Nancy Pelosi. The media shouted at us that we should stand up and cheer for her. She went right up to Trump’s face and stared him down over the government shutdown. “Trump backs down to Pelosi” we’re told over and over again. He isn’t going to get the money he wants for the wall; he ended up getting about 1/5th of it. He caved in because he was taking a beating. Round one on the card went to Pelosi.
Trump really hates this democracy stuff where one has to bring other people on board to get things done. He likes to rule by fiat. When he didn’t get his money he reverted back to his basic authoritarian instincts and declared a national emergency. Where that is going is questionable but the only ones that can see any emergency out there is Trump and his rumpswabs.
It’s not only that abuse of power Trump is wrongly using. It is also his decision that backs his trade wars on other countries where he has banned or put tariffs on their goods for the sake of national security. Trump would have us believe that we should be worried about Canada when it comes to national security. I’d have to guess that only the same group that falls for the fake national emergency would buy that.
Pelosi stood up to Trump but can she stand up to the Squad. I’ve believed that Pelosi is too old to be the Speaker. I suggested unless the Democrats dumped her she would be toxic in the mid-term elections. The results showed that I was wrong although from the little I saw those Democrats who won in swing districts separated themselves from her. The Democrats took back the House, Pelosi sent Trump scampering away, and as many call her, a person who knows how to count votes better than anyone else in Congress, Pelosi is flying high.
Then the cracks started to show. Pelosi tried to crack the whip on moderates who voted for a Republican amendment to a Democratic bill which required any gun dealer checking the background of a potential gun buyer who is an illegal alien to report that person to immigration officials.(ICE) When she suggested they fall in line she found that her second and third in command backed the moderates. Pelosi’s we all stick together approach had stumbled a bit but it could be put together again.
Then came the Squad, four freshmen of the progressives: Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (N.Y.), Ilhan Omar (Minn.), Rashida Tlaib (Mich.) and Ayanna Pressley (Mass.) who not unlike the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse seem to be trampling over everything the House holds near and dear. They have made it clear that they, their allies in the House, and their millions of followers are planning to go their own way in many instances. In one area they are adamant they oppose giving more money to DHS agencies like Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
They are the first group to recognize that a strong minority group, like in Parliament, has great control over the majority. We see it in the British Parliament where Theresa May had to depend on the small Northern Ireland party the DUP; or in Israel where Benjamin Netanyahu depends on the small Orthodox religious parties for his majority. Neither May or Betanyahu can afford to alienate these minority figures.
Last week we saw its power. The House was intent on passing a resolution that condemned anti-Semitism which was indirectly an attack on Ilhan Omar because some Jewish members of Congress believed her statements were anti-Semitic. The Squad and friends said, “hold your horses!” pointing out the obvious there were other things to condemn as well. The all or nothing approach which never works well.
Pelosi pulled the reins tight and came up short. The initial resolution was scratched. It never hit the track. A new one, missing the intent of the original one all together, was put into the starting gate condemning all hate. Who’d vote for hate?
The long and short of it is there’s a new game in town. Is it because of the law of unintended consequences? Is it a result of Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972 that states: “No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.”
By empowering women in sports have they been empowered in all aspects of life? They have flocked into the House. They are changing America and drawing the Democratic Party to the left to issues women care about. They are about to make Pelosi’s life miserable. Will America be better off? Who will fight our future wars?
Wa-llahi! Why so tart? If you watch the film, you’ll realize it’s a clever send up of Glorious Leader, and, his crooked cabinet. Join the fun, and, have a good laugh at Trump’s expense.
Khalid:
Is it available other than on Showtime?
Matt: I think you could rent it at a video rental store. Otherwise, I’m sure it will eventually make it into general distribution.
Protecting your steel and aluminum industries is a smart idea. China was producing half the world’s steel and dumping it on the market through third countries at below market prices leading to the closure of many U S factories. Having a robust steel industry insures a domestic supply in a time of crisis. One of our leading Founding Fathers, Hamilton said it was essential that America be self reliant in food, housing, clothing and defense material. Trump is following that sage advice. 2. These young radical. energetic Congresswoman will be worn down by the party apparatus. The party isn’t going to give up it’s mothers milk ( money).
An aside: The Northern Ireland MPs have long been a source of leverage of political power for GB. This to the detriment of progress over a century and the completion of a “Hidden Agenda”.
First things, first, 2020’s a civil war away. The present must burn to make way for the future. (It flows more trippingly.)
I’m talking about a recently released movie. It’s one of the best black comedies ever made. Among its stars are Steve Buscemi (Kruschev), Jason Iassacs (Zukov), John Palin (Molotov), and, Jeff Tambor (Malenkov). Unless, I’ve read you wrong, you would appreciate the film’s mordant humor. A passing knowledge of the Stalinist period is required to fully grasp the witticisms. Iassacs does a turn as Marshall Zukov that is priceless.
Wa-llahi! This could mean the end of bourgeois Republicratism, as we know it. Good job comrade sisters. Take a wrecking ball to the whole ideological edifice. First things, first. 2020’s a civil war away. The present must burn to make way for the future. These are wonderful times to be a Marxist. The destructive contradictions inherent in bourgeois capitalism have never been so evident.
All praise to the Sisters. All power to the Dialectic!
Matt: I hope you’ve seen “The Death of Stalin” (Showtime).
Khalid:
Don’t belong to Showtime. Don’t like Stalin. I know he’s dead.