The Fixer’s Final Fix – “The Sunday Political Brunch” – May 19, 2024
Mark Curtis, MINDSETTER™
The Fixer’s Final Fix – “The Sunday Political Brunch” – May 19, 2024
“Debate in June?” – President Biden challenged former President Trump to two debates, including one on June 27th. Trump eagerly accepted that date, and also on September 10th. The two candidates have already started verbal sparring. Biden said on X, “Donald Trump lost two debates to me in 2020, since then, he hasn’t shown up for a debate. Now he’s acting like he wants to debate me again. Well, make my day, pal!” Trump was quick to respond, saying Biden was the “WORST debater I have ever faced - He can’t put two sentences together!” And this is just a preview of the debate tone to come!
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“The Ground Rules Have Changed” – The two debates will fall outside the purview of the Commission on Presidential Debates which has organized these contests for decades. Usually, there were three presidential debates, and one vice-presidential debate. Instead of being on a college campus with a live audience, these two 2024 debates are scheduled to be in the CNN and ABC studios, with a moderator or panel, and no audience. I don’t like it. It seems non-inclusive, appearing to be an exclusive deal between the candidates and media outlets. “Screw the institutions of higher learning and screw the public that might attend,” might say the billboards. This has a level of elitism and exclusivity that the public so disdains. I’m not a fan!
“Michael Cohen Testifies” -- “What I was doing was at the direction of and benefit of Mr. Trump,” Cohen testified, later adding: “Everything required Mr. Trump's sign-off.” Cohen detailed how he paid Stormy Daniels $130,000 at Trump’s behest, but she was not the only one. Playboy bunny Karen McDougal also claimed an affair. “Make sure it doesn't get released,” Cohen said Trump told him. McDougal was paid $150,000 in hush money. Cohen claims that Trump was given a “complete and total update on everything that transpired.” But when the money was put on corporate ledgers as “legal expenses” is where the law may have been violated.
“Trump Campaign Circus” – If he weren’t a real estate mogul, Donald Trump could have been a ringleader in a circus. His appearances on Vince McMahon’s World Wrestling Entertainment were epic. Fast forward to the rallies Trump held outside the courthouse where he is on trial. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R) Louisiana was among those on-stage Tuesday, calling Trump’s trial, a “sham.” Vice presidential contenders Gov. Doug Bergum (R) North Dakota and Rep. Byron Donalds (R) Florida joined Johnson. Others who appeared Monday were Sen. J.D. Vance (R) Ohio and Sen. Rick Scott (R) Florida. Vivek Ramaswamy, who challenged Trump for the nomination this year, and failed, also showed up to support Trump. This is in addition to thousands of Trump backers.
“Not Everyone Was Amused” -- 2012 presidential nominee and now Sen. Mitt Romney (R) Utah said, "I think it’s a little demeaning to show up in front of a courthouse particularly one where we’re talking about an allegation of paying a porn star." Romney called the scene “a little embarrassing.” Senator Lisa Murkowski (R) Alaska weighed in with similar feelings, saying, “Do we have something to do around here other than watch a stupid porn trial? I mean, this is ridiculous.”
“Hunter Biden is Next” – Presidential son Hunter Biden will go on trial next month on a federal gun charge, even after defense lawyers asked the judge to delay the case. Hunter is accused of lying about his drug use in October 2018, on a form to buy a gun that he kept for about 11 days. Republicans say an earlier plea agreement was a “sweetheart deal” for Biden, so it was withdrawn. Critics also think the younger Biden’s businesses benefitted from his then Vice Presidential father’s connections. Oddly enough, defense attorneys wanted to move Hunter’s trial to September, dangerously close to the November election where it could have a negative impact. But now the trial may be going on, near the June or September debate, or both, and the potential circus of his son’s trial during debate season could be awkward.
“Menendez on Trial, Too” – Democrats have their own legal problems. Sen. Bob Menendez (D) New Jersey, and his wife went on trial this week. Among other things they are accused of, involve bribes with lots of cash and gold bars, plus a new Mercedes for the senator’s wife. There are also alleged arms sales to a foreign government, questionable dealings with foreign military and intelligence agents, the pressuring of state and federal prosecutors to give breaks to friends, and more.
“Primary Colors” – Three states held primaries this past Tuesday, and their one big contribution to this election cycle may be eventual control of the U.S. Senate. In West Virginia, Republican Governor Jim Justice easily beat Rep. Alex Mooney (R) West Virginia. In this heavily red state, Justice is likely to win the seat long held by Senator Joe Manchin (D) West Virginia in November. That’s the first GOP gain. In Maryland, Rep. David Trone and Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks, were locked in a heated Democratic primary. The winner will face popular former Gov. Larry Hogan (R) Maryland in November. It’s another seat the GOP can flip from Democrats. Longtime Sen. Benjamin Cardin (D) Maryland chose not to seek reelection. In theory, if Justice and Hogan win, the Senate flips if no other GOP senator loses.
“There’s No Place Like ‘Noem’” – Gov. Kristi Noem (R) South Dakota has become something of a lightning rod for controversy of late, after she admitted shooting her “out of control” dog twenty years ago. Now, she can’t even visit about 20 percent of the state she governs. The Sissteon-Wahpeton Oyate tribe and the Yankton Sioux Tribe recommended that Noem be banned, or are considering a ban preventing Noem from visiting their tribal lands. The Oglala, Rosebud, Cheyenne River, and Standing Rock Sioux tribes had already taken action to ban her from their lands. The reason? She said some tribe leaders were involved in the drug trade. “We’ve got some tribal leaders that I believe are personally benefiting from the cartels being there, and that’s why they attack me every day,” Noem said in March. The bans are a backlash! Her chances of being Trump’s VP choice are fading.
“Greene With Envy?” – Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R) Georgia stirred controversy again after a shouting match with two other Congresswomen in a House Oversight hearing. “I don’t think you know what you’re here for,” Greene said to Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D) Texas. Greene added, “I think your fake eyelashes are messing up what you’re reading.” Crockett responded with a swipe at Greene, saying, “If someone on this committee then starts talking about somebody’s bleach blonde bad built butch body, that would not be engaging in personalities, correct?” Rep. Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez (D) New York then called Greene a “baby girl,” and the hearing spun out of control with shouts back and forth. You can’t make this stuff up!