Update no.1128

 Update from the Sunland

No.1128

21.8.23 – 27.8.23

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

 

To all,

 

Erratum:

The lead item in Update no.1127 was inadvertently referred to as Georgia v. Trump {+18 others}[GA FCSpC Case no. 4:23-mj-01602 (2023)]. The court case number had not yet been provided in the case against the 19 conspirators in the Georgia RICO and election fraud case. I will provide the proper case number identifier as soon as it is publicly available. I offer my most humble apologies for my mistake.

The case number of 23SC188947 was subsequently assigned to the judicial proceedings.

 

The follow-up news items:

-- Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott F. McAfee has been assigned to the Georgia election RICO case—Georgia v. Trump et al [GA FCSpC Case no. 23SC188947 (2023)] [1127]. 

The evolving defense of the charged perpetrator defendants appears to be an attempt to hide behind the Constitution in that their speech and actions were protected by the First Amendment’s right to free speech. Further, they were acting within the color of their federal office. It is a long shot. I cannot imagine any level of the Judiciary accepting that argument in that their actions fomented an insurrection—a violent effort to obstruct a constitutionally mandated process.

On Thursday evening, ahead of the noon Friday deadline, [the person who shall no longer be named] surrendered, was arrested, and booked on 13 felonious counts at the Fulton County Jail at Rice Street. Tiny’s former national security advisor John Bolton observed regarding Tiny’s publicly released booking photograph (mug shot), “He could’ve smiled. He could’ve looked benign. Instead, he looks like a thug.” And of course, being the grifter he has always been, Tiny immediately started ripping off naïve consumers of his snake-oil by selling T-shirt with his mug shot emblazoned on the chest.

Two of the 19 defendants waited until the last minute to surrender. One remains in custody since he claims he cannot make bail. Two different defendants have already filed motions in court to separate their cases and move them to federal court; they claim they were just doing their jobs as federal officers. I honestly did not know that participation in an insurrection against the constitutional government was in their job description. The craziness has begun.

-- Vladimir Putin has extracted his retribution, yet again! On Wednesday, 23.August.2023, an Embraer EMB-135BJ Legacy 600 bizjet carrying the failed coup leader Yevgeny Prigozhin [1119] and some of his lieutenants crashed near Kuzhenkino, Tver Oblast, northwest of Moscow, killing all 10 on board including Prigozhin. We do not know why, and being well inside Russia proper, we will most likely never know precisely. Early indications suggest a small bomb was placed in one of the main wheel wells, close to the main wing spar, probably with a pressure ignitor that denotated at 28,000 feet 30-minutes after takeoff and subsequently severed the wing. Later in the week, the Russian Investigation Commission publicly announced they had confirmed Prigozhin’s presence among the dead.

And worse, Tiny admires Putin and wants to emulate him.

 

A friend and consistent contributor sent along the following article:

“From Nixon to Trump: The Decline of the Common Good in American Politics – Chapter 5 of The Common Good”

by Robert Reich

Published: AUG 25 [2023]

https://robertreich.substack.com/p/the-common-good-chapter-5-three-big?utm_source=post-email-title&publication_id=365422&post_id=133594919&isFreemail=true&utm_medium=email

I strongly encourage everyone to read the article as the parallels between history and our current predicament are multitudinous and quite applicable.

I was a captain of Marines in 1974 when justice was denied by President Ford when he issued a full and absolute pardon to Richard Nixon for the crimes he committed while serving We, the People, as president. Arguably, that justice denied 49 years ago contributed directly to the situation we are in today. As a Marine officer, I could not express my opinion about Ford’s pardon of Nixon, but I certainly condemned the president’s selfish choice; it was not for the common good as he claimed. I imagine the pardon made his job easier, but that is NOT the purpose of justice. I hope we collectively learned that lesson from 1974. Unfortunately, I suspect far too many American citizens (and voters) do not recall or are unaware of history, I am sad to say. We absolutely must not make that mistake ever again. POTUS45 must face justice in full measure for his crimes, along with all of his lieutenants and acolytes.

 

Then, with the judicial proceedings and associated maneuverings on-going, the Republican National Committee held its first public debate for its qualified presidential candidates minus one. [The person who shall no longer be named] chose not to participate even though he qualified for the debate, presumably because he thought the event was beneath him as the frontrunner. And, ostensibly, he believes such debates are beneath his status as a former president and now present leading Republican candidate for president. Of course, they are; Tiny is the next thing to God. Regardless, the first Republican presidential debate on Wednesday, 23.August.2023 at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, featured eight of the nine qualified candidates. There were ups and downs during the whole affair, but the two-hour event boiled down to one question. Moderator Brett Baier asked, "You all signed a pledge to support the Republican nominee. If former President Trump is convicted in a court of law, would you still support him as your party's choice? Please raise your hand if you would." The candidates who raised their hand in the affirmative were:

North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis

Former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley

Former Vice President Mike Pence

South Carolina Senator Tim Scott

High-tech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy

To me, their affirmative responses to Baier’s direct question disqualify them from being president . . . ever. Two candidates chose not the respond in the affirmative: former New Jersey governor Chris Christie and Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson. Christie sort of raised his hand, but he was trying to make a statement. Christie stated, “Someone's got to stop normalizing this conduct. Whether or not you believe that the criminal charges are right or wrong, the conduct is beneath the office of President of the United States.” A bunch of presumably MAGA minions in the audience booed Christie’s statement. “That's the great thing about this country, booing is allowed — but it doesn't change the truth.” Yea verily!

I also think Governor Hutchinson got it spot on correct. Despite my concerns about judicial interpretation [1127], I believe [the person who shall no longer be named] is already disqualified from being president or any other public office down to janitor at the local public school as specified in §3 of Amendment XIV to the U.S. Constitution. I also believe those candidates who raised their hand to Baier’s query noted above are disqualified because they are enablers. But, hey, that’s just me.

 

Comments and contributions from Update no.1127:

Comment to the Blog:

“It’s as appropriate as it is ironic to use the RICO statute against Rudy Giuliani, who in a different decade pioneered the use of that same law.

“I still object to your describing us as ‘complacent’ about voting. If we don’t believe it will do any good, why bother? Ohio saw plenty of turnout for our recent referendum.

“Tiny’s voters are motivated by their fear of losing their privilege and by the damage done to their finances. The financial damage is serious, but the MAGAts blame the wrong people.

“I see Tiny as having ‘engaged’ in the insurrection, and let’s remember that the current Supreme Court has interpreted the Constitution in ways nobody thought of, including ignoring a clause of the 2^nd Amendment. If Tiny no longer serves their needs, they could get rid of him.”

My response to the Blog:

Quite so and fully agree. The corruption of Rudy Giuliani . . . very sad. I hope he thinks it was worth it.

Well, my friend, I acknowledge your long-standing objection to my use of words like ‘complacency’ or ‘apathy’ with respect to voting practice in the United States. I see my voting opinion in quite the same light as other community obligations like “see something say something,” assisting police, not littering, not expectorating on sidewalks, et al. I lump it all together as respect for others and respect for the community . . . participation. We benefit from community; we should give back to the community. As always, “That’s just my opinion, but I could be wrong.”

I do as well. However, the law takes a more critical view of such actions. You are, of course, also quite correct in your observation of the current Supreme Court. My point was that of interpretation, like with all laws, and I make no assumptions. For the record, I see no doubt that he engaged in insurrection and is thus disqualified . . . but, it is not up to you or me. What happened on January 6^th would not have occurred without his lies, falsehoods, instigation, and baseless protestations. “Find 11,780 votes” . . . indeed! He instigated and encouraged the whole damn fiasco.

 . . . Round Two:

“Those loaded/emotional words don’t persuade anyone to vote and don’t address reasons why people might not bother. It’s wise to remember that others aren’t obligated to share my values and rarely have the same personal context I do.

“I have no doubt that Tiny engaged in insurrection. My point is that I hesitate to predict the future, either positive or negative. When I first voted, I never dreamed that a Tiny would come along. Despite reading ‘futurology,’ I didn’t imagine the Internet, either.”

 . . . my response to round two:

Oh, I respect everyone’s entitlement, including yours, to hold and share opinions, views, and beliefs. That is the very nature and basis of this humble forum and all democracies. I want people to disagree, to argue, to debate contemporary matters. We have long disagreed on a citizen’s obligation to vote, and I suspect that disagreement will persist in perpetuity. As you remind me, I will continue to express my opinion. We all have different contexts, unique life experiences, and knowledge of history, and thus the precise reason to debate issues publicly. And so it goes.

I have no doubt either, but we are not the law. There probably would have been and perhaps should have been a protest of the constitutional election process and president’s inauguration, but there is an astronomical difference between a peaceful protest (disagreement) and the insurrection that transpired (crime). There is zero doubt in my little pea brain that the insurrection would NOT have occurred without [the person who shall no longer be named], who instigated, stoked, and encouraged the insurrection. Like you, I never dreamed of the fiasco playing out today. I have seen his type before as well as the destruction & chaos that personality type creates, but I never imagined him going this far and pulling so many people down with him. But it is what it is. We must prosecute this debacle to the end and deal with the collateral damage.

I will be watching and listening to the Republican debate tonight, despite the professed absence of [the person who shall no longer be named].

 . . . Round three:

“I agree that it’s a citizen’s obligation to vote (I still do), but I doubt your way of stating that will persuade anyone.

“I know the difference between protest and insurrection. I merely pointed out that enormous surprises come in law as in other aspects of life.

“I’d have nausea if I watched the Republican debates.”

 . . . my response to round three:

Perhaps not. I have been lacking many times before. I will continue my efforts to improve and become more effective. Regardless, I have no idea how many are listening.

Yes, surprises come in judicial interpretation and even more so in jury judgment of the evidence under the law. We shall hope for the best from all the prosecutors, the juries, and the judges as well as the appeals process.

Quite understandable. Yet, I believe it is a necessary suffering, especially since so many American citizens suck that stuff up.

 . . . Round four:

“We're pretty much in agreement. News note: Tiny's mugshot is terrible. Most of his co-defendants don't have that insane look, or at least not as bad.”

 . . . my response to round four:

Yea verily! He looks like an angry bull about to charge, which is probably the look he wanted to convey. But, it is a ridiculous look. They should have made him pick his chin up for better facial recognition. John Eastman’s mug shot is downright creepy. The most disgusting aspect beyond the physical fact is the marketing effort that started seemingly within minutes of his mug shot being publicly released. He is a huckster looking for every possible way to suck money out of naïve people. Oddly, he chose the caption “Never Surrender,” when that image marks exactly what he had just done—surrender.

 

Another contribution:

“Good morning young man- my God this going to take some careful reading this evening probably supported with a glass of something to keep my spirits up!

“The mess gets messier and dirtier.”

My reply:

Yes, it is getting very complicated. Tiny seeks chaos, which is exactly why he creates it, so he can stand up and ‘say only he can fix it.’ I have confidence that the Judiciary will methodically, carefully, and deliberately work through each and every piece of all these cases despite the chaos he creates. A glass of something stiff is quite appropriate. In many ways, this is disgusting, disappointing, and outright depressing. The very man we chose to be the chief law enforcement officer was and remains so bloody disrespectful of the law. He anointed himself as chief vigilante on his lies, and he has dragged so many others down that latrine hole with him. Very sad! Yes, I am afraid it will get messier and dirtier before we see a brighter light. That turning point may well be muzzling and removing him from the public domain by incarceration. Just one conviction and incarceration would be helpful. Yet, regardless, we will have to endure his acolytes who will do their mightiest to carry on for him . . . sad to say.

 . . . follow-up comment:

“Ok Cap-yes will do maybe two glasses tonight! I fear the mess will become much greater before conclusion.

“Will read this evening as stated.”

 . . . my follow-up reply:

I trust you enjoyed your libation, although the reading was certainly not entertaining. Yes, we see the setup for this whole debacle getting much uglier, messier, and confusing, but I trust the Judiciary to methodically sort through the whole mess to the end. We will eventually see if the perpetrators escape justice.

 

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

Cheers,

Cap                  :-)

Update no.1127

Update from the Sunland

No.1127

14.8.23 – 20.8.23

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

 

To all,

 

Fulton County [Georgia] District Attorney Fani Taifa Willis filed a grand jury indictment charging [the person who shall no longer be named] plus 18 other co-conspirators with felonious criminal charges under Georgia state law—Georgia v. Trump {+18 others}[GA FCSpC Case no. 4:23-mj-01602 (2023)]. The indictment lists the 19 conspirators and the specific counts they are charged with as:

DONALD JOHN TRUMP – Counts 1, 5, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 27-29, 38-39 {former U.S. president; liar; conman; grifter; huckster; snake-oil salesman}

RUDOLPH WILLIAM LOUIS GIULIANI – Counts 1-3, 6-7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 23-24 {attorney, former U.S. attorney for Southern District of New York; former mayor of NYC; liar}

JOHN CHARLES EASTMAN – Counts 1-2, 9, 11,13, 15, 17, 19, 27 [attorney, constitutional law professor]

MARK RANDALL MEADOWS – Counts 1, 28 {politician; former White House chief of staff; former U.S. representative}

KENNETH JOHN CHESEBRO – Counts 1, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19 [attorney]

JEFFREY BOSSERT CLARK – Counts 1, 22 {attorney, former U.S. assistant attorney general}

JENNA LYNN ELLIS – Counts 1-2 {attorney; senior legal adviser for Trump and his 2020 re-election campaign}

RAY STALLINGS SMITH III – Counts 1-2, 4, 6, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 23, 25 {attorney; Trump attorney of record in Georgia}

ROBERT DAVID CHEELEY – Counts 1, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 23, 26, 41 [attorney; legal advisor to the Trump re-election campaign]

MICHAEL A. ROMAN – Counts 1, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19 {political operative; special assistant to the president; Trump re-election campaign director}

DAVID JAMES SHAFER – Counts 1, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 40 {politician; Georgia GOP chair}

SHAWN MICAH TRESHER STILL – Counts 1, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18 {politician; member, Georgia Senate; posing as a qualified elector}

STEPHEN CLIFFGARD LEE – Counts 1, 20-21, 30-31 {pastor}

HARRISON WILLIAM PRESCOTT FLOYD – Counts 1, 30-31 {AKA Willie Lewis Floyd III; director of Black Voices for Trump}

TREVIAN C. KUTTI – Counts 1, 30-31 {Chicago-based publicist}

SIDNEY KATHERINE POWELL – Counts 1, 32-37 {}

CATHLEEN ALSTON LATHAM Counts 1, 8, 10, 12, 14, 32-37 {teacher; fraudulent elector}

SCOTT GRAHAM HALL – Counts 1, 32-37 {Atlanta-based bail bondsman}

MISTY HAMPTON AKA EMILY MISTY HAYES – Counts 1, 32-37 {unkown, but presumed to be another fraudulent elector}

Please note how many of the conspirators are lawyers. The indictment also refers to 30 unindicted co-conspirators, some or all of which may well be indicted and tried in separate proceedings. The charging counts [FYI: O.C.G.A. = Official Code of Georgia Annotated, i.e., Georgia state law] are:

1 – VIOLATION OF THE GEORGIA RICO (RACKETEER INFLUENCED AND CORRUPT ORGANIZATIONS) ACT 
O.C.G.A. § 16-14-4(c)

2 -- SOLICITATION OF VIOLATION OF OATH BY PUBLIC OFFICER
O.C.G.A. §§ 16-4-7 & 16-10-1

3 – FALSE STATEMENTS AND WRITINGS
O.C.G.A. § 16-10-20

4 – FALSE STATEMENTS AND WRITINGS
O.C.G.A. § 16-10-20 

5 – SOLICITATION OF VIOLATION OF OATH BY PUBLIC OFFICER
O.C.G.A. §§ 16-4-7 & 16-10-1

6 – SOLICITATION OF VIOLATION OF OATH BY PUBLIC OFFICER
O.C.G.A. §§ 16-4-7 & 16-10-1

7 – FALSE STATEMENTS AND WRITINGS
O.C.G.A. § 16-10-20

8 – IMPERSONATING A PUBLIC OFFICER
O.C.G.A. § 16-10-23 

9 – CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT INIPERSONATING A PUBLIC OFFICER
O.C.G.A. §§ 16-4-8 & 16-10-23

l0 – FORGERY IN THE FIRST DEGREE
O.C.G.A. § 16-9-1(b)

11 – CONSPIRACY To COMMIT FORGERY 1N THE FIRST DEGREE
O.C.G.A. §§ 16-4-8 & 16-9-1(b) 

12 – FALSE STATEMENTS AND WRITINGS
O.C.G.A. § 16-10-20

13 – CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT FALSE STATEMENTS AND WRITINGS 
O.C.G.A. §§ 16-4-8 & 16-10-20 

14 – CRIMINAL ATTEMPT TO COMMIT FILING FALSE DOCUMENTS
O.C.G.A. §§ 16-4-1 & 16-10-20.1(b)(1)

15 – CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT FILING FALSE DOCUMENTS 
O.C.G.A. §§ 16-4-8 & 16-10-20.1(b)(1)

16 – FORGERY IN THE FIRST DEGREE 
O.C.G.A. § 16-9-1(b) 

17 – CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT FORGERY IN THE FIRST DEGREE
O.C.G.A. §§ 16-4-8 & 16-9-1(b)

18 – FALSE STATEMENTS AND WRITINGS
O.C.G.A. § 16-10-20

19 – CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT FALSE STATEMENTS AND WRITINGS
O.C.G.A. §§ 16-4-8 & 16-10-20

20 – CRIMINAL ATTEMPT TO COMMIT INFLUENCING WITNESSES
O.C.G.A. §§ 16-4-1 & 16-10-93(b)(1)(A)

21 – CRIMINAL ATTEMPT TO COMMIT INFLUENING WITNESSES
O.C.G.A. §§ 16-4-1 & 16-10-93(b)(1)(A)

22 – CRIMINAL ATTEMPT TO COMMIT FALSE STATEMENTS AND WRITINGS
O.C.G.A. §§ 16-4-1 & 16-10-20

23 – SOLICITATION OF VIOLATION OF OATH BY PUBLIC OFFICER
O.C.G.A. §§ 16-4-7 & 16-10-1

24 – FALSE STATENIENTS AND WRITINGS
O.C.G.A. § 16-10-20

25 – FALSE STATEMENTS AND WRITINGS
O.C.G.A. § 16-10-20 

26 – FALSE STATEMENTS AND WRITINGS 
O.C.G.A. § 16-10-20

27 – FILING FALSE DOCUMENTS
O.C.G.A. § 16-10-20.1(b)(1)

28 – SOLICITATION OF VIOLATION OF OATH BY PUBLIC OFFICER
O.C.G.A. §§ 16-4-7 & 16-10-1

29 – FALSE STATEMENTS AND WRITINGS
O.C.G.A. § 16-10-20

30 – CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT SOLICITATION OF FALSE STATEMENTS AND WRITINGS
O.C.G.A. §§ 16-4-8, 16-4-7 & 16-10-20

31 – INFLUENCING WITNESSES
O.C.G.A. § 16-10-93(b)(1)(A)

32 – CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT ELECTION FRAUD
O.C.G.A. §§ 21-2-603 & 21-2-566

33 – CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT ELECTION FRAUD
O.C.G.A. §§ 21-2-603 & 21-2-574

34 – CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT COMPUTER THEFT
O.C.G.A. §§ 16-4-8 & 16-9-93(a)

35 – CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT COMPUTER TRESPASS
O.C.G.A. §§ 16-4-8 & 16-9-93(b)

36 – CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT COMPUTER INVASION OF PRIVACY
O.C.G.A. §§ 16-4-8 & 16-9-93(c)

37 – CONSPIRACY TO DEFRAUD THE STATE 
O.C.G.A. § 16-10-21

38 – SOLICITATION OF VIOLATION OF OATH BY PUBLIC OFFICER
O.C.G.A. §§ 16-4-7 & 16-10-1

39 – FALSE STATEMENTS AND WRITINGS
O.C.G.A. § 16-10-20

40 – FALSE STATEMENTS AND WRITINGS
O.C.G.A. § 16-10-20

41 – PERJURY
O.C.G.A. § 16-10-70(a)

Willis used the first 71 pages to lay out the specifics of the racketeering charge (Count 1, 161 defined distinct acts) against all of the 19 defendants. The RICO statute was originally intended to prosecute Mafia crime bosses; quite appropriate to be used against [the person who shall no longer be named] and his acolytes, it seems to me. The last sentence of the indictment’s brief introduction states, “That conspiracy contained a common plan and purpose to commit two or more acts of racketeering activity in Fulton County, Georgia, elsewhere in the State of Georgia, and in other states.” If he is convicted under that charge alone, it carries a minimum of five years in prison (with a maximum of 20 years of confinement).

Oddly, Willis has not (yet) cited the infamous telephone call on Saturday, 2.January.2021 between [the person who shall no longer be named] and Georgia Secretary of State Bradford Jay ‘Brad’ Raffensperger, where Tiny said: “So look. All I want to do is this. I just want to find 11,780 votes, which is one more than we have. Because we won the state.” Nonetheless, it will be interesting to see how this case plays out.

The defendants were given until Friday, 25.August.2023 to surrender for booking. This booking process may be different from Tiny’s previous three criminal procedures given the promise of no deference to any of the defendants, including Tiny. We may get the first mug shot of Tiny . . . not that I care a hoot to see such a thing. If they do a mug shot, it would be quite appropriate to put him in an orange jumpsuit.

 

In a separate but related thread, we have the following exchange with a long-time friend and frequent contributor to this humble forum.

The initial message:

“[T]rust I’m not boring you with all this palaver Cap-just thought you would wish to know what the world thinks about this mess which will not go away very quickly.”

with this URL:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-66508259

My reply:

Nope; absolutely not. I always appreciate the other views.

I'm reading the latest indictment from Georgia and expect to report in this week's Update. Interesting, the district attorney (grand jury) is charging [the person who shall no longer be named] plus 18 other co-conspirators with felonious criminal charges under Georgia state law that were originally intended to prosecute Mafia crime bosses; quite appropriate, it seems to me. If he is convicted under that charge alone, it carries a minimum of five years in prison (with a maximum of 20 years of confinement).

Round two:

“My God Cap, what a mess this man has made of democracy.”

My reply to round two:

Yeah, exactly. Quite sad. But this is what we get when we are complacent about voting. I forecast this disaster (not in detail but in general) eight years ago. This is what happened with malignant narcissism coupled with unchecked egocentrism and a paucity of any appreciation of history.

Round three:

“How can you stop complacency? Even now this individual is gaining in popularity amongst forthcoming deciders. Even should he go behind bars he will still have supporters. Is it possible you may change your rules as far as previous Presidents reapplying for another spell in the White House?

“OK bud always good to read your views.”

My reply to round three:

My advocacy for a sense of obligation and duty has been resoundingly unsuccessful . . . except for our children and grandchildren. As others have espoused, an inspirational leader and a clear message for the future would be a good stimulus. In our current predicament, concern for the extension of the destruction, chaos, and divisiveness wrought by [the person who shall no longer be named] might be sufficient motivation to vote. Perhaps not! Tiny’s supporters are a minority; they know it, and they vote. Their motivation to vote is driven by their fear of being relegated into deeper minority status. So, from my perspective, the question is, do we allow that motivated minority to decide the election. That minority is also the worst, most serious threat to democracy, to our election process, and to the very structure of our form of governance that has survived 235 years of challenges, scandals, and assault, we have yet experienced. The MAGA bunch in all its variations is a willful, determined minority that must never again be underestimated . . . as I did in 2016. I am sounding the clarion call!

As far as changing the rules, the correct answer is, that potential is always possible in a democracy. Personally, I think it is highly unlikely since a change of tenure for a president would take a federal constitutional amendment. We saw that minority in action in Ohio’s recent referendum generation and vote [1126].

All of these state and federal criminal and civil court cases against [the person who shall no longer be named] on top of a presidential election campaign will add even more chaos, especially with the contribution of the threat of MAGA acolyte violence that has already begun. It is going to be a crazy couple of years. We need to strap in and hang on.

Round four with an additional article:

“Of interest Cap.”

The article URL:

Why is Trump desperate to move the Georgia trial to federal court? | Donald Trump | The Guardian

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/aug/17/trump-georgia-indictment-trial-move-federal-court

My reply to round four:

Yes, of interest, and quite appropriate. The answer to the question is more complex and deeper than the article presents, but it is spot on accurate to my knowledge.

 

A Texas woman identified as Abigail Jo Shry, 43, faces a charge of transmitting a threat to injure a person via interstate commerce—USDC TX SD Case no. 4:23-mj-1602 (2023). This is the substantive paragraph copied directly from the court document filed on 11.August.2023:

“On August 5, 2023, at approximately 7:51 P.M., a call was received in the chambers of District of Columbia United States District Judge Tanya Chutkan. According to caller identification on the Judge's phone, the call came from phone number (832) 537-2180. The caller's introduction stated, ‘Hey you stupid slave nigger,’ after which the caller threatened to kill anyone who went after former President Trump, including a direct threat to kill Congresswomen Sheila Jackson Lee, all democrats in Washington D.C. and all people in the LGBTQ community. The caller further stated, ‘You are in our sights, we want to kill you,’ and ‘We want to kill Sheila Jackson Lee.’ ‘If Trump doesn't get elected in 2024, we are coming to kill you, so tread lightly,·bitch.’ The caller continued with their threats, stating, ‘You will be targeted personally, publicly, your family, all of it.’”
[redaction mine]

Shry is not alone. I expect her to remain in custody and face a speedy trial with appropriate incarceration as a consequence of her felonious crime. She represents far too many of that element of the MAGA bunch—prepared to use violence to impose their will, their choices, their beliefs, their views on everyone. Let us never forget or descend into complacency or apathy again. Semper vigilantis!

 

The malignant narcissism of [the person who shall no longer be named] has raised numerous constitutional questions. The latest is whether he is or should be disqualified to run for or hold any governmental office at any level by virtue of his instigation and encouragement of the January 6^th insurrection [991]. The basis of the current question is the 14^th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America.

Section 3.

No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President and Vice President, or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any state, who, having previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any state legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any state, to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. But Congress may by a vote of two-thirds of each House, remove such disability.

[The person who shall no longer be named] qualifies under §3 as an “officer of the United States” who has “previously taken an oath” [to support and defend the Constitution]. What is missing from all 91 felonious criminal charges on him so far is specific charge of engaging in an “insurrection,” as other criminals that day were charged. The Georgia RICO charge noted above comes the closest but does not satisfy the §3 requirement to disqualify him. Further, §3 raises numerous legal questions, e.g., what is the meaning of the word “engaged.” Regardless of the reach of “engaged,” I cannot imagine the framers of §3 intended for the provision to be enforced on an accusation, a hunch, or an opinion, which means the perpetrators are entitled to due process of law, including Tiny. Since the enforcement provisions are not specified in the Constitution or in common law. Even by my naïve lay perspective, I cannot imagine §3 being invoked or enforceable with trial and conviction under 18 U.S.C. § 2383 (the insurrection statute) in a court of law. Thus, since § 2383 has not yet been enforced on Tiny, the Judiciary is likely to interpret §3 as un-enforceable. I suspect that trying to impose §3 without conviction under 18 U.S.C. § 2383 is a very long waste of time and effort. Further, I suspect it is too late for a trial and conviction of [the person who shall no longer be named] before the 2024 election, which in turn means, we will have to deal with the potential of a convicted and potentially imprison felon being elected president. The possibility of such an ugly scenario raises a whole new spectrum of constitutional questions. This whole fiasco is going to get much uglier before we see improvement.

 

Comments and contributions from Update no.1126:

“Thanks Cap. Currently negotiating with a local gliding club to book some flying – birthday present to be used, should be good-been along time since I went solo!”

My reply:

I hope and trust you are successful in booking some gliding time. Glider flying was a mandatory skill during our test pilot school training. I enjoyed every moment in the air in the school’s gliders. Good luck and enjoy every second you can manage.

 

Comment to the Blog:

“People often go to jail for violating protective orders. Tiny could be one of them, especially with his history re Stormy Daniels.

“I’ll note that we stopped the referendum here in Ohio and the percentage of ‘yes’ votes almost exactly matches the number you gave for registered Republican voters.

“Hunter Biden’s transgressions remain trivial compared to the Supreme Court’s failings or various others.”

My response to the Blog:

Precisely! He is already pressing his luck. A good three or four days in jail for contempt of court might sober him up a little.

FYI: I am reading the Georgia indictment as we speak. The DA is charging him (and others) under the RICO statute which carries a minimum of five years in prison with a maximum of 20 years in prison [the first instance where he is facing minimum prison time, to my knowledge].

Yeah, I noted that as well, although we have no way of making the connection. I am just glad that saner minds prevailed in Ohio. We have many more states yet to defend.

“Various others” . . .  including primarily [the person who shall no longer be named]. What remains puzzling and curious to me is Hunter Biden paid his back taxes and penalties to clear that burden, so what are they going to charge him with—being the president’s son or being a bonehead? All that aside, if he violated other laws, e.g., failing to register as a foreign agent, then he must be prosecuted and punished appropriately if convicted.

 

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

Cheers,

Cap                  :-)

Update no.1126

 Update from the Sunland

No.1126

7.8.23 – 13.8.23

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

 

To all,

 

The follow-up news items:

-- On Friday, Judge Tanya Chutkan held her first hearing in the case against [the person who shall no longer be named] {defendant} for his participation in the insurrection—{United States v. Trump [USDC DC Case 1:23-cr-00257-TSC (2023)]} [1125]. She is assessing the prosecution and defense arguments regarding a protective order against the defendant as well as for the potential trial start date. Judge Chutkan is expected to issue her order next week to control public disclosure of potentially sensitive trial information and set the initial trial date. She has declared that the defendant’s right to free speech in “not absolute.” Given Tiny’s penchant for hyperbole, exaggeration, and outright falsehood, a court order restricting his speech relative to the trial and associated judicial process is highly warranted and appropriate. Further, the prosecution has requested a 2.January.2024 trial date that seems quite appropriate as well, given Tiny’s efforts to hide behind his presidential campaign. I expect to review Judge Chutkan’s order in next week’s Update.

 

I do not usually reprint or illuminate state referendum actions, but with this one, I must make an exception. This week, the residents of Ohio voted on State Issue 1. The question as presented by the state was:

The proposed amendment [to the Ohio state constitution] would:

• Require that any proposed amendment to the Constitution of the State of Ohio receive the approval of at least 60 percent of eligible voters voting on the proposed amendment.

• Require that any initiative petition filed on or after January 1, 2024 with the Secretary of State proposing to amend the Constitution of the State of Ohio be signed by at least five percent of the electors of each county based on the total vote in the county for governor in the last preceding election.

• Specify that additional signatures may not be added to an initiative petition proposing to amend the Constitution of the State of Ohio that is filed with the Secretary of State on or after January 1, 2024 proposing to amend the Constitution of the State of Ohio.

If passed, the amendment will be effective immediately. [emphasis mine]

As indicated by the exact wording, the referendum issue was directed by the legislature Republican majority [even though they are only 42% of registered voters in the state], to thwart a pending vote in the November 2024 general election on the abortion question . . . yet another blatant voter suppression initiative. 

On Tuesday, 8.August.2023, Ohio residents voted in a special election with only one question on the ballot—State Issue 1.  The final election results were Ohio State Issue 1 defeated by 57.0% to 43% in favor.

If State Issue 1 had been approved, what do you want to bet that they (the GOP) would have tried to change it back to a simple majority when they wanted to pass a constitutional amendment they favored?

 

Attorney General Garland appointed United States Attorney for the District of Delaware David Charles Weiss as Special Counsel to investigate Hunter Biden, the president’s younger son. He has been investigating the Hunter Biden case since he was sworn into office in 2018. [Just an FYI: Weiss is a registered Republican. He was nominated by POTUS45 and retained by President Biden. It is not clear to me whether Weiss retains his U.S. attorney responsibilities.] If Hunter did something illegal, charge and prosecute him. If he is found guilty, sentence him appropriately. It is more than a little disconcerting that Weiss has been investigating Hunter Biden for five years and only reached a misdemeanor tax violation. So, here we go. It is put-up-or-shut-up time. Let us get this done and off the table. Unfortunately, I currently see the Hunter Biden investigation in much the same light as the bogus Benghazi investigation [561]—a nothing burger.

 

Comments and contributions from Update no.1125:

Comment to the Blog:

“Today’s scene in our national drama is where Tiny’s lawyers are required to answer for his pretrial conduct. Such events in the ‘real’ world can cause bail to be revoked and the suspect to be jailed. That would be nice.

“Given the situation, the co-conspirators are under intense pressure to to ‘turn state’s evidence.’ Giuliani probably knows the most, but the defense can easily picture him as mentally unstable.

“And yet, Biden is not gaining ground in the polls.

“We have a special election tomorrow here in Ohio with the sole intent of severely limiting citizen initiatives. Pray, send good energy, or whatever you can do to stop that.

“Would that the common welfare came first with more humans. We shall see what we shall see.”

My response to the Blog:

Indeed, and coupled with how far the judge will go to muzzle Tiny. Such restrictions on his speech (in any form) move him closer to contempt and jail. I can see him challenging any restrictions on his speech and the authority of the judge. Yeah, it would be nice and appropriate to see him in an orange jump suit even for a few days . . . in advance of an anticipated much longer stay as a guest of the government (incarcerated).

Exactly the point, I do believe. Given his public rhetoric, I would say your observation is quite likely correct.

I would say it slightly differently, if people just respected other people regardless of the social factors. Common welfare is part of that respect for others. As soon as one individual, one group, one tribe sees themselves as better than others, we get discrimination, racism, sexism, and all the other ‘ism’s. Just treat others with the respect they are due.

 . . . Round two:

“I use the phrase ‘the common welfare’ because it's used by the 12-Step recovery groups in their First Tradition. Alcoholics Anonymous specifically has been quietly thriving since the 1930s, and it's not a coincidence.”

 . . . my response to round two:

Thank you for the connection. I did not know that little tidbit of information.

I was thinking of “common welfare” in terms of the Constitution’s preamble—“. . . promote the general Welfare . . . .”

Congratulations on the success of your Ohio Issue 1 referendum. Great turnout in an off-year election. Another defeat for the diminishing GOP in your state and by a substantial margin.

 . . . Round three:

“Beyond my personal attachment to the 12-Step groups, they are examples of organizations that have long-term stability and growth with a unique structure and governance.

“The spirit and wording of the Preamble to the Constitution seem to be lost. The more perfect Union, justice, and domestic tranquility have been as ignored as the general Welfare.

“We have dodged the bullet of Issue 1. We still need viable candidates and relatable policy initiatives to dislodge the GOP that runs the state.”

 . . . my response to round three:

Quite so. I do not have direct experience, but my close indirect observation compares precisely with yours.

The noble principles in the Declaration and the Preamble of the Constitution are lost to some people—NOT all. A goodly number of people have dedicated their lives to a more perfect Union, justice for all, domestic tranquility, and the general Welfare. Unfortunately, greed and corruption contaminate far too many civil servants. Semper vigilantis!

Thank goodness Ohio residents stood to the mark and stopped oppression. Yes, we most certainly do need good, worthy candidates. There is always hope . . . until there is none.

 . . . Round four:

“I'll note that we get strong turnout when there's a clear issue and we can believe our votes matter.”

 . . . my response to round four:

Point taken!

 

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

Cheers,

Cap                  :-)

Update no.1125

 Update from the Sunland

No.1125

31.7.23 – 6.8.23

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

 

To all,

 

Well, sports fans, the day is finally here . . . at least in part. More than 1,000 American citizens have been charged, tried in a court of law, convicted, and punished for the insurrection [991]. Special Counsel John Luman ‘Jack’ Smith has finally charged [the person who shall no longer be named] with four federal felony crimes—United States v. Trump [USDC DC Case 1:23-cr-00257-TSC (2023)]. District Judge Tanya Sue Chutkan of the District of Columbia has been assigned the case; she is known as a tough, no-nonsense, but fair judge. The charges in the indictment are:

Count 1: 18 U.S.C. 371 (Conspiracy to Defraud the United States)

Count 2: 18 U.S.C. 1512( k ) (Conspiracy to Obstruct an Official Proceeding)

Count 3: 18 U.S.C. §§ 1512(c) (2 ), 2 (Obstruction of and Attempt to Obstruct an Official Proceeding)

Count 4: 18 U.S.C. 241 (Conspiracy Against Rights)

Smith did not mention the House Select Committee to Investigate the January 6^th Attack on the United States Capitol (HSCJ6) nor their final report [1093], but he did summarize the details contained in the HSCJ6 report in the indictment. One sentence summarizes the summary, “[T]here had not been outcome-determinative fraud in the election.” {An important FYI note: there is attempted fraud (some successful) in every election that I am aware of, e.g., Box 13 in Jim Wells County, Texas (1948) and arguably Cook County, Illinois (1960), which were allegedly successful frauds}. There was no “outcome-determinative fraud” in the 2020 election. Nonetheless, [the person who shall no longer be named] falsely expanded that reality into a fraud on We, the People. The charges focus on the Defendant’s actions to corrupt, delay, overturn, and otherwise subvert the 2020 election, and yet the Special Counsel apparently did not feel he had sufficient evidence or prosecutorial position to charge him directly with inciting and supporting the insurrection [991]. {NOTE: I would love to know why, but we may never know.} Perhaps of more significance is the implication contained within the indictment, specifically paragraph 8.

8.  The Defendant enlisted co-conspirators to assist him in his criminal efforts to overturn the legitimate results of the 2020 presidential election and retain power. Among these were:

a. Co-Conspirator 1, an attorney who was willing to spread knowingly false claims and pursue strategies that the Defendant's 2020 re-election campaign attorneys would not.

b. Co-Conspirator 2, an attorney who devised and attempted to implement a strategy to leverage the Vice President’s ceremonial role conversing the certification proceeding to obstruct the certification of the presidential election.

c. Co-Conspirator 3, an attorney whose unfounded claims of election fraud the Defendant privately acknowledged to others sounded "crazy." Nonetheless, the Defendant embraced and publicly amplified Co-Conspirator 3's disinformation.

d. Co-Conspirator 4, a Justice Department official who worked on civil matters and who, with the Defendant, attempted to use the Justice Department to open sham election crime investigations and influence state legislatures with knowingly false claims of election fraud.

e. Co-Conspirator 5, an attorney who assisted in devising and attempting to implement a plan to submit fraudulent slates of presidential electors to obstruct the certification proceeding.

f. Co-Conspirator 6, a political consultant who helped implement a plan to submit fraudulent slates of presidential electors to obstruct the certification proceeding.

Reading the indictment in the whole, this indictment leaves me with the distinct impression that the document is as much the formal legal charges against [the person who shall no longer be named] as it is a detailed warning shot to Tiny’s co-conspirators. I suspect criminal charges will be coming for all six of them, separately or collectively. I will also say that the indictment lays out the factual evidence that virtually negates a defense of [the person who shall no longer be named] of, “I was advised by counsel.” He chose bad lawyers and got terrible advice. He is also signaling that the best chance the co-conspirators have is flipping on the Defendant. Who are the listed co-conspirators? Multiple independent press sources correlated the facts in the indictment with publicly available facts to identify the co-conspirators. They are Co-Conspirator numbers:

1.         Rudolph William Louis ‘Rudy’ Giuliani

2.         John Charles Eastman

3.         Sidney Katherine Powell

4.         Jeffrey Bossert Clark

5.         Kenneth Chesebro

6.         Unknown (at present but believed to be Boris Epshteyn; not validated; there are multiple individuals who match the above description and insufficient information in the indictment to narrow the choices to one.)

All the names are readily identifiable multiple times in the HSCJ6 report. They are all lawyers who fostered, created, and supported the BIG LIE that [the person who shall no longer be named] espoused and promotes to this very day. The press repeatedly, almost consistently, and erroneously adds the adjective ‘unindicted’ in reference to the co-conspirators. Yes, none of the co-conspirators have been indicted to the best of the public information. However, the adjective was distinctly missing from the indictment, the absence of which may well signal that all the co-conspirators are in the Special Counsel’s crosshairs. The purpose may be to signal there is insufficient evidence, so far, to indict them, or to pressure each of them to flip and testify against the defendant.

Of particular note here, [the person who shall no longer be named] did avail himself of his rights under the law and contested the election results of the 2020 election in 61 court cases across the country, only one passing the probable cause threshold, and many of them dismissed with prejudice. He lost every single one of them. Having exhausted his legal options, [the person who shall no longer be named] turned to illegal means. He sought lawyers who would support his delusional view of the election process, and he found them—his co-conspirators.

I offer a simple reminder to Tiny and his minions. Ignorance is not an excuse nor a defense in a court of law.

[The person who shall no longer be named] was arrested, booked, and arraigned in federal court on Thursday, 3.August.2023. And then, as if he does not have enough problems to deal with, the following afternoon, [the person who shall no longer be named] sent out the following message on his Truth Social application:

IF YOU GO AFTER ME, I’M COMING AFTER YOU.
Aug 04,2023 at 4:16 PM

Special Counsel Smith immediately filed a motion in court, requesting a protective order. The trial judge gave him until close of business Monday to respond the government’s request. Judge Chutkan will presumably decide the issue on Tuesday. I expect the judge to issue a strong order against Tiny. He cannot and must not be allowed to hide behind his political campaign. And so it begins.

 

Comments and contributions from Update no.1124:

Comment to the Blog:

“That obstruction of justice charge sticks in corruption cases.

“If the Democrats would run a viable candidate, then he, she, or they would defeat Tiny in a landslide. Instead, they’re betting on Biden.

“I’m reading a book on social psychology, and I recommend that field as a way to understand society. Surface-level logic and reason won’t get us there. Many people don’t base their votes or non-vote on reason and logic.

“Placing his chosen appointees in the Federal Courts was a backup plan for Tiny. It hasn’t done him much personal good.

“The Greenland ice cap’s melting may be the most drastic issue of all when the AMOC (Gulf Stream and related) ocean circulation collapses because of it.”

My response to the Blog:

From what I have seen so far, I think obstruction is going to stick on all three of those defendants. But hey, I was convinced O.J. would be convicted of double murder. Go figure!

We do not control either party, only our votes. I will only add that Biden is an infinitely better president than Tiny ever was. ‘Nuf said.

Of course, you are quite correct. There are myriad other contributors than logic and reason to how each individual votes, e.g., emotion, tribe, perception, hunch, appearance, et cetera. Despite Tiny’s criminal charges and other legal actions against him, he is in a better position today than he was in 2016. I must admit that a 2^nd term in office (without any constraints, I might add) is a distinct possibility. The thought is nauseating, but it is real and actually scary.

Most of Tiny’s judicial appointees have demonstrated integrity so far . . . with a few notable exceptions. Not much personal good . . . so far. There are many critical judicial milestones ahead in holding Tiny accountable.

There are also many climatic dynamics at play and will get worse as global warming continues. I am sad to say, perhaps we need another Mount Tambora to cool things off for a bit.

 . . . Round two:

“‘We do not control either party, only our votes’ doesn’t address the point. My point wasn’t about controlling the parties; it was about people not bothering to vote if there’s no candidate they like, the same as the last two Presidential elections.

“The judiciary seems less corruptible than the other branches, except for the Supreme Court.

“If the AMOC collapses, it will cool Northern Europe drastically, not ‘a bit.’ Sea levels will rise rapidly as well.”

 . . . my response to round two:

I did not miss your point. I am not sure how you expect the process to change? There is no such animal as a perfect candidate, and probably no better-good-than-bad candidate either. They are all flawed human beings. If we like Tiny or Bernie Sanders, we are probably not going to like Joe Biden. To me, Biden is an infinitely better president than Tiny ever was or could be. I tried to articulate Tiny’s disqualifying personality and conduct traits when he was the Republican chosen candidate in 2016. That did not stop the fiasco we endured. President Biden is not doing what many Americans want him to do, but at the bare minimum, he is acting in a dignified, presidential manner. I am not here to sing his praises; there are more than a few decisions we know about publicly that I do not agree with, but he is still a worthy president. I worry about his age, his health, his cognitive capacity, but if we are headed to a repeat of 2020, then I know who I will vote for. I will throw the dice. I cannot imagine who Tiny is going to select for his vice-presidential partner, but I dare say s/he will be as close to a Tiny clone as he can achieve; he definitely does not want another Mike Pence.

I will not be so bold to accuse the Supreme Court of corruption. I will agree that at least two justices have less than acceptable moral and ethical conduct. Further, I intellectually disagree with at least four justices on a general basis. But, that does not make them corruptible (well, except for two of them, perhaps).

A lot of bad things will likely happen if the AMOC collapses, just like there is more than a little chaos that will ensue if the poles flip. Rising sea levels will cause uncalculatable destruction and dislocation of massive populations worldwide. Regardless, we must wean ourselves off of fossil fuel consumption; it will not be easy but it is imperative. We cannot continue down the path we are on.

 . . . Round three:

“To be clear, Biden is widely seen as a tool of the corrupt Democratic Party. If the DNC can’t do better, they’ll have a difficult time. Many of us detest Tiny more, but the ‘lesser evil’ is still evil and plenty of eligible voters refuse to vote for either evil.

“At least three Supreme Court Justices have been publicly shown to have behaved in ways that would disqualify a Federal Judge from the bench.

“The poles haven’t been shown to be likely to flip. AMOC collapsing is a question of timing, not probability. Governments won’t take effective measures to lessen climate change in time to avoid major catastrophes. In fact, I suspect the overall climate tipping point is already past.”

 . . . my response to round three:

You are entitled to your beliefs, such is the nature of freedom. I do not agree with your assessment of President Biden. For whatever reason citizens refuse to vote, then we will get what we get. Prepare yourself. I will prepare my mind for what may be coming.

Three? Who is the third?

I do agree with you that the climate change tipping point may have already passed—not a good state. This whole issue gets mired in the intersecting question of human activity as the root cause. There were scientists back in the 60s and 70s that were forecasting a new ice age. They predicted the use of DDT had already destroyed the planetary ecosystem. Most citizens are not accustomed to the machinations of scientific thought, which makes determinative conclusions difficult. The glaciers and ice caps are hard evidence; there is no denial of those facts. Why they are melting is debatable. Yet, as I have long contended, the use of fossil fuels is not good for the atmosphere just like coal slag in our rivers is not good for our drinking water. Whether human intervention has the capacity to cool the planet is a highly debatable question, but we must try. Plus, what we learn from the process may well assist us in colonizing Mars and other celestial bodies.

 . . . Round four:

“I have no clue why you expect people to vote without the motivation to do so.

“Thomas and Alito have received expensive gifts from people with cases before the Court. Roberts’s issues center on his wife. Then there’s Kavanaugh . . .

“There’s nothing to be gained by arguing against human activity as the cause of climate change. In any case, we need all of our resources to try to mitigate the effects. Most of the causes will lessen as human and livestock populations decline dramatically. Colonizing Mars is a bigger project than Musk and others can conceive and will get worse as earthly resources fail.”

 . . . my response to round four:

Perhaps my views of voting are different from everyone else. I accept that potential. To me, voting has nothing to do with motivation. To me, voting is an obligation—a duty—of citizenship. But hey, that is just me.

Ahso! I am not aware of mischief or malfeasance by Roberts; his writing is decidedly moderate. Whether he is influenced by his wife is a different story. I think the accusations against Kavanaugh during his confirmation were accurate and true, which should have disqualified him from the federal bench at any level. But, the Republicans confirmed him. I must say his writing since taking his seat on the bench have been far more balanced and fairer than either Thomas or Alito. He is not an idealogue like Thomas and Alito.

I understand your admonition. Yet, humans consume fossil fuels through a wide variety of activities. We must amend our behavior. Yes, indeedie, Mars and even the Moon are much larger projects than Musk. They are arguably much larger than the United States. I will argue that they must be done for a host of reasons, equivalent to Jefferson’s Corps of Discovery order and the Lewis & Clark expedition [1804].

 

Another contribution:

“Thanks again as usual. Update 1124 has just appeared this side.

“When do you think the news agendas will cheer up and take a different view of this world’s activities? I do wonder at times is the human kind really capable or suitable of ‘owning’ this lovely green planet of ours. Or will our joint creator one day say ‘that’s enough-I’m replacing you.!’ What a thought! “

My reply:

Very good question. Unfortunately, I am afraid we are going to be in this muck for quite some time to come, and it is likely to get deeper and stinkier before we see improvement.

You are certainly not alone in that wonder. I question our suitability as stewards of this planet, and we are endeavoring to inhabit adjacent celestial bodies.

Where the Good Lord Above is near his patience threshold is unknowable. But, we are certainly provoking His doubt. Indeed, what a thought! There is always hope, until there is none.

 

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

Cheers,

Cap                  :-)