The top quality of a VP candidate is they should be able to assume the presidency at the drop of a hat. Most presidents have been Governors or Senators. She is a Senator. She has run for president. She has a national perspective.
In this Floyd season, a black Indian woman (yes, her first and middle names are Indian: Kamala Devi) would be apt.
Her background in criminal justice is a big plus. She knows the stuff that is hot.
India is fast emerging to be the top US ally, almost ready to replace Britain.
Biden was toast until he was resurrected by black voters in South Carolina. A more energetic black base would have given Hillary a victory in 2016.
I am excited she might be Biden's pick.
It is time for a woman. It is time for a black woman. It is time for an Asian, an Indian.
Biden has been wise to declare early that his pick will be a woman. Good thing. About time. But who? Michelle Obama? Elizabeth Warren? Stacey Abrams? Kamala Harris? Who? Amy?
To think out loud the name of Michelle Obama was a respectful thing to do, but he was not serious. Barack Obama pulled the strings around South Carolia and after and a deflated balloon rose to the skies. So a nod makes sense.
But Michelle is symbolism. She is not a political animal.
Elizabeth Warren does represent the Bernie wing of the party. And the need to build a bridge to that wing is premier. And considering how south the economy is ready to go, the Dems might as well end up with 60 seats in the Senate. And you will need workhorses like Elizabeth Warren in the Senate to build ambitious legislation.
Elizabeth Warren is good where she is. She is needed there. She should be Majority Leader. Or at least a Senator with seniority.
Kamala Harris might be too cheerful to be Vice President. Let her be Attorney General. California is already in the bag.
Andrew Yang should be Secretary of Labor with a mandate to bring about a Universal Basic Income.
Pete should be Secretary of Urban Affairs. He has been Mayor of a blighted city in the Rust Belt. And his symbolism is large.
Tulsi Gabbard would make for a wonderful Ambassador to the UN.
That leaves only one good option: Stacey. She should be VP.
That is how Biden thanks the voters that resurrected him. He was a dead horse until South Carolina.
With Stacey Abrahms on the ticket, Biden carries Georgia.
Let me be clear. Biden will win with or without Stacey. Biden will carry all the swing states, with or without Stacey. But Biden will not win Georgia without Stacey Abrams on the ticket. With Stacey Abrams on the ticket, Biden will carry 40 states in the Fall. It will be a clean sweep.
Should he be lucky enough to end up with 60 Senators, he could remake America and the world. Green New Deal can happen under Biden-Abrams.
The curious thing is, with Bernie on the ticket, the Dems could have lost in November, recession or no recession. But a Biden presidency could actually deliver something like Medicar For All, or at least a strong public option.
(१) यो महामारी हो। १०० वर्ष अगाडि यस्तै भएथ्यो। सन १९१८ देखि १९२२ सम्म स्पेनिश फ्लु (Spanish Flu)। नाम मात्र स्पेनिश फ्लु (Spanish Flu) तर शुरू भएको अमेरिका बाट। त्यति बेला विश्व जनसंख्या को एक तिहाई इन्फेक्ट (infect) भएको र ५ देखि १० करोड़ को मृत्यु भएको अनुमान गरिन्छ। अहिले यो लगातार दुई वर्ष चल्छ र कमसेकम विश्व जनसंख्या को दुई तिहाई लाई इन्फेक्ट (infect) गर्छ भन्ने अनुमान छ। वैक्सीन (vaccine) नआएसम्म कोही पनि सुरक्षित छैन। वैक्सीन (vaccine) आउन कमसेकम डेढ़ वर्ष लाग्छ। डेढ़ वर्ष भित्र न आउन पनि सक्छ। यो भन्दा पहिला को रेकॉर्ड (record) ५ वर्ष हो। गर्मी जाड़ो केही मान्दैन यस वायरस (virus) ले। अमीर गरीब छुट्याउँदैन। प्रत्येक देशमा पुगिसक्यो। विश्व इतिहासमा मानव सभ्यता शुरू भए देखि नै यति धेरै मान्छे लाई एकै पटक छोएको यति ठुलो घटना भएको यो पहिलो हो। कसैले केही पनि नगरे द्वितीय विश्व युद्ध मा भन्दा बढ़ी मान्छे मर्छ यसमा।
(२) रुघा खोकी भन्दा फ्लु (flu) १० गुना कड़ा। फ्लु (flu) भन्दा यो कोविद १९ वायरस (Covid-19 virus) को इन्फेक्शन (infection) १० गुना कड़ा। यो रुघा खोकी हो भने बाघ बिरालो हो। यस भाइरस ले फोक्सो (lungs) मा मात्र आक्रमण गर्छ भन्ने कुरा सही होइन। फोक्सो (lungs) बाट शुरू हुन्छ अनि टाउको देखि पैताला सम्म पुग्छ। नया भाइरस हो। यकीन का साथ यो त्यो भनिसक्ने अवस्था आइसकेको छैन। फोक्सो (lungs) को बाटो मुटु (heart), मृगौला (kidney), कलेजो (liver), मगज (brain) सबै तिर पुग्छ। स्वाद र गंध हराउनु भनेको त्यो मगज (brain)मा क्षति पुगेर न हो। खुट्टा को औंठा मा पुग्छ। छाला मा रातो दाग हरु देखिन थाल्छ। यस्तो भाइरस हामीले पहिला कहिले देखेकै थिएन भन्दैछन वैज्ञानिक हरु।
(३) प्रत्येक दिन २ पटक बाफ सुंघौ। दिनमा ३-४ पटक तातो पानी खाऔ। रुघा खोकी ज्वरो को लक्षण देखिना साथ दिनको ४-६ पटक बाफ सुँघ्नु पर्छ।
(४) पैंट लगाए जस्तै मास्क लगाऔ केही बर्ष। मास्क नलगाएर हिडेको मान्छे नाङ्गो हिडेको हो। मास्क छैन भने रुमाल अथवा गमछा ले पनि काम चल्छ।
(५) हाथ नमिलाऔ, नमस्कार गरौं। दिनमा ३-४ पटक साबुन पानी ले कमसेकम आधा मिनट रगड़ि रगड़ि हाथ धोऔ। हाथ ले अनुहार न छोऔ।
(६) ह्रदय नजिक तर शरीर ६ फ़ीट टाढा। सकेसम्म घर भित्र बसौं। अहिले एक मात्र "औषधि" यो नै हो।
(७) दैनिक एक घंटा पसीना आउने गरी कसरत गरौं र इम्यून सिस्टम (immune system) मजबुत बनाऔ। इन्फेक्ट (infect) हुनु अगाडि इम्यून सिस्टम (immune system) सकेसम्म मजबुत बनाएको राम्रो। कसरत भनेको आफ्नो शरीर हेरी हेरी आफै डिज़ाइन (design) गर्ने हो। शरीर को कुनै अंग जस्तै हात खुट्टा एक पटक चलायो त्यो मूवमेंट (movement) भयो। त्यही मूवमेंट (movement) १०-२० पटक रिपीट (repeat) गर्यो त्यो कसरत भयो। औला चलाएर शुरू गर्न सकिन्छ।
(८) अदुवा लसुन को सेवन बढ़ाऔ। अदुवा को चिया (बेसार का साथ), ग्रीन टी को सेवन गरौं।
(९) रुघा खोकी ज्वरो आउना साथ आफुलाई आइसोलेट (isolate) गरौ। यदि त्यसमा लक्षण हरु थपिएर साँस लिन गारहो, स्वाद र गंध हराउने सम्म पुग्यो भने त्यो कोविद १९ इन्फेक्शन (Covid-19 infection) नै हो भन्ने मान्दा हुन्छ। औपचारिक उपचार को खोजी गरौं। ढिलो नगरौं। रुघा खोकी ज्वरो नै पहिलो लक्षण हुनु जरूरी छैन। यो फोक्सो मा सीमित रहने रोग होइन।
(१०) मोटामोटी इन्फेक्ट (infect) भएका मध्ये ८०% अस्पताल जानु पर्दैन तर तिनले अरुलाई रोग सारिरहेको हुन्छ। २०% बिरामी हुन्छ। ५% लाई औपचारिक उपचार को जरुरत पर्छ। १% को मृत्यु हुन्छ। तर उमेर ढलेको र मुटु रोग डायबिटीज आदि भएको समुह मा मृत्यु दर १०% हो। मोटापा (obesity) भएको मान्छे लाई यस वायरस (virus) ले बढ़ी प्रभावित गर्ने गरेको देखिएको छ। समय छँदै आफ्नो वजन सही बनाऔ। आफ्नो मुठी जत्रो हुन्छ पेट त्यत्रो नै हुन्छ। एक पटक मा त्यति मात्र खाऔ। तर नमर्ने ले पनि असाध्यै कड़ा पीड़ा भोग्नु पर्ने हुन्छ। अस्पताल बाट फिर्ता आउने हरूमा पनि लामो समय सम्म फोक्सो, मृगौला आदिको कम्प्लीकेशन (complication) भइरहने हुन सक्छ।
(११) घर बसेको प्रय्तेक व्यक्ति र परिवार ले सारा समाज लाई जोगाएको हो। कोही पनि भोकै बस्न नपरोस। आफ्नो मानवता प्रदर्शन गरौँ। महामारी लाई भुखमरी बन्न दिनु हुँदैन। नेपाल भारतमा सरकार ले विकास बजेट बाट जति सुकै झिक्नु परे पनि झिकेर घर घर खाद्य सामग्री पुर्याउनु पर्छ।
(१२) यति सन्देश आफुले चिनेको प्रत्येक व्यक्ति सम्म पटक पटक पुर्याऔ। अहिले पनि अधिकांश मानिस ले सीरिया को युद्ध टीवी मा देखेको तर आफुलाई न छोएको जस्तो लि राख्या छन। आफुले चिनेको कोही मान्छे मर्ने बेला सम्म पर्खिनु हुँदैन। त्यति बेला सम्म ढिलो भइसकेको हुन्छ।
(१३) कोविद १९ वायरस (Covid-19 virus) को बिरामी हरु उपचार गर्ने स्वास्थ्य कर्मी हरुले PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) को प्रयोग गर्नै पर्छ। साधारण सर्जिकल मास्क (surgical mask) ले हुँदैन। N95 मास्क नै चाहिन्छ। नाक मुख मात्र छोपेर पुग्दैन। आँखा पनि चश्मा अथवा गॉगल लगाउनु पर्छ। विंडब्रेकर (windbreaker) अथवा रेनकोट (raincoat) ले शरीर छोप्नु पर्छ र प्रत्येक दिन सफा गर्नु पर्छ। रबर को पंजा लगाउनु पर्छ। टाउको पनि कुनै प्लास्टिक ले छोप्नु पर्छ। यो विश्व युद्ध जस्तो हो। डॉक्टर, नर्स र अन्य स्वास्थ्यकर्मी हाम्रा सैनिक हुन। तिनलाई धन्यवाद भनौँ। ती हाम्रा लागि काम मा छन। हामी तिनका लागि घर बस्न सक्नु पर्छ।
(१४) सामाजिक दुरी (social distancing) को समयमा आफ्नो र अरुको मानसिक स्वास्थ्य को विशेष ख्याल गरौं। आफ्ना चिनजान का मानिस सँग बराबर संपर्क मा रहौं। तर सोशल डिस्टन्सिंग (social distancing) र लॉकडाउन (lockdown) से महामारी रोकिन्छ भनेर कसैले दाबी गरिरहेको छैन। मात्र त्यसले स्पीड (speed) घटने हो। सबै जना एक्कै पटक एक दुइ महिना भित्र इन्फेक्ट (infect) भएमा डॉक्टर नर्स स्वास्थ्यकर्मी अस्पताल सबै का लागि काबु बेकाबु हुन्छ, मात्र त्यति का लागि सोशल डिस्टन्सिंग (social distancing) र लॉकडाउन (lockdown) भइ राखेको हो। दुइ महिना मा नभएर विस्तारै विस्तारै १२ अथवा २४ महिना लगायर हुन्छ भने हामी सम्हाल्न सक्छौं शायद भन्ने कथन मात्र हो। अर्थात Flattening The Curve.
(१५) आर्थिक क्षति त हुन्छ। तर अहिले दुई वर्ष जिउँदो मात्र रहने महत्वाकांक्षा राखौं। त्यति प्रयाप्त हो। बरु परिवारका लागि समय टन्न पाएकोमा दंग परौं। आध्यात्मिक गतिविधि बढ़ाऔ।
(१) इ महामारी हइ। १०० साल पहले अइसने भेल रहइ। अभी इस्वी सम्वत २०२० चलि रहल हइ। सन १९१८ से १९२२ तक चारि साल स्पेनिश फ्लु (Spanish Flu) के महामारी चलल रहइ। नाम मात्र स्पेनिश फ्लु (Spanish Flu) लेकिन शुरू भेल रहइ अमेरिका से। तै चारि साल विश्व जनसंख्या के एक तिहाइ लोग इन्फेक्ट (infect) भेल रहइ आ ५ करोड़ से १० करोड़ के बीच लोग मरल रहइ से अनुमान कयल जाइ छै। अभी जब तक वैक्सीन (vaccine) न अबै छै तभी तक कोइ सुरक्षित न हइ। वैक्सीन (vaccine) आबे में कमसेकम डेढ़ साल लगतै। डेढ़ साल के भितर न भी आ सकइ छै। अइ से पहले सबसे जल्दी में जे वैक्सीन (vaccine) आइल रहइ ओकरा आबे में ५ साल लागल रहइ। इ भाइरस (virus) जाड़ा आ गर्मी नै मानतै। जाड़ा में भी गर्मी में भी फैलइत रहतै। इ भाइरस (virus) अमीर गरीब न छुटियबै छै। सबके पकड़लक। दुनिया के प्रत्येक देश में पहुँच गेल हइ आ सबतर जंगल के आगि जिका फ़ैल रहल हइ। दुनिया के इतिहास में जभी से मानव सभ्यता शुरू भेलै तभी से अतेक ज्यादा संख्या में लोग के एक साथ छुवे वाला घटना इ प्रथम हइ। कोइ कुछ न करौक जहिना के तहिना छोड़ि दौक त द्वितीय विश्व युद्ध में जतेक आदमी मरलै ओइ से ज्यादा अइ में मरतै।
(२) सर्दी खाँसी से फ्लु (flu) १० गुना कड़ा। फ्लु (flu) के तुलना में इ कोविद १९ वायरस (Covid-19 virus) के इन्फेक्शन (infection) १० गुना कड़ा। इ अगर सर्दी खाँसी भेलै त बाघ बिलाइ भेलै। इ भाइरस सिर्फ फेफड़ा पर आक्रमण करै छै से बात सही नै छै। फेफड़ा से शुरू भ के सर से पैर तक जाइ छै। नया भाइरस हइ। अभी अध्ययन भ रहल हइ। यकीन के साथ बहुत कुछ नै कहल जा सकइ छै। फोक्सो (lungs) के रास्ता ह्रदय (heart), मृगौला (kidney), करेजा (liver), मगज (brain) सब जगह पहुँच गेल। स्वाद और गंध गायब होबे के मतलब मगज (brain) पर क्षति। पैर के औंठा तक पहुँच जाइ छै। चमड़ी पर लाल दाग सब दिखे लागल। वैज्ञानिक सब कहि रहल हइ अइसन भाइरस कहियो देखले ही न रहलियैय।
(३) प्रत्येक रोज २ बेर बाफ सुन्घुं। दिनमें ३-४ बेर गरम पानी पिउ। सर्दी खाँसी अगर होबे लगे त दिन में ४ से ६ बेर बाफ सुन्घुं।
(४) अभी कुछ साल जेना पैंट पहनै छै तेना रोज मास्क पहनु। बिना मास्क पहिन के घर से न निकलू। मास्क नरहे त रुमाल अथवा गमछा से भी काम चलतै। बिना मास्क पहिन चलि रहल आदमी नंगा चलि रहल हइ।
(५) केकरो से हाथ न मिलबे के। अलगे से नमस्कार क लेबे के। दिन में ३-४ बार रगड़ि रगड़ि के साबुन पानी से हाथ धोवे के। हाथ से चेहरा बिलकुल न छुवे के।
(६) घर से बाहर भीड़भाड़ से बिलकुल दुर रहे के। प्रत्येक आदमी से ६ से १० फ़ीट दुरे रहे के। जहाँ तक संभव हो सके घर के भितर रहे के। अभी एक मात्र "दबाइ" यहे हइ।
(७) प्रत्येक दिन एक घंटा पसीना आबे किसिम से कसरत क के अपन शरीर को प्रतिरोधात्मक क्षमता (immune system) के मजबुत करे के। चुँकि कोनो भी व्यक्ति के इन्फेक्ट (infect) होबे के संभावना बहुत ज्यादा हइ तै लेल इन्फेक्ट (infect) होबे से पहले अपना शरीर के प्रतिरोधात्मक क्षमता (immune system) के सकभर मजबुत क लेबे में फायदा हइ। कसरत अपना शरीर मुताबिक प्रत्येक व्यक्ति खुद डिज़ाइन (design) क सकइ छै। शरीर के कोनो भी अंग जेना कि गोर हाथ एक बेर चललकइ त उ मूवमेंट (movement) भेलै। आ वहे मूवमेंट (movement) के १०-२० बेर रिपीट (repeat) क देलकै त उ कसरत भ गेलै। औरी से शुरू कयल जा सकइ छै।
(८) अदुवा लसुन को सेवन बढ़ावे के चाहि। आदि के चाय पिए में फायदा हइ। हर्दी मिला के।
(९) सर्दी खाँसी बुखार होइते अपना आप के अकेला क लेबे के चाहि। ओइ तीन लक्षण के अलाबे साँस प्रश्वाँस में कठिनाइ, स्वाद और गंध के क्षमता ख़तम हो जाना, शरीर भरि दर्द सब थपा जाए त बहुत संभावना हइ कि उ कोविद १९ इन्फेक्शन (Covid-19 infection) हइ। डाक्टरी सेवा अस्पताल के सेवा के लेल प्रयास शुरू क दु। ढिलाइ करे में फायदा नै छै। लेकिन बगैर सर्दी खाँसी बुखार के लक्षण के भी कोविद १९ इन्फेक्शन (Covid-19 infection) भ सकइ छै। कियक त इ फेफड़ा तक सीमित रोग नै भेलै। कतेक के सीधे मुटु फेल भ गेल शुरुवे में।
(१०) मोटामोटी देखल गेल हइ जतेक लोग इन्फेक्ट (infect) भेल तै में ८०% के अस्पताल नै जाए पड़ै छै। २०% बीमार पड़ल। ५% अस्पताल पहुँचल। १% के मृत्यु भेल। मोटामोटी। लेकिन जे अस्पताल नहियो गेल लेकिन इन्फेक्ट (infect) भेल रहल त दोसर के पटबैत चलि गेल। आदमी देखे में पुर्ण रूप से स्वस्थ हबे लेकिन इन्फेक्ट (infect) भ चुकल हबे आ संपर्क में आवल लोग सब के पटबैत जा रहल हबे। लेकिन ज्यादा उम्र के लोग जेकरा मुटु रोग अथवा डायबिटीज अथवा वइसने रोग सब होबे त मृत्य के संभावना बढ़ि के १०% पहुँच जाइ छै। मोटापा (obesity) से भी मृत्यु के संभावना बढ़ि जाइ छै। इन्फेक्ट (infect) होबे से पहले ही अपन अपन वजन सही क लु सब कोइ। कोनो भी आदमी के मुट्ठी जतेक ब के होइ छै ओकर पेट ओतबे टाके होइ छै। एक बेर में ओतबे खाउ। हप्ता में एक बेर २४ घंटा फास्टिंग क लु। लेकिन जे नहियो मरल ओकरा बहुत ज्यादा दर्द भेल। जइसन दर्द कहियो भेले न रहल होइ। जे अस्पताल से लौटियो के आइल ओकरा लम्बा समय तक फेफड़ा मृगौला आदि के कम्प्लीकेशन (complication) होबे के संभावना रहल। शिकायत छित्ते रहल।
(११) घर के भितर रहि रहल प्रत्येक व्यक्ति और प्रत्येक परिवार सारा समाज के बचाव करि रहल हइ। कोइ भुखले नै रहे के चाहि। इ अभी सब कोइ के अपन अपन मानवता प्रदर्शन करे के समय छै। सब कोइ के प्रयास रहे के चाहि कि अइ महामारी के भुखमरी नै बने दि। सरकार सब के विशेष प्रयास करे के चाहि। विकास बजेट से जते निकाले पड़े। लोग सब के खाना खिलाउ। घर घर खाद्य सामग्री पुगाउ।
(१२) अतेक सन्देश अपना चिन्हा परिचय के प्रत्येक आदमी तक बार बार पुगाउ। अभी तक अधिकांश लोग अइ के गंभीरतापुर्वक नै ले रहल हइ। सीरिया में युद्ध १० साल से भ रहल हइ टीबी पर देख रहल हइ लेकिन ओइ से अपना कोनो असर नै पड़तै तै किसिम से लोग अइ महामारी के भी ले रहल हइ। जब तक आहाँ के चिनजान के सर्कल में एगो दुगो लाश गिरतै तब तक बहुत देर भ गेल रहत। अभीये सचेत भ जाउ। आ सबके सचेत करू।
(१३) एक समय अतै जभी नेपाल भारत में बहुत डॉक्टर नर्स सब के कोविद १९ वायरस (Covid-19 virus) के बिरामी सब के उपचार करे के पड़तै। स्वास्थ्यकर्मी सबके PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) चाहबे करि। साधारण सर्जिकल मास्क (surgical mask) से नै काम चलतै। N95 मास्क चाहि। सिर्फ नाक मुँह ढकला से नै काम चलतै। आँख भी गॉगल अथवा चश्मा से झाँपे के पड़तै। शरीर के विंडब्रेकर (windbreaker) अथवा रेनकोट (raincoat) से ढके के पड़तै और रोज साफ करे के पड़तै। रबर के पंजा चाहि हाथ में। सर भी कोनो किसिमके प्लास्टिक से ढके के पड़तै। इ विश्व युद्ध जिका भेलै। डॉक्टर नर्स और अन्य स्वास्थ्यकर्मी सब अपना सब कोइ के सैनिक भेलै। धन्यवाद कहियौ। उ सब अपना सब के लेल जोखिम झेल के काम पर छै। अपना सब के कर्तव्य बनै छै हुनका सब के लेल घर बैठियौ।
(१४) सामाजिक दुरी (social distancing) के अइ समय में अपन और अपना नजदिक के सब लोग के मानसिक स्वास्थ्य के विशेष ख्याल करियौ। अपना चिनजान के लोग सब से बराबर संपर्क में रहु। लेकिन सोशल डिस्टन्सिंग (social distancing) और लॉकडाउन (lockdown) से महामारी रुकतै से कोइ न कहि रहल हइ। सिर्फ ओइ से स्पीड (speed) कम होतइ। सब कोइ यकायक एक्के दु महिना के भितर इन्फेक्ट (infect) होतइ त डॉक्टर नर्स स्वास्थ्यकर्मी अस्पताल सब के लेल काबु बेकाबु भ जतै सिर्फ तै लेल सोशल डिस्टन्सिंग (social distancing) और लॉकडाउन (lockdown) सब भ रहल हइ। दु महिना में न धीरे धीरे १२ चाहे २४ महिना में होतइ त शायद हम सब संहाइर लेबै से कहनाम। अर्थात Flattening The Curve.
(१५) आर्थिक क्षति त होतइ। स्वाभाविक बात छै। लेकिन अभी दु साल सिर्फ जिन्दा रहे के लक्ष राखु। जान बची लाखो पाये। अभी ओतबे बहुत भेल। बल्कि परिवार जोड़े बितबे के लेल अइलफ़ैल से समय मिलल तै बात से खुश रहु। आध्यात्मिक गतिविधि बढाउ।
Democratic lawmaker knocks Stacey Abrams: 'Inappropriate' to lobby for Biden's VP Abrams has taken the rare step of touting her strengths as a potential VP in an interview with The Atlantic last week, and has made other public comments in support of such a political partnership. ........ I ran the most successful campaign to engage the communities we need to build the broadest coalition necessary in 2020 ........ "She values honesty and encourages all women and girls - particularly women and girls of color - to speak up when asked if they are qualified to lead. ...... the progressive strategy network Way to Win released survey data indicating Stacey Abrams was Biden’s strongest potential lieutenant. .........
...... “Yes. I would be honored,” Abrams says. “I would be an excellent running mate. I have the capacity to attract voters by motivating typically ignored communities. I have a strong history of executive and management experience in the private, public, and nonprofit sectors. I’ve spent 25 years in independent study of foreign policy. I am ready to help advance an agenda of restoring America’s place in the world. If I am selected, I am prepared and excited to serve.” ............
Abrams’s direct response betrays ambition, makes verifiable claims, and establishes outcomes to which she could later be held accountable. By normal political rules, it is the wrong answer.
.......... Amid this chaotic unpredictability, Abrams’s candor is disarming and comforting. ....... A graduate of Spelman College, the LBJ School of Public Affairs at UT Austin, and Yale Law School ......... On the heels of her defeat, she founded Fair Fight, a national organizing effort to ensure fair elections. This was followed by Fair Count, which works to achieve a fully accurate and representative census. Then, late last year, Abrams launched the Southern Economic Advancement Project to promote equitable economic and social policy for all races, classes, and genders across the region. .......... the first black woman to deliver the official Democratic response to President Trump’s State of the Union in 2019. ............... Not becoming governor of one state gave me the opportunity to launch a national network in 20 states [to fight for fair elections]. We are helping reform democracy in places where it was broken and battered. We are fixing access to a census that the president of the United States tried to destroy.” .............. Abrams is kind and empathetic toward her colleague, saying, “Andrew and his family deserve the privacy to address the challenges they face.” ........... “I cannot know every challenge I will meet. My job is to nurture the intellectual curiosity and the stamina necessary to respond to the unknown.” ........ Introversion may be her most comfortable default, but the public-facing Abrams exudes striking eloquence, sincere warmth, and uncompromising rootedness in identity politics—a contrast to Biden’s verbal stumbles and misconduct allegations. Although she has been called a pragmatic progressive, it is her courage and straight-no-chaser public discourse that has earned Abrams the respect of voters, organizers, and elected officials alike. The vice presidency seems an odd fit for a politician who proudly writes of her own leadership, “I refused to play my scripted part.” ....... That campaign was not a whim. It was the outcome of decades of deliberate work building my capacity to serve as many people as I could, in the most effective way possible. My responsibility is to be ready to do the job—to have the core capacities that are embedded in the role. I am able to stand effectively as a partner, to execute a vision, and to serve the vision of the president.” ......... The bottom, not the top, is where Abrams has focused her work. She and I had planned to talk in Atlanta, sitting together, sharing a meal, and discussing her vision for the country. Instead we strain to hear each other over a spotty phone line, hunkered down in our homes, doing our part to flatten the curve. ........ We are all observing social distancing, but my dad is a bit surprised: ‘You’re not gonna give me a hug?’ he said. And I said, ‘Of course not. We’re gonna operate from six feet away.’ ....... “Many Americans are now experiencing what poor communities live with daily. We have communities perennially facing lower wages, higher poverty, lack of access to health care, and lack of access to child care. Shift workers, low-wage workers, agrarian workers, and service workers are now being pushed over the edge,” she says. “We must be intentional about identifying these challenges and concrete about naming and pursuing the solutions. These issues aren’t ancillary. They are central to who we are. The poor deserve expanded and deepened support. The poorest among us are often the people working the hardest. And they deserve to be protected. It is not socialism to have a social safety net.” ....... Even from quarantine, Abrams is leading Fair Fight to help ensure the congressional stimulus package includes hundreds of millions of dollars to support vote-by-mail systems for the 2020 election. ......... We are used to seeing black women this way—trained to rely on their seemingly unlimited reservoirs of strength and believing them magically invulnerable to hurt or harm. ......... I’m a sturdy black woman with natural hair. It took me a while to recognize that I am an attractive woman. I don’t look like everyone else. But I do me really well.” ........... “I feel beautiful when young black girls come up to me. They are not just excited to see me, but to see themselves in me. When little girls point to the gaps between their teeth because they haven’t had braces. They may come from families that will never be able to afford them, like mine couldn’t.
I keep my gap. I could do Invisalign, but my gap is my mother’s gap. It’s my grandmother’s gap. This doesn’t make me less, because my parents didn’t have the money to have my teeth fixed with braces.
And it doesn’t make me less when I stand before a nation and deliver the State of the Union response.” ............ Abrams has a Sankofa sensibility. Sankofa is a West African assertion that our collective future must be rooted in a critical examination of our past. Abrams’s impulse to reach for the lessons of history while staying fixed on the necessity of service to the future suggests she may be the singularly remarkable leader America needs in this time of unprecedented economic and social change.
In a world of social distancing, Abrams is a woman worth watching closely.
Why Stacey Abrams is making her case for VP -- everywhere Stacey Abrams is everywhere, and she's not coy about her ambitions: She wants to be Joe Biden's running mate. ....... The former top Democrat in the Georgia House has been everywhere this month, giving interviews and speeches, appearing at digital forums and writing op-eds. She has described herself in interviews as an "excellent" pick for Biden, publicly gamed out how she would debate Vice President Mike Pence and argued why it would be a mistake not to pick a black woman like herself. These comments come as Biden, whose primary campaign benefited immensely from widespread support from black voters, faces public pressure to pick a woman of color as his running mate. ...... The directness belies years of precedent by prospective running mates, who often publicly play coy about the vice-presidential ambitions while simultaneously privately running campaigns to get themselves picked. ............ straightforwardness reflects who Abrams has been for her entire adult life: A black woman raised in Mississippi and Georgia who feels if she is not upfront about her ambitions, she will get passed over. ........... as a student, she created a spreadsheet with career goals that she still uses today. .......... "As a woman of color, as a black woman, as a person of color, I cannot be shy about my response, because any hint that I don't think I'm qualified, that I don't think we can is used as a justification for saying that we can't." ........
The Democratic politician, appearing from her suburban Atlanta home, has been omnipresent over the last two weeks, just as Biden and his top advisers begin looking for a running mate.
.............. "I try to be straightforward because while we hope the work speaks for itself, sometimes the work needs a hype man," Abrams said on The View this month. "And I learned early on that if I didn't speak for myself, I couldn't tell the story." ......... "She has such a strong sense of self and confidence to be who she is despite the fact that she was raised in an America where black women have not been given all the benefits and have had a lot of barriers," said Leighton. "She was so clearly herself and so true to herself and not willing to waiver." .......... "I also know the way that black women leaders can be used by white politicians and white men," Byrd said. "And I think that Stacey has found herself in a position where it was very important to name drop her in the 2020 primary, and nearly every single candidate did. And then when she's pointedly asked the question about her ambition, she started to be criticized for that." ........... it is an "important signal to have someone of color on the ticket" because for "communities of color, particularly for the black community, there has got to be a recognition that their needs are met." .......... "It would excite people beyond anything that could be done.
It would carry Georgia
" ....... "If you want to create the magic of the Obama-Biden team, you would do that best with a Biden-Abrams ticket."
For once, @realdonaldtrump spoke the truth, when he said that if all eligible Americans are able to cast their votes that he and his cronies will lose.
In some quarters they are talking about Elizabeth Warren as being the VP pick for Biden. I think that would be a wonderful choice to make. It would certainly be the most democratic choice. There were two clear streams this primary season. Biden represents one. The other can be represented by Warren. She is a progressive who is clearly not a socialist. And she goes low when Trump goes low. She goes toe to toe. Politics is war by other means.
Picking Warren would be great to bring about party unity. And we can expect to see AOC back on the campaign trail with Warren. She will do for Warren this Fall what she did for the B man last Fall. Warren wanted AOC to do that for her last Fall, but then B man went ahead and had a heart attack. That tugged at AOC's heart. Besides, Bernie only popped up because Warren refused to run in 2016. Hillary was the Biden of 2016.
If Warren is on the ticket no lefty will be talking about if Biden went far enough for them or not. You get Warren, all such anxieties are soothed. Besides, this pandemic makes Bernie look like a Wall Street don.
Biden should pick Warren. Wait, the names even rhyme. I just noticed.
They both can retire and make room for AOC in 2028.
Trump Cliffs Notes: I'm screwed. I'm in over my head. The economy is screwed. I messed up. I can't BS or lie or cheat my way out of this for once. It's going to get worse. I'll just blame everyone and incite my base and Republicans to protect me. Y'all on your own. Trump 2024.
— Wajahat "Social Distance Yourself" Ali (@WajahatAli) April 18, 2020
I think she is the logical choice. A VP, by definition, must be able to take the top job in a heartbeat. Nothing prepares you for the top job like spending eight years in the White House. She is well prepared.
Joe Biden became Joe Biden in South Carolina. The African American voters across the South put him back in the race and gave him the nomination.
President: Joe Biden
Vice President: Michelle Obama
Attorney General: Kamala Devi Harris
Secretary Of Urban Affairs: Pete Buttigieg
Secretary Of Labor: Andrew Yang
UN Ambassador: Tulsi Gabbard
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Has Never Spoken to Joe Biden. Here’s What She Would Say. I want to respect his win, he won because of his coalition building, he won because of his service, he won for a lot of different reasons — but I don’t think he won because Americans don’t want “Medicare for all.” And in this moment, I wouldn’t be surprised if what we’re seeing with coronavirus didn’t further change people’s views in further support of a progressive agenda......... And I just don’t know if this message of “We’re going to go back to the way things were” is going to work for the people for who the way things were was really bad......... Beating Donald Trump is a matter of life or death for our communities. I think it’s a difference between making an argument for harm reduction, and making the argument for, there’s actually going to be progress made for us........ Because, for some people, this argument of returning to normalcy sounds like an argument of respectability politics and civility. And for other people, it sounds like, will my child be put in a cage? ....... I do not feel a choice in adhering to my principles and my integrity, and being accountable to the movement that brought me here. But also, I don’t want another term of Trump....... I don’t want this president throwing paper towels at my family again.
The coronavirus pandemic is like the Spanish flu from a hundred years ago. That is the parallel that comes to mind. The projections are rather drastic. If half the global population gets infected, or even one third, and the fatality rate ends up being just 1%, then
Population: 8 billion
1/3rd of that: 2.6 billion
1% fatality rate: 26 million
2% fatality rate: 52 million
3% fatality rate: 78 million
These are World War II-style numbers.
This could play out over a period of 18 to 36 months. The global economy will see a major hit. The geopolitical map will be looking fundamentally different.
There is no cure. Social isolation seems to be the only thing that works. But it is hard to organize.
President Trump: "We didn't shake hands today. We looked at each other, we said, 'What are we going to do?' You know, it's sort of a weird feeling." pic.twitter.com/LziM3jSkRs
"Disasters have disproportionate impact on marginalized groups." COVID-19 has infected the labor pools at some of the largest corporations in the U.S., yet many Americans are instead shunning local Chinese mom-and-pop restaurants. https://t.co/yE0o8nqXYn
I don't see Bernie making a comeback. He had his warm month. Now it is Biden as far as the eyes can see. The guy reminds people of Barack Obama, and I wonder why, I wonder how. Not all that is white is white.
Bernie is inflexible: when Medicare For All is not catching fire you tack and offer the public option for now. He lacks nuance: enough said. He has blind spots: you don't praise Castro in Florida. That is not to say Castro can not be praised, but context is important. I think Cuba has had great education and health for a poor country. That Cuba beats the mighty US on infant mortality is an objective fact, even in the Trump fact-free era.
Trump wants to hop onto the time machine and go back to the 1950s. Looks like the Dems just want to go back to the 2010s. It is the Obama stimulus that has created the jobs of the past four years. Biden can take credit while he is at it. He was Vice.
Now the race is on for the number two spot, and I make a case for Mike Bloomberg. "Money talks." That is a Mike Bloomberg quote.
There is the Bloomberg infrastructure, unprecedented, and the best in the business. Biden will have it no matter if he puts Bloomberg on the ticket or not. But don't tell me that makes no difference to Team Bloomberg. For a campaign that started so late, a second place is the first place. It will be victory.
A Biden-Bloomberg ticket will 100% win in November. I will bet you 10 dollars. Who will you rather have, a real billionaire or a fake one? Some people will have the fake one, and that's okay. This is a democracy.
If Biden has been VP of the nation, Bloomberg has been a three term Mayor of NYC. NYC represents all the Dem hubs in the country. Dems are primarily urban. Respect that.
Bernie and Warren can still rage in the US Senate for the public option, why not! Mayor Pete can still be Secretary of Urban Affairs. Klobuchar can keep representing the great state of Minnesota, now more visibly. Kamala Devi Harris can be Attorney General.
But Mike is the only number two who can guarantee victory come November. Every other way it is a 50-50 chance. And don't put your bet on the Coronavirus. It will be gone by summer. You need Mike.
.@MikeBloomberg, I can’t thank you enough for your support—and for your tireless work on everything from gun safety reform to climate change. This race is bigger than candidates and bigger than politics. It’s about defeating Donald Trump, and with your help, we’re gonna do it.
— Joe Biden (Text Join to 30330) (@JoeBiden) March 4, 2020
Three months ago, I entered the race to defeat Donald Trump. Today, I'm leaving for the same reason. Defeating Trump starts with uniting behind the candidate with the best shot to do it. It's clear that is my friend and a great American, @JoeBiden. pic.twitter.com/cNJDIQHS75
You lost tonight, @realDonaldTrump. Democrats around the country are fired up. We are decent, brave, and resilient people. We are better than you. Come November, we are going to beat you. https://t.co/gjZcrcCDlX
— Joe Biden (Text Join to 30330) (@JoeBiden) March 4, 2020
— Paramendra Kumar Bhagat (@paramendra) March 4, 2020
A very Biden moment on the rope line in Somersworth, NH.
Vietnam vet James Graham, like so many who come to see Biden, identifies with the candidate in grief. Graham lost a friend in Vietnam. Biden lost a son, an Iraq war vet pic.twitter.com/d96o8zoLe9
— Paramendra Kumar Bhagat (@paramendra) March 4, 2020
No.
— Young America For Joe Biden 🥁 (@YAForJoeBiden) March 4, 2020
Why not? Then who?
— Paramendra Kumar Bhagat (@paramendra) March 4, 2020
Biden is the triple BBB candidate. The Big Business-War Machine Biden. He's carried water for big banks, credit card companies against student loans. He ran with corporate trade deals emptying out jobs in America's heartland. He covers for Delaware's notorious corporate havens -R
So it was also Sanders who drove down the stock market? Well, some of us made that point, but the lib media attacked us. Morons. Unfree press.https://t.co/jEqNnFoBoz
If Bloomberg honors his commitment to support the Democratic nominee, game charger. His ads have been brilliant. He could help break past the Fox News bubble & bring the truth about Trump to parts of the country that have escaped it so far. https://t.co/scUdslAcZ1
“I will not be our party’s nominee, but I will not walk away from the most important political fight of my life and I hope you won’t walk away either,” Mike Bloomberg told supporters. https://t.co/Tf8b9nsLRT
On Super Tuesday, @JoeBiden had a resurrection that "was swift, almost unbelievable and simply unprecedented in the modern history of Democratic presidential primaries." (by @BobShrum of @USCDornsife)
— The Conversation US (@ConversationUS) March 4, 2020
Super Tuesday is a reminder that generally America is terrible at democracy. Every state should have vote by mail, same day registration, automatic voter registration, and polls should be open from midnight to midnight on Election Day.
After Tuesday’s vote Mike Bloomberg followed them. The hope is that he will put his formidable electoral machine and even more formidable wallet behind Mr Biden.
— Kevin Sheekey TEXT MIKE TO 80510 (@ksheekey) March 4, 2020
if nothing else the Democratic impeachment effort results in the end of Collins’ Senate career and gives Democrats the 50 seats they need for control of the Senate with a Democrat in the White House next year- perhaps another indication that Nancy Pelosi is playing three dimensional chess.
Parscale: In October, 2019, Thomas B. Edsall wrote a long Times column called “Trump Is Winning the Online War,” listing several of the “technological advances that have allowed Trump and the Republican Party to leave Democrats in the dust.” If money were no object, some of these deficits could be overcome quickly; others might not be surmountable by November........ “In comparison to Trump’s operation, Mike Bloomberg is the only Democrat positioned to compete with him on every single digital platform.”
A welcome sign for Democrats of party unity and an implied rebuke to “Bernie or Bust” voters https://t.co/1RxphAYgsR
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