Bobby Jr.’s quixotic presidential campaign

 Bobby Jr.’s quixotic presidential campaign

Bobby Kennedy Jr. was certainly the most unusual presidential candidate in the 19 elections I've followed starting with Ike v. Adlai in '52.


His decades as an effective environmental lawyer never translated to a competitive presidential run. His excruciatingly long, disjointed speaking style was the antithesis of how candidates communicate. His appeal began at 15-20%, declining to just 5% when he suspended his campaign to support Donald Trump.


But his opposition to insane US proxy war on Russia destroying Ukraine, decrying massive economic inequality degrading life for the 40 million plus in poverty and calling out America's worst public health care system in the industrialized world were issues that are ignored by the 2 major parties.


Also, his independent campaign prompted by the national Democratic Party rigging the primaries to prevent his being heard and given a chance to compete, remains an issue that haunts US politics in the 2 party system. Whether it’s Bobby, Cornell or Jill, non-establishment progressive presidential figures are shunted aside to the detriment of thoroughly debated policy. Establishment Democrats warn, 'You can be progressive...just not too progressive.'


Bobby’s sound policy positions on numerous issues were drowned out by an avalanche of criticism over his opposing sensible governmental efforts that prevented America’s 1.2 million Covid deaths from hitting 2 or more million. He appeared oblivious that his lack of filter in addressing the public on Covid utterly eroded both support for his candidacy and his sensible policy positions. He also sabotaged his antiwar cred by supporting Israeli genocide in Gaza.


Bobby’s endorsement of Donald Trump appears motivated both to avenge his alleged betrayal by the national Democratic Party, and an effort to keep his suspended campaign relevant. Endorsing an unhinged authoritarian opposed to every issue and value Bobby should hold dear further degrades his lifelong legacy promoting societal improvement.


Assuming Bobby departs the national stage after November 5, he might consider returning to improving society with his established skill set. Seeking the presidency was never in that toolbox.

30 of 4,696 DNC delegates only ones worth listening to this Convention week

30 of 4,696 DNC delegates only ones worth listening to this Convention week

 

“We’re the first delegation ever to be representing Palestinian rights” proclaimed DNC delegate Asma Mohammed. 

 

Mohammed formed the ‘Uncommitted National Movement ahead of the Minnesota Primary to encourage voters to elect delegates supporting end to US enabled Israeli genocide in Gaza instead of incumbent President Biden. The effort resulted in 30 uncommitted delegates from 8 states, representing over 700,000 voters. 

 

Their request to address the Convention on the urgent need to end US weaponizing the Israeli genocide was quickly turned down. The Biden/Harris genocide tag team will posture from the podium they’re working every day to achieve a secession to the genocide while their tens of thousands of bombs keep flowing to utterly destroy Gaza as a habitable land. 

 

The 30 uncommitted delegates are casting their ballots for victims of the US enabled genocide that has killed over 40,000 with thousands more squashed under the rubble from American’s 2,000 lb. bombs.

The 4,666 other delegates cheering for Biden and certifying the nomination of a morally challenged genocide enabler will not hear the screams of the Palestinians dying every day in Gaza. Nor will they here the chants of tens of thousands of genocide protesters being kept out of sight and sound of the Palestinians’ silent executioners celebrating in the United Center. 

 

That will ultimately make the 2024 Democratic Convention in Chicago more infamous in history than the 1968 debacle over the Vietnam War.

Is US electoral democracy most dysfunctional in the world?

 

Is US electoral democracy most dysfunctional in the world?

Roughly half of the 193 countries hold elections.  Familiar only with America’s, I have no way to compare America’s obtuse, convoluted method to elect presidents with any of the near hundred others. But it is hard to imagine any nation so unhinged as to create the electoral train wreck that America set up 235 years ago.

For starters, the national popular vote doesn’t determine the winner. Popular vote only counts in states. Six of 59 presidential winners had fewer votes than the loser, including 3 this century. Chalk up that utterly undemocratic outcome to the Electoral College which essentially conducts 50 popular vote state elections.

The Electoral College is itself a rather Byzantine contraption whereby voters don't truly vote for the candidate on the ballot. They vote for electors pledged to vote for their pick when electors meet at their state capitals roughly 6 weeks after the November election. Some states allow electors to vote for someone other than that pledged to. Seven did this in 2016, 2 nixed Trump while 5 crossed out Hillary. A total of 157 electors bear the disgrace of being ‘faithless electors’ in US history.

But the process drones on. The electors’ votes are forwarded to Congress to be counted and the winner certified during the first week in January, ahead of the January 20 Inauguration. When the party in power loses, it offers up a tempting opportunity to overturn the election by refusing to certify an election they claim was stolen. A fantasy, right? It happened in 2021 and could again, especially since one party is already dredging up stolen election rhetoric.

But another egregious factor, as bad, possibly worse is the 2 party system. It insures that no third party candidate can get on the ballot in enough states to be competitive. It further grants so much power to party leaders that any party outsider considered dangerous is prevented from a fair run at the party nomination. It’s happened throughout 2 party rule including this election. Just ask Bobby Jr. who got aced out of competing for the Democratic nomination and has no chance of appearing on 50 state ballots as a Third Party Candidate.

That is why the upcoming Convention holds no interest for me. The 40 million plus beleaguered folks in Ukraine and Palestine will continue to suffer and die while the party sealing their fate as failed states endlessly trumpets American exceptionalism as the world’s only indispensable country.

Amazing. If any electoral democracy is worse….let me know.

Walt Zlotow, West Suburban Peace Coalition, Glen Ellyn IL