* This tweet seemed to strike a chord yesterday.
In the midst of Trump calling her crazy and mocking her for having pneumonia, Hillary was doing this. Just sayin… pic.twitter.com/Y9Abm34oXZ
— Nancy LeTourneau (@Smartypants60) October 2, 2016
Let’s take a look at what Grandma Clinton had to say in Charlotte.
Now, there are some out there who see this as a moment to command the flames of resentment and division. Who want to exploit people’s fears, even though it means tearing our nation even further apart. They say that all of our problems will be solved simply by more ‘law and order.’ As if the systemic racism plaguing our country doesn’t exist. Now, of course we need safe neighborhoods, no one is against that. Of course, we need communities that are free from the epidemic of gun violence, of course we need that. But we also need justice and dignity and equality, and we can have both. This is not an either-or question for America.
I’m a grandmother, and like every grandmother I worry about the safety and security of my grandchildren, but my worries are not the same as black grandmothers. They have different, and deeper fears about the world that their grandchildren face. It makes my heart ache, when kids like Zianna, are going through this and trying to make sense of the absolutely senseless. I know how I would feel. I wouldn’t be able to stand it if my grandchildren had to be scared and worried the way too many children across our country feel right now. But because my grandchildren are white, because they are the grandchildren of a former president and secretary of state, let’s be honest here – they won’t face the kind of fear that we heard from the young children testifying before the city council.
You know, every child deserves the same sense of security, every child deserves the same hope. They should not be facing fear, they should be learning and growing, imagining who they can be, and what their contributions to our country could be as well. We’ve got to take action, we’ve got to start now, not tomorrow, not next year, now. We know we can’t solve all these problems over night, which means we don’t have a moment to lose.
* For my money, David Plouffe is the smartest man in politics. Here’s what the guy who ran the “no drama, Obama” campaign has to say about Trump’s chances in 2016.
Keep in mind, that was Plouffe’s prediction before Quinnipiac’s swing state polls showed Clinton leading in Florida by 5 and North Carolina by 3.
* There’s been an interesting trend in newspaper endorsements this election.
Updated the chart of newspaper endorsements, showing how this year is unique. https://t.co/9JdikDRYb2 pic.twitter.com/hHvVsXw6Pk
— Philip Bump (@pbump) October 2, 2016
* Speaking of endorsements and swing states, can King James deliver Ohio for Clinton?
Only one person running truly understands the struggles of an Akron child born into poverty. And when I think about the kinds of policies and ideas the kids in my foundation need from our government, the choice is clear.
That candidate is Hillary Clinton…
There’s still a lot of work to be done in Akron, Northeast Ohio, and all across our great country. We need a president who understands our community and will build on the legacy of President Obama. So let’s register to vote, show up to the polls, and vote for Hillary Clinton.
* In another example of how the GOP sees their only hope in spreading fear, they’ve launched at attack ad on Tim Kaine about his position on the death penalty the day before the vice-presidential debate. In it they dust off the old canard about a defense attorney doing his constitutional duty to defend those accused in court as well as Kaine’s stay of execution as governor for a man who he deemed to be mentally incompetent. I suppose this kind of thing works for some people. But it’s never worked politically against Kaine…a man who has been very open about the moral conflict he struggles with when it comes to the death penalty.
“My faith teaches that life is sacred,” Kaine said then. “That’s why I personally oppose the death penalty. But I take my oath of office seriously, and I’ll enforce the death penalty … because it’s the law.”
* This is certainly a story we need to keep our eyes on.
In a sharp deterioration of relations, the U.S. on Monday suspended diplomatic contacts with Russia over Syria, while Moscow halted cooperation on a joint program for disposal of weapons-grade plutonium.
The U.S. move followed a threat last week from Secretary of State John Kerry after new Russian and Syrian attacks on the city of Aleppo. The State Department said Russia had not lived up to the terms of an agreement last month to restore the cease-fire and ensure sustained deliveries of humanitarian aid to besieged cities.
* Finally, because it’s the 24th anniversary of our POTUS and FLOTUS, how about a walk down memory lane to their first dance as the first couple? Happy Anniversary Mr. President and First Lady!
