Here are two interesting items from the news — both of which could epitomize the sorry state of politics these days:
1. Coffee Man has decided not to run for President in 2020. We cats figured he was toast when he came out with that back-injury excuse a few months ago. But unsettlingly, we knew he always lurked in the background and threatened to disrupt our morning beverage of choice (since obviously we'd have to boycott his product). Today, however, he made it official.
Obviously, this is good news, but it came with a twist. First, we couldn't help noticing that tweeps were far more worried about Steve Schmidt's career than about Coffee Man, wondering if and when Schmidt would return to Pundit World. Also, what was that February town hall all about, CNN? Talk about totally undeserved. You really have egg (or would that be coffee grounds?) on your face.
2. As part of its latest rejection of democracy, the Republican Party is moving to cancel its 2020 primaries and caucuses in four states — South Carolina, Nevada, Kansas and Arizona — in order to pave an easier renomination path for Benedict Donald. It's disturbing for many reasons, but consider this little-recognized possible consequence.
There's always a danger in scrapping a caucus or primary. It can get party loyalists in the canceled states out of the habit of voting, which can lower turnout in subsequent primary and general elections. And the affected states may also find it more difficult to resurrect their primary or caucus for 2024.
Cancellations could affect certain cohorts of candidates. For example, conservative candidates may find a revived Kansas caucus will be harder to organize and have less of an impact. Hispanic candidates may find the same with Nevada.
But who cares if the party is weakened? What's important is rolling out the red carpet for King Sharpie, right? We cats HISS.
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