Diplomat v. dictator
by Tom Sullivan
Citing the Seneca Falls Declaration of Sentiments and women’s rights pioneers, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton thanked supporters last night for helping her become the first woman in American history to secure the presidential nomination of a major party. She described Senator Bernie Sanders’ rival campaign as “extraordinary,” saying “the vigorous debate that we’ve had about how to raise incomes, reduce inequality, increase upward mobility, have been very good for the Democratic Party and for America.”
In one of several pointed references to Donald Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee, Clinton cited her mother’s influence, “She taught me never to back down from a bully which it turns out was pretty good advice.” Clinton said:
To be great, we can’t be small. We have to be as big as the values that define America. And we are a big hearted, fair minded country. We teach our children that is one nation under god indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Not just for people who look a certain way or worship a certain way or love a certain way. For all, indivisible. This election is not, however, about about the same old fights between Republicans and Democrats. This election is different.
It really is about who we are as a nation. It’s about millions of Americans coming together so take we are better than this. We won’t let this happen in America. And if you agree, whether you’re a Democrat, Republican, or Independent, I hope you will join us in just a few weeks, we will meet in Philadelphia which gave birth to our nation back in that hot summer of 1776. Those early patriots knew they would all rise or fall together. Well, to day that is more true than ever. Our campaign will take the message to every corner of our country. We’re stronger when our economy works for everyone, not just those at the top.
After a day of being pounded by members of his own party for racist comments, Trump was on a teleprompter last night giving a speech written by writers trying hard to make him sound like a president not a dictator. He insisted the country is a wreck, broke. He decried economic and foreign policy issues “bigly” destroying the nation. But the would-be president with no legislative experience and no idea what Brexit means also has no earthly idea how to accomplish any of what he says he’s going to do. Last night Trump referred to the Trans-Pacific Partnership as PPP. His comments this week on judges and justice in this country suggest he is just as clueless about what the limitations of his powers as president would be. He holds a constitutional worldview that legal scholars believe “shows contempt for the First Amendment, the separation of powers and the rule of law.”
It recalls the new president of San Marcos from Woody Allen’s Bananas:
From this day on, the official language of San Marcos will be Swedish. Silence! In addition to that, all citizens will be required to change their underwear every half-hour. Underwear will be worn on the outside so we can check. Furthermore, all children under 16 years old are now… 16 years old!
Digby no doubt will have more later from the People’s Republic of Santa Monica on the California primary results still being tallied.