2024 Political Dance Cards are Filling Up – “The Sunday Political Brunch” - February 19, 2023

Sunday, February 19, 2023

Mark Curtis, MINDSETTER™

 

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PHOTO: Biden/Harris Campaign

Like a pinball machine, political movements were all over the map this week. Some people were getting in, while others were getting out, and a lot of others were gathered on the sidelines. Folks, if you want to be a contender for any elective office in 2024, you better be making up your mind, declaring, and fundraising by now. Let’s “brunch” on that this week.

 

“DiFi Retires” – It came as no surprise this week when Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D) California announced she would not seek reelection in 2024. At 89, Feinstein has served in the U.S. Senate since 1992, and before that was Mayor of San Francisco. I got to know Senator Feinstein in 1993, when I worked for Sen. Herb Kohl (D) Wisconsin, who had the Senate office right next door to hers. She was a tough lady, probably steeled by how she came to office as Mayor of San Francisco when her predecessor Mayor George Moscone was assassinated. She rushed to his side and cradled his head in her hands until he died. I later covered her for 15 years as a reporter in DC and San Francisco. She stands as one of the most pioneering women in U.S. politics.

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“Who’s Next in CA?” – We’re going to have a primary fight for sure, but how many Democrats will jump in? Rep. Katie Porter (D) California was first to declare for the primary weeks ago. But then, the much better-known (nationally anyway), Rep. Adam Schiff (D) California also declared for the seat. Schiff is well-known as the former House Intelligence Chairman who intently went after the Trump Administration, which built Schiff’s national profile (and probably donor base, too). But Rep. Barbara Lee (D) California, an African American who represents Oakland is also thinking about jumping in, as are others. A crowded primary makes it wide open. And does Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) California jump in, too, instead of making a 2024 White House bid? We have more jockeying here than the Kentucky Derby!

 

“Haley’s Comet" Heads for the White House – As predicted in this column for months, former Gov. Nikki Haley (R), South Carolina, is officially a candidate for the GOP presidential nomination in 2024. Haley, who also served as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations under President Donald Trump, is already a force in this race. As a woman, and a minority, she offers Republicans a chance to broaden their base. Haley is no wallflower, after blistering Iran and other U.S. enemies in her role at the U.N., “I’m confident that the American people agree. We’re ready. Ready to move past the stale ideas and faded names of the past. And we are more than ready for a new generation to lead us into the future,” Haley said on Wednesday. She did not mention Trump by name.

 

“Space Balls” – It’s easy to laugh about these weird objects that hover, suddenly appearing over the U.S. and Canada. But then there is a serious side to this. The big Chinese spy balloon was blown up off the South Carolina coast. It was described as the size of three school buses and yielded a lot of useful electronic debris. The other three objects shot down were described as the size of a small car. No significant debris from any has been found. Of the smaller objects President Biden said, “Nothing right now suggests that they were related to China’s spy balloon program.” This whole thing is deeply troubling to me. If we are going to shoot things down, why aren’t debris collection assets at the ready? I know it’s national intelligence, so I get why official sources have said almost zero. But my biggest concern is they don’t really know what these are, nor the severity of the threat. One only needs to look at September 11, 2001, to show us how bad a U.S. intelligence failure can be, and that was epic. I’m deeply worried, we just don’t know how serious and dangerous this is.

 

“Gender Affirming Surgery Bans” – One of the hot issues for 2024 that is shaping up locally, regionally, and nationally is this backlash against what’s known as “gender affirming surgery” or “gender reassignment surgery” for people under the age of 18. The goal is to prevent teens (and those even younger), who identify as transgender, from trying to physically convert to the gender to whom they identify. So, aside from the actual genital surgery, this would prevent hormonal and medical prescriptions that would help the transition, i.e. pills to promote breast enhancement or facial hair, for example. South Dakota’s governor signed the ban this week, and Utah’s governor signed one last week. So far, a similar bill has passed the West Virginia House but awaits Senate action. At least 16 other states are considering.

 

“Here Come ‘Da Judge” – This week’s politics was marked by a number of important legal fights. The FBI again searched President Biden’s properties in Delaware after finding more classified documents. Former Vice President Mike Pence said he planned on fighting a subpoena about the January 6th Capitol riots and the days leading up, saying it was “unconstitutional” as he enjoyed executive privilege with the Trump White House, even though they were at odds. And finally, then White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows has been subpoenaed regarding January 6th as well. It’s a complicated mess, that makes me quote one of my favorite singers Warren Zevon’s songs, “Send lawyers, guns and money, the sh_t has hit the fan!”

 

“Justice v. Manchin Poll” – We have talked a lot here in recent weeks about the contested U.S. Senate races in 2024, not the least of which is the race for the seat held by Sen. Joe Manchin (D) West Virginia. This week Politico released a poll, which shows that Gov. Jim Justice (R) West Virginia is the leading GOP contender to take on Manchin. Rep. Alex Mooney (R) has already declared for the nomination, and Attorney General Patrick Morrisey (R) West Virginia, (who nearly beat Manchin in 2018), is also considering a run. The poll shows Justice winning a three-way race, 53 percent Justice, 21 percent Morrisey, and 16 percent Mooney. On head-to-head matchups, Justice is the only Republican to beat Manchin, according to the poll.

 

“Who Wins?” – Manchin, who has been like a political “cat with nine lives,” is still a tough opponent after all these years. “Senator Manchin continues to consider the best way he can serve his state and country. But make no mistake, he will win whatever race he enters,” said Sam Runyon, a spokesperson for Manchin.

Mark Curtis, Ed.D., is Chief Political Reporter for the seven Nexstar Media TV stations serving West Virginia, its five neighboring states and the entire Washington, DC media market. He is also a MINDSETTER™ contributing political writer and analyst for www.GoLocalProv.com and its affiliates.


 

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