

Bumper stickers (or window stickers) of the week:

Harvard, Inc. College Yale, Inc. Law School

The Elite ain’t.

If Hamilton returned today to survey the outcome of his financial innovations, he would be appalled, outraged and disgusted by the degeneration of the American economy into a Kleptocracy.

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Better the crook we know than the crazy man we don’t? Applying The Conservative Tie Breaker. (June 20, 2016)

Posted in Clinton, Elections, On [Traits/Characteristics], Political Parties, Politics, Presidency, Solstice, Sports, Supreme Court, Trumpi, Wall Street, War, War and Wall Street Party on June 20, 2016 by e-commentary.org

. . .

K “Better the crook we know than the crazy man we don’t?”

J “You sure?”

. . .

K “Better the crazy crook we know than the crooked crazy man we don’t?”

J “You sure?”

K “Better the war-savoring, crazy crook we know than the xenophobic, crooked, crazy man we don’t?”

J “You sure?”

K “Better the war-savoring and Wall Street-favoring, crazy crook we know than the xenophobic, bigoted, crooked, crazy man we don’t?”

J “You sure?”

K “Better the lying, war-savoring and Wall Street-favoring, crazy crook we know than the lying, xenophobic, bigoted, crooked, crazy man we don’t?”

J “You sure?”

. . .

J “We are now stuck with two presumptuous Presidential nominees and zero hope.”

K “Clinton is part of the problem; the Donald does not even understand the problem. Full stop.”

J “I’m sure that we have a problem.”

. . .

K “The conservatives resolve these conundrums by resorting to the aphorism: ‘Better the devil we know than the devil we don’t.’”

J “I sure don’t know who is the devil we know and who is the devil we don’t?”

K “In the final analysis, it all comes down to the Supreme Court.”

. . .

K “The solstice is the sunniest day of the year up here. Defaulting to the lesser of the two diabolical devils isn’t the most promising ray of sunshine.”

J “It starts getting darker every day after 22:34 UTC this afternoon.”

K “There are still some long days in our future.”

. . .

[See the e-commentary at “The First Look At The ‘Second Political Party’ (January 3, 2011).”]

Bumper stickers of the week:

“And how many more of these stinking double-downer sideshows will we have to go through before we can get . . . a chance to vote for something, instead of always being faced with that old familiar choice between the lesser of two evils?” Hunter S. Thompson

Better the crook we know than the crazy man we don’t?

The other election this week in Britain on the “Brexit” will be revealing.

Cleveland was hot yesterday and may be hot this July.

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First Annual Pushitzer Prize In Commentary For 2016 (April 18, 2016)

Posted in Awards / Incentives, Global Climate Change, Global Warming, Journalism, Movie Reference, O'Bama, Politics, Press/Media, Pulitzer, Pushitzer, Race on April 18, 2016 by e-commentary.org

. . .

“The envelope please. . . . This year’s Pushitzer Prize in Commentary is awarded to . . . all the unnamed, unknown and unheralded commentators not working for the Herald who are pushing the envelope and pushing against the absurdity, insanity, dishonesty and hypocrisy that envelops us from every direction every day. For distinguished commentary in a print or digital or any format. For good and honest stuff.”

. . .

[Please send nominations for the Pushitzer Prize in Commentary for 2017 and a supporting letter by January 27, 2017 to e-ssay@gci.net and send the entry fee to your favorite charity.]

[See the e-commentary at “Pulitzers Are Pro-War? Pressing The Pushitzers (April 22, 2013)” and last week’s e-commentary.]

Bumper stickers of the week:

For good and honest stuff

Will the public respond to Ken Burns, Jr.’s production of “Barack Obama” in 2046 the way the public responded to Ken Burns’ production of “Jackie Robinson” in 2016? Mitch McConnell is today’s Ben Chapman. (Senate Majority leader) Chapman wielded a baseball bat; (Coach) McConnell a gavel. See the e-commentary at “‘I Hate Obama.’ The Trip Hammer Of Hate Tolls Without Toll And With Toll (March 10, 2014).”]

April 22: “Happy Birthday Earth Day (April 23, 2012).”

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