Friends, on this week's Newsmaker Show with me and Brian O'Neil, we consider the question: can Joe Biden go the distance, given his (hilarious) gaffes, which seem to occur on an almost daily basis? As Brian pointed out, Tucker Carlson has dismissed the idea that Biden could be the nominee. I'm not so sure. Biden benefits from the fact that his gaffes are either ignored or shrugged off by the media, which would never question his basic humanity, decency, and intelligence. That sort of treatment, needless to say, is reserved for Republicans, and at the moment Donald Trump is sucking down the vast majority of media scorn as though he were the journalistic equivalent of a black hole. I believe, therefore, that Biden can win the Democratic nomination, and he can win the presidency. Anyone who underestimates him does so at his own peril. Having said all that, if I were a betting man I'd wager on Elizabeth Warren at this stage. She has the crazed look in her eyes that makes progressives go weak in the knees. To put it another way, she is every bit as sanctimonious as her own supporters, and that gives her a natural edge over the old political hand, Uncle Joe. Can she shake off Bernie, though, and can she connect with minority voters? Those are the $64,000 and $128,000 questions, respectively.
In addition, Brian and I talk about: whether Antifa is a terrorist organization, where our lack of civility may be taking us as a nation, the future of U.S.-Israel relations in light of "the Squad's" anti-Zionism, and the prospects for a recession.
Historically, we cover the 1940 murder of Leon Trotsky in Mexico by Stalinist agents, Saddam Hussein's mustache, the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968 and the legacy of Leonid Brezhnev, Hawaiian statehood and the future of statehood in our divided country, and the contrast between anger and unrest in the United States in the Vietnam War era and today.
Don't miss it!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rcAIuAcDt8M&feature=youtu.be
Dr. Waddy: Trotsky: Things weren't going too well for the world in 1940 but at least the passing of that evil, murderous man, who was ready to enslave the entire world, was a benefit. Imagine if he had prevailed over Stalin, who for awhile at least pursued "Socialism in One Country". Cold War might have gotten hot real quick like.
ReplyDeleteWhat an execrable system Communism was. How lamentable that so many lives were ruined by it. It was imposed and kept alive by raw force only, to the unimaginable degradation of the lives of those unfortunates bound to live under its government.
Except, that is, for Comrade Leonid, (and all of his ilk) who by then, I think, knew that Communism was a sham but sure wasn't about to give his collection of 100+ cars, sumptuous diet and palatial surroundings. And if the Czechs were as foolish as to threaten the security of his regime, "Why then we crush!" Just imagine how the Czechs felt when East German troops(of all nationalities that!)rolled in in 1968. What an obscenity that system was and to think some Americans think it was peachy keen.
Dr. Waddy: The way I remember it: The divisiveness of the late 60's and early '70's was profoundly shocking. A good example; the looks on the faces of those students as they charged the National Guard at Kent State - pure hatred - for American troops! That would have been unimaginable in the '50's. Yet I do not remember speculation that radicals could actually take over the country. That also would have been unthinkable.
ReplyDeleteBut today? We have already put a probable Marxist in the White House and very nearly put another one back there (after her "co-Presidency"). Openly declared Communists served in Obama's administration.Confirmed far leftists like Sanders, Warren Harris, etc have a real chance of being nominated and even being elected! Far leftist Governors in NY and CA are giving us harrowing previews of the contempt fully empowered radical executives blithely display for the real America.
Dr. Waddy: To continue: Sorry my fellow boomers but I think it was this way; so many of those draft office ravaging types were simply boomers who didn't want to be drafted and saw a way out by destroying the draft system. Yeah, the Greatest Generation didn't WANT to be drafted, for the most part, but they did their duty; they would never have considered the profound shame far too many of their children brought upon themselves. (That said, the majority of the boomers did do the right thing; if they were sincere then they underwent the honorable conscientious objector process).
ReplyDeleteDr. Waddy: I share your concern about the possibility of greatly increased political violence should the left react to losing in 2020 by losing its mind. I expect much of it to give up even its present obviously disingenuous participation in our legal and electoral process and go underground.This could have the gravest of consequences; our country could fly apart.The prospect of that is more plausible than it was in the '60's because the left, which ever purposes the destruction of America and its "transformation" into a Marxist dictatorship, has set down roots deep in the fabric of our national life. On the other hand, the real America will NEVER abide its own destruction. In the '60's the left had not had the time and the opportunity to do its evil groundwork and that makes me think the ever increasing distrust and division we see today is far more ominous than that of the "60's.
ReplyDeleteDr. Waddy: The squad: Its simple, this 72 year old mind, which has been paying attention since 1960, thinks. Much (not all to be sure) of antiIsrael conviction is motivated by essential and time detested ANTISEMITISM. And the Squad is of that execrable sort. They should be run out of Congress and the public life of America and that they are supported extensively is indicative of a shameful countenance of that ancient and essentially, fundamentally evil prejudice infecting and polluting far too many of our decision makers. American support for Israel should be a source of intense public pride in our country for its support for Israeli courage and that nation's unstinting manifestation of the high, high civilization of the Jewish people. The Squad professes atavistic and unspeakably crude contempt for this. I applaud Israel for rejecting them . Yes, it may have been a bumptious attempt by the Squad to motivate Congressional hostility to Israel. Good luck on that ! You Squad, you have so much to learn and you are so blissfully comfortable in your ignorance.
ReplyDeleteDr.Waddy: Tom Reed says he will serve only 12 years and I believe him ( though I think our district will be so much the poorer without him). But I hope he will then resolve to unseat the dictator Cuomo. That is, unless, Mayor Rudolph, the fearless oppressor of organized and street crime, the ideal candidate, finally runs. Either one of them would be such a God send.
ReplyDeleteJack, I am woefully ignorant of Trotsky, but if you say he was WORSE than Stalin, wow! That's a stinging rebuke.
ReplyDeleteFYI, I understand that forces of the East German NVA did not participate in the invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968 for exactly the reason you suggest: it would have brought back bad memories for the Czechs.
Jack, I believe you're right that radicalism was rife in the Vietnam War era -- and I agree that the true radicals were, in those days, a vocal minority that could not hope to displace the "Silent Majority" (although they did hold sway in Congress for a while). Today's so-called progressives represent a retreat from 60s leftism in some ways, and a plunge into much greater levels of extremism in others. It's hard to compare the two groups, because we are dealing with two very distinct epochs, and the radicals who were then anti-establishment are now the establishment itself. As to who is or was more nutty...your guess is as good as mine!
Jack, I would like nothing more than for the leftist true believers to "go underground", as you put it, in reaction to triumphant Trumpism. Whether they retreat to their vegan communes, or take to the streets in futile violent protest, either way their departure from electoral politics would be a signal blessing. Let them go off in a snit, I say!
Anonymous, thanks for chiming in! I agree that Reed or Giuliani would be great Governors of New York. Why Rudy has never run for Governor or Senate is beyond me. Sadly, his recent chumminess with President Trump may detract from his appeal in deep blue NY, but I'd still love to see him try for the brass ring. My gut tells me, though, that only the Democrats themselves can dethrone Cuomo. I believe that can happen, and I pray that it will.
Dr. Waddy: test. So far three erasures tonight. Jack
ReplyDeleteDr. Waddy: OK , I'll try again. In, I think 2002, I ran a write in campaign for myself against then Rep. Amo Houghton because of his often demonstrated willingness to vote against the obvious majority of his constituents' wishes. The latest then was his opposition to an invasion of Iraq.
ReplyDeleteDr. Waddy: To continue (if it please the app): I garnered some three hundred votes, which I regarded as protests against Rep. Houghton's apparent conviction that his election alone freed him to vote at his personal pleasure (though I'm sure he did have his benighted subjects' welfare in mind).
ReplyDeleteDr. Waddy: My point: Tom Reed takes pains to represent us truly: I mean, having a town meeting in this tiny township I live in - a Senior Republican member of the Ways and Means Committee of the House!
ReplyDeleteDr. wady: Tom would make a fine Governor. I think he is working up to a Gubernatorial bid. Does he have a chance? George Pataki, a pedestrian speaker, yet bettered the transcendentally righteous and silver tongued Mario Cuomo, of whom we were very much sick. Its worth a try.
ReplyDeleteDr. Waddy: I remember having read accounts of East German troops entering Czechoslovakia in 1968. They might well have been speculative or just plain inaccurate. Still, not withstanding, invasion by foreign forces was probably still a harrowing experience. I remember thinking at the time "well, so what, the Russkies are there anyway aren't they?" But I suppose anyone who has endured Great Russian conquest could say me nay!
ReplyDeleteDr. Waddy: Trotsky believed that Europe at least and perhaps the world was on the verge of Communist revolution sparked by that of Russia. He would gladly have led it, in all of its, to him fully expected, titanically mass murderousness. After all ,he had been an enthusiastic and accomplished leader in establishing the resolve for and then physically imposing Bolshevik inhumanity in a country as vast and populous as Russia. What was the world to him? But the ever objective and self protective Stalin saw disaster in that and followed his sociopathic and practical instincts in suppressing Trotsky. As subhuman as he was, Stalin still had some ken of human limitations and looked to a future which he managed to pollute into the '50's and beyond.
ReplyDeleteJack, I had no idea you were a candidate for Congress! How enterprising. I agree -- 300 votes is nothing to sneeze at. Did Amo acknowledge you in any way?
ReplyDeleteFrom what I've read, the Czechs were utterly unprepared for a Soviet invasion and didn't think they would risk the PR consequences. I guess Brezhnev showed his mettle in '68. It was such a crazy year, though. Perhaps the Soviets thought no one would notice a little invasion, given everything else that was happening!
Jack, it certainly bears remembering that Trotsky led the Red Army during Russia's civil war, and the methods it used to achieve victory were ruthless beyond measure. Wouldn't you agree, though, that Stalin adopted many Trotskyisms as soon as Trotsky was out of the way?
Dr. Waddy: Nah, he didn't. I wrote him an open letter in the paper after the election cautioning him to regard my votes as protests against his independent voting habits. I did see less of it for the rest of his tenure but I have no idea if my effort and its support was a factor. He's a good man, a Marine, but his elitist attitude once we gave him his ticket to Washington was disturbing. I told him face to face that he had no business being a leading advocate in Congress for the National Endowment for the Arts, since the vast majority of his district's residents would surely oppose its tax payer funded sponsorship of anti American, anti Christian "art". It didn't seem to faze him. Sure, its OCCASIONALLY appropriate for legislative representatives to vote their consciences but he way overdid it.
ReplyDeleteI'll have to do more reading about that period when Trotsky and Stalin were both in the Soviet Government. I think both Stalin and Trotsky enthusiastically complied with Lenin's inhuman murderous orders (eg"hang 5000 peasants in the ------- region, as an example"). Trotsky was a very effective military organizer and leader; I do not think Stalin shared this skill. I don't think Trotsky would have carried out the great purges of the '30's, at least among the high officer corps. And I know that at the Fourth International Trotsky did (perhaps disingenuously) urge some moderation in conducting the world wide revolution he thought perhaps approaching, considering the Great Depression . To Stalin , any hint of mercy was detestable anathema. So, I would guess without further reading yet, that Stalin did not credit Trotsky, except as, in Stalin's intense anxiety, a threat to him even abroad.
Jack, I see your point about Houghton, but it almost seems as though your ire would have been better directed at the voters of the Southern Tier. If Houghton was off the reservation, surely they should have replaced him with someone more reflective of their values? You, for instance! Luckily, in Tom Reed, they have a true champion.
ReplyDeleteYes, both Stalin and Trotsky had plenty of Leninist blood on their hands... It's difficult to imagine that ANYONE could have been as paranoid and murderous as Stalin, but then the grass always looks greener, doesn't it? Say what you will about Stalin, but he did come out on top in WWII, and we have to wonder whether Trotsky and his cronies would have done the same.
Dr. Waddy: I think it possible that Trotsky would have measured up well to the German Generals. He did display the unusual, apparently integral, talent for military command manifested by such neophytes as Mao and Nathaniel Greene. I think Stalin (who apparently went into a catatonic trance after the Nazi invasion) was yet able to appeal to the essential Russian love for their country and to motivate them to their heroic defense. How very horrid it all is, viewed from either side!
ReplyDeleteWell, I told the voters as best I could in my brief campaign that they could count on me to vote what I knew to be their conservative wishes on all issues and that was the result. It was political reality, for any number of predictable political verities. It probably confirms, in its entirety, a relatively sound political system. Those who would have decisive decision making or forming power, must persist in their quest for it and along the sometimes long way, demonstrate their fitness.
A "sound political system"...is that what we've got? Ha ha. Perhaps you have more faith in the wisdom of the plebs than I do. Seems to me that the elite media has them wrapped around its collective finger -- 95% of the time. Trump is the exception that proves the rule.
ReplyDelete