“It’s Déjà vu All Over Again!”—The Sunday Political Brunch January 29, 2023

Sunday, January 29, 2023

Mark Curtis, MINDSETTER™

Why am I not surprised? We’ve now seen a “three-peat” of  Washington, DC bad behavior (not that that’s never happened before!). This “kept classified document” issue is becoming an issue that will shape the 2024 campaign. As former New York Yankees Hall of Famer Yogi Berra would say, “It’s Déjà vu all over again!” Déjà vu, in French, meaning, “already seen!” Let’s “brunch” on that this week.

 

“The Pence Suspense” – A dozen classified documents were found at the Indiana home of former Vice President Mike Pence, by his lawyer. Various sources describe the materials as not deeply sensitive, but rather planning materials and briefings for a number of foreign trips. Yet, while they are not viewed as Top Secret, it does reflect a similar sloppiness in the handing of classified documents by former President Donald Trump and current President Joe Biden. Like Biden, Pence spent numerous years in Congress where they get the annual review about what documents you can keep, or not keep, especially when you leave office. Trump would have been given the same briefing shortly after his inaugural. No one here can claim ignorance, nor carelessness. It is a blatant violation of the rules and standards (and probably laws), by all three.

GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST

 

“The Fallout?” – This is one of those stories that will put the so-called, “Who Cares?” test to work. Yes, it gets a lot of the DC politicos and media types, including me, all riled up. And yet the public often yawns. Quite honestly, as a political analyst, I think it harms each man’s bid for the White House in 2024. It raises questions about integrity, patriotism, allegiance to the rules, sloppiness, and basic common sense. Here’s my verdict. Nothing bad has happened, and that may mitigate the damage for each of them. But, if some foreign or domestic agent is harmed by the compromise of security or confidentiality, then any one of these candidates is done. Even if each of them kept the documents, by accident, or as an oversight, sloppiness is not a resume builder on the way to the Oval Office.

 

“National Archives Request” – I love this. After all, three revelations the National Archives on Thursday came out with a formal request that all living former presidents and vice presidents cull their records to see if they have any other classified documents that need to be returned. In my opinion, this is akin to the farmer yelling to close the barn gate, after all the horses have escaped. Too little, too late!

 

“The Boys Are Back in Town” – On Wednesday, Meta, the parent company of Facebook, announced it was giving Donald Trump access and usage of his old account. Pour me a cup of coffee to soothe my big yawn. I have argued here for months that social media platforms such as Twitter and Facebook are greatly exaggerated in their influence and in their value. Everyone has them, so what’s the tactical advantage? In many cases, they simply become “echo chambers” where like-minded supporters give your views a “thumbs up.” I’ve seen a lot of evidence they connect people to the conversation, as I wrote in my 2011 doctoral dissertation, but that doesn’t mean they persuade many of the entrenched to change their minds. More than anything, they are an electronic version of the old “town square” where people can come and vent and share their opinions. Persuasion is up to each candidate, and not the technical platform, as is the same with traditional media. It’s about the quality of the message, no matter how it’s delivered,

 

“California Dreaming” – It looks like the elevator is filling with candidates for the U.S. Senate race in California in 2024. Incumbent Sen. Dianne Feinstein, who at 89 is the eldest member of the U.S. Senate, has yet to announce whether she will run or not. Already Rep. Katie Fisher (D) California, has announced she wants to move to the upper chamber of Congress. And now Rep.  Adam Schiff (D) California, has announced he would like the seat as well. Many more may get in the race, making for a crowded primary. But at first blush, I have to say advantage-Schiff. He prosecuted a president who was wildly popular in many corners of the nation, but not in liberal-leaning, anti-Trump California. There, Schiff may get big kudos. It’s almost like the “Anti-Trump Coattail Effect.”

 

“Tanks for the Memories” – The Biden Administration has now ordered the sending of 31 elite Abrams fighting tanks to Ukraine for its defense in the Russian invasion. This came after Germany agreed to send 14 of its Leopard 2 tanks for Ukrainian defense. This is sure to piss off Russian President Vladimir Putin. But whether it deters his will to penetrate deeper into Ukraine in this unpopular war remains to be seen. Many Russians are furious at the expense and manpower, especially after Ukrainians have put up an unexpected and quite honestly, powerful resistance. To the extent that the U.S. chimes in and provides support, it will be a wildcard factor in many 2024 election contests, including the race for the White House.

 

“Hail to the Chief… of Staff” – President Biden’s Chief of Staff Ron Klain stepped down on Friday and was replaced by the White House COVID-19 Director, Jeff Zients. I wouldn’t read too much into this. The fact that Klain made it for exactly two years is remarkable. Every modern president has had more that one chief of staff. It’s a stressful high burn-out job. You basically live at the White House and then go sleep at home. It’s 24/7 demanding, especially navigating with all the Congressional fiefdoms and leaders. Trivia note: President Jimmy Carter had no chief of staff for his first two years in office, as Carter chose to do the job himself, which was probably a mistake. He then appointed his former campaign manager, Hamilton Jordon, who last one year and was replaced.

Related Articles

• “Is it Too Late to Turn the Political Tide?”—The Sunday Political Brunch October 2, 2022
• A Sprint to the Election Day Finish Line – “The Sunday Political Brunch”
• The Scramble to Seize Senate Control – “The Sunday Political Brunch” - October 16, 2022
• Sizing up the Senate Scramble – “The Sunday Political Brunch” - October 23, 2022
• Primaries End with Calm Before Political Storm – “The Sunday Political Brunch” - September 25, 2022
• Election 2022 is a “Soup” Full of Issues – “The Sunday Political Brunch”
• The Mixed Messages Speeding to the Election Finish Line – “The Sunday Political Brunch”
• The Florida Primary Colors—“The Sunday Political Brunch”—August 28, 2022
• A Labor Day Political Hodge Podge – “The Sunday Political Brunch” - September 4, 2022
• Strategy for Two Months to Go Until Election Day – “The Sunday Political Brunch”
• The Last Minute 2022 Campaign Push – “The Sunday Political Brunch” - October 30, 2022
• Election Predictions 2022 – “The Sunday Political Brunch”—November 6, 2022
• An Unexpected DC Free-for-All – “The Sunday Political Brunch” December 25, 2022
• Watching the Way Political Winds Blow—“The Sunday Political Brunch” December 18, 2022
• The New Politics of the New Year – “The Sunday Political Brunch” January 1, 2023
• Politics: Where it’s Possible to Lose by Winning - “The Sunday Political Brunch” January 8, 2023
• Mixed Signals Muddy the Political Landscape – “The Sunday Political Brunch” January 15, 2023
• As the Political World Turns – “The Sunday Political Brunch”
• It’s Not Over ‘Til It’s Over – “The Sunday Political Brunch”
• Brunch Goes Weekday - This Providence Restaurant Features “Fizzy Fridays”
• Can We Put Election 2022 in the Rear View Mirror?—“The Sunday Political Brunch”
• Marching on as a Government Divided – “The Sunday Political Brunch”—November 20, 2022
• Give Thanks for the End of One Political Season as Another Begins – “The Sunday Political Brunch”
• A Mid-Winter Political Potluck – “The Sunday Political Brunch” - January 22, 2023

Enjoy this post? Share it with others.