Congresspersons Greene and Newman Confrontation Highlights National Divisions on Transgender Identity

Marjorie Taylor Greene doesn’t support transgender equality legislation in Congress, and offices across from Marie Newman, who does and has a transgender child. They are now participating in a battle of signs and flags outside their offices expressing their views. Newman’s transgender pink and blue flag was met by Greene’s “There are TWO genders MALE & FEMALE...Trust the Science.”

A new poll captures the partisan differences among the American public on the concept of transgender identity. Half the public agrees strongly that there are only two genders – male and female – but it varies greatly by party.

Democrats are nearly evenly divided between “strong agreement” and “strong disagreement” whereas Republicans have mostly traditional values on the issue. Will the attitude evolve in the next several years similar to acceptance of gay marriage?

There is considerable supportive messaging for transgender rights, including in the Biden administration. Also, Millennials and Generation Zs are much more liberal on gender issues and are beginning to shift public opinion.

Trump Could Have Won

An examination of the 2020 election results makes clear Donald Trump may have been swamped in the popular vote, but nearly won the electoral vote.

Trump’s final charge got the vote razor thin in several states. Joe Biden only carried Arizona by 10,457, Georgia by 11,779 and Wisconsin by 20,662.

The factors that appear to have made the difference:

• Trump’s poor rating on managing the coronavirus was slightly more important than his good scores on the economy.
• Trump’s personality flaws, which dampened his voter approval for four years, combined with his inability to damage Biden’s reputation with attacks and scandals.
• Trump’s final Election Day surge was matched by Biden’s mail and early votes.
• A small libertarian vote, which he did not get in Wisconsin, Georgia or Arizona, could have made a difference.

Dr. Nampalli Vijay Retires

Nampalli Vijay, MD

Aurora Denver Cardiology just saw one of the region’s best cardiologists retire after more than 45 years of service. Nampalli Vijay has treated patients, trained students and mentored fellow physicians for decades. He graduated from Gandhi Medical College in 1963 and he followed India’s cricket. Nampalli offered clear explanations and high quality coronary services with a distinctive British accent. He was a treasure of talent and good will. He made us all healthier and extended the life of many. Thanks, Nampalli.

See blog: Dr. Richard Parker Retires

Biden Holds His Approval

Joe Biden’s focus on the virus and general effort to lower the temperature in Washington are getting favorable reviews in the polls and with the public. As of March 1st, slightly over 30 days into his presidency, Biden is holding his approval level at 54 percent, one point down from his opening approval on January 28 of 55 percent. Disapproval moved up from 37 percent to 40 percent. Four years ago at this point, Donald Trump’s approval was 10 points lower (44%) and disapproval 10 points higher (50%) in the RealClearPolitics average.

Numerous polls show Biden’s relief package is a high priority for the public and highly supported. One interesting new poll of battleground state swing voters (Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin) reports 66 percent are concerned government won’t do enough in the relief package and 72 percent want to help as many as possible as quickly as possible. The poll notes that it doesn’t affect their level of approval if Republicans don’t support the legislation. Voters want Biden to treat Republicans with respect, not necessarily defer to their viewpoint.

As of now, Biden is winning with the relief package without Republicans.

See blogs:
Biden’s Opening Approval 55%; Trump’s 44%
Biden has a Honeymoon

Electoral and Popular Vote Drifting Out of Alignment

The Bush vs. Gore fight in 2000 highlighted a U.S. presidential election anomaly that was thought rare. But, it was just a minor forerunner to the massive misalignment in 2016, from 544,000 votes in 2000 to 2.9 million in 2016. 

And even in 2020 where the popular vote winner won the electoral vote, the 7 million popular vote advantage only provided a 44,000 vote cushion in three states – Arizona, Georgia and Wisconsin – to secure Joe Biden’s narrow Electoral College win over Donald Trump. The dysfunctional system has become a part of Trump’s claim that the 2.9 million votes he lost in 2016 were undocumented citizens and, of course, the “Big Lie” in 2020 that 7 million votes were fraudulently obtained.

Morrissey and DNA Catch a Murderer

Mitch Morrissey

DNA and modern techniques using databases solved a 40-year-old murder case in Arapahoe County. Former Denver District Attorney, Mitch Morrissey, a nationally recognized expert in DNA with his company, United Data Connect, helped the Cherry Hills Village police to solve a 1981 murder of Sylvia Quayle. The DNA identified suspect David Anderson of Cozad, Nebraska, who has a long arrest and incarceration record during the 1980s. But, it was the DNA identification that led to the February 10, 2021 arrest.

Morrissey was the Denver DA from 2004 until 2017 and organized United Data Connect to use DNA techniques to assist local police solve cold cases. The firm has had several major successes, including recently solving of an even older case – a 1963 murder in Jefferson County.

See 9News story: DNA from Vanilla Coke can ties Nebraska man to Cherry Hills Village cold case

Jerry Bell is Back

After a month-long fight, Colorado’s leading news voice is out of the Presbyterian/St. Luke’s ICU and improving. He’s been KOA’s top breaking news voice for more than 40 ears. Go Jerry!

Jerry Bell | Photo via Vicky Collins Facebook post