A Day at the Racists

 It's probably too soon to speculate who will challenge Joe Biden for the 2024 presidential nomination. We're 20 months out, but given how election cycles supercede into each other, and Biden's multiple vulnerabilities, the speculation has already started. I expect a dogfight almost on the level of the 2016 primaries, but given that eight years ago all eyes were on George W. Bush's brother, I could be dead wrong about everything: 

Many eyes are on Gov. Ron DeSantis, the socially conservative firebrand. In many ways, he's the anti-Trump: young, politically experienced, a veteran, and not hindered by scandal and legal problems. Right now, DeSantis is stirring the culture war pot more than the ex-president, almost to the point that he exists solely to troll progressives. Assuming he runs, he's the narrow favorite at the moment.

Then there's the old, familiar face. The Trump campaign exists, and outside of his most ardent admirers, isn't gaining much momentum. He turns 77 this summer and looks every day of it. He's looked weary, his fiery rhetoric limited mostly to his fledging social media platform, Truth Social. That doesn't mean, however he doesn't have a clear path to the nomination. 

Then there's the traitor. Former Ambassador Nikki Haley's campaign announcement had the usual "liberal media" and "fight for freedom" clichés, but she knows Trump has a history of marginalizing and putting down women of color. In short, Nikki Haley is the most palatable GOP candidate. That's not saying much. 

In short, the right-wing echo chambers will start their quadrennial bickering soon enough. I'd prefer to be outside looking in.

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Random Notes, February 2023

 I try not to write consecutive "random notes" blog entries, but my mind has been in varying directions.

+ President Biden had to explain in person that UFOs don't exist. The GOP (and their basic cable propaganda arms) are obsessed with an errant balloon or two that might have been sent from China. This is nothing new, either. Biden's presidency, now 25 months in, remains a mixed bag. He gets my empathy, however as he often finds himself a sane man in a crazed world. 

+ This is perhaps the most challenging year I've ever had with substitute teaching. I underestimated the behavior problem at the junior high; where the seventh grade has an immaturity problem, the eighth grade is slightly more malicious. Not helping matters is a spike of COVID cases (remember those?) and an aforementioned dearth of subs. Neighboring districts pay better, but I remain loyal to a flaw. 

+ This year marked my 10th hosting and producing the Power Couples of Improv. For newer readers, PCI is my annual showcase of Chicago improvisers that are in romantic relationships with other improvisers, doing two-person improv sets. This year's show was very strong and made a small profit, but more than anything else it's just a fun show to put together. 

I promise I'll be more focused next time. 

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