Immigration remains a pivotal issue that will favor Harris in many communities, especially given how Trump has stereotyped immigrants and people of color. Many Iowans—and much of America—seem to approach immigration with a more nuanced perspective, which may result in Harris’s stronger-than-expected performance in Iowa. Iowans are aware that roughly 50% or more of meatpacking workers in their state are people of color, many from immigrant backgrounds. The meatpacking industry in Iowa, and across the nation, relies heavily on Latino, Asian, and African communities, with about 38% of its workforce nationally being foreign-born. Similar sectors, like roofing, where immigrants and non-white workers represent up to half of the workforce, underscore the critical role these groups play in local economies--and Americans know who sits next to them in church and lives next door. Voters in these states recognize this, and many are unlikely to uniformly support Trump’s stance on immigration and his divisive rhetoric. For many, the contributions of these communities are indispensable and will be reflected in votes.
The tic-toc, military parlance for the pre-planned execution timeline for a complex operation (who does what, when, how, and the variables therein), suggests that Trump will declare victory before most states are called. Fox will be put in a quandary, more MAGA-extreme sites will agree w Trump, and the GOP cabal will blindly begin rolling. It becomes tough to reverse that noise...especially if MAGA has preplanned messaging. Best case, the Harris-Walz numbers are substantial, obviating the naysayers. Worse case is that Pres Biden is forced to use his broadened exec powers to...er, arrest the ringleaders. That will not be pretty.
James Carville is the Nature Boy Ric Flair of American politics. I went with some of my high school chums to see Carville and his wife and former Republican political counterpart Mary Matalin at Hancher Auditorium in Iowa City in 2023. Of course, it's Iowa City where you're better off being a Cyclone than a Republican and you'd expect Carville to be the crowd favorite, right? Wrong, foolish earthling. It was the night before Carville's LSU Bayou Bengals played the Iowa Hawkeyes for the NCAA women's basketball championship. Yeah, you know where this is going. Carville pulled a Nature Boy and came out dressed head to toe in LSU gear. He draws a crescendo of boos and takes a deep bow of feigned appreciation to the un-adoring audience. Meanwhile Ms. Matalin comes out dressed in Hawkeye black and gold. She gets an ovation. The world turns upside down. She even tells the audience she has left the Republican Party.
However, when they start talking about their views on gun control, Matalin's cheers flip to boos and vice versa for Mr. Carville. Balance is restored to the Force, but not before the ol' Bayou Bengal has had his "Nature Boy" moment and generated a little "heat," in pro wrestling parlance.
Immigration remains a pivotal issue that will favor Harris in many communities, especially given how Trump has stereotyped immigrants and people of color. Many Iowans—and much of America—seem to approach immigration with a more nuanced perspective, which may result in Harris’s stronger-than-expected performance in Iowa. Iowans are aware that roughly 50% or more of meatpacking workers in their state are people of color, many from immigrant backgrounds. The meatpacking industry in Iowa, and across the nation, relies heavily on Latino, Asian, and African communities, with about 38% of its workforce nationally being foreign-born. Similar sectors, like roofing, where immigrants and non-white workers represent up to half of the workforce, underscore the critical role these groups play in local economies--and Americans know who sits next to them in church and lives next door. Voters in these states recognize this, and many are unlikely to uniformly support Trump’s stance on immigration and his divisive rhetoric. For many, the contributions of these communities are indispensable and will be reflected in votes.
You have no idea how much I hope you're right.
Agree.
Ya give me hope and enthusiasm Art! That's what this whole country needs. Just a little shot of hope. Thanks!
Kamala's got this! I think we have a chance to take the house & even keep the Senate. Why not go for it all? It's TIME!!!
I wish you hadn't said Dems will lose the Senate. We need trifecto to implement real change. I feel there's good chace we can win.
The tic-toc, military parlance for the pre-planned execution timeline for a complex operation (who does what, when, how, and the variables therein), suggests that Trump will declare victory before most states are called. Fox will be put in a quandary, more MAGA-extreme sites will agree w Trump, and the GOP cabal will blindly begin rolling. It becomes tough to reverse that noise...especially if MAGA has preplanned messaging. Best case, the Harris-Walz numbers are substantial, obviating the naysayers. Worse case is that Pres Biden is forced to use his broadened exec powers to...er, arrest the ringleaders. That will not be pretty.
James Carville is the Nature Boy Ric Flair of American politics. I went with some of my high school chums to see Carville and his wife and former Republican political counterpart Mary Matalin at Hancher Auditorium in Iowa City in 2023. Of course, it's Iowa City where you're better off being a Cyclone than a Republican and you'd expect Carville to be the crowd favorite, right? Wrong, foolish earthling. It was the night before Carville's LSU Bayou Bengals played the Iowa Hawkeyes for the NCAA women's basketball championship. Yeah, you know where this is going. Carville pulled a Nature Boy and came out dressed head to toe in LSU gear. He draws a crescendo of boos and takes a deep bow of feigned appreciation to the un-adoring audience. Meanwhile Ms. Matalin comes out dressed in Hawkeye black and gold. She gets an ovation. The world turns upside down. She even tells the audience she has left the Republican Party.
However, when they start talking about their views on gun control, Matalin's cheers flip to boos and vice versa for Mr. Carville. Balance is restored to the Force, but not before the ol' Bayou Bengal has had his "Nature Boy" moment and generated a little "heat," in pro wrestling parlance.
waiting with bated anticipation...