Opinions to go Online - The unique perspective and provocative opinions of Joe O’Neill

Time 2020-09-13 21:04:57

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Opinions to go Online The unique perspective and provocative opinions of Joe O’Neill Menu and widgetsBack in the day, I was a sports reporter for the Bucks County Courier Times, just outside Philadelphia—and across the Delaware River from Trenton, N.J. It was only part time, but it was enough time to get quality experience quick post-game interviews and unforgiving deadlines usually covering high schools, but on occasion, pinch-hitting for the full-timers who also covered professional and college sports. So, on occasion, I got to cover a 76er’s or an Eagles pronounced “Iggles” in Philly game.I also became privy to how sports coverage was regarded and demeaned by the real “news journalists.” Sports was referred to as the “toy department.” Ouch. But I got it. In the scheme of things, sports wasn’t, well, very important. Especially in a society reeling with racial upheaval, anti-war demonstrations and the usual nuclear scenarios.But then came Muhammad Ali’s bouts over the military draft and the 1968 Mexico City Olympics where black American track athletes used their forum for Black Power awareness. Those upraised, black-gloved fists became iconic images thanks to the print and electronic media. But these were still anomalies. And mainstream America went back to its racist ways, while its media reported on the games Americans play. Who won? Who lost? Who didn’t need a diversion from all the things worth diverting from?Fast forward to now, with allowances for the occasional professional sports strike, some steroid scandals and several high-profile, NCAA recruiting violations. But those were largely in-house. Not like today where elite athletes, many of them black, identify with racial injustice manifesting itself as a perverse complement to police brutality that is still—STILL—going on. Today’s black athletes have actually walked in the shoes of black victims. And their non-black teammates are increasingly standing in unison against entrenched, sometimes lethal, racism the 21st century version of America’s Emmett Till infamy.No longer can we isolate sports from racism. When it’s systemic, it’s everybody’s issue.It’s always important to take a stand, whether it involves kneeling or postponing. Not just the National Basketball Association or the National Football League, whose players are majority black. But also the nearly lily-white National Hockey League and Major League Baseball, which has plenty of players of color—but most are not African-American. And it includes the Women’s NBA and Major League Soccer. And then there’s big-time college sports. If anyone should have an accountable societal conscience social justice and athletic exploitation it’s universities.It’s no longer just individual athletes, such as Olympian Tommy Smith or ex-NFL QB Colin Kaepernick, making symbolic gestures or wearing BLM messaging. Now it’s franchises and leagues acting in unison with players to make maximum use of their impactful, high-profile forums. Hell, we even saw a TNT sports commentator, Kenny Smith, walk off the set in solidarity. The Bucs launched a Social Justice Initiative to promote voting—including among players. And, yes, we now have a Hockey Diversity Alliance.No, sports are no longer the societal diversion they used to be. And those who chronicle them no longer work in the toy department, even if nostalgia periodically beckons. When you can help make a meaningful difference—by virtue of your forum and your following—you have to use it. Justice demands no less. When it’s a matter of life and death, it’s not a game.“I alone can fix it.” Does that apply to what has happened as a result of what Trump has broken? As in, scandalously unnecessary American COVID deaths borne of misinformation, negligence and narcissism; trickle-up economics that benefits the wealthiest; abandonment of NATO obligations and values; disparagement of the national security community that wasn’t aligned with Vladimir Putin’s agenda; withdrawals from the Paris Agreement on Climate and the Iranian nuclear deal; and the resurrection of the George Wallace-inspired, law-and-order playbook intended to motivate and rally white Americans. Jacob who?The caudillo incumbent as insurgent: The president’s acceptance speech on that massive White House South Lawn stage was vintage pandemic-era Trump. Message of unity? Empathy? Try incendiary rhetoric and revisionist reality. For counter-productive optics: A tightly-packed crowd of more than 1,000 that was largely maskless sent the Trumpian message that masks are not his kind of props. Michelle Obama, speaking for more than political partisans: “Being president doesn’t change who you are; it reveals who you are. Even to “Apprentice” fans.In an unprecedented move, the Republican National Convention didn’t bother with an actual political platform, instead going with a one-page resolution declaring that the party “will continue to enthusiastically support the president’s America First agenda.” In other words, Trump was the platform. The Grand Old Party (Ronald who?) has now rebranded itself in sycophantic fealty to Trump and his WWE-stagecraft manner. In short, the de facto platform was law and order; voter fraud, culture war; white nativism; science denial; and tax cuts for those who need them least. What racial injustice?Not all scathing, high-profile criticism of President Trump is via tell-all books. Miles Taylor, a Trump Administration appointee who until earlier this year had served as chief of staff to both Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielson and Acting Secretary Chad Wolf, recently made an ad for Republican Voters Against Trump. Among his comments: “I came away completely convinced based on first-hand experience that the president was ill-equipped, wouldn’t become equipped to do his job effectively, and what’s worse, was actively doing damage to our security.”Donald Trump’s characterization of Democrats: “They want no guns, they want no oil and gas, and they want no God.” Arguably, Dems also would want no outlandish, deceitful, bumper-sticker characterizations that only cult followers believe and crave.“A wicked nation that must be punished for its sins.”—How Dems view America, according to the American president.“When I’m re-elected, the best is yet to come.” You can take that to the bank—but only Deutsche Bank.How unsurprisingly ironic that a “law and order” president is also unlawful and disorderly.“America is not a racist country.” Now you know—thanks to Nikki Haley, former South Carolina governor, former Trump-appointed ambassador to the UN and a current favorite to be on the 2024 GOP ticket.At last count, Trump has visited his own properties 270 times as president. As a result, the Trump Organization receives a stream of private revenue from federal agencies and GOP campaign groups. So much for those early promises of Trump to “completely isolate” himself from the Trump Organization. Presumably, that didn’t include “resort fees” charged to Secret Service agents who protect the president—all 270 times so far.Prevaricator-in-chief (2016): “I may never see these places again, because I’m going to be working for you. I’m not going to have time to go play golf. Believe me.” Sure, who wouldn’t?Speaks volumes when the Republican Party’s only living former president, George W. Bush, is a no-show at the Republican National Convention. Perhaps “compassionate conservative” still seems too far left for this GOP iteration.“From Seattle and Portland to Washington and New York, Democrat-run cities across this country are being overrun by violent mobs.”—Republican South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, piling on with more Trump-induced fear.“The hard truth is … You won’t be safe in Joe Biden’s America.”—VP Mike Pence.“I want my daughter to grow up in President Donald Trump’s America.”—That was White House press secretary—and Tampa native—Kayleigh McEnany. Yes, she really said that—as her daughter will one day remind her.“(Trump is) the most pro-law-enforcement president we’ve ever had.”—Michael McHale, president of the National Association of Police Organizations. Shame on you.“I love you for being real.” Ivanka Trump’s reality-show shout-out to her father.“Donald will not rest until he has done all he can to take care of everyone impacted by this terrible pandemic.”—That was Worst Lady Melania Trump trying to spin her husband’s unconscionably incompetent, misinformation-laden, fatality-fraught handling of the coronavirus. It’s what you wind up saying when plagiarizing Michelle Obama won’t help.More Melania: “Total honesty is what we as citizens deserve from our president.” From the mouth of babes…High-profile election analyst Nate Silver—on the cusp of the 2016 presidential election—gave Donald Trump a 3 in 10 chance of winning. As of now, Silver calculates the odds of a Trump win at approximately 25 percent.The U.S. economy shrank at an annual rate of 31.7 percent during the April-June second quarter. It was the sharpest quarterly drop on record.Approximately one-third of the employees put on furlough in March were laid off for good by July.FBI stats show that 3.9 million firearms background checks were initiated in June—compared to 2.3 million in June 2019.4,200: The approximate number of people across Florida hospitalized with a COVID-19 diagnosis.Nearly 700 people are hospitalized in Tampa Bay.Tampa Bay positivity rates: Pinellas-3 percent; Manatee, Pasco-4 percent; Hillsborough-6 percent; Hernando, Polk-7 percent.Shortly before Trump gave his acceptance speech, Democratic VP nominee Kamala Harris nailed the ultimate bottom-line argument for Trump’s November defeat. “Donald Trump has failed at the most basic and important job of a president of the United States: He failed to protect the American people, plain and simple.” Keep doubling down.For Dems bracing for the Trump campaign’s post-convention assault on Biden, “socialism” and racial-injustice protestors—it could be worse. Lee Atwater is no longer available.“In counterpoint to Trump’s toxic narcissism, the Democrats framed their nominee, Joe Biden, not as some cinematic savior but as a humble ambassador of goodness, a regular-guy corrective who would arrive at the White House with a bucket and a mop, ready to wipe away the moral stain left by Trump, Jared Kushner and the rest of these reprobates.”—Frank Bruni, New York Times.No surprise that Facebook has already been besieged by misinformation that gives people the wrong details about when, where and how to vote.Meanwhile, Facebook is preparing steps to take just in case an election-losing Trump wrongly claims on the site that he had actually won. They include the possibility of a “kill switch” to shut off political advertising after Election Day.It’s well within the journalistic purview of media forums such as daily newspapers to include input from the other side of the political spectrum. That’s what op eds and letters to the editor are for. That’s a subset of free speech. Hear from the other side. And these days they’ll likely out themselves with obvious mischaracterizations and fact check-vulnerable misinformation. But nobody has an exclusive on the truth. Having said that, the Tampa Bay Times—battling bottom lines and an eroding reader base like never before—has taken to frequently outsourcing editorial input—most notably to the Wall Street Journal that reflects a non-progressive point of view. That includes lead editorials. Hugh Hewitt is tough enough to take, but the recent WSJ take on Trump “disruption” was an insulting exercise in rationalization, revisionism and sophistry. Yes, we are noticing.The next shot at the Hall of Fame for Tampa’s Lou Piniella, 77, will be December 2022. Ironically, his chances have not been helped by his tenure as a pre-Joe Maddon, losing manager for the home-market Tampa Bay Rays.“Football is not like other sports. It is blood, mucus, sweat and spit, bodily meals the virus craves. How can schools even be contemplating the risk when several medical advisers to the NCAA said it was ill advised?”—Buzz Bissinger, author of “Friday Night Lights.”“The pattern during this pandemic so far certainly suggests that the world could use much more female leadership.”—Andreas Kluth, Bloomberg Opinion.“Those of us who remember the 1990s know that QAnon-type conspiracy theories have been out there for decades; they’ve just become more visible thanks to social media and a president who attributes all his failures to the machinations of the ‘deep state.’”—Paul Krugman, New York Times.“(Trump has) devolved into preying upon fears and resentments with narcissism that nurtures only chaos and confusion.”—Michael Steele, former chairman of the RNC and a senior advisor for the anti-Trump Lincoln Project.“Do you seriously wonder, Mr. President, why this is the first time in decades that America has seen this level of violence? It’s you who have created the hate and the division.” Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler.“We have yet to see any activity intended to prevent voting or to change votes, and we continue to think that it would be extraordinarily difficult for foreign adversaries to change vote tallies.”—Deputy Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen.“I’m going to continue to keep Congress informed. But we’ve had a pandemic of information being leaked out of the intelligence community. And I’m going to take the measures to make sure that stops.”—John Ratcliffe, director of National Security.“What’s unfolding is a political Ponzi scheme. Inflated claims are being made about Trump’s economic “accomplishments” in order to persuade frightened and uncertain Americans to invest their votes in the scandal-plagued businessman’s re-election run.”—John Nichols, The Nation.“Ft. McHenry is meant to symbolize national unity. It was an act of defilement (for VP Mike Pence) to use this place for partisan political rhetoric intended to provoke division and fear.”—Eugene Robinson, Washington Post.“The Trump Organization has stalled, withheld documents, and instructed witnesses, including Eric Trump, to refuse to answer questions under oath.”—New York State Attorney General Letitia James, who has stepped up the inquiry into whether President Trump and the Trump Organization committed fraud by overstating assets to get loans and tax benefits.“In Trump’s perverse, political calculus, division equals addition.”—Democratic analyst David Axelrod.“When all is said and done, I am confident that the ban on oil drilling off of Florida’s coast will remain in place.”—Sen. Marco Rubio, on the moratorium on oil leasing in most of the eastern Gulf of Mexico that is set to expire in two years.“Nothing is off the table. We’re going to have to be inventive, innovative and bold.”—David Lechner, USF senior vice president for business and strategy, on proposed budget cuts of $36.7 million.“We can’t undo our past, but we can educate ourselves on that history so that we don’t make the same mistakes again. And we can use that history and that past to improve our police department and relationship with the community.”—Mayor Jane Castor.Imagine having to make a case for re-nomination and re-election and somehow work around a collapsing economy, nostalgia for George Wallace, a bromance with Vlad Putin and the globally-noted, derelict mismanagement of a pandemic that has negligently cost AMERICAN LIVES.  Nothing epitomized a Trump-fealty GOP convention quite like the McCloskeys—the low-caliber, St. Louis homeowners who pointed guns at protesters this summer.“The only way we’re gonna lose this election is if the election is rigged.”—That’s the rigger-in-chief reminding his base as well as those who value the sanctity of the U.S. Constitution that he won’t, if he loses, go unescorted. If so, may the optics be not unlike a perp walk.Rhetorical retread: “Don’t buy GOODYEAR TIRES—They announced a BAN ON MAGA HATS.” But about those Goodyear tires on the presidential limousine…“The stakes have never been higher, and we need your help to send a message that this is YOUR Country, NOT THEIRS.”—From a Mike Pence fund-raising email that cast the Joe Biden-Kamala Harris ticket as a “radical duo.”Hardly surprising that the White (Nationalist) House is pushing the Justice Department to crack down on affirmative action, a familiar GOPster target. Most recent case in point: The DOJ has accused Yale University of violating federal civil rights law by discriminating against Asian-American and white applicants. The devil is in the legal and partisan-pandering details—as the DOJ charges Yale with violating Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which the university is required to comply with as a condition of receiving millions of dollars in taxpayer funding.“The future of our country and indeed our civilization is at stake on Nov. 3.” Even the prevaricator-in-chief can on occasion speak the truth about America’s existential threat.Steve Bannon charged with fraud? How ironic. There would have been no need for an online crowdfunding “We Build the Wall” campaign had Mexico simply agreed to pay for it.That was then: Florida Lt. Gov. Jeanette Núñez spoke at the Trump coronation—but not in the way she had previously spoken. She had called him “The biggest con man there is” during the 2016 campaign—when she was backing Marco Rubio.Political Harlots Speaking for Trump: Campaign advisor Kimberly Guilfoyle, Donald Trump Jr.’s girlfriend and a former Fox News host, raged on about dystopian Democrats and reminded all minions that “President Trump is THE law and order president.” And then there was Tampa’s own Pam Bondi, now a co-chair of “Women For Trump.” She proceeded to attack Joe Biden for nepotism—in the name of a president who is the avatar of familial conflict of interest. She’s also the former Florida attorney general who took a 25-k re-election contribution from Trump while making the calculated call not to go after the fraudulent farce that was Trump University. Beyond embarrassing and infuriating.“He has no principles.” That was a long, long-time Trump insider, older sister and former Federal Judge Maryanne Trump Barry. And, oh yeah, “He doesn’t read.”Reportedly among those still on Trump’s self-serving, pardon list: Edward Snowden, the former national security contractor who ultimately fled to Russia after leaking information about government surveillance programs. Not that long ago, Trump had referenced him as “a spy who should be executed.” Too bad he can’t negotiate with his Russian handler to bring back Snowden—for a pardon or an execution.No, Trump is not trying to scare “suburban housewives” into voting for him to protect their neighborhoods from the “other” who want in via affordable housing. “This is an economic and real estate issue and not a racial one,” explained Paris Dennard, the senior communications adviser for black media affairs at the Republican National Committee. BTW, Dennard, an African-American, is a former CNN commentator who was fired last year after a Washington Post story reported that he had been expelled from Arizona State University in 2014 for sexual harassment. Dennard is also a member of the Black Voices for Trump Advisory Board. Yes, there really is such a thing.If Trump loses in November, will that presage the return of normalcy to the Republican Party? That could be wishful thinking. To many Trump enablers, a loss could pave the way for the ascendancy of someone such as hawkish, reactionary Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton.“What, Me Worry?”—Alfred E. Trump.U.S. mortality rate: 52 deaths per 100,000 people. New Zealand mortality rate: 0.45 deaths per 100,000 people.94,352: The number of ventilators that have been produced for the federal government’s stockpile since the start of the pandemic.Statewide: 25 percent of hospital beds and 21 percent of ICU beds are available. Tampa Bay: 23 percent of hospital beds and 18 percent of ICU beds are available.Hillsborough tourist tax collections for July: $1.56 million. In July 2019: $2.5 million.In the U.S., 4 million schoolchildren do not have internet access at home.A recent Gallup Poll found that one third of people would not get a COVID-19 vaccine when it’s ready—even if it were free.The S P 500 recently closed at an all-time high (3,508.01). Too bad the stock market is not the economy.38: The number (so far) of MLB games postponed because of positive tests with Miami, Philadelphia, St. Louis, Cincinnati and New York (Mets).“And make no mistake, united we can and will overcome this season of darkness in America.”—Joe Biden, in accepting the DNC presidential nomination—and underscoring that America, now saddled with an unhinged authoritarian, needs a unifier, not an idealistic revolutionary. Biden played his “Ally of the light, not the darkness” part well in juxtaposition to Trump’s alarmist law-and-order messaging that would have impressed George Wallace and Bull Connor.Fortunately for America, Biden has tested positive for empathy and competence.The original speaking order for the next-to-last night of the virtual Democratic National Convention was Vice Presidential nominee Kamala Harris and then wrapping up with the orator-in-chief, former President Barack Obama. That order was transposed at the suggestion of Obama who wanted Harris to have the culminating spotlight. Unsurprising, appropriate, classy move.That same Wednesday night featured Hillary Clinton, Obama and Harris. The overlapping, overwhelming theme: These are dire times and this is an urgent WARNING of what awaits if an energized, patriotic American electorate doesn’t pull this country back from nativist, authoritarian chaos that is undermining democracy.“Vote like our lives and livelihoods are on the line, because they are.”—Hillary Clinton.“This administration has shown that it will tear our democracy down if that’s what it takes to win.”—Barack Obama.“Donald Trump’s failure of leadership has cost lives and livelihoods.”—Kamala Harris.The telethon-convention strategically featured a VOTE theme, as well as young Americans, women and Dems of color—critical demographics for November that harken to the Obama-Biden coalition. And, BTW, the final night’s host, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, was spot-on.It speaks non-partisan, parlous volumes when a 74-signee letter from former national security officials in the Ronald Reagan and both Bush administrations endorses Biden. “We have concluded that Donald Trump has failed our country and that Vice President Joe Biden should be elected the next president of the United States,” said the heat-seeking missive. The signatories ranged from former Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel and former CIA Director Michael Hayden to former Director of National Intelligence John Negroponte and former U.S. Trade Representative Carla Hills.Talk of Sen. Elizabeth Warren joining a Biden Administration (Treasury Secretary) should please progressives. Especially if Massachusetts can do an effective (replacement) workaround with its Republican governor. There’s precedent.Populism, including the perverted version of a narcissistic, “anti-establishment” billionaire, is very much in play. It’s worth noting that Biden, a graduate of the University of Delaware, would be—if he wins—the first elected president to graduate from an American state university since Lyndon Johnson (Southwest Texas State College).A recent Marquette Law School poll showed Biden leading by 67 points among those planning to vote absentee by mail.Local input: Tampa’s own Congresswoman, Rep. Kathy Castor—now in her seventh term and a legislative player—was a member of the influential DNC platform committee. She chairs the Select Committee on the Climate Crisis and is an advisor on climate change for the Biden campaign.When the Dems take back the White House, it will be nigh on to historic. Just one incumbent president (George H.W. Bush) has been defeated in the last four decades.Word is that influential Democrats would like to see Florida Congresswoman Val Demings, the former Orlando police chief who was vetted for vice president, take a shot at Marco Rubio’s Senate seat.

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