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Perversely curious, I watched the subMagnificient Seven present their case to the country. The “I” word was avoided in the Debate, it was about a win in November and who has the best chance against Sauron with their platform. Tom had the least facetime, Andy a bit more, Amy fought her way into the Bernie/Liz/Joe/Pete focus. “Corruption” was a popular word with a fluid definition. A few minutes into it, I had to write down something said. Then, in spite of (or because of) no adult beverage at hand, I just had to take notes under the rubric of OppoResearch. I did open the bar to decipher said notes.

The questions were mostly on policy with a few pointed ones which weren’t always answered (Dancing with the…). Two episodes of fireworks: Andy/Liz over purity of contributions (rich donors necessary vs rich donors bad). That had a later reprise with Bernie and Joe joining in. And Amy/Andy over proven experience, Pete having the least needs to respect the experience of the others on stage. (OK, I did think of Cartman at the time.)

Andy pointed out DJT won not because of Russian collusion or HRC’s bad campaign, his appeal in the Rust Belt states from job-losers won the day which is something to be considered. Later Tom expanded on that theme. Recently 45 spoke to a group of people saying “I don’t like you, you don’t like me. But the Ds will crash the economy in 15 minutes.” Ds need to talk about prosperity, take 45 on over the economy. This corrupt President thinks he’s king in this realm, but he’s just a fraud.

The economy, domestic policy and foreign policy are the areas in which the President is lacking and vulnerable. This economy only benefits the rich, it’s out of kilter. Bernie lambasts the oligarchy, its wealth inequality, therefore Medicare for all. The existential threat of Climate Change makes the issue working people taking on the billionaires and creating an economy and government that doesn’t serve the 1%. He’s nothing if not consistent. To Liz, the inequalities of this economy prove corruption.

Sometimes last night they were so close to the truth.

Domestically, healthcare/identity politics/education/AGW dominated. Bring back ACA with a variety of improvements/refinements. Education covers cradle through college. Free college for all or means tested at $150k per year family income. Pete wants billionaires to pay for their kids, Liz wants billionaires to pay for everybody (said Liz). Tom believes all this is affordable because corporations and the wealthy still have money.

Ah, the DACAs and kids in cages. And the 11 or 12 million illegals in this country. (I’ve been hearing that same estimate since the 80s.)

The trauma of child separation obviously requires a cash payment (“border compensation”). DACAs will be freed and pathed to citizenship via EO while seeking a legislative fix.

Tom said 45 wasn’t against immigration. he’s just against non-white immigration. And his crazy base threatens Rs who would otherwise act rationally.

There were questions on women, POCs, trans and the disabled. Liz vows that once a year from the Rose Garden, she will read the names of the transgenders and women of color who were killed the previous year. A big issue is prisons and self-identified gender. And don’t forget reparations.

44’s recent statement about women and old men in government provided a starting point. Andy finds this country deeply misogynist in politics and the workplace. In politics we need both men and women, men alone become morons. His fix is campaign finance reform. Seems that would solve many problems. On the age issue, Bernie disagreed with 44, Joe said 44 wasn’t talking about him.

There was a consideration whether 45 is the most corrupt President in our history or just in recent memory. Our allies laugh at him and he is attracted to dictators. Pete is concerned 45 echoes the vocabulary of repressive regimes when he attacks the press. This is a global threat.

On Israel, Bibi is a racist and corrupt. He is wrong about the two-state solution and Joe told him so. And 45’s meddling in internal Israeli politics is hardly being a friend to Jews. We must be pro-Palestinians as well.

44 failed to close Gitmo, what’s to be done. It’s an embarrassment, America as a nation should live its values every day. It is an advertisement for terrorism. Besides, 44 had a bad economy to deal with. We abandoned the Kurds. At the NATO summit, thin-skinned 45 got teased and left. America doesn’t leave.

Guess who’s quote: “We have led by not the example of our power but by the power of our example and the example we are demonstrating is horrible.”

Considering the Muslim camps and HK, should we boycott the coming Olympics in China? All Pete’s tools are on the table. The President’s silence on these issues let the Chinese leaders know his silence can be bought. Our relationship with China is about more than who sells more washing machines. Yes, we’re on a collision course but not leading to war per Joe. 45 dumped 44’s policy of keeping 60% of our naval forces in that area. We need a multi-lateral approach to guide China. Besides, we need their help in stopping climate change. We have to get the carbon out of our air and water.

Andy has relatives in HK and recently spent a few months there. They banned masks because their AI facial recognition is so effective. They are ahead of us in this field because they have more data to work with. Silicon Valley told him they can’t compete.

*****
There was a lot more but I’ll claim inability to read my notes and spare y’all. It would have been easier watching had I not learned so much these past two years.

Congrats to all who avoided the debate. Tonight’s sponsor is Basil Hayden’s Two by Two Rye.