Monthly Archives: July 2022

#456 New 2024 Presidential Ticket: Cheney and Snoopy

16 Saturday Jul 2022

Posted by in Common Sense Policies, Innovative Thinking: Ideas and Products, Uncategorized

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Welcome to a discussion about the upcoming 5th Revolution in the US, which I’ve titled the “Revenge Revolution.” For more about the Revenge Revolution and the author, Entry #1.  Periodically I write a “sense check” to assess whether a revolution in the US is possible or whether the entire exercise is based on a statistical aberration — i.e., a roughly 50-year cycle between major upheavals in the US. Entry #430 was the most recent “sense check.”

BEGIN ENTRY #456: A new third-party presidential-candidate team was announced yesterday – Liz Cheney and Snoopy will be the ticket of Do-Something Party.

Liz Cheney

During the press conference announcing the ticket, the candidates stressed, if elected, they will function as co-presidents, switching between president and vice president roles on a regular basis.

When asked why the co-presidents designation, Cheney said, “We thought it best for the country if we capitalize on each other’s strengths. I know how Capitol Hill works and other operations inside the Beltway. Snoopy is an internationally recognized figure who understands philosophy and how to deal with all kinds of people.

The pair indicated their platform will be a combination of fiscal conservatism and social liberalism, citing the position of many moderate Republicans and Democrats before the extremist took over  both parties. According to Snoopy, “We think it’s time to bring the country back together. No more zero-some game stuff and viewing the other party as the enemy.“

Snoopy

Reaction to the announcement from Trump and his supporters was swift and vicious. Trump tweeted “Despite Cheney’s voting‘s record, she’s always been a RINO. And now she’s gone to the dogs.”

Democrats were more measured in their response. The head of the party noted, “An interesting and formidable team.  Liz proved her mettle in the January 6 hearings. And, well, you can’t say enough about Snoopy. A long and stellar career. We wish them the best.“

Public reaction to the announcement has been extremely positive, especially among moderates and independents. A typical reaction, “Finally, some people who can help bring us back together as a country and get something done. Maybe Cheney and Snoopy can help prevent another revolution.“

The Do-Something Party is in the process of registering in all 50 states. Based on the responses from voters so far, registration seems likely.

No announcement was made about the Do-Something Party offering separate candidates for the Federal House and Senate, or whether the party would simply support candidates from Republicans or Democrats.  More announcements to come. (Wouldn’t it be great if the announcement were true?) END ENTRY #456

Other Topics. Interested in more info about climate change, what’s required to electrify a fleet of cars/trucks, what it was like to work day-to-day with Lee Iacocca and an array of other topics? Visit another page of this website, https://usrevolution5.com/jrd-thought-comments/

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#455. Keep the Codgers Away from the Capitol

10 Sunday Jul 2022

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Welcome to a discussion about the upcoming 5th Revolution in the US, which I’ve titled the “Revenge Revolution.” For more about the Revenge Revolution and the author, Entry #1.  Periodically I write a “sense check” to assess whether a revolution in the US is possible or whether the entire exercise is based on a statistical aberration — i.e., a roughly 50-year cycle between major upheavals in the US. Entry #430 was the most recent “sense check.”

The Winner?

BEGIN ENTRY #455: (June 2024) Breaking News: presidential candidates Trump and Biden agree to 100-yard dash using their walkers. The winner will be allocated all the electoral college votes from Florida in the 11/2024 election.

In the 2024 election, the two presidential candidates, if Trump and Biden, will be the oldest in US history at the end of their term. Biden is already older than Ronald Reagan, who was nearly 78 when he left office in January 1989.

It’s time for each party to nominate someone younger. By younger, I mean at least 25 years younger. The country needs nominees who are physically in excellent condition and no worries about mental acuity.

Yes, with age comes some degree of wisdom. And with age, generally comes some humility, #45 being an exception.

But it’s time to let some youngins back in the White House (and on Capitol Hill).  There are enough “old sages“ around to help the president address difficult political, intellectual and diplomatic issues. Sages are supposed to be advisers and spiritual leaders, not presidents. 

Younger blood in the WH should also help the country ramp up efforts to address climate change.  The older guys, i.e., Trump and Biden, don’t seem to understand the need to address climate change seriously.  Maybe they don’t care since they’ll be gone before 2050 when we need to get to a zero-carbon economy. 

One other critical criterion for future presidential nominees – no more businesspeople. The roles of business and government are often opposite.  The economy is a good example.  In an economic downturn, businesses usually cut expenditures. In an economic downturn, the federal government should do just the opposite and increase expenditures to avoid making the downturn worse.

In addition, many business executives seem to have forgotten that, in addition to shareholders, businesses have a responsibility to employees, their local community and the public.  Government doesn’t need to be anti-business. At the same time business doesn’t need to be anti-government. 

As Charles E. Wilson (aka “Engine Charlie), president of GM many years ago and Secretary of Defense under Eisenhower proclaimed, “What’s good for our country is good for General Motors and vice versa.“ Businesses today need to heed Engine Charlie’s advice and start acting responsibly toward the country and the environment.

Putting aside age, Democrats and Republicans need to nominate candidates without a lot of “baggage.” Most people who have worked and/or lived in New York are still shocked that Trump could be elected president.  Shocked not because he ran as a Republican but shocked that voters would overlook his long, well-documented public record of lying and cheating.

Biden‘s record in the Senate includes some head-slapping moments, most notably leading the hearings on the nomination of Clarence Thomas to the Supreme Court. What was Biden thinking?

No news that the country is clearly divided. While a couple of younger presidential candidates does not guarantee the country can start to come together, for certain divisions will intensify if either Trump or Biden is nominated.

As noted periodically in this blog, I believe the 5th US Revolution, the Revenge Revolution, has started. If you need confirmation, just count the “major” mass shootings in the less than two months — Buffalo, NY; Uvalde, TX and Highland Park, IL.

In 2022 there are more firearms in the US than people. Many firearms are assault-style weapons. In the US an 18-year-old can’t buy a beer legally but can buy an AR-15, and lots of ammunition.  Ya’ can’t have a beer kid but you can kill as many people as you want.  How does that make sense? 

A good first step toward getting the country on a path of possibly coming back together would be to keep the codgers out of the nation’s capital, especially those codgers considering running for president.  And that advice is from someone who could fit the “codger” category. (END ENTRY #455)

Other Topics. Interested in more info about climate change, what’s required to electrify a fleet of cars/trucks, what it was like to work day-to-day with Lee Iacocca and an array of other topics? Visit another page of this website, https://usrevolution5.com/jrd-thought-comments/  

#454. SCOTUS Leads Return of the Crusades!

04 Monday Jul 2022

Posted by in Causes of the Revolution, Post Trump Presidency, Societal Issues, Uncategorized

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Welcome to a discussion about the upcoming 5th Revolution in the US, which I’ve titled the “Revenge Revolution.” For more about the Revenge Revolution and the author, Entry #1.  Periodically I write a “sense check” to assess whether a revolution in the US is possible or whether the entire exercise is based on a statistical aberration — i.e., a roughly 50-year cycle between major upheavals in the US. Entry #430 was the most recent “sense check.”

BEGIN ENTRY #454. The subject of this entry seems apprpriate for July 4th. While the country celebrates the declaration of independence from Britian, the religous right and SCOTUS celebrate destruction of what has made the US a becon of light for many people and countries worldwide.

In 1492 when Columbus bumped into America while looking for a passage to India, Christians were ousting Muslims and Jews from the Iberian Peninsula. The terms offered were simple — if you wanna stay on the Peninsula, you must convert to Christianity. Otherwise, you’re exiled and more likely, you’re toast.

Here we are 500+ years later and the head of the religious right, Donald Trump, appointed a kangaroo court that is leading another crusade. Just like 1492, the kangaroo court is effectively forcing beliefs of hard-right Christianity on the population. For those who don’t want to buy in, the same options exist today as in 1492 – leave or be prosecuted.

Trump’s kangaroo court, aka SCOTUS, is taking away rights from individuals – blacks and browns now have fewer voting rights; immigrants are unwelcome, unless, of course, they’re from Western countries and not Jewish or Muslim; women need to join the Amy Barrett cult and turn over control of ther bodies to men; and everyone must bow down to the great fossil-fuel industry, which, unlike the EPA, has always proved benevolent and worked diligently in the public’s best interest. Besides, killing the EPA is a good thing. Plants like all that carbon dioxide.

Just to demonstrate how thoughtful SCOTUS is toward helping everyone understand their new set of “rights,” the kangaroo court plans to affirm the law in Texas that lets vigilantes track down people who might have helped those sinful women get an abortion. We, the religious right, know what’s best for you.

What has happened to Spain since the religious right forcibly reshaped a multi-cultural society into a monolithic one? Spain has deteriorated from a great international power to an also ran. For many years, Spain has been a nice place to visit and not much else.

Will the US suffer the same fate? Unlike Republicans in Congress, the hard-right members of SCOTUS are elected for life. Now that the kangaroos have tasted political power, they will no longer be satisfied with interpreting the law. The kangaroos now can set social policy to control actions of the populace without any repercussions.

Republican justices on SCOTUS already seem to be suffering from the age-old adage, “power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.“

The far right’s biggest lackey on the court, Clarence Thomas, has encouraged attorneys general of Republican-controlled state and private organizations to file lawsuits that would roll back even more rights of individuals. Take away more! Apparently, Thomas has forgotten how much he benefited from many of those rights. Nothing like a little denial and revisionist history to justify one’s actions.

Surprise, surprise. Following the recent decisions by SCOTUS, some people were upset. And how did the Republican justices react to people exercising their 1st Amendment rights? Let’s take away those rights by banning anyone from protesting in front of a justice’s residence. How dare those people protest!

Where does a SCOTUS-led religious crusade end up? Hard to tell but the intervening battles are going to be more than a few peaceful protests at the justice’s residences. SCOUS’ actions have already ratcheted up the intensity of the 5th US Revolution.

Originally, I thought the 5th US Revolution, labeled the Revenge Revolution, would be about economic inequity. Based on the actions of SCOTUS, particularly decisions the most recent term, the 5th US Revolution will be focused more on individual rights.

SCOTUS has also increased the likely intensity of the seemingly inevitable armed battle between the religious right and others, with more bloodshed than originally envisioned. Attribute this directly to SCOTUS. SCOTUS’ decision now allows virtually everyone to pack heat wherever they want and no permit is needed. In addition, why not allow virtually anyone to buy an assault rifle?

Don’t be surprised if the next term, SCOTUS takes on a case that could overturn Brown V Board of Education, thereby reinstating Plessy. And it’s only just begun. END ENTRY #454.

Other Topics. Interested in more info about climate change, what’s required to electrify a fleet of cars/trucks, what it was like to work day-to-day with Lee Iacocca and an array of other topics? Visit another page of this website, https://usrevolution5.com/jrd-thought-comments/