Is History Repeating Itself? Could 2024 be like 1948 and is Joe Biden the next Harry Truman

Photo from Facts First.

To some historians or students of history, it can be easy to find some parallels in the situation Joe Biden is in going into 2024 that his predecessor Harry Truman found himself in during the 1948 Presidential Campaign. 

Consider the following observations. 

• Harry Truman had an ambitious progressive agenda and legislative record including integrating the armed forces, the formation of N.A.T.O./ the post-World War Two international order, and calling for (but not getting) universal health care and aid to education. Likewise, Joe Biden has had an impressive legislative track record with the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, The CHIPS Act, The Inflation Reduction Act, Gun Safety, protecting veterans health, and the American Rescue Plan that helped vaccinate the country during the Coronavirus and keep the nation's economy functioning.
• Harry Truman also had to deal with a Do-Nothing House of Representatives, especially on domestic matters, and ran against them in 1948. Joe Biden should do the same with the dysfunctional and fringe MAGA Republican House in 2024. 
• In 1948, Soviet Russia was causing havoc with the Berlin Blockade and Truman strongly responded with the Berlin Airlift. Biden is doing the same with the current Russian expansionist designs into Ukraine. 
• In 1948, there was a Middle East War when Arab Nations invaded the new state of Israel, and President Truman, despite advice to the contrary from his own Secretary of State, George Marshall, recognized the new Jewish nation. Today, there is another conflict between Israel, Gaza, Southern Lebanon, and the West Bank which the current President, despite having to deal with extremists (terrorist HAMAS and black-shirt settlers) on both sides, has so far largely successfully navigated. 
• In 1948, President Truman had to deal with political challenges on his left (Progressive and former FDR Vice President Henry Wallace) and right (Dixicrat Strom Thurmond who felt the party was going too far on Civil Rights.) Today, President Biden may face some pressure from the left (Jill 'How is Putin today' Stein is back, Cornell Wilde, and Robert 'No vaccinations for me today' Kennedy Jr.) and potentially on the right through No Labels (especially if now retiring Senator Joe Manchin decides to run.)
• In 1948, the polls showed Mr. Truman not prevailing in the Presidential race. In fact, pollsters were so sure that his Republican opponent, Thomas Dewey was going to win that they decided to save money and stopped polling with weeks to go. Today, some polls show the current President behind in some battleground states. 

The lesson from all of this is to know your history and like the Biden/Harris Campaign said on a press call last week:

Do not follow the polls. Follow the voters and how they vote.

If that suggestion has the same accuracy in 2024 as it did in 2020, 2022, and 2023, President Biden, despite the pollsters and pundits, will follow the historic path of Harry Truman and win reelection next year. 

Fortunately for the President, he has a great record of accomplishment and positions to campaign on. 

On the other side, the Republicans have a current front runner in Donald 'I killed Roe v Wade' Trump, with his two impeachments, two popular vote losses, two David Duke endorsements, being found liable for sexual assault and business fraud, and four indictments including for his role on the domestic terrorist attack at the Nation's Capital on January 6, 2021.

If Republicans keep this up and nominate Trump again and the current House leadership keeps acting in a fringe dysfunctional manner, this election may be like 1964, 1972, and 1984 where the incumbent Presidents all won great landslide victories. 

Stay Tuned. 

This Veterans Day, Never Forget all the Horrible Things Donald Trump said about the Brave Soldiers who Made the Ultimate Sacrifice for Their Country

Photo from YouTube.

As the nation honors the many brave women and men who have served, and in many cases, given their lives for their country by wearing the uniforms of the armed services, the American People should never forget the dishonorable remarks made toward veterans by Donald Trump while he occupied the White House. 

First reported by many news outlets like Vox in 2020 and verified in 2023 by Trump Chief of Staff John Kelly, the twice impeached, two-time popular vote loser, multiple David Duke endorsed, and four-time indicted former White House occupant made the following comments about veterans, including

• Not wanting to visit a French military cemetery honoring the World War One military fallen because the weather might "mess with his hair" and the graves were "filled with losers" and "suckers."
• At first, he refused to lower the flags to honor military veteran, Senator, 2008 Republican Presidential Nominee, and political nemesis John McCain, calling him a "f--king loser." 
• Commenting on people volunteering to serve in the military, In front of John Kelly's son's grave in his Chief of Staff's presence, "I don't get it. What was in it for them?"
• Being squeamish about taking pictures with military personnel who lost limbs, saying "It doesn't look good for me."

By the way, President Biden generally ends every speech with "God bless our troops."

When voters consider who to send to the White House in 2024, they should not choose the person that thinks the brave souls who put their lives on the line for their country every day around the world are nothing but stupid losers and suckers.

The Biden/Harris Campaign Message to the Country: Do not follow the Polls; Follow the Voters and How They Vote

Time for a history lesson.

Remember in 1948 when polls showed Thomas Dewey winning the Presidency over Harry Truman. That did not happen.

Remember when Jimmy Carter wanted to run against Ronald Reagan because he thought he could easily beat him. Look how well that strategy worked out.

Remember many in 1991 thought no one could beat George Bush in his reelection bid in 1992. Enter Bill Clinton, the Comeback Kid.

Polls in 2016 said Hillary Clinton would win the Presidency. 

Everyone knows how well that prediction turned out despite her three million popular vote win.

Polls in 2020 said the Presidential race between Donald Trump and Joe Biden would be a nailbiter. Biden won by just over seven million votes and a solid Electoral College victory, taking former Republican strongholds like Arizona and Georgia.

In 2022, pollsters thought the Republicans would cream the Democrats in the midterm elections. Thanks to the reality of the extreme MAGA program, the Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v Wade, and the legislative accomplishments of the Biden/Harris Administration, Democrats expanded their control of the Senate and are within striking distance of taking back the House in 2024. 

In 2023, pollsters thought Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear would lose his reelection bid and Virgina's Glenn Youngkin campaign to transform that state's legislature into total Republican control could happen. 

Both scenarios did not transpire. 

These recent election results, along with both a horrific Republican Presidential Debate Performance and pundits/recent polling showing President Biden in danger of losing re-election caused the Biden/Harris Campaign team to hold an online press event earlier today (November 9, 2023) to convey a simple message:

Do not follow the polls. Follow the voters and how they vote.

Campaign Communications Director Michael Tyler started the press event by relaying that no matter what happens, even if it is good news, pundits will say "Joe Biden is in trouble."

The election results in 2022 and 2023 are better than expected for Democrats. Pundits will say "Joe Biden is in trouble." 

MAGA Republican Presidential hopefuls had a horrible debate performance on November 8, 2023. Pundits will say "Joe Biden is in trouble."

Donald Trump's performance as President (which resulted in two impeachments) and potential criminal activities (four indictments and being found liable for sexual assault)afterward. Pundits will say "Joe Biden is in trouble."

People prefer the Biden/Harris program and accomplishments over the MAGA Republican policy positions. Pundits will say "Biden is in trouble."

Tyler advised that it would be better for pundits to examine "how people are voting."

Biden/Harris Campaign Manager Julie Chavez Rodriquez picked up on Tyler's themes, stating that "polls taken a year out from the election are not reliable. The real window is to see how they (the people) are actually voting. 

She also blasted pundits for "always underestimating President Biden."

She further pointed out that "people have rejected the MAGA extremism that makes up the current Republican party of anti-reproductive freedom and tax breaks to the wealthy."

Chavez-Rodriquez noted that the Kentucky Republican Gubernatorial Nominee's campaign spent $35 million attacking Joe Biden and he lost by about five points. 

She also emphasized that Democrats across the country ran on the popular Biden/Harris-Democratic agenda which included:

• Lower prescription drug costs like $35 for insulin.
• The Bipartisan infrastructure law
• The CHIPS Act.
• First Gun safety legislation in close to 30 years.
• Protecting Democracy and codifying Roe v Wade.

Chavez-Rodriquez concluded her comments, stating:

"Maga extremism is toxic and restricts the Republican path to 270. It is not just Trump but the people on the debate stage last night. 2024 will be close. We’ve been saying that from the beginning. We have multiple paths and are investing... We are not taking any voter for granted."

Deputy Campaign Manager Rob Flaherty happily quipped that they were "grateful for MAGA EXTREMISM for giving us new material" to campaign on.

He maintained that President Biden is focused on protecting Democracy and building the economy from the bottom up.

He also reminded reporters on the call that:

• The campaign launched the earliest paid media campaign in the Black and Latino communities. Flaherty asserted that they would expand to more groups and more regions of the country.
• One of the umbrella themes of the campaign will be Biden’s economic program versus MAGA Extremism.
• The last two fundraising quarters have yielded $91 million cash on hand which is more than the entire GOP Presidential Candidate field combined. 

Principal Deputy Campaign Manager Quentin Fulks also pointed out the strength of the Biden/Harris program versus the failed MAGA extremist one.

He also stressed that the campaign would work to "put together the 80 million plus coalition that brought victory in 2020," noting that "people were energized on Tuesday and it is the same coalition we have to reassemble for 2024. We are not taking it for granted... It is going to be a close election. We feel we’re in a strong position. We just need to relate the case to people. Block out the noise and do the work necessary to reach out to voters."

Editorial Cartoons for the Week

 

The New House Speaker Is Playing with People's Lives

 New House Speaker Mike Johnson says the words of the Bible govern his worldview. 

God help us. 

In an interview with Fox, the new House Speaker told repulsive Sean Hannity that the Bible governs his world view commenting: “Well, go pick up a Bible off your shelf and read it. That’s my worldview.”

Not to be picky but does his worldview include all of the Biblical verses like the ones that condone:

Stoning people for engaging in same-sex relationships. 

Death for people who work on the sabbath or commit adultery.

Permits slavery with no penalties. 

How about the commandment that Thou shall not Murder (or kill depending on the translation/literal interpretation?

The Biden/Harris Administration has sent an approximately $106 billion package to Congress to:

Send military aid to Israel, Ukraine, and Taiwan.

Provide humanitarian assistance to Palestinian civilians. 

Reinforce border security.

Well, the new Bible-loving Speaker, has decided to play with people's lives by splitting the Biden/Harris proposal and linking them to policies that are on the MAGA fringe wish list. 

The House passed, with mostly Republican votes, a $14.3 billion aid package to Israel and paid for it by cutting the same amount from the Inflation Reduction Act's go-after-tax cheats provisions. 

How cutting funding to go after wealthy tax cheats shows Republican fiscal responsibility is hard to fathom. 

How linking these two issues, as Senator Mitt Romney said, in a comment reported by CNN, “doesn’t make a lot of sense' to reduce funding for an institution that ensures people pay their taxes in full."

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has already said the Senate would not consider the House legislation. 

President Biden has vowed to veto if the bill makes it to his desk. 

The Speaker also wants to put Ukraine and Border requests together with fringe border security provisions that no one other than mostly MAGA Republicans embraces.

So much for the New Speaker being a sensible governing partner with a Democratic-led Senate and White House. 

The lunatics are still running the asylum in the House they have created. 

Do not forget the government faces a potential shutdown on November 17 which the MAGA Republicans, led by Mr. Johnson seem to welcome if their terms are not met. 

What does the Bible say about hostage-taking?

Stay tuned. This may be a bumpy holiday season for the whole world because Bible-loving speaker Mike Johnson has no problem playing with and destroying people's lives.

Editorial Cartoons of the Week

 

Editorial Cartoons for the Week