WELCOME to my ALL-POLITICS blog covering the November 2024 Election. (If you missed earlier editions, check out my Aug. 10 and Aug. 24 blogs.) Don’t worry, the regular non-politics blog will post next weekend, with the 2 blogs alternating until November. Luckily, I have no life….
Election Basics
REGISTRATION
Are you registered to vote in Travis County? Things can change, so go here to BE SURE you are eligible to vote: https://elections.traviscountytx.gov/voter-lookup/#VoterEligibilitySearch
This site checks voter registration within the entire state of Texas: https://teamrv-mvp.sos.texas.gov/MVP/mvp.do
Last day to register to vote in Travis County is Oct. 7. Go here to fill out an application form, but it must be PRINTED and MAILED: https://vrapp.sos.state.tx.us/index.asp
BALLOT BY MAIL
Application deadline is Oct. 25: https://elections.traviscountytx.gov/voter-information/ballot-by-mail/#AbsenteeBallotSearch
VOTING (in person)
Early Voting is Oct. 21-Nov. 1. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 5
SAMPLE BALLOT
This has everything you need to know about voting in Texas: Here’s how to vote in the Texas 2024 election 8/21/24 https://www.texastribune.org/2024/08/21/texas-voter-guide-2024-election/
Texas Tribune also lets you pull your sample ballot, with details on all the races you will vote on: Here’s your ballot for the Nov. 5 Texas elections 8/30/24 https://apps.texastribune.org/features/2024/texas-ballot-2024-presidential-election-nov-5/
Things YOU can do.
Volunteer for the Harris/Walz campaign. https://go.kamalaharris.com/?utm_source=hfp_w_kh_menu
Get campaign signs for your yard locally. Sign up here to have yard signs delivered to you: https://forms.gle/Vr9ET6A8LMsXympD8
Volunteer here in Lakeway area. LT Dems are working with Western Travis Democrats (a group of local Dem Precinct Chairs) to organize activities including mailings, block walks/lit drops, phone banks, campaign signs, and more for this fall. Go here (at the link, scroll down to GOTV and click on More Info) to sign up and help GET OUT THE VOTE this fall: https://www.laketravisdemocrats.com/copy-of-club-activities
Donate here in Lakeway area for local impact. The activities listed above that local Dem groups are spearheading take MONEY. Printing, postage, signs—it adds up. Donations are needed. ACT BLUE makes donating easy and secure. https://secure.actblue.com/donate/western-travis-democrats-1
Donate to Travis County Democratic Party. TCDP is working hard to reach Democrats across Travis County and make sure they know when, how, and where to vote. To get Harris/Walz and Colin Allred elected we need to turn out every Democrat in Travis County —and postcards are key in making that happen. $20 = 30 postcards. $50 = 76 postcards. Pitch in to mobilize Democrats across Travis County. https://secure.actblue.com/donate/fund-our-postcards?fbclid=IwY2xjawEh8LpleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHby1WqRlAg3PPiBFqmxnSOXA8pyevSZAiZMFqqM0nRquYthuhh3oAyyB9A_aem_IIfdpz23omO4H9aIbCDxoA
Mail postcards to SWING STATES. Turning Texas blue is a big lift, BUT we can help the DEMS win the swing states, by mailing postcards. Progressive Turnout Project has a goal of 26 million cards and makes it easy, sending you the cards, addresses and messages you can use. You just provide the stamps. Here is how it works: “Sign up now to write postcards to rally Democrats to vote in 11 key states on November 5! Writing postcards is the most effective action you can take from home to help re-elect President Biden and ensure that Democrats maintain a Senate majority. You can pick the state when you sign up, and we’ll mail you free postcards along with voter lists and instructions with proven message options. You’ll provide the postcard stamps and mail the postcards in October on the instructed date.” Go here to sign up: https://turnoutpac.org/postcards/
TEXAS Elections
Texas House District 19’s Dwain Handley
In 2021, Republican lawmakers ridiculously gerrymandered Texas House District 19 (Image credit: Government of Texas). They stole a chunk of Lakeway from the safely blue Austin area district held by Dem. Vikki Goodwin. Then, they grafted it onto the side of a red district lurching (outlined in orange above) through 5 counties–north, south and extending west past Fredericksburg. In 2022, far right Republican Ellen Troxclair (formerly on Austin City Council) won the seat. https://www.troxclairfortexas.com/ (Be sure to read to the bottom of Troxclair’s Endorsements page, to find some familiar Lakeway names.) Now, Democrat Dwain Handley is challenging her.
Handley’s top issues are democracy, protecting our kids from gun violence, climate change, immigration and religious freedom. Check out his campaign site for details: https://handley4texas.com/
Watch this Meet the Candidate video, an 11-minute interview with Mothers Against Greg Abbott, which has endorsed Handley: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BymuNoHN6ow
Here is a 5-minute video Handley did for the Primary Election in the spring: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IAOtTg35vD0
This 9-minute video is from Handley’s spring event here in Lakeway: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IOe6bOg7TXE
Allred vs. Cruz
Colin Allred is running against the most hated man in the US Senate, Cancun Cruz. (Image credit: Allred Campaign.)
Polls have shown Allred steadily gaining on Cruz in 2024, and now they are tied.
Colin Allred is a 4th generation Texan, attending Baylor on a football scholarship and going on to a career in the NFL. After 5 years, an injury caused Allred to pivot to his original plan of becoming a civil rights lawyer. He worked in the Obama Administration at the Department of Housing and Urban Development and then ran for Congress in 2018 to represent Texas’ 32nd District. For 6 years, Allred got things done for Texas by working with ALL his colleagues, regardless of party. Now, he is wrapping up his 3rd term in Congress, ready to shift to the US Senate. (Image credit: USA Today.)
Here is how Allred’s site sums up his campaign against Ted Cruz:Colin knows that Texans are fed up with the divisive politics of Ted Cruz that pits Texans against each other. We deserve a Senator who doesn’t jet off to Cancun while Texans are freezing in the dark. And we deserve a Senator who cares more about your job, your health care, your retirement and your kids’ education than hosting a podcast three times a week. Colin Allred is running for Senate because Texans can’t afford six more years of Ted Cruz. He will give Texans the honest, pragmatic leadership they deserve in the Senate. Check out Allred’s campaign site: https://colinallred.com/about/
Ted Cruz abandoned his Texas constituents during the horrific winter storm in 2021 when people all over the state lost power, literally freezing to death in their homes. (Image credits: REUTERS and Getty Images.) Cruz flew off to Cancun, just because he could. Icy blast of anti-Ted Cruz outrage shows little sign of abating 2/19/21 https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/feb/19/ted-cruz-texas-outrage-cancun
More recently, Cruz in May voted against a bipartisan border agreement that was negotiated by Republican Sen. James Lankford. (The bill would have provided over $20 billion for border personnel and other measures to curb illegal immigration.) Why did Cruz and his GOP cohorts vote against their own bill? Because Trump told them to; Trump didn’t want border conditions to improve, because he planned to use the border as a cudgel in the upcoming election. So, again, Cruz failed Texas. Senate Republicans block border security bill as they campaign on border chaos 5/23/24 https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/senate-republicans-block-border-security-bill-campaign-border-chaos-rcna153607
Watch this ad for Allred’s border policies: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v0wOzvVwimo
As they say—you either hate Cruz, or you hate him. Even in the collegial Senate, he has no friends or allies. Fellow Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham famously said: “If you killed Ted Cruz on the floor of the Senate, and the trial was in the Senate, nobody would convict you.” You either hate him or you hate him: Why Ted Cruz just can’t get it right 1/21/21 https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/us-politics/ted-cruz-senator-paris-climate-b1790835.html
Importantly, Cruz isn’t working for Texans, just for himself. In the past couple years, he has spent his time on podcasts, endlessly talking. In contrast, the senior senator from Texas, Sen. John Cornyn is also a Republican, but he is a powerful force in government, holding the respect of colleagues; Cornyn could well be the next GOP leader in the Senate, when McConnell retires in January. In contrast, Cruz is laughable, which makes him vulnerable at the polls. Colin Allred has a good shot at beating him.
Cruz in January of 2021 voted NOT to certify the election results, even AFTER the Jan. 6 rioters ransacked the Capitol and sent him and all the other lawmakers running for their lives. Ted Cruz and 16 other Texans refused to certify the 2020 election. https://www.texastribune.org/2022/01/06/texas-congress-ted-cruz-2020-election-jan-6/
Cruz has attacked Social Security and Medicare for years now (advocating cutting benefits, raising the eligibility age and raising drug prices). Watch this ad contrasting all that with Allred’s position: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQUbWf0fpIc
Cruz supports a full abortion ban. Watch a powerful ad on the horrific results of the abortion ban in Texas: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=65jzQumeT-0
Watch Allred’s 2-minute speech at the Democratic National Convention: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nV_H47SesK8
Here are recent interviews by Allred AND Cruz on their policy positions (about 20 minutes each): Cruz, Allred discuss Senate race in one-on-one interviews 8/30/24 https://www.kltv.com/2024/08/30/cruz-allred-discuss-senate-race-one-on-one-interviews/?outputType=amp
On Sept. 6, Liz Cheney, a Wyoming Republican and formerly a GOP leader in the US House, endorsed Democrat Colin Allred in his race to beat Republican U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz. “Here in Texas, you guys do have a tremendous, serious candidate running for U.S. Senate. It’s not Ted Cruz.” Liz Cheney will support Democrat Colin Allred in Texas Senate race 9/6/24 https://www.texastribune.org/2024/09/06/dick-cheney-kamala-harris-liz-cheney-colin-allred/
PRESIDENTIAL RACE
SHINY NEW POLLS
Harris leads Trump by 3 points, in composite polling on the national preference, as of Aug. 31, per NYTimes charting.
In 5 swing states, the race is tied or nearly so, per NYTimes charting.
DEBATES
Harris dared Trump: “Say it to my face.” So, in early August Trump agreed to the previously arranged Sept. 10 debate. Then, of course, Trump waffled, complaining about details and absurdities, trying to wriggle out of having to face Harris. But, pending yet another panic attack on Trump’s part, the debate is ON. It will be on ABC, withDavid Muir and Linsey Davis as moderators, and without a live audience. (Image credits: AP and Getty.) No hot mic moments: What else to know about the Harris v. Trump debate 9/5/24 https://www.politico.com/news/2024/09/05/trump-harris-debate-what-to-know-00177554
The VP nominees will debate on Oct. 1. Their meeting will be hosted by CBS News in NYC, with moderators Margaret Brennan (Face the Nation) and Norah O’Donnell (CBS Evening News). (Image credits: Getty Images.) VP debate hosted by CBS News set for Oct. 1 between Vance and Walz 8/15/24 https://www.cbsnews.com/news/vp-debate-tim-walz-jd-vance/
HARRIS/WALZ
Republicans for Harris
Liz Cheney, a Republican and former congresswoman who broke with former President Donald Trump, will vote for Kamala Harris in November. “I don’t believe we have the luxury of writing in candidates’ names, particularly in swing states. As a conservative, as someone who believes in and cares about the Constitution, I have thought deeply about this and because of the danger that Donald Trump poses, not only am I not voting for Donald Trump, but I will be voting for Kamala Harris.” https://www.cnn.com/2024/09/04/politics/liz-cheney-voting-kamala-harris/index.html
Also, Liz Cheney said Trump and Vance would show the American people who they are. “This is my diplomatic way of saying it: They’re misogynistic pigs. At the end of the day, I think that women around this country, we’ve had enough.” https://www.texastribune.org/2024/09/06/dick-cheney-kamala-harris-liz-cheney-colin-allred/
Lifelong Republican Dick Cheney supports Kamala Harris. Cheney served as vice-president 2001-2009 under Republican President George W. Bush. (As Nicolle Wallace said on her MSNBC show: “Hell has frozen over.” In a good way, of course.) Cheney: “In our nation’s 248-year history, there has never been an individual who is a greater threat to our republic than Donald Trump. He tried to steal the last election using lies and violence to keep himself in power after the voters had rejected him. He can never be trusted with power again. As citizens, we each have a duty to put country above partisanship to defend our Constitution. That is why I will be casting my vote for Vice President Kamala Harris.” https://www.cnn.com/2024/09/06/politics/dick-cheney-kamala-harris-president/index.html
A dozen lawyers who served in the Reagan and Bush administrations have endorsed Kamala Harris. Hardcore Republicans, they have chosen the Dem candidate over Trump, via a letter to Fox News. Their message: “We endorse Kamala Harris and support her election as President because we believe that returning former Pres. Trump to office would threaten American democracy and undermine the rule of law in our country. We urge all patriotic Republicans, former Republicans, conservative and center-right citizens, and independent voters to place love of country above party and ideology and join us in supporting Kamala Harris.” A Dozen Ex-Bush & Reagan Lawyers Endorse Harris Over Trump 8/23/24 https://www.thedailybeast.com/a-dozen-ex-bush-and-reagan-lawyers-endorse-harris-over-trump
Two prominent “religious conservatives,” David French and Ross Douthat, recently debated the merits of voting for Harris, primarily as a means of moving the Republican party past Trump. One is a definite YES, while the other remains reluctant. Listen to the 55-minute conversation or read the transcript here: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/06/opinion/conservatives-election-vote-trump-harris.html
Endorsements
Tons of celebrities are joining up with Harris/Walz.
George Clooney, Barbra Streisand, John Legend, Spike Lee, Aaron Sorkin, Ken Burns, Mark Hamill, Rosie O’Donnell, Jamie Lee Curtis, Robert De Niro, Nick Offerman, Jane Fonda, Ben Stiller, Cynthia Nixon, Kathy Griffin, John Stamos, Ed Helms, Tiffany Haddish, Ike Barinholtz, Olivia Rodrigo, Beyonce, Cardi B, Kesha, Mark Cuban, Kerry Washington, Tony Goldwyn, Oprah Winfrey, Carole King, Mindy Kaling, Eva Longoria, Octavia Spencer, Sally Field, Megan Thee Stallion, Stevie Wonder, Jason Bateman, Jeff Bridges, JJ Abrams, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Sigourney Weaver, plus MORE daily. Kamala Harris Celebrity Endorsements: A Full List of Democratic Celebrities Supporting The VP 8/28/24 https://deadline.com/gallery/kamala-harris-celebrity-endorsements-sally-field-ben-stiller/
Campaign Ads
The Lincoln Project has several new and clever ads:
—State Line was written with Texas in mind; here, the interstate system has already become a hot spot for “busting” women who are traveling to seek an abortion: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3FGIyxhGkvo
—Acceptance showcases Kamala Harris and her DNC acceptance speech: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aafXr6TKGB8
—Decline (AKA Limp) almost makes me feel sorry for Trump, but not quite…. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5tXxlv4O_Qg
—Last Week in the Republican Party has a fun wrap of the week.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9qOg4Y21Ig
The Harris campaign released 3 powerful abortion ads on Sept. 7:
—He Told Us is ALL Trump footage and quotes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0lKA_GeGwIo
—Big Family is a family’s IVF story: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SYGc5HG-kHo
—Laurel tells how a woman nearly died miscarrying: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7a11XkQhYM
More Harris campaign ads:
—The Harris view of Project 2025: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rkuOOfpDyWg
—Opportunity: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtQ_A_U1Q2M
—Full House: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mHgmtsNxT8c
—Everyday: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=beopJlU6iLw
—Foundation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJi3tiV5CyA
—Knows: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQ9a-x_gqQ0
Kamala Harris, for the people, on CNN.
Harris/Walz had their first press interview, Aug. 30 on CNN. (Image credits: CNN, Facebook.) Harris was clear and in control, with no script or teleprompter. She took charge, with Walz supportive and open but in the background. When asked why some policies have shifted during decades of public service, her calm explanations made sense; scientific advances, factual differences, and priority reassessments over the course of many years happen in all our lives, and being open to change is a good thing. Harris is a problem solver aiming for the middle ground and willing to work with both parties to get things done. She laid out more specifics on her “Opportunity Economy” plan. Crucially, she refused to sink to Trump’s level or even respond to his blatant race-baiting. Her response: “Same old, tired playbook. Next question, please.” may have disappointed the network hoping for shocking headlines, but Americans looking for competent representation by someone interested in governance should be pleased. 6 takeaways from Harris’ interview on CNN 8/30/24 https://www.npr.org/2024/08/30/nx-s1-5095227/kamala-harris-interview-cnn-analysis
Neverwalz.com
Someone had the bright idea to create a group trashing Tim Walz, calling it NeverWalz. Only they weren’t bright enough to buy the domain name. Someone else did. Above is the message visitors to www.neverwalz.com see briefly (before being sent to the Harris/Walz campaign site).
Scout Walz under attack
The images above show Walz with the family’s rescue pup, a black lab named Scout (on the left, image credit: MN.gov site) and Walz at a dog park with ANOTHER dog (on the right, image credit: Instagram). GOP trolls desperate to sling mud on Tim Walz attacked the shot of Walz with a dog other than his own, alleging fraud of some sort. They totally missed the point of its caption about having fun at the DOG PARK, where, as real people know, OTHER DOGS tend to be present. Republicans want voters to think Walz lied about his dog. False GOP claims could cause real damage 8/27/24 https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/republicans-voters-tim-walz-lied-dog-claims-cause-113196624
Mad Max Screenplay
Walz hit the Trump nail on its wispy orange head, calling his campaign tirades a “Mad Max screenplay.” That aptly sums up Trump’s completely fabricated tale about an apartment complex being taken over by a Venezuela street gang in a Denver suburb, as well as his 100% false statement that Democrats kidnap children from school and perform sex change operations on them. It may be a nice change of pace from his Hannibal Lector and shark vs. electrification rants, but the new level of crazy shows Trump’s desperation and plummeting mental acuity. Walz: Trump speeches are like next ‘Mad Max’ screenplay 9/5/24 https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/4863195-tim-walz-donald-trump-speech-next-mad-max-screenplay/
Effortlessly handling the pastry challenge.
“Look at me, I have no problem picking out doughnuts.” Walz joked last week, as he and daughter Hope were on a campaign tour of rural Pennsylvania. The duo managed to order doughnuts and interact with voters and campaign workers like actual human beings. (Image credit: AP.) Tim Walz aims donut jibe at JD Vance on visit to Pennsylvania farmers’ market 9/5/24 https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/us-politics/walz-vance-donut-joke-pennsylvania-b2607266.html
TRUMP/VANCE
The perfect shot of these clowns…. (Image credit: NY Times.)
Old 45
Still old and addled. Still lying. Still a racist and a misogynist. (Image credits: Trump campaign email, Facebook.)
On Aug. 24 (desperate to grab back public attention after the DNC tour de force, I imagine) Trump posted on Truth Social: “My Administration will be great for women and their reproductive rights.” AND “The Republican Party is charging forward on many fronts, and I am very proud that we are a LEADER on I.V.F.” (Remember, Trump has repeatedly boasted about overturning Roe’s 50-yearprotection of women’s access to abortion and stated that women getting abortions should be punished.) Sorry, Donnie—your Project 2025 got a lot of press, so America knows those are both lies of the big and fat variety. https://www.politico.com/news/2024/08/24/trump-abortion-reactions-00176276
Endorsements.
The Democratic National Committee was so taken with JFK, Jr. becoming the wonky 3rd wheel on the Trump and Vance ticket that it created billboards to celebrate the event. The DNC launched the billboards ahead of Trump’s rally with fellow weirdo Robert F. Kennedy Jr., calling out these two and Vance for being simply “weird as hell” in their quest to strip away fundamental freedoms from Americans. https://democrats.org/news/icymi-dnc-launches-new-billboards-ahead-of-trumps-weird-rally-with-robert-f-kennedy-jr/
The repellant Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who was tragically running for president as an Independent, finally suspended his moribund campaign and endorsed Trump on Aug. 23. (Trump paid him off with an honorary title, Co-Chief of Transition, and a vague promise of a real job starting in January.) RFK Jr’s respected Kennedy siblings called it a sad ending to a sad story. Mortified at the damage done to the Kennedy legend, they have complained for months that RFK, Jr.’s candidacy “set fire” to their beloved father’s memory. No surprise that this loser landed next to Trump; the guy whose fetid baggage includes toying with a dead bear cub, chowing down on BBQ’d dog, mounting a decaying whale head on his car, currently hosting very his own brain worm, all while bellowing an extreme anti-vax stance (“There’s NO VACCINE that is safe and effective.”)—sure, he’ll fit right in at Trump’s Florida retirement home.
The Republican Accountability Project created a nice 1-minute ad.
Republican Voters AGAINST Trump: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ahBKWQssQ5o
The Apprentice film tells all about Trump’s early days.
The Apprentice is coming to a theater near you. (Image credit: Mongrel Media/Everett Collection.) The new bio-pic covering Trump’s NYC heyday debuted at Cannes earlier this year, starring Sebastian Stan as young Trump and Succession’s Jeremy Strong as his fixer, Roy Cohn. Trump has fought its domestic release. Seems it doesn’t show his good side, or something…. But, the film will debut in the US on Oct.1. Check out the press release video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKaBx2M0748 Of course, Trump says he will sue to stop the film, which he terms “pure malicious defamation.” Pass the popcorn…. Donald Trump biopic ‘The Apprentice’ sets pre-election release date 8/30/24 https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/donald-trump-biopic-apprentice-release-date-set-ahead-2024-election-rcna168981
Trump’s abortion position TIMELINE—1999 to this week.
First, for clarity, here is Kamala Harris’ abortion position: restore Roe, abortion up to fetal viability (around 22 to 24 weeks). Harris wants to restore Roe. 8/20/24 https://www.politico.com/news/2024/08/20/harris-restore-roe-abortion-activists-00174816
TRUMP on ABORTION—a timeline of his very own words.
1999: Trump described himself (in a Meet the Press interview) as “very pro-choice.”
2011: Trump (talking to a large conservative crowd) said he was now “pro-life.”
2016: Trump told Chris Matthews in a March 2016 MSNBC interview: “The answer is there has to be some form of punishment. … for the women. You know, you’ll go back to a position like they had where people perhaps will go to illegal places, but you have to ban it.”
2016: Trump (in response to the negative reaction even from conservatives to the above comments): “My position has not changed – like Ronald Reagan, I am pro-life with exceptions.”
2016: Trump’s election rally pitch promised to appoint Supreme Court justices who were PRO-LIFE.
2017-2020: Appointed 3 SCOTUS justices who were indeed pro-life and ruled in 2022 (along with 3 existing far-right justices) that the right to abortion until fetal viability that women had held for 50 years under Roe v. Wade no longer existed. Trump also signed executive orders blocking federal funding for abortions.
2022 (June, in a victory statement when Dobbs overturned Roe): “Today’s decision, which is the biggest WIN for LIFE in a generation, along with other decisions that have been announced recently, were only made possible because I delivered everything as promised, including nominating and getting three highly respected and strong Constitutionalists confirmed to the United States Supreme Court.” Trump also told Fox News: “God made the decision.”
2023: Trump told the Faith & Freedom Coalition audience: “We have to be strong and powerful. That’s why when I’m re-elected, I will continue to fight against the demented late-term abortionists in the Democrat Party who believe in unlimited abortion on demand and even executing babies after birth.” PLUS: “I am proud to be the most pro-life president in U.S. history.”
2024: Trump started obfuscating his abortion position, often deferring to the states, out of concern that Roe being overturned was driving voters away from the Republican party.
2024: As of Aug. 30, amid contradictions and flip-flopping, Trump indicated he would vote AGAINST the Florida initiative to codify the right to abortion (until 24 weeks) in the state constitution. So, he would be voting FOR continuation of Florida’s law which now only allows abortion up to 6 weeks.
—Donald Trump: ‘There Has To Be Some Form Of Punishment’ For Women Who Get Abortions If They Become Illegal 3/30/16 https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/donald-trump-abortions/
—QUOTES: Comparing Trump’s Stance on Abortion Over Time 4/8/24 https://www.usnews.com/news/national-news/articles/quotes-comparing-trumps-stance-on-abortion-over-time
—Trump Contorts Himself on Abortion in Search of Political Gain 8/31/24 https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/31/us/politics/trump-abortion-stance.html
—Democrats target Trump’s muddled abortion message 9/3/24 https://www.politico.com/news/2024/09/03/trump-abortion-florida-democrats-harris-00177217
Trump plays to the cameras and has staff film campaign ads in most sacred area of Arlington National Cemetery.
Who does a grinning thumbs up for the camera, while standing in front of a sea of military graves? And FILMS IT AS A CAMPAIGN AD? Old Bone Spurs, of course. Leave it to Trump, well known for disrespecting American military service and sacrifice, to use America’s most sacred cemetery and the fallen heroes buried there as props for his re-election campaign. To make Trump’s actions even worse, Trump desecrated Section 60, the area in the cemetery reserved for the graves of those who served in Iraq and Afghanistan; the deaths recorded there are recent, and the grief still deep and raw. But, all military dead are just “losers and suckers” to Trump.
So, how was Trump allowed to use Arlington National Cemetery as a campaign prop? Well, he was NOT allowed, but he did it anyway, in his usual boorish fashion. Trump says he was invited by families to join them at a private ceremony honoring the third anniversary of the horrific suicide bombing at Abbey Gate in Afghanistan. His attending and placing a wreath was, of course, perfectly lovely. What was NOT lovely or allowed by law was Trump bringing cameras and video equipment to take photos and film a campaign ad, which he used online to attack Harris. The Army went so far as issuing a statement condemning Trump’s actions.
Any current or former service member voting for Trump will have to do mental somersaults to justify this latest example of Old Bone Spurs’ perfidy.
— US Army rebukes Trump campaign for incident at Arlington National Cemetery 8/29/24 https://www.cnn.com/2024/08/29/politics/us-army-rebukes-trump-campaign-arlington-incident/index.html
–Trump posts campaign video of Arlington National Cemetery visit after ‘incident’ 8/28/24 https://abcnews.go.com/Photos/arlington-national-cemetery-confirms-incident-trump-team-remembrance/story?id=113201141&utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email
–I’m a combat veteran. Here’s why Trump’s Arlington stunt was so insulting. 8/29/24 https://www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnbc-opinion/trump-arlington-national-cemetery-grave-photo-rcna168767
How’s that BORDER WALL coming?
After the DNC, Trump tried to grab headlines with a run to the border. He stopped in Montezuma Pass, Arizona, and pointed to a lovely border wall, tall and strong—the Rolls Royce of border walls, he said, as he took credit for building it. PROBLEM—that prime run of border wall was built during the Obama Administration. Trump’s border wall effort was nearby, a planned extension costing $35MIL per mile, but it was little more than a pile of deteriorated construction material. Back in 2016, Trump promised to build a “big beautiful wall” across the nearly 2,000-mile U.S.-Mexico border if elected. DIDN’T HAPPEN. Trump promised to make Mexico pay for it. ALSO—DIDN’T HAPPEN. Trump Picked Worst Possible Spot For New Border Wall Stunt 8/26/24 https://www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-border-wall-stunt_n_66cc0335e4b0f0ded8062bf3
Trump’s child care policy is bonkers, just like him.
Asked if he would “commit to prioritizing legislation to make child care affordable” and “what specific piece of legislation” he would support during a Q&A session at the Economic Club of New York on Sept. 5, Trump said:
“Well, I would do that, and we’re sitting down. You know, I was somebody — we had, Senator Marco Rubio, and my daughter Ivanka, was so impactful on that issue. It’s a very important issue.
“But I think when you talk about the kind of numbers that I’m talking about — that, because look, child care is child care, couldn’t — you know, there’s something — you have to have it in this country. You have to have it. But when you talk about those numbers, compared to the kind of numbers that I’m talking about by taxing foreign nations at levels that they’re not used to. But they’ll get used to it very quickly. And it’s not going to stop them from doing business with us. But they’ll have a very substantial tax when they send product into our country. Those numbers are so much bigger than any numbers that we’re talking about, including child care, that it’s going to take care. We’re going to have — I look forward to having no deficits within a fairly short period of time, coupled with the reductions that I told you about on waste and fraud and all of the other things that are going on in our country.
“Because I have to stay with child care. I want to stay with child care. But those numbers are small relative to the kind of economic numbers that I’m talking about, including growth, but growth also headed up by what the plan is that I just — that I just told you about. We’re going to be taking in trillions of dollars. And as much as child care is talked about as being expensive, it’s, relatively speaking, not very expensive compared to the kind of numbers will be taking in.
“We’re going to make this into an incredible country that can afford to take care of its people. And then we’ll worry about the rest of the world. Let’s help other people. But we’re going to take care of our country first. This is about America first. It’s about make America great again. We have to do it because right now, we’re a failing nation. So we’ll take care of it. Thank you. Very good question. Thank you.”
In contrast, here is the Harris campaign’s child care plan: “The American people deserve a President who will actually cut costs for them, like Vice President Harris’ plan to bring back a $3,600 Child Tax Credit for working families and an expanded $6,000 tax cut for families with newborn children.”
‘Incoherent word salad’: Trump stumbles when asked how he’d tackle child care 9/6/24 https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-election/trump-stumbles-whether-prioritize-child-care-costs-rcna169922
Trump is already paying back Musk.
Trump announced Elon Musk would head a new commission to massively walk back government regulations. (Image credit: NYTimes.) Well, the good news about Musk being Project 2025 Czar is that he would have less time to muck up X, Tesla and SpaceX. Trump announces plan for Elon Musk-led ‘government efficiency commission’ 9/5/24 https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/article/2024/sep/05/trump-musk-efficiency-commission
Trump claims the RIGHT to interfere in elections
In a Fox News interview on Sept. 1, Trump said: “Who ever heard you get indicted for interfering with a presidential election where you have every right to do it.” He is like a toddler claiming the right to smack the dog, smash plates, and throw a tantrum over being told it is naptime. Except, Trump is determined to break our democracy in order to re-assume power once and for all and (as a priceless perk) avoid all civil fines and penalties as well as prison time for all his felony prosecutions. https://x.com/Acyn/status/1830401090183102510?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email
Trump is WAY too soft on criminals who pay him off.
The last blog noted that one of the convicted criminals Trump released from jail as he left the White House in 2021 has been busy since committing more crimes. Now, it has happened AGAIN. Trump commuted Jaime A. Davidson’s sentence on his last day in office, Jan. 20, 2021. Davidson was serving life in prison without parole, after being convicted of murdering an undercover federal agent during a robbery. In March of 2023, just over two years after Trump released Davidson, he was charged in Orlando, FL, with battery by strangulation and domestic violence. The victim was Davidson’s wife of just 5 months. Cop Killer Released by Trump Went on to Attack Wife 9/3/24 https://www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-commuted-sentences-domestic-violence-1948190
The suit off his back….
For the Trump collection completest: Buy 15 of his grossly overpriced trading cards and get a swatch from the suit he wore during the June debate. Like a former US President hawking trading cards wasn’t embarrassing enough…. Trump fans who spend $1,485 on digital trading cards to get piece of his suit 8/28/24 https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/article/2024/aug/27/trump-debate-suit-fundraising
MORE stolen music.
–Trump used “My Hero” by the Foo Fighters to usher Kennedy onstage for the endorsement announcement at as August rally. According to the band: “Foo Fighters were not asked permission and if they were, they would have not granted it.” Plus–any royalties received as a result of the Trump campaign’s use of the song will be donated to the campaign of Vice President Kamala Harris and Gov. Tim Walz. Foo Fighters say they did not OK Trump using “My Hero” at Arizona rally, will donate royalties to Harris-Walz campaign 8/24/24 https://www.cbsnews.com/news/foo-fighters-my-hero-trump-campaign/
—Trump campaign pulls ‘Freedom’ video after Beyoncé sends cease and desist 8/27/24 https://www.voicenews.com/2024/08/23/trumps-removes-freedom-video-beyonce-cease-and-desist/amp/
—Trump ordered by judge to stop playing Isaac Hayes song at campaign rallies 9/3/24 https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/article/2024/sep/03/trump-isaac-hayes
—Abba Asked Trump to Stop Using Its Music. Other Artists Have, Too. 8/30/24 https://www.nytimes.com/article/trump-music-bruce-springsteen-rihanna.html
Trump’s tariffs would double the price of gas at the pumps.
Trump wants “beautiful” tariffs of up to 20 percent on all imported goods, if he gets a second term. That includes the 8 million barrels of crude oil the US imports, and it would decimate a treaty with Canada, our top supplier of imported oil. The overall result could double the cost of gas at the pumps. Experts predict similar price spikes for groceries, home goods, clothing and more, crippling consumers trying to provide for families. ‘Political poison’: How Trump’s tariffs could raise gasoline prices 8/30/24 https://www.politico.com/news/2024/08/29/trumps-tariffs-gasoline-prices-00176421
TRUMP: “She would not have been the chosen one.”
So much one could say about the above statement (made at a press conference on Sept. 6, where he took ZERO questions, just rambled for an hour about all the women he claims he did not attack), Trump’s stated reason that he could NOT have sexually assaulted a woman because she was not hot enough to deserve it. I think I’ll go with: Better plain than Trumped. Also: Any woman voting for this piece of filth must have zero respect for her own worth as well as that of her daughters, sisters and the human race in general. Watch a 1-minute video clip of his statement, then go do something—ANYTHING—to help Kamala Harris win this election: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=255HTo-tvXo
FACT-CHECKING Trump
It is worth checking Politifact, which does amazing work fact-checking just about everyone. (Image credit: AP.) Trump of course, keeps these good folks VERY busy. Go here to see the lies he spouts at rallies, interviews, in his sleep…. https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/list/?speaker=donald-trump
I certainly don’t have the time to chronicle Trump’s lies, delusions and baseless inflammatory claims, but here are a few of his most bizarre utterances that caught my attention.
–Trump told a Moms for Liberty convention on Aug. 30: “The transgender thing is incredible. Think of it. Your kid goes to school and comes home a few days later with an operation. The school decides what’s going to happen with your child.”
RATED: Pants on Fire https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/list/?speaker=donald-trump
Fact check: Trump falsely claims schools are secretly sending children for gender-affirming surgeries 9/4/24 https://www.cnn.com/2024/09/04/politics/donald-trump-fact-check-children-gender-affirming-surgery/index.html
–At September rallies Trump spews versions of an elaborate story about a Venezuelan gang taking over a residential building in Colorado. Nope, not even close. Trump Says Gangs Overran an Apartment Complex. Here’s the Truth. Surprise, surprise: Donald Trump is spreading more xenophobic falsehoods.9/4/24 https://newrepublic.com/post/185593/donald-trump-gangs-apartment-complex-truth
–Babbling with Elon Musk on X in August, Trump said: “I think we have the worst inflation we’ve had in 100 years… bacon costing four or five times more than it did a few years ago.” (Wonder if Trump has EVER walked the grocery store aisles and purchased bacon….) VERDICT: This is false. Inflation peaked at 9.1% under President Biden – the highest in 41 years, not 100. (In 2024, inflation is falling.) The price of bacon is up 17% since Trump left office, not four or five times. Trump’s chat with Musk on X fact-checked 8/13/24 https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0jpn2q76n1o
–Trump says that Harris will change the name of Pennsylvania if she wins the election. Trump has been spewing versions of that one since 2023. It is all in his deranged mind. ‘They’re going to change the name of Pennsylvania’: Examining Trump’s claim 2/16/24 https://www.pennlive.com/politics/2024/02/theyre-going-to-change-the-name-of-pennsylvania-examining-trumps-claim.html
–At an Aug. 17 rally in PA, Trump stated: “I’m a better-looking person than Kamala.” Well, judge that one yourself. (Image credits: NY Times.)
JD Vance
Hillbilly Vanilli, indeed.
https://www.threads.net/@dollemore/post/C_VsRrwRegw
Vance says school shootings are a fact of life.
Vance opposes gun safety measures, so he dismissed the Georgia school shooting last week as “a fact of life.” He suggested massive security at schools to keep out the bad guys. (But, in Georgia, the killer was a 14-year-old student.) Trump said of a recent mass shooting in Iowa: “We have to get over it – we have to move forward.” Contrast that with Kamala Harris’ response last week: “It doesn’t have to be this way. We can take action to protect our children – and we will.” Backlash for JD Vance after calling school shooting a ‘fact of life’ 9/5/24 https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/article/2024/sep/06/georgia-school-shooting-trump-vance-harris
Vance wants to use ancient Comstock Act to ban abortion pills.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren has an important reminder, that women cannot trust Trump/Vance when it comes to our bodies and a national abortion ban. As she said on Meet the Press Aug, 25: “American women are not stupid. JD Vance actually sent a letter last year to the Department of Justice saying, ‘enforce the Comstock Act. And remember, he did that, and then Donald Trump picked him to be his vice president.” (The Comstock is an anti-vice law from 1873 that bans the mailing of “obscene” materials; anti-abortion advocates are trying to resurrect it to prohibit transporting abortion-inducing medication and surgical equipment.) In 2023, Vance joined 40 congressional Republicans in a letter urging the U.S. Justice Department to enforce the Comstock Act and stop the mailing of abortion pills, used in a majority of US abortions. PolitiFact’s ruling: Warren’s statement is accurate. We rate it True. JD Vance joined GOP letter urging DOJ to enforce Comstock Act to ban mailing abortion pills 8/31/24 https://www.statesman.com/story/news/politics/politifact/2024/08/31/jd-vance-asked-doj-to-enforce-comstock-act-ban-mailing-abortion-pills/75017681007/
Vance has solutions to America’s child care problem. Just not good ones.
Vance’s first bright idea: “Maybe Grandma and Grandpa wants to help out a little bit more.” Because no one ever considered that…. Vance had his brainstorm on Sept. 4 at a Turning Point conference. For people lacking free childcare in the family, Vance had a second suggestion: Get rid of educational requirements and certifications so that anyone can be a child care worker AND it will be dirt cheap. Because training in teaching methods, hygiene, emergency techniques like CPR, etc. is not really needed, I guess. As far as his Senate record on child care, Vance has done nothing to help, and he failed to show up for a recent vote on expanding the child tax credit (the measure failed due to Republican opposition–or indifference, in Vance’s case.) JD Vance Says the Solution to the Childcare Crisis Is to Have Grandparents Do It for Free 9/5/24 https://www.vanityfair.com/news/story/jd-vance-solution-childcare-crisis-is-to-have-grandparents-do-it-for-free
Vance lies about Walz and transgender kids, again.
At Turning Point’s Sept. 4 conference, Vance stated: “He signed legislation, he supported legislation, that would take children away from their parents if their parents don’t want to do sex changes. He wants the government to steal your children from you if you don’t agree with Tim Walz’s values. That is not small government. That is disgusting, and he should be ashamed of himself.”
Fact Check: This is false. Since Minnesota Gov. Walz was picked as Vice President Kamala Harris’s running mate, conservatives have claimed that MN law allows state authorities to intervene when parents prevent children from getting gender-affirming care. PolitiFact concluded that the law “does not authorize the government to take custody of children whose parents don’t consent to them getting gender-affirming care.” Fact-checking JD Vance’s Attacks on Tim Walz Over a Transgender Sanctuary Law in Minnesota9/5/24 https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/05/us/politics/jd-vance-tim-walz-transgender-care.html
VANCE spars with … donuts (and the donuts win).
JD Vance attempted to order a dozen donuts and impersonate a real human being interacting with people who work for a living. Epic fail…. Seth Meyers nailed it: “This dude orders donuts like his kidnapper is watching him from the car.” Watch here: Video: JD Vance struggles with small talk in awkward donut shop visit 8/23/24 https://www.salon.com/2024/08/23/video-jd-vance-struggles-with-small-talk-in-awkward-donut-shop-visit/
Vance attacks teachers.
In 2021, Vance spoke at a Center for Christian Virtue forum and went off on teachers—childless ones, of course. He rolled in an attack on unions by singling out Randi Weingarten, the president of the American Federation of Teachers. Vande said: “So many of the leaders of the left, and I hate to be so personal about this, but they’re people without kids trying to brainwash the minds of our children, that really disorients me and disturbs me. Randi Weingarten, who’s the head of the most powerful teachers’ union in the country, she doesn’t have a single child. If she wants to brainwash and destroy the minds of children, she should have some of her own and leave ours the hell alone.” Here is the clip: https://x.com/KamalaHQ/status/1828524227508453492
Weingarten responded on Aug. 28 to Vance’s resurfaced comments: “So sad and insulting to millions of modern families, and school teachers including Catholic nuns, none of whom should be targeted for their family decisions.” (Nice catch on the nun thing; seems like a Christian group would have thought of that back in 2021….) JD Vance attacks childless teachers in newly resurfaced remarks 8/28/24 https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/article/2024/aug/28/jd-vance-attack-childless-teachers
Vance attacks journalists.
On a 2021 podcast, Vance stated: “I really think that a core part of what’s wrong with journalism in America is that you have a group of people who are dealing with their own, like, psychotic breaks. They’re — I mean, if you think of the craziest journalists in American life, they’re all in their late thirties or early forties. They have all reached this point where I think they recognize that their lives are miserable and unhappy, but they all feel like they’ve reached the point of no return.” At this point, I’m wondering if Vance has a chart someplace, with his ranking of people by profession, gender, number and type of offspring, pet preferences, etc. so he can keep straight exactly who is more miserable, crazier, and less deserving of their Constitutionally mandated right to vote, than all the rest of us. On podcast for Project 2025 partner, JD Vance attacked journalists for being “miserable and unhappy” because their biological clocks have run out 7/26/24 https://www.mediamatters.org/jd-vance/podcast-project-2025-partner-jd-vance-attacked-journalists-being-miserable-and-unhappy
Vance is BOOED and HECKLED by firefighters.
Boston firefighters booed Vance when he spoke at their conference on Aug. 29, especially when he showed up and later when he said: “Trump and I are proud to be the most pro-worker Republican ticket in history.” Earlier, Tim Walz got a gracious reception with the same crowd. J.D. Vance Booed by Entire Crowd During Dumpster-Fire Speech 8/29/24 https://newrepublic.com/post/185447/jd-vance-booed-speech-firefighters
Vance attacks cats who don’t have kittens.
In a 2023 podcast, Vance went after “kittenless cats” declaring this: ”Increasingly, female cats in the US are selfishly choosing careers over kittens. Soon, we will be a country overrun by mice.” OK, this was a Borowitz Report, and I couldn’t resist adding a little humor to the long-time pattern of ignorance, bad judgment and cruel disposition displayed by the GOP’s VP candidate. https://www.borowitzreport.com/p/vance-attacks-cats-who-do-not-have
Vance attacks former Teen USA contestant, in effort to belittle VP Harris.
Vance posted online what he called a joke, belittling VP Kamala Harris shortly before her recent CNN interview. To do so, Vance used a video of Caitlin Upton, a Teen USA contestant back in 2007 who was widely mocked for her stutter and halting response to a televised contest question. Currently, Trump’s son Donald Trump Jr. quickly reposted Vance’s post, writing: “This is total Fake News from JD. We all know that Kamala isn’t that articulate.” Even after Vance was informed by a CNN reporter that Ms. Upton came close to suicide in the aftermath to the bullying she suffered in 2007, he refused to apologize. Vance dismissed the video he posted of Upton as little more than “a 20-year-old meme” and suggested Upton “laugh it off.” Ex-beauty contestant condemns JD Vance for use of embarrassing video 8/31/24 https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/article/2024/aug/31/jd-vance-miss-teen-usa
Vance’s young son isn’t immune from his ire, either.
In July, JD Vance was in a hotel room with his 7-year-old son when Trump called to offer him the VP spot. As he picked up the phone, Vance told the boy: “SHUT THE HELL UP.” And, Vance doesn’t deny it; he seems to think it was a nice family interaction, something his little boy will remember fondly as his part in Daddy’s big day. If so, the Vance family dynamic must be scary as hell…. JD Vance Told His Son to ‘Shut The Hell Up’ About Pokemon While Talking to Trump 8/13/24 https://www.thedailybeast.com/jd-vance-told-his-son-to-shut-the-hell-up-about-pokemon-while-talking-to-trump
NEXT TIME:
Harris/Trump DEBATE analysis.
Fresh polling.
US House District 10—INCUMBENT REP Michael McCaul vs. DEM Theresa Boisseau.
Texas State Senate District 25— INCUMBENT REP Donna Campbell vs. DEM Merrie Fox.