Well, looks like Jim Jones will continue to play his part, tragic as it was, as his Kool-Aid as his tragic disaster was invoked. Not so much the murders, but more the fact that at times we swallow the claims and statements of others without thought, certainly with no forethought. So think about it in the context of the times , the debates and the meaning or relevance to us and our future.
Booker told Biden that he was "dipping into the kool-aid and you don't even know the flavor." What matters here is not the particular topic into which this was introduced, but rather the implied feeling that at times we are caught up in statements and words of the past, or even that remarks made are deliberately or perhaps accidentally misunderstood.
The question is, does this even matter. Yes, I know the twenty debaters, though it was more like squabbling rather than a full on debate, tried their best, but honestly, parse their statements and you will find that deep down under all the verbiage, there is a sameness, a unity to all of them, their thoughts and their desires. Do the details even matter now? Perhaps, and perhaps not.
There is just about 8 months to the first primary, the caucus in Iowa. Positional numbers will change almost on a daily basis until more candidates are winnowed out. Even as that happens, many of their ideas and positions will be melded with the remaining candidates and we will finally get a Democratic candidate capable of defeating Trump and saving this nation from the tragedy that would result should Trump, G-d forbid, ever get reelected.
During campaigns all candidates exaggerate. They stretch their positions on health care, on immigration, but again, delve into it and find the commonality. Republicans wish to cancel and have done so, the health care available to Americans. The Democrats, one way or another, wish to expand it to all, over a period of time, and with perhaps differences in how the coverage is given, but coverage there will be. Perhaps there will be no more shocks and disdain of women, the same shock that I faced yesterday, that women of that certain age, on Medicare, cannot get a checkout from their GYN unless there is a space of TWO years in between visits. Talk about death panels!!
All of them, despite some differences about civil criminality or penal criminality, all know and believe deeply that our immigration system sucks and must be reformed. It must have humane attitudes reinjected into the system. The brutality of much of it must be stopped dead in its tracks. That is the esssence of it all, no matter who was speaking. In fact, Chris Evans, our resident Avenger actor, could have been there on stage and summed it all up in his own statement. Tomi Lohren, the resident racist and Trump devotee from Fox Nation said this about refugee parents. "If you traipse your kid 2,000 miles in desperate conditions, you're not only a criminal, you're a sh---y parent."
In response, Evans made this statement: "I would carry my kid through fire if it meant escaping hell." I believe that says it. That is the summary statement of the feeling and position of the Democrats. How to deal with that is in the details, but the kool aid here will be of whatever flavor and color it needs be. Period.
There is a deep and dark color to the minds and statements of the Republicans, fans and media adherents. It seems to me that they have indeed lost or refused to acknowledge the humanity of people, of people of color - and indeed, of any color refugee. Refugees have been running from hellish situations since the beginning of time. Reference the hordes of refugees in Poland when the Nazis rolled in or in France, again when the Nazis came, or go back to WWI, or any war, or dangerous situation.The immediate response of ALL parents, of color, of white color, of whatever ethnicity or country or whatever supposed difference, the immediate response is to save the kids! Save the kids!! They might have to choose between two perilous and life threatening situations, but the choice is clear - go to the one with a possibiity of hope for the future.
Trump is obsessed with immigration issues even as the world is tanking, and very much due to his erratic and demented behavior and statements. His kool-aid is always spoiled, always off color, of a definite sour taste and flavor. He is a racist bar none but when called on it, behaves as if he is indignant at such an accusation. Ha!! Two days now he has taken off after Don Lemon - incidentally the only person of color among the moderators - who dared to state this: "...racial divide that exists in this country today, which has been stoked by the president's racist rhetoric." A night before he stated that "Trump's reelection strategy was based in part, on racial division."
It is too early to call the results of all these campaigners. Too early to even distinguish who will be the best to win - for that is the ultimate desire. Other differences can and will be manged, smoothed over, and will be worked out so as to benefit the people of this country. The FBI will not be politicized as they raid a Housing Authority office in South Bend, an office over which candidate Pete has no authority other than to replace the commissioners - which he had done already. Why not send the FBI to raid Jared's slums in Baltimore? Well, answer that, my friends, answer that.
Are there candidates I favor other others? Yes, but I favor an amalgam of some so as to better guide and care for the nation. But essentially, I will be happy for whomever, be it a flea, a gnat, a Rhesus monky, a rampant lion eager to defend this country, whomever, anyone, other than Trump, for he is a disaster for us, for humanity. Hear Inslee's plea about the environment and then refer back to Trump's ignorant statements, ignorant and dangerous. Reflect on Trump's behavior and I do not need the details of his tax returns and financial papers to know and understand that he is a financial weasel in his dealings with contractors, banks, anyone, in fact, who comes within touching distance of any of his businesses - even the nation.
We are tieing the rate of corruption that was in Harding's administration, in Grant's, and I believe that we have topped that already, with far worse consequences. So, by all means, listen to the next debates, hear out the statements, but then again, pay attention to the stated and unstated purpose and end goal of ALL - to defeat Trump and rescue this country. The details, why they will flower in the right kool-aid, in the right flavor, with a perfet union and melding of colors.
That is the kool - aid I want to drink and that would be my country. It should be the country of all of us. Drink up.
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