Washington, D.C., Feb. 4, – Yes, that dateline is not Des Moines, Iowa -- it’s D.C. For whatever reason, God gave me a cough and cold on Sunday night, despite mild weather in Iowa (yes, there is global warming). So, I left for home yesterday afternoon. Lucky me.

I tweeted the following messages last night starting at 10:30 p.m. – and can’t add too much more this morning.

2/3/20, 10:37 PM

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Ok. I will be first to say out loud what most Democrats are thinking, including almost all Iowan Democrats, but few want to say — The Iowa Caucus system and the Iowa Democratic Party officials, who at 10:30 pm EST have still not allowed ANY results to be announced, are a —disgrace.

2/3/20, 10:42 PM

2) Iowa caucus system = voter suppression, complexity, anti-working family, TV horse-trading, incomprehensible rules and worst - opaque Dem State Officials who won’t tell us what is wrong. Add to the words “disgraceful” and “embarrassing” the word “anti-democratic” (small “d”)

2/3/20, 11:02 PM

3) Message to Iowa Democratic Party officials - you are violating my basic crisis management mantra more than worst example [of crisis mismanagement] of all — the Exxon Valdez oil crisis - “tell it early, tell it all, tell it yourself.” What an injustice to candidates, Iowan caucus goers, democracy by Democrats

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The excuse this morning for continuing silence by Iowa officials remains just plain stupid. They should have told us last night what they didn’t know – but tried to explain what had happened and a plan to count the vote if there is one. Something more than silence. Also, it is now 100 percent clear. Shame on the chairman of the DNC for not saying it last night or this morning what needs to be said: No more Iowa caucus system. Good-bye. It should have happened a long time ago.

It’s not about mistakes or an app. It is about a system that is anti-democratic. It suppresses the votes of working families or families with children or seniors or, in fact, normal people who can’t afford to spend three hours on a weekday night to “caucus,” lose their privacy in voting, and then have to figure out how to “reallocate” themselves after the calculators tell them their candidate isn’t “viable.”

The obvious conclusion: The Iowa caucus system MUST be replaced by a primary, where more people can vote and exercise the right to a private ballot, like most Americans. Period.

At the end of the day, Sen. Bernie Sanders Bernie SandersSenate Republicans signal openness to working with Biden Hillicon Valley: DOJ indicts Chinese, Malaysian hackers accused of targeting over 100 organizations | GOP senators raise concerns over Oracle-TikTok deal | QAnon awareness jumps in new poll Schumer, Sanders call for Senate panel to address election security MORE (I-Vt.) had a great night and won. Former South Bend, Ind. Mayor Pete Buttigieg Pete ButtigiegBogeymen of the far left deserve a place in any Biden administration Overnight Defense: Woodward book causes new firestorm | Book says Trump lashed out at generals, told Woodward about secret weapons system | US withdrawing thousands of troops from Iraq A socially and environmentally just way to fight climate change MORE had good night, Sen. Elizabeth Warren Elizabeth WarrenNo new taxes for the ultra rich — fix bad tax policy instead Democrats back away from quick reversal of Trump tax cuts It's time for newspapers to stop endorsing presidential candidates MORE (D-Mass.) and former Vice President Joe Biden Joe BidenThe Memo: Warning signs flash for Trump on debates Senate Republicans signal openness to working with Biden National postal mail handlers union endorses Biden MORE (especially the latter) performed way below what was expected. And Sen. Amy Klobuchar Amy KlobucharEPA delivers win for ethanol industry angered by waivers to refiners It's time for newspapers to stop endorsing presidential candidates Biden marks anniversary of the Violence Against Women Act, knocks Trump and McConnell MORE (D-Minn.) gave her greatest speech at the end of the night about why Donald Trump Donald John TrumpBarr criticizes DOJ in speech declaring all agency power 'is invested in the attorney general' Military leaders asked about using heat ray on protesters outside White House: report Powell warns failure to reach COVID-19 deal could 'scar and damage' economy MORE must be defeated – the only thing that matters. She moves on – contrary to many predictions.

As for Trump, he can chortle all he wants tonight but he can’t escape two facts tonight or ever:

First, leading Republican U.S. senators, privately and in the case of Sens. Lamar Alexander Andrew (Lamar) Lamar AlexanderTrump health officials grilled over reports of politics in COVID-19 response Now is the time to renew our focus on students and their futures CDC says asymptomatic people don't need testing, draws criticism from experts MORE (R-Tenn.), Lisa Murkowski Lisa Ann MurkowskiGOP ramps up attacks on Democrats over talk of nixing filibuster OVERNIGHT ENERGY: House Democrats tee up vote on climate-focused energy bill next week | EPA reappoints controversial leader to air quality advisory committee | Coronavirus creates delay in Pentagon research for alternative to 'forever chemicals' House Democrats tee up vote on climate-focused energy bill next week MORE (R-Alaska) and hopefully others today, have called Trump and his lawyers and Republican senator apologists liars. Liars. They vindicated House Speaker Nancy Pelosi Nancy PelosiPowell warns failure to reach COVID-19 deal could 'scar and damage' economy Overnight Defense: House to vote on military justice bill spurred by Vanessa Guillén death | Biden courts veterans after Trump's military controversies Intelligence chief says Congress will get some in-person election security briefings MORE (D-Calif.), House Democrats, and House impeachment managers. 100 percent. And repudiated their Republican colleagues in House and Senate. The likelihood is now great that Republicans will lose the Senate in 2020. Their Republican colleagues have now said that Trump abused his powers as president to extort and shakedown the Ukrainians to dig up dirt on a political opponent by withholding military aid and a White House meeting. Trump’s legal team and apologists in the Senate must be embarrassed. Trump and Rudy Giuliani Rudy GiulianiJuan Williams: Breaking down the debates Giuliani criticizes NYC leadership: 'They're killing this city' More than 160 executives critique de Blasio's leadership amid pandemic MORE too. But they are, of course, beyond embarrassment.

However, there is a second fact that cannot be deleted: a videotape. Click on the link below.

See Trump, seeming mentally imbalanced (for a change!) disrespecting the singing of the national anthem prior to the Super Bowl kickoff. The same man who criticized and mocked African American NFL players kneeling during the national anthem, quietly and with dignity, to express their conscience about an American system that continues to ignore and disrespect many African Americans.

I expect we will see this video tape repeated thousands of times on TV throughout the general election. And I hope Trump voters, as much as they seem to forgive Trump for everything, can’t possibly forgive this, especially those who served in the military.

Click below. Trump may chortle tonight about what happened in Iowa. But he can’t explain this. Ever. And it will be another reason why he must not be reelected to lead our country in a second term. Must not be.

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/donald-trump-anthem-super-bowl_n_5e38a94ec5b66c4eafd8b38c