Today’s will be another of my quick hit articles. I want to comment on several recent events and tidbits I picked up in my reading.

It’s All About The Money And Always Has Been

The image of Donald Trump as Mr. Republican is laughable and always has been. His core supporters are about as traditional Republican as he is – not much! If that wasn’t already abundantly clear to you the events of the last few days should make it so.

At CPAC 2021 he told the audience to donate to him not the GOP. Then he sent a cease and desist letter to the RNC, RCCC and RNSC – the three major fundraising and campaign financing arms of the Republican Party – demanding they stop using his name and image in their fundraising appeals. Can you image President Obama demanding the comparable Democratic Party organizations cease using his name and picture? I can’t.

It appears the rift may have been mended when the RNC moved part of a function for deep pocket donors to Mar-a-Lago. The Don got his beak wet and he is placated for now anyway.

Four, Now Five, Maybe Seven

The rats are leaving the sinking ship. For all their bravo about taking back the Senate the actions of several of the inside players reveal more than a bit of uncertainty. Monday Roy Blunt of Missouri became the fifth Republican Senator whose seat is up in 2022 to announce he will not seek another term. He joins Richard Burr of North Carolina, Rob Portman of Ohio, Richard Shelby of Alabama and Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania. The Alabama seat is about as safe as they come but the other four states, while leaning red, are purple. They all represent possible flip opportunities for the Democrats.
Chuck Grassley of Iowa and Ron Johnson of Wisconsin are on the watch list. Both of those states are purple. The biggest thing the Republicans have going for them in 2022 is that it is a mid-term elections and Democrats have a lousy history of turning out in mid-term elections.

It’s tough for a team to give the opposition that many “scoring chances” when they are already behind. Being in the minority isn’t much fun especially if you think you will be stuck there for a few more years.

Minimum Legislation

The fight for $15 continues. How this one will end is something I won’t hazard a prediction at. However, I did find something astounding in my recent reading. Five states (Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina and Tennessee) do not have a minimum wage law. If it weren’t for a federal minimum wage law you could pay an employee as little as a penny an hour and be within the law. Explain to me how that is fair or in the public interest.

Mandatory Skill Demonstration

Unusual for a liberal I actually defend the Second Amendment rights of most Americans. I just want some common sense regulations. Among them is I’d like to see a demonstration of ability as part of the gun owning process. This is a great way to incorporate the gun groups like the NRA in the process. Who better to teach the classes and administer the exams?

To prove the need for my proposed provision I will site a statistic I found incredible: Suicide attempts involving a gun have a success rate of 85%. That means 15% fail. If you can’t get an unmolested shot at point blank range to hit its mark you are not in control of your gun.

It’s Worse Than I Thought

There are so many incidents of bad policing, many resulting in wrongful deaths, that most of us cannot remember the names of the victims. I will plead to being among the guilty. In 2019 only 27 of the 365 days passed without at least one police shooting resulting in the death of a citizen. That is less than 7.4% of the days.

Especially for a liberal I am one of the great defenders of front line law enforcement. It’s a difficult job that calls for a lot of split second decision for which the officer is often inadequately prepared. I’m certain many of the killings were regrettable but good shoots. But an almost daily event? Reform is in order.

That’s enough for today. I got a few things off my chest.

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