by Greg Valliere, AGF Management Ltd.
PEOPLE WILL SAY THE DARNEDEST THINGS in order to get elected. Apparently mid-November is the time to get apologies out of the way, just before the election season heats up — and what better example do we have than Michael Bloomberg, who apologized this weekend for implementing “stop and frisk” tactics in New York that disproportionately targeted people of color.
BLOOMBERG DEFENDED THE POLICY for years after leaving office, but he was greeted with an avalanche of criticism last week from liberals who proclaimed they would never support him because of “stop and frisk.” The angry criticism sure looked like a game-changer, denying him a chance of winning the nomination. So Bloomberg flipped and apologized, a cynical reversal that strained credulity.
WHO ELSE IS SORRY?
Joe Biden has apologized, insincerely, for his ties to segregationist Senators, his treatment of Anita Hill, and his creepy touching of women, giving them un-wanted shoulder rubs. All of these apologies came after an uproar that forced Biden’s hand.
Elizabeth Warren has apologized to Native Americans for claiming to be one of them. She also has backtracked on “Medicare for all,” now suggesting that something less ambitious initially may be necessary. Next we expect a backtrack on her tax policies, which the Wall Street Journal asserted this past weekend would create a tax bracket above 100% !!
Pete Buttigieg has apologized for the rocky racial climate in South Bend, Ind., where African Americans have a bitter relationship with police. Bernie Sanders has apologized for sexual harassment among his staffers in the 2016 campaign. Amy Klobuchar has apologized for mistreating her staff. Deval Patrick undoubtedly will apologize for his close ties to the health care industry.
WHO ISN’T SORRY? Donald Trump, that’s who. He has badgered witnesses in the impeachment hearings, potentially inviting a new charge — witness intimidation. He has become an albatross for Republicans running in state elections, where his endorsement generates high turnout among Democrats. And he has outraged career military officials by pardoning soldiers convicted of war crimes.
BUT TRUMP IS NOT GOING TO APOLOGIZE FOR ANYTHING, despite growing exasperation by Republicans over his Tweets, which are making an impeachment defense more difficult. He won’t back down — “this is no time to go wobbly,” as Margaret Thatcher often said.
WHILE WE’RE RANTING this morning, just why did Trump go to Walter Reed Hospital on Saturday, an unscheduled visit that somehow was connected to his physical exam — which is more than three months away ?? Trump, 73, is obese, despises exercise, loves steak and fried food and has the most stressful job in the world — so we suspect there’s more to this story. But that’s just speculation, and we’re sorry for that.
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This post was first published at the AGF Perspectives Blog.
