DNC in Chicago: Introducing Kamala Harris

On Monday the Democratic National Convention is coming to town, and that town is Chicago, with its beautiful lakefront, architecturally significant buildings and a myriad of entertainment venues for almost every taste, and interest. It is also, of course, the moment of recognition of Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democrats introduce her to the nation as the successor to President Joe Biden who stood down in his own candidacy at the end of July.

Her campaign has energized the Democrats changing the tenor of the November presidential campaign from one of anxiety to one of dynamic energy, and in the near 30 days with her transition and nomination as candidate there have been untold dollars pouring into her campaign, and has also brought not only renewal to the party, but also for the Republican candidate, former President Donald Trump, a real game change that has thrown him off guard, forcing him to take the lead, since it was built in an elaborate scheme to denigrate Biden; and, decry not only his policies, but also to cast him as old, and out of touch, not to mention corrupt, along with his son Hunter, and other family members.

Now that plan is in shambles.

Trump, now, is the one that looks old, and corrupt, with his 34 felony counts, his numerous schemes of tax evasion, his sexual impropriety, and of course, the thousands of lies that he has shared in social media, in his infamous debate with Biden, and incoherent press conferences, not to mention the false remarks he made about Harris’ racial identity at the recent Chicago meeting of the National Association of Black Journalists.

The once popular media slogan, “his to lose” has lost its luster as Harris steps up to the plate armed with a reformed agenda, built from the Biden administration, but adapted to her own, and her party’s re-identification, is not one not so easily dismissed by the GOP, and its companion megaphone at Fox news have tried to do.

The meteoric rise of Harris, in such a short space, has not allowed her to spell out specific policies, or a broad platform, as her predecessors have done, with the exception of economics, but both the short timeline as well as the momentous energy that she has harnessed has also worked in her favor, avoiding the pitfalls of revealing too much, and allowing the energy and extent to build her up, is both deliberate and well calculated.

One major issue that she will face, along with increased demonstrations, expected to be large, perhaps spilling outside of the physical confines that Chicago city attorneys have carved out, is the war in Gaza, and the increased anger generated from the long standing alliance between the United States and its chief ally, Israel.

It will be a hard direction to shift with the death of nearly 40,000 Palestinians, the bombings by Israeli warplanes and the thousands of people, especially women and children whose suffering is seen nearly daily on network television stations, as well as news websites. And, the recent bombing of a school by Israel has generated outrage from many in the US, from Palestinian Americans, fellow Muslims, and their allies, as the death toll mounts.

“Just hours after the Biden administration Friday announced approval of $3.5 billion in military funds for Israel and shipments for new weaponry, an Israeli bombing of a school-turned-shelter in Gaza has killed 100 people or more, including scores of civilian men, women, and children in what was described as a "bloody massacre" that struck during morning prayers, leaving body parts scattered "in pieces" and healthcare workers overwhelmed with the dead and wounded,” reported commondreams.org

Our email inbox has been flooded with press releases showing their contempt for Biden, as well as Harris, and perhaps no other issue can define what needs to be a turning point in her favor.

One press statement from Revcom Corps Chicago accompanying its calendar of protests and demonstrations said: “As Bob Avakian has pointed out This is not a time to be siding with one group of oppressors or another. This is a rare time—a very rare opening—a chance that may come only once in a lifetime—a chance to take advantage of the deep divisions among the ruling oppressors and go after their whole system, with the aim of bringing the whole thing down, and putting something much better in its place.”

Harris also has to face economic proposals to what, even if she wins, could face opposition in an unchanged House and a very slim majority in the Senate, unless those races, mostly in swing states, are successful to give her an edge in Congress, because a president may propose, but Congress disposes.

One plan released in North Carolina on Friday during a campaign stop outlined a major effort to help the middle class but received some criticism from The Washington Post, but was defended by Rep. Hakeem Jeffries.

The Hill reported that, “Harris outlined a series of economic policy proposals and “she called for a federal ban on corporate price-gouging. CNN’s Jake Tapper asked Jeffries on “State of the Union” whether he backed her plan to ban price-gouging.”

“Kamala Harris has articulated a very important plan to make sure that we are lowering costs for everyday Americans, that we are ending price gouging throughout the country, and that, of course, we are growing the middle class and making sure that everyday Americans can get ahead. So, we, as House Democrats, look forward to working with Kamala Harris to drive costs down,” Jeffries said on CNN

“The Washington Post editorial board hit Harris over her newly announced economic agenda on Friday, characterizing the plan as “populist gimmicks.”

“Vice President Kamala Harris’s speech Friday was an opportunity to get specific with voters about how a Harris presidency would manage an economy that many feel is not working well for them,” the board wrote in an editorial Friday. “Unfortunately, instead of delivering a substantial plan, she squandered the moment on populist gimmicks.”

Jeffries’ careful response centered on the pandemic, the Jan 6 riots as inherited by the Biden administration, and defended the vice president on what was a clear indication of work to do.

It’s also quite clear that not releasing a comprehensive platform was wise by the Harris campaign. But, this partial glimpse does give a sense of her priorities, and centering them on the middle class is a wise move considering the struggle that many have, even with wages that have exceeded inflation; and, in particular “proposing $25,000 in down payment help for certain first time homeowners and tax incentives for builders iof starter homes, as the Associated Press reported on Friday will garner more attention.

Not surprising is the reaction from the Trumpers, who were rife with criticism, and “Trump campaign spokesman Brian Hughes calling her plan representative of “the most socialist and authoritarian model,” added  the AP.

Rounding out the list of major issues is immigration, and migration, especially for those asylum seekers, the majority form Venezuela, who have been abused since 2021 by Southern governors, notably Greg Abbott of Texas.

With no legislative action by Congress since the 1980s and Trump ordering Republican lawmakers not to work on a recent bipartisan immigration deal, the fate of many has hung in the balance, and the border crisis, albeit with slower border crossings, has become a cause celebre for the GOP and Harris has received condemnation for being the “Border Czar” even though she never held that title and was tasked only by Biden with identifying root causes.

Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona, previously considered as her running mate, told  CBS “Face the Nation” that he has every confidence in a Harris presidency to reform the system.

A recent proposal by the Biden administration titled “Parole In Place” has launched through the Department of Homeland Security, offers legal status to undocumented people married to Americans without the necessity of returning to their home countries, and possibly, under older terms, denied re entry.

It eventually can lead to citizenship if all conditions are met, but a Harris win can only use this as part of a multi pronged attempt to give balance to hundreds of thousands of those seeking asylum from violence plagued, and corrupt countries, and seeking refuge in the United States.

This, and other proposals, legislation and executive action will be some heavy lifting for Harris, if she wins, but also along with economics, could prove, if successful, to be a major legislative win for her administration.

Harris’ appearance will be bolstered by some heavy hitters this week, among them Biden on opening night in a farewell tribute to his long legislative leadership, as well as former President Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, and former presidential candidate Hillary Clinton; and security is tight with more than 500 police from various neighboring states as well as the Illinois National Guard.

Memories have bypassed the successful and peaceful 1996 Chicago DNC that nominated Bill Clinton, and most residents, and media, have focused on the infamous events of the 1968 convention, but as Chicago Police Chief Larry Snelling has said, “The Chicago Police Department does a great job of working through events like this will be no different.”

.

Tim Walz gets praised and panned as VP nominee

The announcement by Kamala Harris that she selected Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her vice presidential running mate caused delight to many, although the choice was unexpected, with many political observers thinking that it was going to be Attorney General Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania, seemed to hit all of the markers: a military veteran, a Midwesterner, and a progressive liberal whose legislative record is in sync with her established values.

From the cheering crowd in Pennsylvania, when it was announced, the choice was welcome and adds another layer of energy into the Harris campaign, and also increased fund raising to the tune of #36 million.

Much has been said about his “everyman” character and it does ring true, married, with a near adult child, one whose financial disclosures reveal an upper middle class income, bereft of stock, and a former high school teacher and athletic coach, and close in age to the vice president, and as has been reported that she feels a strong chemistry with.

The role of the vice president in the United States is to provide unqualified support for the president, and to preside over the Senate, and when needed be the tie breaker. It is also a role that Harris knows well, and has grown dramatically since she was first nominated nearly four years ago.

While ticket balancing has been the principal reason, let’s remember what Texan Lyndon Johnson did for John Kennedy and the state’s mother load of electoral votes, and whose later retention prompted that fateful trip to Dallas.

In Harris’ case capturing votes in swing states such as nearby Wisconsin, Michigan and other so called “rust belt” states will be crucial to winning the White House, and Walz is expected to be relatable to voters in those states.

The decision was met with delight by the Trump campaign who quickly branded Walz as another liberal intent on ruining the country. Supporters made much of his role in providing free feminine hygiene products in high schools, and decided to label him  “Tampon Tim,” but whose actions many praised to support young women; and, he has been a stalwart supporter of LGBT rights and helped found a gay and straight student alliance in the high school where he taught, another move that the radical right will soon pan as being “woke”.

Notably Walz also supported affordable housing, health care, paid leave and affordable child care, all progressive stances aligned with that of Hariis and the DNC.

The Republican vice presidential nominee J.D. Vance has been tagging the Harris campaign on their travels, and in one amazing stunt, accompanied by his secret service agents, approached Air Force Two, the vice presidential plane, in direct violation of security protocols, and said, “I just wanted to check out my future plane.”

While this has been widely panned as schoolboy braggadocio, Vance has gone after Walz’s 24 year military career saying that he abandoned his Army National Guard Troops before they were deployed to Iraq, and that he has said was cowardly; when, in fact, Walz had no definitive notice that he would go to Iraq, and was carefully considering running for Congress, and worried that could he do both, and not be in violation of the Hatch Act, which limits political speech on the part of federal employees.

Critics point out that while Vance did serve in the Marines in Iraq, but as a “desk jockey” for communications and never saw combat. In his book, “Hillbilly Elegy,” he wrote, “I was lucky to escape any real fighting.”

Another claim was that Walz in support of limiting assault weapons to the military, said that he did not believe they should be what he “carried in war,” and while he did carry them in training modules and instruction, he did not carry them in war, but misspeaking often happens in unscripted public appearances, which the Harris campaign has amended, and Walz referred to himself as a retired command sergeant major in his run for Congress and governor. 

What’s in a title, say some, and one headlining statement was this: “This is a lie and stolen valor,” said Ashley Hayek, chief engagement officer, America First Policy Institute, an organization founded in 2021 to promote former U.S. President Donald Trump's public policy agenda,” according to Wikipedia quoting an Axios article.

The kerfuffle centered on this: when Walz decided to retire to devote full attention to running for Congress, he did so before taking the training necessary to receive that title; and the Harris campaign has now clarified, Walz’s title upon retirement was “Command Sergeant Major.

There is irony in this discussion of military titles and combatant roles since Trump between 1964 and 1972 received four student deferments and one medical disqualification, for bone spurs on one or both heels, and it has been reported that a Queens podiatrist did this at the request of his father Fred.

Meanwhile Trump has criticized Haris for not holding press conferences, or interviews, and claiming that she does not have the intellect for it, and at a recent press meeting of his own rambled on; worrying those gathered that he was aging fast, just as obviously as he said President Biden did..

In what is now a continued litany of lies, he claimed, in that press conference, that he was on a helicopter ride, with former Speaker of the California State Assembly Willie Brown (who previously dated Harris) and they were forced to make an emergency landing, and all that Brown discussed was Kamala; but, in fact, that ride never occurred and was with the former Gov. Jerry Brown, in 2018, as he and Trump toured California to survey wildfires.

Brown with characteristic candor told the San Francisco Chronicle as reported by CBS News: "Hell, no," Brown said. "I wouldn't say anything bad about any woman to him." Brown also told the Chronicle he hasn't spoken with Harris in three or four years.”

“California Gov. Gavin Newsom was also on the aircraft. A spokesperson for Newsom, Izzy Gardon, said Friday there was no problem with the flight, no emergency landing and no conversation about Harris,” added the report.

What is becoming increasingly obvious to political observers, the media, and others, is that Trump and his campaign are becoming desperate, increasingly so, over his standing in the polls as Harris has cut his once sustained lead in half.

The DNC has sent recent emails to supporters showing that she is taking the lead in swing states, Arizona: Harris 49%and Trump 47%, tied in Georgia, Nevada: Harris 47% to Trump 45%, and close to Trump at 46% to Trump % at 48, and also in Pennsylvania she is at 46% to Trump at 50%.

For Trump, and Vance, as the “honeymoon” for Harris has extended is that her numbers may provoke them to even more attacks, lies, and shenanigans as we get closer to the November election date.

July Jobs Report dip raises concerns of US economy

The slowdown in the US economy, specifically the labor market, from the Labor Dept.'s July Jobs Report, released on Friday, has taken some by surprise, others by concern, and most seeing it as reasonable after several months of a hot, even overheated job market; and, is not entirely unwelcome for those that want to see the Federal Reserve Bank lower interest rates, and while some are urging caution, others like Sen. Elizabeth Warren are urging Chair Jerome Powell to come racing back to Washington, speeding forth in a fire engine red Corvette, to immediately lower interest rates to avoid massive job losses.

Lost in the excitement, or perhaps concern, is that interest rate cuts are done to shore up a sagging economy, not a gift to prospective homeowners, or those interested in opening a business, despite those worthy goals; but, it often seems as if many people have lost sight of that basic move from undergraduate economic studies.

Pushing that aside, for the moment, it’s still clear that July’s numbers are to say the least reasonable, and the worst, concerning; with an unemployment rate of 4.3 a slight downturn from the previous month, and the marquee unemployment rate of 114,000 non farm jobs is still nothing to sneeze at; albeit, a noticeable slowdown, especially with many economists predicting 175,000 would be the number, but, putting emotions aside, those high numbers that we have seen for the last 6 months were simply unsustainable, and while this is a note for the Fed to see what the data continues to show, before Powell, and the Federal Open Markets Committee, makes any moves to cut interest rates.

Let’s look at the heavy hitters from July: Healthcare still leading at 55,000 jobs, Construction at 25,000, Government (both state and local) at 17,000 and Transportation and warehousing at 14,000, the latter is a sure sign that the American consumer are still  wielding their smartphones and ordering online, and this despite inflationary prices, or so it seems.

That brings us to wages, which did increase 0.2 percent for the month, and 3.6 percent from a year ago, and while below forecasts from 0.3 percent and 3.7 percent, they may be shoring up consumer buying habits, on line and in stores.

Leisure and hospitality is still coming in healthy at 23,000, possibly attributable to the previous months higher wages, and more than anticipated.

Wages have so far kept pace with inflation, allowing those consumer purchases, the largest driver of the American economy, but July did show a decrease to 0.2, from what was seen as 0.3 percent, and 3.7 percent.

The main concern is that this tumble form last month was, as CNBC reported, “well below the average of 215,000 over the past 12 months.”

“You have to be careful in interpreting this data; it seems clear to me that there is noise in this report,” Omair Sharif, founder of Inflation Insights, tells me. He thinks that the Fed is going to wait and watch the August jobs report, which comes out before its mid-September meeting, before reaching any big conclusions,” reported The New York Times.

Back to the 64,000 question, when will the Feds cut rates? After a Wall Street selling frenzy on Friday, and fears from many quarters that maybe the Fed has waited too long, most of the markets are now safely betting that September is the best bet for an increase and some are saying, it might be more than the traditional quarter point, while others speculate there might be the quarter point, and then others, opting for a second cut in October of another half pont; still others for a quarter point for the remaining three Fed meetings this year.

Warren said in a post on X that “Fed Chair Powell made a serious mistake not cutting interest rates, and “he’s been warned over and over and over again that waiting too long risks driving the economy in a ditch,” sounding more like the law school professor she once was warning an errant pupil, further chastising him “to cancel his summer vacation and cut rates now.”

As we have noted in previous posts, the balancing act that he faces is monumental, cut too much, and inflation rises, not enough, and stasis is eminent. 

Inflation has dramatically dropped to 3 percent, but those read hot reports earlier of this year made the Feds wary, and as always Powell is a data driven chief, no more, no less.

“Greater confidence” is what the FOMC needs and right now they don’t have it that the US economy can sustain its traditional target to to hit the standard 2 percent inflation. But the chair has noted, “we’re getting close to the point at when it will be appropriate.” And, that point is widely understood to be at the September meeting.