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Tag Archives: Barack Obama

World’s confidence in US leadership under Trump at new low, poll finds

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  • In just under half of the world’s countries – 65 out of 134 – US standing collapsed, by 10 percentage points or more.
In just under half of the world’s countries – 65 out of 134 – US standing collapsed, by 10 percentage points or more. Photograph: Kham/AFP/Getty Images

 

  • Approval for US falls to 30% from 48% under Obama

  • ‘Historic low’ of Gallup poll ‘sets a new bar for disapproval’

 

By: Julian Borger/UK Guardian

Global confidence in US leadership has fallen to a new low, and the country now ranks below China in worldwide approval ratings, according to a new Gallup poll.

The survey of opinion in 134 countries showed a record collapse in approval for the US role in the world, from 48% under Obama to 30% after one year of Donald Trump – the lowest level Gallup has recorded since beginning its global leadership poll over a decade ago.

The result comes after a separate Gallup survey found that Trump reaches the first anniversary of his inauguration with the lowest average approval rating of any elected president in his first year.

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That poll showed that Trump has averaged just a 39% approval rating since his inauguration. The previous low was held by Bill Clinton, whose first-year average was 10 points higher than Trump’s, at 49%.

The latest study confirms some of the worst fears of foreign policy analysts in the US and Europe that Trump’s “America first” approach, combined with his volatile and irascible personality, is weakening cohesion among western democracies in the face of a growing challenge from autocracies in Russia and China, and the rise of illiberal democracies and xenophobic nationalism inside Europe.

Germany is now seen as a global leader by many more people (41% of the sample), with China in second place on 31%. Russia has 27% approval for its global role according to the poll.

In just under half of the world’s countries – 65 out of 134 – US standing collapsed, by 10 percentage points or more. Some of the biggest losses were among Washington’s closest allies in western Europe, Australia and Latin America.

 

“This year marks a significant change in our trends,” wrote Gallup’s managing partner, Jon Clifton. “Only 30% of the world, on average, approves of the job performance of the US’s leadership, down from 48% in 2016. In fact, more people now disapprove of US leadership than approve. This historic low puts the US’s leadership approval rating on par with China’s and sets a new bar for disapproval.”

As part of his “America First” policy, Trump took the US out several multilateral agreements on the grounds they did not serve national interests, including the proposed Trans-Pacific trade partnership and the Paris Climate Change accord. He walked out of talks on a new trade and investment deal with Europe and has threatened to leave the North American Free Trade Agreement with Canada and Mexico.

Approval of US leadership climbed by 10% or more in only four countries: Belarus, Israel, Macedonia and Liberia. It increased moderately in Russia, the former Soviet states in central Asia and parts of west Africa.

Trump’s first year in office has aroused particular intense antipathy. Gallup found that the median of worldwide disapproval of US leadership has hit a new record of 43%, higher than disapproval of Russia (36%), China (30%) or Germany (25%).

The US has fallen below China in the Gallup global poll once before, in the last year of the George W Bush administration in 2008, but both the US and China were significantly more popular then than they are now.

The collapse in support is particularly dramatic in Canada and Latin America, where 49% approved of the Obama administration’s leadership, with 27% disapproval in 2016. After Trump’s first year, the ratings graph has scissored sharply, with only 24% now expressing faith in US leadership – a new low – and 58% disapproving.

The Gallup report said that China, which has overtaken the US as the leading trading partner in parts of Latin America, “may be positioned to take further advantage”. It’s approval rating across the Americas is four percentage points higher than the US, but disapproval is much lower at 35%. Many Latin Americans have not made up their minds about Chinese influence.

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Daniel Drezner, a professor at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy said that the most serious finding was the severe drop in approval for US leadership in the world’s democracies.

He said: “Elected leaders care what their publics think about the United States. These numbers will make it harder for those leaders to publicly cooperate with the Trump administration – even when it might be in their interest to do so.”

However, Mike Gonzalez at the Heritage Foundationsaid the poll was probably more about personal factors and that the reality was not as dire as the numbers suggested.

“It is difficult to interpret this polling result as anything other than a visceral reaction to Donald Trump. In reality, this administration has devoted itself to renewing and rebuilding alliances which had been neglected for years, from Great Britain to Japan to various partners in eastern Europe,” Gonzalez said.

“While China has consistently attempted to expand its global reach, it still has no soft power – worldwide, there is no Chinese version of blue jeans, cinema, TV shows, way of life, music, and the like. There are no 700 million people wanting to move to China. President Xi’s ‘Chinese Dream’ is a transparent attempt to mimic the American model.”

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daring to listen (Political Addition)

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Image result for divided government

Lets be clear the nation IS divided.  It’s Democrats against the Republicans and Fox News against other cable networks.

The polarization between the two parties has grinded our government to halt, our government isn’t working.  Most of the states have closed primaries not only binding the hands of voters but severely limit the reach of politicians.

The polarization has spilled over into our daily lives with some Democrats believing  Republicans are inherently evil and Republicans believe Democrats are attempting to eliminate traditions and values they hold dear.

At a resent social event, a gentleman announced his family would LEAVE if there were any Republicans there.

She watches MSNBC and can’t be trusted.  He’s clearly a right winger, because he watches Fox News, they all are.

Throughout my travels it’s not uncommon for people I know to say.  Why are you going there?  Its dangerous for black people or I wouldn’t visit that state because they are (fill in blank)  The reality is most of these people who have developed these strong opinions have never visited these places.  Or get all their information from one source.   They make their decisions based on rumors or wise tales ” I know this women who went there and “

If its printed it has to be true.

It isn’t difficult to manipulate people who rely on one source for their information. Fewer people read newspapers today, the credibility of the stories created by the organization. can damage that organization.

There is no such standard online.     An blog say Sacratomatoville post can create a story and that can be shared with millions of people within minutes.  Only a very small segment on social media fact checks a story with a few established media outlets they simply share the story.

Last year a blogger created at story that accused Hillary Clinton was running  a child sex ring out of a Pizzeria in Washington DC. One man was arrested for firing a gun into the restaurant.  A poll conducted by Public Policy Polling on December 6–7, 2016, asked 1,224 U.S. registered voters if they thought Hillary Clinton was “connected to a child sex ring being run out of a pizzeria in Washington DC?” The poll showed that 9% said that they did believe she was connected, 72% said they did not.     The Russians were very astute as there are millions of Americans who get most of their news via social media, manipulation isn’t difficult.

Everyday People

Last year I visited 17 states .  I left the interstate and got lost on the smaller highways and roads linking rural communities. Visited places like Ozuna,Texas, Missoula, Montana, and Clines Corners, New Mexico.  You get a good sense of what the community issues are at local a non-chain restaurant.  Where some of the locals gather everyday, you hear their opinions about local and national issues.

One man in a restaurant  didn’t see me in the diner in Sweetwater Texas when he said “that Nigger Obama has ruined his country.  While he didn’t didn’t noticed the 6.4 350 pound black man, everyone else did.   One waitress said, she thought he was a good man .   Most of the conversations ended in the restaurant as the patrons waited  for my reaction.   I continued to read my book and eventually things returned to normal.

The man who made the comment, stood by my table and slowly apologized for calling Obama  a nigger.  He just didn’t like him, he was too high and mighty.  He wanted to take away  guns from good law biding people. He has had a gun since he was six year old.  Everybody in his town did, its how people lived in small towns.  He made it clear that he didn’t hate black people and he wasn’t prejudiced or anything like that .  He knew all black people voted and loved Obama.  He just didn’t like all things he changed around, notably “Gay Marriage.  He said, he didn’t hate the gay people, he just believed marriage was between a man and a women.   He said he had no faith in the Supreme Court because they get everything they want and they ignore God believing people.

Before we knew it, he was sitting at my table exchanging views.   He knew I was from California because of my accent and that I was educated because I sound like the blacks on TV.      We talked about Gay Marriage, crime, Donald Trump ,  black lives matter (he supported Ted Cruz and had a thought Ben Carson was a decent black man) .

I learned the world was moving too fast for him.  He grew up in a world a personal checks and pay phones.   Throughout the conversation he kept apologizing for saying nigger in my presence.  It was Black people who helped pull big truck out of the mud during a downpour.  Even though he will never visit California, especially San Francisco.  We sort of had a meeting of the minds. That gay people being married wont affect him or his family.  We learned from each other, no opinions were changed but we both left with greater understanding and respect.

I met many amazing people in 2016 in places I wouldn’t imagined and made a few friends along the way.   My only agenda was to listen, not to convert.  Every person, town or community has a story.  Being a very curious person, I simply wanted to hear the story.

In 2018, I hope to have an extended visit in the south and to visit Appalachia.

“Dare to Listen”

I believe its important to hear the other side.     We can learn from many things from anyone at anytime.  If we dare to listen freely and without judgement.

Until enough of us are willing to hear the other side , we will continue to be divided.

CityFella

 

John McCain: Honor at no extra charge

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My mother said dont, send me flowers after I’m gone.  For months,I had planned to write about Senator John McCain a man I have admired since 2008.  Being the master procastinator I am, I’ve waitied until what could be his final days.

Perhaps service wasn’t an option for John Sidney McCain III.  His father,   John Sidney McCain jr and his grandfather John McCain Sr were Admirals.   Everyone knows of his heroic service, capture and torture by the Vietnamese.

I became a fan of John McCain in 2008 when he was running against Barack Obama.  After defeating Hillary Clintion in the primaries, I chose to support Obama.

I always loved politics.  Politicians generally play it safe, playing to audience where they have support.  John McCain got my full attention when he visited Memphis Tennessee to commemorate the death of Martin Luther King Jr.      Congressman McCain, voted against establishing a holiday for Dr King, saying it wasn’t nessarary to have another federal holiday, it was too expensive and other “President’s ‘ weren’t recoginized.  In fact, Arizona did not honor the holiday until in 1993.

So there he was in Memphis, courting black voters, having a press conference at the Lorraine Motel where Dr King was killed.   There he was in hostile territory being booed and heckled.  He said he was wrong for voting against the holiday.

Now some may say his trip to Memphis was a desperate attempt to woo black voters, others a photo opt.   But I don’t remember a single politician attending an  event where he knew, he would face an hostile audience.  John McCain did!

   I later learned he often stood alone. This was evident at a rally where one of his supporters said “I can’t trust Obama. I have read about him,  he’s an Arab.”  Most politicians would have been silent.   But the Gentleman from Arizona corrected her.  He said his opponate was a decent family man, a citizen that he just happen to have disagreements with on fundamental issues.   “He is a decent person and a person that you do not have to be scared of as President ,”  “If I didn’t think I’d be one heck of a better President I wouldn’t be running, and that’s the point. I admire Sen. Obama and his accomplishments, I will respect him. I want everyone to be respectful, and let’s make sure we are. Because that’s the way politics should be conducted in America.   

This wasn’t well received by members of his campaign committee and members of his party. In fact, he was bood by some of his supporters in the audience.

I began following the man who was often a thorn for some in his party.  A man who was well respected on both sides of the aisle.

The Senator, the Gentleman from Arizona, stood alone aganist his party as he was one of the few who challenged our current President.  His loyality to the people outweighed his loyalty to his party.    

Again, some might say its personal.  The candidate said he wasn’t a hero.  But those who know McCain, say’s it isn’t personal, its John McCain.

These are ugly times in the nation, our leaders have openly participated in dividing a nation.  It’s grade school , where if your his friend, he can’t be mine! Leaders of the parties have said you will NOT be seen socializing or talking to members of the other party.

John McCain(Republican) and former Vice President Joe Biden’s(Democrat) friendship has lasted nearly 40 years

A few months ago, he was diagnosed with an aggressive tumor called glioblastoma a brain tumor.   It was the same tumor that took Biden’s son Drew in 2015.

Biden appeared on ” The View” Wednesday.  McCain daughter Megan is one of the panelist.   Taking her hand he said “One of the things that gave Beau courage was John. You may remember, when you were a little kid, your dad took care of my Beau. Beau talked about your dad’s courage. Not about the illness, but about his courage.”

Vice President Biden,breifly talked about his best friend, the disagreements they’ve had through the years and how solid that friendship is today.

The days have been difficult for the McCain family. After the dianoses, others may have retired, but they aren’t John McCain.   Staffers senses he’s tired, but he smiles and tells jokes.

I have long admired mavericks, individuals who aren’t rubber stamps.  There aren’t enought of them.  It inst easy to stand alone and disagree.  It takes a lot of courage. There are few John McCains in the world.  I hope he survives for personal reasons.  America needs him RIGHT NOW!

I try not to live my life assuming.  Assuming that they know.   Using real words, I tell my family and those in my circle I care for them, I love them.   As my mother said, at the funeral its a bit late.  

This is simply a check list for me, all self serving.   I will never meet Senator McCain and he will never see this blog about him and how much I admire him as an invidudual.   All the best to him and his family.

   Check!

CityFella

Judy Reyher The Lovely Racist

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Image result for judy reyher

 

There is quite a bit of fake news out there.  Some of the news created by my fellow bloggers is fake. A portion of the story is based on fact and the other part is pure fiction.  Some of us cut and paste stories we think our followers might find interesting.  Not all of us fact check.    I’ve been guilty of pasteing a story that was untrue.    There was a story a few years back about Justin Bieber being pummeled by a baseball player.  It was the time when Bieber was a staple in the media for acting out.   One of my friends who has a very popular blog called me and said the story I posted was false. I removed it.

A few months ago I found a story about one of the housewives, it was from a fairly reliable tabloid blog, but the story was false.  A friend of one of the housewives called me and told me the story was complete fiction.  I didn’t remove it because it was a popular story.   Its all about the traffic and I need all the traffic I can get.   But it didn’t sit well with me.  Credibility.

Every now and then someone working for a national news source sees a story that seems credible and to beat the other networks they put the story on he air without checking all the dots.  This brings me to the Lovely Racists  , I’ve seen this story about a woman who hates blacks ,Democrats and Muslims on social media for a few days. After a bit of research she’snot fake news, she’s a real honest to goodness racist.

I will have to assume there was not enough space for her story on Cable news.  With The Donald, throwing shiny balls in the air to distract us from RUSSIA! and the hourly sexual harassment scandals and Ray ( if your 14 and you know it-sit with me!) Moore election saga, there was no room for the Lovely Racist.

The lovely woman in the picture is Judy Reyher she is the newest member in Congress representing Colorado’s 47th District.  She replaced Clarice Navarro who gave up her seat in Congress to work with the Trump Administration.

Reyher is from Swink, Colorado a town of 700 people near the southeast corner of the state.

The former Otero County GOP chair, won the appointment to Navarro’s seat on a 6-5 vote.   A few days later her opponent, Tamra Axworthy, challenged the results of the vacancy election, a Republican legislator told Reyher to expect a primary, a progressive organization was calling on her to step aside before being sworn in, she was apologizing for social media posts some found “offensive and racist,” the state GOP chairman called Reyher to express his “displeasure and disagreement” with her social media posts, and the state Democratic Party was urging Republicans to replace her on next year’s ballot.

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 The Word is Vet

(make a ding sound in your head)
(verb) 1.make a careful and critical examination of (something).
Ms Reyher has had (lets call them special views) for many years.  Not sure how the Republican Committee missed them. Ms Reyher isn’t a shrinking violet.

A blogger reviewed her controversial posts on her Facebook account .  Where are lovely racist called   African-Americans “hatred filled beings,”and one saying that Muslims came to America to “make certain we stop enjoying . pork, beer, dogs, bikinis, Jesus and freedom of speech.”   There were quite a few that questioned whether Barack Obama was born in the United States

Duh!  we didn’t know?

Jeff Hays, the chairman of the state Republican Party,  reportedly”called her and expressed his displeasure and disagreement in no uncertain terms,”

In a statement, however, Hays said he wouldn’t be the “arbiter of controversial statements, however ridiculous or offensive.

According to The Denver Post. Her posts were first criticized in 2016, and garnered new attention after her appointment last week.

Come on Judy, Tell us how you really feel! 

In an interview with The Denver Post’s Jesse Paul, Reyher said that “the black community and the Democrats are the most racist group of people that exist,” adding that blacks “hate white people with a passion.”

Regarding Muslims,  “If they hate everything we stand for, what the hell they doing here other than to destroy us as a country?”

Reyher says nothing she has said about Obama has had anything to do with race — “I hated the black half of Obama as much as I hated the white half” — and that she doesn’t have blanket beliefs about any group of people.

“I’m not going to be painted into what they consider their corner,” she told The Post. “Nothing that I have posted has been against Muslims. It’s been against the terrorists. Nothing that I have posted is anywhere near racist. That has become the game word of the Democrat community, to say anybody that gets in their way. I am in a seat that they are targeting.

“I just am not going to stand for this stuff being thrown at me because they don’t like me,” she said. “… We’re not mistreating anyone.”   Democrats are after her seat in

state legislature. “I am here today to inform all the hate-filled left wingers that I am not backing down and will serve the great people of my district with both distinction and fervor,” she said. “The far left is so desperate to win my seat that they have concocted a ridiculous narrative of racism and hate.”””

 

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After the first Denver Post interview ,there was a firestorm .

 “I would like to apologize for the comments or posts on Facebook that have been found offensive and racist. However, the fact of the matter is, I am not a racist. This country was founded by immigrants, and I embrace all Americans, no matter their walk of life. Diversity is what makes America, America.” She added, “These claims of racism by the Denver Post are absolutely deplorable, and I will not be distracted by them.

She voiced the same belief in a post about Michelle Obama that has since been deleted, writing that she is “evil personified with the power to brainwash our youth and feel good about it” as well as “one of the biggest racists ever to live.”

On her Facebook page, Reyher has reposted a meme questioning why Muslims come to the U.S. if they “hate pork, beer, bikinis, Jesus and freedom of speech.” Another that she shared said: “White Irish slaves were treated worse than any other race in the U.S. When was the last time you heard an Irishman (complaining) how the world owes them a living?”

The Post noted that it hadn’t labeled Reyher a racist.

The lovely Ms Reyher will run for her seat next year

 

CityFella

4 out of 5 choosy Former Grand Wizards of the Klu Klux Klan choose Trump

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Crazy Right? 

He’s come unhinged again, but its not the Muslims or the Fake Fake Media or Obama’s birth certificate.   It’s Mikey Flynn and Russia! Russia! Russia!  Who is Mueller and Company gonna call next?  Its the great unknown and he has no control and the Prez is FREAKING OUT!!!    If only he could say, off with their heads!

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The Prez is playing directly to his ever shrinking base. Some Ultra Conservatives who believe immigrants are the downfall of America especially Muslims who are inherently evil and wants to kill Americans.  Anyone named “Obama” cant be an American?

 

Trumpy Hate’s Joe Scarborough

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If there is one name in news Prez Trump mentions over and over with so much venom its Joe Scarborough at MSNBC.   The truth is he wants the former and highly respected Congressman from Florida respect more than any other news personality.

The former conservative republican is highly respected by current and former politicians on both sides on the aisle.    He is less of a fan of his co-anchor and fiance Mika Brezinski who some consider a liberal democrat.

Yesterday the Prez in a tweet, floated a conspiracy theory surrounding the 2001 death of one of the congressional aides who worked for Joe Scarborough.

News at 11

Not Funny

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Most of the world has caught on to the Trump Show and his distractions. What makes some of us nervous is, what lengths will he take to distract us from Russia?

 

CityFella

 

 

Dakota Pipeline: Too Hot For Hillary and Donald?

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People against the Dakota Access Pipeline chant in opposition on August 11, 2016, at a site where a roadway was being constructed to begin the process of building the pipeline.

Picure:Politico

As Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton spar over African Americans, Hispanics and medical records.  Real issues are taking place all over the the country.

Transfer Partners, a Texas based company is constructing a pipeline from North Dakota to Illinois.  The Dakota Access is a 1,170-mile pipeline that would, at peak capacity, deliver up to 570,000 barrels of Bakken crude oil  daily.

On August 10th, protest began in North Dakota. Native Americans from reservations across the United States joined the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe’s protest against a 1,100-mile, $3.8 billion four-state oil pipeline.

The Power of Social Media

While the story has garnered little attention on the main stream media.  It has grown via Social media.  Tribal residents were joined by fossil fuel protesters demonstrating against the pipeline at construction sites.    Protest have grown from a few hundred to thousands. On August 19th, North Dakota Governor Dalrymple declared a State of Emergency.  A federal judge issuing a restraining order against new protests.

To date ,27 protesters have been arrested. Amnesty International representatives have arrived to monitor the response of law enforcement to the protesters.

The Issue

 Water

It would be catastrophic should the pipeline leaked or burst.  The pipeline could disturb sacred sites and impact drinking water for 8,000 tribal members.  The pipeline crosses the Missouri river and could effect farmers and millions who depend on it downstream.

The Standing Rock tribe has opposed the Dakota Access pipeline when they learned about it in 2014. Although federal law requires the Corps of Engineers to consult with the tribe about its sovereign interests, permits for the project were approved and construction began without meaningful consultation.

The Dakota Access pipeline was fast-tracked from Day 1 using the Nationwide Permit No. 12 process, which grants exemption from environmental reviews required by the Clean Water Act and the National Environmental Policy Act by treating the pipeline as a series of small construction sites. And unlike the better-known Keystone XL project, which was finally canceled by the Obama administration last year, the Dakota Access project does not cross an international border — the condition that mandated the more rigorous federal assessment of the Keystone pipeline’s economic justification and environmental impacts.(New York Times)

The Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of the Interior and the National Advisory Council on Historic Preservation supported more protection of the tribe’s cultural heritage, but the Corps of Engineers and Energy Transfer Partners turned a blind eye to our rights. The first draft of the company’s assessment of the planned route through our treaty and ancestral lands did not even mention our tribe.

Beyond legal issues, though, the tribe has raised cultural objections to the pipeline, calling it the latest slight from companies and governments seeking to profit off of natural resources on or near tribal lands.

Too Hot For Donald and Hillary?

Thirty-one groups sent a letter to the White House on Thursday, asking President Obama to block the final permits needed for Dakota Access and revoke those already issued.

Clinton says she supports the Indian community and yet has been silent on the Dakota pipeline. Trump said as president he would resuscitate the Keystone pipeline.   North Dakota Governor Jack Dalrymple, serves as an adviser to the Trump campaign.

Green President candidate Jill Stein

Last week in a press release Bernie Sanders said: The Dakota Access fracked oil pipeline, will transport some of the dirtiest fuel on the planet. Regardless of the court’s decision, the Dakota Access pipeline must be stopped. As a nation, our job is to break our addiction to fossil fuels, not increase our dependence on oil. I join with the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and the many tribal nations fighting this dangerous pipeline.

There is a rally planned in Washington this week celebrities Susan Sarandon, Riley Keough and Shailene Woodley say they will attend.

This story is growing. Downstream from North Dakota are the metro areas of Omaha Nebraska ,Kansas City and St Louis Missouri.  A leak, a terrorist attack on the pipeline could effect millions of voters.

Developers hope to get Dakota Access up and running by Jan 1. It has halted construction work amid protests and while it waits for final permitting to come through.

How long can Clinton and Trump remain silent on this issue?

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The day After New York

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Forget the second or third largest state. New York was the ‘If you can make it here?” State!

An outsider, who entered politics in the seventies. Running for the President of the United States in his seventies.  His  views and opinions are considered extreme by members of his own party.  During the early months he was ignored by the media.  But his message appealed to a non traditional voting bloc, voters under 30.

His anti-establishment views ,defending the importance of free enterprise and the limited role of government appealed to this group. He ignited this group, who’s enthusiasm grew by the week.   This appeal, initially ignored by the other candidates was rapidly gaining ground and by spring it was clear, he owned this bloc of voters . Not only did they pledge their allegiance to him, they opened their wallets in large numbers.

In 2008, Ron Paul ran for President as a Republican.Twelve years earlier he was a Libertarian.  His presence annoyed Mitt Rooney, John McCain  and most of the GOP establishment. His team used You Tube and Social Media (a technology underused by the GOP) to help spread his message. Donations to his campaign though small, kept him in the race through June.

Ron Paul did not endorse any GOP candidates in 2008, preferring third party candidates.  If someone within the Republican Party brokered a deal with Paul as the Democrats did with Howard Dean in 2005, 2012 may have had a different outcome.

In 2004, the former Governor of Vermont campaign appealed to younger voters.  Many Democrats considered Dean an outsider.  But Dean’s campaign could not be ignored, and his non traditional campaign utilizing the net and social media was the foundation of Obama’s 2008 Presidential bid.

Not Yet

Bernie Sanders is the ticket, his campaign is drawing thousands. People want to be near him and feel the bern.   As for drawing power there  isn’t a close second this political season he is the Rock Star.   Like Ron Paul ,those large crowds and the enthusiasm does’t necessarily translates into votes.

Lynn Vavreck, a professor of political science at UCLA, noted that it was early in the election cycle and that support for Sanders may not translate to votes.  “Just because people are interested, it does not mean people will actually cast a ballot in support,” Vavreck said. “People showing up for these rallies have a strong interest in politics. They’re not average voters, who are barely tuned in to the election at this point.”

Larry Sabato, director of the University of Virginia Center for Politics, and two associates, “It’s important to remember that crowd size fundamentally doesn’t matter much. Comparisons between how large one candidate’s crowd is compared to another are ripe for misunderstanding.”

They cite 2012, “when press reports and GOP partisans frequently mentioned the large numbers that Mitt Romney was drawing on the campaign trail. Did this end up mattering? Obama won the popular vote by about 5 million votes. “

Bernie Sanders isn’t going to sing anytime soon.  He has loyal followers who will finance him to the Convention.  Like Paul, he has a large following and if current polling holds true, only one in four Bernie supporters will vote for Hillary in the fall.
Sanders is an outsider, like Paul he changed his party affiliation from Independent to Democrat to run for President.  Like Paul, he has little support from the establishment in the Democratic Party.    However, the Democrat’s needs to regain those voters who enthusiastically supported Obama in 2008.

Real Change Happens from the Bottom up

Many of the young voters who supported Obama in 2008 are disappointed many are still waiting for the Change he promised.   Many of those young voters are disillusioned and have walked way from politics.
In an ideal world, those voters would have participated in local and state races.  This is where real change happens.   However, most of the members of the House and Senate have been in office for decades and holding on to power is the goal.   These (establishment) politicians have prevented change on both sides of the aisle and will continue until there is change from the bottom up.
In 2005 Howard Dean became the chair Democratic National Committee (DNC) he held that position for four years.
If the DNC is wise, they would broker a deal with Bernie Sanders. Again like Paul, many of his supporters would follow him.
The real failure of Ron Paul, was not using his appeal to generate interest in the Libertarian  Party.

Yes The System is Rigged

The are local, state and Convention rules for the Delegates. The objective is control over members of the two parties.  Its important that are choices are limited to Skippy or Jif.

The top of the ticket is important for the make up of the Supreme Court..
American are angry!   For eight years we are hostages in the war of  Rhetoric and ideologies.    Unfortunately most people believe its the President who has the power.
In the red states if you are poor, Obamacare isn’t an option. Many counties are without clinics and people are without medical care.   If you are a woman,your legal right to have an choice has been stripped away  with new laws intending to make it difficult for physicians and their patients are on the books. Texas the second largest state in the country with over 26 million people has less than 6 clinics.
If you are Gay or Trangendered your civil rights have been stripped and businesses  can legally fire you for being Gay.  In resent weeks some states have added new law that further restricts the LGBT community.
Stagnation plagues many of the blue states.  Internal issues power struggles within the Democrats prevents movement within the states.  Lost in the middle is  adequate funding for education, repair roadways and polices that will attract business.
The President can not change these policies that adversely affects Americans. These changes can only happen when we change the make up state and local politicians.
The Day After New York expect more of the same.
CityFella
Sources: (Larry Sabato)
(Lynn Vavreck)
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