Update no.980

 Update from the Sunland

No.980

19.10.20 – 25.10.20

Blog version:  http://heartlandupdate.blogspot.com/

 

            To all,

 

            May God bless Doctor Anthony Stephen ‘Tony’ Fauci, MD, Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, for his exemplary service to this once grand republic.  He has been the nation’s chief epidemiologist through seven (7) administrations and presidents.  The direct, juvenile, direct attacks by the Bully-in-Chief (BIC) are so far beneath any dignified conduct in life and infinitely below the so-called expected conduct of a president of the United States of America.  If anyone of the BIC-lovers out there wants to understand my condemnation of the BIC’s behavior, conduct, words, actions, or any other measure, you have but to listen to the BIC’s juvenile attacks on Doctor Fauci. The BIC continues to insist upon ignorance is bless as his driving philosophy; I cannot and never will accept such a nonsensical attitude— see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil.   Really?  God bless Doctor Fauci for standing on the proper Christian response—not reacting to the BIC’s very foolish attacks.  Fauci is a far better man than the BIC ever was or ever will be.  Stand strong, my brother.  I stand with you.

 

            Jeanne and I completed our mail-in ballots a week ago Friday.  We dropped our ballots in the U.S. Postal Service drop slot inside our local Post Office at 14:15 [T] MST (PDT) Friday, 16.October.2020.  The State of Arizona received, accepted, and counted our ballots on Saturday, 17.October.2020, as reported by the state's secure website.  Frankly, I was rather surprised by the Saturday acceptance, but it was encouraging and refreshing to see the system work precisely as it should.  I trust all of the other states will be just as efficient, despite the monumental Republican efforts at voter suppression from the BIC on down; no sign of any success by the BIC in Arizona.  For us, the die is cast.

 

            I was tested for COVID19 for the first time this week.  I have no symptoms; the test was required as a necessary prerequisite.  Fortunately, I remain negative for the virus.

            Like so many in the BIC’s tribe, am I supposed to believe I do not have it therefore it does not exist.  All 220,000 dead Americans as a consequence of COVID19 induced acute respiratory failure and 8,000,000 COVID19 infected citizens are just ‘fake news,’ i.e., not real?  Am I supposed to believe I don’t need no stinkin’ mask!  If I am to believe this particular vociferous minority, I am a girly boy for wearing a mask. If so, then I proudly accept that label.  My freedom comes as part of the collective, it does not exist individually; we collectively protect the freedoms of others and ourselves.  One of these days, we will grow up to the realities of democracy.

 

            NASA’s OSIRIS-REx (Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, Security, Regolith Explorer) spacecraft briefly contacted the rugged surface of asteroid Bennu, 200 million miles from earth on Tuesday, 20.October.2020, at 18:08 [R] EDT.  The spacecraft’s sampling device was designed and expected to collect 60 grams (2.1 ounces) of Bennu’s surface material in just five seconds. The spacecraft is scheduled to return the sample to earth on 24.September.2023, for detailed analysis.  The composition and content of material is anticipated to give us valuable clues to the origins of the solar system.

            For those who might be interested in the complexities of the science and engineering involved in such a project, I strongly recommend the PBS NOVA program “Touching the Asteroid” (S47 E14) broadcast on Wednesday, 21.October.2020.  Incredible, magnificent, awe-inspiring and phenomenal are the best words I can offer

 

            I must attribute and credit CNN Journalist Christopher Charles ‘Chris’ Cuomo with expanding my vocabulary by one word this week.  I did not know the word until he illuminated it.  The word first appeared in English in the mid-15^thcentury.

trumpery ≡ something without use or value; rubbish; trash; worthless stuff; of little or no value; trifling, worthless; rubbishy; trashy.

To use the word in a contextual and worthy manner: The trumpery BIC continued to demonstrate his ignorance and paucity of compassion.  Please do not believe me or Chris; look it up; I did in all of the English dictionaries I possess (eight).  I rejoice in learning more every day.  Thank you, Chris.  Now we know.

 

            We watched Aaron Sorkin’s movie “The Trial of the Chicago 7”—available on Netflix.  For those who are too young or choose not to remember, the Chicago 7 were seven political activists who were arrested and tried for protesting against the Vietnam War at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Illinois, in August 1968.  During the trial, Abbie Hoffman (played by Sacha Baron Cohen) answered the prosecutor’s query, “I don’t know, I’ve never been on trial for my thoughts before.”  That one line fairly well summarizes not just the movie, the portrayal of those events, but to a far greater extent, this movie represents and reflects the times in which we live, e.g., the malicious denigration of Black Lives Matter (BLM).  As always, Sorkin did a masterful job of writing and directing the movie.  I strongly encourage everyone to watch “The Trial of the Chicago 7.”

 

            As if to graphically illustrate the importance of what Senate Republicans are doing with the Barratt confirmation process, the Supreme Court rejected an appeal in a Republican voter suppression case in Pennsylvania—Scarnati v. Boockvar [592 U.S. 20A53].  The 4-4 Court defaulted to affirming the ruling of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania Middle District that issued its ruling to allowing mail-in ballots postmarked by the closing of the polls election day and received up to three days after election day to be counted, as long as they are properly validated.  Of course, Republicans are absolutely apoplectic over the Pennsylvania ruling and Supreme Court default affirmation.  While we cannot predict how Barratt will rule in such cases, her underlying ideology suggests would have sided with the minority in this case (and others) . . . making the decision a majority opinion.  The Barratt nomination has to be encouraging to the diminishing Republican minority, but at best, it will only be a temporary setback.  Freedom shall prevail.

            Postscript: As this Update goes to the wire, I learned the Republicans have filed an appeal petition for a second bite of the apple by going back to the Supreme Court, presumably with the new justice on the bench (her confirmation is due to be voted on in the full Senate on Monday, 26.October.2020—one week before the election) in hopes of her siding with the other conservatives to strike down the Pennsylvania court ruling.  I suppose Republicans simply do not care a twit that the majority of Americans are coming to despise them for their immoral conduct.  The Republican actions only delay the inevitable.  We shall overcome.

 

            Pope Francis I, prelate of the Roman Catholic Church, offered encouraging words to LGBTQ citizens around the world.  Speaking in an interview with Russian Director Evgeny Afineevsky, for his documentary “Francesco” that premiered on 21.October.2020, on the occasion of la Festa del Film di Roma (Rome Film Festival), Pope Francis said, “Homosexual people have the right to be in a family.  They are children of God and have a right to a family.  Nobody should be thrown out or be made miserable over it.  What we have to have is a civil union law—that way they are legally covered.  I supported that.”  A film interview is not the usual means popes use to communicate doctrinal changes to the church, to believers, or to the world.  I wonder if the release of this film had precise timing and ulterior purpose?

 

            The last presidential debate occurred Thursday night at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee, moderated by Kristen Welker of NBC News.  First and foremost, I must offer my congratulations and kudos to Welker’s conduct and control of the event.  The BIC certainly tried hard to behave himself.  This latest version was monumentally better than the debacle the BIC created during the last debate.  In this one, he wanted to argue with the moderator more than discuss the substance in world issues.  His mouth moves, words come out, and he says nothing, nada, niente, nichts.  The BIC continues to publicly tell us all, “We are rounding the turn, rounding the corner.  [The virus] is going away.”  There is no metric by which any portion of that statement could even be remotely true.  We can only conclude that the BIC is delusional; he simply does not know he is naked.  The closing statements were the truth teller for not just the last debate but the entire campaign.  Ms. Welker asked each candidate to imagine it was inauguration day 20.Janurary.2021, what would each of them say to the American citizens who did not vote for them?

Welker:         Imagine this is your inauguration day. What will you say in your address, to Americans who did not vote for you?

The BIC:       Success is going to bring us together. We are on the road to success. But I’m cutting taxes, and he wants to raise everybody’s taxes and he wants to put new regulations on everything. He will kill it. If he gets in, you will have a Depression, the likes of which you’ve never seen. Your 401(k)s will go to hell, and it’ll be a very, very sad day for this country.

Biden:           I’m an American President. I represent all of you, whether you voted for me or against me, and I’m going to make sure that you’re represented. I’m going to give you hope. We’re going to move; we’re going to choose science over fiction. We’re going to choose hope over fear. We’re going to choose to move forward because we have enormous opportunities, enormous opportunities to make things better.

The BIC chose to attack his opponent and preach fear, i.e., vote for me or else.  Sound familiar?  Joe Biden used the exact same question to offer a common theme of his campaign that he was not going to be a Democrat president, but rather the American president whether we voted for him or not.  To me, that says it all.  That is the difference between the two men in a nutshell.  To me, the choice is very clear and unambiguous.

            Nonetheless, the most important element is voting.  Regardless of who you choose to vote for, please VOTE!  We need your vote.  Please do your duty as a citizen.

 

            A friend, frequent contributor to this humble forum, and brother-in-arms sent along the following article:

“The Elusive Peril of Space Junk – Millions of human artifacts circle the Earth.  Can we clean them up before they cause a disaster?”

by Raffi Khatchadourian

The New Yorker

Published: September 21, 2020

https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2020/09/28/the-elusive-peril-of-space-junk?utm_source=EarthSky+News&utm_campaign=a3588142f2-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2018_02_02_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_c643945d79-a3588142f2-394689513

The article is an exceptional representation of the gathering problem regarding space debris in low earth orbit.  As is so often the case, I learned something new—the Kessler Syndrome.  The hypothesis holds that there is a threshold of low earth orbit contamination where a single collision would set off a chain-reaction not unlike a nuclear explosion, causing incalculable damage to functional satellites.  Let us hope we can solve the space junk problem before we reach the Kessler Syndrome threshold like we must solve the problem of greenhouse gases before we reach the point of no return with the climate.

 

            The BIC likes to justify his mismanagement of the COVID19 crisis by pointing his crooked accusatory finger at the Obama administration’s handling of the 2009 swine flu outbreak.  So let us examine a few of the facts.  The 2009 influenza pandemic outbreak began with patient zero—a 10-year-old boy in Southern California on 15.April.2009.  The next case occurred two days later—a 9-year-old girl in an adjacent county in California.  Just an FYI here: do we call it the United States influenza like the BIC prefers to call COVID19 the China virus?  Rhetorical question!  No, we do not!  The 2009 outbreak was the H1N1 variant—the same variant that cause the 1918 pandemic. Heck, patient zero in the 1918 pandemic was a company cook at Camp Funston, part of Fort Riley, Kansas, on 4.March.1918.  We could have called the 1918 pandemic the United States influenza as well, but we do not.  We often call it the Spanish flu; people of the day mistakenly thinking it originated in Spain.  The BIC strives mightily to deflect from his own ineptitude by pointing at others.  Let us not be fooled.  The BIC did NOT cause the COVID19 pandemic, but his denials and desire to “play it down” [974] have made the consequences of the pandemic far worse for this once grand republic.  He makes excuses; 225,000 good citizens died (so far).

 

            Comments and contributions from Update no.979:

Comment to the Blog:

“You (and the nation) often seem to focus on style over substance.  Judge Barrett will be confirmed to the Supreme Court, and the outcome will be a vote for lower corporate taxes and even further deregulation.  Social issues are less predictable because the people who pay for politicians don’t really care about those things, only money.  We shall see whether the inept Democratic Party can achieve control of Congress.  Should they do so, they will have an opportunity to counter that corporate trend, but they won’t.

“I suspect the Sturgis motorcycle event will take the blame for the current increase of Midwestern COVID cases.  Whatever.”

My response to the Blog:

            Fair accusation.  In this instance, you can add me to the popular notion.  I have given everyone my threshold for this particular election—stability and humanity.  I don’t even have ‘acting presidential’ on the list anymore.  The BIC has dragged us all into the filthy gutter with him.  We must end the chaos he thrives on around him.  I want this to end.  Stability and humanity!

            Yes, it appears (barring some extraordinary blocking event) she will be confirmed, and we will be expected to endure her judicial ideology.  I sincerely fear the loss of what remains of our freedom of choice and fundamental right to privacy.  We can only pray the law exceeds her ideology.

            Well, I am not so sure.  Biden has been rather plain on the wealthy and corporations paying their fair share.

            FYI: we completed and posted our ballots (using the USPS).  They were received and counted the next day (Saturday, actually).  I would say the system is working properly . . . well other than the widespread voter suppression activities of the BIC and Republicans.

            Yes, I’m sure.  Sturgis will not be viewed positively from a contagious disease transmission perspective.  I suspect the BIC’s mass campaign rallies will overshadow the motorcycle rally as super-spreader events.  I’m afraid the BIC has rendered us to the brute force state, and worse, I’m even more fearful that he has so contaminated a large segment of the citizenry that the next president will have a doubly more difficult task: leading us out of this pandemic morass AND overcoming the BIC-infected citizens.

 . . . follow-up contribution:

I'm glad your ballots were received and counted so quickly.  Postal service here has slowed considerably for all purposes.  Ohio's election procedure records acceptance of the ballot, but the actual counting begins when the polls close.

 . . . my follow-up response:

            Yeah, many states have that rule.  The important point to me is our votes are in the hands of the State.  They can count them when they wish to count them.  We might have to wait a little longer.

            I finished reading the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruling allowing ballots postmarked on Election Day and received within three days after Election Day.  The court rejected the attempts of the Republican Party to suppress the vote.  In a somewhat ominous punctuation, the SCOTUS rejected the Republican appeal yesterday—the vote: 4-4 {Scarnati v. Boockvar [592 U.S. 20A53]}.  That fact emphatically illustrates the consequences of the Barratt confirmation and the election should it be close [ala Bush v. Gore].

 

            My very best wishes to all.  Take care of yourselves and each other.

Cheers,

Cap                  :-)

Update no.979

 Update from the Sunland

No.979

12.10.20 – 18.10.20

Blog version:  http://heartlandupdate.blogspot.com/

 

            To all,

 

            Congressional hearings for the confirmation of Judge Amy Coney Barratt were held this week.  Judge Barrett’s constitutional law professorship at the University of Notre Dame served her well.  Her tone in answering senatorial questions was markedly better than the responses of Brett Kavanaugh.  I watched the questioning of Judge Barratt and listened intently to her answers.  I will note that she is a most impressive person.  I liked and appreciated her answers.  As a jurist, she appears to be imminently qualified to take the seat vacated by Justice Ginsburg’s passing.  If she had been nominated to replace Justice Scalia, I would enthusiastically support her confirmation.  One third of senators and all representatives would normally be campaigning in the last weeks of the silly season.  Not so here.  They are striving mightily to confirm Judge Barratt and pass another stimulus bill before the election.  The Senate Republicans have the votes they need to impose their will upon all of the rest of us.  However, these are not normal times.  Two important, relevant, and vital facts contribute to my rejection of Judge Barratt’s nomination.

1.)  Senate Majority Leader McConnell and Senate Republicans violated the Constitution in 2016 in their refusal to consider or hold a vote in accordance with the Constitution regarding President Obama’s nominee to fill Justice Scalia’s seat nine months before the election.  President Obama fulfilled his constitutional duty; the Republican-controlled Senate of the day did not.  Worst, the Republicans do not care a hoot about the Constitution or the gross hypocrisy; they only care about their political power.  If the Senate Republicans had not stolen President Obama’s constitutional nomination, I would feel differently; however, tit-for-tat is appropriate.

2.)  As noted above, if Judge Barrett was being considered to replace Justice Scalia, I would support her confirmation, but she is not.  She is being considered to replace Justice Ginsburg.  Justice Ginsburg was not an originalist; Judge Barrett is a self-professed originalist.  The potential impact of such a dramatic shift in the Supreme Court ideology is incalculable.  I fear for our freedom of choice and fundamental right to privacy with Judge Barratt on the Supreme Court.  She is the moral projectionist’s dream come true.

            I know, recognize and acknowledge that the BIC’s loyal supporters do not care a hoot about the Republican shenanigans, after all it is their tribe that benefits.  They stole a Supreme Court seat—so what!  All’s fair in love and war, and this is war to protect the power of our tribe.  So yes, the BIC and the Senate Republicans have the constitutional right to do what they are doing now despite the fact that it is a morally reprehensible action.  Morality, smo-rality, who cares?  They are getting us the white, male, conservative judges we need to retain power as a diminishing minority, and of course, the ends justify the means.  So, what’s next?  . . . extra-judicial killing of anyone who opposes the Republican tribe?  The blatant, public, overt, voter suppression actions by Republican governors in Texas, Georgia, and elsewhere are just additional demonstrations of how bloody desperate Republicans are to retain their grip on the instruments of State.  While the BIC and Republican statements, words, actions, and activities are deeply depressing, I have faith that freedom shall prevail.  It may take a generation or two, perhaps long after I am gone, but I still have faith that freedom shall prevail

            Notable was Senator Cruz’s absence and virtual participation because he was exposed in close proximity to a COVID19 positive person.  He chose to not attend as a cautionary action.  On the other hand, Senator Lee of Utah, who has tested positive for COVID19 decided it was his right to show up at the hearings without a mask to prove what a freedom-loving tough guy and staunch supporter of the BIC he is.  Point made!  Message received!  Cruz claimed all 29 times that the supreme court nominations arose during an election year.  He was betting that none of us would know the history.  He falsely stated the facts as I illuminated in last week’s Update [978].  Further, he grossly distorted the facts to justify the unconstitutional action by the Senate in 2016.

            The Republicans raised the aspect of religion; not the Democrats.  Perhaps the Republicans are feeling guilty.  I can only surmise their repeated focus on religion was intended to stimulate the BIC’s base of support.

            For these reasons, I urge senators to reject Judge Barratt’s confirmation.

 

            I finally got around to watching the HBO Documentary Films presentation of “Agents of Chaos” initially broadcast 23.September.2020.  The film is a documentary directed and narrated by Alex Gibney and centers upon a Russian troll farm known as: 

Internet Research Agency (IRA)

55 Savushkina Street

Saint Petersburg, Russia

The two-part, four-hour, documentary illuminated Russian cyber-warfare capabilities, activities, and successes beginning in 2013 against the Ukraine.  The film was not kind to either Hillary Clinton or the BIC, for vastly different reasons.  The film demonstrated the consequences of Clinton’s decision to use her private eMail server for both private and official government communications—an unprecedented vulnerability exploited by the Russians.  The film was no less harsh on the BIC and his 2016 campaign for his outright collaboration, if not collusion, with the Russians.  Russian trolls harmonized the BIC’s rhetoric and enhanced the divisions.  The Russian trolls stoked the conspiracist’s appetite for intrigue and malfeasance.  Putin’s strategy only works because the United States is a vulnerable country as a consequence of our societal divisions and tribalism.  I do not think there was sufficient detail to answer the chicken-and-egg question, i.e., did the Russians lead the BIC or vice versa?  The BIC’s affinity for conspiracy theories and his willingness to spread those theories made him a very ripe target.  Add in his apparent indebtedness to former Soviet lenders compounded the vulnerability.  If you have even the slightly curiosity or concern about Russian cyber-warfare activities, I strongly urge you to watch the “Agents of Chaos” when you can devote careful attention to the detailed information provided.

 

            There are myriad examples of grossly inflammatory rhetoric, but this one deserves my illumination.  Actor Scott Baio publicly stated, “If you’re not hiring me because I’m a conservative, shame on you.  If there’s a civil war, then don’t forget who has all the guns.”  Well, ol’ Scott, I do believe you are delusional just like your vaunted BIC.  If there is to be another civil war, you and your tribe are not the only citizens who own and know how to use firearms.  Some of “the others” took a solemn oath of office, believe in that oath, and are prepared to defend the principles that founded this once grand republic.

 

            A friend and consistent contributor sent along two relevant articles for consideration.

“The Beginning of the End of American Exceptionalism”

by The Interpreter

New York Times

Published: October 13, 2020

To which, I replied:

I agree fully and expansively.  I would add further that American exceptionalism is exactly what brought us the Ugly American Syndrome, a trait I historically and resoundingly condemn.  American exceptionalism also defies the very essence of the principles that founded this once grand republic that “all men [in the broader, more expansive, generic context of mankind] are created equal.”  How on God’s little green earth can we possibly believe we are superior and still believe all men are created equal.  American exceptionalism has misled us and caused far more injury than any American would care to admit.  Our American predecessors sought to impose freedom on other peoples in that sense of superiority and that rendered us to another version of the oppressor.  Some people choose Communism; some people choose the dictator.  The reality and equality of it is that is their choice, not ours.  We have always tried to walk a fine line in supporting those who seek freedom, but that notion has induced us to make gravely dangerous mistakes.  History is replete with examples.  The closing line says it all: “Perhaps that is what makes losing faith in American exceptionalism so painful: confronting that it may have never been as real as Americans wanted to believe in the first place.”

The second article:

“How the Democracy Sausage Gets Made — or Doesn’t”

by The Interpreter

New York Times

Published: October 15, 2020

To which, I replied:

Another one I agree with 100%.  The signs of blatant Republican voter suppression are far too obvious, undeniable, and reprehensible.  These are the actions of a violently desperate minority [“stand back and stand by”] struggling mightily to hold onto some tenuous grasp of power.  I see this election more and more as the moment we must relegate that whole group to distant, powerless, and ignorable minority status.  Their time has passed.  No wonder the Russians are so energetic in their election malfeasance; one little flick of the finger and the whole house of cards comes tumbling down.  I suppose we should thank ol’ Vlad’ Putin and his orange lackey, AKA the BIC, for exposing the real America.  We are a third world, banana republic with a pretty face and some fancy lipstick.  ‘Make America Great Again’ . . . I could puke.  I just hope and pray the citizens of Kentucky are strong enough to be rid of ‘Moscow Mitch.’  The damage he has done is incalculable.

 

            Dueling town halls as a consequence of the BIC’s cowardly refusing to participate in the Debate Commission’s non-partisan town hall occurred on Thursday evening.  Joe Biden’s took place in Philadelphia.  I was not as much concerned about policies since a president is not a dictator or king (regardless of what the BIC thinks of himself).  There were clearly topics he did not want to answer.  I was impressed that he stayed after the event to follow-up with several attendees.  The BIC’s was held in Miami.  Savannah Guthrie dominated the early part, it was just an interview; she certainly challenged him, but he did his usual deny, deflect, confuse, bounce over everywhere.  He was combative, not responsive, and continued with his blatant lies.  He looked and acted healthy, so his COVID19 treatment worked for him.  He waves his hands, makes outrageous claims, and does nothing other than serve his tribe.  Positivity is good, false positivity is a lie and destructive.  The BIC claimed he was OK with masks, tells people to wear masks, but he saw something somewhere that 85% of those wearing masks became infected with COVID19.  He does this all the freakin’ time.  He distorts and outright lies; he cannot give us the facts.  The BIC says he knows about the radical left, but he knows nothing about the radical right.  And, he expects us to believe him.  I do not think so.

            The Nielsen Ratings for the dueling town halls clearly favored Biden—14.1 for Biden, 10.9 for the BIC (or a cumulative 13.5 for the whole NBC network).  That factual reality has to really grate upon the BIC’s malignant narcissism—biggest crowd ever.

            The dramatic contrast came on the same day when Governor Chris Christie, who had been in the ICU with COVID19 induced pneumonia, publicly stated, “I was wrong to not wear a mask.”  At least, Christie is man enough to admit when he was wrong.

            Then, we have Senator Benjamin Eric ‘Ben’ Sasse of Nebraska who slammed the BIC for his outrageous conduct.

The way he kisses dictators' butts.  I mean, the way he ignores that the Uyghurs are in literal concentration camps in Xinjiang right now.  He hasn't lifted a finger on behalf of the Hong Kongers.  I mean he and I have a very different foreign policy.  It is not that he just fails to lead our allies, it is that United States now regularly sells out our allies under his leadership.  The way he treats women and spends like a drunken sailor. The ways I criticized President Obama for that kind of spending I've criticized President Trump for as well.  He mocks evangelicals behind closed doors.  His family has treated the presidency like a business opportunity.  He's flirted with White supremacists.  I mean the places where we differed on the COVID.  At the beginning to the COVID crisis, he refused to treat it seriously for months.  He treated it like a news cycle by news cycle PR crisis rather than a multi-year public health challenge, which is what it is.
-- 15.October.2020  [Emphasis mine.]

As is his nature, the BIC was not happy with such criticism, especially from a Republican senator; no need to repeat the BIC’s words—just more of the same.  No, the BIC has made our choice in two weeks, very, very easy.  He has done this to himself.

            Bottom line: the two programs were a dramatic contrast between the two men.  Again my threshold is very low—stability and humanity.  By that low threshold criteria, the contrast was graphically obvious, and my decision is very easily made.  I want a president who acts presidential, not like a common schoolyard bully.

 

            A week ago Friday, the BIC suffered yet another judicial defeat; this one in the continuing legal challenge to the BIC’s emergency declaration and diversion of military construction funds in his attempt to plump up the congressionally authorized funds for segments of the BIC’s beloved border wall.  The 2-1 9^th Circuit panel ruling dealt with the presidential declaration and a host of plaintiffs including 18 states—Sierra Club v. Trump [9CCA No. 19-17501; D.C. No. 4:19-cv-00892- HSG; California v. Trump: Nos. 19-17502 (2020), 20-15044 (2020), D.C. No. 4:19-cv-00872-HSG]. Congress allocated only US$1.375B of the US$5.7B he requested for border wall construction.  Not satisfied, the BIC issued Proclamation No. 9844, invoking §1601 of the National Emergencies Act [PL 94–412; 90 Stat. 1255; 14.9.1976] and directed the Secretary of Defense to divert US$3.6B of congressionally mandated funds from approved military construction projects to make up the gap in border wall funding for 11 border wall projects totaling 175 of 1,954 total miles of land border with Mexico.  The court determined the law did not support the BIC’s actions.  The court affirmed the district court’s permanent injunction.  I assume the BIC will appeal to the Supremes, although there is no guarantee the court will accept the appeal.  For a man who claims he never loses, the BIC has suffered quite a few defeats in court, and I suspect his list of losses will continue to grow.

 

            Comments and contributions from Update no.978:

Comment to the Blog:

“Per the New York Times this morning, while Sweden is notable for not bothering with masks and some of the other nonsense, they have instituted a ban on large gatherings.  Hence, the White House ‘superspreader’ event in support of Judge Barrett couldn’t have happened there.  Sweden’s plan to deal with the virus is proceeding.

“You’re too deep in your own context.  Please mention the content of Trump vs. Vance.

“I’m a policy voter.  As such, I’m used to ignoring words in favor of actual results.  The Chump’s results are abominable.

“In re our discussion of voting: it turns out our ballot has a limited number of candidates. The Libertarians are running a woman, Jo Jorgensen, for president.  I disagree with some of their policies, but I encourage those who have not voted to study their platform https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/what-you-should-know-about-the-2020-libertarian-party-platform/ because it’s reasonable that they will actually try to carry it out if they succeed.  I’ll admit to finding much to agree with there.  The Green Party is not named on our ballot but their candidate, Howie Hawkins, is.  Hawkins is at least under 70, and those are almost exactly my policy positions.  Hawkins got my vote.  Those are the only candidates with ballot access to at least 270 Electoral College votes.  That is enough to win if the candidate got all of them.

“You had a busy week with comments.  That’s probably a good thing.

“One of your other commentators describes Senator Harris as appealing to ‘extreme’ voters.  On what planet?

“If your other correspondent didn’t want to be on a blog (“this is a friendly email”), they should’ve requested it be private.”

My response to the Blog:

            You know, I must confess that I have become numb to the idiocy of the BIC.  The BIC’s consistent total disregard for the anti-contagion guidance has pushed me to the threshold of I-don’t-care-anymore.  Let them gather up together and infect each other.  Let them kill themselves off—Darwin’s theory is in play.  We will just have to pray we will not need a hospital ICU bed until they have killed each other off in sufficient numbers to reduce demand on hospital capacity.  We are witnessing a form of mass suicide, not unlike the Jim Jones induced mass suicide of 18.November.1978; I am pained to watch, but the BIC’s magic snake-oil elixir is just a slower acting version of Jim Jones’s grape Kool-aid.  The challenge to the rest of us (while they kill each other) is to avoid becoming collateral damage like Leo Ryan was.

            In short, the various versions of Trump v. Vance are a judicial contest on whether a sitting president must comply with a state grand jury subpoena.  [Just an FYI: the companion case is Trump vs. Mazars that deals with compliance with federal (congressional) subpoenas, although the SDNY appears close to joining.]  Both cases center upon the BIC’s tax returns.

            I am curious and intrigued by policy, but presidents do not make law.  I am far more focused on character.  Does the candidate have the traits of leadership, integrity, morality, and just common sense?  I have been quite vociferous against the BIC from a long time before he even declared his candidacy.  He has proven my assessment correct far beyond my wildest imagination—unfortunately.  As I stated earlier, my bar is very freakin’ low; I just want stability and humanity in the next president.  Joe Biden is the best of the lot in the current silly season.

            Jo Jorgensen is a better Libertarian candidate than Gary Johnson was in 2016.  She qualifies by my very low standard.  However, as stated earlier, presidents do not make laws, so how would a Libertarian president get anything done?  The same applies to the Green Party’s Howie Hawkins.

            Yeah, it was a busy week last week.  Better that we are conversing and debating issues . . . well, at least expressing ourselves.

            I can offer no explanation for the comments/opinions of others.

 . . . Round two:

“In a more moderate view, perhaps the Chump’s remaining in-person rallies, tightly packed as always, will make enough of his followers ill with COVID or flu to cut GOP turnout in some close races.

“Presidents don’t make a law directly but, as we are seeing, they affect those who do.  The Constitutional checks and balances assure that.  Character plays a part, but let’s not mistake appearance for performance.  History remains the best predictor of future performance.

“Were a Green or Libertarian candidate elected, they would have the power of their office.  Also, the fact of their election would change the actions of others seeking votes.”

 . . . my response to round two:

            There is always that.  We, the People, do not get to decide.  The BIC has decided that defiance is the way to go for him.  So, while the BIC’s magic snake-oil elixir may not itself be toxic or deadly, the consequence of consumption of that noxious substance have already become deadly, e.g., Herman Cain after attending the BIC’s Tulsa rally without a mask.  How many more will die as a result of attending one of the BIC’s defiant campaign rallies will likely never be known.  One is too many.

            Quite so.  In full agreement.  Case in point: FDR’s Lend-Lease Program passed in three months in a highly isolationist nation.

            Perhaps.  Teddy Roosevelt came the closest to testing that hypothesis, but unfortunately, the theory has not yet been tested.  I know you have railed against a simple anti-BIC vote and rightly so I must say.  However, as I have repeatedly stated, I see the BIC singularly as a clear and present danger to this once grand republic.  He must be removed from office and stripped of his handling of the instruments of State.  Diluting or spreading our votes among other non-BIC candidates does NOT serve that purpose.  These are NOT normal times thanks almost solely to the BIC. Extraordinary action is required, IMHO.

 . . . Round three:

“My point about the Chump's rallies is not deaths, though.  I found a death rate (from the CDC in May) of 0.25%.  However, this virus is quite contagious, and the timing of rallies right now is such that cases of the virus would peak very near Election Day.  The flu virus has a different cycle, but peak season is beginning.  People infected next week would be sick on Election Day.  Of course, early voting could be a factor in this, but The Chump has scared the daylights out of his followers about the mail-in part of that, which a person could perform while ill.”

. . . my response to round three:

            Quite right.  I should have been more complete in my response.  You are, of course, quite correct.  The central issue is the infection rate—the contagiousness of the virus.  The transmission of the virus to others is the root matter.  The virus, may or may not, prove life threatening or fatal to an infected person, but he might well infect others for whom the virus is indeed fatal.  I do not see COVID19 as generally different from Ebola, HIV, syphilis, or another other potentially fatal contagion.  The individual who does not abide the anti-contagious guidelines is waving a slow-acting gun at all of us—may not be fatal but very easily could be.  The law does not differentiate—attempted murder is just as serious as realized murder.

 

            My very best wishes to all.  Take care of yourselves and each other.

Cheers,

Cap                  :-)

Update no.978

 Update from the Sunland

No.978

5.10.20 – 11.10.20

Blog version:  http://heartlandupdate.blogspot.com/

 

            To all,

 

            If anyone who reads these words has even the slightest interest, curiosity, or concern about a variety of major issues that have plagued this once grand republic since before the 2016 election, I strongly and enthusiastically urge you to watch and carefully pay attention to a two-part movie portrayal of those events—"The Comey Rule” presented by Showtime.  Jeff Daniels portrays former FBI director James Comey, and Irish actor Brendan Gleeson portrays the Bully-in-Chief (BIC); both did masterful jobs.  The depiction of those events is consistent with multitudinous governmental investigations and press reports from a wide variety of sources.  Just one advisory informed consent alert: if you have consumed the BIC’s magic snake-oil elixir, you will probably not be pleased with this representation of historic events.  Nonetheless, everyone should watch this movie.  You will be better informed and perhaps even understand those events more thoroughly.

 

            The follow-up news items:

-- After testing positive for COVID19 [977], the still contagious BIC unnecessarily exposed his Secret Service detail to the virus with bonehead joyride a week ago Sunday, and he exposed the crew of Marine One to fly to the White House.  Of course, the BIC had to do his Mussolini-esque balcony show on Monday evening, which was unnecessary as well, but it was the moment he removed his mask and entered the White House that really chaffed my backside.  The White House has already become a COVID19 hot spot—one of the worst in the entire nation.  So, the BIC’s glorious, triumphant, photo-op without a mask on exposed White House employees to more infection.  The BIC’s conduct on Monday was outrageous, irresponsible, arrogant, deeply disrespectful, and verging upon homicidal.  His conduct is not reassuring or upbeat as he likes to claim; it is reckless—full stop!

 

            The vice presidential debate occurred on Wednesday evening, 7.October.2020, at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, moderated by Susan Page, Washington Bureau Chief for USA Today.  This event was orders of magnitude more respectful and proper than what we endured last week [977]; however, both candidates interrupted the other candidate, but Pence repeatedly defied the rules he agreed to before the debate.  He was far more combative with the moderator than necessary or should have been.  I doubt the vice presidential debate swayed anyone.  At the end of the day, I think Harris came out on top.  Nonetheless, I would like to specifically compliment Pence for his efforts to resist the BIC’s practices.  The tone of this debate was far better than last week’s fiasco.

 

            On Thursday, federal and Michigan state law enforcement officials announced the arrest of at least 13 individuals (so far) before they could execute their plans in a terror plot against Governor Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan.  All of them were charged with various serious federal and state crimes.  Some of the conspirators are members of an ultra-right-wing militia group known as the Wolverine Watchmen [NOTE: this is not a singular group or event; we must be prepared for more, thanks to the BIC].  A domestic terror plot is bad enough, but it was the BIC’s tweets that evening that proved even more outrageous.

Governor Whitmer of Michigan has done a terrible job. She locked down her state for everyone, except her husband’s boating activities. The Federal Government provided tremendous help to the Great People of Michigan. My Justice Department and Federal Law Enforcement announced...

6:30 PM · Oct 8, 2020

Part 2:

...today that they foiled a dangerous plot against the Governor of Michigan. Rather than say thank you, she calls me a White Supremacist—while Biden and Democrats refuse to condemn Antifa, Anarchists, Looters and Mobs that burn down Democrat run cities...

6:30 PM · Oct 8, 2020

Part 3:

...I do not tolerate ANY extreme violence. Defending ALL Americans, even those who oppose and attack me, is what I will always do as your President! Governor Whitmer—open up your state, open up your schools, and open up your churches!

6:30 PM · Oct 8, 2020

This is the kind of crap that spews forth when a person in a leadership position is devoid of any empathy or compassion whatsoever.  By doing ridiculous, insensitive things like this, the BIC is implicitly and tacitly encouraging these crazed right-wing militia groups.  Add in his “Proud Boys, stand back and standby” statement from the fiasco last week [977], we have a recipe for violence.  Regrettably, I think We, the People, must prepare ourselves for another month, or two, or more, of viciousness before we are rid of the BIC.  Unfortunately, we will not be rid of his right-wing violent followers.  They will not go quietly into the good night.

 

            The BIC suffered yet another judicial defeat when the Circuit Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit issued its per curiam ruling in Trump vs. Vance [2CCA Docket No. 20-2766 (2020)] on Thursday.  As you may recall, the Supremes remanded earlier court rulings against the BIC in Trump vs. Vance [591 U. S. ____ (2020); No. 19–635] [965, 966].  Federal District Court Judge Victor Marrero addressed the Supremes’ concerns about separation of powers in his remand ruling in Trump vs. Vance [USDC SDNY Case 1:19-cv-08694-VM (2020)] [971].  The case will undoubtedly go back to the Supremes on appeal; however, I suspect the Supremes will not render final judgment until after the election and probably not until after the inauguration, so it will not impact the election.  Further, I must say, this string of court rulings is only whether a grand jury subpoena can be enforced against a sitting president.  Even after the Supremes affirm the enforceability of the subpoena, the New York Attorney General must examine the BIC’s tax returns (no small task), charge him with crimes, gain an indictment, and then try him in a court of law.  I suspect the BIC and his army of lawyers will continue their resistance for years to come, whether the BIC remains in office or not.  By the time this case is resolved, it will likely be rendered irrelevant, as the BIC will claim ill-health to avoid prison time.

 

            Just a simple reminder, if you will allow me.  Chief Justice Roger Brooke Taney passed away on 12.October.1864, 27 days prior to the presidential election.  Republicans dominated both chambers of Congress by substantial margins; they easily had the votes and the power to do whatever they wanted.  President Lincoln could have easily nominated and achieved confirmation of a new justice in those 27 days.  He chose not to do so and wait until after the election.  Senator McConnell has raised some nonsense “precedent” about Supreme Court nominations in a presidential election year being of the same party or different parties.  It is nonsensical gibberish.  The Constitution makes not one reference to political parties or political party involvement in any part of the document; he made up his rationale based on the convenience of happenstance.  The hypocrisy of the Republican Party, from the BIC on down, is mind-boggling, insulting, ridiculous, and outright contemptible.  Republicans like to present the argument about strict constructionist or originalist interpretation of the law as espoused by Robert Bjork, Antonin Scalia, et al, including the BIC’s latest nominee Amy Coney Barratt.  The hypocrisy rests in the argument of convenience; far too many Republicans could care less about morality, reason, or even the Constitution itself.  They only care about their grip on the instruments of State to impose their will, their morality, their choices, and their beliefs on everyone else.  The Constitution does not explicitly state or even remotely imply anything about timing, political rationale, or even morality.  Lincoln clearly had the capacity for moral judgment; the BIC has repeatedly proven himself devoid of morality.  This is just one of myriad reasons I judge the BIC’s conduct, behavior, and performance as so bloody contemptible.  So here we are.  Some of us do not care.  Some of us do care a great deal.

 

            Like so many of the BIC’s supporters tell me, don’t listen to what he says; just watch was he does.  I do watch his actions intently, and I do not agree with his actions.  They also say they do not care about how he does things; they just like what he does.  To me, that sounds dreadfully like the ends justify the means.  To many, I suppose, extra-judicial executions are acceptable as long as they achieve the end result desired.  The BIC has committed multiple crimes while in office, e.g., obstruction of justice, witness tampering, contempt of Congress and contempt of Court, corruption, influence peddling, at al ad infinitum ad nauseum.  He is a disgusting human being.

 

            Comments and contributions from Update no.977:

Comment to the Blog:

“Shit show, indeed!  Enough rich old white men.  I’m researching alternative candidates, because the State of Ohio begins mailing ballots, including mine, tomorrow.

“I see where gay men are hijacking the #proudboys hashtag, using it to post pictures of them kissing one another or whatever. That ought to be fun to watch.

“Chump’s debate performance won’t deter his base.  That’s their style.  His financial problems and especially any visible physical illness will disturb them, though.

“The steroid treatment reportedly being administered to the Chump is recommended for severe cases only.  For whatever reason, in milder cases, it tends to cause more trouble than it cures.  Also, I’m aware that drops in oxygen saturation are always a serious issue.  I’m not finding any sympathy or empathy for the man.  If anyone in the world ‘brought it on himself,’ it’s him.  Also, the virus doesn’t change his history or his family.

“We know what happens to the Chump’s current term if he dies or becomes incapacitated.  We get Pence for a few months.  What happens to his candidacy is unknown.  Voting is already underway, but nobody really wants to elect a dead or unable-to-serve President.

“That nomination party may be an almost-literal nail in the coffin of the Republican Party.”

My response to the Blog:

            Good luck in your research.  I have faith you will make a worthy selection and vote.  My mind is made up.  I will vote as soon as my ballot arrives in the mail.

            I had not heard that.  LOL  A good hijacking, except for the predisposition.

            Quite right.  I’m not so sure his followers would reject him even if he is proven to be the fraud he is.  I just hope the NY AG completes their investigation, indict and try him before he dies.  I want him to go to prison for at least some of his crimes.  Those are the same conspiracists who deny the Holocaust, the Moon Landing, the 9/11 attacks, and accept QAnon, the existence of the Deep State & all the others.  They are not swayed by facts, only their predisposed beliefs.  As the BIC says, it is what it is.

            I confess it is hard to feel sympathy or empathy for a man who puts a pistol to his head and pulls the trigger.  His conduct is a slower version of the same action.  And, unlike a pistol shot, he will infect many others, putting a pistol to their heads as well, and that is murder (homicide).  I held a faint hope the virus might give him a smidgen of humility, but the BIC’s public performance yesterday proved beyond a shadow of a doubt, far beyond a reasonable doubt, that he has zero concept of his public responsibility, or empathy for his fellow mankind.  It is only him, him, him, and only him.

            Agreed, no one wants to elect a dead man, but it has happened, e.g., Senate candidate for Missouri Melvin Eugene ‘Mel’ Carnahan (DoD: 16.October.2000), and U.S. Representative Patsy Matsu Mink, née Takemoto, of Hawaii (DoD: 28.September.2002).

            I am not so sure.  To those who have swallowed his snake-oil elixir, they do not care.  He can do whatever he wants because they believe.  To his followers, he is incapable of making a mistake or doing anything wrong.  They believe . . . that is all that matters.  AND, they vote.  They are a minority.  We simply must override their blind belief in that man by voting.

 . . . Round two:

“Voting is beginning here even as we talk about it.  Per the local news, in-person turnout for early voting is very high here.  Pundits and parties alike tell me high turnout benefits the Democrats.

“I still insist that the Chump is a result, not the cause, of a system that is failing the majority.”

 . . . my response to round two:

            I think the “pundits and parties” say that because no political party has a majority.  Further, the Republicans are a diminishing minority and they know it; thus their desperate efforts at voter suppression in all its myriad forms from the BIC’s attacks on the USPS to the governor of Texas eliminating ballot drop-off sites (restricted to one per county, with some counties of 1,600 square miles and 4M people).  Republicans vote, and they dominate more than a few of the states.

            His base is a minority.  Let us relegate them to that status.

            Yes, I agree . . . desperate times, lead desperate people to do desperate things, i.e., saddling up to a snake-oil salesman afflicted with malignant narcissism.  I can only pray all citizens vote and override that mobilized minority and render them to the dustbin of history.  I am not that naïve, but that is my prayer.  Everyone must VOTE.

 . . . Round three:

“I still insist that the changes must go deeper than getting rid of the Chump.  Let's remember that W Bush was elected twice by a minority of counted votes.

“My ballot has arrived.  Now the hard work of voting responsibly begins.”

 . . . my response to round three:

            True in 2000, not true in 2004.  Nonetheless, we have discussed many times, the constitutional process are the rules by which elections are decided; Hillary Clinton learned that lesson the hard way.

            Good for you.  Ours have not arrived, yet.  I still have research to do on judges and referendum propositions.

 . . . Round four:

The election of 2004 remains dubious, though, here in Ohio.  We had long lines, missing machines and other signs of a failed process.  Of course, the Constitution guides the process; that's where we must make changes.

 . . . my response to round four:

            I am not aware of the Ohio anomalies of which you speak, but I shall take your word for the dubiousness.  The official count shows W had a clear positive margin in the popular vote and the Electoral College vote.  Unfortunately, the margins required in this election are far greater so as to quash the flood of legal challenges most likely coming from the BIC and his minions if he is defeated.  His malignant narcissism will not allow him to accept defeat even if by a landslide.  If the margins to quash judicial challenges are not large enough, he will strive mightily to tie up the election results for months to generate yet another constitutional crisis.

            Wise or not, a constitutional amendment is required to change the process.

 

Another contribution:

“agree so-called debate showed nothing presidential.

“I accept your sympathy for my ‘sinking feeling.’

“Agree with your ‘debate’ format if we must have such charades.

“Please share your wisdom re the likelihood of at LEAST 16 years of Democratic Party rule if your Biden wins.”

My reply:

            Exactly,  Agreed.  Neither one of them presented a presidential image.

            You are quite welcome.  I have empathy for my fellow man and citizens, regardless of the social factors including political affiliation.  I do not want anyone to suffer, including the BIC.

            I am not exactly sure what you meant by “charade”?

            First, he is not my Biden.  He is a candidate representing a political party of which I am not and never have been a member.  What to expect assuming a Biden victory in November is a long dissertation.  I will tell you what I expect—stability and humanity, a very low bar.  I want a president who respects the office he holds on our behalf.  I want a president who holds and shows empathy for the plight of the less privileged among us.  I want a president who acts and performs as an equal to other world leaders, including the prime minister of Montenegro.  There is very little doubt that Joe Biden can deliver on those expectations, and the BIC cannot and never could.  Further, Joe Biden will make mistakes, but he is man enough to stand up and say so.  I have gone on too long already, but that is my answer and I’m stickin’ to it.

 

A different contribution:

“I agree with you and most people I speak with that the debate lacked structure mostly due to the 250 plus interruption.  The President came on strong as we all would expect.  The ex VP was an Antagonist as well. My general comments are:

- POTUS was true to form.

- ExVP was weak and often insulting.

- Moderator Wallace showed bias towards Biden.

- Moderator was responsible and failed to control both Trump and Biden.

- Key issues such as police and law and order were a failure for the exVP.  This concern last me as a voter.

- Biden should have been held responsible for being involved in election interference in 2016.  Trump tried to get this out in the table but Wallace shifted to other topics.

- Trump held his cool much better than Biden.

- over all only a few key issues were addressed.  Law and order clearly Trump won.  Past election interference again Trump was on top.  As you call POTUS BIC, Biden was full of insults and less than professional comments.

- Over all, Biden was weak and ca generalist, Trump was firm and direct.

“As a voter I am concerned with both candidates.  We know Trump and he is easy to understand.  Biden is a puppet of the Democratic Party.  I do believe Biden has what my Mother has, early dementia.  I like Biden as a person.  But all that he places on his platform he could have impacted in his extensive 47 years.  Biden is what I call the swamp network.  Trump is a businessman.

“We must watch the VPs carefully as I expect the next president might not complete their term.  Pence gets my vote as a leader over Harris.  Harris is frighting.  She is a danger to my Country.  Harris is not qualified to lead.  She has radical positions.  I am afraid of her.  This is my number one reading note to vote for Biden.

“A couple of other points.  Why Biden’s son has a ‘pass’ makes since to me.  Why Sec. Clinton has a pass on emails and classified material is unacceptable.  How the DNC gets by in the Russia collusion is a poor state of affairs. The impeachment of POTUS is unacceptable as new information suggests it was a DNC setup.  On the virus, I think our President has done a fast and effective job.  I don’t agree with Biden and offer the POTUS has done a good and fast job.  I can’t see others moving this fast.  His approach reminds me of work place tiger teams to fix key issue.

“My key issues are our Countries financial health and our Countries law and order.  For these two issues I go with what I see - Trump and Pence get my vote.”

My response:

            I do not agree that there was a lack of structure.  There was plenty of structure.  The rules were agreed to ahead of time by both candidates.  Unfortunately, the Bully-in-Chief (BIC) chose to ignore the rules or display even a smidgen of self-control or restraint.  Also, unfortunately, Joe Biden could not resist the BIC’s taunts.  Neither one of them appeared presidential.

            I started to respond to your point by point, but I changed my mind.  Let it suffice to say, I did not see that “debate” in the same light you do.  I have a very clear view of who was responsible for that shit show, but my opinion is irrelevant.  Thank you for sharing your views.

            I am so glad you understand the BIC.  I do not.  Perhaps you can help me see what you see.

            Yes, Pence would be a damn sight better as POTUS than the BIC.  My beef with Pence has been and probably always will be his penchant for moral projection, i.e., he believes his morals are correct and everyone should live by his choices.  I cannot and never will agree with such positions held or espoused by anyone, Pence included.  I do not share your opinion of Kamala Harris—“frightening” really?  Please expound upon your views of Harris.

            Beau Biden gets no pass.  If he violated the law, charge, try and punish him.  He is not going to be convicted by innuendo, rumor, conspiracy theories, and gossip.  Same with Clinton.  I have long voiced my disdain for her arrogance in handling that server/eMail fiasco.  She created the problem.  She violated the law in my opinion, and she should be charged, but the statute of limitations is rapidly approaching.  The BIC and his lackey AG have had four years to charge both of them, so where are the indictments?

            My expectations after the last four years are currently very low—very, very low.  I only want a president who gives us stability and humanity.  Biden has those qualities; the BIC does not and cannot.  His malignant narcissism prevents him from providing either.

 . . . Round two:

“BIC fits the outward appearance much of the time.  However, I suggest he is not bullish with our Country.  I attempted to score his emotional quotient (EQ) and find him in the average range hurt by empathy.  My guess is his empathy will grow with his events brought in by COVID-19.

“I fear Harris because Biden did not pick her, she was provided by the DNC to gather extreme voters and she will.  Her views are all too left for me.  She failed CA and is consistently voting in the Senate on the far left.  Her past tells me power is her goal.

“The next debate will be telling.  I hope it happens.  Biden is a good man, I just don’t see his impact on my two issues - financial health, and law and order.”

 . . . my response to round two:

            I would probably agree with you except for scenes like 25.May.2017 in Brussels and that is not a solo event.  I am glad you are so optimistic about the BIC’s learning and growth; I do not share that optimism.  I’ve seen no (zero) signs of his ability or capacity to learn or grow.  His performance on Monday is prime exhibit no.1.  He is still infectious as we speak whether he knows it or not, and he goes for a joyride and whips off his mask outside and walks into the White House that is now a COVID19 hotspot.  What he did on Monday was disrespectful, arrogant, irresponsible, and verging on homicidal.

            FDR did not pick his vice president for his fourth term either.  It happens with political parties.  I have no idea how you know how the Democratic Party VP was selected.  The VP debate is tonight, so hopefully we will get a better look-see.  If she failed California, why did Californians elect her to the Senate?  All politicians seek power including the vaunted, infallible, and omnipotent BIC; surely, you are not suggesting the BIC has done all this for some altruistic motivation.  I am not sure why you think Harris is so far left, but I say so what.  As the BIC has been shown, POTUS is not a dictator, although the BIC is surely a wannabe.  What do you think Harris would or could do as VP?

            Well, I suppose that is always a question with any presidential candidate.  So much depends upon Congress . . . even for the BIC.  Congress makes the laws, not the president or vice -president.  So, with respect to Harris as a vice presidential candidate, I think she passes my very low threshold of stability and humanity.

 . . . Round three:

“Harris has a 50:50 chance of becoming President.  This is what concerns me.  She has limited qualifications for the job and according to several mainstream media outlets she is 100^th or the most liberal of all Senators.  She is for many things I am not.  Things like pay without work, government run medical, payments for our history of slavery, full green new deal, high taxes, bigger Supreme Court, abortion at any age, and many many more items.  I am in SD visiting my aging Mom and Dad do I can’t take time now to cite my comments. 

“BTW, I loved the hospital evening tour in the limo by ‘BIC.’  I liked the message, the class and the image - he is my President!”

 . . . my response to round three:

            I respect your opinions, and you are certainly entitled to whatever opinions you wish for whatever reason(s) you wish.

            I do not see Harris the same way.  She is far more qualified than the BIC ever was, and we witness the consequences.  OK, most liberal, so what?  She does not make the laws.  Neither does the BIC.  At least she is a compassionate human being.

            You know the really odd thing in this latest episode, the BIC took full advantage of and received the full benefit of government health care, including a fancy helicopter ride to and from the hospital.  He received medical treatment that reportedly only 10 people on the planet have received, costing hundreds of thousands of dollars, and he did not pay a penny for any of it.  Why is government health care OK for him and not OK for you?  BTW, Jeanne and I are both on governmental health care now.  I really do not understand the reasoning of Republicans on health care—very alien to me.

            Abortion is a private matter.  A woman’s body is not a government-controlled incubator.  I believe the Supreme Court got it right in Roe v. Wade; the term they used was quickening, i.e., when a fetus become viable outside the womb.  When are Republicans going to stop trying to dictate how citizens live their private lives and trying to control the decisions they make for their particular “pursuit of Happiness”?

            You know, I would agree with you on the BIC’s little joy ride except for one overriding fact.  He was infectious with a highly contagious virus.  He exposed the Secret Service and others to the virus for his photo-op.  You see a classy president in those videos of him riding around; I see a selfless, thoughtless, arrogant asshole (not the good kind) afflicted with malignant narcissism.  But hey, that’s just me.  Oh well.  Life goes on.  The election is in four weeks.  We need to be done with this worthless, injurious, snake-oil salesman and remove the shield that protects him from prosecution.

            BTW, he lost another court appeal today.  Prison is getting closer.

 . . . Round four:

“Wow - speaking like a BIC!

“I’ll take the time to share a different prospective from a different person who tries hard to see all sides of many key issues we all share.  Things like our economy, law and order, respect and acceptance, climate change, energy and leadership.

“I look forward to the VP debate.  My concern with Sen. Harris is her positions and past actions and how she would act if she became POTUS.

“I’m a friend, I have positions that I mostly keep to myself.  I care about our Country.  I want good things for my Grandkids.  I hope to behave with empathy and kindness.  I’ll try hard to share my views but only if the tone is objective and friendly.

“Love the passion, we all need to express our views, just need to keep it objective.”

 . . . my reply to round four:

            I have no idea what you are referring to with your “like a BIC” statement.

            I am with you.  I think we can and should disagree, and we should argue about issues while respecting the rights of others.  I look forward to debating other issues with you or anyone else.

            I am doing to the same with respect to Kamala Harris or any candidate for any office.  I am still researching the judges we must soon vote on, and I have not completed my reading of the referendum propositions, so I am not quite ready yet to cast my vote.

            I am with you exactly.  I love my country, and I proudly placed my life on the line to defend this country against all enemies foreign or domestic.  I want a better life for my children, grandchildren, and hopefully I live long enough to enjoy my great grandchildren.

            Yes, we must be able to respectfully disagree.  Vigorous public debate is a vital activity to any democracy.  So many of our politicians have failed.  Perhaps we can return to those days before I pass along.

 . . . Round five:

“I was somewhat joking that you my friend were speaking in BIC tone.  You know, the tone we heard from Jim Schuster or Al Haggerty - boss like tone!  Do go easy on new ‘posters’ like me.  Too strong and I’ll pull back and might become silent like the millions of DJ Trump voters out in the USA.  I’d like to be heard though.

“[E]ach who speaks needs to do so with peer reviewed information, opinions are not facts.”

 . . . my response to round five:

            I am man enough to apologize if I offended you in some manner.  I am neither smart enough nor perceptive enough to know the source of my offense.  If you would be so kind, please illuminate my offensive word or words so I can learn and be more aware of how others react to my words.  I am a strong and adamant advocate for vigorous public debate about contemporary issues.  I try hard to show deference to sensitive topics, but I am not afraid to discuss or argue any topic no matter how sensitive.  I try to speak with words of respect; we are all equals (although some among us fail to believe that fact).  I try to show everyone respect as an equal until he disrespects others.

            You (and anyone) are welcome to express your opinions in this forum on any topic for any reason.  Like you (and anyone), I enjoy an equal right to express my opinion.  The Blog is not a message board; it is a debate forum to further democracy.

            If you can help me understand my offense, I will strive to be a better person.

            Agreed.  Opinions are not facts.  But facts are facts no matter what spin or interpretation one chooses to address facts.

            I have never been particularly keen on titles, labels, and such.  We are all human beings, equals in the eyes of God, endowed by our Creator with certain unalienable rights.  I try very hard to treat everyone with that respect, until they give me a reason not to do so.

            Just an FYI: the BIC lost the last vestiges of respect when he maliciously attacked Rosie O’Donnell in 2006; it was a juvenile and worthless attack.  He should have been a real man; he was not.  If you go back to my early writing in the Update Blog, I addressed him by name and title until 25.May.2017, when he publicly demonstrated his Ugly American penchant.  He does not deserve respect; he respects no one but himself . . . well, he does have some respect for those who lick his ass.  I no longer could see or refer to him other than as he is—the Bully-in-Chief, i.e., the chief bully of this once grand republic.  My disdain for the BIC is directed solely at the BIC, not his supporters.  I continue to strive to understand why so many people see him as the messiah, when he has so blatantly displayed his sense of superiority over all of the rest of us to deserve respect.  He is just a deeply flawed, psychologically ill man who is only an employee of We, the People; he is not the dictator he thinks he is, and I fully expect that he will soon learn that lesson the hard way.

 . . . Round six:

“Tone my friend, tone.  This is not your blog, this is a friendly email from me to you.  I’m a longtime friend, copilot, colleague, employee, and buddy.  We have been through lots of thongs together beyond the politics that are hurting our Country.  The good is we have a great County, a place to call home, our health and our friendships.  Let’s be careful we don’t jump from side to side with politics and injure friendships.  I have great respect for you as a pilot, author, Marine, Beechcrafter and as a dear friend.  I hope all of us are working extra hard to tone down politics and tune into friendships.  Today, too much of what we say and do gets tossed into Right or Left.  I liked politics much better when it was ‘I feel this’ and ‘what did you think’?

“I can go toe to toe on politics - issue is, when I do, I don’t feel so good if I recognize 50% of my friends see things completely different than I do.  What’s up with that?  If I could navigate through the division I see, I’d sure be a better person.  I might be happier too!

“Let’s hope our grandkids can vote in private, can feel good about their votes and when they reach the curb at the polling station and they bump into a friend they say ‘did you catch the game last night!’

“Did you see the San Diego Padres get their butts kicked from Texas to California last night Cap?”

 . . . my response to round six:

            OK, you choose not to directly answer my query; your choice and I respect that.  Please allow me to speak about how I interpret your words.  I have gone back and re-read my prior words in my attempt to understand.  So, here is my take.

            I am neither right nor left, Democrat nor Republican, conservative nor liberal.  I am a moderate, independent, unaffiliated, non-aligned citizen who cares a great deal for this country.  I have never been a fan of labels, titles, ranks, positions, wealth, and such—too exclusionary.  You say “tone” and the best I can ascertain is my critical opinions and assessments are not appreciated, since they are not complimentary to your opinions.  If that is the case, then I suppose we should just avoid the topics of social taboo—religion, sex, and politics.  If so, just say so.  I will accept whatever your choices may be.  But, please do not attempt to stifle my forms of expression with such a nebulous, ill-defined term like “tone.”  I cannot, and perhaps I am incapable of, connecting the dots, so I do not know what to adjust or change.

            Yes, we have been friends for a very long time.  I still consider us friends.  I do not feel anything has changed.  I continue to extend my hand in friendship to [to your ex-], but she has chosen a different path, which is her choice and I respect that.  I give her the space she seeks.

            Like you, I am deeply troubled by the tribalism that has been so dreadfully amplified by the BIC.  Yes, he did not create this atmosphere of division, but he has most emphatically amplified, encouraged, and stimulated virtually every aspect of division in this country and internationally.  I will stop here, since I doubt you wish to discuss the BIC’s performance as our employee.

            I have seen the man in very clear and exact terms, not because of any animosity or pre-disposition toward the man, but solely as a consequence of his conduct and behavior in public.  I have seen his kind far too many times in my life.  I have seen him as the consummate snake-oil salesman he is for decades.  From the moment of his candidacy declaration [16.6.2015], I thought his political aspirations were a joke, so much so I did not even comment on it in the Update [705].  I could not believe any concerned American citizen would take him seriously; he was (and still is) a joke.  And yet, to my knowledge, he won the primaries fair and square by the rules; he became the Republican candidate.  So here it was, the once Grand Old Party saddled up to a malignant narcissist, snake-oil salesman.  Further, he won the election by the proper constitutional means although he lost the popular vote (62M – 65M).  My criticism of the BIC is NOT, never was, never will be, a criticism of anyone who voted for or intends to vote for this joke of a man.  My criticism is directed solely at the BIC.  If you or anyone else chooses to see my criticism of the BIC as criticism or offense toward you or anyone else, then that is on you, and I am sorry if my criticism of the BIC was taken personally by you or anyone else.

            You may turn your back to me as [your ex-] has done.  If you choose to do so, I shall respect your choices, my friend.  Just be straight and direct with me.

            Let me close by saying, I see the BIC literally and precisely as a clear and present danger to the health, well-being, and security of all citizens in this once grand republic—the very definition of a clear and present danger.  I say that as a concerned citizen only . . . not as a member of any tribe, factions, segment, party, or division within this country or our Allies.  I fully understand, recognize, and appreciate that 62M ± 10M or so, absolutely and categorically do not agree with my opinions, assessments, or views.  I also understand my words make other folks angry.  That is the risk I take when I comment on contemporary matters.  However, given that foundational premise, would I not be remiss and fail my oath of office if I did not speak up?

 . . . Round seven:

“I am truest sorry if my word tone offended you.  Not my motive.  I’m not good at email in a back and forth mode.

“I too have issues with our POTUS.  But I also see the good.”

 . . . my response to round seven:

            I am not, was not, or am I so easily offended.  I was simply trying to understand the words and reasoning of a friend.  ‘Nuf said.

            I will say in closing this thread.  The ends never justify the means.

 

Yet another contribution:

“Breezed over your hot air piece .. one thing .. for those who’ve rewatched the debate, they say Biden was the first Buttinski of the night, or bully as you like to categorize Trump.  Biden set the tone for the remainder of the debate.  But a debate should not consist merely of saying untrue things about your opponent.  And nothing about what you will do as President Which is ALL Biden did .. because he HAS no plans that are remotely doable. The Democrat Party is hopeless. There you have it and I didn’t have to ramble on and baffle with bullshit to make my point.  In Biden’s words ‘Shut up Clown’ .. that was what made it your SHIT SHOW .. he’s such a sad, demented fool .. I feel bad they are even putting Biden through this ordeal against someone who can run circles around him, even with Covid !!”

My reply:

            I think you watched a different event than me.  Nonetheless, I respect your opinions and willingness to express them.  I think I expressed my opinion in last week’s Update [977]; no need to regurgitate.

            Yes, Joe Biden dropped to the BIC’s gutter.  I was very disappointed with his clown comment, even though it was accurate; a president must demonstrate more restraint and self-control.  I also did not appreciate his repeated laughing; it makes him look too much like the BIC.  Unfortunately, he succumbed to the BIC’s taunts, and he deserves criticism for that failure.  Neither one of them appeared presidential, thus my summary statement in Update no.977.

            Despite Chris Wallace’s repeated efforts to gain control including confronting the BIC directly about his defiance of the pre-agreed rules, he failed.  As a consequence of the BIC’s performance, I like the idea of putting them both in a soundproof booth and switching off their microphone when it is not their turn to speak.  Now that the BIC is infected and infectious with the COVID19 virus, the soundproof booth is even more appropriate.  That blatant display of disregard for the rules he agreed to must never be tolerated, again.  I would rather have no debate, if they cannot abide the rules (both of them).

Another contributor joined this particular thread:

“I will butt in now ..  

“Harris, despite being a former prosecutor (which by the way does NOT qualify her to be a potential President) has been incredibly supportive of efforts to defund police departments; to elect radical, pro-criminal, anti-police prosecutors who simply refuse to prosecute criminals; and to sow chaos in American cities.

“On ‘Good Morning America’ on ABC television June 9, Harris said she fully supports Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti’s decision to cut $150 million from policing to boost health and youth training programs. ‘I applaud Eric Garcetti for doing what he’s done,’ she said.

“Harris opposes affirmative action and capital punishment. She supports the concept of Obamacare (with its penalties.. Obamacare is NOT the government insurance you and Jeanne have Cap .. it is what [my daughter] and I had).  She supports sanctuary cities, the DREAM Act to grant temporary conditional residency to immigrants, gun control, increased funding for food stamps, and wants to begin the process of ‘reimagining public safety,’ which may or may not ultimately include defunding the police.

“As for foreign policy, Harris doesn’t have international experience.  She remains supportive of the controversial Iran nuclear deal that Donald Trump, to his credit, scrapped in 2018.

“Harris wants her country to rejoin the Paris climate agreement that has accomplished little on the environment.  She’s also taken a distinctly Sanders-esque position on defense spending, stating on July 22, ‘I unequivocally agree with the goal of reducing the defense budget and redirecting funding to communities in need, but it must be done strategically.’ What this means for the safety and security of her nation is anyone’s guess. And her slandering the President in tonight’s debate regarding his support of the military was proof she is a liar and a fake.

“When you put everything together, Harris’s political, economic and foreign policy record is much closer to that of a radical leftist than pragmatic moderate.  The fact that someone like this could potentially be a heartbeat away from the U.S. presidency should be enough to give even an objective thinker plenty of pause.

“These are not my exact words but everything I agree on in regards to Kamala Harris .. she would be a disaster for our country and if they win I will remind you of it each blunder they make as you do with your BIC.  And if Hillary, Obama and gang don’t get charged for the Russian collusion fiasco and Joe/Kamala win, I will personally join the Convention of States to work on having THEM impeached.  Only fair isn’t it?”

My reply:

            We shall respectfully disagree.  I think we have proven that neither one of us has altered the other’s positions.  So it shall be.

            Laws, treaties, agreements and deals are rarely perfect.  Perhaps the costliest agreement in history was the Versailles Treaty.  The French celebrated the treaty.  Churchill advised strongly against it without success; he instinctively foretold the consequences.  History proved him correct.  Likewise, the PPACA is far from perfect, but it was a worthy attempt to remedy a long-standing malady in this country.  I have supported and encouraged improvement.  I condemn the dismantling of the PPACA without that reform or improvement.  The Republicans are trying to take us backward—regression—not forward.  The same is true for the Allied-Iran Nuclear Agreement, the Paris Climate Accord, and so many other treaties, laws, and policies.  The BIC has said he would have a much better health care plan in two weeks . . . for four years now; he has no plan other than destroy the PPACA.  Something is better than nothing.

            For reasons I do not understand, other than perhaps the ease of execution, the Republicans have become the party of prohibition.  They seek to prohibit anything they do not agree with (classic moral projection) from Nixon’s Controlled Substances Act to abortion.  Prohibition is never a successful endeavor in a free society.  We have allowed the government to intrude upon our freedom of choice and fundamental right to privacy far beyond my threshold of tolerance.  If you don’t like abortion, help fix the underlying causes rather than prohibiting the practice for everyone.  If you don’t like welfare, deal with the underlying causes rather than prohibit it.

            Again, we do not agree on Kamala Harris.  ‘Nuf said.

            I am categorically incapable and impotent to correct the blind deafness induced by the BIC’s magic snake-oil elixir.  I can recognize reality.  I can only hope and pray the effects of that consumption pass with time.

 

One last contribution for this week:

“I think the word is astounded or possibly confused, just what is going on over there-a man is taken into hospital sick and declared with the Corona virus and merely days later is discharged to go home and wander about in the company of others without any PPE.  Come on, there’s something very irregular going on here-did he have the virus or was it a vote grabbing stunt?  Surely explanations, with conviction, are needed.”

My response:

            Regrettably and unfortunately, what we witnessed yesterday is a very public demonstration of what happens when a “leader” is afflicted with malignant narcissism.  He sees the world, everything big to little, in terms of me, me, me.  He is incapable of seeing anything other than himself.  It is the nature of his affliction.  He sees absolutely nothing wrong with him infecting anyone and everyone around him; that is their problem, he is the almighty BIC.  Sadly, far too many American citizens could not see the consequences of his affliction.  This is not new; he has been that way since before adulthood, thanks to his parents.  To his credit, he has been consistent; malignant narcissism demands nothing less.  His affliction led him to decisions that he perceived as showing what a strongman he thinks he is, not even a highly infectious virus can diminish his image of himself.  There is no explanation beyond that.

 

            My very best wishes to all.  Take care of yourselves and each other.

Cheers,

Cap                  :-)