This is the sixth in a series on Whitewater’s local politics of 2021. There’s no politically predominant group in Whitewater. Strictly speaking, a subculture implies a dominant culture, but it’s less dramatic to describe Whitewater as several subcultures than as balkanized. One might call the city multicultural, but that term often implies an acceptance of…
Democrats
America, Democrats, Never Trump, Trump
The Democratic National Convention 2020, Fourth Night: Biden
by JOHN ADAMS • • Comments
Every party needs a nominee, and to advance their views, and oppose the views of Trumpism’s nativist horde, these Democrats have chosen Biden. A year ago, Trump’s pressure campaign against Ukraine made clear how much Trump worried over Biden’s possible nomination. In Biden’s acceptance speech last night, one can see why Trump selfishly worried about Biden, but…
America, Democrats, Never Trump, Trump
The Democratic National Convention 2020, Third Night: The Case Against Trump and for a Better America
by JOHN ADAMS • • Comments
In one night, through two speakers, the Democrats succinctly made their case against Donald Trump (through Barack Obama) and for an alternative (through Kamala Harris). There have been, we may be grateful, few times that America has faced so existential a threat as Trumpism. No one would envy us these times; no caring person would…
America, Democrats, Liberty, Never Trump, Trump
The Democratic National Convention 2020, Second Night: The Roll Call Vote That Looks Like America
by JOHN ADAMS • • Comments
Under the threat from Trumpism, the Democrats of this convention have built a coalition, of themselves supportive independents, that looks like America. In their roll call vote last night, one saw the success of their efforts. Those opposed to Trump might have wilted under pressure from the power of the federal executive branch, but they…
America, Coronavirus, Democrats, Libertarians, Liberty, Never Trump, Trump
The Democratic National Convention 2020, First Night: Kristin Urquiza Remembers Her Father
by JOHN ADAMS • • Comments
So, the Democrats held the first night of their audiovisual convention Monday night. There were, watching, millions of us who are not Democrats, but are yet resolved and confirmed against Trump his autocratic nativism. Although some like us have melted away, for the remnant of which we are a part Never Trump means never Trump. We…
Democrats, Elections, Never Trump, Politics, Presidential race 2020, Republicans, Television, Trump
The Unexpected (But Welcome) Never-Trump Haven @ MSNBC
by JOHN ADAMS • • Comments
Democrats, Elections, Presidential race 2020
About that Democratic ‘Establishment’
by JOHN ADAMS • • Comments
I’m neither a Democrat nor a Republican, and I never will be. One doesn’t have to be a member of a major party, however, to see that repeated talk about a Democratic ‘establishment’ is mostly bunk: millions of Democratic voters are casting their ballots based on their own estimation of the candidates, without regard to…
Crime, Democrats, Law, Politics, Race
Why Michael Bloomberg Will Never Be President (and Shouldn’t Be)
by JOHN ADAMS • • Comments
Soledad O’Brien, responding to Michael Bloomberg’s hesitant, equivocating answer to a question about the wrongful convictions of the Central Park Five, explains why Bloomberg will never be president. She’s right that black voters will not accept him, but then no one of any race should support a man who does not – indeed, will not…
America, Democrats, Education, Politics, Republicans
Differing Partisan Views on Education
by JOHN ADAMS • • Comments
A few days ago, a commenter (‘J’) at this website linked to the Pew Research Center’s latest survey data on partisan views of education. See The Growing Partisan Divide in Views of Higher Education. Kim Taylor (of Pew) summarizes the survey: Americans see value in higher education – whether they graduated from college or not. Most say…
Assault Awareness & Prevention, City, Crime, Democrats, Harassment, Law, Misconduct, Republicans, Trump, University, UW System
Immoral (and Unnecessary) Compromises
by JOHN ADAMS • • Comments
There’s a certain kind of Republican who rationalizes Trump’s many vices because, well, Trump has nominated some conservative judges. (Hugh Hewitt, who’ll rationalize anything to keep a job on the Salem talk radio network comes to mind. See It’s the Supreme Court, stupid.) If there’s an equivalent of this, it’s a certain kind of Democrat…