Open Letter to Joe Biden and Kamala Harris

In the recently concluded RNC - the refrain was that Biden's America would result in a break down of Law and Order. The lack of stance (beyond condemning the "needless violence") on the recent unrests in Kenosha, Wisconsin has seemingly left the Biden Campaign flat footed. The public needs to see an appropriate response from the Biden Campaign NOW. Voters (especially in the swing states of Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Michigan) need assurances.

Several actions come to mind.

1.  Visit with the family of the victims (yes, black and white) in Kenosha. There has to be a categorical statement made that doesn’t leave any doubt as to which side of Law and Order this campaign stands on.

2.  Send as many campaign staff as possible into Kenosha (amongst other cities including Seattle and Portland where violence still rages from riots).  Help (physically) clean up the damage.  Call for volunteers in these cities to help in the clean up effort.

3.  Stand with the store fronts that are being looted.  State firmly to rioters that destruction of property is not the right way.

4. Praise the NBA and WNBA players for their protests.  Trump came out decrying their protest.  This is perfect.  Praise these players. Echo President Obama's sentiment that they should form a social justice committee to ensure that the players' and league's actions this week lead to sustained, meaningful engagement on criminal justice and social reform.

5.  Send out a strong message that shows that Trump's America is a dangerous and violent America - which promotes extremism and tolerates bigotry. Show that with Trump violence increases.  Blast Ads showing this message - to counter the lies that are being propagated right now by the RNC.

This is my plea to the Biden-Harris campaign.  I feel there is a grave danger if these riots are not addressed immediately.

Open Letter to the GOP

To: Chairperson of the RNC

Four years ago, I posted a blog requesting the GOP not to nominate Donald Trump. My cry in anguish fell on deaf ears. I really wish you had listened at that time and saved us the embarrassment of the last four years. Now, on the eve of the RNC, I am making a plea once again.

Here is a collage of reasons to be embarrassed of Donald Trump

A few weeks back, I started a collection of "Did he really say that?". This has grown week after week. The latest edition of this collection can be seen here.

Gerald Seib has eloquently written in the WSJ, how Trump has changed the Republicans. To quote Mr. Seib, "He turned Republicans away from four decades of Reagan-style, national greatness conservatism to a new gospel of populism and nationalism". As former President Barack Obama said in his speech at the DNC (from Philadelphia) on Aug 19th, Donald Trump has treated the White House like one more reality show.

I am not a "liberal lifer". If I voted in the Reagan-Mondale elections (in 1984), I would have voted for Reagan. Even in the Bush-Dukakis elections (in 1988), I would have voted for Bush. 

Allow me to spell out the specifics of why Trump should not be re-nominated:

• Russian collusion: Trump is caught up in the uncertainty of the Mueller investigation. The long-awaited report from the Senate Intelligence Committee contains dozens of new findings that appear to show more direct links between Trump associates and Russian intelligence
• Immigration:  Trump's stance on the border wall, child separation policies, and the Muslim ban –have drawn criticism and in some cases, been questioned by the courts
• Foreign Policy: Trump has cozied up to dictators in Russia and North Korea, he has pulled out of international agreements and dismissed our European allies
• Despicable record of arrests: In all, 14 Trump aides, donors and advisers have been indicted or imprisoned since the days when the first-time candidate promised that he would only hire "the best people." Senior members of Trump's campaign staff, Paul Manafort and Rick Gates; first national security adviser, Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn; Rep. Chris Collins, R-N.Y and Former Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Calif; the list goes on and on ...

If you love our country, please do not nominate Donald Trump as the GOP candidate for the 2020 elections. Sen. Mitt Romney or Gov. John Kasich are far more worthy candidates. Trump is clearly the wrong choice for the American right.