Blackjack

March 6, 2019

Now that MGM-Springfield is up and running, it is hard not seeing analogies between playing blackjack and the current political situation. The White House is the house, Donald Trump is the dealer, and numerous Democratic House Committee Chairman sit at the table. Our own Richie Neal occupies a prominent seat at the table. The White House holds a slight advantage with its majority in the Senate. Democrats need to know their odds, and play intelligently. If they play their cards right, they can win in 2020, and take back the casino.

For the Democrats, the Michael Cohen public hearing was like drawing an eleven to the house’s six. Michael Cohen’s copy of a check for services rendered to Stormy Daniels was the equivalent of hitting blackjack. More people now believe the fixer than the dealer. Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez doubled down on ten, and was rewarded with more names and more investigations. Trump busted.

However, Democrats need to be cautious at the table about how far they think they can push oversight and investigations. They can’t split nines every time Trump is showing a weak card. Sometimes, it is better to stand. When they are dealt Medicare for all and the dealer is showing a ten, they need to assess the odds. Maybe Trump will bust as he did before regarding the Affordable Care Act, but they can’t rely on that. Other bad hands for the Democrats may be tuition for all, and a punitive income tax policy.

Democrats need to avoid the special interest cocktail waitresses, who are more than happy to dispense contributions and free liquor until they can’t see straight. That is exactly what has happened to the Republicans in the high roller room. The public wants some kind of green new deal, but Republicans continue to hit on bad hands. The casino is cleaning them out, and they don’t even recognize it.

The hand that Democrats are waiting for is a pair of Aces from the Mueller probe, which they can split and then split again if the cards are right. Trump is showing a five. This is a hand that all of the Committee Chairmen should be aggressive with. Given Donald Trump’s experience with casinos, I like their odds. Given that Nancy Pelosi is the pit boss, it should be a good night.