Update from the Sunland
No.1162
15.4.24 – 21.4.24
Blog version: http://heartlandupdate.blogspot.com/
To all,
The follow-up news items:
-- After the House impeached Homeland Secretary Alejandro Nicholas Mayorkas [1152, 1161], the Articles of Impeachment were presented to the Senate. On Wednesday, the Senate rejected a motion to proceed with the trial of Secretary Majorkas [Senate: 51-49-0-0-(0)]—the equivalent to a judicial motion to dismiss. The vote was on strict party lines. The impeachment trial for Secretary Mayorkas was officially dismissed by the Senate. This little episode of partisan politics is over . . . for now.
From my perspective, this affair was never about Mayorkas. It had everything to do with Republican desperation, especially with the impending general election. The Republicans blindly follow ihr Lieber Anführer to reject the negotiated bipartisan immigration reform bill, so that they can turn around and impeach the secretary, and criticize the government for not doing the job the way they want it done. Damn them all to hell!
-- On Monday, Little Fingers’ criminal business fraud trial—People of New York v. Trump [NYSC, Cty of NY Indictment No. 71543/2023] [1107]—began with jury selection. Lots of folks in the Press and elsewhere call this trial the hush money trial. Is it really about hush money? NO! It is all about the business accounting fraud, Tiny sought to hide the hush money. There is a huge difference. ‘Hush money’ for a porn star mistress is more salacious than accounting fraud. Let us not be confused by the misnomer. By Thursday morning, when the court reconvened, they lost two jurors, but at the end of the day, they gained seven to seat a full jury. The judge declared, “We have a jury.” They completed the full panel with six alternates on Friday. Opening statements will be delivered this coming Monday. We head into the evidentiary phase of the trial.
-- Arizona House tried again to repeal the 1864 abortion prohibition law. The effort failed again blocked by Republicans, some of whom seemed to be quite satisfied to take all Arizona women back 160 years. The draconian, century-plus law will take effort when the temporary stay imposed by the Planned Parenthood Arizona v. Mayes [AZ SC No. CV-23-0005-PR (2024)] [1161] ruling expires in two days.
-- In what history may well record as a master stroke, Speaker Johnson broke up the critical foreign aid defense bill into separate bills [1158] requiring a recorded vote for each bill. He was successful against the resistance of the ‘Freedom Caucus.’
* H.R. 8038; 21st Century Peace through Strength Act [House: 360-58-0-13(4)]]. Both the far-right and far-left voted against the bill in a bipartisan vote for passage.
* H.R. 8036; Indo-Pacific Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2024 [House: 385-34-1-11(4)]. Only the far-right minority voted against this bill with a large bipartisan majority voting for passage.
* H.R. 8035; Ukraine Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2024 [311-112-1-7(4)]]. A majority of Republicans voted against the bill, while all of the Democrats voted for it.
* H.R. 8034; Israel Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2024 [House: 366-58-0-7(4)]. Again, the far-right and far-left voted against the bill.
Speaker Johnson’s maneuver finally broke the logjam. The package of bills will be passed to the Senate, where they should pass with similar bipartisan majority and be signed into law promptly. These defense aid bills should have been passed months ago, but better late than never. Unfortunately, the Ukrainians have lost ground against the Russians as their ammunition was running short. I expect the president to authorize transfer from U.S. reserves until the procurement contracts are issued. The Ukrainians are most in need of our assistance—NOW! Let us not forget, we are not sending cash anywhere with these bills. We are contracting with American companies to produce specific defense materials and shipping them to the countries involved. The money stays in the United States; the ammunition and equipment go overseas.
The same MAGAt bunch that voted against the negotiated bipartisan immigration reform bill that would have strengthened the southern border protection provisions. Then, they blocked the foreign aid provision using an excuse that we should defend our border first. Speaker Johnson did the right thing and finally overcame the MAGAt idiots.
-- In the wake of the passage of the foreign aid bills [above], the MAGAts accused the Democrats of prioritizing foreign governments with these aid packages rather than American issues like border security. The irony in all this nonsense, it was the Republicans that rejected a negotiated bipartisan immigration reform bill that significantly strengthened border security. These MAGAts must be voted out of office. Any progress of improvement of the nation will be long and tortuous as long as these crazies are allowed to have their slimy, crooked fingers on the instruments of state.
The ‘Freedom Caucus’ far right wing of the Republican Party led by MTG (Marjorie Taylor Greene) failed to cower most Republicans, and they are livid they failed to stop the passage of the foreign aid supplemental bills as directed by ihr Lieber Anführer. They vowed to proceed with their motion to vacate. If they are successful, they will thrust the House of Representatives into yet another episode of leadership turmoil like we experienced last fall with Kevin McCarthy [1134].
-- After numerous procedural obstructions [1161], the House finally voted in a near equal bipartisan basis [259-128-0-43(5)] to table the motion to reconsider the previous passage of the Reforming Intelligence and Securing America Act. The Senate moved swiftly to overcome the MAGAts and passed the bill [60-34-0-6(0)]. The bill has been presented to the president for approval. Section 2 of the bill significantly restricts the FBI’s use of FISA §702 for surveillance of United States citizens. The bill has been presented to the president for approval.
-- The Israeli Air Force carried out a small, limited air raid deep into the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) in response to the Iranian attack on Israel [1161]. They reportedly destroyed a Russian-supplied air defense radar site near a military base at Isfahan. This seemed more like a demonstration than a concerted counterattack. The IRI immediately began to cover-up the attack signaling tit-for-tat violence may be over for now. From my perspective, the Israelis accomplished far more than the Iranians in this exchange.
The chaos of the Republican Party in the House of Representatives continues unabated. The House leadership is being held hostage at gunpoint by the Freedom Caucus wackos (extremists). Speaker Johnson is doing what has to be done to break the grip of MAGAts. This insanity has got to stop. The ‘Freedom Caucus’ is not and never has been about freedom. The group is solely about power and dictating how everyone else should live; That is NOT freedom by any definition. We must stop this chaos. We must vote this fall.
Continuing comment to Update no.1160:
“Tell me Cap-if a jury cannot be formed how is he is he investigated further?“
My reply:
They will keep grinding on until they can agree upon 12 jurors (plus six alternates) who presumably can keep an open mind and render judgment based on the evidence and the law. The jury selection process may take weeks. At some point, if the judge decides they cannot find an impartial jury, they could seek a change in venue. If that does not work, a mistrial would be declared pushing the case back to the prosecution to alter the case somehow. I do not expect it to go that far; I believe they will seat a jury of 12; it just may take longer than usual. We shall see.
. . . Round two:
“Good day once again Cap. Many thanks for your response to my question. Yes, it sounds as I expected a jury of 12 eventually to get the case mobile. It does however highlight the great differences in view of the population. Especially in that region. Do your remember Courts Marshall? That happened without argument it is a good system. Providing you weren’t being charged for something that you definitely didn’t do!”
. . . my reply to round two:
They made surprising progress yesterday seating seven jurors. The expectation is now that they may complete jury selection by Friday. The judge has notified the defense and prosecution to be prepared for opening statements next Monday. Things are moving along. I just hope the lawyers have done a good job in selection. We need 12 jurors who will be open-minded and fair in their judgment of the evidence and the law. First and foremost, it must be a fair trial.
Yes, I am familiar with and remember the military courts martial process. I never faced one or had to participate in a court martial, but I know the rules and read enough transcripts to know how they work. Yes, I agree; it is a good system. But as with all judicial systems, they are run by humans and thus subject to errors or mistakes. They all do the best they can. I expect no less in the case of Little Fingers.
. . . Round three:
“Thanks Cap-good to read your last. So things could be moving along. let’s get this done. We do not need errors or mistakes in this. The closest I came was marching two aircrew-pilot and navigator-into the COs office on a charge of dangerous and reckless flying- i.e. flying up the taxi track actually with full afterburners -reheat- at about 10 feet ASL. I actually heard it approaching looked out and had look down to see the aircraft! Things that you never forget!”
. . . my reply to round three:
Judge Merchan, the presiding judge in the current fraud trial of Little Fingers, has been cautious, perhaps overly cautious, to ensure the defendant’s rights are protected in court. Personally, I think he has been too tolerant of Little Fingers mouth and antics. Yes, indeedie, let’s get this done, and spot on, we do not need any errors or mistakes. We need precision and fairness.
We call that kind of flying “flat hatting.” I must confess to my share of such flying, although I think I did not take reckless risks.
Comments and contributions from Update no.1161:
Comment to the Blog:
“Early Arizona Territory history would make a fine Western comedy with a Blazing Saddles level of absurdity. Most of the foundational law, the Howell Code, was copied wholesale from state laws elsewhere in that Victorian era. Why the State Supreme Court would honor that code 160 years later mystifies me. Other Howell Code provisions, including an age of consent of 10 years, were scrapped long ago.
“I’m opposed to the overreach of the FISA Act, and I haven’t studied the full situation on the renewal. MAGAts’ obedience to Little Fingers still amazes me.
“Supporters of the Zionists continue to ignore Israel’s role in the Middle East conflict and the presence of oil off the Gaza coast, among other factors.
“Per ABC and The Washington Post, the FBI has opened a criminal investigation into the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse.
“We expect today to be the first day of Little Fingers’ first criminal trial. Note for ‘this day in history.’”
My response to the Blog:
There are many other subsequent laws that overrode the territorial laws, but some of those subsequent laws did not explicitly repeal the abortion prohibition. I suppose the Arizona Supreme Court majority wanted to make multiple statements in their Mayes ruling, none of them explicitly stated. We have an abortion protection referendum on the ballot for this November, but I have not yet seen the precise wording. The wording, as of today, establishes an Arizona constitutional amendment that creates a provision for abortion as a fundamental constitutional right up to the point of fetal viability (today circa 20-22 weeks) and allows post-viability action to protect the life or physical or mental health of the pregnant individual. I hope and expect that We, the People, in Arizona, will settle this issue in November. Until then, we suffered confusion and uncertainty.
The overreach of which you speak was an execution matter by overzealous agents. FISA is a necessary tool to fight worldwide terrorism for ourselves and our allies. We need FISA.
Absolutely, the blind obedience of the MAGAts to ihr Anführer is mind-boggling. I suppose I can understand some of such blindness by intelligent, educated people who are so desperate for change that they will hitch their wagon to such a lame horse. Others, like white supremacists, Christian nationalists, racists, and fascist elements, do not have another candidate who will voice and act on their rabid ideologies. The chain must be broken.
Yes, quite so. A federal criminal investigation has reportedly been opened. I suspect the NTSB has found some unusual evidence in the event recorder data and/or the interviews of the pilots and crew. They will sort out what happened and why, and they will place those facts in a very precise timeline.
Yes, the trial has begun. It appears jury selection is going to take weeks. The gears of justice grind on.
. . . follow-up comment:
“I hope the people of Arizona will pass an abortion referendum, as we have here in Ohio. Beware the rule-making process that follows, though. We passed an abortion referendum and one to legalize marijuana here in Ohio, and both are still hung up in the implementation process due to a legislature catering to its redneck base.
“The overreach of FISA is in Section 702.
“A central interest of mine is social psychology. The MAGAts and the Nazis are examples of its importance.
“I’ve already seen reports of Little Fingers falling asleep during the first day of his trial. I almost expect at least one of the Presidential candidates to have a major medical event before the election.”
. . . my follow-up response:
I will do my part. I am comfortable with the wording of the referendum as it is today, but I need to see the final wording on the ballot before I can affirm my vote. I am also well aware of your caution and admonition; we have exactly the same social conservative bunch in Arizona. They will eventually be overcome for progress to continue, but I hold no illusions that it will be a swift endeavor. As we witnessed with the Arizona Supreme Court Mayes ruling [1161], social conservatives are quite willing to take us back 160 years to satisfy their sense of propriety.
The FISA reform law is in a hung-fire status at the moment in Congress. The reform bill does adjust §702 activities, perhaps not enough but movement is in a positive direction. We need FISA.
Understood and agreed, social psychology is a vitally important realm of study for a host of reasons.
I am not particularly bothered by reports of Little Fingers dozing in court. If you have sat through a jury selection process, to me, it is a very boring, tedious, almost monotonous activity, although it is vitally important. I would be far more concerned about jurors or potential jurors or the judge nodding off.
My very best wishes to all. Take care of yourselves and each other.
Cheers,
Cap :-)
