Some Election Thoughts
You’ve seen all the big news on the election and the results in Virginia and New Jersey. Let me add some tidbits.
Is it me or does it seem that late reporting is always in big cities, which are Democratic areas? Don’t they have the best and latest technology? Why is there always an issue?
From Politico today:
In the end, Biden may have mattered more than Donald Trump in Youngkin’s triumph over McAuliffe. According to exit polls, Biden was about as unpopular as Trump in Virginia. But Biden embraced the race as a referendum on his presidency and campaigned in the state while Trump, to his great annoyance, was persuaded to stay away.
Isn’t that interesting? They think It came down to who was able to keep a President away.
One interesting fact about the Virginia vote.
You may remember the analysis was that Trump lost the suburbs in 2020. He lost the Virginia suburbs 45-53. Well last night Youngkin won the suburbs 53-47.
I was watching the Minneapolis vote on police. As you know, pre polls indicated it would pass.
In the voting booth Minneapolis voted sanity. 56% voted against replacing its police with a new department of public safety.
Remember Seattle?
In its mayor’s race, Democrat Bruce Harrell, who called for more police funding was the winner over an opponent who endorsed cutting police budgets.
And a law-and-order Republican, Ann Davison, defeated a self-described police “abolitionist” in the city attorney race.
With Virginia in the books, now what for the Democrats?
This from Punchbowl:
A congressman from New Jersey speaking for the moderates about the results there: “F*ing” disaster down ballot and way too close at the top. Not enough excitement at top of NJ ticket — Biden, Covid, etc. No accomplishments. Should have passed infrastructure a month ago.”
A top aide to House progressives on the McAuliffe defeat: “It’s absurd to blame progressives for Virginia. A) This was a culture war election, not about federal issues. B) Terry McAuliffe is a centrist. C) If you want to fault D.C., fault the tiny group of conservative Dems who intentionally blocked childcare, prescription drug reform, universal pre-k, and paid leave all fall.”
And such is the divide that they will try and narrow this week.
Outside The Election
The State and Local Tax issue (SALT) is becoming a real divide in the Democratic party. The representatives from the big blue states demand it be rescinded. The progressives see it as a tax break for the rich. Look at this
from The Hill:
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.): Called the proposed five-year SALT cap repeal “beyond unacceptable.”
From CNN:
Tax the rich? Maybe not. Democrats’ spending plan could be a tax cut for the rich, budget watchdog finds.
From Punchbowl:
“My guess is the majority of Americans with a net worth of $50 (million) to $300 million would get a tax cut under the Build Back Better plan with a full repeal of SALT,” said Jason Furman, who served as chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers under former President Obama.
“The bill would do more for the super-rich than it does for climate change, child care or preschool. That’s obscene,” he continued, adding that some billionaires would even get a net tax cut from the combo of the Build Back Better plan and the SALT repeal.
More on the divide. Look at this from Rep Cori Bush:
She ripped Senator Manchin over his spending bill opposition, referring to the senator as “anti-Black, anti-child, anti-woman and anti-immigrant.” She added, “Joe Manchin does not get to dictate the future of our country.”
The President Returns Home
How did the President do at the conference? What do you remember the most about his time there?
Was it a policy accomplishment? Falling asleep during a speech? The large contingent he took with him?
One thing I will say.
Stop apologizing for America, will you please. This time it was for the Paris Accord and our exit from it.
Well, Mr. President, we actually met and exceeded every goal that was in the agreement.
We backed out because the world’s largest polluters, China and India, were excused from any controls for a decade. Why is that?
Let’s get this straight. We are not the issue today. Others are.
If you are going to support China building coal plants, Russia to build pipelines and explore all it wants and India to continue in its path, don’t apologize for me.
What are you accomplishing slowing out economy and reversing our thirty year pursuit to be energy independent?
And if you are going to tell me we were the largest polluter in the past, I have a message for you.
Next time you travel to Europe take a visit to the gravesides of our soldiers all around there. We saved them and the world because we built ourselves. We don’t need to apologize for anything.