I’m writing this at 4 AM, November 9th, 2016, having slept only a few hours knowing what happened just hours ago was real. What was supposed to be the inevitable shattering of the glass ceiling turned out to be a high-speed crash into a metal wall. America has just elected Donald J. Trump, the iconoclastic media and business mogul, to be President of the United States. The reaction coming from my friends online demonstrates a strong sense of loss, fear, shock, or anger. continued…
Why the wave against the Democrats and loss of the Senate? DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz and President Obama are now asking why the Democrats lost, despite polls showing agreement on the issues, so they can make strategic corrections. Here’s a main reason: Aside from the sheer numbers against them (21 of the 34 Senate seats up were Democratic), the national Democratic party’s silence was deafening on recent accomplishments. continued…
The U.S. House of Representatives recently voted for the 55th time to defund or repeal the Affordable Care Act. The repeals would reverse coverage of pre-existing conditions, family plans that include children up to age 26, lifetime benefits, preventive care (including colonoscopies and mammograms), and a requirement that insurance companies spend at least 80 percent of premiums on benefits, with a rebate to consumers if less. The repeal votes do not replace these provisions. Happily, the Senate has ignored the House. continued…
Back in February, President Obama said to the Democratic Governors Association, “We know how to win national elections, but all too often, it’s during these midterms where we end up getting ourselves into trouble.” Indeed, most pundits believe Democrats will lose their majority in the Senate and suffer losses in the House in a “wave election.” Republicans need to secure six more Senate seats to control Congress, and three of these seats are nearly assured, according to Politico’s latest projections. continued…
Last week, I had the opportunity to attend an event at the Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC). While the free pizza helped draw a sizable, young crowd, the main attraction for this gathering was former Republican Senator Olympia Snowe. She spoke to endorse an initiative called Common Sense Action (CSA), a campus-based organization aimed at promoting bipartisan cooperation. Snowe believes that the youth of this generation will be responsible for enacting the reforms and policies our country needs. continued…
Since the day it was decided, I have considered the outcome of Citizens United an erroneous decision. In short time, this ruling has created a surge in political spending, and further fueled the paralysis our political system faces. I believe that swift action must be taken to overturn bad precedent, either through tough disclosure laws or adopting a constitutional amendment giving the federal government and states the power to regulate money in politics. Thus, I do sympathize with the recent outburst in the Supreme Court, but continued…
For Democrats, the New Year holds many promises and omens. The Affordable Care Act, one of the most significant efforts to improve our health care system, will have its major components implemented. The Republican Party is unofficially split into two camps, but remain united under the flag of anti-Obama rhetoric. Many strong progressive proposals such as immigration reform have gained traction, but remain stalled due to the incompetency of continued…