Tear down this wall

Trump may never get his wall with Mexico, but he’s built a hell of a wall between Americans. It has bitterly divided Democrats and Republicans in Washington, it has shut down government, and it divides the American people. And it’s not even a real issue. It’s an imaginary solution to an imaginary problem. Even if…

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Winning the news war

Trump is both creature and creator of today’s hyper-speed, Twitter-hype news cycle. To win in 2020, Democrats need a candidate who beats him at the communications game. The New York Times reports: “By all accounts, Mr. Trump’s consumption of cable television has actually increased in recent months as his first scheduled meetings of the day…

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Impeachment talking points

Democrats, repeat after me: “Impeachment should be done only on a bipartisan basis. Ask Republicans what they think about impeaching Trump.” This is smart for two reasons. First, it’s the right thing to do. Bill Clinton’s impeachment showed that it shouldn’t be  done on party lines. The country is divided enough already. Second, it’s good…

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41

Democrats 30 years ago would be shocked at how Democrats today are extolling and eulogizing President George H.W. Bush. In 1988, while Bush talked about a “kinder, gentler” America and “a thousand points of light,” he let Lee Atwater run a viciously negative, racist (Willie Horton) campaign against the hapless Michael Dukakis. Atwater apologized on…

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GodfatherGate

The news last night looked like a mashup remake of “The Godfather” and Watergate. Michael Cohen flipping on Trump is like consigliere Tom Hagen turning state’s witness against Don Corleone. Then Trump came on saying Cohen was “a weak person” whom he hired “because he did me a favor a long time ago.” Did Cohen…

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Beto 2020?

I had resisted Beto-hype. I resist any hype about the next JFK-RFK-Obama. Then an old Democratic war horse (older than me, even!) called a few days before the election. He was watching Beto O’Rourke on MSNBC. “Check out Beto!” he enthused. “He’s our hope for 2020!” I still resisted, because the experts predicted Ted Cruz…

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The Con Man Versus the Constitution

The Judge had two things to say about Trump: “He’s a con man. And he’ll cause a constitutional crisis by Christmas.” The Judge grew up and still lives in his hometown in Eastern North Carolina. He’s been in politics and the law all his life. He’s seen a lot of politicians and a lot of…

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Good start, right direction. A lot left to do

Democrats should be smiling big today, in North Carolina and across the nation. They should be optimistic about 2020 and beyond. Above all, there are now checks on Trump in Washington and Republicans in Raleigh. Trump now faces Speaker Pelosi, a Democratic House and investigative bloodhounds instead of toothless lapdogs. Governor Cooper has a real…

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Let the fight begin again

Whatever happens tonight, the fight begins anew tomorrow. Trump and Trumpism are not temporary aberrations that will magically disappear. If Democrats have a good day, we go to work on 2020. And maybe some Republicans will get courageous and challenge Trump. If Trump and the Republicans have a good day, you can imagine what’s coming…

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The T-factor

X-factors are outside forces and events that can upend elections and are beyond the control of candidates and campaigns. Think James Comey’s announcement in the waning days of 2016 that the FBI was again investigating Hillary Clinton’s emails. This year’s X-factor is Trump. But is he magic – or toxic? Clearly, 2016 has him intoxicated.…

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