A House Divided Bleeds Blue and Red

On Monday the Iowa caucus kicked off the nomination for the Republican challenger to President Biden with 40 delegates up for grabs out of the 1,215 needed.  The polar vortex didn’t deter over 100,000 Iowan’s from participating in democracy but the disenfranchised remain the foundation for former President Trump, securing 51% of the vote.  Governor DeSantis edged out former Governor Nikki Haley by a couple thousand votes but the race is over, just like the scheduled debate for New Hampshire.  The campaigns spent over $120 million on ad buys, a new record.  Haley and DeSantis spent over $30 million and never once really went after the #1 seed.  I guess they saw the writing on the wall with Chris Christie’s remains, he didn’t even make it to the vote. 

It’s surprising if they were both in, (Nikki and meatball Ron) on every county, flush with Koch Bother’s money, (Nikki) that they would fight harder for New Hampshire.  Trump lost Iowa to Ted Cruz in 2016 but won New Hampshire with 35%.  McCain won New Hampshire after a disappointing showing in Iowa 2008 as Mike Huckabee took honors.  In 2012 Rick Santorum bested Mitt in Iowa who won New Hampshire.  I suppose the question to ask is the religious right with Trump because the data aligns with past results?

Morally, a man facing 91 charges from sexual assault to election interference I would assume could not be counted on to represent the people and set a standard to be admired.  But one has to look past logic and understand acceptingly to why Americans feel so emotional invested in two senior citizens.  Why do they feel it’s my way or the highway?  Why do they feel strongly enough to yell, scream, wave, live, and die like they’re a Cowboys fan?  And does either side ever picture what common ground would look like?  What America would boaster with all of US in this together?  Winning?

I believe Michael Moore pegged the Trump movement perfectly.  Being from the rust belt of Michigan he understood and warned many Democrats to take Trump seriously.  His thesis was constructed on the data that nobodies lives were improving in Michigan through two terms of Bush and two of Obama; and that the people felt they were throwing a “Molotov cocktail” at the system that had forgotten them.  Makes sense because I felt that way looking in the mirror of Bush, Clinton, Bush, and another Clinton.  Trump was not one of them but his comments about election results in the last debate against Hiliary cast doubt before a ballot was recorded and that had me on the fence.  Planting a seed of suspicion and uncertainty on what is a ‘gentlemen’s agreement’ and an experiment that has lasted the longest of any civilized society said everything of this man’s insecurity to be labeled a loser.   But I was the disenfranchised and pissed, bubble in the Orange Man.

Four years of President Trump saw many accomplishments but the Trump voter will not be able to list them.  Unfortunately for the MAGA crowd neither could Trump or he would’ve floored Biden in the debates.  I admire the tariffs against China which the Democrats agreed with even though it doesn’t impact jobs here.  I admire the policy President Biden put down on Americans working in the semi-conductor space abroad, come home immediately or lose your citizenship, boom!  Thing is if I bring up the above it’s still met with, ‘Let’s Go Brandon’ even though my peer is in 100% in agreement with this policy.  And no, I’m not a supporter of Joe Biden.  He makes me laugh when he speaks off the cuff but he votes like a war hawk, taxation, and overall not in aiding everyday folks but neither are the others.

If I was running for President and had $30 million to buy votes, (Nikki $1500/per) I would spend more wisely.  You’re NOT changing a Trump vote to a Haley/DeSantis with TV buys and diner engagements.  Why do I say this?  Well last week I was in Florida and met a woman, white, late 40’s, educated, entrepreneur, model, and Trump supporter.  She had quoted a favorite book of mine and we talked about what she was an expert in, she wore many hats from model to CEO of a property management firm.  I’m not sure what brought the ‘Donald’ up but she dug in.  After she agreed with my logic on sexual assault, she was stumped but doubled down spewing, “I don’t care if he rapes 5 women!”  “But you’re a woman,” I stated confused.

Pivoting I said, “Well if you were President what would you do in your first 100 days, what’s your platform?”  Again she was perplexed not knowing what she really wanted, all she could come with was ‘freedom’.  In my head I laughed and thought of ‘W’.  I’ve come to the conclusion it’s not logic but a feeling of empowerment that it gives those who feel speechless.  So, no I don’t believe TV ads will flip a voter with this kind of attachment.  So what will?

When Andrew Yang was campaigning Iowa in 2020, he took a ride along with some truckers who were Trump supporters.  The empathy was conveyed when the truck driver says, “You’re actually worried about the truck driver, the man or lady answering the phone, the fast-food worker that no one is going to get up on a political platform and talk about.”  To go where your opponents are and get your hands dirty with them speaks volumes.  It demonstrates leadership not just by entrenching behind enemy lines protruding strength but compassion with good intentions of forming a communion with recognition, support, and love. 

I’m reminded of the Jon Stewart movie Irresistible starring Steve Carrol when a mayor’s race is bombarded by millions of dollars spent by the RNC and DNC respectively for what, bragging rights?  Spoiler alert, the town hustles them out of the money and jolts a rural township with a base closure back to life.  The amount of good works a $120 million invested in Iowa would result in triple your ROI in political capital. 

If I had $30 million budgeted for Iowa, how would I allocate it?  The old way of doing things has the candidate visiting all counties, town halls, canvassing and participating in local traditions.  Sounds like a lot of work.  Instead of pandering, just give the voter what they want.  They need daycare, tuition, jobs, housing, medical aid, and a reason to stay in Iowa to build a better tomorrow.  For what is today without the opportunity to pursue life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness with not uncertainty but faith? 

A belief with conviction is what fuels the free world and they’ve given us two choices, I don’t accept.  How many day-cares could one start with 1 million dollars?  Commercial real estate is abundant and there’s a dire need to be filled by the public.  This aids the landlord, the area, creates jobs, puts a parent’s mind at ease, and a safe environment for children.  Simultaneously you match funds and put the parents in a job placement program learning a specific skill set, i.e. welder, nurse, RE agent, etc.  Investing in human capital should be the forefront of any nation that sees itself as morally righteous with abundant resources.

Here’s a good metaphor, the Iraq invasion was swift but the insurgency was formattable.  Why?  Well all military aged males where out of work once Wolfowitz disbanded the army who were sitting on caches of weapons.  It wasn’t until the surge and payment to the former army that things settled.  If one suffers enough not to be able to afford not just entertainment but basic necessities without ambition and objective your neighborhood falls victim. The data is clear on overdoses and homelessness the explosion.  Spend the money on the people, I realize that laws apply but there’s always a work around.  So just fund it yourself.  No ads approved.   

When Andrew Yang purposed $1000/month to all Americans as our data check it was received with astounding support from the pro-life movement.  Daycare, medical expenses, and other costs contribute the most to abortion and this policy would help those in need.  A lesson that’s been hard for me is, you have to accept help sometimes but it doesn’t make you weak.  But this isn’t the message in campaigns. 

Blue and red fight over social issues more than anything.  The only reason for such issues is the public needs assistance.  They need mission and purpose to land on an aircraft carrier so to speak, banner waving.  They need the recognition that they are right and being the best person they can be with confidence and compassion that doesn’t require finger pointing but open arms.  But instead they succumb to you’re either with us or with the terrorists.  There’s not even a middle ground for a pizza party.  Why?

Their identity feels threatened and unsung resulting in constant chaos.  The union of a house united is not on their mind.  Have they ever thought about post invasion?  What if we do slay all our enemies will I be rewarded?  If one isn’t battling on SM how will they fill the time?  Who will they set their sites on next?  Where can they direct this anger? 

George Washington warned the public of political parties but do we remember?  Remember it was the democrat-republican party?  Remember what it feels like to chant U-S-A and mean it?  Remember how the budget was balanced with a surplus under republican house control and a democrat in the oval? 

Together America displays strength and certainty like t-bills for all the world to see.  When we forget that the enemy is not our neighbor, not the immigrant, but ourselves for falling into a fight that requires moral boundaries eclipsed amongst family, a house bleeds from the inside.  Our lack is obvious as we point finger and three back.  The only person that is making your life miserable is you.  Neither man will not right this wrong.  Why?  They aren’t selling hope.

Hope is what lights the American dream in dire circumstances.  The belief of alienable rights comes with confidence of certainty that other citizens haven’t experienced but an American knows their rights.  Politics conjures negative implications among the psyche but an individual as Tommy Lee said in Men in Black, “a person is smart. People are dumb, panicky dangerous animals and you know it.”  To stand against the stampede takes a patriot but our history is full of them.  The start of the Republic stood in the face of the #1 military on the globe for what would become the model for the rest of the world.  Being able to have checks and balances while maintaining the peace was the under bet.  But it hit!

To stop the bleeding requires citizens to exercise their rights also while not deterring the life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness of another.  A fine line but one that has been maintained for 200 years.  We must recall our history or be doomed to repeat it.  Blue blood runs red.  Que the Johnny Cash.