Democracy 2024: # 38

It feels like whatever buzz existed around Campaign 2024 has for now subsided. This past week did not see many interesting story-lines. Both parties have clear front-runners for the nomination, despite an overabundance of political and personal baggage associated with them. 

The second Republican Presidential debate will occur next week, at the Reagan Library in California, and will air live on the Fox Business Channel. (As I now understand, it will be simulcast on the Fox News mothership.). Donald Trump will skip it once again as well. It is doubtful anything will happen that will be overly dramatic or could alter the race in a major way. That is especially bad news for Ron DeSantis.While he may still be running second in most national polls, he is now down to fourth or even fifth in early states New Hampshire and South Carolina. He may be second in Iowa, but it is still a distant second. Nonetheless, there are signs that Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds may be close to endorsing his candidacy.

Most of the action seems to be on Capitol Hill.It looks like a government shutdown is inevitable and Republican Leadership is dreading this prospect. Hardline House Republicans have a set of demand and that is making life very difficult for Speaker Kevin McCarthy. It is hard to see how the party does not get blamed by the public if a shutdown occurs.

Then this week, a huge topic of discussion was Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, suddenly, and without discussion, declaring that the legislative body would no longer have any sort of dress code for Senators on the floor. Visitors and staff members still have to abide by fashion standards, but Senators can do whatever they want. This was clearly done to accommodate the wishes of freshman Pennsylvania Democrat John Fetterman who likes to wear hoodies and shorts. The image of a bulking bald white guy with tattoos dressed like a slob seems to have appeal to many on the left perhaps as a symbol of "trolling the establishment."

This really has nothing to do with Presidential politics, but speaks to societal changes and standards.All Republicans and some Democrats have expressed disagreement with this new rule and the way that Schumer unilaterally instituted it. I will say that those who made excuses for the horribly dressed wannabe Insurrectionists who took over the Senate floor on January 6, 2021 really have no room to complain.

Briefly, my thoughts are that there should be dress standards for the Senate. Fetterman looks like a completely unserious person when he dresses like that. He should be able to wear what he wants off the Senate floor, but if he wants to vote fully inside of it (instead of doing what many underdressed Senators do and cast a vote from just outside the Chamber) or speak on the floor (which he does not do), then he can bend a bit, like he did when he was the Lt. Governor of his state. Despite his "biker dude" appearance, Fetterman grew up as a rich, privileged person who seems to think that rules should not apply to him.

There is probably some sort of compromise that could be made. Very few men actually have to wear jackets and ties to work anymore. Can they maybe institute some sort of loosening of standards but would not allow hoodies, t-shirts, and shorts? Even remote workers on Zoom calls are expected to abide by some sort of professional standard.

Yesterday, New Jersey Democrat Bob Menendez was indicted, and not for the first time. He has previously beaten past federal charges, but these seem to be very serious.Unlike the last time,many Democrats in his state are calling for him to resign. He would be replaced by a Democrat by New Jersey's Governor. The Senator, who is currently seeking reelection for 2024 is maintaining that he is not going anywhere and that he is somehow a target because he is Latino. It should be noted that it was the Obama Justice Department that charged him in the past and the Biden Justice Department now. Those who say there are two systems of justice in the current Administration should also take note.

There will be continued pressure on Menendez to step aside. His sticking around certainly eats away at the narrative that Republicans defend Donald Trump no matter what he is charged with. I would not be shocked if Trump somehow issues a statement in defense of Menendez and against the Justice Department.

As usual, most everything underneath the surface of American politics is about Trump. House Republicans continue to be very afraid that he might one day endorse a primary challenger, so they bend over backwards to stay on his good side. The same applies to the weak and weaselly McCarthy who knows that a simple statement by Trump could end his Speakership the next day. That is why McCarthy went on television this past week to basically diss Ron DeSantis in a political comparison to Trump. Gee, I wonder who told McCarthy to do that.

As I have asked for over eight years now, when does it end for Trump defenders.Even if someone agrees with him on every policy issues, what does it take to recognize what a completely amoral human being he is? Is that ever going to matter again? This is the person who does not want wounded war heroes "displayed" in public because they make him feel bad. He looks upon himself as a "winner"and anyone who actually joined the military and paid a price for it are "losers" or "suckers."

Today, he basically said on social media that General Mark Milley, the same person Trump elevated to Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff should be "executed" for treason. Milley ran afoul of Trump in office and recently revealed the latest story about Trump not wanting to see a disabled veteran featured at a public event.

I do not think Donald Trump will be President ever again, although the fact that Joe Biden may be the only think standing between him and the White House should be a horrible thing to consider for Americans across the political spectrum. What would happen though if he did "come to power" again. He may never actually be able to do what he would truly want to do or even try to do but the things that he would want to do or try to do are pretty abhorrent.