Democrats Share The Love In Chicago

Monday August 26th, 2024

My Dear America: 

I have been watching both Democratic and Republican Conventions for a long time now, starting with the enormously important 1960 election of John Kennedy over Richard Nixon.  

I have seen exciting spectacles in which Candidates of one specific party fought like hell with other members of their own party for their party's Nomination for the right to fight like hell with the nominees of the opposite party to be the President of the United States.  

I have seen backstabbing deals and Love Fests in which American Politicians did whatever they could to show that they were the right people for the Job of American President.

Although I have watched many Conventions in the past I have never seen anything close to what I saw in the Democratic Convention just concluded last week.  This past week's Democratic Convention was the kind of Convention that Politicians dream about attending and speaking at.  

It was without a doubt one of the most well managed operations that I have ever seen.  I know that there were some nights when the speeches and other stage presentations and videos took more time than was expected.  That seemed to really bother MSNBC's Lawrence O'Donnell  but the excess time span certainly didn't bother me or many others when everything was put in perspective.

Although some other things happened on Night One, most of Night One was in Celebration of President Joe Biden, whose Grace and Unselfishness was on display big time during his Monday Night Speech.  As Joe gave his speech on Monday night and was celebrated by some of the Convention speakers, it occurred to me that President Biden, although he was not the Nominee, had pulled somewhat of a fast one on the Democrats.  

Although some Democrats including Nancy Pelosi had not only called for Joe Biden to Step out of the race for President, some had also called for an "Open Convention" in which Democrats would do as they had done many times before, which would have been to fight like Cats and Dogs and probably come out of the Convention with very little Unity and probably, like many times before, Lose The Presidential Election.

Yes Joe Biden had dropped out of the Race For President in time and he had smartly immediately thrown his support to Kamala Harris who had given her full support to President Biden throughout his extremely successful Presidency.  

Following President Biden dropping out of the Campaign and Kamala Harris dropping in, the support the Vice President has received from every section of the Democratic Party has been truly Extraordinary.  Seemingly there was no Democratic Opposition to her running for President on the Democratic Ticket.  She received an Avalanche of support from Democrats.  

As was evident at the Chicago Convention, and was also demonstrated in the 2020 Democratic Primary Race the Democratic Party was and still is loaded with Political Talent who probably could have legitimately challenged Kamala Harris for the Presidential Nomination but thanks largely to Joe Biden, would certainly not be doing that in 2024.

With Tears in my eyes I heard Joe Biden tell the Democrats and all Americans

"I Gave My Best To You" and Really Mean it.  

After his Dynamic Speech on Monday Night Joe Biden Left town and left the rest of the Convention to his chosen candidate and her many supporters.  My head is still spinning from the incredible number of awesome speakers all singing the praises of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris and what a Great Job they have both done over the past 3 and a Half years of their Administration.  

There were so many Great Speakers that I hesitate to mention them for fear of missing names.  Some of the most Impressive speakers that I saw were Pete Buttigieg, Hakeem Jeffries, Cory Booker, Andrea Ocasio Cortez and Wes Moore.  I believe that these five and many more are destined for Greatness in the Democratic Party in the future.

But in talking about Speakers who can do any better than the Tag Team of Michelle and Barack Obama.  I am always blown away by the Oratorical Skill of these two people.  Its just too bad that Michelle dislikes Politics so much that she would never want to pursue a Political career.  I would love to see both of the Obamas given serious consideration if and when Supreme Court Nominations are in order. Both Michelle and Barack gave outstanding speeches this time around as they have in other Major Conventions.  What a One Two Punch they gave the convention on Tuesday Night.

Although they were on Two different nights, Bill And Hillary Clinton did their amazing Political speeches which were both well received.

Wednesday Night Tim Walz clearly showed the Convention why Kamala picked him to be her Vice Presidential Candidate.  Not only did he set the Convention into a Frenzy with his speech but Coach Walz was so well liked by his grown up Minnesota High School Football Players that he coached that many of them showed up on the stage at the end of his speech.

Kamala closed out the Convention with a Fully Packed Explanation of what she has planned for what will happen in America if and when she wins the Presidency. She started her speech with a thank you to her husband on her Anniversary for the incredibly loving speech he had given at the Convention.

I think that considering everything that happened in just the last month DNC Leader, Jamie Harrison and his staff that put this Convention Together in the space of a couple of weeks once Joe Biden made Convention Preparation totally different deserve a lot of credit.  Jamie Harrison and his crew really did an outstanding job of making what could have been a disaster into a Democratic Convention that I think was the best of all times.   

I found out a long time ago that the best way to watch both the Democratic and Republican conventions is on C Span, where you get Gavel to Gavel coverage and no breaking in on a speech by commentators from MSNBC, CNN or any other News Organizations.  When each nights Convention Events were over with I switched to MSNBC for Commentary from the MSNBC Hosts.  Then I switched over to Colbert's Live Show from Chicago where he featured Nancy Pelosi, AOC, Hakeem Jeffries and Pete Buttigieg.

All in all, The Democratic Convention was really a Bang Up Job by everybody involved and now it is on to Grass Roots Live and In person Door Knocking and Phone calling and helping Kamala Harris and Tim Walz win this thing.

It is certainly looking good for the Democrats right now.  

Lets just hope that it stays that way and that after November we can look forward to an Intelligent and Savvy Black Woman in The White House with a Coach by her side and A Democracy Still intact.

Sincerely Yours

Jerry Gallagher  

Singing A Song Of Democracy Dedicated To Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, Tim Walz And Those Other Democratic All Stars Who Will Make This Week's Democratic Convention Spectacular

 Sunday, August 18th, 2024

My Dear America:

It was many years ago that I wrote the first lyrics to "I'm A Democrat Til I Die." I wrote it and sang it in my area of the Lehigh Valley in Pennsylvania with the hope that it might help get John Kerry Elected President.

Unfortunately the few times that I got to sing my song at local Democratic events had very little effect on the John Kerry Campaign.  

Republicans unfortunately invented "Swiftboating" and managed to turn John Kerry from a War Hero, which he was, into a War Zero, which he wasn't.

I remember recording a version of my song with my Buddy, Larry, who I have been singing with for what seems like several lifetimes now.  It was a pretty good recording, I thought, done by my friend Bob, who really knew his way around recording and music.  

Larry and I also recorded a You Tube Video of a version of "I'm a Democrat" with updated lyrics praising Hillary Clinton and Slamming Donald Dump during the 2016 Campaign.  Unfortunately my song didn't do Hillary any good either.  

Luckily for me I did have some success in writing updated versions of my song for Barack Obama and Joe Biden's Campaign.  I never got many chances to sing the Obama and Biden versions of my song so I can't really claim that my song brought these two Candidates success but my intentions were good, however.

Certainly this week's Democratic Convention appears to be destined to be a Joyful and Hopeful Experience.  Although what happened to Joe Biden prior to the Convention was pretty terrible, what we have all seen since Joe Dropped Out and Kamala Dropped In has certainly indicated that President Biden did the right thing at the right time and will be forever remembered as a Shining Light in the Democratic Party for all he has not only accomplished over the past 3 and a half years but all that he has accomplished in his life, so far.  

Democrats will always love Joe Biden and on Monday night at the Convention President Biden will be honored like no other Democrat has been honored before.

Democrats are on fire for this Democratic Convention and this Democratic Campaign.  As we turn our attention toward the most important Democratic Convention of our lives I want to throw my two cents in by presenting my song on this Blog and also sing a version of it on my Podcast.

To be honest, I had not thought about singing the song on the Podcast but my Musician Friends, Larry and Dave encouraged me to do it.

I have to admit that I have borrowed the tune from a song that I heard Ry Cooder sing on one of his albums called "I'm a Methodist Til I Die".

So Here Goes:

                                        I'm A Democrat Til I Die

                                                     (Chorus)

                      I'm a Democrat, I'm A Democrat, I'm A Democrat Til I Die

                             I'm a Democrat, I'm a Democrat Til I Die

                        JFK And Jimmy C.  Barack Obama, Bill and Hillary

                              I'm a Democrat I'm a Democrat Til I die

                                                     (1)

                       I Never Voted For a Republican For President

                              And I Really Don't Think I Ever Will

                      I'd Rather Vote For a Democrat For President

                       They Care About People And they Always Will

                          

                                               Chorus

                                                   (2)

                       Joe Biden Was Our President For Four Years 

                      He Did a Good Job up until that Damn Debate

                             He Helped us get through Covid

                            His Job Numbers they were Great

                He even got the Hostages Home From The Russian State

                                               Chorus

                                                  (3)

                      Kamala Harris is our Candidate for President

                                    In November of 2024

                                 She's Beautiful and Brilliant

                                    We Think She's great

                  We Democrats Couldn't Really Love Her Any More

                                              Chorus

                                                (4)

                  Tim Walz Accomplished A Lot in his Life, so far

                  Teacher, Coach, Sergeant Major, Congressman

                   Governor of Minnesota, Dad and Husband Too

             When He's vice President He will know Just What To Do

                               Repeat Chorus Twice

                   Have a Great Convention Democrats

Sincerely Yours

Jerry Gallagher

Thank You Coach Walz For A Great Start To What We All Hope Will Be Truly A Season Of Political Winning

Saturday, August 10th 

My Dear America:

When I think back just a few weeks to the sadness and despair that I felt and I think pretty much every Democrat felt, I want to thank Kamala Harris and her newly chosen running mate, Governor Tim Walz of Minnesota for genuinely improving our lives and almost completely wiping out those feelings of impending Democratic disaster and doom that we were all feeling.

Certainly, we all have to be realistic and recognize that we are not out of the woods by any stretch of the imagination just yet. but after the incredible political week we have had since last Monday we have genuine reason to be Hopeful that on November 5th we will still be a country ruled by Democracy and not by an Angry Selfish Despot.

I genuinely thank Kamala Harris and Tim Walz for showing us that we are still capable in the Democratic Party of having Successful Candidates.

I was reminded recently by a good friend that I certainly changed my Tune very quickly after Biden Left the Presidential Campaign and quickly arranged for Kamala Harris to run for the Presidency with his blessing.  

My friend, Mickey was right.  I did change horses in midstream very quickly and like many other American Democrats i turned my attention and my support to the Vice President of the United States, Kamala Harris just as quickly as Biden did.  I didn't do it lightly or initially with very much Joy but as I have seen the Grace and Talent and Genuine Love and Respect that Joe Biden and Vice President Harris have shown to each other it is clearer to me every day that Joe Biden made the right choice in stepping down and passing the Presidential Campaign Torch to his Vice President.

First of All, It will forever piss me off that the American People (At Least according to Polls which I will always suspect were not accurate) appeared to be stupid enough to turn over the reins of government to a Reckless Madman Megalomaniac who had proved in his first term to everyone except Republicans that he either didn't know what he was doing or knew exactly what he was doing was wrong but genuinely didn't care. 

On the other Hand, Joe Biden had taken the reins of power after Donald Trump's efforts to keep from being a Loser turned into an extremely Dangerous Invasion of the Capitol with his Followers feverishly looking to harm people like Mike Pence, Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer, among others.  Although seemingly responsible Republicans initially called out Donald Trump's conduct shortly after the Capitol Invasion, their responsible rhetoric and conduct did not last very long. These days, despite the fact that they all know what Donald Trump is and will do if he gets in the White House Again, They blindly seem to follow him once again.

Every responsible thing that Joe Biden did during his extremely successful Administration was either done without Republican assistance or with a minor amount of Republican assistance.  Republicans responded to those Republicans who assisted and supported Biden in any way by driving them out of their Congressional seats and in many cases driving them out of their party.  Some of the people responsible for this Reprehensible Behavior included Mitch McConnell and Lindsey Graham, both formerly good friends of Biden in another Era.

It will forever be astonishing to me that Joe Biden could do all he did, including helping America control Covid, sign into law some of the most needed legislation with almost no Republican support and help the Republic of Ukraine get the support they needed to avoid A Russian Takeover and still be behind Donald Trump in the Polls.  It made no sense to me that Americans would support Donald Trump over Joe Biden.  That will never make sense to me.

But be that as it may, Joe Biden finally was willing to face the fact that although Donald Trump lied every time he opened his mouth at their first Debate in June all anyone seemed to care about was Joe's less than stellar debate performance.  Although I think he clearly showed over and over that he still had it when it came to operating on a Presidential Level, no one in the media or in the Republican Party was going to let him slide on that Goddam Debate. In the end it was Democrats who influenced Joe to face facts and although it must have been extremely painful for him to quit the campaign he certainly had worse things happen to him and his family in his life.

But like the All Star that Joe Biden is and Always was, he finally pulled the plug and made the advanced age of Donald Trump the main campaign issue and certainly screwed the Republican Party in the process.  

Joe came out strongly in his backing of Kamala Harris and she has exploded onto the scene just like Obama did in 2008.  She doesn't have a lot of time but she certainly has enough time to earn her Democratic Stripes.  So far the reaction of Democrats to her is a feeling of relief that things are finally looking up for Democrats and they certainly are looking up.

There was a lot of Speculation about who Kamala was going to choose as her Vice Presidential Running Mate.  Trump had chosen Extremist and Ass Kisser, JD Vance, who was immediately inspiring "Buyers Remorse" in the Republican Party.

Actually the field of Vice Presidential Prospects in the Democratic Party was pretty extensive and impressive.  Kamala Harris had some really talented individuals to choose from.  A few like Gretchen Whitmer and Roy Cooper had taken their names off the prospect list but the list was still lengthy and loaded with Democratic Talent.

Pete Buttigieg, Josh Shapiro, Gavin Newsom.  Jesus, the list was endless.

Although, I would have loved Pennsylvania Governor, Josh Shapiro to be the Chosen One I would still have been disappointed that my state would be losing him at a time when we needed a strong Governor to keep Republicans in line in my state.

In the end Vice President Harris, after careful consideration chose Tim Walz, The Governor of Minnesota.  I had seen Tim Walz in recent weeks commenting on Donald Trump and JD Vance on MSNBC.  His correct assessment of this less than dynamic duo was that they were "Weird."  His correct assessment of the Republican nominees for president and vice president spread like wildfire throughout the Democratic Party and the American Media.

I was very impressed with Governor Walz when I saw him on MSNBC and thrilled when I found out that he was going to be the Vice Presidential pick for Kamala Harris.

This past Tuesday night Vice President Harris and Tim Walz were introduced at Temple University's Liacouris Center by Pennsylvania Governor, Josh Shapiro.  If Governor Shapiro was disappointed that he was not chosen as Harris's VP pick it wasn't showing. His Speech was a barn burner.  Following Shapiro's Speech was a Great Speech by Kamala Harris to a packed House and after that a very moving Speech by Tim Walz introducing himself impressively and not to be outdone by the other two speakers.  Indeed, Governor Walz showed the crowds this week that Vice President Harris and the Democratic Party would, unlike the Republicans, not be showing any "Buyers Remorse".  Walz introduced himself with a background that was almost perfect for a Vice Presidential Candidate.  Walz explained that he had joined the National Guard when he was 17 years old and after 24 years he was a Sergeant Major when he left the service.   Walz was a long time Teacher and a Football Coach who took his high school football team from a record of no wins to a State Championship.  He explained that his students requested that he run for Congress and he won the Congressional Seat and had an impressive record especially for veterans in Congress.  Next he ran for Governor of Minnesota and won.  While Governor he was responsible for signing into law impressive legislation including Legalizing marijuana and making sure all kids had free breakfasts and lunches in school, among other things   

It was a truly a night of really great speeches by all three Democrats designed to inspire Democrats in the hall and others watching on Television and it certainly did that.

What I felt personally on Monday night was what Tim Walz called "Joyful".  No longer were Democrats feeling down and depressed by the prospect of Donald Trump's 2025 Nazi Agenda.  We now had Two Strong and Capable "Happy Warriors" ready, willing and able to save us from the Prospect of Republican Recklessness.

What was clear on Tuesday and on into the rest of the Week as Harris and Walz breezed through several Battleground States on their Whirlwind Tour and racked up astonishing numbers of people showing up at their rally's was that it was clear that 

THE DEMOCRATS WERE BACK AND THEY WORE GOING TO BE FORMIDDABLE  

Sincerely Yours

Jerry Gallagher

Bring Em Back Home Joe Wins Again

 Friday, August Second, 2024

My Dear America:

As America and the world at large seems to be continuing to careen out of control we have once again seen the results of an old guy who definitely knows what he is doing when it comes to Getting Shit Done.

Although clearly Joe Biden's debating skills these days are not the best, his skills at Major World Diplomacy are still as sharp as they ever were.  

Although Donald Trump claimed that when it came to getting back Americans who were cruelly and unjustly imprisoned in Russia only He could accomplish their release.

Well. we have seen in recent days that we can add Donald Trump's claims about getting hostages released to the steaming pile of Bullshit that he has produced over the extensive period of time that Trump has been on the American Scene and the World Stage.

We have certainly gotten used to the pattern.

Joe Biden is soft spoken, genuinely concerned about all Americans and after over 50 years in public office knowledgeable enough and well connected enough to know what the best ways are to get things accomplished.

Donald Trump, on the other hand, is a Loudmouth Know Nothing who is slick enough to talk a good game but doesn't really care about the welfare of other human beings in America or in the world.  When it comes right down to it Trump is uninformed about almost everything that doesn't directly affect him.  He does not know and does not care about how to operate on the world stage and actually get things done for America's sake.

Donald Trump is a Dangerously and Completely Selfish individual who has sold a bill of goods to a certain segment of Americans who are just as dangerous and selfish as he is.  Unfortunately, that segment of the American population has completely taken control of the American Republican Party

Trump has been foolish enough to brag that only his close relationship with Vladimir Putin would be the way that Hostages including Evan Gerskovich  and Paul Whelan could be brought home from their Russian Captivity.  

It appears as though Vladimir Putin sent a message to Donald Trump through this recent Hostage Exchange.  

Clearly Putin did not give a damn about what Donald Trump wanted with regard to this Hostage Deal.  All Putin wanted was some of his Reprehensible Thugs and Murderers back on Russian Soil.  

Lets be clear,  In many ways this was not a very good deal for Biden.  America only got four people released and Russia got many more from not only America but from other European countries.  It was obviously a strong signal of the enormous respect for Joe Biden that has been and continues to be shown by so many allies over the course of the Biden Administration.   

This Hostage Exchange took a lot of planning and cooperation on many levels.  It was not an easy deal to make, period.  To think about the reality that the final touches on the deal were made by Biden on the same day that he announced that he would not be running for a Second term must have been extremely painful for President Biden.

Once more we have seen how lucky we were that Joe Biden decided in 2020 to run for President against Donald Trump and won.  

Clearly because of President Joe Biden, Evan Gerskovich and Paul Whelan are presently home with their families and grateful for the fact that they are home in America Again.

And as we say Welcome Home to the Russian Hostages I hope that we can also say: 

Thank You, Joe Biden for Bringing Our Fellow Americans Back Home to The United States Of America where they Truly Belong.

Sincerely Yours

Jerry Gallagher