Power & Politics This Week: Presidential Race 2024 delved into the Trump and Harris debate, their strategies in Florida, and the war in Gaza, and Frank and Dr. Bart Rossi, Ph.D., discuss these issues and more.
Power & Politics This Week Presidential Race 2024
Episode 36 Air Date: 9/8/24
Host Frank Cipolla and Emmy Award-winning political psychologist Dr. Bart Rossi, Ph.D., begin the show by discussing the much-awaited presidential debate between Vice President Harris and Donald Trump. If there is no sudden change to cause one or the other to back out, you can watch the debate on ABC on Tuesday, September 10, 2024, at 9 p.m. ET.
The Middle East continues to burn, as six hostages of Hamas were recently shot to death at close range. Of course, this strains the ongoing deliberations of finding a cease-fire solution. Trump has said many times on the campaign trail that there were no wars during his administration and that Russia would never have invaded Ukraine had he currently been President; he also claimed he could end the war in a matter of days, though he has to date never explained how.
Frank and Dr. Bart discuss whether Netanyahu’s sending troops into Gaza to engage Hamas was the correct strategy.
There has been much jostling over the rules for the debate; when it was to be President Biden vs. Trump, the two sides agreed to mute the mics when it was not a given candidate’s time to speak. Vice President Harris had preferred to leave the mics on, but the Trump campaign argued that the rules were set.
Dr. Rossi noted that
“The mic off probably benefits Trump. He is prone to ranting and interrupting his opponent while hurling insults, which displays his petty and childish behavior. With them off he is restricted from self-sabotage and will come off as a more serious and presidential candidate, eventhough he’d likely still prefer the mics on so he could interrupt. His campaign is thrilled that the mics will be muted. For Harris, it will not have a significant impact one way or the other; it does prevent her from cutting Trump off midsentence with fact-checks, but she’ll still have the mic to do so after Trump concludes a remark.”
As Vice President Harris continues to campaign across the country, she is supporting a reproductive rights bus tour in Florida (without her) focused on the November ballot initiative to end the six-week abortion ban. The ban was passed by the GOP-led state legislature and signed into law by Governor Ron Desantis. The recent twist to this story is that Donald Trump has noted he would be voting (as a Florida resident) against the abortion restriction law, which infuriated the evangelical and pro-life movement that supported and voted for him. Some may argue that they alone won him the White House in 2016.
Politico noted that
“Trump initially criticized the state’s six-week abortion ban, stating it was too restrictive. After backlash from pro-life advocates, he later walked back his comments, signaling a shift in his approach as he navigates the 2024 presidential race. This nuanced position reflects his attempt to appeal to a broader electorate while still maintaining support from conservative voters. His recent support for “reproductive rights” and access to birth control, in vitro fertilization, and contraception—language more commonly used by Democrats. He has also declined to endorse a nationwide abortion ban, preferring to leave the issue to the states.”
The Rossi Rant: Abortion
Dr. Rossi discusses abortion and control and whether the anti-abortion movement is more of a women’s control movement. Vice President candidate JD Vance has been clear on his view of women for a long time. As an advocate of Project 2025, there is continued speculation.
As for Rick Scott, his position on the abortion issue is ambivalent — he says he opposes Amendment 4 in Florida, yet also thinks it should be left up to the states, so which Dr. Rossi ponders — are we the United States or the Divided States?
Also, public sector unions in Florida have been significantly affected by a recent Florida law passed in 2023. The law requires most unions to maintain at least 60% of their members paying dues to remain certified. Unions that fail to meet this threshold can lose their right to negotiate on behalf of their members if they are decertified. As a result of this law, law enforcement officers, firefighters, and correctional officers are not required to join a union.
As a result, around 63 public sector unions representing tens of thousands of workers have already been decertified, and many others are at risk of decertification. Public employees affected include teachers, clerical workers, and emergency responders, whose unions are critical in negotiating working conditions and job protections. As a result, public services and labor rights have been raised.
Sunshine or Showers
Sunshine: Dr. Rossi says the entire state’s crime rate is dropping steadily, as it is across the country—New York City, San Fransisco, and others. Frank says southwest Florida has made the list of fastest-growing business growth.
Showers: Trump campaign; the antics at Arlington Cemetery were told the rules — no political use of the cemetery, nor photos, or videos. Trump and his supporters contend that he was invited there by the parents of fallen soldiers, and it was they who requested the photos. And that may be. However, it’s not respectful to take the picture with a thumbs up, nor was it appropriate for the video footage and images to be released by the Trump campaign as a campaign ad.
