The 2016 US Presidential Election

SaulBy Sulayman Saul Saidykhan

Unless the Democrats – specifically Hillary Clinton, does something extraordinarily stupid or insulting to turn off her base to sit out the elections, she is on course for her rendezvous with history. In other words, on the night of January 20th 2017, when the Secret Service officer entrusted with the personal protection of the new US president closes the door to the master bedroom at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, he or she would be saying “goodnight Madam President.”

I don’t know where the ridiculous toupee-wearing rich man name Donald Trump will be that night, but I’m pretty sure, it won’t be at the seat of American power! So, all sane and conscientious people around the world can breathe easier about that. Now considering how well Trump seems to be doing at the polls at the moment, some may find this prediction unwise. Or some may even question the basis for my position.
But the facts and logic are easy enough to follow, and I’ll make it short:

1.It’s all about math. The Republican Party is not only a minority party, but it’s a dying party. As I stated in an article some years ago, if 100% of Republicans show up on election day and vote, but only 90% of Democrats turn up to vote, Democrats will still win! That’s how disproportionate the numbers are.
To put this in perspective, the ONLY reason the US Congress is under the control of Republicans is because of rules they’ve manufactured purposely to shield what they cannot defend electorally with the connivance of the courts through legislative semantics call re-districting or gerrymandering. Very few people seem to know or remember that in the last two major elections, the Republicans were outvoted by over five million votes collectively by Democrats. Yet they still manage to keep both houses of Congress! How is that possible in a democracy? Because they rigged the darn system! See why they’re crying about their chief protector on the supreme court Judge Antonin Scalia who passed on recently?

2.Donald Trump has unmasked his party for who they really are. One only need to look at the votes that Trump polled from the so-called very Conservative areas of the country to see the hate and bigotry that he proudly embodies. As has long been pointed out by many conscientious observers, contemporary conservatism is nothing but a euphemism for euro-centric-racists. Specifically regarding Donald Trump, what philosophy is he expounding that they agree with on? Generally, what has conservatism got to do with hating other peoples’ religions or way of life especially when the person you are supporting is a notoriously womanizing, philandering, and misogynistic fellow who doesn’t even go to church? Republicans have always claim to be a party of Family Values. Trump has been multiply divorced. Their attraction to him is his aversion to non- Europeans. Trump is so revolting that only the truly racist and bigoted can embrace him. Which makes these voters a real problem not just for him, but a real liability to the long term viability of their party.

3.The biggest weapon Hillary Clinton has against Donald Trump is ironically the one group of people most responsible for his emergence: rich white men. This whole Donald Trump thing was never supposed to get this far. Initially, the joke was supposed to be about Obama, the skinny black guy with an African name who in fact looks like an African marathon runner from East Africa claiming to be half-white. Only he wants to be president of the united states. Rich white men were galled at the time! The African dude really has cojones! It was party and dinner table banter. But when it dawned on most that the man is legit and much brighter than they realized, they fell in line and kept mute especially after Obama got elected. Not the arrogant and racist Donald Trump. He kept up his outrageous claims about Obama being born in Kenya on radio and TV shows. Now to most rational people, this is plain nonsense, but Trump isn’t perturbed because he has a specific target audience in mind. (Think of the types that used to go to the so-called Obamacare protest, take the mike and scream at Obama to take his “hands off my Medicare! “The only problem is Medicare is actually courtesy of the Federal government – as in Obama, and it’s the very program Obama’s legislation was intended to strengthen and add more funds to. Yet people benefitting from that program were protesting and insulting the president base on garbage they were fed by smart puppeteers like Donald Trump. Those who watch Bill Maher on HBO are familiar with how he skewers public figures for their hypocrisy. Part of the problem is, contrary to perception, Americans are generally very ill-informed about national issues. As a matter of fact, on some issues, their level of ignorance is simply scary. having lived here for literally half of my life, this still shocks me considering the available media sources and advanced technology, but that’s the reality.

Anyhow, to cut it short, Trump is now seen as a threat by his fellow rich white men. Notice how the racist Republican leaders in Congress who are hell-bent on stymying anything Obama puts forward eagerly joined him to condemn Trump for his anti- Muslim diatribes about two months ago, and still go at Trump for being a divider. They’re not going after him because they love Muslims any more than he does, they’re doing so because if he wins the presidency, he’ll be forcing some of those people (Muslims, and immigrants) to take their money and businesses to other countries. Thus, taking bread (Lobbying money, Consulting Fees, etc.) away from their families’ tables. This is a good omen for all of us. And so, by hook or crook, they’ll bring him down before November.

Forget the nonsense about Hillary and the Democrat’s strategy. Remember how Hillary’s much-vaunted strategy collapsed in 2008 against Obama’s Community Organizer strategy that they were deriding? As for the Democratic party, they win elections only because commonsense makes people agree with them. Otherwise, they’re feckless, disorganized, and ineffective. They run their campaigns the same way the French play football. Former VT governor Howard Dean is one of the few Democratic party leaders who actually understand the party’s issues. Most of the others are useless. Thank god, the rich white guys will bring Trump down. That is the great news.

The not so great news is: going by her record, Hillary Clinton will in all likelihood not be a good president. Here are my reasons:

a. Hillary is Republican-lite meaning on many important issues – Wall Street, Foreign Policy, Defense, Kinship with the common man or woman, there is very little discernible difference between Hillary’s position and that of the average Republican. On foreign policy especially, there is a real chance that Benjamin Netanyahu could have the nirvana he’s been looking for under Hillary Clinton. Doubters should google some of Naomi Klein’s old critiques of Hillary’s position on Israel while she was in the senate. She was so far right that several notable Jewish Americans including Klein used to condemn her routinely for blindly backing Netanyahu in his intransigence in dealing with the Palestinians as regards the Oslo accords.
b. Hillary has a Truthiness problem. If you watch Steven Colbert’s comedy, you understand this dig at public figures who like to engage in hair splitting “technicalities” to get away with stuff. Hillary has a long history of this. I remember in 1993, during bill Clinton’s first term, a close friend of theirs name Vince Forster committed suicide. In the brouhaha that followed that tragedy for years, William Saffire -now late, then a New York Times Columnist, wrote a scathing opinion of the Clintons in which he called Hillary a “congenital liar.” Pretty harsh eh? That caused a real firestorm. Anyhow, the late Saffire’s point was Hillary simply could not tell a straight story especially when asked twice. Each time the woman opened her mouth, she said something different! Which is the hallmark of a liar. And even in this cycle, when I listen to Hillary address a crowd, I wonder if she’s just pandering to that specific audience because I’m yet to hear anything from Hillary Clinton that I believe to be heart-felt and passionate enough to reassure me that once she gets to the presidency, she’ll fight to get done. As Andrew Sullivan, the author, and blogger once put it, “it’s simply impossible to tell what Hillary Clinton stands for.” I share that sentiment.

The irony about the 2016 election is the most consequential issue is the supreme court seats. Note I said seats! If the Republicans don’t hold a vote to confirm an Obama nominee, and they’re determined not to, there will be a minimum of THREE seats to fill on the US supreme court in the next four years! Judge Antonin Scalia who died a month ago will have to be replaced. Also, without any doubt, both Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Anthony Kennedy will most probably retire in the next couple of years. Don’t ask me how I know this. I do. I can bet anything that those two won’t be on the court during the 2020 elections. Now, for anyone who can add one and one, it’s pretty obvious what the consequence of the 2016 elections are: yes, for the first time in generations, the US will have a supreme court that truly reflects the contemporary majority views and composition of its population. There’ll be six progressives or moderates against three conservatives. This is what terrifies the Republicans because it’s only a matter of time before ridiculous laws that say “corporations are people” or “Campaign Finance Reform” that allows corporations to pour tons of money into campaigns anonymously are overturned. The Republicans have a reason to panic!

So, go to the polls in November and vote for Hillary if you want a progressive supreme court. That would be the ONLY reason I might – just might vote for Hillary Clinton. There is no other reason why I would ever vote for this woman. I won’t be able to forgive myself if I do. Meanwhile, I’ll write to her campaign to ask exactly what her plan is to undo the damage her husband did to young black men in his “tough on crime” project. Hundreds of thousands of young black men were sent to jail – a sizeable percentage of them for life, (remember Clinton’s glib slogan “Three Strikes, and You’re Out!”) because Bill Clinton wanted to impress Republicans about how tough he was on crime. Equally, he pulled the social safety net from under some of the most vulnerable people for the same flimsy reasons in his Welfare Reform program while leaving corporate welfare programs intact. Yet, black folks are voting for Hillary Clinton against the socialist Bernie Sanders 8 to 1. This has got to be some type of mass craziness with us as a people! At least Bernie is honest. And he was with black people when it wasn’t cool to be in the early 1960s. the same Clintons who all but endorsed john McCain when it became obvious they were going to lose to Obama in 2008. Boy, how soon we forget. But maybe that was due to high passions. we shouldn’t hold that against them. Anyhow, not learning anything from the past is stupid. It would be poetic justice for one Clinton to fix another Clinton’s mess. The onus is on the voters to DEMAND action as a condition of their support!

Ends

One Comment

  1. Saul , it seem this election cycle , you really have huge problem of who to support . Though you have clearly indicated how racist Mr Trump and most conservatives are towards Obama and minority but you also stated how untrustworthy Hillary clinton is and the only reason you might vote for her is your desire to have “progressive Supreme Court ” . You didn’t spare president Clinton on his policy on crime and why he pulled out social safety net which largely affected black people and you nearly accused clintons for endorsing McCain in 2008. Waw, I thought you are so tough on both parties though I am not sure whether some of your claims can be verify but you seem to like Bernie sanders who you claimed support or stood up for black people in 1960s.
    I want to remind you few things below ;

    Saul , politics can be a nasty game in any society especially in America where there is absolute freedom of expression which I think you will agree with me .
    First of all , I want to remind you that it was the same American voters who voted for Obama who came from minority race and he was able to win red states such as indiana , Florida , Ohio , North Carolina , Virginia and Colorado which democrats didn’t win for very long time and were all republican control before 2008 election . When Obama came , both senate And house were under democrats control . American voters do not have any specific loyalty and they quickly change their mind and voted for republicans 2 years later under the same rule or system at state governors elections and house / senate . This is how funny the voters behaves in USA unlike The Gambia , such scenarios will be unlikely because of political immaturity , involvement of their Special God who they claimed appointed the politicians and buying votes . Though you also have the tribalist card being played In the case of Foni to support president Jammeh which in American context they would be classified Foni people as racist or tribalist .
    I think mr trump has made a major mistake in his campaign and he has been pandering to the extreme right of Republican Party to secure their support . Remember that it was the same right wing conservatives and elected republicans who refused to condemn him when he headed birther movement against Obama . That was all about their hate and disbelief about Obama presidency . Mr Trump’s recent offensive remarks about every sector of American society has concerned the republican establishment and they are scare that they might lost this election and this is why they are coming after him to ensure that he is destroy before nomination but it is too little too late , by all indications mr Trump will be nominee or they may end up having brokered convention . If Mr Trump didn’t used those offensive remarks he would have been good choice for republicans though conservatives don’t trust him because he supported democrats policies and politicians like the clintons before .
    Looking at mr Trump background , his mother was not born in USA and his current wife was an immigrant who became USA citizen recently , I believe mr Trump rhetoric is his biggest problem but I do not believe that he will deport 12 millions immigrants in USA or built a wall . It is all politics . Once mr trump get the nomination , he will change strategy and move to the center of Republican Party . Racial politics is integral part of American politics , John McCain was a victim in 2000 against W. Bush when he was accused of having black child out of wedlock . Bill Clinton nearly used race card against Obama when his wife was losing , John McCain nearly used race card and belittled Obama by calling him ” this one ” during their debate . Hillary cried in New Hampshire and pandered to white people thereby winning that state In primary election in 2008 . There are many instances that race was used against both black and white candidates . Of course we do have racist politicians on both sides . Remember , it was two weeks ago , the same republican establishment preferred mr Trump over Ted Cruz who they said cannot work with anyone in the senate , then they shifted their support to Marco Rubio who is doing so poorly in the primary , once again , republican establishment switched to Ted Cruz yesterday and mr Rommney is going to give major speech today to condemn mr Trump who endorsed him in 2012 election against Obama . Do you see how funny it is .
    When it comes foreign policy , Hillary is little bit to the right of Obama but there is no significant differences because they all support Israel .
    I don’t believe that Supreme Court judges are ideology driven as you claimed , if that was the case , Obamacare wouldn’t have been in place because conservatives judge like John Robert favored the law which is why we still have Obamacare . Don’t be surprise if Obama nominate a conservative judge as Scalia replacement or centrist judge .
    Historically , it was Republican Party under the leadership of president Lincoln that slavery came to an end . Black people used to support Republican Party overwhelmingly until 1960s and it was democrats who used to support kkk and were considered racist party as you claimed Republican Party to be these days . That is politics and history .
    As for sanders , I think his campaign make serious impact on democractic politics but nationally I don’t think he can win presidency because of socialist democrat name attached to him . USA is capitalist society , that European style welfare system or free loaders are not going to be acceptable by Americans , such system is against American values which is personal responsibility , individual pursuit of opportunity and hardwork . Bernie sanders idea of free university , college income inequality , and universal healthcare are all good ideas but in capitalist society where enterpreneurism , innovations , personal wealth and free markets are rewarded and celebrated will not allow such European style system in USA . It is Americans system which makes them the most powerful country both economically and militarily in the world .
    So in summary , in this silly political season we will see every kind of tactics to win support from both parties . Racial politics is part of American politics and this is why republican establishment are now scare of mr Trump rhetoric and start to condemn since they do not consider him a republican in the first place . Hillary Clinton will be next president if she run good campaign and she is most likely will follow president Obama agendas and policies . Republican Party will have a civil war among themselves and they will lost presidency because of craziness of mr trump’s rhetoric and his views on America standing in the world .

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