After reading the commentary
below, please express your own thoughts. Instructions on how to do so are
written at the bottom of this column. Thank you.
Might Hillary Clinton ask Bernie Sanders to be her running mate?
When this question was posed to me months ago - even several weeks ago - I responded that it was totally outside the realm of possibility. Throughout Campaign 2016, it has been my steadfast opinion that we would never see the name of the Vermont Senator...on the November 8th general election ballot...as Mrs. Clinton's choice for her Vice President. But I may just have to amend my thoughts.
Nobody ever expected John F. Kennedy - in 1960 - to extend an olive branch to Lyndon B. Johnson. To quote the United States Senate Website, "The only thing that astonished politicians and the press more than Mr. Kennedy's offer of the Vice Presidential nomination to Mr. Johnson was LBJ's acceptance. Neither man particularly liked the other." But Senator Kennedy realized he needed Texas to defeat Richard Nixon...and Senator Johnson handed his home "Lone Star State" to JFK on a silver platter.
In 1980 - after former California Governor Ronald Reagan defeated George H. W. Bush in 44 of 50 state primaries and caucuses - The New York Times reports that the two Republican candidates "had barely spoken." And Mr. Bush refused to withdraw from the race until just before the California primary in June. According to The New York Times, "Mr. Reagan considered the belated departure willful and unnecessary...and was offended by it." So it was, therefore, somewhat shocking when Governor Reagan partnered with the former CIA Director.
Despite the mending of fences between John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson...and the collaboration of Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush...I would never have envisioned Hillary Clinton rubbing elbows with Bernie Sanders as her Vice Presidential nominee. But Campaign 2016 has been the craziest election cycle in history. As such - and at this point - I wouldn't count out anything from happening.
I have consistently written that Democrats - nationwide - always end up coming together to vote for their party's nominee. And my confidence for a unified Democratic Party - all across the United States - has remained high throughout the last 13 months. However...there is a "but," which has given me reason to think that former Secretary of State Clinton just may choose Senator Sanders to be her "Number Two."
Americans in 2016 are rewriting the norms of politics. Today...there are no more norms. After all...nobody - or at least very few people - gave Donald Trump favorable odds in winning the Republican nomination when he announced his candidacy in June of 2015. Most journalists - and Americans of all walks of life - argued, a year ago, that the billionaire businessman would be out of the race by last summer's end. You may recall that I - on the other hand - labeled Mr. Trump a "superstar"...and was convinced - because of his celebrity - that the real estate mogul and television personality...would go far in to the nomination process. I did not, however, think that Mr. Trump would be as successful with his campaign as he is now.
All that being said...Hillary Clinton may end up needing Bernie Sanders, so that his advocates will vote for her as our nation's 45th President. But must Mrs. Clinton join forces with Mr. Sanders in order for her to beat Donald Trump? No...I don't think so. It may, however, relax everybody's nerves a bit...just in case the Sanders supporters decide not to vote...if he is not on the Democratic ticket.
Historically...geography has - more often than not - played a part in a Presidential nominee's decision when selecting a running mate. But not always. Let
us remember that two southerners - Governor Bill Clinton of Arkansas and Senator Al Gore of Tennessee - teamed up in 1992 to win The White House...and were victorious again in 1996...to remain in office for a second term. So a pair from the same area of the country - this year from the northeast with a former Senator from New York and a current Senator from Vermont, who was born and raised in "The Big Apple's" Borough of Brooklyn - isn't entirely unusual.
I certainly don't want to see those who "Feel The Bern" - Democrats and Independents alike - staying home on Election Day...as many have stated they will do if Senator Sanders is not the Presidential nominee. Therefore, depending on how Sanders supporters react once the primary season has concluded and the Philadelphia convention grows closer...it might become apparent - and to some, appealing - to see the faces of Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders together on one campaign poster.
Surveys and statistics have shown that a Vice Presidential candidate is generally not a factor - plus or minus - when Americans vote. But that's the past. And - as I indicated earlier in this column - the 2016 election is unlike any other. And it may take a united Clinton and Sanders...to get the "Bernie Backers"...to give "High Fives...to Hillary."
And that's The Controversy for today.
I'm Gary B. Duglin.
"We'll talk again"
The Controversy is a publication of
GBD Productions. Founder and Editor-In-Chief of The Controversy is Gary B.
Duglin.
One of the chief goals of a blog...one of the major reasons to
publish a blog...is to entice others to express their opinions about the subject
for which the author is writing. The Controversy is being read by a tremendous
amount of people throughout the United States of America and all around the
world. If you agree or disagree with my commentary...your views are welcomed.
Tell me that you love what I write...or that you hate it. Give your name...make
up one...or remain anonymous if you prefer. The Controversy is your outlet to
speak your mind and to say what you want about the topics discussed. Please
share The Controversy with others by posting it on Facebook, Twitter and on
other social media forums. Please also pass a link to everyone in your e-mail
directories. The Controversy wants to know your thoughts on the column above or
on any other editorial or essay written on this blog.
Now, please express
your opinions. Just click on the word "Comments" below and write your remarks
in the box that appears. Make sure please that when you finish your statement
that you click on the word "Publish." Thank you for your thoughts and thank you
for reading The Controversy.
Photo credits: reuters.com (former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton #1), cnn.com and turner.com (Senator Bernie Sanders #1), jfklibrary.org and livebinders.com (former President John F. Kennedy and former President (as Vice President) Lyndon B. Johnson), allpostersimages.com (former President Richard M. Nixon), wikiquote.org (former President Ronald Reagan), alternatehistory.com (former President George H. W. Bush), Fox News Channel and deadline.com (Mr. Donald Trump), nbcnews.com (former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton #2), nbcnews.com (Senator Bernie Sanders #2), AFP/Getty Images and dailymail.co.uk (former President Bill Clinton and former Vice President Al Gore) and NBC News and wsj.com (former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Senator Bernie Sanders)
Copyright 2016 Gary B. Duglin
and TheControversy.net. All Rights
Reserved.
After reading the commentary below, please express your own thoughts.
Instructions on how to do so are written at the bottom of this column. Thank
you.
Donald Trump has played dirty politics for nearly a near, but now the presumptive Republican nominee has gone from...playing dirty...to slinging mud.
For Trump to spew slanderous suggestions that Bill and Hillary Clinton were in any way connected to the 1993 death of their White House adviser and
close friend, Vince Foster, is disgraceful. Foster's fatality was positively ruled a suicide, decades ago, by law enforcement officials and a subsequent federal investigation. And for Trump - or anyone else - to think...to argue...or to even hint...that the former President and the former First Lady may have been involved with a conspiracy...that led to Foster's demise...is not only despicable, but just plain stupid.
Donald Trump is being uglier than ever...and that's quite an achievement for somebody who has been nastier and more disgusting than any other Presidential candidate in history.
For Trump to imply - in any shape, matter or form - that President and Mrs. Clinton are murderers of their former Deputy White House Counsel...is repulsive behavior...and he should be ashamed of himself. But I doubt the billionaire businessman has admitted to being ashamed of anything in his entire life. Trump's incendiary insinuation is probably the worst attack on a political opponent ever.
In an interview with The Washington Post - which was published on Monday, May 23rd, 2016 - Trump told the newspaper that circumstances resulting in the passing of Vince Foster are "very fishy." The real estate mogul also told The Washington Post, "I don't bring up (Foster's death) because I don't know enough to really discuss it. I will say there are people who continue to bring it up because they think it was absolutely a murder. I don't do that because I don't think it's fair."
Then why the hell did Trump mention it at all? He did...so that false accusations against Bill and Hillary Clinton would resurface during this year's race for The White House. Trump will use the tactics of vermin in his scandalous and obnoxious attempt to defeat the former Secretary of State. And by re-creating untrue allegations... Trump's reprehensible remarks are splattered on the front pages of national and international newspapers...aired as "breaking news" on the 24-hour cable networks... and muddled all over the Internet and on social media. That being said...on Thursday, May 26th, 2016, Trump told reporters in Bismarck, North Dakota that Vince Foster's death doesn't belong part of the general election contest. But he was already irresponsible with his earlier comments to The Washington Post. It's the game Donald Trump plays - "Wheel Of Irresponsibility" - and he spins it to his benefit.
Donald Trump knows that - on November 8th - Hillary Clinton will swat him like a tsetse fly...and she will be elected our country's 45th President. Trump can't run a legitimate and decent campaign, so he has orchestrated a scummy one. Trump is intellectually and strategically unable to administer an issue-based competition, so instead, he focuses on lies...conspiracy theories...and re-igniting witch-hunts from the past. Trump has no clue what it takes to occupy The Oval Office. Therefore, to avoid answering questions about the problems and concerns facing America and the world...Trump puts his own distorted twist on whatever he can...in his attempt to make Secretary Clinton look bad. But when election day comes around, it will become obvious to Trump that his horrendous actions will not have been successful.
In addition to Trump's foulmouthed, toxic-tongued, bogus rhetoric about the Clintons and Vince Foster...the GOP candidate is spouting his venom at our 42nd President because of his alleged extra-marital affairs. President Bill Clinton's personal past...is not...and should not be...a matter for discussion in the 2016 Presidential election. For Donald Trump to use Mr. Clinton as a political punching bag is inexcusable and unjustifiable.
Some of my readers - especially those of you who identify yourselves as Republican or Conservative - are probably wondering why I did not focus today's column on the e-mail and server matter that has plagued Hillary Clinton for sometime now. The reason I have not concentrated on defending Secretary Clinton on that insignificant subject...is because...it's pointless. Those who support Mrs. Clinton for President - including and especially me - are fed up with such an invalid persecution of the likely Democratic nominee. Those who are against her...well...nothing I say is going to change their minds.
The report by the State Department's Inspector General - released Wednesday, May 25th, 2016 - proved that using a private e-mail address has been the practice of other Secretaries of State...other Cabinet Secretaries...and other Administration officials from the Democratic and Republican parties, past and present. Secretary Clinton has admitted time and time again - including during Congressional testimony - that she made a "mistake"...and if she could "go back"...she'd do it "differently." But the fact is that no one at the State Department...and nobody in The White House...ever advised Mrs. Clinton not to use her own e-mail address or a private server while she was Secretary of State. As such...none of this will have an impact or any affect whatsoever on Mrs. Clinton's campaign. If she was not running for President, this entire predicament would never have been escalated. Hillary Clinton did nothing illegal...and it's time that everyone realizes that.
On the other side of the political penny...Donald Trump is not fit to be President of the United States. He is a monumental menace to the average American's rights and freedoms...an individual who encourages violence at campaign rallies...and whose radical foreign policy beliefs are dangerous. Trump is someone who continues to use vile and vicious language towards people he doesn't like...including calling Secretary Clinton..."Crooked Hillary" and "This Lowlife." It defies logic that anyone would want a person who speaks with such vulgar vocabulary to be our nation's President. And if any American thinks that Donald Trump is presenting himself in a fashion worthy of the highest office in our land...then how sad for you.
And that's The Controversy for today.
I'm Gary B. Duglin.
"We'll talk again."
The Controversy is a publication of
GBD Productions. Founder and Editor-In-Chief of The Controversy is Gary B.
Duglin.
One of the chief goals of a blog...one of the major reasons to
publish a blog...is to entice others to express their opinions about the subject
for which the author is writing. The Controversy is being read by a tremendous
amount of people throughout the United States of America and all around the
world. If you agree or disagree with my commentary...your views are welcomed.
Tell me that you love what I write...or that you hate it. Give your name...make
up one...or remain anonymous if you prefer. The Controversy is your outlet to
speak your mind and to say what you want about the topics discussed. Please
share The Controversy with others by posting it on Facebook, Twitter and on
other social media forums. Please also pass a link to everyone in your e-mail
directories. The Controversy wants to know your thoughts on the column above or
on any other editorial or essay written on this blog.
Now, please express
your opinions. Just click on the word "Comments" below and write your remarks
in the box that appears. Make sure please that when you finish your statement
that you click on the word "Publish." Thank you for your thoughts and thank you
for reading The Controversy.
Photo credits: inthesetimes.com (Donald Trump #1), dcwhispers.com and wsj.net (former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton), thepoliticalinsider.com (Vince Foster), wikipedia.org (former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton #1), politicususa.com (former President Bill Clinton), newyorker.com (former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton #2) and businessinsider.com (Donald Trump #2)
Copyright 2016 Gary B. Duglin
and TheControversy.net. All Rights
Reserved.
After reading the commentary
below, please express your own thoughts. Instructions on how to do so are
written at the bottom of this column. Thank you.
This forum is not designed to prognosticate. I have, however, for the last thirteen months - since she announced her candidacy for the Democratic nomination - stated my confidence that former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will be elected the 45th President of the United States on November 8th...but that...is a strong and desired belief. Now, though, I do have a prediction to make. Or - if you prefer - call it an intuitive speculation.
It was five years ago - earlier this month - that U.S. Navy SEALs killed the evil monster who was ultimately responsible for the murders of 2,996 innocent souls on September 11th, 2001. The raid - which resulted in the rightful execution of Osama bin Laden on May 2nd, 2011 - was a clandestine and classified mission that senior officials from the Obama Administration have stated was in the top secret planning stages since the beginning of that year.
But despite the death of the notorious bin Laden...the radical militant organization that he founded and led - al-Qaeda - along with the terrorist group that was born out of it - ISIS - have, since 9/11, senselessly and tragically slaughtered thousands of innocent people throughout the world.
As a Democrat - and specifically as a staunch supporter of President Obama - it disturbs me when Republicans - and others - criticize the President for not being more aggressively hawkish against ISIS. But like the surprise invasion of the bin Laden compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan...and the successful slaying of the then-"Public Enemy Number One"...I predict that President Obama - sometime prior to the 2016 Presidential election - will take down and destroy ISIS.
And when President Obama leaves The White House on January 20th, 2017...it will be agreed by the overwhelming majority of Americans - and to people all around the globe - that he has performed his duties as President...and as Commander-In-Chief... with superior excellence. Therefore, Mr. Obama's legacy - among many other outstanding achievements - will not only be - to quote Vice President Joe Biden - "Osama bin Laden is dead and General Motors is alive" but "ISIS is incinerated and the Earth is safe."
President Obama has made phenomenal progress throughout his two terms. But the President is the first one to say that he...and we...have a lot more to do before he makes his final exit from The Oval Office. That being said, however...look at Mr. Obama's accomplishments since being sworn in as our 44th President.
In January 2009, America had been losing 800,000 jobs a month and unemployment was on its way to 10 percent. Now, the jobless rate is 5 percent and more than 14-million new jobs have been created...including nearly 900,000 new manufacturing positions...after a decade of industry decline. Plus - for the first time ever - more than 90 percent of Americans have health insurance. And these are just a few of the masterful triumphs by this President...who has proven to be a distinguished and impressive leader...not only of the United States...but of the free world.
I recently received an e-mail from President Obama...in which he stated, "Right now, cynics and obstructionists in Congress want to roll back the progress we've made by playing on fears and letting special interests write their own rules. We need to keep standing together, making our voices heard, so that we can continue investing in the future and build on what we've already accomplished."
So I suggest Democrats... Independents...and yes, even Republicans...need to have faith in a great man, who has already shown America - and other nations - that he has helped to make our country - and our planet - a better place for everyone. And when he annihilates ISIS...the naysayers - who have habitually tried to cast gloom and doom - can join those of us...who have believed in him since he was first elected seven-and-a-half years ago...by giving President Barack Obama...a deserved salute...and a standing ovation.
And that's The Controversy for today.
I'm Gary B. Duglin.
"We'll talk again."
The Controversy is a publication of
GBD Productions. Founder and Editor-In-Chief of The Controversy is Gary B.
Duglin.
One of the chief goals of a blog...one of the major reasons to
publish a blog...is to entice others to express their opinions about the subject
for which the author is writing. The Controversy is being read by a tremendous
amount of people throughout the United States of America and all around the
world. If you agree or disagree with my commentary...your views are welcomed.
Tell me that you love what I write...or that you hate it. Give your name...make
up one...or remain anonymous if you prefer. The Controversy is your outlet to
speak your mind and to say what you want about the topics discussed. Please
share The Controversy with others by posting it on Facebook, Twitter and on
other social media forums. Please also pass a link to everyone in your e-mail
directories. The Controversy wants to know your thoughts on the column above or
on any other editorial or essay written on this blog.
Now, please express
your opinions. Just click on the word "Comments" below and write your remarks
in the box that appears. Make sure please that when you finish your statement
that you click on the word "Publish." Thank you for your thoughts and thank you
for reading The Controversy.
Photo credits: abcnews.go.com (former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton), billboard.com (President Barack Obama #1), msnbc.com (Vice President Joe Biden) and politicususa.com (President Barack Obama #2)
Copyright 2016 Gary B. Duglin
and TheControversy.net. All Rights Reserved.
After reading the commentary
below, please express your own thoughts. Instructions on how to do so are
written at the bottom of this column. Thank you.
Bernie Sanders needs to get off his butt - in plain English - and suspend his campaign for President. The Vermont Senator cannot win the Democratic nomination. And by not dropping out of the race - quickly and quietly - Sanders is not allowing Hillary Clinton - who will, in fact, be the Democratic nominee - to take advantage of more time...to campaign against Republican Donald Trump.
Former Secretary of State Clinton has won more votes and more delegates than Senator Sanders... and he needs to now - not after the last primaries in June...not at the Philadelphia convention in July - to convince and, if necessary, command...in every way possible...his voters...that it's time to unite and unify the Democratic Party...and for everyone to fall behind Hillary Clinton.
Bernie Sanders is not a Democrat. He is an Independent who entered the 2016 race to try to move Mrs. Clinton further left...to become more liberal...and more progressive...and Sanders has done that. But now...he - and some of his supporters - are hurting the Democratic Party.
No matter what happens in any future primaries...it's now time for Senator Sanders to do what is best for the Democratic Party and to do what is best for the entire country. He needs to let Hillary Clinton be officially named the presumptive nominee, so she can focus and concentrate on defeating Donald Trump in the November 8th general election.
If Bernie Sanders wants a Democrat in The White House come January 20th, 2017...the only Democrat who has the chance to do that is Hillary Clinton. It's time for Senator Sanders to get off the campaign trail...and to go home.
And that's The Controversy for today.
I'm Gary B. Duglin.
"We'll talk again."
The Controversy is a publication of
GBD Productions. Founder and Editor-In-Chief of The Controversy is Gary B.
Duglin.
One of the chief goals of a blog...one of the major reasons to
publish a blog...is to entice others to express their opinions about the subject
for which the author is writing. The Controversy is being read by a tremendous
amount of people throughout the United States of America and all around the
world. If you agree or disagree with my commentary...your views are welcomed.
Tell me that you love what I write...or that you hate it. Give your name...make
up one...or remain anonymous if you prefer. The Controversy is your outlet to
speak your mind and to say what you want about the topics discussed. Please
share The Controversy with others by posting it on Facebook, Twitter and on
other social media forums. Please also pass a link to everyone in your e-mail
directories. The Controversy wants to know your thoughts on the column above or
on any other editorial or essay written on this blog.
Now, please express
your opinions. Just click on the word "Comments" below and write your remarks
in the box that appears. Make sure please that when you finish your statement
that you click on the word "Publish." Thank you for your thoughts and thank you
for reading The Controversy.
Photo credits: slate.com (Senator Bernie Sanders), huffingtonpost.com (former Secretary Of State Hillary Clinton #1), theonion.com (Mr. Donald Trump) and nbcnews.com (former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton #2)
Copyright 2016 Gary B. Duglin
and TheControversy.net. All Rights Reserved.
