ARI HERZOG

My Personal Blog

Keisha Lance Bottoms for VP

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Back on April 30, I explained why Keisha Lance Bottoms is the best VP choice for Joe Biden.

Today is July 7 and I was curious if anything changed. The Washington Post has a 13-question quiz. I took it.

Based on my policy opinions, Keisha remains the top pick with 28 points.

As for how I aligned with the other candidates in the quiz, Stacey Abrams and Val Demings are tied with 22 points, and Kamala Harris and Susan Rice are tied with 20 points. Others include Gretchen Whitmer with 18 points, Michelle Grisham with 16 points, Tammy Baldwin with 12 points, and both Karen Bass and Tammy Duckworth with 10 points. Elizabeth Warren has no points.

Any questions for me?

Secession

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What’s with all of these secessionist proposals in recent media?

Here are some headlines with my commentary:

Staten Island councilmen pushing plan for borough to secede from NYC
— This is self-explanatory. It’s unlikely to occur but hmm.

Oregon conservatives want a ‘Greater Idaho’ because of ‘our values,’ governor says
— This proposal is to expand the current state of Idaho with northern California and both southern and eastern Oregon. The goal is to increase Republican elected officials. It has some muster with county petitions scheduled to be voted on this fall.

New California declares ‘independence’ from California in bid to become 51st state
— One of three movements to split up California, this one suggests that the current state be reduced to only include coastal communities between Sacramento and Los Angeles; and the rest of the state become the new state.

Former Harper government House leader becomes interim leader of Wexit Canada
— This is so weird that it makes sense. The idea is that the provinces of Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and the Northwest Territories split from the rest of Canada and form their own country. Here’s a video on reasons for separation.

Is it time to stop assimilating and form a United States of Black America?
— This is an opinion column about race equality. It’s fascinating to read one person’s ideology about how to overcome oppression.

House approves DC statehood, Senate opposed
— The biggest story for this blog post is that the Congress is debating to grant the District of Columbia as the country’s 51st state. Trump is opposed so it hardly matters what the Senate says. Whether this plan could occur in the coming years is anyone’s guess.

What If the Media Boycotts the White House?

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Five days after the presidential inauguration in 2017 when the media was presented with claims of fake news and alternative facts, former GQ political commentator Keith Olbermann preached about the lunacy of the new occupier-in-chief.

The first three minutes of his web video are gold, including the following advice to every media outlet:

“Stop covering his speeches live. Use a delay. Employ a team of fact checkers. Play his rants. Each time he lies, stop the tape. State the facts. Resume the tape. Wait for the next lie. Stop the tape again. State the facts again. Do not participate in the Trump propaganda game.”

It’s 2020 and his speeches are still covered live.

Especially now during the coronavirus pandemic and a desire for a national dialogue on police reform and racial injustice, there’s an immediate need for the media to stop airing his pseudo-campaign rallies. Every time he speaks, he’s running for re-election. His words are laced with untruths and propaganda. Stop giving him unfiltered coverage.

“The media is not required to be complicit in Trump’s fearmongering,” wrote The Nation’s Elie Mystal in March. “The only reason it goes along is for ratings and clicks.”

Imagine if every press conference, regardless of location, has no reporters — or they make a pact to not ask questions. They can interrogate other officials but not the head golfer.

This is the White House briefing room.

If the media must have staff to take notes and ask questions, then stop using political reporters. Instead, bring in healthcare reporters and crime reporters. Use their expertise to ask questions that Americans care about. Or, use a pool reporter to ask questions on behalf of all.

White House correspondents can be reassigned to interact with press secretaries and communications directors, and to interview agency heads and project managers. They should research hard-hitting investigative pieces. According to The Atlantic’s senior editor David Frum, White House reporters should get out of the building and find the truth from people who will tell it.

It’s not a bad idea. It’s not too late to start.

The Past Presidents

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In the wake of George Floyd’s murder by police on May 25, 2020, the Leader of the Free World continues his egotistic mission to bring fear, hate, and xenophobia into the United States of America. And now, when the nation is grieving and peacefully protesting against a history of police brutality against civilians, President Trump needs to take a knee instead of playing golf, posing for photos, and tweeting.

This is America. This is not a reality TV show. It’s unfortunate that Trump neither knows nor cares how to treat a broken heart. Thankfully, our nation’s living past Presidents do and they are speaking out.

May 30: Bill Clinton suggested we need to ask hard questions.

June 1: Barack Obama offered ways to bring about change.

June 3: Jimmy Carter demanded the end of racial discrimination.

June 6: George W. Bush argued for justice through peace.

There’s a growing chorus on social media for the four former Presidents to come together in solidarity and speak out against hate.

This could be historic because ex-Presidents are typically only seen in the same room for inaugurations and funerals. Though, they reunited in 2017 for a hurricane relief concert and in 2013 for GWB’s presidential library opening.

The four living past presidents.

With everything else going on, Trump now wants to be dictator and command the U.S. military to enter American cities and towns. If nobody is willing to stand up to him, that’s another reason for Presidents Carter, Clinton, Bush, and Obama to collectively say, “No! We do not support this.”

This is not a new idea. Last fall, Newsweek published an opinion column by Cornell William Brooks, a past president of the NAACP, for the four men to “declare a National Emergency on Hate and convene a National Summit on Hate and Democracy.” The summit can come later. America’s immediate need is a declaration by the four private citizens who share the same elected job title. Their bipartisanship can help rebuild the human bridges that are being torn every minute of every day.

Video would be ideal, such as prerecorded statements by each man that are pulled together into a single media file for TV and radio stations to air and for social media users to play. The impact could be equally felt through words, such as a joint letter published in major newspapers.

Trump has the worst disapproval rating in the history of U.S. presidential polling. His legacy is one thing, but his (in)actions since the death of George Floyd are causing rebellion from citizens and friction from allies. The Prime Minister of Australia, for instance, is pissed off that federal law enforcement attacked its media.

It’s not normal for past Presidents to unify against a current President. However, as we already know, we are not living in normal times.

Why Keisha Lance Bottoms is Joe Biden’s Best VP Choice

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Everyone has an opinion on the best running mate for Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic candidate for President of the United States.

My choice is Keisha Lance Bottoms. Here’s why…

James Corden interviewed Biden on April 22 and asked him for the qualities he sought in a Vice President.

Biden, reflecting on what former President Barack Obama said about why he chose Biden to be VP, indicated that he wanted similar qualities in his pick.

1. Someone who the public can look at and say, “She is capable of being President of the United States” if he had to walk away.

2. Someone who has background, competence, or strengths in areas where he lacks; and who is confident in areas where he can delegate presidential authority.

3. Someone on his wavelength, who may disagree on tactics but agrees on strategies.

4. Someone he can completely trust.

Every newspaper columnist, media pundit, and everyday citizen has an opinion on the best Vice President.

The most popular names that I see recommended are U.S. Senators Kamala Harris, Amy Klobuchar, Tammy Baldwin, Tammy Duckworth, Catherine Cortez Masto, and Elizabeth Warren; U.S. Representatives Val Demings, Marcia Fudge, Karen Bass, Maxine Waters, and Ayanna Pressley; Former National Security Advisor Susan Rice; Governors Gretchen Whitmer and Michelle Grisham; former Georgia legislator Stacy Abrams; and Bottoms.

I have several thoughts:

First, would Biden as a former Senator want a current Senator as his running mate? Wouldn’t a Senator share background he already has?

Second, I’m an independent voter but I believe the Democrats need to maintain their majority in the House and gain a majority in the Senate. If both actions occur, then incumbents are needed to maintain that lead. If neither chamber gets a majority, then that’s more of an impetus for Democrats to stay put. The Congress needs to play its part to check and balance against the President, regardless of party.

Third, I’d rather see former presidential candidates Harris as Attorney General, Klobuchar as Secretary of Agriculture, and Warren as Senate President. Warren, especially, can be valuable here.

Fourth, I don’t think that a member of Congress, regardless of the chamber, is the best person to be Vice President. I believe that person is someone who is/was on the ground during the pandemic.

Fifth, neither Whitmer nor Grisham were elected as mayors or town managers. They are former legislators. And they should maintain their state’s party leadership.

Sixth, Abrams is similar to the Governors. She served in the Georgia House of Representatives for 10 years. But, she’s never been in the executive branch. And for reasons I explain above, I can’t include her.

Seventh, Rice could get the job done but given her background I think she’d be better as Secretary of State.

I think the nation is best served with a Vice President who is currently serving in a local government role. The pandemic changes the rules.

Local leaders demonstrate daily hands-on experience and context in working with public health officials, first responders, unions, local business owners, and other stakeholders. These individuals are crucial in the front lines and have the ability to unite groups of people across the country.

“There is a young lady right there in Georgia who I think would make a tremendous VP candidate, and that’s the mayor of Atlanta, Keisha Lance Bottoms.”

U.S. Rep. James Clyburn

Clyburn is the U.S. House Majority Whip, and he stated that quote during a recent interview with the Financial Times. Of note, he was directly responsible for Biden winning South Carolina.

Bottoms and Biden share experiences from their early days, each having a law degree and serving on city councils.

Bottoms has the background, competence, and strengths that Biden lacks. I’m sure they’d agree on domestic and foreign strategies. Would the American people look at her and believe she can step in as President? I’m a former city councilor and I have faith she can do the job. But it comes down to whether Biden can trust her. Only he knows.

Elected in 2017, Bottoms is passionate about a government partnership with business leaders dating to the 1950s. From a $1 billion affordable housing goal to raising police and fire salaries to hosting Super Bowl LIII, she’s optimistic that the country can follow Atlanta’s lead.

“That’s the great thing about Atlanta and the state as a whole. We do things very differently. We have a very productive working relationship with our business partners that’s not at the expense of our communities. Even the bipartisan working relationship we have – if it could be replicated in Washington, I think our country would be in lot better shape.”

Source: Georgia Trend, December 2019

Bottoms endorsed Biden after the first Democratic debate in June 2019. She’s interviewed on national TV networks nearly every day. She’s a face with the pandemic experience that people can relate to in our new normal.

Naysayers point out that the country has never elected a sitting mayor to be Vice President. That’s true, but Andrew Johnson and Calvin Coolidge held mayoral roles before entering federal office.

And, let’s not forget that Mayor Pete Buttigieg won the Ohio caucus and tied in the New Hampshire primary in his run for President.

Why, again, shouldn’t Bottoms run for Vice President?

These are my thoughts. Time will tell what happens.

Biden’s VP selection committee will be announced by May 1. The members will conduct interviews and background checks by July — and then he will make the final decision. Who will it be?

Words Describing Trump

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Four days after President Trump’s inauguration, I blogged a list of 26 words that my friends and family used to describe him: authoritarian, disturbing, frightening, hateful, racist, sexist, terrifying, worst, etc.

What would today’s list include? Based on what I see on social media: crazy, dumb, egotistical, idiotic, moronic, narcissistic, nightmarish, stupid, and surreal.

Got any words to add?