Leid Stories – Taking Stock of the Political Landscape, Which Way Forward? – 06.28.16

The duopoly’s national conventions are just weeks away—the Republicans meeting in Cleveland, Ohio, July 18-21; the Democrats, in Philadelphia, Pa., July 25-28. Political and party fireworks leading up to the nominating conventions are likely not to change the predetermined outcomes: Donald Trump will be the Republican nominee; Hillary Clinton, the Democratic candidate, in the general election.

Hence, our discussion today: Which way forward for those who find both candidates, and the parties and process that have produced them, detestable?

Leid Stories – 2016 Political Horse Race Heads Into Home Stretch – 05.31.16

The 2016 preliminaries come to a close in the month of June for the duopoly, with nine primaries that will lock up the delegate count for Democratic and Republican nominees at their respective national conventions in July.

At the start of the home stretch, Leid Stories “polls” listeners about their political attitudes and possible choices.

Leid Stories – Election 2016: What We Should Have Learned By Now – 05.18.16

As Election 2016 progresses toward various parties’ nominating conventions this summer, (for Republicans, July 18-21 in Cleveland, Ohio; for Democrats, July 25-28 in Philadelphia, Pa.; the Green Party, Aug. 4-7 in Houston, Texas; the Libertarian Party, May 27-30 in Orlando, Fla.), presidential hopefuls are in the final stretch of the primaries, looking to claim their spots as their parties’ standard bearers in the general election. The duopoly has outdone all other major parties in the still-ongoing battle of attrition. Donald Trump is the last person standing in the Republican field of 17; Hillary Clinton is being touted as the presumptive Democratic nominee.

By all indications, Election 2016 will be a watershed moment in U.S. electoral politics—though for reasons that should alarm even a casual observer. Leid Stories has been looking at this historical moment in terms of what politics and the political process have come to mean and be for the masses of people. We continue this discussion, focusing on what we are learning, or have learned, about our relationship to the political apparatus, and ways in which we can affect political outcomes through an increased consciousness and strategic use of power.

Leid Stories – Election 2016: Turning Political ‘Inevitabilities’ Around – 05.11.16

The results of yesterday’s primaries in West Virginia and Nebraska—with Donald Trump capturing both states and Bernie Sanders besting Hillary Clinton in West Virginia—have only moved political outcomes even closer to “inevitability.” Trump has no major impediments to clinching the Republican nomination, and Sanders’ win did little to blunt Clinton’s lead in delegates. The duopoly continues to take care of party business in the leadup to the general election in November, when, inevitably, there’ll be a new president in the White House.

Meanwhile, Leid Stories’ listeners ponder new approaches to politics and how best to prepare to cope with what soon will be our collective reality. We continue the discussion for the third day.

Leid Stories – 03.08.16

Election 2016: The Duopoly’s Self-Inflicted Wounds Are A Timely Gift

The 2016 presidential primaries continue apace, with contests in Hawaii, Idaho, Michigan and Mississippi today that will put Democratic and Republican frontrunners even closer to their goal of winning nomination. But there’s trouble—big trouble—in both camps that largely are self-inflicted wounds and the consequences of a fundamentally undemocratic process. The duopoly’s crisis is a gift we’ve been waiting for, says Leid Stories, and we should make the most of it.

Leid Stories – 03.03.16

Election 2016: The Duopoly’s Problems With Its Frontrunners

They are leading the pack of candidates vying for nomination by their parties to be standard bearers in the general election, but even as Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump are outpacing fellow contenders at the polls in primary elections, they also are carrying a lot of political baggage that not only weighs against them, but also could be too much for their parties to bear. Leid Stories discusses the downsides to Clinton’s and Trump’s upswings.

Leid Stories – 03.02.16

Election 2016: The Duopoly’s Super Tuesday Wins and What They Mean for the Rest of Us

Donald Trump’s and Hillary Clinton’s big wins in the Super Tuesday primaries have all but cleared their paths to their parties’ nomination and eventual matchup in November’s general election. Listeners decipher the results of yesterday’s primaries and what they mean for progressives.

Leid Stories – 02.24.16

Follies 2016: The Duopoly Is Taking Care of Business. What’s Our Plan?

As Democrats and Republicans rev up their pitched battle for the White House, candidates are looking for even greater momentum in their individual campaigns with Super Tuesday’s (March 1) contests in 12 states. Half the number of delegates needed for both parties’ nominations will be won that day—632 for Republicans; 1,007 for Democrats. The duopoly is taking care of business and proceeding according to plan. But Leid Stories asks: “What’s our plan?”

Leid Stories – 05.13.15

Yielding to the Duopoly: Is There A Left Left? (Part 2)

The 2016 presidential election is picking up steam. That doesn’t seem to be the case, however, with an organized opposition to the six-of-one/half-dozen-of-the-other kind of politics we’ve been having for a long time now. It appears we’re still stuck with the Republican-Democrat duopoly. Even big labor and heretofore populist and left-of-center movements and organizations seem to be adapting.

“Is there a left left?” Leid Stories continues the discussion.