I was tempted to write a blog entitled “Contra Chuck Redux.” But I'll refrain (and who likes to read Latin anyway?). I'll make a few points here instead:
1. As a tactic to derail Trump, I'd be happy to see all Iowans--even Dems--go caucus for Haley. The first priority is to defend American democracy, the rule of law, avoid war; and to promote virtue (more on this last item in a bit). We support all of these aspirations and values by opposing Trump.
2. There is a Republican Party in name only; there's been an invasion of body snatchers that are best labeled MAGA. By registering as a Republican now, you're identifying with a cult, a new ersatz religion. Religion and politics don't mix. (Faith and politics can & should mix, but that's for another time.)
3. The viral infection that has snatched the body of the Republican Party won't disappear even if its primary vector--Defendant Trump--loses or is barred from the upcoming elections. The whole edifice--the current Republican Party--needs to be torched (metaphorically speaking). That will only occur if enough folks simply refuse to support or vote for candidates who don't reject Trump & all his works.
4. Haley has refused the call to reject Trump and all his evil works.
5. As Chris Christie said on his way out the door, she's not up to it. She wants to gain the nomination and then claim she's different from Trump (and imply that she can tame his voters and acolytes). If you intend to take down the king, you have to slay him (metaphorically speaking). She refuses to pick up the sword. How will she then rule?
7. On virtue: as you know, I've been reading my way through THE FEDERALIST PAPERS and some related secondary literature. The Founders built this republic with the understanding that virtue, public virtue, must serve as a cornerstone. Their confidence in virtue--including opposition to “faction” & “party”--quickly proved untenable. Most people, even the best among us, can not always act purely out of public-spirited virtue. But that being acknowledged, we can't survive as a representative democracy (republic) without some modicum of public virtue in our political leaders and citizens. Trump is the antithesis of virtue. He has no character (or is it a “bad character,” I'm not sure which way to go with that, but you get the idea). And because of the prevalence of so much lack of character or bad character abroad within the MAGA movement, to clean house we need a truly virtuous person to stand up and stand out. Of course, courage entails risk--ask Liz Cheney or Mitt Romney and the other Republicans who refused to kiss the ring. We've every reason to believe that Haley will not speak truth to power. We require a new profile in courage.
So, I hope that Haley wins in Iowa, gains the nomination, and then loses the election. American politics more usually presents us with a series of binary choices, about which we sometimes feel too constrained, abut in this election, I see easy choices.
Hi Chuck. I think you missed the target on this one my friend!
Numerous points could be made. I'll limit them to two:
1. I'm just finishing reading Liz Cheney's book "Oath and Honor." It is an eye-opener about the state of the current Republican party, its blind obedience to Donald Trump and its total buy-in to the lies of Trump and the beliefs of his millions of supporters about the 2020 election results, the lead-up to the Jan. 6 insurrection, and the events that followed -- including the Senate and House Republican "leaders" monumental flip-flopping on Trump's responsibility and his future role in the party. The RNC is nothing more than an echo-chamber for Trump's views and policies; the leadership of the House and Senate remain under his spell.
2. A recent CBS News poll showed that 82% of Republicans agree with the statement that immigrants who enter the country illegally are "poisoning the blood" of America; that they are ruining this nation. I cannot believe, with the important and visible work you are helping to lead in Greene County, that you would endorse the statement, or the party that believes it.
I can understand why a vote for Haley might seem reasonable when simply put in the light of Haley vs. Trump or DeSantis. But a "vote" in support of today's Republican party seems very far off base.
Today's Republican party is not the party of Bob Ray, Art Neu, Joy Corning, Jim Leach, Ronald Reagan or George Bush. It is a party that believes women can't be trusted to make wise decisions about their health, bodies and lives; that the answer to gun violence is more guns, that climate change is not a big deal, that parents shouldn't be allowed to make decisions about what books their child should read, that teachers and administrators don't possess the expertise to develop curriculum, that state government knows better than city councils and school boards about what's good for communities, that the rights of LGBTQ individuals must be limited, that journalist's access to statehouse deliberations should be restricted, that tax dollars should be used to support students in private schools, that separation of church and state is a concept to be seriously questioned, and the list goes on and on.
Chuck, I too have reservations about the Democratic party. But as Joe Biden says about his candidacy, "Don't compare me to the Almighty, compare me to the alternative." When I compare what Republicans stand for and what Democrats stand for, the choice is obvious. I stand with Democrats; I hope that you will once again do so.
Read with interest your reasons for changing parties. There is so much more than the issue of abortion /pro-choice. Attended a conference in Iowa City in 1991 on global warming. All 3 models presented projected days like today of extreme cold from poler outbreaks. The climate is changing even faster than forecast. Even farmers will privately admit it. Such monstrous change will push massive movements of people worldwide. Your new party is blind and oblivious to these pressures people are experiencing. Indeed razor wire in the river is inhumane. In that light, I think I will move on. Please do not renew my subscription. Glen Jesse
I remember the night you hosted Sen Alexander at your home in Storm Lake. I was home from Atlanta and was following his campaign. He had such great ideas on education. We had Moon Pies and great conversation. Stay warm, really not possible, so stay alive. I like Amb. Haley but I think she will lose SC and that will be the end. Come November I may have liver or salmon patties to choose from.......Just Yuck :)
You are defending yourself by saying you are married but you are not considering what your knowledgeble wife has to say or her feelings. Time to check to see if you've got some sexism lurking within.
Please consider that Haley may well cave and run as VP with the insurrectionist. That would likely insure a Republican victory. Is that comforting to you?
Chuck,
I was tempted to write a blog entitled “Contra Chuck Redux.” But I'll refrain (and who likes to read Latin anyway?). I'll make a few points here instead:
1. As a tactic to derail Trump, I'd be happy to see all Iowans--even Dems--go caucus for Haley. The first priority is to defend American democracy, the rule of law, avoid war; and to promote virtue (more on this last item in a bit). We support all of these aspirations and values by opposing Trump.
2. There is a Republican Party in name only; there's been an invasion of body snatchers that are best labeled MAGA. By registering as a Republican now, you're identifying with a cult, a new ersatz religion. Religion and politics don't mix. (Faith and politics can & should mix, but that's for another time.)
3. The viral infection that has snatched the body of the Republican Party won't disappear even if its primary vector--Defendant Trump--loses or is barred from the upcoming elections. The whole edifice--the current Republican Party--needs to be torched (metaphorically speaking). That will only occur if enough folks simply refuse to support or vote for candidates who don't reject Trump & all his works.
4. Haley has refused the call to reject Trump and all his evil works.
5. As Chris Christie said on his way out the door, she's not up to it. She wants to gain the nomination and then claim she's different from Trump (and imply that she can tame his voters and acolytes). If you intend to take down the king, you have to slay him (metaphorically speaking). She refuses to pick up the sword. How will she then rule?
7. On virtue: as you know, I've been reading my way through THE FEDERALIST PAPERS and some related secondary literature. The Founders built this republic with the understanding that virtue, public virtue, must serve as a cornerstone. Their confidence in virtue--including opposition to “faction” & “party”--quickly proved untenable. Most people, even the best among us, can not always act purely out of public-spirited virtue. But that being acknowledged, we can't survive as a representative democracy (republic) without some modicum of public virtue in our political leaders and citizens. Trump is the antithesis of virtue. He has no character (or is it a “bad character,” I'm not sure which way to go with that, but you get the idea). And because of the prevalence of so much lack of character or bad character abroad within the MAGA movement, to clean house we need a truly virtuous person to stand up and stand out. Of course, courage entails risk--ask Liz Cheney or Mitt Romney and the other Republicans who refused to kiss the ring. We've every reason to believe that Haley will not speak truth to power. We require a new profile in courage.
6. I commend to you this insightful article by Mark Leibovich in THE ATLANTIC (https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2024/01/nikki-haley-2024-campaign-primary-trump/677084/) that takes a close look at Haley.
So, I hope that Haley wins in Iowa, gains the nomination, and then loses the election. American politics more usually presents us with a series of binary choices, about which we sometimes feel too constrained, abut in this election, I see easy choices.
All the best,
Steve
Hi Chuck. I think you missed the target on this one my friend!
Numerous points could be made. I'll limit them to two:
1. I'm just finishing reading Liz Cheney's book "Oath and Honor." It is an eye-opener about the state of the current Republican party, its blind obedience to Donald Trump and its total buy-in to the lies of Trump and the beliefs of his millions of supporters about the 2020 election results, the lead-up to the Jan. 6 insurrection, and the events that followed -- including the Senate and House Republican "leaders" monumental flip-flopping on Trump's responsibility and his future role in the party. The RNC is nothing more than an echo-chamber for Trump's views and policies; the leadership of the House and Senate remain under his spell.
2. A recent CBS News poll showed that 82% of Republicans agree with the statement that immigrants who enter the country illegally are "poisoning the blood" of America; that they are ruining this nation. I cannot believe, with the important and visible work you are helping to lead in Greene County, that you would endorse the statement, or the party that believes it.
I can understand why a vote for Haley might seem reasonable when simply put in the light of Haley vs. Trump or DeSantis. But a "vote" in support of today's Republican party seems very far off base.
Today's Republican party is not the party of Bob Ray, Art Neu, Joy Corning, Jim Leach, Ronald Reagan or George Bush. It is a party that believes women can't be trusted to make wise decisions about their health, bodies and lives; that the answer to gun violence is more guns, that climate change is not a big deal, that parents shouldn't be allowed to make decisions about what books their child should read, that teachers and administrators don't possess the expertise to develop curriculum, that state government knows better than city councils and school boards about what's good for communities, that the rights of LGBTQ individuals must be limited, that journalist's access to statehouse deliberations should be restricted, that tax dollars should be used to support students in private schools, that separation of church and state is a concept to be seriously questioned, and the list goes on and on.
Chuck, I too have reservations about the Democratic party. But as Joe Biden says about his candidacy, "Don't compare me to the Almighty, compare me to the alternative." When I compare what Republicans stand for and what Democrats stand for, the choice is obvious. I stand with Democrats; I hope that you will once again do so.
Chuck—You’re a braver man than I am. 😀
Read with interest your reasons for changing parties. There is so much more than the issue of abortion /pro-choice. Attended a conference in Iowa City in 1991 on global warming. All 3 models presented projected days like today of extreme cold from poler outbreaks. The climate is changing even faster than forecast. Even farmers will privately admit it. Such monstrous change will push massive movements of people worldwide. Your new party is blind and oblivious to these pressures people are experiencing. Indeed razor wire in the river is inhumane. In that light, I think I will move on. Please do not renew my subscription. Glen Jesse
I remember the night you hosted Sen Alexander at your home in Storm Lake. I was home from Atlanta and was following his campaign. He had such great ideas on education. We had Moon Pies and great conversation. Stay warm, really not possible, so stay alive. I like Amb. Haley but I think she will lose SC and that will be the end. Come November I may have liver or salmon patties to choose from.......Just Yuck :)
Thanks, Chuck?! My head is spinning 😵💫!
Have fun at the Caucus!!
All the Democrats I know in Greene County have tremendous respect for Thomas Laehn.
Perhaps you can change Haley’s mind about Cuba; and if elected, work to get the Cuban sanctions and blockade removed.
Happy Trails!
You are defending yourself by saying you are married but you are not considering what your knowledgeble wife has to say or her feelings. Time to check to see if you've got some sexism lurking within.
Please consider that Haley may well cave and run as VP with the insurrectionist. That would likely insure a Republican victory. Is that comforting to you?