Coffee and Politics

March 3, 2017March 3, 2017

Help Us, Obama-Wan, You’re Our Only Hope

Ok. Not really our “only hope”. I mean, so far it seems that average citizens across the nation are doing a pretty solid job of protesting and making their voices heard. But, nobody can amplify that pressure and maximize exposure of resistance efforts like President Obama.

Trump loves him some Twitter, and he’s very proud of his nearly 26 million Twitter followers. It is an admittedly impressive following, even if many (possibly most) are like me and are actually only following for comedic value / damage control. We get to watch things like Trump tweeting “I hear by demand…”. Doh! Delete. “I hearby demand…”. Doh! Delete. “I hereby demand…”–taking a mere three attempts to spell the word “hereby” correctly. Kudos, sir.

Trump has a pretty sizeable Facebook following with more than 21 million, and a decent following on the official POTUS Twitter (15.8 million) and Facebook (1.3 million) accounts, even though most of those are probably duplicates and he doesn’t really use those accounts. He also loves to fill a stadium with adoring fans and conduct rallies that make him feel better about himself after days or weeks of negative stories in the media from outlets with the audacity to report facts and reality–a.k.a. “Fake News”.

Whatever floats his narcissistic authoritarian puppet boat. More power to him.

Well, guess what–Trump’s social media audience is a small fraction of President Obama’s. The @BarackObama Twitter account has more than 85 million followers, and his Facebook page has nearly 55 million. Tack on another 7+ million Twitter followers and 17 million Facebook followers for Michelle Obama .

Obama can fill a stadium too. And he should. Or at least, I’d like him to. He looks like he’s really enjoying retirement, and I doubt he’s itching to dive back into politics by being the first former President to actively campaign and lobby against the current President–but Barack Obama is uniquely qualified and suited to rally forces and lead the Resistance movement.

Each day of the Trump regime thus far has been like drinking from a firehose. The administration does so many outrageous, treasonous, ridiculous, embarrassing and otherwise mind-blowing things day-to-day that it’s challenging. When everything is worthy of resistance, it’s a challenge to choose how to invest limited time and resources. It’s also difficult to maintain the level of energy and commitment necessary. We’re only a couple months into a 4-year term and so far being part of the resistance feels like having a second full-time job.

I’d love to see Obama do a monthly rally. Travel around the country and fill a football stadium to capacity and just have Barack and Michelle show up to give speeches about what we’re fighting for and why. Invite others to speak. Get Katy Perry, or Madonna, or Beyonce to perform (may as well make it fun too). Keep people engaged. Give people a reason to fight. Let people know they’re not alone and that even though the fight is hard, it is worth it.

It would be unprecedented for a former President to challenge the current White House in that way (at least I’m not aware of a precedent for such a thing). Let’s face it, though. Everything about the Trump campaign, alleged collusion with an enemy nation, victory, and administration is unprecedented. Why not add one more unprecedented thing that can help people join together to defend the United States and stand up for the things that really make America great?

Besides, it would be really satisfying to get under the incredibly thin skin of Putin’s puppet by filling bigger stadiums than he can with tens of thousands of voters prepared to stand up to him.

March 2, 2017March 2, 2017

How Is Russian Interference in the Election a Partisan Issue?

Concern that a foreign government actively interfered in our election process is not a partisan issue. At least, it shouldn’t be. It undermines our democracy and deserves our full attention. Even if you supported and voted for Trump, and you’re happy with the outcome of the election, as an American you should be outraged and concerned that Russia appears to have actively influenced our democratic process.

At this point, based on reports from the US intelligence community and the intelligence communities of multiple allies, it seems to be a foregone conclusion that Russia engaged in an active effort to influence the Presidential election. The only reason I can see for trying to pretend that isn’t an issue, or shut down any attempt to investigate is if you are an accomplice and you’re afraid that the investigation will find that out.

At least four top GOP leaders or cabinet members have now been caught lying about interaction with Russia during the campaign. Is it possible that the communications were trivial and did not play any insidious role in the election? Yes. However, if the communications were innocent and there’s nothing to hide, why lie about them in the first place and why fight so hard against both the intelligence community and media efforts to investigate what happened?

Trump and his administration should want to get to the bottom of what happened for two reasons. First, as the leader of the United States and a citizen of this country Trump should do everything he can to determine what Russia did and what impact it may have had, and take any efforts necessary to ensure it doesn’t happen again. Second, as the focus of allegations that he actively worked with Putin and the Russian government, Trump has a vested interest in conducting a comprehensive and transparent investigation to disprove those assertions. Of course, that assumes they’re just rumors and allegations and that the investigation won’t implicate the Trump administration.

The GOP is complicit now in efforts to cover up Russian interference and pretend it didn’t happen. To me, this indicates that the GOP is aware that there was Russian influence on the election and they’re afraid that admitting it will delegitimize their power. It will. But, no more so than actively covering up the obvious. Perhaps they’re actually concerned that there was direct collaboration and cooperation between Russian and the Trump campaign–and possibly Trump himself–which to me makes any effort to avoid a thorough investigation treasonous.

There are always winners and losers in our elections. There will always be some segment of the population that supported the losing candidate and will be disappointed with the results. When the dust settles, though, we are all Americans and we come together and work together as Americans. That’s hard to do when the administration in the White House appears to be a puppet regime of Putin’s Kremlin and the GOP that should provide the checks and balances on its power looks the other way.

February 26, 2017

Support the New York Times

Facts matter. Truth matters. Organizations that have integrity and ascribe to journalistic ethics rather than simply acting as a propaganda echo chamber of the administration’s “alternative facts” have been labeled as “fake news” by Trump and his lackeys. The news organizations with the backbone to investigate reports of Russian meddling in the election and potential collusion with and by the Trump campaign and possibly Trump himself are being singled out.

It’s simple, really. If Trump, his Minister of Propaganda, or any other administration lackey calls a media organization “fake news”, that just means the organization in question is doing its job, reporting actual facts, investigating stories that matter, and getting under the (incredibly thin) skin of Trump and his people.

Support the New York Times. Support CNN, Politico, Time, and other news organizations that represent a free and independent press willing to do what it takes to make sure the public is informed rather than just conned.

February 3, 2017February 3, 2017

The Declaration of Resistance

This is the Declaration of Resistance–a new, restated Declaration of Independence originally published on Twitter by Beau Willimon (@beauwillimon), an American writer, producer and playwright. This declaration succinctly and poignantly lists the grievances the people have against Donald Trump and his administration.

One thing I–and many Americans–took solace in following the slim Electoral College victory that won the election for Donald in spite of a crushing defeat in the popular vote was, “At least the President has limited power, and we have checks and balances. Our government institutions will do what they must to defend and preserve our nation.” Unfortunately, the GOP controls both the House and the Senate, and thus far seem more than willing to ignore the daily–and sometimes hourly–attacks on democracy and freedom by this administration.

History will remember you as a hero or a traitor. Do your part Congress.

1. DECLARATION OF RESISTANCE When in the course of American history it becomes necessary for the people to save our Nation from a Tyrant,

2. To safeguard equality for all and their inalienable rights of Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness from bigotry and corruption,

3. To ensure that our Government continues derive its power from the consent of the governed rather than by autocracy,

4. That whenever any President becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to make such demands upon their Congress:

5. Immediate impeachment of the President for crimes committed, or removal from office by way of the 25th Amendment to the Constitution

6. Donald J. Trump has conducted injuries and usurpations, pursuing the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States.

7. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world—

8. He has obstructed the Laws for Naturalization of Immigrants, and illegally banned refugees in need of safe haven.

9. He has continued to violate federal court orders which require the temporary cessation of this ban, thereby violating his executive oath.

10. He has dismissed an Attorney General for fulfilling her oath to defend the Constitution, defying the autonomy of the Dept. of Justice.

11. He has purged the State Dept. of its highest level officials without any regard for a responsible continuity of State Affairs.

12. He has enlisted amateur ideologues – such as the white supremacist Stephen L. Bannon – to make national security decisions.

13. He has vowed to enact policy and legislation which clearly tread on the separation of church and state.

14. He has refused to remove or address conflicts of interest regarding both his own business and that of his cabinet and family.

15. He has hastily signed multiple Executive Orders without the advisement of Congress, policy experts, his cabinet or staff.

16. He has signed an Executive Order which knowingly deprives the sick of desperately needed healthcare with no concern for their lives.

17. He has signed an Executive Order permitting a pipeline that tramples on Native American Rights and endangers safe water supply.

18. He has illegally threatened to cut off funding to Sanctuary Cities which have determined their values through self-governance.

19. He has knowingly, repeatedly and egregiously misled the public, and directed his staff to do the same.

20. He has strongly advocated for the silencing and suppression of a Free Press.

21. He has repeatedly and consistently shown contempt for people based race, ethnicity, gender, sexual identity and religion.

22. He has shown disdain and disregard for the judiciary, and the fundamental human rights that are the foundation of Justice.

23. A Prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.

24. We shall Resist until our Congress uses the mechanisms afforded to by the Constitution to remove this Tyrant from Power.

25. And for the support of this Declaration we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our Honor.

Signed. The Resistance

January 29, 2017

Inside Donald’s Head: Part 1 of 9

Have you ever read Donald Trump’s book, The Art of the Deal? It was on my list of things I aspired to read at one point, but I never did get around to it. In my defense, the book was popular when Donald was merely a questionably successful business person–it was pre-Apprentice, never mind pre-politics. In the wake of Donald’s swearing in as President, one group took a closer look at the book, though, to find clues to how this guy thinks.

One of the quotes pulled from the book addresses Donald’s thoughts on maintaining a schedule. He said, “I try not to schedule too many meetings. I leave my door open. You can’t be imaginative or entrepreneurial if you’ve got too much structure. I prefer to come to work each day and just see what develops.”

I realize Donald probably didn’t actually “write” a single word of the book, and these are really the words of whatever co-author or ghost writer Donald was working with. It’s fair to assume, though, that Donald said something along these lines and based on how he ran his campaign and seems to be operating in the White House, the philosophy seems credible.

Personally, I don’t disagree. Anyone who has worked in a corporation and has been mired down in meetings knows what it feels like. You look at your calendar and see all of your day allocated to various briefings and meetings and just shrug your shoulders, knowing it won’t be a very productive day.

A recent study by Attentiv found that the average meeting includes nine people, and that 63 percent of meetings don’t have a pre-planned agenda. Most meetings are between 31 and 60 minutes, and more than a third of those who participate in the meeting find it to be a waste of their time.

That said, the President of the United States is not a CEO, and the United States government is not a business–so that strategy won’t necessarily work for managing a country. Admittedly, it might make sense to look at all of the various standard meetings, determine the goal or value, and then identify whether or not they can be reduced or eliminated. But, there’s a lot going on in any given day–decisions to be made, crises to address, plans to develop–and it’s not something that can be done by the seat of one’s pants…especially if the one wearing said pants has an adversarial relationship with facts and truth.

The good news is that Donald apparently likes to have an open door policy and keep his calendar clear. He’s not used to being an employee, but as his new boss feel free to stop in and tell him what you think of his performance if you happen to be in the DC area.