Abdul El-Sayed says he is a progressive and not a democratic socialist, but will it make a difference in November?

 On the news this morning, the not-yet-called Democratic Michigan Senate Primary...a very close victory for Abdul El-Sayed. El-Sayed says he is a progressive and not a democratic socialist, but will it make a difference in November? The question that is hanging out there is whether El-Sayed will be painted as a democratic socialist and ripe for deceptive and vicious attack ads by GOP candidate Mike Rogers, which will doom the seat for Democrats. It will take an enormous effort on behalf of El-Sayed to educate unsophisticated voters that he is not a democratic socialist but is indeed a pro-capitalism progressive seeking reforms, not revolution. El Sayed has made it clear and is on the record as being in favor of capitalism, the kind of democracy, and the form of government we once had for 250 years.

El Sayed was not endorsed by the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), whose platform proposes to upend both, replacing capitalism with socialism and replacing our checks-and-balances system with a parliamentary form of governance, among other very controversial planks. https://www.youtube.com/shorts/AJCcNbFfLd4

The GOP is already salivating at their prospects by attacking those adhering to or looking like they are adhering to the Democratic Socialists of America's platform.' There is beginning to be a realization among voters that the Democratic Socialists of America's platform is very close to communism and is very vulnerable to being charged as that.

The DSA is more extreme than their kin in Europe and is nothing like Bernie Sanders' benign version. This is why we are seeing more and more progressive candidates distancing themselves from the DSA as fast as they can and self-described moderate and progressive Democrats positioning themselves as "not the DSA."

The media is reporting this controversy as a self-defeating internal party fight. There is one, but the Democratic Party can survive if DSA candidates clarify what parts of the DSA plank they do not support.

The theater of the absurd performed by Trump and supporters as they abuse power and the legal system

Sometimes I get the feeling that politics is the Theatre of the Absurd, as drama and playacting fuel hyperbolic lies, half-truths, outrageous, unproved, unevidenced accusations, manufactured issues, show-trial-like hearings, and crises to grab headlines. It just adds to the frustration and feeling that politics is hopeless and bewildering, and makes you feel anxious, so why bother to care or counter?  Despite this, those who support the rule of law have no choice but to soldier on and call out such abuses of power and the legal system if democracy is to survive intact.

Case in point: The hearing held recently in which  Dr. Anthony Fauci and MAHA locked horns was the GOP at their"performative" best to cater to the hardcore supporters of the anti-vaxx movement. Nothing substantive was accomplished, and by taking the 5th, Dr. Fauci avoided traps the GOP tried to lay for him to make a statement they could use and manipulate in a state court hearing.  That's what the initial spat at the beginning of the hearing, resulting in removal of Fauci's attorney, was about.  There are still MAHA-inspired cases accusing Fauci of unevidenced wrongdoing pending in state courts, even though Fauci has the protection from federal cases due to the pardons Biden provided. He is not shielded from state laws.  Not to let go of this debacle, the GOP is planning to hold Fauci in contempt, compounding one abuse of power with another one.

 https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jul/29/anthony-fauci-senate-covid-hearing-takeaways

 Like so much of Trump's revenge tour, with nearly all such accusations presented without supporting evidence or legal basis being thrown out by judges, it is just another tool to use in political propaganda warfare. It is used to make a point and to punish the disloyal to Trump and MAGA by forcing their targets to spend emotional energy and money on their defense. The practice is plain and simple: an abuse of power to which the judicial system has wised up to and is referring Trump's attorneys to local bar associations for disbarment. 

 Since the 2020 election, judges have not tolerated the political theatre of the absurd in their courtrooms, though disciplinary action takes time. Disbarment of lawyers has resulted,, first in the wake of 2020's "stop the steal" ,  and now again in numerous cases in Trump's second term.

 https://www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/trump-2020-attorneys-face-disbarment-suspension-ahead-of-2024-election/     

 Last month, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche’s alleged misbehavior was referred to the New York State Bar for disciplinary review regarding a pending "fraud upon the court" inquiry.  A separate IRS litigation ruling and complaints also targeted Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward at the District of Columbia Bar. 

https://www.politico.com/news/2024/09/26/rudy-giuliani-disbarred-washington-00181183

"Theatre of the Absurd, dramatic works of certain European and American dramatists of the 1950s and early ’60s who agreed with the Existentialist philosopher Albert Camus’s assessment, in his essay “The Myth of Sisyphus” (1942), that the human situation is essentially absurd, devoid of purpose. The term is also loosely applied to those dramatists and the production of those works. Though no formal Absurdist movement existed as such, dramatists as diverse as Samuel Beckett, Eugène Ionesco, Jean Genet, Arthur Adamov, Harold Pinter, and a few others shared a pessimistic vision of humanity struggling vainly to find a purpose and to control its fate. Humankind in this view is left feeling hopeless, bewildered, and anxious." Enclopedia Britannica.     

Some personal reflections on the anti vaxx movement

Here is my view of MAHA anti-vaxxers. Some diseases can kill or leave you seriously disabled if you survive. Millions have been saved by vaccines. I spent summers confined to a few in my immediate neighborhood in my youth to avoid polio, and only after the vaccine could I again attend movies, go swimming, and even go to church gatherings. In my membership beginning in the 1990's in Rotary, there were still members who were survivors of polio, so Denver Rotary led Rotary's worldwide attempt to stamp out the disease with our Polio Plus project carried forth by Rotary International.. We did, and the Gates Foundation helped, but now some want to reverse that. It is sure insanity. Fauci almost single-handedly broke through and found the treatments for AIDS. However, MAHA wants you to risk your lives because of a few paranoid, uneducated science deniers, parents looking for a culprit other than themselves or their own DNA to blame for the learning disabilities of their kids, and then launch a disinformation campaign to duck data and research results  that debunked their theories or find someone to blame... If they want to put their own children in danger, that is their choice, but to try to force us to swallow their dangerous BS is the problem. Some people do not believe in science or have other motivations, religious, or just plain failed high school biology, or forgot or never learned anything about viruses.(When I was a child, we did not even know about viruses.) They, the uneducate and those looking for an explanation that makes them feel good about themselves, are the victims of this anti-vaxxing proselytizers. Then there are those like political opportunists who ride this issue because it is another one they can falsely lob at those who do not support Trump. They were on display at these recent hearings. Rand Paul is a libertarian who never found a government program he liked and is an ophthalmologist, but he puts his ideologically based politics first and ignores whatever he learned in med school. The eyes may have got it, but infectious diseases, viruses, seemed to have been forgotten. 

What I do appreciate is the ability and freedom to refuse a vaccine to which I am allergic...and my allergist told me not to get: the flu vaccines based on eggs.I am allergic to eggs...seriously. The result would be worse than the flu. I learned that he wasn't kidding when I took the swine flu vaccine. That was the last flu shot I ever took. The new methods used for COVID that avoid the egg stuff are a savior. I am so grateful that mNRA technology works.(MAHA paranoids fear this one) I am high risk for COVID, mostly due to my advanced age, and I had no reaction at all. MNRA may also let me take a flu vaccine someday. Each to his own, but what is good for you and me should be based on recommendations of a person's physician, not on some politically motivated anti-science advocate looking for a political opportunity to thump the table and mislead the public because it serves a political purpose, as it was in that disgusting hearing attempt the other day.. Trump's greatest accomplishment was the fast-track COVID vaccine, but he cannot even boast about it because of the MAHA ideological and science-deniers involved in politics who are so grateful for RFK, Jr. spreading the same dangerous message..

So far as searching for blame for a child's learning disabilities, a parent's time is better spent in providing therapy and help and a whole lot of patience and understanding.  Leave that search for cause in the hands of professionals, instead. 

Stop blaming yourself or trying to find someone else to blame.  It is a far better way to spend time and effort to concentrate on helping a child and other children succeed than to be off on a blame crusade..  I fear that motivates much of the anti-vaxxer's interests.  I can say that because as a mother of 3 and 4 grandchildren, I have been there with diagnosis and therapy at a time before and during the discovery of such disabilities in my own family. They may not turn out to be your ditto or what you wished, but success and talents come in many different packages.

I saw a time when a child tested so low, she was considered "a slow learner, learning challenged" in the terms of the time. But with new techniques of diagnosis and with intense therapy privately and in specialized schools, and the use of the ADA disabilities act, she graduated from public high school and later from a 4-year college. She found a profession where her disabilities were an asset, and she had compensated with other talents::  focus, memory, patience, learning from watching what others were doing, creativity,  and applying these to her own tasks.

She was fortunate: we had the means to afford what seemed best therapy at the time....and for that reason, I am such an advocate for such publicly funded schools that provide those alternative ways to learn, such as the Montessori methods, and for learning disabled specialists to be on hand at all schools. I am particularly grateful for the ADA legislation that permitted her to take exams in ways that let her use her compensating talents to show she had indeed learned the subject matter. 

 

The answer to extremists on both the right and the left iis a vigorous pro-democracy movement

The recent success of both MAGA and the Democratic Socialists of America is an alarm bell clanging loudly that extremism in the guise of sheep-bleating appealing messages is wolves in sheep's clothing who lust after the manipulation or outright end of democracy, including replacement by autocracy,  to gain control for their narrow and defined interests. The answer to combatting extremism from both left and right, my friends, is to fight like hell for democracy as we have known it. Reform to strengthen it, cherry-pick some pubic policy ideas from either camp you like or object to, but be glad those of you in the middle can still have the ability to make your voices heard now and in the future.  Democracy is a benefit that includes all of those that are governed ....not just a benefit for one class, or race, or religion, that provides a level field for those aspiring to get their priorities on the table for consideration without fear of retribution and punishment by government.  It is inclusive of all, not just a designated group that is limited to those with shared self-interests.

This opinion is based on a theory that the two-party system requires compromise early in the election cycles and that essentially Americans are not inclined to support extremist platforms hook, line, and sinker. They are mostly looking for problem-solving. There is a significant middle that sloshes back and forth between the two parties, sometimes leaning to the right and sometimes to the left, sometimes retaining party affiliation or registering independent. Ideas from the extremes are cherry-picked and included under a party's umbrella if they narrowly focus on a pragmatic solution to a problem that becomes a voter-pollled demand to fix. https://mufticforumblog.blogspot.com/2026/06/the-big-tent-of-two-party-system-is-not.html

 At this moment, this is becoming more and more evident as progressive candidates hoping for party and independent support have been quick to deny they support the entire Democratic Socialists agenda.,which includes the end of capitalism. However, ;rogressive Democrats do share with the Democratic Socialists concerns about the affordability of health care, gas at the pump, grocery prices, rent, and utilities, and many even embrace universal health care and rail at the stranglehold the ultrarich have on the economy and resulting income inequality,  The impact of the Democratic Socialist will be absorption into progressive wing of the Democratic party of some specific issues and public policies, and a rejection of other specifics in the Democrtic Socialist platform.

The MAGA base is another case, given the hard core cult like loyality to Trump himself and a current purge of those not deemed loyal enough. It is not so much focused on bringing more into their umbrella, but ridding the GOP of non-MAGA and suppressing the opposition with control of media and the process of rules of who can vote and who counts it.  It ridicules the affordability issue at its great peril. Nearly every public policy plank in the MAGA platform is viewed negatively by at least 60  percent of voters polled . Instead, iMAGA is attempting to appeal to social and racial attitudes to consolidate their base and the structure of gerrymandering and hyper-federal control of government power, wielding the weapons of fear and favor..  Their leader is approved by only 39% of voters per current polling. 

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More.......

The answer to the emergence of these extremists is to reveal hidden or open agendas and to promote, not just protect, the structure of democracy we have had for 250 years and to strengthen it.   At issue with both extremists is who controls the policies and powers of government: the people of all stripes who have the ability and chance to influence the direction of leaders, or is it the rule in use of power and policies by one ideology, or "strong leader," an autocracy, who issues edicts and orders as laws to be followed?.  

 Both Democratic Socialists and MAGA have it as a strategy to alter the form of representative democracy as we have known it and reshape it to their advantage. If not the form is altered, there are other ways to subvert and reshape it to help accomplish their goals. Their proposals are not equal or alike in the details, but do share some characteristics. Both Democratic Socialists and MAGA are about what kinds of control over the issues of who can and how people vote. Both are essentially anti-democratic because they subtly or openly advocate that one particular economic or social or racial class should rule over the rest of us using the tools of fear and/or favor.  

MAGA's agenda is subtle and often unspoken, but by their deeds, actions, and suppression of opposition's rights, and those they try to suppress are the tell-tales.  To get where they are going is a matter of deduction. On the other hand, the platform of the Democratic Socialists of America is right there for you to read at https://program.dsausa.org/.  Do a Google or ChatGPT search for better bluntness and clarity.   The question becomes what part of this platform does a candidate running as a democratic socialist support. It may vary a great deal, but the exposure is fair game and easy to do.  When it comes to pinning down MAGA candidates, watch for evasion and code words and dog whistles.  That is much more of a challenge, since overt racism is still not politically acceptable, making it hard to get at to what extent it is a factor. Instead, there is more reliance on deduction of observed impacts, practices, and public policy issue stances.

The platform of the Democratic Socialists of America is now under attack by MAGA, and a walk through Google.com  reveals their real goals: restructuring our form of democracy to give power, not to all of the people, but to one economic class, and the elimination of capitalism. There will be plenty of others from the right to decry this platform and call it out.  It is all there in black and white and in print. and easy to do, but in calling it out, the challenge should be truthful and not attach planks onto the backs of every candidate who claims affiliation with Democratic Socialists.  The movement may have a written platform, but adherence is not uniform.    However, there are those in the left who will correctly call out the MAGA movement's portion that empowers white nationalists,, while suppressing those who rightfully object to attempts to control their rights to vote,  or to participate in governance to which they have been entitled by law to do so, and puts an undo burden on large swathes of women and elderly who will find themselves disengranchised by the harshness of the SAVE act to prove citizenship.

On the other hand, the MAGA platform is also an attempt to change the democracy of rule, by and for the people, to rule by one party for the benefit of one leader, for the benefit of a specific cultural/racial group and suppression of those who oppose that. What is driving it is mostly not spoken, or in print,  but what, in dulcet tones, it promotes if rule by white Christians by their actions.  There is no written platform other than a carefully phrased blueprint in the documents of Project 2025.  IN that regard, the MAGA movement is more insidious than Democratic Socialists, but what issues and practices MAGA promotes are also just as destructive of democracy.  The old "by their deeds you will know them," like the replacement of those of color in the halls of DC and the Pentagon, and actions of ICE and others trampling civil rights, such actions are the marker of a movement whose focus and purpose is to boost those of a certain race and gender.  Democracy is government by participation of all of the people, not just for a chosen socio/econommic/racial group.

Neither Democratic Socialists nor MAGA represent the views of most Americans, who are either not aware of how their control of who governs them is being taken away or are too absorbed with day-to-day life to pay attention. Effective politicians may make hay by painting a political party as taken over by extremists or name-calling them as fascists or communists, but it is not that simple. Simple memes and slogans are for simple minds.  Take the time to think and demand answers.  Ask individual candidates a question: do you want one party, one person, to tell you what to vote for and to disadvantage you if you speak out, or are afraid to. My guess is, most Americans would want to be in control, and not controlled by  some one-party, one-ideology, with overt or hidden agendas.  Americans as a whole are just not into political science or ideology so long as they can vote and have a say.   The NO Kings marches, anti-ICE demonstrations against concentration camps, outrage against ICE brutality,  and the demonstrators' success in changing the outcome show that the power is still with the people. However,  if either Democratic Socialists or MAGA have their way, that too, the will of the people, can be shifted away in favor of the rule of one economic class or racial/cultural class.   Democracy is a system that allows for all to be heard to convince others to follow without fear of reprisals.. Democracy is not for the benefit of selected groups to lead and control over others they disdain.. Neither Democratic Socialists nor MAGA look to govern in the benefit of all in their jurisdictions with even-handed fairness. Instead, both favor benefitting some groups over others. MAGA even uses or tolerates threats and fear with unevidenced pretenses to enforce loyalty beyond the ballot box. 

The answer to both extremes is for the great American middle to become aware and alarmed by either extreme end and to support candidates who will represent all Americans, not just their ideological kin, and who support the institutions of Democracy that have served us well. None should rule out reforming those parts that need reform, especially those concerning grift, corruption,  and exploitation of the weaker, however.  There are loopholes and ways through and around laws unimagined by our founders.

 In micro terms, when specific planks of the extremists are frightening to many, each candidate must be asked if they approve what their ideology/religion promotes.  Step one is learning what either extremist movement truly sees as their end game and how they strive to empower a narrow interest that suppresses yours.  Step two is to support and elect candidates who, likewise, support democracy as we have known it for 250 years, which, in the long run, keeps all people being governed with fair and equal exercise of democracy. 

The alternative to democracy is rule by one or a few, with rights of the opposition suppressed by various means and degrees.  This past year and a half illustrates what happens when those put their trust in one person, and that person goes off the rails, and there is no good recourse, except the ballot box.  Trump was elexted in 2024 by promoses of no more foreign wars, and a reduction of the cost of lving: He has now done the opposite, and given his rule by fear and favor, there is no way out of this excepy by fair and free elections, not elections with voting and tabulaiton contorlled by his federal loyalists, but by the fragmentation and folliwing the rules laid out in every jurisdiction to ensure that the vote and count are open with many bi-partisan eyes on the process and not under threat by armed representatives of the federal government.

What is MAGA. How do you define it? The British tried to explain it in their recent AI version of their famous encyclopedia, but it was mostly a description and history of its trail of beliefs. https://www.britannica.com/topic/MAGA-movement. 

Merriam-Webster :political movement calling for strict limits on immigration and a return to policies and practices in place before globalization and especially before the era of globalization that began in the late 20th century"

Wikipedia :'Defining elements of MAGA include Republicans who voted for Trump in the 2020 presidential election and deny the results of that election,^[2] cult-like behavior as followers of Trump, ^[3] political radicalisation, white nationalism,^[4] anti-immigrant beliefs (including nativism), an emotionally intense sense of shared identity, resentment of specific groups of people, identity fusion, moral self-righteousness, belief in social dominance orientation, and prejudiced aggressiveness.^[

My own definition and a pretty sure indication you are a MAGA if you wear the red MAGA hat and still claim the 2020 election really elected Trump.  Election denialism is a mantra that those loyal to MAGA and Trump must utter to qualify as a member of the movement.  It is more than just a pledge of allegiance to Trump and a membership ritual in MAGA. It is MAGA's foundation and rationale of the Jan 6th attempted coup, of federal one-party takeover of elections determining who can vote, how they can vote, and who counts and keeps control of the ballots per the SAVE ACT, and the basis for ICE cruelty,use of violence, paramilitarism,  and concentration camp internments. Evidence is not important to MAGA.  Just "believe"  those who are brown and black are the likely culprits.

Election deniers on the ballot in Colorado:

 https://electiondeniers.org/colorado/#state-candidates-section

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