It’s the return of Six Takeaways! But I’m not committing to anything too stringent. We’ll call this a semi-regular feature of my take on what’s news to me.
Elizabeth Warren — The post-mortems continue to roll in, as a friend of mine pointed out yesterday, and I’ll admit to my fascination with the strange journey of the Massachusetts senator’s rise and fall from Democratic frontrunner to third place in her home state. Much, of course, has and will be made about sexism, and there is no doubt that the privacy of the voting booth allows voters to be honest in their prejudices. The Democrats’ diverse stage has narrowed itself down to two old white guys, and that does not fall under “good optics” for what the party is trying to sell.
It is important, however, to remind ourselves at this juncture this party nominated Barrack Obama 12 years ago, who went on to be elected president. Is electing a woman a taller task? Elizabeth Warren 2020 highlighted some things I believe are not yet palatable to mainstream Democrats, let alone the electorate at large:
The shame of it is of the frontrunners, in a drawn-out campaign with Trump I think she had the best bet of going toe-to-toe with him. Here debate handling of Mike Bloomberg was masterful. Certainly, she has no shortage of baggage, but who doesn’t? But, in the end, as a liberal Ivy League professor and Massachusetts senator, she was the physical embodiment of the perceived elitist, lecturing wing of the party that no longer appeals to the working class.
Things of which I have no doubt: A woman will be nominated for president again. A woman will be elected president, I think in my lifetime. Elizabeth Warren is not that woman.
Lebron James— Lebron James reminds us that while success affords us a public platform, it is always wise to think through the ramifications of what we say. While James may lament playing to empty houses due to concerns over coronavirus, saying he will refuse to play if his fans aren’t there is absurd. Firstly, the games will still be televised. Secondly, if fans are being kept from sporting events, it is for their own health and safety.
Auto Shows— Regular followers know my continuing criticism of the abandonment of auto shows. The cancelling of the Geneva show over coronavirus concerns may finally be the beginning of the end of the auto show. I, for one, will be disappointed. As an introvert, shopping the auto show floor in anonymity was a wonderful thing, stepping foot into a showroom is one of the most unpleasant experiences I can imagine.
White House Revolving Door— Acting White House Chief of Staff is out, does that make the new guy the Acting Acting Chief of Staff? He was also Budget Director. North Carolina Rep. Mark Meadows, who was not running for reelection, is chief #4. Budget will likely fall to someone else.
Coronavirus — I’ve been dodging a lot of the coronavirus concerns, in no small part because I lived through SARS, swine flu, bird flu… but I don’t dismiss it. Cases are clearly spreading, and if we dismiss these things completely, that’s when we’ll pay. Still the aforementioned cancelation of the Geneva Auto Show, SXSW, Italian football played in front of empty stands, and this week’s postponement of the James Bond film until November seems disproportionate. Either that, or governments and world health organizations are not being straight up with us.
Daylight Saving Time — Finally, Daylight Saving Time is tonight. This is the good one – leap forward, light later. There continues to be a movement against changing the clocks, and in November, I agree. But this makes me happy, and quite honestly, since most clocks these days are on our phones, tablets and computers and update automatically, not sure it matters much anymore. At any rate, adjust those clocks that don’t update on their own, and enjoy an extra hour of light.
Elizabeth Warren — The post-mortems continue to roll in, as a friend of mine pointed out yesterday, and I’ll admit to my fascination with the strange journey of the Massachusetts senator’s rise and fall from Democratic frontrunner to third place in her home state. Much, of course, has and will be made about sexism, and there is no doubt that the privacy of the voting booth allows voters to be honest in their prejudices. The Democrats’ diverse stage has narrowed itself down to two old white guys, and that does not fall under “good optics” for what the party is trying to sell.
It is important, however, to remind ourselves at this juncture this party nominated Barrack Obama 12 years ago, who went on to be elected president. Is electing a woman a taller task? Elizabeth Warren 2020 highlighted some things I believe are not yet palatable to mainstream Democrats, let alone the electorate at large:
- Wealth tax: I do not believe we are at a point in this country where the majority will accept a tax on success. Certainly not among establishment Dems — there’s too much money there.
- Policy wonk: The majority of voters just don’t want to take the bitter medicine of knowing how the sausage is made. Elizabeth Warren promised much, and had the plans to prove it, right down to the cost. This put here at a disadvantage to Bernie, who makes promises and doesn’t bother telling us what they will cost. Big Gub’mint provides for free.
- Medicare for All: Despite her plan for everything, she hopped on board the Medicare for All train seemingly unexpecting anyone to ask her how to pay for it, then dodged. It was a shocking misplay for a policy wonk.
- The middle lane: In the end, she was too progressive for the establishment and not progressive enough for the Bernie Bros. I still firmly believe elections are won in the middle, and the middle was far too crowded with other options to tolerate her progressive stands.
The shame of it is of the frontrunners, in a drawn-out campaign with Trump I think she had the best bet of going toe-to-toe with him. Here debate handling of Mike Bloomberg was masterful. Certainly, she has no shortage of baggage, but who doesn’t? But, in the end, as a liberal Ivy League professor and Massachusetts senator, she was the physical embodiment of the perceived elitist, lecturing wing of the party that no longer appeals to the working class.
Things of which I have no doubt: A woman will be nominated for president again. A woman will be elected president, I think in my lifetime. Elizabeth Warren is not that woman.
Lebron James— Lebron James reminds us that while success affords us a public platform, it is always wise to think through the ramifications of what we say. While James may lament playing to empty houses due to concerns over coronavirus, saying he will refuse to play if his fans aren’t there is absurd. Firstly, the games will still be televised. Secondly, if fans are being kept from sporting events, it is for their own health and safety.
Auto Shows— Regular followers know my continuing criticism of the abandonment of auto shows. The cancelling of the Geneva show over coronavirus concerns may finally be the beginning of the end of the auto show. I, for one, will be disappointed. As an introvert, shopping the auto show floor in anonymity was a wonderful thing, stepping foot into a showroom is one of the most unpleasant experiences I can imagine.
White House Revolving Door— Acting White House Chief of Staff is out, does that make the new guy the Acting Acting Chief of Staff? He was also Budget Director. North Carolina Rep. Mark Meadows, who was not running for reelection, is chief #4. Budget will likely fall to someone else.
Coronavirus — I’ve been dodging a lot of the coronavirus concerns, in no small part because I lived through SARS, swine flu, bird flu… but I don’t dismiss it. Cases are clearly spreading, and if we dismiss these things completely, that’s when we’ll pay. Still the aforementioned cancelation of the Geneva Auto Show, SXSW, Italian football played in front of empty stands, and this week’s postponement of the James Bond film until November seems disproportionate. Either that, or governments and world health organizations are not being straight up with us.
Daylight Saving Time — Finally, Daylight Saving Time is tonight. This is the good one – leap forward, light later. There continues to be a movement against changing the clocks, and in November, I agree. But this makes me happy, and quite honestly, since most clocks these days are on our phones, tablets and computers and update automatically, not sure it matters much anymore. At any rate, adjust those clocks that don’t update on their own, and enjoy an extra hour of light.
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