Aftermath 11/2016 Video. Anger, yes...but there needs to be more

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Commentary

Aftermath November 2016

One commentator's disgust at the Trump victory

A friend forwarded a video entitled "Aftermath November 2016" posted by Tess Rafferty, a TV writer, comic and author.      https://vimeo.com/191751334?ref=em-share

It's very powerful.

She’s says what many are thinking but won’t say; won't say mainly because of fear that what she's saying confirms the impression that we on the left (the coasts?) are all a bunch of liberal elitists who look down on all those “deplorables.” She says she's given up on trying to forge a common ground with the kind of people who voted for Trump. 

I’m just not sure continuing to “diss” them moves things forward.

My guess is her response to me would be: “I’m over pussy footing around those assholes."

Ok, understandable and possibly cathartic. But is it helpful?

After viewing the video, I began to think about some realities; realities that we need to address if we don’t want to find ourselves at the very beginning of one very long, very miserable slippery slope.

• Reality 
• This was an election in which the Democrats screwed up and, with the exception of some voter suppression here and there (!), Trump mostly won by the rules.
• The GOP did a “post-mortem after the 2012 election. Up until about 9pm EST on November 8, Democrats were laughing that the GOP post-mortem was a failure. Oops, our turn.

• Reality
• Despite her incredible credentials and unmatched qualifications, Clinton family hubris and Hillary’s many unforced errors were too much to overcome.
• Sorry, whether you like it or not, there are lots of people who, influenced by 30+ years of right wing hatred, can’t stand Bill and Hillary. And it’s not just blue collar white men. It's (GOP) women as well. With that hatred as background even trivial errors influenced opinions and votes. I wanted with all my heart for her to win. She didn’t. We need to get it right next time (If there is a next time; with Trump in power, you never know) — not just in 2020 but in 2018 as well. The Democratic bench is not deep. But, despite that, we need to do better next time in selecting the right candidate for the times; a candidate who can demonstrate empathy for, and garner the support of, all demographics. The pundits say that the national demographic changes are moving inexorably Democratic. But they said that this time as well and... 

• Reality
• We don’t like that the fact that the rules are not democratic but don’t know how to and/or can’t fix them.
• Yes, the Electoral College gives undue influence and power to rural areas. If you believe we live in a one-person/one-vote democracy, that makes no sense. But it’s not going away. So let’s figure out how to work with it. One major objective: reduce the margin of losses in red districts; Democrats will never win a majority in these places but not everyone living in a red precinct believes that someone like Donald Trump is right for America or the world. These people need to be convinced, in a better way than Hillary did, that there is an alternative answer to their issues and problems.
• Reality
• Trump’s “crooked media” screeds ring ironic given the mainstream media’s culpability in the outcome of this election with their non-stop Trump coverage and false equivalencies.
• Les Moonves, head of CBS, said it best: "It may not be good for America, but It's damn good for CBS.” (And CNN and NBC and etc., I might add). Trump drove ratings and ratings drove profits. We need to hold the media to a higher standard. Call them out if you don’t think they’re doing their job or being objective. Stop watching outlets that put profit over their responsibility to act as both an information source and a watchdog. Boycott their advertisers. If money is the only thing that influences them, we need to hit them where it hurts.
• Reality
• We lament the influence of Fox News, talk radio, alt-right media like Breitbart and fake news posted on social media for the hold they have on a significant portion of the electorate. But we haven’t been able to curb that influence.
• This is a tough one. And the problem will only grow tougher. I’ve seen the calls for supporting legitimate media through subscriptions, etc. That will help. We don’t want Trump’s pronouncements of the demise of media like the Times and the Post to come true. So yes, buy, don’t steal the news. But getting those who only get their news from Fox et al to read, listen to and absorb information from other than what they’re relying on is a big challenge. And it will become ever bigger without some cooperation from the media platforms that facilitate the promulgation of unedited, non-vetted, “information.” (See this link for the possible start of a fix:     https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/inspired-life/wp/2016/11/18/fake-news-on-facebook-is-a-real-problem-these-college-students-came-up-with-a-fix/?wpisrc=nl_optimist&wpmm=1)

• Reality
• We complain about the influence of money on politics and elections but one result of this election is that we have diminished our ability to reduce that influence for years to come.
• Elections have consequences, this one in particular. I don’t see the Republican Congress or the soon to be majority conservative SCOTUS supporting campaign finance reform in the near future. But there’s still work to be done, particularly with our Democratic elected officials. Get them energized. Get them working. With all three branches of the federal government in the hands of the party that benefits the most from this system, this an uphill battle. But it’s a battle that must be engaged.

The bottom line is, I’m as angry as Tess Rafferty is. 

I get even angrier as I watch in horror as Trump names terrible appointees (Bannon, Flynn, Sessions) and parades them, as well as sycophants and former critics (I talking to you, Mitt Romney), in the driveway of his ironically named “Trump National” golf club. 

I’m appalled that his family inner circle appears to be ready to burnish the Trump brand and increase the company’s profits through the good offices of the White House. 

I recoil at the alt-right’s feeling of empowerment with their rallies, their “heil-Victory” salutes and their eager anticipation of the return of their “white America.” 

I understand why Tess Rafferty said what she did. But I also know that the way forward is not just to be angry and lash out, but to channel that anger by facing the realities and addressing them strongly and unswervingly.

Hamilton: Pence attends, Burr pleads, Trump tweets, Burr responds

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What I learned today

 Free speech, harassment and Hamilton

It takes an actor playing Aaron Burr to explain basic concepts to President-elect Trump

I learned today that President-elect Donald Trump does not understand the concept of free speech. Nor, does he know what harassment is.

I know many of you reading this are scratching your heads wondering, “he’s finally learning that?” But let me explain.

Last night’s New York performance of Hamilton – An American Musical was attended by Vice President-elect Mike Pence. (It is not clear how Mr. Pence got the tickets to the hottest show on Broadway nor how much he paid.)

Not surprisingly in this deeply divided country, Mr. Pence’s arrival was greeted by a combination of boos and cheers by the audience.

But then this happened.

According to the Washington Post, “several dozen of the Broadway musical’s cast members zeroed in on Pence during their curtain call. Brandon Victor Dixon — the actor who played Aaron Burr — stepped forth and cut through the applause,” going on to say:

“We’re all here sharing a story of love. We have a message for you, sir. We hope that you will hear us out.”

Dixon then read the following:

 “Vice President-elect Pence, we welcome you, and we truly thank you for joining us here at ‘Hamilton: An American Musical.’ We really do,” Dixon said to further applause. “We, sir, we are the diverse America who are alarmed and anxious that your new administration will not protect us, our planet, our children, our parents, or defend us and uphold our inalienable rights, sir. But we truly hope this show has inspired you to uphold our American values and work on behalf of all of us. All of us. Again, we truly thank you truly for (sharing) this show, this wonderful American story told by a diverse group of men and women of different colors, creeds and orientations.”

(Here's a video of Dixon's speech: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9Wi3CnzYXU)

Dixon’s speech was immediately condemned by President-elect Donald Trump via Twitter:

 Followed eight minutes later by:

(He's the President-elect of the United States for God's sake. Doesn't he have anything more important to do?)

Whereupon Mr. Dixon tweeted back,

So, there it is. An actor in a Broadway musical who plays Aaron Burr, one of the most vilified characters in American history, explaining to the next president of the United States, respectfully, the concept of free speech and that conversation is not harassment.

Just for clarity, I submit the following definitions.

Freedom of speech (free speech) noun: the right of people to express their opinions publicly without governmental interference, subject to the laws against libel, incitement to violence or rebellion, etc.

Harassment noun: aggressive pressure or intimidation.

Is there any good news coming out of all this. Well, here's one. Perhaps this kerfuffle will free up affordable tickets for Hamilton as hordes of Trump supporters boycott the show. 

Oh, right -- they weren't going anyway. 

Never mind.

Idea that Trump "may surprise us" dashed by key picks

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Commentary

 Trump picks Jeff Sessions for Attorney General

Senator known for anti-civil rights sentiments follows Mike Flynn choice as NSA; Is Rudy next?

Let’s see.

Jeff Sessions, an individual known for anti-civil rights sentiments and racist statements, (detailed in this The Nation piece - https://www.thenation.com/article/jeff-sessions-trumps-pick-for-attorney-general-is-a-fierce-opponent-of-civil-rights/) as AG;

Michael Flynn, an Islamophobic tweeter of dubiously sourced news, "AKA "fake news," including an anti-Semitic one (wait, is there a trend here?), who's pronouncements when he was head of the Defense Intelligence Agency were known as "Flynn facts," and who called CNN and MSNBC "state-run media" akin to the Russian government funded RT (for more details on Flynn see this Vox piece - http://www.vox.com/2016/11/17/13673280/mike-flynn-trump-new-national-security-adviser-russia-isis-obama-clinton-turkey) as National Security Advisor 

VP-elect Mike Pence, who's anti-abortion stance and history of anti-LGBT policies will most likely restrict the rights of both women and the LGBT community as the head of Trump's transition team; 

And Rudy Giuliani, still being considered for Secretary of State, who’s only credential for that job, beyond conspiracy theorist par excellence, is that he was once called “America’s mayor (!?). ”

So, how's it going so far?

I understand and respect that as the victor in this election, Mr. Trump has the right to nominate whomever he pleases to these critical positions. But do you think it’s time to start re-thinking my previous idea that “maybe he’ll surprise us?”

And, as much as I despise the idea of using arcane Senate rules to halt the workings of government, perhaps it’s time to implore Chuck Schumer to do a “McConnell” to block some of these appointments when they come up for confirmation. (Not Flynn’s, of course, since National Security Advisor does not require Senate confirmation.)

Fasten your seat belts. We're expecting extreme turbulence for the next four years.

Anti-Semitism, Bannon and Breitbart

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Commentary

Anti-Semitism, Bannon and Breitbart

Does unencumbered support of Israel trump everything else? 

I received two pieces of correspondence in the last few days regarding anti-Semitism, Steve Bannon and Breitbart News.

The first was an letter from the president of the Zionist Organization of America (ZOA), forwarded by a friend, which recoiled at anti-Semitism claims against Steve Bannon, calling them “painful” and describing Bannon as a defender of Israel.”
http://zoa.org/2016/11/10342353-zoa-criticizes-adl-for-falsely-alleging-trump-advisor-bannon-is-anti-semitic/

To which I responded to my friend:

"I’m curious as to where you’re at on this. In my mind, it’s yet another example of what’s wrong with the right-wing Israel lobby. Unencumbered support of Israel, right or wrong, trumps (sorry) everything. I have no idea what the ZOA is, but this is appalling.”

And then this defense of Bannon by Alan Dershowitz http://www.breitbart.com/jerusalem/2016/11/15/alan-dershowitz-steve-bannon-smears-not-legitimate-call-somebody-anti-semite-disagree-policies/
posted by a Facebook “friend” who commented in his post:

"What is disconcerting is the many people who repeat this false accusation only because it is anti Trump and there is some emotional grudge they feel because their candidate lost. During a stay in Israel, Breitbart and Larry Solov conceived of the idea of founding Breitbart News Network, with 'the aim of starting a site that would be unapologetically pro-freedom and pro-Israel. We were sick of the anti- Israel bias of the mainstream media and J-Street.'”

To which I responded:

"So, let me get this straight – the idea that being “unapologetically pro-freedom and pro-Israel” (which I take to actually mean: support Israeli governmental policies without question, not like the  “biased, anti-Israel” Jews at J Street, or me, for that matter) is the reason Breitbart and Bannon should be given passes for their misogyny, racism, general bigotry and promulgation of conspiracy theories and fabrications? OK. Thanks for clarifying that.”

Support of Israel within the American Jewish community has become increasingly contentious as Israeli government policies move ever more right and many American Jews remain steadfastly left. 

And, J Street’s anti-israeli bias? Here’s their mission statement: 

"J Street is the political home for pro-Israel, pro-peace Americans who want Israel to be secure, democratic and the national home of the Jewish people.

Working in American politics and the Jewish community, we advocate for policies that advance shared US and Israeli interests as well as Jewish and democratic values, leading to a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict."

As Jews, should we defend people like Bannon only because they profess unencumbered support of Israel and forget about everything else they stand for? Should we be content being labeled “anti-Israel” or “Israel-haters,” as the ZOA president suggests, if we don’t support Israel without question or criticism?

Was I correct? Is this appalling?

Trump: Electoral College is: a) disaster; b) genius; c) depends; d) part of Trump University

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News with a Twist

Trump embraces Electoral College

As calls to trash “undemocratic” system grow, Trump calls it "genius"

In another clear signal that Donald Trump will govern for all the people with humility, the President-elect made his first comments about the presidential election popular vote, which has him on track to lose to Hillary Clinton by over one million votes.

The comments were sent via Twitter:

That tweet was followed six minutes later by a second:

Commenting on Trump’s tweets, Democratic strategist Milton U. Miliated, said, “Look, there is some good news here. Given Trump’s use of Twitter, the American people will not have to dole out the money for a White House communications director or press secretary.”

Not surprisingly, Trump’s musings about the genius of the Electoral College are at odds with comments he made during the 2012 presidential election when he called the Electoral College “a disaster for democracy.”

Commenting on this apparent flip-flop, campaign manager Kellyanne Conway said, “Look, views change over time. That was then, this is now. Mr. Trump will continue to support a great American tradition like the Electoral College as long as it keeps supporting him.”