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diane denish 10-7-24+

Post-election rumination finds silver linings

By Diane Denish

Corner to Corner

Now that the election is over I see some silver linings, and have some observations a bit outside of the daily drumming of announcements and alarm bells. I recognize readers may disagree or have a different point of view.

Silver lining: From the moment he is sworn in Trump is a lame duck. The term “lame duck” means not being able to keep up with the rest of the flock and becoming subject to predators. The term “lame duck” in politics means someone who is an outgoing officeholder. That is Trump. He has four years to do good for the country or damage it. But it is almost certain his influence on the politicians around him will wane since he is on a short string. (That string may be even shorter than four years due to his advanced age.)

Observation: There are lots of eager beaver MAGA or moderate Republicans whose goal is to be re-elected in 2026, and already there is talk of presidential aspirants for 2028. Thinking about their own futures will give these elected folks cause for pause when it comes to Trump’s more extreme policies.

Silver lining: Constitutionally, Elon Musk can’t run for President! He is not American by birth. He was born in South Africa into a wealthy pro-apartheid family.

Observation: Musk, the maniacal billionaire who pushes disinformation, is running a department that does not exist. DOGE, the unauthorized Department of Government Efficiency, intended to recommend how to trim $3 trillion from the federal government. Before even presenting recommendations DOGE trimmed the grandiose $3 trillion to $500 billion (a half trillion). His initial suggestions, including eliminating the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, are designed to make him richer and subject to less regulation and to eliminate protections for you and me.

Silver lining: The new administration will get off to a slow start on the search and destroy mission. In fact, the mantra of the incoming administration could be: “We will get off to the slowest start ever! Thanks to our team’s refusal to sign the necessary documents that would give us access to the federal agencies we seek to destroy.”

Observation: The slow start will be good for the loyal opposition of Democrats and moderate Republicans who have not only the tools but a responsibility to hold the president in check. The Senate has the responsibility to advise and consent when confirming appointments. Americans expect them to confirm law-abiding, competent leaders who will uphold the Constitution. Silver lining for Trump: He is inheriting a strong economy, thanks to the Biden administration.

Observation: The bad news for Trump is his tariff proposals and deportation efforts are likely to upend the economy and raise prices on gas, food and everyday essentials.

Silver lining for Democrats: Despite losing at the federal level, there were lots of wins in races down ballot. In North Carolina where Trump won by 1.5% Democrats won all statewide offices and control of the Legislature. In two red states, Mississippi and Kentucky, moderate judges won in place of right-wing Republicans. And protecting abortion rights won in four out of six states.

Observation: Despite some analysts and activists blaming minorities for Harris’s loss, estimates show almost 55% of Latinos and 80% of Black voters voted for Harris. While the president-elect made gains among these groups, it was white voters, including 52% of white women, who gave Trump the votes he needed to win the election. And, as the popular vote continues to be counted, Trump and Harris are separated by 1.6% with both candidates below 50%. The country is split. The ultimate silver lining: The election is over. Now voters will reap the benefits or the perils of their decision.

Super rich appointees, politicos will set policy for ordinary Americans

By Diane Denish

Corner to Corner

Billionaires’ and multi-millionaires’ increasing presence in the Senate and in the Trump Administration? Yes, it’s true.

First up is Sen. Rick Scott of Florida. Scott’s net worth is near $350 million, making him the richest U. S. senator. He made his money in for-profit healthcare when he was CEO of Columbia/HCA hospitals. Part of his legacy at HCA is having to pay the largest Medicare/Medicaid fraud fine in history – $1.7 billion and his forced resignation as CEO.

In Ohio we have Republican Bernie Moreno, who defeated incumbent Sherrod Brown. He’s a car dealer who sold enough cars to have a net worth of over $115 million. Born in Columbia, Moreno is from a wealthy family that migrated to the U. S. He will be among the top ten wealthiest senators.

David McCormick, who is likely to eke out a win over Sen. Bob Casey in Pennsylvania (at this writing the race has not been called and is headed to a recount) has a net worth estimated at $165 million. McCormick was CEO of Bridgewater and Associates, a China investing hedge fund. Bridgewater was also where Nella Domenici, New Mexico candidate for Senate, achieved some of her wealth.

Republican Senator-elect Tim Sheehy of Montana lists his net worth between $74 million and $200 million and has a portfolio with heavy investments in China. Sheehy made his money in Bridger Aerospace, a company he founded in 2014 to fight wildfires. The company enjoyed $134 million in government bonds but is now facing potential bankruptcy.

The transition has also announced billionaire and millionaire cabinet appointments, all of whom contributed generously to the Trump campaign. Billionaire Doug Burgum ($1.1 billion) will head Department of Interior, and Chris Wright, of Liberty Energy, (net worth $165 million) will head the Department of Energy.

The most notable is the world’s richest man, Elon Musk, born in South Africa to the owner of an emerald mine. Musk contributed $200 million to Trump’s various campaign accounts. Musk has been named the head of the nonexistent Department of Government Efficiency.

The bombastic Vivek Ramaswamy will join Musk as co-chair of the nonexistent department. His estimated net worth of $1.1 billion accumulated because of his hedge fund days and his creation of Roivant Sciences, a medical technology company.

They are recruiting applicants to help: 80 hours a week, no pay.

Trump also has a billionaire in-law to reward. His daughter Tiffany is married to the son of Lebanese billionaire Massoul Boulos. Not surprisingly Boulos is now frontrunner to be ambassador to Lebanon.

The president-elect claims billionaire status through inherited wealth. Using government funded programs and tax schemes and cutting corners on projects to skim profits, Fred Trump created the family fortune. Because of Trump’s fraudulent financial disclosures, it’s hard to determine his net worth, but it is somewhere between $1 billion and $4 billion.

Democrats have our share of wealthy folks too but no billionaires. U.S. Rep. Nancy Pelosi, Sen. Mark Warner, and Rep. Dan Goldman are all worth about $250 million or more. None of the five members of the New Mexico delegation has net worth over $500,000.

Musk warned voters during the campaign to “brace for hardship.” Hardship includes cutting access to healthcare, reduction in education funding and firing government workers. We must wonder if that “hardship” includes a reduction in or termination of the $15 billion worth of federal contracts Musk’s companies have with multiple federal agencies.

We should also wonder how people from privileged lives with enormous wealth, whose idea of hardship is having “only one home” can formulate policy for the working class – the 55% of Americans who make $50,000 or less – many of whom can’t afford even one home.

In the tracks of her father?

By Diane Denish

Corner to Corner

Nella Domenici is in a pickle. As the Republican candidate for U.S. Senate in New Mexico, Domenici has found it difficult to close the 9-to-10-point gap she has with the incumbent Democrat, U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich.

After 55 years on the East Coast, the 63-year-old Domenici, a hedge fund CFO, decided to return to New Mexico. She announced for the U.S. Senate in January 2024.

Her entrance into the race was weak. When asked how she intended to win the race, her first response talked about putting $500,000 into the race, perhaps to discourage other Republicans. When asked if she lived in New Mexico she replied, “Our family has enjoyed our home in Santa Fe for almost 20 years.” This was seen by critics as, “I have enough money to own a second home in one of America’s most expensive markets.”

Domenici has consistently invoked the memory of her dad, Sen. Pete Domenici, in the race. Just a few days ago at a Trump rally in Albuquerque, she said, “Bring back President Trump and bring back a Domenici to the Senate.”

Here’s the pickle. Sen. Domenici has been out of office for 15 years. The last time he ran for office was in 2002. Things have changed dramatically. Half the current voting population never voted for him or knows anything about Pete Domenici.

Nella’s brother, Pete Domenici Jr. tried a similar strategy in 2010 after the end of his father’s last term. It came with disastrous results, when Pete Jr. garnered only a little over 7% of the vote in a Republican primary. That’s right – among Republicans.

Her bigger pickle is Donald Trump is her party’s standard bearer. Many wonder privately what her dad (Mr. Character Counts) would think of him. Nella is trying to have it both ways, claiming she supports his policies and not the cult of Trump.

In the final debate of the race recently, Domenici skillfully avoided defining which of Trump’s policies she was supporting. She denied advocating for an abortion ban and didn’t mention tariffs. She slammed her opponent on border issues but dodged the issue of Trump’s call for mass deportations and his successful effort to kill the bi-partisan border bill.

Much of Domenici’s time at the debate was spent attacking her opponent and talking about local issues, such as education and crime, rather than federal issues where senators have influence. Distancing herself from the top of the ticket reminds me of the 1972 New Mexico U.S. Senate race. I’m familiar with that race, as my dad, Jack Daniels, was Pete Domenici’s Democratic opponent. It was also the year of Nixon and McGovern.

While the Watergate scandal that led to Nixon’s resignation was not yet fully exposed, it was swirling beneath the surface in 1972. Meanwhile, George McGovern, a reformist who ran on an anti-war platform, was seen as out of step with Democrats across the country. It was not a plus to be seen on the stage or photographed with him.

Nella is in the same pickle. While claiming to support Trump based on his policies, she also wants to avoid being photographed with the first president to be convicted of 34 felonies and crimes against women. She spoke at the Trump rally this week but discreetly avoided being photographed near Trump.

I’m not sure how Nella gets out of this pickle, but here is one idea. Recently a Catholic priest editorialized, saying you can be pro-life and still do the right thing. That can be interpreted more broadly: You can be a Republican woman and still do the right thing too. No one needs to know. Go for it Nella!

A bouquet for Bret Baier

By Diane Denish

Corner to Corner

Research shows most of us watch network or cable stations whose reporting or commentary we find most appealing and with which we agree – especially in election season. I rarely watch Fox News.

Nevertheless, last week I saw an alert reminding me Vice President Kamala Harris was about to do her first ever interview on Fox News. I decided to tune in, as did 7.8 million other viewers – over half of them women.

The event was promoted as an interview but what the vice president got was a debate – and a contentious one. She also experienced a lot of what is called “manterruption,” a phrase coined by Jessica Bennett of Time Magazine in 2015. Manterruption is the unnecessary interrupting by men of women.

In 2014 a George Washington University study showed men interrupt women 33% more frequently than they do other men. In 2017 a study by Pritzker Law School showed that male Supreme Court justices interrupt the female justices three times as often as they do the other male justices.

An interview is defined as one person asking questions and the other person answering. There are job interviews and media interviews. In politics, they are the same.

A debate is a formal discussion on a particular topic in a public venue or assembly, in which opposing arguments are put forward. This would have happened if Donald Trump had stepped up and accepted the Fox News invitation for a second debate.

No worries, he had Bret Baier consistently interrupting and tossing in Trump talking points. Here’s how it went for most of the interview: Baier would put forward a question. Harris would begin to answer the question. Baier would interrupt with an opposing Donald Trump talking point.

The first interruption came just 20 seconds into the interview. What followed was 38 interruptions in 26 minutes.

This wasn’t’ Kamala Harris’s first experience with a man interrupting. The most notable was during the 2020 vice presidential debate. Mike Pence interrupted her ten times. She interrupted five times, one of them to interject her still memorable quote, “Mr. Vice President, I’m speaking.”

In the Fox News interview, host Bret Baier continued the tradition of “manterruption.” Using Trump talking points he tried to get her to join the Trump name calling by interrupting to ask if those supporting Trump were “dumb” or “stupid.” After a strong no she skillfully used that question to point out Trump’s calling his opponents “the enemy within.”

Towards the end, Baier said, “We’re talking over each other, I’m sorry.” A more accurate description is that he was, as the interviewer, consistently interrupting her responses.

Harris was aware Fox News was unfriendly territory. She knew she needed to thread the needle of being a woman who could push back without being branded as “angry.”

As over 4 million women watched, she rose to the occasion.

When Harris called out Trump’s attacks on Americans as “the enemy within,” Baier tried to set her back by showing what he called a response to the criticism. It wasn’t even close. So, in a strong, calm, authentic way, she reminded him that the clip he showed had nothing to do with the phrase “the enemy within.” Twenty-four hours later Baier admitted the error.

Manterrupting is not an unfamiliar phenomenon to women. And, whether it was a debate or an interview, what Fox did was remind millions of women about their own experiences of men interrupting, whether in politics, in the workplace, in the board room or in families.

Washington Post columnist Eugene Robinson wrote the next day that Kamala should “send Baier a bouquet of flowers.” Indeed, Baier’s interruptions and bias gave her the opportunity to shine, present facts, and show Americans why she should be president.

Abortion, a personal story

By Diane Denish

Corner to Corner

On August 8 in a press conference, Donald Trump said he believed abortion has become “much less of an issue” and that it would be a “very small issue” in the general election. He is wrong.

Just a reminder: Donald Trump appointed justices committed to ending a woman’s right to make her own healthcare decisions. He is proud of getting Roe v. Wade overturned. As a result, almost half the states now either ban or severely restrict women’s right to abortion and reproductive care.

Trump has forgotten about the women of my generation who were of childbearing age before Roe v. Wade. I can assure you we haven’t forgotten what that time was like.

We all know someone who found a way to get an illegal abortion or tried self-inducement by using instruments, poisons, or taking medications. Some women tried throwing themselves down stairs or crashing cars into walls to generate a miscarriage. Others found providers willing to skirt the law or, like me, travelled to another country.

In 1969 I was in love, engaged, and pregnant. My fiancé and I were still at UNM and needed to complete our degrees. We planned to marry but didn’t believe we were ready to be parents. Here is our story:

Neither of us told our parents. Our families were prominent in our communities and although I was certain mine would help me, I agonized over telling them. I knew they would be disappointed. Remember, in 1969 an unmarried, pregnant daughter was still an embarrassment.

At that time there was a vibrant information network on college campuses informing students on how to get an abortion. Travelling to Mexico was one option – the one we chose – although abortion was illegal there as well.

We gathered up enough money from our college allowances and a loving grandmother who asked no questions. The procedure was $300 in American dollars along with travel expenses.

We flew to Mexico City early one day. That evening, following the instructions of the clinic, I was picked up from a low-end Mexican hotel by a driver who drove me in the dark of night to a clinic. I was relieved to find it was immaculately clean and safe. I was surrounded by women from the United States.

I was in initial stages of pregnancy (although beyond the restrictive six weeks’ time of today’s draconian laws). The doctor was a professional, the procedure went well, and I was on my way home to the U. S. in about 36 hours. This, only after we were hustled out of the clinic earlier than expected when word came that there was about to be a raid.

I know I should have been terrified. My fiancé told me later he was terrified as he watched me drive off into the night wondering if I would ever come back. I was so desperate not to be pregnant at that stage of my life I set fear aside.

Pre-Roe 20% to 25% of unwanted pregnancies ended in abortion despite the law. Women found a way to control their own destiny. I did too.

My story is quite different from today’s stories. I know I was lucky. I had a guardian angel as well as a resolute partner. There were no complications. I went on to have a family and three planned pregnancies.

Later as an adult I never summoned the courage to tell either of my parents before they died. However, I did gather the will to tell my daughters and my two older granddaughters. I wanted them to know that abortion is not just a news story, it’s a life story spanning generations of women – including someone they love.

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diane denish 10-7-24+

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