Political Hits

Three issues came up this weekend that are much more “political” than “real”.  

Peace in Our Time

The first:  the so-called US peace plan for Ukraine.  This twenty-eight point plan was accepted by President Trump and Russia, and sent to Ukraine with an ultimatum that they needed to agree by Thanksgiving.  (That’s the US Thanksgiving, not Canadian Thanksgiving, or whatever holiday might coincide with Thanksgiving in Ukraine).  

The plan gives Russia 20% of Ukraine’s sovereign territory including areas not now under Russian control. It reduces the size of the Ukrainian military and guarantees that Ukraine will not ask NATO for membership. This weekend it was revealed as Russia’s plan, not America’s plan.  That shouldn’t be a surprise; it’s a virtual Ukrainian surrender.  What should be a surprise is that the Trump Administration didn’t just “pass it along” to Ukraine.  They put the imprimatur of the United States on it, declaring it “our” plan for Ukrainian peace.

Change the Subject

President Zelenskyy, after Trump’s White House meltdown a year ago, now knows how to “handle” the US President.  Instead of calling the plan out for what it is, Zelenskyy took the plan under advisement, and suggested that he would also consult with his European allies (who used to be our allies in NATO:  now, not so much).  He didn’t throw it out, he just “laid it on the table”, the legislative term for letting it go.  

Trump is desperate to change the subject after losing control of his MAGA Congress over the EPSTEIN FILES.  Here was the chance, a plan that Russia agreed to and his Administration didn’t care about.  So, if he could ram it down Zelenskyy’s throat, maybe there’s a Nobel Peace Prize at the end of the rainbow.  But, like the “Gaza Peace” negotiated a couple of months ago, this deal won’t work.  Ukraine isn’t Hamas, and won’t snatch defeat from the jaws of stalemate.  The world sees the Trump Plan for what it is:  a Russian plant, from an “unserious” President of the United States.  It will make real negotiations, where Putin is required to make sacrifices, even more difficult.

Running Red Lights

The second “hit”:  Democrats stated the obvious.  At the end of last week, several Democratic Congressional members, all veterans of the US Armed Forces, reminded current serving servicemen that they are not required to follow “illegal” orders.  In fact, they are duty bound to deny those orders.

Those Democrats got exactly what they were looking for.  Republicans went nuts, from Trump on down.  The President even suggested that they should face the death penalty for treason, saying they should be hanged.  All weekend, other Republicans made similar (but less tyrannical) threats.  The topic of the weekend was clear:  Trump is perilously close to violating the law in two different areas of the military.  He is already violating the Posse Comitatus Act of 1778, which bans the US Military from “policing” actions within the United States.  And now, the American military is in position to launch military action against Venezuela. That’s all been done without consulting the branch of government that actually declares war, the Congress.

So Democrats made a statement of fact:  each individual servicemember is personally responsible to obey legal orders, to not follow illegal orders, and to recognize the difference between the two.  It’s kind of like the Democrats reminding the country that we don’t run red lights.  It put a spotlight on actions of the Trump Administration that are clearly illegal.  

The First Shot

The third political “hit” is an internal Ohio issue.  Next year there will be several hotly contested statewide races.  While Ohio is dramatically Gerrymandered to the Republican advantage, in statewide elections it remains relatively close, 55% Republican to 45% Democrat (at worst).  Donald Trump will NOT be on the ballot next year, putting the pressure on Republicans to find a way to get their MAGA supporters to the polls.  

There is a Senate seat up for grabs.  Former Republican Lieutenant Governor John Husted was appointed to fill Vice President Vance’s vacant seat, and is running to win the remainder of the term.  Against him is the formidable Democrat Sherrod Brown, who lost his Senate seat to  Republican Bernie Moreno in the 2024 election.  Brown is guaranteed to be well financed, and ran well ahead of Democratic Presidential candidate Harris two years ago.  It’s likely to be a tough, expensive, and ugly campaign as the gloves come off once again here in Ohio.

Vivek versus Amy

But the more intriguing race will be for Governor.  Republicans are set on Vivek Ramaswamy, the billionaire who ran for President, supported Trump, and lost control of the DOGE boys to Elon Musk.  Ramaswamy was born in Cincinnati to Indian immigrants, and so has Ohio roots.  The former venture capitalist now lives in suburban Columbus.  

This week the Democrats also settled on their candidate, Dr. Amy Acton.  Acton gained notoriety as the State Director of Health during the Covid pandemic.  She took dramatic action to protect Ohio’s citizens, including closing schools, mandating mask wearing, and curtailing public events.  For the first couple of months, she had the powerful support of Republican Governor Mike DeWine, but as the anti-mask, anti-Vaxx movement grew stronger in his Republican Party, DeWine ultimately let Acton  resign to “take the fall” for his government’s actions.

Acton, who lives in the Columbus area city of Bexley, became a celebrity for Democrats, and has spent the past couple of years trying to stave off political rivals.  Her main competitor, once Brown declared for the Senate race, was former Congressman and Presidential candidate Tim Ryan.  Last week, Ryan declared himself out, leaving the field to Acton.

Anti-Vaxx

Acton is a polarizing figure in Ohio.  Republicans hope that can use “anti-pandemic” emotions to drive voters to the polls.  This week they introduced a bill in the legislature to make Hepatitis B vaccination “optional” for school children.  In fact, not only would they allow parents to exempt their children from the vaccine, but they would also require schools to allow unvaccinated children to remain in school during a disease outbreak.  

It might seem like a typical MAGA-Republican move, one that Ohioans are growing used to with our heavily Gerrymandered legislature.  But it also is an opening “shot” in the Governor’s campaign.  Ramaswamy is a man of Indian ancestry running in a state that has never elected a person of color Governor.  He’s the standard bearer of the Party that is least likely to vote for one.  Republicans have to find a way to “gin up” their voters.

What better way than to bring back the “horrors” of the Covid pandemic.  The entire state will get to re-litigate the emergency actions that DeWine, and Acton, took to protect citizens five years ago.  It shouldn’t be a surprise that Republicans are introducing anti-vaxx legislation. It’s to motivate their own anti-vaxx voters.