ONE-PARTY GOVERNMENT

FROM A TO B

The PJ depends on reader support. Please help us by contributing directly via PayPal, or by contributing editorial content via PhiladelphiaJunto@ymail.com. Empowered by WritersClearinghouse | S.P.Q.R. 1976 Richard Carreño, Editor Copyright MMXVIII. All Rights Reserved.

DC Swamp Things

The PJ depends on reader support. Please help us by contributing directly via PayPal, or by contributing editorial content via PhiladelphiaJunto@ymail.com. Empowered by WritersClearinghouse | S.P.Q.R. 1976 Richard Carreño, Editor Copyright MMXVIII. All Rights Reserved.

REVOLUTIONARY

OLD STORY GIVEN FRESH, FRANK APPROACH
Museum of the American Revolution, Philadelphia. ****/5. 

Building exterior, not much. Interior decor and design, excellent. Displays, educational, forthright, and bright.
-- Hotspur for The PJ.

More photos follow

GARBAGE IN ... GARBAGE OUT

Letter from Washington

THE WAY FORWARD

By Richard Carreno

[WC News Service]

Presidential Election 2016: An American Tragedy

Presidential Election 2016: An American Tragedy By David Remnick The electorate has, in its plurality, decided to live in Trump’s world of vanity, hate, arrogance, untruth, and ...

WASHINGTON -- I read this in The New Yorker, in print, as well, and was equally impressed.  But for some reasons that might somewhat differ from your view. I thought at the time that the tone -- despite many good points in the article -- was too hysterical and crisis laden.  (I still hold this view upon re-reading). Understandable, I suppose, in that it was written just after the biggest presidential upset in history, and the grief at the unexpected was overwhelming for many. (Me included, except for the overwhelming part). Ergo the cry-ins and sensitivity sessions at many institutions of higher learning (Penn included) to calm the nerves of these poor dears.

I am in Washington at the moment, as I write this, and I just visited Trump's new International hotel in the Old Post Office Building. What a triumph in design -- all in bad taste, of course. The rooms run about $400 per night. Less, with discounts of course. Not quite the Georges V. It will serve the right-wing swamp lizards who are now descending on this capital in great numbers. These people from Des Moines and other nether parts who will of course be appropriately impressed. For the rest of us, it's time to boycott Trump properties. Here. Now.  (I was struck by the service of a bellhop who out of one eye noticed I had to relieve myself. You know, that twitchy dance number.  He caught my eye and pointed in the direction of the lavatory. Not a word was spoken. Well done! I also sort of liked the idea that my only activity in Trump-land was to pee on a part of it).

The point is, We really don't know how Trump will proceed -- despite what knowing, elite, establishment New York liberal David Remnick (The New Yorker's saviour and Sy Newhouse's house toady, by the way) might deduce. I think more reasoned thinking suggests that Trump will be at his worst in dealing with social policy(ie healthcare and the like, Supreme Court, etc.. , immigration). He might fare better in international matters (ISIS, Russia, Syria, etc). His administration will be replete with second-raters, with conflicts of interest up the wazoo. So there will be many nefarious compromises of course.

The reaction of the media and responsible corporate press (not Bernie incidentally) is to normalize Trump. (Pence and Nancy Pelosi had a hand-holding session yesterday here, wherein they and press lackeys blew kisses at each other). This is, Trump would say, a YUGE mistake.

Trump must be taken down. In my opinion, this can only happen if the opposition (and I'm not strictly speaking of the Democratic Party) reconstitutes itself to reflect the broad spectrum of the truly and honestly aggrieved and disaffected. All the talking heads of course are talking about Hillary's neglect of white men. But, oddly, they're not commenting on the white, brown, and black men and WOMEN who voted for The Donald. (Hello, Philly suburbs).

The Wall will NOT be built. The swamp will NOT be drained. I wonder how it will take before the White Man brigade realizes that it has been conned -- again!

Earlier today, I stopped at the new Museum of African-American History and Culture. I couldn't get in. No tickets are available, and won't be for months, I'm told. By all accounts that museum is stunning, a true wonder and celebration of America's black minority. (Interesting, Philly's African American Museum is failure. No one goes). These museums are identity keepsakes of course, and makes one wonder when the Museum of Latino History and Culture will open on the mall, celebrating a minority (my minority by the way) whose numbers are far greater than that of the black populace. The point is this: The Dems (viz Hillary) are too constricted by their links to identity groups -- the celebration of diversity, as opposed to unity, our true cause!

Some of us have been saying this for years. Finally we might have a chance to refashion a more progressive form of  neo-liberalism.

Sending you a copy of the article on this topic in today's New York Times.

Meantime, they're still blowing kisses. So I'm not optimistic.

Log In - New York Times

Log In - New York Times

Long Memories

HILLARY DOGGED BY BILL'S PAST

By Richard Carreño

[WC News Service]

London

In 1996 I also happened to be in London when that other Clinton, William Jefferson Clinton, was reelected to his second term. The mood then, in the media and amongst my friends and acquaintances, mostly academics and journalists, was strong, widespread interest in the election. But little expressed concern. Even less emotional engagement. Twenty years later, that same platter is still on offer.

 

With a twist. Brexit anyone?

 

Back then, my political cohort of centre-lefties, largely New Labourites and enthusiastic followers of their new team captain, Tony Blair, saw Bill Clinton as being in the same putatively progressive mold of Blair. Clinton's sexual dalliances, exploits, and financial scandals were, as was the case then in the United States, set aside by his supporters, including his feminist cadre. for the greater good.

 

RIZZO REDUX

A Lost Industrial Kingdom

Working-class anger and economic decline

could deliver Pennsylvania to Donald Trump

 

Resurgence of Updike's Rabbit Voter Could be Harbinger

 

 By CHARLES McELWEE

[WC News Service]

Pennsylvanians will be under close political, psychological, and anthropological observation during this election cycle. The state is home to a large white working class that resides in urban and rural pockets undergoing profound demographic and economic change. Although Pennsylvania has reliably trended Democratic since 1992, there are enough of these voters to imperil Hillary Clinton’s chances. The state is witnessing an emerging coalition of Republicans and Democrats who are devoid of ideological preferences, furious over the perceived failures of both parties, and believe the changes transforming the state threaten their future.

In April, Republican voters expressed enough anger and carried enough grudges to make Pennsylvania one of Donald Trump’s best performances in the GOP primary season. In the coming months, Hillary hopes to win over the right number of Democrats and disaffected suburban Republicans to eliminate Trump’s pathway to Pennsylvania’s twenty Electoral College votes. But a closer inspection of Pennsylvania’s primary results, combined with a historical and cultural understanding of the state’s working class, portend a much more difficult campaign for Hillary than Trump.

In the primary, Trump outperformed Hillary in the Lehigh Valley, the Harrisburg area, two suburban Philadelphia counties, and parts of northeastern and western Pennsylvania. On the Democratic side, Bernie Sanders won thirty of sixty-seven counties statewide, including the northern tier counties impacted by the natural gas industry and the Democratic strongholds of Cambria and Berks counties. Shortly before the primary, a New York Times reporter interviewed a retired steel worker at a Sanders rally in Reading, the Berks County seat and Pennsylvania’s fifth largest city. When asked who he would support in a Trump-Clinton matchup, he responded, “I would probably go for Donald Trump.”

Turning Point

Small Hands?

Does Donald Trump End Standards?

By Liliane Clever

[WC News Service]

I had an argument with my brother-in-law prior to the last French presidential election. We had a strong disagreement about whether Marine Le Pen, head of the right-wing National Front Party and a recent presidential candidate, should ever be legally a candidate for the presidency. Pierre was adamant that she should not be. He based his position on Le Pen's vitriolic anti-immigrant discourse, her dubious position on French Muslims, her 'France for French people' (whatever that means), and generally her politics of discrimination and division.

In all fairness, Le Pen has toned down the viewpoints of her father, the National Front's former, ousted head. She has tried to appear to be more inclusive. But Pierre was not being fooled. It was his view that since Marine Le Pen did not support the values of the French Republic (Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity) she was automatically disqualified from being president.

Big Hair --The Return of Sarah Palin

Sarah Palin is back in the news. In a big way, following her endorsement of Donald Trump last week. This was The PJ's first report on Mrs. Palin, posted on 21 September 2008. The article, in a slightly different version, also appeared at BroadStreetReview.com.

Where's the Coon-Skin Cap?

Give 'em hell, Sarah!

By Richard Carreño
[WC News Service]

At first, she was knocked as a new-comer to big-league politics. Too inexperienced to be just a heart beat away from the Presidency. She fired back: No darling of the liberal media elite was she. She was just plain-folks Palin. A gun totin', moose shootin', pro-life hockey Mom, and, yes, with an unwed daughter who's five months pregnant. In other words, women of America, just like you.

She might just be right. At least, in mirroring an increasingly visible segment of American womenhood.

For the fact is Sarah Palin, a cocksure, low-brow, unintellectual, baby totin' Alaskan frontier woman looks a lot more like many working single moms in the Lower Forty-Eight than those, on the East and West coasts, who scorn her as a under-educated rube. Where's the coon-skin cap? You know, the one Ben Franklin wore to the French Court as America's first down-homey.

Finally, the 800-pound gorilla is out of the cage. What really rankles America's educated, urbane (and urban) brie-and-Chablis crowd is the Palin is so plain, well, so plain common.

BERNIE SANDERS FOR PRESIDENT!

THE PHILADELPHIA JUNTO ENDORSEMENT

The PJ depends exclusively on reader support. Please help us continue by contributing directly via PayPal, or by contributing editorial content via PhiladelphiaJunto@ymail.com. Empowered by WritersClearinghouse | S.P.Q.R. 1976 Richard Carreño, Editor Copyright MMXVI. All Rights Reserved

Clinton vs. Clinton

THE EMPEROR’S NEW CLOTHES

By Jackie Atkins

[WC News Service]

It was touted as the pivotal event of a lackluster political season for the former First Lady of Arkansas, the USA, Senator from New York,and Secretary of State. No longer would she have to exert enthusiasm to the masses in stump speeches before hand select interns at Town Hall Meetings on Junior College campuses in Iowa and New Hampshire.

 

The big cannon would be fired. Watch out Donald, you’ll meet your match now. 

 

The American people (those old enough) we were told looked forward to this. William Jefferson Clinton, forty second President of the United States would unleash his charismatic glance, known to have enticed twenty-one-year-old interns under the desk in the Oval Office, and legendary maestro at the podium, was to hit the campaign trail in support of his wife for President of the United States.

Dr Ben -- The Thread

 @ FACEBOOK

PJ Philly Junto

Yesterday at 10:36 ·

WHY is Dr Ben's back story important? you ask. Because he's made it a centrepiece of his 'rags to riches' 'thug to hug' history, and it's narrative that undergirds his support among his religious-right base. Insofar critics of Carson -- and I am one -- have NOT been able to dent his support by otherwise conventional means (his lack of qualifications, lack of policy specifics, his theocratic understanding of government, points that his base don't care about) the West Point story has become his chink in his armour. He has become, finally, rattled. He is expressing confusion. Watch his increased nervous hand motions, rotations, and butterfly folding of fingers and uptick in his fluttering eyelids as a marker of this. Carson is a high-functioning autistic. Like anyone afflicted as he is, if his pattern of thought is side-tracked (i.e. West Point), he loses it. Main stream media won't go there yet on his point. So finally, a means to take him down. Much worse than Trump, who's simply the PT. Barnum of our time. Carson is the Fr Coughlin of our era. He needs to be STOPPED! Facts might not matter. But lying? Just maybe.

Ben Carson admits he MADE UP story about West Point 'scholarship'

The embarrassing lie was uncovered on the same day he challenged Americans on TV to decide whether he's an 'honest person' or a 'pathological liar.'

dailymail.co.uk

RAYMOND CHELLEL, The PJ's UK-based correspondent, wonders ...

Jeremy Corbyn

IF THERE'S A TORY VICTORY
IN LABOUR'S CORBYN PICK?

Though Not Certain -- Test Will Come in By-Elections

'Interesting -- But Probably Not in a Good Way'

 

LONDON [WC News Service] -- Corbyn!  There are two British political groups celebrating the election last week of Jeremy Corbyn as Labour Leader:  The unreconstructed, hard-left socialist wing of the party, and just about all Conservatives, who, with good reason, believe this lurch to the left will make Labour unelectable for years to come.  After all, Corbyn's predecessor, Ed Miliband (who, with the support of the trade unions, beat his brother to the leadership) moved the party to the left and consequently presided over one of the worst electoral defeats in Labour history.

Pols Yuck it Up

A Good Time Was Had by All

AND MEDIA TAKES A SHINE TO LUMINARIES 

By Richard Meyer

WASHINGTON [WC News Service] -- Politicians in this country are entitled to a bit of levity. But the spectacle of the Red Carpeted, forced smiles commingling of public servants (so to speak) and "celebrities" at fancy dinner, in a time when middle class families struggle to stay afloat and the income inequality gap is at record levels is a poor spectacle to present to the country at large. 

 

By the way, I do not mean this in any way as a partisan comment, as these spectacles go on during the Administrations of both parties.

The blurring of the lines between entertainment and politics, as reflected daily in the so-called "News" programs, especially in the morning hours, is a pestilence in our times of serious domestic and foreign issues alike.

Scotland Votes for Independence

 

Results to be Known Friday
A Cri de Coeur
By Our London Correspondent  
[WritersClearinghouse News Service]

London Posted 18 September 2014

This  may be Great Britain's last forty-eight hours as a united country, with the referendum on Scottish independence taking place today. (18 September 2014).

As you know, I have always been a political person, but nothing I have experienced, including the election of Nixon in the US, has distressed me like this. When I read that the Yes campaign had closed a thirty point gap in the
polls and had now edged ahead of Better Together, I actually felt queasy.

And angry.  Angry at the imminent victory of parochialism and
quasi-religious nationalism over common sense.  Angry at the untruths
and half-truths peddled by that oily little fourflusher, Salmond, and
his harridan of a deputy, Nicola Sturgeon.  Angry that they have
stirred up  witches' brew of conflict and hatred the like of which I
have never seen in this country and which will poison the relationship
of Scotland and England for years to come, whatever the outcome of the
referendum.

Barry Fêtes Hollande at State Dinner: A Votre Santé

President Hollande Eats the Whole Thing at State Dinner

Pick Your Favourite One Percenter

David Cohen Was There.

So Was Stephen Colbert

and Bradley Cooper.

You Weren't.

(Don't Feel Bad. Neither was Pussy Riot).

Why was John Kerry's Wife Not There?

 

THE PRESIDENT and MRS. OBAMA

 

HIS EXCELLENCY FRANÇOIS HOLLANDE, PRESIDENT OF THE FRENCH REPUBLIC

 

Mr. J.J. Abrams, Pacific Palisades, CA

Ms. Katie McGrath

 The Honorable Stacey Abrams, United States Representative (Georgia)

Mr. Ben Jealous

Ms. Jill Abramson, The New York Times, New York, NY

Mr. William Woodson

 Mr. Charles Adams, Jr., Washington, DC

General Keith Alexander, Director of NSA and Cybercom

Mrs. Debbie Alexander

 Mr. Peter G. Angelos, Baltimore, MD

Mrs. Georgia Angelos

Mr. Kader Arif, Minister Delegate for Veterans Affairs, French Republic

The Honorable Caroline Atkinson, Deputy Assistant to the President & Deputy National Security Advisor for International Economics

Mr. Geoffrey Boyd Lamb

 Ms. Jennifer Bado-Aleman, Gaithersburg, MD

Mr. Frank Skinner

 Mr. Caleb Ballew, Huntsville, AL

Mrs. Kourtney Ballew, Huntsville, AL

 Mr. Dan Barber, New York, NY

Mr. David Barber

 The Honorable Karen Bass, United States Representative (California)

Ms. Barbara Jordan

 Mr. Terrence Bean, Portland, OR

Mr. Robert Iwasaki

Don Merlot on the JFK ASSASSINATION

HOW I BECAME AN ASSASSINATION THEORIST: Correspondent DON MERLOT usually writes about wine and dining, and his many columns have been a popular PJ feature. His research into the Kennedy Assassination has been a new interest, and here he explains how he was transformed from a lone-gunman theorist to a conspiracy believer. What, Merlot wants to know, is the CIA hiding? He writes from New Orleans.

Gun Safety

Barry Should Grow a Pair
So says Jonathan L. Loftus, writing from Boston

[Writers Clearinghouse News Service}
Boston
Like so many people, I am sad and furious about the Connecticut school massacre. President Obama should have the balls to go on national TV and publicly name the National Rifle Association (NRA) as an unindicted co-conspirator. Name names-the top people there, as well as all politicians -- Democrats as well as Republicans -- who receive support from them ($$$$$). And "call them out" for bending over for this evil organization.

A Hottie?

A Hottie?

Smilin' Joe Biden Joltin' Voltage

Will President Obama beam high-voltage grin-and-bear its in his debate tomorrow with Mitt Romney, as did Smilin' Joe Biden with Paul Ryan in his vice-presidential debate. Not likely.

 

VPOTUS got some smack-back for mugging. Still, not everyone is unhappy with Biden's Julia-Roberts-on-steroids smile. In fact, Ruth Rosen of Philadelphia calls the Biden tooth-baring a 'warm, sweet smile.' At least that's what she said four years ago as the first Obama-Biden race was still under way in a letter to The Philadelphia Inquirer.

 

Inky's editorial editor headlined Ms Rosen's letter with 'Hottie Joe.'

 

'Am I the only one to have given serious thought to the manly appeal of Joe Biden?' Ms Rosen deadpanned. 'Are we immune to his warm, sweet smile? Are we not stirred by his  broad shoulders? Are we incapable of fantasising? He's not merely sexy -- he's hot.'

 

Ms Rosen isn't the first one to get all tingly over the Obama-Biden ticket. Talkmeister Chris Matthews has admitted his leg twinges with a thrill every time he hears the President speak.

 

Let's hope for Obama's sake,  that the President checks the over-the-top smiling. His under-the-radar leg twinging should do the trick -- at least for Matthews and the MSNBC crowd.

-- Richard Carreño

Tea Break on the Battlefield?

 Quick!
Which one, left or right, is the war banker?

Taliban Adhere
to
'Banker's Hours,'  Senior 
Pentagon Official Says

By Richard Carreño
[Writers Clearinghouse News Service]

As the US rings of up a trillion-dollar debt in its ongoing 10-year war in Afghanistan, Taliban warriors are also 'draining' American coffers by fighting when they want, where they want, and how they want. They engage American troops sporadically, following 'banker's hours,' a senior Pentagon-based military strategist told The Junto.

The strategist, who recently returned to Washington after his second tour in the Afghan war zone, said in an interview that Taliban tactics are frustrating to American forces since, unlike NATO troops, the Taliban is unwilling to fight at in the early morning, since they like to sleep in, usually awaking by noon, and curtailing direct military contact in the mid-afternoon. At night, the fighters recede into the darkness.

Any military movement at night is highly suspicious, and usually is met with American force as a defencive pre-emptive measure.

The Junto source declared as untrue protestations by high-level NATO and American officers cooperative training efforts with Afghan native forces are succeeding. Suspicion by American senior personnel runs high, given the numerous incidents in which Afghan troops have killed their American counterparts. As a result, American commanders are increasing wary to associate with Afghan soldiers and government officials without being armed.

The Junto source said recent advisories stated that all military personnel, both NATO and Afghan, should remove their side-arms in joint meetings. But many American officers kept their guns at the ready, defying the order. When one Afghan officer questioned the Junto source whether he would remove the weapon, he said he told his Afghan counterpart,' 'No, just in case I have to shoot you.'

The source said that the American cover story regarding the US's nation-building efforts was humbug. The role of the military, he noted, was eliminate the enemy with lethal force, not build roads. 'We're not the Army Corps of Engineers,' he declared.