Our political leadership-- and not just Trump-- has failed us... dismally so. Even blue state governors like Andrew Cuomo (New York), Phil Murphy (New Jersey) and Gavin Newsom (California) have been taking ineffective baby steps that have already been proven to only make the pandemic worse. Like Trump, they are more afraid to be blamed for an economic turn-down than to watch thousands and perhaps millions of Americans die.
On Saturday, I gave a talk at the Pennsylvania Libertarian Party state convention. There were so many great folks there and it was a pleasure to speak to a savvy, friendly audience. Richard Schwarz did a pitch-perfect introduction that set the tone for the talk. It’s hard not to like a guy who is always wearing a Phillies baseball cap.
He Can Do It by Nancy OhanianThe Kaiser Family Foundation and Cook just released a fascinating report about the "blue wall states," where last cycle's centrist status quo Democrat did so miserably against Trump. They chose 4 states-- Michigan, Minnesota, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.
This week I left my house for something that isn't part of my normal routine. While I braved rush-hour freeway traffic-- something I have avoided for at least a decade-- my friend drove straight from work to meet me at the Broad in downtown Los Angeles (DTLA), where it costs $8 to park-- every 15 minutes. My friend had to drive from Compton where he teaches elementary school.
On Tuesday night, the Trump circus found its way to Hershey, Pennsylvania, where Pennsylvania's 9th, 10th, and 11th congressional districts meet. Hershey is in the 10th. Trump won all three districts and all three are held by Republicans in Congress, but the 10th is the least solidly Republican and I suspect Rep.
John Yudichak just guaranteed that the GOP will hold power in the Pennsylvania state SenateThe Republican Party tent is way too small-- a virtually pup tent filled with racists and xenophobes with increasingly less room for anyone else. But the Democratic Party tent is way too big-- everyone is welcome no matter what they believe in.
Damage Control by Nancy OhanianWhy have a bunch of centrist assholes suddenly jumped into the Democratic presidential primary? Sure, they recognize Status Quo Joe is a terrible candidate, but each of them is as bad, if not worse. Some of them claim, the Democratic line-up won't win the states needed to kick Trump out of office a year from now. There's not a viable poll that indicates that.
This morning, Aaron Blake noted at the Washington Post that "When President Trump was elected, he promised the GOP that they would win so much they would get tired of it. But for a third successive election year since then, the Republican Party has walked away the loser." Also this morning a top Democratic congressional staffer told me that she spoke to "two different Republican Hill staffers who have expressed serious concerns with how badly last night went for them.
Recently, my staff and I toured fracking sites in Washington County near Pittsburgh. Our tour included well-heads, pipeline construction and related infrastructure. We also met with numerous residents and local officials effected by fracking. As a member of my state senate’s “Environmental Resource and Energy” Committee, I have read a great deal about fracking, and I have participated in dozens of hearings on the topic.
Andrew Meehan is running as a proud Trumpist against Brian Fitzpatrick (R) in an anti-Trump districtOn paper, PA-01 looks like the most likely Democratic congressional pickup of the 2020 cycle. PA-01 is, basically, the old 8th district-- all of Bucks County and a small piece of Montgomery County-- suburbs north of Philly and west of Trenton.
