Wondering on Wednesday 1/17/24

 

Ready... set... wonder!

I'd guess that no one was surprised with the outcome of the Iowa Republican caucuses; Donald Trump won, garnering more than 50% of the vote. Ron DeSantis (2nd) and Nikki Haley (3rd) got fewer votes - combined - than Trump. I have to wonder, though, why media outlets were calling the vote for Trump barely half an hour after the caucuses started? Sure, it was pretty much a foregone conclusion that he would win, but come on - at least let people go through the process.

Another thing I'm wondering? How many people stayed home, and why did they? As of last November, Iowa had 718,000 registered Republicans, but only about 110,300 people voted. 

Was it the weather? Was it an enthusiasm gap for DeSantis and Haley voters? Did the media's constant Trump-gushing have an impact? We may never know, for sure, but I think we can agree that an early declaration of victory like what happened this week is not helpful.

One last thing before we leave presidential politics,  I find myself wondering if Trump's abuse of Nimarata Nikki Haley's full name, following his promotion of the lie that she's ineligible to be president, is indicative of his concerns that she has a chance against him? Remember, he took this same approach to the candidacies of former President Barack Hussein Obama and Sen. Rafael 'Ted' Cruz. Of course, there's always a chance that he's just a jerk and can't help himself, so maybe we shouldn't read anything into it.

Meanwhile, back in Florida, the state legislature continues to attack people and things they don't like. Among the latest proposed bills is one that would effectively end legal recognition of trans people.

The bill starts by defining "sex" in a way that excludes transgender people and incorporating this definition at the beginning of Florida's legal code - Section 1.01.  It demands that every law in Florida adhere to this definition, effectively eliminating all transgender legal representation in a single move. It then goes through many areas of code and creates additional policies that allow for the tracking of transgender people's assigned sex at birth and the enforcement of laws that exclude or criminalize them.

When I first heard about this last week, it was in the context of driver's licenses and a required gender affidavit - and I couldn't help wondering if trans people were really worse drivers than anyone else. Come to find out, one of the authors of the bill says it's to protect law enforcement. According to Rep. Dean Black of Jacksonville, 

We need law enforcement to know what they are dealing with. If you can go change your gender on your driver's license on a whim, that can actually endanger law enforcement.

Not sure why officers will be 'protected' by knowing the birth gender of a driver, especially in a state that now offers permitless concealed firearms carry, but maybe that's just me.

We'll close with an interesting bit of tourism promotion from the city of Lexington, KY, where the Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) is going where no CVB has gone before: outer space.

The agency said it worked with scientists and scholars to beam the message toward potentially habitable planets in the TRAPPIST-1 solar system 40 lightyears away.

The effort was led by Lexington native Robert Lodder, who is an expert in computer engineering, astrology, and Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence.

If you're wondering, the message, which was sent with FAA approval, opens with

The first thing you'll notice as you descend through Earth's atmosphere above Central Kentucky is the lush green countryside that surrounds Lexington's vibrant city center. That's our famous bluegrass.

It includes recommendations where ET and friends can "stay and eat and shop." 

Now, I think this is kind of cool - I mean, why not have some fun, right?  But I can't stop wondering what's going to happen the first time one of the visitors stops at a horse farm, for example, and thinks it's a restaurant? 

What's on your wondering mind these days?

Sunday School 9/5/21: Extra Credit

For your Extra Credit this week, we're talking COVID. 

Why? As schools here in my neck of the woods prepare to open this week, schools in the early-opening states are already in the thick of the COVID quagmire, with at least 1,000 from 31 states reportedly having stopped in-person learning, and over 10,000 students and staff across 14 states exposed to the virus - and that was as of mid-August. School board meetings are becoming battlegrounds as parents fight mask mandates, vaccine requirements, and 'fascism' being perpetrated on them by their neighbors on the boards.

Here are some highlights from the Meet the Press classroom, where Mr. Both Sides Now, Chuck Todd, talked with governors Andy Beshear (D-KY) and Larry Hogan (R-MD). They've both got veto-proof legislatures - of the opposite party - in their states, which makes things interesting, to say the least.

Beshear said if he had the ability to do it, there'd be a mask mandate in his state, where they're setting case records and hospitalization records, but he's been limited by the legislature on that. What he has done, though, is send the National Guard to help hard-hit hospitals with logistics, and they've taken over testing in those hospitals, so staff can be freed up to do patient care. And, they've got FEMA teams, and are deploying nursing students to help with staffing.

We are hit very, very hard. But we are going to continue to fight. When you're at war, you don't get to cry about what you can or can't do. You've got to do your very best every day because this is a battle of life versus death.

Meanwhile, Maryland has one of the highest vaccine rates in the country, something Hogan is very proud of; 81% of all eligible folks, and 95% of seniors, are vaccinated. In response to Chuck playing the 'if yours was a red state, that wouldn't have happened' card, Hogan noted there have been "tremendous disinformation campaigns, and people are believing things that are simply not true,"

but it's not just in the red areas where we're having difficulties. We're one of the states with the highest percentage of minority populations. And in some of our urban areas, we have similar challenges. But we're doing really well. And I'm pleased with the results of where we are. It's convincing those last, you know, 19 percent of our people that they've got to take action. That's where we're focused on.

Chuck asked Beshear if there are just some people that won't listen to him, and if he's looking to get others involved in trying to convince folks to get the vaccine. Beshear pointed out that misinformation isn't a red or blue issue, it's a "fact versus fiction, or a sometimes sane versus insane issue."

We are well past, I think ... across America, the populations that are going to listen to a government official and take the vaccine because of it. We're probably past even the point where a local official, a pastor or others. Where I think we're at is where people are going to have to break that Thanksgiving dinner rule. They're going to have to call or go see that person they love and care about that is unvaccinated, and they're going to have to put their relationship with that person on the line because they've never been at greater risk. And I think it's that type of caring, and the person who is willing to do that and to make that sacrifice that will finally get through to those that are not vaccinated. That's what we're seeing here in Kentucky. And we need all Americans to do it. Yes, you might lose a friend because of that conversation.

Next, Chuck said that "it's clear the Biden administration can't speak to those folks that need to be spoken to," referring to supporters of Former Guy, and asked Hogan who should speak to them, and for his advice for the COVID task force on "how to talk to the Trump folks."  Hogan said he's been critical of both the Trump and Biden administrations when he "thought they were bad on messaging" and otherwise not being helpful. 

I mean, we're getting some mixed messaging out of the administration, out of the CDC, the FDA, and the White House. And, you know, we need clear guidance on these booster shots because it undermines, you know, the credibility of it. And so, they came out with -- I guess they slipped and pre-leaked an announcement about booster shots with all three vaccines and then had to backtrack it and say you can only use Pfizer. What about the people that took J&J? What about the people that took Moderna? They haven't messaged properly about how to take care of these breakthrough infections. Like, look, it does prevent hospitalizations and death, or greatly reduce it. But it's not stopping, you know, people from getting breakthrough infections. So, I think the messaging was not clear with either administration. And I think that's one of the ways we've been successful in our state is a clear, direct messaging that people can believe in and listen to. And that's been a problem all over the map.

No argument with Hogan from me on this - messaging has been an issue from the very beginning of the pandemic, both on the side of "let's minimize this so we don't crush the economy" side and on the "OH. EM. GEE. The sky is LITERALLY falling and it going to hit us in the head!" side. And on all the other sides of the pentacontagon. 

The final portion of the interview touched on the Texas abortion bill, which I covered in yesterday's Sunday School post, and on "the larger challenge of polarization," as Chuck described it. I should note that this was the part of the conversation Todd said he was "lifting up" and "going to play political analyst" for, both of which I thought were mildly amusing. 

Both of you have benefited when the other party went too far, right? I could argue that's why you're both governor today. Certainly why you may have a second term, Governor Hogan, and why, Governor Beshear, you're there. Is that the only way to cut through polarization, Governor Hogan? Is when the other party goes too far and then the voters create a check? Is that about it? Because it doesn't seem as if the middle ground gets represented unless one party goes too far.

Hogan said Todd had an "interesting idea, and that it was possible" that's what happened in Maryland. He referenced the 43 consecutive tax increases implemented by his Democratic predecessor), saying "even the Democrats go frustrated" about that.

...but I think right now in America, there are certainly people on both ends of the extremes, on the left and the right, who get all of the attention. The ones that are making the most noise. And that's what we hear about when we're watching television. But about 70% of the people actually just are somewhere in the middle. They're moderate or right of center, left of center. They really want their elected officials to try to figure out a way to do something about this toxic politics. And they want us to work together to come up with real bipartisan, common-sense solutions. Turns out that's the most popular thing in America with most voters.

Regular readers may recall that I've previously referred to Gov. Hogan as my favorite Republican. I don't always agree with him, but I never argue with his understanding of what us purple folks in the middle want: common sense, collaborative efforts from the people we elect. 

Is that where you are on this stuff? Or are you out there in the noisy wings? Let's talk.

See you around campus. 

TGIF 7/17/20

Yay - it's Friday, time to build the good week/bad week list.

Let's start with Georgia, where Gov. Brian Kemp is suing at least one mayor, and threatening to sue others, I guess, for implementing mask orders.

From the article linked above,

Mayors in Atlanta and other Georgia cities deepened their defiance of Gov. Brian Kemp on Thursday, saying their requirements for people to wear face coverings will remain in place, even after the Republican governor explicitly forbade cities and counties from mandating masks... Officials in at least 15 Georgia cities and counties had ordered masks during the coronavirus pandemic, and many were angry at Kemp for swatting down their efforts. 

Kemp's position? Local governments can't make rules that are either more or less restrictive than those of the state, even when the order applies to local property, such as Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson airport. According to the article, Kemp along "leads the State of Georgia in its fight against the worldwide novel coronavirus/COVID-19 pandemic." A fight in which, it would seem, he has laid down his arms and waived his white flag high.

Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms has said

A better use of taxpayer money would be to expand testing and contact tracing. If being sued by the state is what it takes to save lives in Atlanta, then we will see them in court.

Stay tuned on this one.

Staying in the south, let's go to Kentucky, where 87 protesters were arrested and charged with multiple misdemeanors - and a felony for sitting on the lawn at the Attorney General's house, wearing matching masks and t-shirts, chanting "Breonna Taylor, say her name!" and refusing to leave when asked. According to a police spokesman,  in addition to the misdemeanor charges of trespassing and disorderly conduct,

Due to their refusal to leave the property and their attempts to influence the decision of the Attorney General with their actions, each person was charged with Intimidating a Participant in a Legal Process.

Typically, intimidation charge arises when someone is trying to intimidate a judge, victim or witness via a threat of some kind - the stuff we see on TV cop shows - not to trying to 'influence' a politician by peacefully protesting.  And it's interesting to compare the reaction of police to this protest and the one in Frankfort, the state capitol, a few weeks back, where

Carrying American and Confederate flags, around 1,000 demonstrators gathered at the rally in Frankfort, where they denounced Gov. Andy Beshear's "arbitrary" and "unconstitutional" response to the coronavirus pandemic. Speakers at the event — including four state representatives and one state senator, all Republicans — criticized the governor for hurting workers and businesses by refusing to immediately reopen the economy.

Another stark difference with this non-influential protest?"Several protesters wore military-style gear and carried guns... and referred to the governor as "Adolf Beshear."

At yet another protest, a man hung the governor in effigy, which in pretty much any circumstance could be considered a threat or an act of intimidation. He did lose his job, but no charges were filed. On the same day, several protesters went to the governor's mansion, banged on the window and told him to come outside. There, too, it doesn't seem that charges were filed - but a security fence is being built around the mansion, to protect the current and future occupants from those seeking to influence the residents.

And people wonder why other people are upset?

In a lighter vein, if that's the appropriate term to use, Kayleigh McEnany, the president's press secretary, attacked Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot. 

McEnany brought up Lightfoot twice in a recent briefing: first, when she was asked if the president put fighting COVID-19 as his "biggest public priority." McEnany said yeah, he was focusing on that, and other things, "namely, Democrat cities not controlling their streets; namely, the mayor of Chicago — people dying in her — in her — on the streets of her city every weekend. And the President sent her a letter saying, “You must secure your city.”

The second time? Someone asked about police brutality and Trump's CBS interview comments, wondering how he can fix the problem if he doesn't acknowledge it.

I’ve listed for you the names of these kids who have died across this country. It is unacceptable, and under this President, he’ll take action. And the derelict mayor of Chicago should step up and ask for federal help because she’s doing a very poor job at securing her streets.

In response, here's the mayor's tweet. 

And finally, have you heard about the GOP's Rapid Response dude? His name is Steve Guest, and it seems he spends his time trying to attack Dems on Twitter, and getting royally mocked for his efforts.

First, there was his attack on a young Senator Biden, sitting at a Redskins game holding his two young boys in his arms - clearly a loving, doting dad.  Needless to say, the contrast between Biden and Trump in that regard is, well, stark. And the response was swift in response to the now deleted tweet.

More recently, Guest took aim at Senator Elizabeth Warren - not for her DNA challenges, but because she jokingly said that Bailey, her dog, was going to vote for Biden in November.

And everyone believed her, right? I mean, clearly, having your dog vote is a brilliant way to help cheat Donald Trump out of being re-elected, right?

And by everyone, of course, I mean Steve Guest, the Rapid Response guy. Who fired off a tweet calling out the senator for joking about voter fraud, which "is no laughing matter." And he's right.

Voter fraud is no laughing matter. McEnany has voted by mail from her parent's address for years, although she doesn't live there. Vice President Mike Pence voted by mail from the Governor's mansion in Indiana, where we know he doesn't live - and I suspect someone else does live there. And even the president himself tried to use the White House address as his permanent address to vote in Florida. On his second attempt, he used the Mar-a-Lago address, which is a business - not a private residence - which would also be voter fraud.

Anyway, while we're not laughing about Bailey Warren voting, maybe we could get some new business cards made up? You know: Steve Guest, @GOP Vapid Response?

TGIF, everyone.

We Shall Overcome, If We Want To

The eleven innocent victims of Pittsburgh's Tree of Life synagogue shooting have been laid to rest, as has the first of the two lesser-known victims of the Kroger shooting in Jeffersontown, Kentucky; the second is being buried today.

For those of you who may have missed the Kentucky shooting, the victims died from multiple gunshot wounds, shot by a man who later allegedly said to someone in the parking lot, "Don't shoot me. Whites don't shoot whites."

We've learned that before the brazen murders at the grocery store, the suspect apparently tried to enter a predominantly black church. One of the reasons he wasn't able to get into the church was because significant security upgrades were made after the murders at Mother Emanuel in Charleston back in 2015. Cameras. Automatic door locks. That kind of thing.

Robin Young, co-host of Here and Now on NPR, has an interview with Billy Williams, a staff members of the First Baptist Church - it's well worth a listen. You can feel the emotion in this account: what if the shooter had come during a service, when the doors are unlocked? What if I had been here and opened the door when he tried to get in? How do we heal, having lost a parishioner in the shooting?  How do we help, now?

It's not your fault if you didn't hear much about this one. We certainly didn't see the president tweeting about these two innocent Americans. They're not on his radar, and I don't think I'm wrong in saying that they're never going to be: they were killed by a white man, not by a brown-skinned immigrant or gang member. They were black folks in their 60s, not white schoolgirls on Long Island or college age young women from California of the Midwest. Maurice Stallard and Vickie Jones simply don't fit his narrative. He knows it, and we all know it.

Certainly the scope of these two shootings is vastly different, even though they have the common denominator of hate as a root cause. The shock of what happened in Pittsburgh - 11 Jewish victims, one a 97 year old Holocaust survivor; a synagogue literally (not just Joe Biden literally) in Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, for Pete's sake. We handled the vandalism at cemeteries and bomb threats at Jewish organizations and schools (including multiple incidents at the JCC in my area) pretty well, and moved quickly past those, but this? This knocked us off our feet.

We thought we had expressed enough collective rage and outrage over the shootings and loss of life in Charleston; we expressed more after the shooting in Sutherland Springs, Texas back in 2017, although that had no racial or religious motive; and now we offer up more rage and outrage on behalf of the victims at Tree of Life.

Flags were ordered lowered to half mast in honor of those lost in Pittsburgh, as happened in honor of those lost in Sutherland Springs. No similar respect was ordered for the Kroger victims. It would have been respectful, but I don't think it's necessary.

We have a problem in America - well, several, if we're honest with ourselves and each other, including a gun problem.  And before you yell at me, I included that link not to make this about guns, but because that post touches on a lot of other things we do to exacerbate the problems that guns in the wrong hands create.

But it's bigger than the weapon - it's the weaponizing of hate, the purposeful weaponizing of hate, that we really need to solve. And that requires admitting we do it; calling out those who purposely fan the flames; refusing to accept their denials; and individually committing to making it stop.

Lowering flags for a couple of days is one thing. Lifting up hearts and filling them with love for those lost, for their families, their churches and synagogues, and for all of us, that we find a way to end the hate, is not limited to a Presidential Order time frame. It will long outlast that act, if we do it right.

And we can do it right, if we want to. We just have to want to.