The Debate And Politics
This is very simple, the debates which started with double digit candidates are down to two for a challenge to former President Trump. It is either Governor Nikki Haley or Governor Ron DeSantis. The others can now exit and try again in the future.
As for the former President, he won one in court yesterday. The Minnesota Supreme Court dismissed the lawsuit seeking to bar him from the 2024 primary ballot.
That was the only decision that could be reached. The man is not convicted of anything yet, how can you deny his right to run?
If this were 2024 the question would be this.
Can Republicans make this election about the economy, or do the Democrats make it about abortion? That would decide it.
On abortion, the Democrats recognize the poignancy of having the issue on state ballots. They are in the process of trying to get ballot initiatives in the following states:
Arizona, Nevada and Florida, Nebraska and South Dakota.
A very smart move, obviously.
Former President Trump has been coy about the issue lately, but the Biden campaign has been preparing to hit him if they face off. Here’s a story out of Washington:
President Biden’s reelection campaign is reminding voters that former President Donald Trump took credit for the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade, in the aftermath of an election in which the abortion issue fueled Democratic wins in red and purple states.The Biden-Harris campaign rolled out an online video Wednesday featuring a smattering of past clips in which Mr. Trump said he was honored to end Roe v. Wade, said there has to be “some form of punishment” for women who receive abortions, and said the federal government has a role to play in “protecting unborn life.”“As Republicans lose elections across the country for their extreme abortion positions, remember that this is who they are on track to make their presidential nominee,” the Biden-Harris HQ account posted on X. Mr. Trump is the frontrunner for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination, seeking a rematch with Mr. Biden. For his part, Mr. Trump has called himself “the most pro-life president in American history” and reminded GOP primary voters that his Supreme Court appointees led to the overturning of Roe v Wade, the landmark 1973 court case that made abortion a constitutional right.
Mr. Trump also left pro-life leaders fuming after he blamed the GOP’s disappointing showing in the 2022 midterms on candidates who endorsed strict abortion limits. The former president has said Republicans need to rethink the way they talk about the issue, saying they should cast Democrats as “the radicals” on the issue. He also has criticized the six-week abortion ban that Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida signed into law in Florida, calling it a “terrible mistake.” At the same time, he has taken credit for making it possible for Florida and other states, including Iowa, where the Jan. 15 caucuses kick off the nomination race, to adopt such laws. Democrats say Mr. Trump cannot hide the fact that women would still have the right to abortion across the nation if it were not for the moves he made as president. “Donald Trump is responsible for all of it — and he’s ‘proud’ to have done it!” Ammar Moussa, director of the Biden campaign’s rapid response team, said on social media.
You see the issue he will face. Last night Nikki Haley had the best positioning for a general election.
The War In The Middle East
I found this study and review interesting on the feelings of Americans regarding the Israel – Hamas War.
Among all adults
40% say Israel has gone too far. 58% of Dems. 18% of Rep.
38% say the action has been about right. 31% of Dem. 48% of Rep.
18% say Israel has not gone far enough. 7% of Dem. 32% of Rep.
It’s the appeasement or take action divide.
Finally, Take Note Of This Report And Story
China is disregarding U.S. sanctions by significantly buying Iranian oil, generating billions in profits that Tehran can then channel to its anti-Israel allies, notably Hamas. According to the “October 2023 Iran Tanker Tracker” by United Against Nuclear Iran, the Islamic republic has exported over $80 billion worth of oil since the Biden administration began. The analysis highlights China as the primary buyer, despite U.S. sanctions on Iranian oil sale profits and secondary sanctions on companies involved in shipping Iranian oil.
- China’s average purchase was around 1 million barrels per day in October, according to a recent Congressional Research Service report.
- China plays a massive role in increasing Iran’s oil exports.
- The CRS report suggests the Biden administration may be willingly ignoring China’s purchases of Iranian crude, speculating that the administration does not want to escalate tensions with Beijing.
- Serious reductions of Iranian oil exports could raise global crude prices, the CRS noted.