You can go down the list of all current Democratic governors, and find that any of them who attempt a 'run'.....will have hundreds of videos made of the crappy condition of their states, from drugs and crime.....to extreme poverty.
It's an odd position to be in....tons of effort to get to the governor's chair, and then nothing to show for four years of effort.
The first time I ever walked through Arlington....we had a senior NCO of the organization who'd died of cancer (went from office-work to a hospital setting) and was dead about four months later. This was in the DC region.
Arlington was his choice to be buried. His problem (not really his after the death)? To get on their schedule for a service, it takes 6 months.
So we waited in the organization, and the day of the funeral came up. We left the office and took the Metro over, and met at the chapel.
It was probably one of the most impressive days out that I had in DC in that 3.5 year period. A ceremony concluded, and we walked with the casket for about three-quarters of a mile....on a damn-hot day (easily 94 degrees, with 75-percent humidity). By the time it concluded....mid-afternoon....I was in a heat-distressed situation. I made my way to a soda-machine and drank a bottle of water and then a Pepsi.
About two months later....I decided to spend eight hours over at the cemetery. It is a unique place and you simply are amazed at the history laid out.
My general advice? Don't attempt to park there....park way on the south side of Arlington, along the Metro, and take the rail over to the cemetery. Bring along a minimum of 1-liter of beverage. I'd suggest a combo of Gatorade and water. Spring or fall months would be recommended. After you conclude this....if you still have an hour left....walk over the river to the Lincoln Memorial, and conclude near the WW II Memorial. Then ride the Metro back. If you don't have energy or have a hip problem....forget about it. It's a challenge but worth it.
Six months ago, I would have said 10-percent chance.
Today? Prior to December, I give it now a 60-percent chance that the House will have a hearing....recommend at least three charges, and send it to the Senate.
Two-thirds of the Senate would have to convict. I don't see that number presently existing. However, there is this odd business that no one really wants Biden to be the 'runner' in the 2024 primary. There's just zero interest in giving him four additional years.
Adding to this....no one wants VP Harris as President for 12 months while we play 'primary'.
So I'll add this little thought.....all of this BS that has occurred....can't have been missed by the FSB (Putin's people....the former KGB). I'm guessing a dozen audio recordings exist of Joe making a 'deal', and if Putin handed them over....the Senate Democrats would have a long-term problem in not convicting Joe Biden.
How this script would occur? As Tucker Carlson interviews Putin....this topic will occur, and I'm guessing the conversations will be mentioned....in a funny way.
Joe Biden then defending his 'deal'? I would imagine that he'll say that was not how he worded some arrangement with the Chinese or Ukrainians, while Putin's recording will flat-out show him as a liar.
At that point....you can fold up the chairs and anticipate the impeachment has only one single outcome, and VP Harris just grinning.
Weird? Yeah....it's just a weird thing. And Hunter? Well.....whatever cash he has left at that point....with his paintings....is 'it'. He'll be broke in twelve to twenty-four months.
Even people who voted for Joe....will be split. I would imagine 50-percent will agree, he's had a serious problem in selling himself or his 'brand/messsage'.
I blame five things:
First, for the two ladies who've run his White House press commentary....neither did what I'd consider a 4-star job. Psaki probably ran the PR business at a 3-star level, but KJP has been a marginal 2-star player at this.
Second, for whatever health reason....people watch his speeches like it was a roller-derby situation....awaiting a 'wreck' of a comment.
Third, you just don't see him in action much. There are staged events where he's on a bike, or giving some speech. But if you pull out the WH schedule and ask....what does Joe do for eight hours....there's typically ONE single event listed. The remaining seven hours a day? Unlisted.
Fourth, you can tell on these overseas trips....Joe is tired and run-down.
Fifth and final.....this Hunter business has been like some seven-ton boat anchor. There's not a single day for the past two years....where something isn't tossed to the public in a negative way about Hunter.
As for the NYT's telling this story of limited popularity? It's just sending a message to the campaign team.....you got a ton of work to do for the remainder of 2023.
1. What is the simple explanation of the 'Bell-Curve'?
No matter how you stack the deck or think you are genius....only about 10-percent of people are in what you'd call the gifted range. About 30-percent are in the somewhat gifted range. And sixty-percent are definitely less-than-gifted.
2. Is there anything ever clean about 'energy'?
No....not unless you lived out of some cave or hut in Montana.
3. Are a quarter of the US population living in some cult-like trance?
Yeah, it's best that you not explain this to them.
4. Why can't movie studios produce anything original?
Original writing has been dead since the 1970s.
5. Can a governor suspend some right from the Constitution?
Like that NM governor suspending open-carry of weapons? Well, yeah. She could halt all booze sales if she felt that was a threat to mankind. She could probably even suspend sex, if she felt it was some 'evil'.
I probably haven't used a rotary phone since like 1988 (Panama days).
My MySpace account? It's still there, I checked back during Christmas.
Phonebook? The Germans haven't issued one for about five years now.
My paper-map? When I left AZ in 1992....I threw the old one away.
My one dictionary? When Bitburg was closing down, I took my one and only dictionary on the office-desk home (dated from 1981). I still have it but I doubt if I've opened it since 2000.
Opening up an encyclopedia? Probably for the last college class in 1985.
I never opened a AOL account.
Well.....things go to hell in a hand-basket.
You end up with VP Harris moving up....a selection process where a new VP is pursued, and has to pass through the Senate. It's anyone's guess who Harris would select, but I'm guessing she would NOT select Governor Newsom.
President Harris would then enter the primary period, and likely find that there's not a lot of enthusiasm for her. RFK would likely gain quickly some momentum and the general view would be that he's the only possible candidate at that point.
The ability of the news media to sell Harris and her 'brand'? She'd have to clean up her poor speech problems, and present herself as some 'great' political figure (which would be difficult).
It's one of those amusing discussions that you've have in a bar after the third beer.
Here's the odd factor....there beyond Joe Biden, there must be at least fifteen Senators/House members....in this age group, and I could see some 60-day period where you might have Biden and two or three 'old' folks pass on. The media question....isn't it remarkable that so many old folks died? And the response would be...yeah, why is that?
