Barack Obama Obama

Obama: the triumph and the tragedy

Alternative title 1: Why Dems should be furious at Obama Alternative title 2: How Obama brought on Trump Historians will look back at the presidency of Barack Obama as one that was both triumphant and tragic. It was triumphant for the obvious reasons: Obama is a brilliant orator and a decent human being.  He is […]

Donald Trump Music Obama

Listen to the music of Donald Trump’s face

This is what Donald Trump’s photo sounds like when I feed it to my software for converting images to music: Your browser does not support the audio element. Here’s a second rendering of Trump’s face, using a different algorithm: Your browser does not support the audio element. Here’s what Barack Obama’s photo sounds like:  […]

Democratic sellouts Democrats Obama Progressives TPP

How President Obama and his supporters damaged the Democratic Party

Finally, near the end of his presidency, President Obama is displaying the sort of fighting spirit that we needed early on. Unfortunately, Obama is directing his wrath at Elizabeth Warren and other progressives. Just two years after the end of disastrous and corrupt presidency of George W. Bush, Democrats were dealt a shellacking in the […]

Democrats Obama Progressives

An alternative to the Dems

Hell with the DNC! We’ve got to be able to do better than the Pepsi versus Coke brand war of Republicans versus Democrats and their Bush versus Clinton dynastic choices. We need an independent progressive party and independent candidates. It’s not that I don’t agree that any party championing progressive policies couldn’t inspire more Americans […]

Accountability Bush GOP Lies Obama Patty Murray Progressives

Obama saved the economy — and the GOP

Obama gave a priceless gift to the GOP: immunity from prosecution for war crimes, torture,  disastrous wars, politically motivated prosecutions by the Justice Department, widespread corruption, and other criminality. In 2008, it appeared that the GOP was destined for many years of repudiation. They’d proven themselves corrupt, incompetent, and imperialistic. But Obama nursed the GOP […]

Accountability Bush GOP Crimes Obama

Obama gave a priceless gift to the GOP: Why aren't Dems furious?

Obama gave a priceless gift to the GOP: immunity from prosecution and accountability for war crimes, torture, and other criminality. Still, many Democrats treat him as a hero. In 2008, it appeared that the GOP was destined for many years of repudiation. They’d proven themselves corrupt, incompetent, and imperialistic. Obama had a chance to reorient […]

Democrats Elections Obama

Why was turnout so low among possible Democratic voters?

Turnout for last month’s election was low — under 37% nationwide and under 50% in Washington State. National turnout for youth (18 -29) was at about 21.5% according to The Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning and Engagement. Under 30% of registered voters voted in Texas and New York. Why was turnout so […]

Democratic sellouts Obama Progressives

Who's to blame for the 2014 election debacle?

A group called American Voices of Reason posted the following on facebook. It is time for Democratic voters to hold party leaders accountable. Debbie Wasserman-Schultz is a complete FAILURE as leader of the Democratic National Committee. Republicans now have control of the Senate and they have a record-number of seats in the House. Additionally Republicans […]

Democrats Obama Politics Progressives Washington State Politics

The two Democratic Parties: corporate Dems versus progressive Dems

On facebook, in comments to articles, and in person I often hear  socialists, anarchists, and independents say things like “The Dems are as bad as the Republicans” and “Trying to fix the Democratic Party is a hopeless task.” Such views represent a gross exaggeration or distortion of the facts, but they contain a kernel of […]