This is How It's Done

He has dark skin, and a funny name.  He is actually a Muslim- Barack Obama was not- and he unequivocally backs the people of Gaza, while being falsely called anti-Semitic. He used the term- please I need a support animal: Democratic Socialist. He is an immigrant. He also pledged to protect the entire LGBTQ community. His name is Zohran Mamdani and he crushed the NYC primary last week.

36 out of 37 polls predicted that former NY governor Andrew Cuomo would lead the first ballot of 11 candidates using rank choice voting. People select their top five candidates and the bottom one is eliminated until it is a head-to-head race between the top two remaining candidates. Unless one person dominates and is clear to have a majority of support within one or two more ballots. Pundits predicted that results might not be available for days.  But Mamdani dominated and Cuomo conceded- all before late night programming began.

Yes, he is handsome, articulate and an engaging speaker.  But Mamdani won on issues and policies.  He had a full platform of ideas, he knew not just how much they cost, but the wide array of benefits New Yorkers would receive (i.e. Free buses. Rents frozen.  Higher minimum wage- which is still too low for NYC. And so much more.)  It’s as if he wanted to actually serve the people of the city.

Who will pay for all the important benefits to the majority of New Yorkers? The ultra wealthy. With some tax increases.  And despite their threats and gnashing of teeth, the rich won’t flee. In fact, the folks who are making more than 800k annually remain in the city more than any other economic group.  So, no to NJ, just a more equitable plate of services.

More evidence that maybe David Hogg has been correct this whole time: Incumbents who are corrupt, disgraced or even out of touch need to be primaried. Too bad the DNC forced him out as Vice President. Orchestrated by the same strategists who thought to try to convert die-hard GOP folks instead of energizing the base, new voters and those previously disenfranchised by their own choice. (A different group than the many voters who have been locked out by voter purging, intimidation and other tactics.)

If people are hopeless, then give them hope. Not fear, hate and lies.

Cuomo raised more than 25 million dollars, blasting past the 8 million dollar limit a campaign can raise and receive public funds. In contrast, Mamdani asked his supporters to stop donating to his campaign so he could still receive public funding.  I guess Michael Bloomberg and GOP donors weren’t sending him mountains of cash. Fortunately, just like Elon Musk’s failure to buy the judgeship race in Wisconsin – it appears that an energized base can overcome a mountain of loot.

#DSOT has stated constantly and consistently: it's all about the issues.  The policies that are so vitally needed yet ignored and often attacked or overturned. Ergo candidates- let the voters know how you will do your job-and also be proud to be kind, humane and inclusive.

Turns out gifts to Jeff Bezos and other billionaires of more tax cuts is not all that motivating to most voters. Too many people cannot afford even the basics needed to survive, so shredding our nation's pride and social programs to transfer even more wealth and power to  the rich, doesn't really get people to the polls.

Which brings us to the discussion of the Big Ugly Budget Bill.  Oh media, I get it, you read off cue cards and write books about what happened a year ago. But why are you using Trump's phrasing?  There is nothing, not one solitary part of this monstrosity, that is beautiful. And somehow the Senate version could be even worse than what oozed out of the lower house.  Mike Lee, Republican Senator from Utah, who thought it appropriate to joke about a man murdering a state legislator, her husband and her dog, then wounding another and his spouse while carrying around a hit list of other Democratic elected officials, wants to sell off public lands.  Amazingly, even in today's corrupt environment, Lee was forced to downsize his land grab.  

Just a question for Democratic folks serving in DC- why aren't you out there detailing this soul crushing piece of legislation?  Bernie Sanders is.  Explaining the lies and the horror .i.e.  No, undocumented citizens do not receive Medicaid.( That would not be a bad thing, it is simply not true.) and that Millions of Americans will be thrown off this vital government program. 

Many hospitals and medical providers, especially in rural areas, will not survive, and for what?  The deficit? The Big Ugly adds an additional 4 trillion Dollars. 

People are hungry for the government to serve them.  Too many are actually hungry, a number that will explode with the passage of the Big Ugly bill. Democrats. Tell people.  Get out into your districts or travel through the state and let voters know what this Republican party with a razor thin majority and upside-down poll numbers, wants to do to you.  To us.  To this country.  There are so many horrific sections, like the one which gives the president total power over the judiciary. Just like the Founding Fathers didn't want.  Republicans are being pelted with anger and scorn by their constituents.  Democrats, do your job and further educate voters!

Back to NYC for a minute.  There will be a lot of words, separate from their actual meanings, being hurled around.  The New York Post was already in a massive meltdown minutes after the election results were clear.  Scary words will be uttered: Socialist,  Leftist, 100% Communist Lunatic. Shock will be expressed that Mamdani is advocating policies like: Affordable housing and childcare. “All he did was offer free stuff...” You mean like massive tax breaks or pardoning crimes? No wait, that's for a different group of people. That, “Free stuff” actually means government programs that provide a social safety net in addition to a broad range of legislation and policies to help everyone and not just a smattering of the wealthiest among us.  And let's be clear, the howling is coming from both sides of the aisle and too many media outlets.  

What if all voters demanded that every elected official focused on everyday people’s problems and solutions.  Perhaps, some attention could be forced away from the plight of the billionaire to the rest of the 99+?% Again and always, we have the collective power, the numbers and the economic heft. If we are organized. We need to demonstrate our solidarity through carefully watched algorithms that prove we are united.  And we can aggregate our money to further demand that elected officials listen to us. Democrats and Republicans- you must serve the people!

Don't Shop on Tuesday.

#DSOT