Democrats put on a great show … with emphasis on “show”
In the last quarter of the Twentieth Century, we have seen a remarkable change in the nature of the national political conventions.
Younger folks may be surprised to learn that up until the 1970s, the political nominating conventions were events of great suspense. We did not always know who the party standard bearers would be until the floor vote was taken. There were often several contenders – each possessing a significant portion of the delegate vote count.
In addition to the major wannabes, three were “favorite son” candidates – usually a governor or senator whose only purpose in running for president was to pocket his state’s delegates as convention bargaining chips.
It would often take several votes before a winner emerged – and it was not always the front runner on the first balloting. Occasionally, it would be a “dark horse” who was not seen as a serious contender at the onset of the convention. In 1924, delegates voted 103 times over 16 days before Congressman and Ku Klux Klan member John Davis was chosen as the Democrat standard bearer. The influence of the KKK was so great in the Democratic Party that the convention came to be known as the “klanbake.”
In terms of vice presidential candidates, the public had no idea who would be chosen by the winner of the presidential contest. And the eventual selection of both the presidential and vice presidential candidates was determined by wheeling and dealing in the proverbial “smoke filled rooms.” There was virtually no showbiz-style entertainment.
The history of political conventions is noteworthy in understanding what we have today. They are no longer nominating conventions, but rather public relations extravaganzas for the already selected standard bearer – a dog and pony show. While party conventions once served an essential purpose, we could actually do away with them today.
Democrats put on a better show than the Republicans this year – although the GOP convention was successful in it own right. No longer involved in the selection of the candidates, the political parties use the convention to showcase the party and promote their candidates. Ii is pure Hollywood – more so with Democrats who have more support in Tinseltown. Hollywood producers and directors are often brought into craft the convention – and entertainment personalities are a key future. They are there for box-office appeal.
This year’s Democrat convention was more pomp than circumstance. It was more of a reality show than ever — and less of a political nominating convention. The most speculation centered on whether Oprah or Beyoncé would show up.
There were no surprises as to outcomes. The entire convention was carefully drafted to avoid any unanticipated activities. The themes – “not going back.” “Republicans are weird,” “The Republic is at risk” and “Democrats love America.” Other than socialist Senator Bernie Sanders’ litany of radical left wing proposals, there was very little addressing of issues. Only empty pledge gifts under the tree for every constituency. Taboo subjects – immigration, crime, inflation and Harris’ past record – were notable by their absence.
(Incidentally, there was a moment of Irony in Sanders doing his usual rant against billionaires immediately followed by billionaire Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, who mocked Trump claiming to be a billionaire by proudly announcing that HE (Pritzker) is a real billionaire.
Even the roll call was an unnecessary charade. Delegates had nominated Harris in a virtual roll call earlier in the month. That is why they called what happened at the convention a “celebratory roll call” – pure theater with little meaning procedurally.
The entire convention was geared to one thing – to win over voters and improve polling numbers through imagery – lots of sizzle, but no beef. The Democrat convention was platitudes over policy
The greater emphasis was on defining Harris and Walz. For Harris it was more a matter of redefining Speaker after speaker gave high praise to her personality, character and general experience – but little attention to her stand on issues. In view of her own avoidance of press conferences, interviews and public statements since she emerged as the pre-emptive Democrat nominee, her only known record is of the things she said and did in the past – the things she hopes to erase from the public conscience. She has already flipped on such issues as fracking and Medicare for all.
Walz came to the convention as a clean slate in terms of public image. But he does have a record as a 12-year member of Congress and a term as Governor of Minnesota. Like Harris, the convention was scripted to focus on Walz the person – avoiding any talk of his far left record. According to the shapeshifters, Walz is just good ole “coach.” It is a redux of the Lunch Bucket Joe Biden myth – although Walz had a longer earlier career in private life than Biden. But with more than 16 years in high public office, he is hardly a political outsider,
The only person who delved deep into the issues was Sanders, His speech was the tiresome repetition of his far left socialist platform — Medicare for all (ending all private health insurance), corporate tax increases (which consumers will ultimately pay), Public campaign financing (handing control of election to the bureaucracy) and a minimum LIVING wage (a lot higher than others have proposed), increase teacher wages (which is a local issue) – among other things. Nothing so specific from Harris, Walz or the other scripted performed on the political stage.
The Democratic convention was what it was – a happy-face cheerleading event with little issue information. It was more of a coronation ceremony than a political nomination. As they say out west … all hat and no cowboy (or cowgirl in this case).
(The Harris acceptance speech will be covered in a subsequent commentary).
So, there ‘tis.
The shine is coming off of kumala. The debates will be a shit show for democrats
If this is true, then why is Trump scared to debate Harris? Why did Trump whine when he found out the microphones would be hot all the time? Trump is scared because Harris has prosecuted many people like felon rapist Trump. My Vegas money is on Harris wiping the floor with Trump! It should be an interesting event!!
Tomigirl, Why would you want to watch anything on any debate. It is out in many websites that it is Harris, or Aroush that is trying to get the debates to go only her way and now she/it is the one backing out. Trump won’t comply to her wishes. She has no right anyway. She is not the real Vice President. She knows it and millions of us now know it. Just because you don’t know this doesn’t make it true. You only want to sway others with your lies. You and your other girlfriend! Both of you. The more you rant about, the more no one believes you stupidity. Go ahead, come on back, I am waiting for more lies and bullying. Just remember, you and Stetson started this war!
Again, tinyman, you show stupidity. I watch so I can hear and absorb their policies and proposals. IT is important to know the direction of both parties. But just like you do not invest time to check your facts, you also do not invest time to understand the politics. You seem to be a very lazy person wishing only to get your information from social media liars and scammers. That is your right and I served our country to make sure you have the right to be stupid. I wish the right to be informed and be a discerning voter. You will never have the capacity to understand Independents.
Trump as the challenger does not get to set the debate agenda. He thinks he can, but he cannot. The agenda is determined by the incumbent. Thus, the challenger must bow to the incumbent. Thus she is well within her right, and you believing lies will not change this. Trump thinks he is still president and can set the conditions of the debate. He is a fool. He lost in 2020. He is nothing more than a citizen.
Bullying? LOL Have you read your words. I never asked you to respond to any of my posts. You did that and were very disrespectful while adding no value to the discussion. You only add far right conspiracies and lunacy. You add nothing of intelligence. If you did, I would respond appropriately. And my choice of words is my 1st Amendment that you seek to take away from me and others!
War? LOL. Your rants are nothing to me. Gnats bother me more than you!! LOL You are less than a gnat!! You should be honored that I even take the time to address your foolishness and lies.
Now, take your SSRI and go to lunch and then please do make your psychiatrist appointment!
Little girl. So what if now I am bullying, you opened the door to it. You are the one lying and not doing your research. I am in my 10 years of investigation and research. I have many, many, many sites I go to or receive on a daily basis. I can’t prove that to you but neither can you prove your stupid lies, and you ARE the stupid one, not me. You just don’t do the research that is out there for all of us to see. Also, I never told you to respond to MY posts, yet you did in a very nasty way. Over time, I started slamming BACK to you what you are doing to me. (and others) You ARE a bully. I am in offense. That’s fair. Again, I definitely am a woman. I do not have a thing between my legs like you do. How many rapes have you committed? I WAS raped at the age of 12. Not fun. Donald Trump will be arrested and put in prison in the middle of September, most likely. So, go and gloat over that. YOU will never have the capacity to understand human .beings. Maybe you are not human? You do NOT respond appropriately. Read all of your past posts. I have them all. Were you in the tunnels under the White House? Biden, Obama, Pelosi and many more were. They killed babies after torturing them. YOUR rants are disgusting. I only get YOU back for what you started. And it will not stop!! I add nothing to intelligence? YOU HAVE NO intelligence that matters. You absolutely suck! And you are a coward! A maniacal coward. I may have a surprise for all you idiots in the end. Be patient and wait for it.
Tom, Dude, a note to myself. Don’t wrestle with pigs. You may win but you both will be muddy and the pig loves it. We are smart enough to say what we want without mud wrestling, either by name calling, a from of bullying you know, or other steps away from proper decorum. Not to worry, pretty much everyone knows what pigs look like.
What war did I start that I did not know?
Who’s’ whinning now?
This guy, AmericaFirst seems off base with a lot of his comments.
Can I get the gi bill?
Stormy Stetson. You helped start the war of hate and abuse to others on this site! IT came from both you and Tomi first. It took me a while, but I joined in to your rot! Neither of you had to be that way. You both could have had a nice dialog even saying the lies you spew so we all could join in, but no, you just had to be a disgusting bully filled with hate toward others. That is what is supposed to happen, but no, you mare so full of Satan and hate you both are pathetic.
Af: so I point out you are using fake news sites that use you to further their liberal games and we’re at war? I don’t get that? You’ve been posting liberal lies, I show you, and I’m the bully? Does not make sense.
My but you whine.
I am sorry for your pain.
Feel better soon.
You got that wrong dumbass. He just wants a fair debate since the election will probably be questionable. But the left have better know this. Don’t try to steal this election
I could not watch either.
Frank, I watched both with great interest. As an Independent I always watch both and look to see which party will do the most good for the most people. I look to see which party will bring about the smoothest and fairest operation of government. This year, the RNC was all about grievance politics. It was all about how to “gut America” and the “white supremacy Christian Nationalist model” while not saying a damn thing about Project 2025 – their policy model. By contrast, the DNC was all about unity and participation by all Americans. It was about hope and dream building and what is possible when people work together. The DNC pulled off a perfect convention, a real spectacle of what can happen when everyone participates and works together. There were GOP folks there as speakers. And the themes were memorable. Larry feels it was all pomp and very little circumstance. I disagree because the DNC did a great job via their convention of showing how different the two parties are and making the case through personal introductions and testimonies by Dems and GOPs on why they feel strongly that the public should vote for them. Larry has trouble handling Dem successes, and it shows in this article!!! Sorry you missed both. They were very eye opening. Both were very informative if the listener is willing to listen without bias to all that was said.
I caught the sound bites, and apparently many of the good ones live by pure luck of my fifteen minutes of convention surfing, but really, it’s just marketing as Larry noted. (YES LARRY, I Agree……)
Again, another negative article from the purveyor of anti-Dem negativism, Larry Horist.
This article gets a Stop The Spin rating of 5+. Larry has published another anti-Dem bullshit burger!!! Here is why:
1) Larry claims that the Dem convention was nothing more than a show. Well, so was the RNC convention!
2) Larry claims that issues were not discussed. Not true. Issues discussed were that GOP downvoted the border security bill, the crime rate is down in the USA. Economy is the best ever produced, markets up, incomes up, jobs created. Also discussed were that housing, food, and energy costs are too high and stifle young potential home buyers because there is a 2M deficit in homes, companies gouging consumers, etc.
3) Larry talks about the themes. There were parenthesis items for those themes but Larry does not give them to you. Example: “We’re not going back (to the 1930’s and racism and loss of rights). Example: Republicans are weird. True, many examples given of weird policy proposals from the RNC of anti-people policies. See Tim Walz speech on youtube. Example: “The republic is at risk” but what I heard was “Democracy is at risk” so I disagree with Larry on this one. Example: Democrats love America. True they do, so do Independents like me!!!
4) What Larry did not tell you was that the main theme was UNITY!!! Republicans were welcomed at the DNC. Unlike Hillary’s convention of 2016 where many like me felt marginalized with no place in the Dem party, this 2024 DNC was all about unity and that we all have a place!! This is much different than the RNC where Trump says he does not need Haley voters. The RNC was a great white supremacy show that was all about taking away the peoples rights.
5) Larry whines about Dems not talking issues which is not true but NEVER discusses the fact that the RNC did not discuss PROJECT 2025 which is their policy centerpiece!!! RNC never discussed how they took away abortion rights by cutely giving it all over to the states fully knowing what some MAGA states would do! They did not discuss how their Project 2025 strips minorities of many rights.
6) DNC themes are memorable because they inspire. Can anyone remember the theme of the RNC??? I seem to remember, “America is in decline” AND “Dems are socialists and ruining our country” AND “immigrants are criminals, thieves and murderers that will be kicked out on day 1” and the overall theme of white supremacy. Is this the USA we want????
7) Larry says the roll call was an unnecessary charade. So was the GOP roll call, its the party of Trump/MAGA. I thought the roll call was a celebration of unity and it did much to show it. But Larry cannot talk unity of the GOP since they are not unified. Many traditional Republicans have left. Larry will not mention how many GOP legislators and corporate heads showed up and the DNC with a message of how fucked up the GOP is and why they do not support Trump and MAGA. They say they are conservatives but feel that the Republican party has gotten weird. They said that the GOP is ruled by far right ideology that is harmful to the whole country!! Larry will never tell you this!!!
8) Larry says the DNC was all about winning voters and no policy discussions, “lots of sizzle, no beef”. Well Larry, you are a free market guy!!! Isn’t free market all about winning consumers!!!! Dems did a good job and you are a jealous old fart!!! Yes hope and joy will always be more attractive than decline and racism. Larry, something tells me you felll asleep for the beef and your ears were only tuned to sizzle – as the Dems surely did sizzle your ears off!!!!
9) Larry talks about Harris flips on Medicare and fracking. Well Larry, these were informed flips, especially since the new fracking techniques do not use harmful chemicals and deposit them in the environment. BUT!!! Larry does not tell you all of the Trump flips like on Tik Tok for instance where his rich buddy who owns millions of shares of Tik Tok and would lose big money under Trump’s old stance. So Trump flipped for a campaign contribution in the millions. Trump has flipped on many things (does his anti-abortion flip ring a bell) and will sell policy, like energy policy to the oil companies, etc. Harris flips based on new knowledge and how people feel about issues. Trump flips for contributions. He is transactional and he intends on making US policy transactional. Larry is anti-abortion but has no problem voting for a man who has flipped his policy to pro-abortion and will (according to his public acclaim) never institute a national abortion policy.
10) Larry says the DNC avoided any talk of Walz’s far left record. Hey Larry, is every K-12 kid having breakfast and lunch a far left policy?!!! Rich kids ate for the same price as poor kids – but the truth is that they all ate and had satisfied bellies in order to learn!!!! Larry, please explain to us all how kids being fed is “far left”??!!!!
11) Larry bashes the likeability factor of Walz – but never says how unlikable Vance has become!!! I personally would rather have a likable VP than a racist unlikable VP!!!!
12) Larry is against everyone having health insurance. Larry is against fair and equal funding for campaigns to ensure a candidate cannot be bought. He is for corporates not paying their fair share. He is for lobbyist and big donor influence on elections. He is for stripping rights from women and minorities. Larry is for a divided USA – which all speaks to why he hates Sanders. Personally, I do not have an issue with what Sanders says but do have concerns with where the money will come from??? As an Independent, we believe in balance, affordability, smooth operations, simplification where possible, rule of law, personal freedoms, a government that works for everyone, and everyone having a fair chance at success through participation.
By all accounts, the DNC hit a grand slam while the RNC hit into a double play. And there ’tis! Now you have the other side, what Larry would not tell you!!!
Tom….Congratulations! You have taken the place of Frank as the number one obsessive anti Larry Horist. You do not offer intelligent counter arguments but just s lot of anger driven crap floating on a cesspool of arrogance. LOL
You start out with a bit of whataboutism noting that the RNC was also a show — as if a rebuttal to my commentary. Did you not read what I wrote? “They (as in both parties) are no longer nominating conventions, but rather public relations extravaganzas for the already selected standard bearer – a dog and pony show.” Is it reading comprehension problems or are you just spreading malarky?
I do oppose the authoritarian concept of taxpayer funded campaigns. You buy into the idea that corporations actually pay the taxes imposed on them. Why do prices rise when goods and services are taxed? Because the consumer pays the tax. How can you be so ignorant? How much would gas cost if it were not for taxes? Biden banned Tik Tok and then used it. Memory problems? I do not believe that there is a need for the taxpayer to pay for breakfast and lunch for every kid in America. That is not meeting a need, but simply left wing voter bribery. Trump has not flipped on abortion. He never favored a national ban. Ignorance or more lies on your part? The roll call was a charade because Harris was already nominated in a virtual roll call.. The roll call at the RNC was a real nomination even if it was a foregone conclusion. Subtle differences apparently escape that failing mind of yours.
You agree with Bernie Sanders. (I could stop right there.) You are not the independent you claim to be. For sure, you are not registered with either party, but your thinking — as you reveal it — is left wing socialistic authoritarianism. You like Sanders’ ‘proposals but wonder where the money would come from. Well duh! Like a good left winger, you will support any radical left policy without considering the cost. You and Bernie … two peas in a pod.
Yes … you have given readers the “other side.” The ignorant, biased and crazy other side. Just a lot of left wing fairy dust.
I do not like to waste time pushing back on your constant partisan nonsense, but I notice that when you are left unchallenged you get nuttier and nuttier — more angry and unhinged. You response here is a good example of your problem. Try to get a gripe on reality rather than succumb to your pathetic obsession to disagree and attack.
Horist with the low blow side shoot at Frank Stetson on his reply to Tom. Just like the Trumplicant that he is. How’d you like the Arlington campaign photo op? Using dead soldiers for votes. Is that your policy too?
I wouldn’t expect Larry to answer this one. I think even Larry will have trouble spinning this incident into something favorable to Trump. But then again, there is the grandson factor – you would think he would at least answer for his deceased grandson’s sake. But maybe Larry does not have the stomach for an answer because his hero did something very aggregious.
But just realize that Larry is a man that does not see the need to feed all school kids and make sure they have food in their bellies so they can learn. Larry said, “I do not believe that there is a need for the taxpayer to pay for breakfast and lunch for every kid in America. That is not meeting a need, but simply left wing voter bribery. ” Larry did not spend ten years in the classroom like I did. He is so narrowly focused on taxpayers. No concern for kids whose physical does not develop well due to lack of food. He does not consider how these kids do not learn and that hurts our economy. He does not consider how a child with poor nutrition also has a poor immune system, and bones do not develop well. He does not consider the mental health problems of poverty and lack of food because the brain is not properly nourished.
So why should he care about the sanctity of our fallen soldiers final resting places???
Larry is very transactional just like Trump. He only cares about what affects him. He loathes the multicultural society. He desires our government to be the third sequel to “Back to the Future”. Only he wants to stay in the back part of the script. 🙂
Just for the record, I thought it was the most horrible thing Trump has done so far. He may have been invited by the family or families, but he knew the rules and the sanctity of the ground. And he (as usual) broke the rules to benefit himself. There are many men and women laying in rest in that cem, and none of them gave him permission to violate their sanctity! I have friends in that cem!
Tom …You spend a lot of time mischaracterizing me in the most contemptable ways. You just make up crap … lies … as your straw man. You arrogance is only surpassed by your lack of intellectual integrity.
Are you really trying to tell me that every kid in school is under nourished and without family financial resources? I am all for helping the needy.
You may have spend 10 years in a classroom but you did not learn much — and certainly not honesty and decency. LOL
FYI … I have worked on education as a mainstay for 50 years— as senior consultant the Chicago and Detroit boards of education …. on the board of the Chicago performing arts school … as advisor to the Chicago Teacher training organizations …. as consultant to Milton Friedman’s school choice foundation …as a member of the PTA … etc. etc. Suggesting that you know more about education than me is bogus self flattery. More arrogant bullcrap. You have more opinions about things you only know about vicariously — or at least you think you know about. You are not a thinker … only a parrot of narratives. And you love to make up things about me …. again without actual knowledge. (Hey Mr. objective independent, still waiting for that list of things Trump did that you like. LOL)
Larry, you are a joke! Being a consultant is not the same as actually doing it in the classroom!!! The Federal program already exists and is called “Free School Meals for Kids Program”. It is a Federal program that states can participate in. All of the schools I taught at participated in this program in NC. In federal fiscal year 2022, 30.1 million students — over 60% of all public school students — received a free or reduced-price lunch through the National School Lunch Program. States can participate in the program.
No, your writing reveals much about your character. I do not have it wrong. You do not care if kids are hungry in the classroom. Period. You pretty much said so!
Fact is, you may know learning theory but you do not have any classroom experience. Again, you show book learning but lack of sensitivity / humanity in regard to the real world classroom social dynamics! Would you get your brain operated on by someone who was only ever a brain consultant to surgeons and never did a single operation?? Or would you prefer someone who has neurosurgery operating room experience??
You have shown quite a lot of evidence of your consultant arrogance while not understanding human conditions, nor can you relate to them.
Again, you did not answer Frank’s question about Trump’s horrible incident at ANC today! You totally avoided it just like I told Frank you would!!! See, I know my Horist!!!
As I said many times, but you seem to have memory issues is that I thought Trump was very strategic in only releasing good info when the markets were down and only releasing bad news when the markets were up – thereby throttling markets which are very sensitive to White House news. I also agreed with his tough on China stance but did not agree with tariffs because he is an idiot and does not know how tariffs work. I thought he did good on stopping terrorism and the money flow to them. I thought he did good to make defense contractors and congress accountable for defense spending. Trump took some steps towards stopping medical scams. Trump raised the alarm on China’s 5G dominance. Trump rolled back some environmental rules stopping infrastructure projects, but again, he went to far. Trump did start some thoughts on AI. Unfortunately, his failures far outweigh his successes to me!
Ok, now answer Frank’s question about Trump incident at Arlington National Cem. And oh by the way, where is your list of what Biden accomplished?
Tom … Are you incapable of seeing the idiocy of your contentions. Arrogance without intellect. You like to describe the Larry Horist of your imagination as the straw man to hold up you mendacious mischaracterizations and irrational ill-founded assertions.. No .. you do not know me … and you descriptions prove it. As I told AC. I value the opinions –and even the criticism — of those who really know me over some old geezer who engages in an obsession and arrogant game of intellectual masturbation.. BTW … my education experience includes a year of classroom teaching. My book will be released soon .. so I will have even less time to pay attention to your largely irrelevant opining. Yeah!
Congrats to you as well Larry for being the biggest bloviator on PBP!
1) By 2016, Donald Trump was suggesting women should be punished for exercising their right to choose. After the House passed a national ban on abortion in 2017, this guy not only applauded the bill but also spent a good chunk of 2018 trying to get the Senate to follow suit. IT IS YOU WITH THE MEMORY PROBLEMS LARRY OLE SON!!!! In fact he was the first sitting president to address the March for Life convention, saying “send it to my desk for signing.” It was a handful of votes short. NPR reported on this too. Now he flip flops ONLY because he is losing too many women votes!!! BUT, enter Project 2025 – he will buckle to his handlers because he shows repeatedly he does not care about women!!! You can look up the full article on the L.A. Times or on NPR. It is you that is uninformed and not willing to look at the flip flopper Trump is and Agenda 47 which is almost word for word the same as Project 2025 which does include a national abortion bad. Women do not trust him or you on this issue!!!
2) By not buying into tax payer funded campaigns where every candidate gets an equal amount, you open up campaigns and platforms to the highest bidder – thus mitigating the will of the people. Unlike you, I am a people person. I would not mind if corporations and pacs contributions were both illegal and only people contributions. Trump basically stated he will put energy policy for sale if the oil execs give his campaign a billion dollars!!! So thus, you are all for selling government policy – how much more crooked can you be Larry!!!
3) You may call the DNC and RNC conventions a dog and pony show, but that show displayed the big difference between the two parties. It displayed the inhumanity of the RNC while hiding their intended Project 2025. It showed the humanity of the DNC and exposed Project 2025 for what it is, discriminatory, against minorities and women, and is authored by many Trump staffers that he claims he knows nothing about!!!!
Larry, why do you continue to NOT talk about Project 2025??? Is it because people will find out that Christian Nationalists that are educated Biblical Reconstructionist Theorists (Vance has this training along with the leader of Heritage as well as many of his underlings, and so does SCOTUS Judge Barrett) are planning on taking over our country piece by piece and returning it to the Puritan days with a very healthy dose of Old Testament????
You say you like Trump’s policies!! Well Larry ole son, Project 2025 is where he is going to get those policies from!!! Go to this fellow who was involved with the Christian Nationalist cult at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_OA44imyKAU and find out what project 2025 is all about and the ideology of the writers!!! Trump is stupid and is getting sucked in to them because as Lou Pinella and many others have said, “Trump does not like to read”!
4) Yes Larry, I am very much in favor of corporations paying their fair share and I do not believe they do that now. Hey, did you notice that when Trump gave them a big tax break prices did NOT come down!!! Yes Corporations should pay their fair share because if they do not, then the shareholder investors pay much lower taxes for capital gains than W2 taxes paid by hourly and salary workers!!! And you are being very dishonest using an old mildewed excuse that they will pass on the taxes in their price. I am also in favor of taxing their off shore profits.
Larry, do you realize my brother used to laugh and tease me that he moves money, buys stock and make more money than I did as a teacher at top salary grade, and only paid half of the income taxes I paid! That is simply wrong! And that is what is going on. What is your solution?? Thee are over 150 billionaires that do not pay income taxes at all. Trump did not pay income taxes for two years of his presidency! Not good.
5) Yes I know you do not believe that kids should all be able to eat before they learn! I get it. You are on the side of the inhuman. I get it!!! Somehow, Minnesota managed to feed all of the kids before and during schools and businesses/taxpayers seem to have survived. The RNC convention showed just how inhuman they can be!!! And that is why they will lose. They are not connecting with the masses.
6) Wow talk about bloviating!!! Roll call for both was really more ceremonial than needed. It was forgone for both but for some reason you seem to bloviate that the roll call for RNC was needed and not needed for DNC while both had already predetermined their candidate and blessed them pre-convention. This is the height of bloviating!!!
7) As far as Bernie Sanders, he has some sensible things to say if you are willing to put your inhuman bias aside for a moment!!! The problem with you Larry is that you are not willing to listen to anyone who disagrees with you!!! And this has al so affected your personal life and income as well. And you know it!!! At least I will listen. And there may be many places the money might come from, I was just wondering since he did not say. Again, this is back to your in-humaneness and my humaneness.
Yes, I provide the other side. It will appear as ignorant, biased, crazy, left wing fairy dust to far right wing oggers that are only for themselves, do not realize the down side consequences of their vote, selfish, inhumane, fearmongering and contemptible beings like you!!!
And I provide the other side so that people will be more informed. Please watch the video I referenced in this article. Very informative. You may want to write a Project 2025 piece and how much you are in favor of Project 2025.
Tom .. your long rants and personal insults are getting tiresome. You arrogance has you deluded into believing that YOUR opinions are the truth. Far from it. And you keep whining that I refuse to comment on Project 2025. I had an entire very long commentary on that subject earlier this month. (Still waiting for the list of things Trump did that you like.) And I love all the sanctimonious self praise you bestow on yourself. You say you only present the other side. You say unlike me you are a people person. You say you are here to make me a better writer. And you invent a silly rating system that is as much bs as there rest of your writings. You constantly claim to be an objective independent.. In fact, you are a left wing ideologue with your own opinions. Nothing more. Nothing less. You would be a lot more credible if you would just be what you are instead of peddling all that self-beatification crap.
Wow, another negative diatribe from Tomi, the liar. I wonder what planet he is from. Larry has a great article that is totally believable according to all the research that has been done. Tomi wants the entire USA to go into total communism because he wants to be the King of America and control ALL of the people. He wants that so bad he can taste it. There are too many citizens that won’t allow him to be the dictator King he wants to be. He needs to go on CNN to spill his derangement so more of his kind will be MK Ultra’d. Makes me wonder if he is on the surface of this planet or from down inside. Stetson, too! Both need to be reeducated or deprogrammed.
Since you advocate not researching comments it is logical that you did not watch the debates. And with your head filled with conspiracies and other lunatic ideas, what would you know about what was said. Larry only gives one side. I give the other from an Independent’s point of view – just the facts. The remainder of your rant is nothing more than a description of Trump, not me. So I will not address your gnat buzzings! LOL
Tell me one thing that I posted in my post today on the RNC and DNC conventions that was a lie. Otherwise, have a good day in the insane asylum! Remember to take your SSRI’s!!!
Tomi, you give the other side, but you want to control all that is said here. My God, reread all your posts and see how controlling and bullying you are. You really need help. Get it now before you explode and maybe kill someone!
Oh here you go again tinyman! Truth, I do not control anything. I simply write the other side so that people have both sides. You still do not get it: Its point and counter point. I have no desire to control anything. You are the one who controls whether you read my post or not. I recommend that if you cannot take the full truth, then please do not read. I do not want my work to cause you to have another psychotic episode.
Gee, I wonder if Larry will write about how Trump and his security detail violated federal military cemetery law and attempted to get a photo op / commercial at section 60 of Arlington Military Cemetery??!!!! And then he posted today calling for a second American Revolution – how stupid is that!!! Trump keeps breaking more laws and his MAGA folks, and psychotics like you, gobble it up!!!! And then you tell me I am the problem. LOL
Tom, Trump is NOT afraid to debate fake Kamala. EVERY single article is saying she?it is the one who is backing out. IT says in very plain English so even you can understand it.
Really, well Tinyman, please post one of those articles! Otherwise its just more bloviating!
AF u are not the boss of me. Don’t threaten me with reeducation or deprogramming. Those are mandates that you want to force upon people with other points of view in your frustration of fake facts falling down all the time. You use fake news from liberal prank sites as your facts. Even after being told, you still do.
And I suppose I am an Independent.
I have always Independently been for Donald Trump from the beginning
when he came down the escalator that morning.
I remember watching this on CNN when that channel had at least the illusion
of being a news network with some form of integrity.
The DEMS set the debate up for Biden in THEIR FORMAT just to
do what it was supposed to do. ( Crush Biden )
Now they are in fear what they formatted will crush Camal.
To bad, you set up the rules, you live with it.
Very Very Very Low intellectual people.
But Very Very Very Highly Skilled in the Deception of THEIR Constituents.
Democrat ( Yes ) Clowns!
This site seems full of them.
Darren, you are entitled to your opinion. I doubt that the DNC rigged the debate to cause a Biden loss. More than likely they thought he would win but as I said in Larry’s post debate article published earlier, Biden must be handled differently than a 60 year old candidate. His travel schedule took quite the toll on him, and he later did admit that. Remember he went to Normandy beach for services, then to the G7 in other place, then he flew to the Pacific, then home. He logged more miles in two weeks than many Americans log in a year. Personally, I feel they should have had him home for two weeks before the debate, one week to rest after travel, and one week to prepare to use Trump’s attacks as a basis for a mini commercial on the topic. Also, I think his prep team did a poor job. Older minds have access problems in recalling logged data and statistics. Memory is still there, but it is slow to be accessed – which is not good for a speed oriented debate environment. Biden should have done what he does best, discuss from the heart, not from the stats.
Tom,
While I think it impossible, what if Joe engineered this entire thing so Harris could take the nomination without a shot fired. I mean think of the beauty of the right not getting all that opposition research from the primaries. How rested and ready she would be. All he has to do if make the debate duff believable. And Trump served that up like a pitcher in a girl scout softball game. He’s old, stuttering, demented, yada, yada, yada. Of course they believed it.
guess they forgot about the crime family capa part……..
And, gee, notice how Harris seems to have spent the last four years practicing her performance, speaking skills, dress, you name it. Do you know how hard it is to lose a cackle?
And gee, gee, the entire Biden campaign staff says, sure, we’re aboard. She just keeps rolling.
But look at all the new features of the campaign —– rallys, bus tours, just appear out of nowhere from a staff not doing any of it for Biden. Like magic.
But the weirdest part: flawless execution. That one is almost impossible.
And to bite off on this conspiracy burger, all you have to do is believe that Biden purposefully duffed the debate.
See my point. It’s beyond brilliant, it’s perfectly Machiavellian. Much better than the Obama Benghazi Tape Scam known by Democrat insiders as “the great deflection.”
Let me add one more piece of kindling to the conspirafire: the Pelosi Biden fake fight where his nose is out of joint because she asked him to go,
I have never seen Pelosi break rank over party. She’s the ultimate man-behind-the-curtain doing her most important deeds behind the scenes. That’s how the squad behaved pretty well on her watch. How she always knew the vote before the vote. How she convinced people, just vote, don’t read, trust me, wink wink nudge nudge. Hard to imagine her going public against Joe UNLESS she told him behind the scenes, told him what she would do, and then did it. But surprise him —– never. He’s Joe, how mad could he be at that.
So —- could she be in on the game? Why not. But not Chuck. He can’t keep a secret :>)
Yes you have a very good point Frank. Looking at it independently, things sure did come together perfectly at a breakneck pace! The one modification I might make is that they had this planned and did not tell Joe because they were waiting to see how he would do in the debate. Joe knew his performance was poor – and they used that energy to convince him to buy into the plan.
Either way, very good point!
Tom, I like your spin about the campaign doing it to Joe. However, this one would take a real master mind, a crime family don, a criminal overlord and, according to the right, old demented Joe is ALSO that guy!!!! I mean Machiavelli would tip his hat to this one. Dante would name a level for it.
Time to write the movies. Hmmmmm, can Will Smith play Biden? Or maybe Wil Wheaton. Remember, where’s there’s a will, there’s a way.
Tom …I can see you have not had any experience travelling with or handling presidential visits. You seem to compare the travelling average people do — even first class types — to presidential travelling. Of course Biden can travel to Europe — even if his physical and mental health is declining. He does not have to make reservations … pack clothes … get cabs… worry about missing the plane … carry luggage … face long lines ….worry about cancellations…sit in a crammed set for hours … and all the other frustrations normal folks face. When on the ground he is chauffeured everywhere with out traffic jams. Going to France is no proof of vitality when you have all the services of a president. How do I know? I have travelled and hosted presidents, vice presidents and other dignitaries.
Larry, I am always amazed at how you miss the point. My point was simple, his travel schedule for an 80 year old was heavy and it would have been better if there had been time allotted for rest. Yes you did such travel three decades or more ago when you were 50. The other issue that you seem to have missed or totally ignored is that an older brain is not as good at recalling stats and dates – it takes processing time which debates forums do not afford. Despite having the services you describe, it still takes a toll on an 80 year old brain. PUT THE TWO (travel + stat stuff) together and you end up with a performance like was seen. Gee Larry, did we just discover your brain’s problem!!!
Tom … Your point was that Biden’s travel shows his vitality. No necessarily true. Presidents … even with some debilities — and easily travel because they put no effort in it. Everything is done for them. Staff protects them from senior moments … forgetfulness… etc. Remember FDR going to Yalta as a dead man walking .. dies shortly there after.
You talk about the brain diminishing with age as if it is some sort of absolute. Different strokes (no pun intended) for different folks. I have a bowling friend. His other hobby is ballroom dancing, He drives. He looks great ..has sharp mind, Slim .. full head of hair. No glasses or hearing aids. He is 93, Looks 70. My former tennis partner starting losing it in his mid 60s and was dead before 75. You cannot make general statements about aging as if it applies to all. Perhaps you are just extrapolating from your own personal experience. Maybe you should cut down on your bullshit sandwich diet.
And as far as your snide insult….. sorry to disappoint by my doctors say I am in exceptionally good physical and MENTAL condition. One of the lucky ones. The doc said my lab numbers and bp could be those of a 40 year old athlete. No noticeable decline. Hmmm Maybe a modest reduction in physical strength. Need to get back to the gym.
Once again you make ignorant comments. Not knowing the facts has never stopped you from having an opinion,.
No Larry, you missed my point again. My point is that it is well known in the medical community that processing speed is one of the cognitive functions that declines with the age and it describes how fast a person executes mental operations in order to complete a task In short, brain synapses decreases therefore the brain is slower at processing. My point was that an older brain such as Biden’s brain is greatly affected by amount of sleep, engagement throughout the day, travel schedules, general health, vascular health, etc. which cause the brain to process slower and therefore it become a liability in a fast moving debate scenario.
To show you what an idiot you are on the subject I am posting this short Harvard review article for your to read and educated yourself (thus avoiding more stupid outbursts and self bloviating) at *https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/how-aging-affects-focus* . You and your mythical friend are considered exceptions – but you try to apply your circumstances to everyone which is another incident of your lack of humanity and failure to understand others.
Age-related declines in processing speed are hypothesized to underlie the widespread changes in cognition experienced by older adults. For a good article on processing speed and age related effects, see *https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2839847/* to correct your arrogant stupidity. There are many articles related to this issue on PMC and the NIH website. I did a gerontology masters paper on many of these article. I was also a trained Alzheimer’s coach.
Tom…. And you seem to be to stupid or dishonest to concede that aging affects people very differently. My friend is not “mythical” as you so arrogantly and dishonestly say. I am not mythical — except the Larry Horist you invent in your intellectually corrupt mind. I have read many studies on aging … and they are general observations, Unlike you, the medical community understands that not everything applies to all people. I like many have spent a lifetime sleeping 4 to 5 hours a night with no negative impact. That is because unlike most people, I go into REM sleep within minutes getting 90 percent of the sleep value others receive over 8 hours. How do I know that? From clinical sleep testing. Just because you may be suffering from the ravages of age, does not mean that your experience is universal. Your experience and even the general observations of scientists do not apply in all case. That is well known to scientists and should be to any one with an ounce of grey matter. Remember, Tom, a little knowledge is a dangerous thing –and you do not even show that. And no amount of your childish name calling changes that.
BTW … I have testified before legislatures as an expert witness on education. Enough said on that subject.
Again Larry, more bloviating by the bloviator in chief!
The research I referenced is the best science available on aging. And your statement that aging that I am dishonest when I say aging affects people differently is true, and it is what the medical reports I referenced also say! Aging is very personal – what happens to one does not always happens to another, etc. And your statements implying that you sleep 4 to 5 hours per night with no impact does not mean everyone can do that.
Again, you try to discredit in an area where you are not an expert. And lets always remember what the first syllable of “consultant” is; “con” and that is what you are!
Oh and by the way, you have discussed how Chicago has gone downhill because of Dems. And your own words state you consulted with Chicago and others over the past 50 years. Well Larry, put the two together and you have responsibility in part for Chicago going downhill!!! So much for your consulting!!! LOL
Darren, you are entitled to your opinion. I doubt that the DNC rigged the debate to cause a Biden loss. More than likely they thought he would win but as I said in Larry’s post debate article published earlier, Biden must be handled differently than a 60 year old candidate. His travel schedule took quite the toll on him, and he later did admit that. Remember he went to Normandy beach for services, then to the G7 in other place, then he flew to the Pacific, then home. He logged more miles in two weeks than many Americans log in a year. Personally, I feel they should have had him home for two weeks before the debate, one week to rest after travel, and one week to prepare to use Trump’s attacks as a basis for a mini commercial on the topic. Also, I think his prep team did a poor job. Older minds have access problems in recalling logged data and statistics. Memory is still there, but it is slow to be accessed – which is not good for a speed oriented debate environment. Biden should have done what he does best, discuss from the heart, not from the stats.
Well, Larry, now you’ve gone and done it. You gave a big swat at the ol’ hornets nest stirring up the neighboring beehive in the process. What a swarm of buzzing does your roughing up both red and hornets.
As in nature so it goes in politics during an election cycle. The sight has nothing pretty about it. Who likes being up close watching bees and hornets warring in defense of their hive or nest? Close in an observer will get several stings.
One observation given the amount of print dedicated to your own GOP’s convention seems minimal and unsubstantial not mentioning Trump’s great oratory depth and attention holding intellectual interpretation of his policies and what his presidency will do economically. How could you leave out the capstone of the GOP convention.
Instead, this iteration in your Commentary Series dedicated to the Democratic Party focuses on its convention. 3/4 of the space taken was your punditry working over Harris.
Hypothetically speaking, if in my reading what you write about Harris and objectively consider your conclusions and factcheck your assumptions. Clearly, even if this treading was my first experience and with no foreknowledge. Doubtless your version had GOP bias coloring indicting you.
Giving short shrift to your guy’s 90 minute masterpiece while concentrating on your nemesis Harris the Democrats candidate.
Predictable, nothing new here that you have not opined on before. That is my objective opinion given the applicable facts. Assumptions conjured out of a red tinted fog are not critical thinking. How is propaganda imagined and propagated.
Ac … I had a little time this morning so I broke with my habit of ignoring your off-the-wall comments. They are crazy as ever. Love the hornets and bees thing –whatever the hell that is supposed to mean. But you had me laughing out loud with this sentence. “That is my objective opinion given the applicable facts” LMAO You opinions are hardly objective … and based on facts? LOL Just another meandering rant for an old man. And for the record, I did write critically of Trump’s convention speech. You either have reading comprehension problems or memory issues.
Larry, same ol’ same ol’ response from your end. Who are you to refer to as old man, look in the mirror and know what an old man looks like
You often tell me I don’t know you. Therefore I am not to have a certain view of your character and make comments based on my opinion. Clearly you don’t practice what you preach at me. You have no idea who I am. And yet you have an opinion on who you erroneously believe me to be.
You, on the other hand, have built yourself something of a history in political circles. Your story has been the subject chronicled by journalists’ in the know.
On PBP you have a bully pulpit at your disposal. The manner, and the lack of manners, you display as you wave your club and rant at those you despise with your whole being. Observation is best when in one’s printed messaging their personality in the moment is witnessed first hand. What I have seen of your work in print and read about your path to where you are today , older than Trump yet younger than Biden.
From reading articles by authors writing from perspectives you will not ever see nor comprehend. What differences in outlook has been my privilege to participate in and come to see appreciatively a broader range of subjects and academic departments. Your opinion based commentaries are narrowly based on conservative ideology and possibly some politically biased pseudo- economics. Your opinion lacks the inclusion of the most crucial facts in the whole equation. The human sciences perspective gathered from tests and studies completed that prove your opinionated theories miss the mark by a mile. The platform you stand by and policies you invent end up failing to achieve a common objective.
Your plans, old man, are narrow and short sighted. Your striving is not to achieve what will benefit the majority. If not all persons within our nation’s boarders.
One truth and only this one, is the obvious fact, PBP and you are in the business of spreading disunity, pitting people against each other with malice intent.
Larry, I know who your are more than you think you may know who I really am. You do not comprehend what I have understood my entire adult life. When you glimpse a hint of this truth I give you, then, just maybe, you will experience an epiphany.
When a relative few are prospering and the majority is left far behind. Those who are forced into abject poverty are forgotten.
This is American reality today because we have been conditioned to accept this division. The fact is, this country’s net worth comes out to equal the SUM OF US, meaning every single one of us.
When we limit what the least of us can achieve, all will receive less.
Look at education through out the nation. It’s a proven fact that where poor education persists, that area goes into decline. An entire region suffers in every way. Eventually, a state’s reputation becomes suspect. The math required even you, Horist the arch conservative know it all (not) can add well enough and see what the sum of us adds up to be. The total comes to much less than it would be one day. If Justice over came unjust practices in government, banking. and business.
Some I hear shouting SOCIALISM – COMMUNISM- FACISM but it’s none of the above. It’s fair and right as a democracy should be.
Otherwise, tear down the Statue of Liberty and and its invitation.
your commentaries narrow perspective.
AC … You are funny. LMAO. You make the point that I do not know you and therefore mischaracterize you. And then… you carry on the usual screed mischaracterizing me. You opinion of me is meaningless. I value the opinions of those who really know me. My writing for PBP is one portion of a very full and busy life — and folks like you are a very minor part of even that small portion of my life. So save you rants. screed and insults. Your deluding yourself if you think they have an impact or meaning beyond your own self-satisfaction., In fact, my book is about to be released, so I will have even less time to read and respond to your long rambling postings. Which is a good thing. I enjoy a good discussion or debate on issues with intelligent and civil people… but the personal bickering you and others thrive on is getting too monotonous and tiresome.