A Weird Week in Politics – “The Sunday Political Brunch” – May 16, 2021
Mark Curtis, MINDSETTER™
A Weird Week in Politics – “The Sunday Political Brunch” – May 16, 2021
“States Cut Unemployment Benefits” – As of Friday, eighteen states – West Virginia, Ohio, Tennessee, Montana, Iowa, Georgia, Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Idaho, Mississippi, Missouri, North Dakota, South Carolina, South Dakota, Wyoming and Utah – have decided to end the weekly $300 state supplement to unemployment benefits. Too many workers, the governors say, are not going back to work because they can make more sitting at home collecting unemployment.
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“The Other Side” – Many Democrats disagree, pointing out that lots of parents must stay at home with their internet-schooled kids because they can’t afford childcare, and they want the $300 checks to continue. In West Virginia, the state’s only billionaire is Republican Gov. Jim Justice. Democratic Kanawha County House of Delegates Member Mike Pushkin said, “And it was meant to help people who are struggling and maybe the governor doesn’t really know what that is like since he was born with millions of dollars.”
“Cyber Security” – This week the Colonial Pipeline system got hacked. One of the major East Coast pipelines was shut down. Public concern caused millions of people to go top off their tanks (or even fill plastic bags and containers in a hoarding frenzy). That prompted shortages, and some gas stations in North Carolina simply ran out. By Thursday, Colonial Pipeline was going back online, after paying a reported $5 million dollars in ransomware. Crisis averted, but this really raises red flags about cybersecurity and our ability to protect not only energy companies, but banking, and health care grids. This ought to be a “five-alarm fire” of the highest priority.
“The Power of a First Lady Visit” – First Lady Jill Biden spent a few hours in West Virginia Thursday afternoon, most importantly observing a kid’s vaccination clinic at Capital High School in Charleston, where those eligible from 12 to 18 were able to get shots. “We’re getting back to those things that we lost for so long, hugging the people we love. I mean, how great will that be?” Professor Biden said.
“Liz Cheney Out” – Let me make my prediction first. This will come back to haunt the GOP for two election cycles, at least. The House Republican Caucus this week ousted Rep, Liz Cheney as Conference Chair, the number three leadership post in the party. Cheney voted, with nine other Republicans, to impeach President Trump for his role in the January 6th insurrection at the Capitol. Friday Cheney told CNN: "If you look at the vote to impeach, for example, there were members who told me that they were afraid for their own security -- afraid, in some instances, for their lives," she said. "And that tells you something about where we are as a country, that members of Congress aren't able to cast votes, or feel that they can't, because of their own security." Chilling! Open dissent should be welcomed, not threatened!
“The Trump Litmus Test” – The 2022 mid-term election will be telling, and perhaps a predictor of 2024. It seems on the heels of the Cheney ouster that the party has a “Trump Litmus Test.” Back Trump and you’ll get help, campaign manpower, and funding. If you cross Trump you’ll campaign in the wilderness. In my opinion this is dangerous in any political party. And it certainly speaks ill of Ronald Reagan’s “big tent” policy, and his 11th Commandment, “Thou shalt not speak ill of a fellow Republican!” Trump ran as an outsider, so how did he seize control of, or at least paralyze, the rest of the party? Internal dissent in American politics is essential; drinking the Kool-Aid is not!
“Infrastructure & 2017 Tax Cuts” – Thursday there was a bipartisan meeting at the White House. My state’s junior Senator, Shelley Moore Capito (R) West Virginia, was the leader of the Republicans on the joint effort to pass a massive federal infrastructure bill, while our other Senator, Joe Manchin (D) West Virginia, is the key Democrat lynch-pin on whether the president’s far more ambitious and expensive bill will pass or fail. It’s high drama, in that one state may hold all the gold. The nation’s longest serving Senator (at 53 years), and one of its most influential, Sen. Robert C. Byrd (D) West Virginia, must be giggling under his gravestone.
“Happy Birthday, to Me!!!” – I believe that in the 10 years of writing this column, this is the first time it’s fallen on my birthday! I’m 62 today, though many people say I look much younger (thank you!). This month also marks the beginning of my 45th year in radio and TV (and now internet). I’ve covered every election since 1978, including much of the past 11 presidential campaigns, and even wrote a book. I was a member of the White House Press Corps and the Congressional Correspondents Association. I’ve filed reports from almost every state in the U.S., and overseas. I’ve won many awards and met many friends. I am truly honored and blessed!
“The VA Hospital Murders” – Folks, as mentioned, I’ve been doing this forever and have seen the best and worst of mankind. I’ve watched total strangers come forward to help victims of tornados, hurricanes, earthquakes, and wildfires – the BEST of us. And then I’ve seen the worst. This week I watched a fraudulent nurse’s aide (she had no license or training), by the name of Reta Mays, sentenced to seven consecutive life sentences, and then some, for murdering seven brave U.S. military veterans, and trying to kill another. (Truth be told there may be MANY other victims). “Today justice was served as Reta Mays was rightfully sentenced to seven life sentences plus twenty years for the heinous murders she committed,” said Rep. Alex Mooney (R) West Virginia District 2. Amen!
Mark Curtis, Ed.D., is Chief Political Reporter for the seven Nexstar Media TV stations serving West Virginia, its five neighboring states and the entire Washington, DC media market. He is a MINDSETTER™ political columnist for www.GoLocalProv.com and all of its affiliates.