Update no.1132

 Update from the Sunland

No.1132

18.9.23 – 24.9.23

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

 

To all,

 

On occasion, we are treated to an astronomical finding or dramatic launch into space. This week, it was the landing of the Sample Return Capsule (SRC) as part of the (Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, and Security–Regolith Explorer) mission. The OSIRIS-REx vehicle landed successfully on the asteroid Bennu in October 2020, punched a collection probe into the surface, and then unloaded the sample into the SRC. Bennu is a loosely cohesive amalgamation of gravel, about 500 meters in diameter. The craft successfully took off and began its long journey back to earth. The SRC was dropped off as OSIRIS-REx passed by Earth and reentered Earth’s atmosphere on Sunday, 24.September.2023. The SRC landed safely and successfully at 14:52 [Z] UTC {07:52 [T] MST}on Utah Test and Training Range and Dugway Proving Ground in Utah. The SRC with its contents is headed to the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, where it will be unloaded and the sample divvied up for scientists around the world to study and report findings. OSIRIS-REx fired its main engine and is now headed back out to the asteroid belt with a new name—OSIRIS-REx-APEX—for a close encounter with the asteroid Apophis. The mastery of physics and engineering is nothing short of dazzling, to travel more than 4.4 billion miles through space and land precisely at the SRC’s intended destination. The wonders of our space exploration continue to amaze. Well done to the team.

 

I listened attentively to Attorney General Garland’s testimony before the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday. If you listened to the committee members without knowing any of the background facts, you might think the fBICP / MAGA bunch had uncovered some great conspiracy. A lot of questions from the right focused on the expiration of the statute of limitations on some of the accusations against Hunter Biden, when the majority of that time period was under POTUS45, not President Biden. They should be questioning former attorney General Bill Barr and now Special Counsel David Weiss; they were in charge at the Justice Department during the POTUS45 administration. To imply, as they have done with their questioning of Attorney General Garland, that somehow there is a conspiracy in favor of Hunter is outright fraudulent; they had four years under POTUS45, and only two years under President Biden. It was Weiss who consumed the majority of the statute of limitations and framed the plea deal with Biden that collapsed before a judge in court.

 

Budget funding negotiations in Congress are always a contentious endeavor and rightly so. Usually, it is the Democrats and Republicans fighting each other over annual federal budget appropriations, but this year, it is Republicans fighting each other, specifically the hard right minority within their ranks that threatens to shut down the government. Everyone else must sit back and watch this cat fight playing out before the world. 

The five resisters are:

Representative Ralph Warren Norman, Jr., of South Carolina,

Representative Andrew Steven ‘Andy’ Biggs of Arizona, 

Representative James Daniel ‘Dan’ Bishop of North Carolina, 

Representative Kenneth Robert ‘Ken’ Buck of Colorado and 

Representative Matthew Martin ‘Matt’ Rosendale, Sr. of Montana.

Standing in the wings on the far right are:
Representative Matthew Louis ‘Matt’ Gaetz of Florida,

Representative Charles Eugene ‘Chip’ Roy of Texas, and

a few others who are rattling the saber about ousting Speaker McCarthy of California if he makes any move to find a compromise solution with Democrats. And, of course, Gaetz, being the single-minded radical he is, blames McCarthy for the appropriations situation rather than himself and his fellow Freedom Caucus radicals, because McCarthy did not cave to their demands. McCarthy made a deal with the devil to become speaker on the 15^th round of voting nine months ago; now, the devil intends to extract his due. We are about to see graphic evidence of his how strong that radical minority is, and how weak McCarthy is. Stay tuned, sports fans. These are the times in which we live.

We need my generation to release the reins of power in Congress and in government in general. We have screwed things up bad enough as this despicable and disgusting appropriations kerfuffle exhibits. We need the younger generation to right the ship and get us back to stability.

 

Senator Robert ‘Bob’ Menendez of New Jersey was indicted again by U.S. Attorney Damian Williams for the Southern District of New York. Menendez and his wife Nadine along with two other named individuals are charged with three counts:

-- Count One – Conspiracy to Commit Bribery – 18 USC §§201(b)(1)(A) & (C) and (b)(2)(A) & (C)
-- Count Two – Conspiracy to Commit Honest Services Fraud – 18 USC §§1343 and 1346

-- Count Three – Conspiracy to Commit Extortion Under Color of Official Right – 18 USC §§1951(b)(2) & (3)

Menendez was indicted on similar corruption charges a decade ago and was acquitted at trial, and apparently, he did not learn his lesson back then. The details of the evidence against Menendez and his co-defendants is quite compelling. A legal search warrant was executed on the Menendez residence and bank safe deposit box. The indictment lists the property discovered in their searches, and the government’s intention to seek forfeiture of the defendants’ ill-gotten gains. It is quite a list. The items were seized during the search on or about 16.June.2022:

a. The Menendez residence in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey,

b. A 2019 Mercedes-Benz C-Class C300 automobile, worth more than $60,000,

c. A sum of US$486,461 in U.S. currency seized from the Englewood Cliffs Premises,

d. A sum of US$79,760 in U.S. currency seized from safe deposit box at Chase Bank in Englewood, New Jersey,

e. Two one-kilogram gold bars seized from the Englewood Cliffs Premises. Today's ask price per 1 Kilo Gold Bullion bar is: US$63,056.51. according to Monex Precious Metals.

f. Eleven one-ounce gold bars seized from the Englewood Cliffs Premises. Each one-ounce gold bar is valued at US$2,010 according to Monex Precious Metals.

g. Any and all funds on deposit in an account held in the name of Strategic International Business Consultants, LLC, at PNC Bank.

The items seized at the residence were found in clothing, closets, and safe. The response to the indictment was swift. The senator was also removed as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee pending the outcome of his trial. Numerous calls have come from both parties for him to resign his seat. He has declared his innocence and vowed to fight the charges.

I have not gone back to the previous indictment or trial record. But, after reading the current indictment, I suspect Bob Menendez has put himself in a bit of a pickle. He is likely to lose the remainder of his ill-gotten gains and to spend some time in confinement as a guest of the federal government. Of course, he is innocent until proven guilty in a court of law beyond a reasonable doubt, but I may say the indictment is quite convincing. Menendez has been participating in this corruption for some time, which means what the FBI confiscated is likely just the tip of the iceberg. They have probably spent more than they have left. Reading the indictment drips in slime.

 

Comments and contributions from Update no.1131:

Comment to the Blog:

“Arithmetic tells me 83 years ago was 1940. Without England, the US probably would have maintained neutrality until attacked. We did that in the actual event.

“The Republicans’ infighting was bound to happen sometime. I’m not so concerned with the impeachment as I am with the budget. A government shutdown threatens my income along with millions of others on Social Security, government employees and contractors, and national functions/payments of various kinds. On the political side, though, such an event would harm the party more than all the shouting about Tiny put together.

“Mitt Romney tries his best to live out his moral/ethical values. The most he can do now is provide a good example of withdrawing gracefully and passing the baton to a younger generation. I respect that. You’re correct about the history of the far right. Tiny is simply the right/wrong personality in a key place at the right time.

“The common good is lost in this country for the moment.

“Hunter Biden’s problems are due to the extreme political climate.”

My response to the Blog:

Yep, that’s it . . . 15^th  of September, 1940; RAF Fighter Command was literally within days of collapse when Hitler turned his wrath on London rather than the embattled Fighter Command; they caught a breath and turned the tide. We did that although FDR had secretly begun ramping up cautious support for the British. I could go on and on . . . and epic period & events in human history.

Yeah, because there are loyal, dedicated Americans in the Republican Party who have NOT swallowed or even tasted his damnable, worthless, snake-oil elixir, we are seeing more voices of sanity and reason, but the MAGA bunch still hold grip on a substantial portion of the electorate. I share your concern. McCarthy’s impeachment inquiry will divert needed attention from the constitutionally mandated annual budget and funding process. We all need the government to run smoothly. The MAGA bunch want chaos and dysfunction to validate their vanity. You are not alone in the potential disruption of our lives at the most basic level. Indeed it would; it is one thing for Tiny to shout his lies, it is all together another thing to seriously jeopardize the private lives of many millions of American citizens. In fact, a government shutdown would seal their fate, I suspect.

I also agree . . . we have lost sight of the common good. This damnable tribalism had done incalculable damage to our society and structural foundation. There was damage before Tiny, but he has incited infinitely more destruction just to feed his malignant narcissism. Far too many good people believe without question in the curative properties of his worthless snake-oil elixir that he has been peddling for years. This has got to stop.

Yes, the political climate has amplified Hunter’s problems, but his difficulties were of his own generation, no one else. He has done some very foolish and shady things; some of those things have been illegal. I have always worried about selective prosecution by any zealous prosecutor. Weiss is tiptoeing on the line. We shall see how this goes.

 

Another contribution:

“Thanks very much for your piece on the BofB. Indeed a vital and essential part of the major effort to stun and eventually defeat the Nazi inhuman world domination drive. I was born in July of that year so I am totally grateful that my early years were dominated by the drive of our nations to supress this dreadful and ghastly attempt to rule us and our allies across the world.

“Is the human race really fit to live on this beautiful green planet? If you believe the answer is yes, then could someone explain the dreadful behaviour of certain individuals who are currently killing and destroying Ukraine and its population.”

My reply:

You are most welcome. It is a story and history that must be remembered rather than relegated to a single sentence in a history book. You have a far more personal view of those historic events.

The answer to your query is debatable. I believe most people regardless of nationality, language, ethnicity, or any other of the social factors share common goals . . . to live in peace, to prosper and live a comfortable life, and to provide for their children to have a better life than they had. I have seen and felt those shared values firsthand in my travels around the world. Unfortunately, as is the nature of human beings, there are bad men who grow up among us with visions of grandeur. Putin is one of those bad men. He is just as much a dictator as Stalin or Hitler, but he is supported by a bunch of hardline ultra-right conservatives within Russia. The Russian people do not want any of this war nonsense. But, the conservatives want to go back to the days of the Soviet Union when everyone feared them, and they dominated their neighbors. If we fail to stand up to that bunch, they will continue to do what they are doing. We did not create this war. We did not want this war. Ukraine did not ask for or incite this war. Ukraine is not without inherent problems and flaws, but at its root, they sought to be free; and, that sense of freedom, goes back many decades . . . long before Putin and the current crop of Russian conservatives. There are many voices in this country (conservatives) who want to give Putin what he wants. We must confront those voices.

 

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

Cheers,

Cap                  :-)

Update no.1131

 Update from the Sunland

No.1131

11.9.23 – 17.9.23

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

 

To all,

 

This week, on the 15^th of September, we remember Battle of Britain Day. On this day, 83 years ago, when a comparatively few British fighter pilots, augmented by Commonwealth and Allied pilots including seven American volunteer pilots, turned the tide. The German leadership recognized that they were not going to achieve air superiority over Southeast England before adverse autumnal weather set in, which practically made a cross-Channel amphibious and airborne operation impossible. German Chancellor Hitler postponed Operation SEALION, the invasion of England, until at least the following spring. As history recorded, he unleashed The Blitz through the winter and eventually turned his attention to the Soviet Union.  The Few, as they became known, defied all of the odds to hold the much larger and more experienced Luftwaffe and staved off the Wehrmacht cross-Channel invasion widely considered inevitable and unstoppable. While the epic three-month air battle over Southeast England changed the course of the war and arguably saved Great Britain from Nazi subjugation, the great air battle stands in the annals of history as one of the most ‘against all odds’ pivotal battles in human warfare. Without England for staging the OVERLORD invasion, the liberation of Europe and the defeat of Nazi Germany would have been monumentally more difficult. The war would have been much longer and costlier. All freedom-loving people owe an unpayable debt of gratitude to those Few fighter pilots who stood to the ramparts and held the enemy at bay.

 

Speaker of the House of Representatives Kevin Owen McCarthy of California finally caved in to the threat from the fBICP ultra-right segment apparently led by Representative Matthew Louis ‘Matt’ Gaetz II of Florida. McCarthy announced on Tuesday that he had directed several committees of the House to open impeachment inquiries against President Biden. The inquiry will be led by the House Oversight and Accountability Committee in coordination with the Ways and Means Committee and the Judiciary Committee.

Like the BIG LIE, the fBICP have no discernible public evidence, only conspiracy theories, innuendo, and accusations. The BIG LIE has no facts. This action has no facts. The move appears to be juvenile retribution for a perceived wrong.

Now, that said, if they believe they have the evidence, present it, but stop these damnable accusations, innuendo, and suggestions. We are not interested in your opinions and beliefs. Hard evidence! If the president committed high crimes and misdemeanors, then he should be impeached. However, if this is just political retribution to feed ihr Anführer, then damn you all to hell for wasting our time and money.

 

On Wednesday, 13.September.2023, Senator Willard Mitt Romney of Utah announced he would not stand for re-election next year. He had some very poignant and incisive observations to share. Mitt noted, “A very large portion of my party really doesn’t believe in the Constitution.” My observations say spot on, Mitt. That is precisely how I see things, I am sad to say. The fBICP is embracing autocracy and even dictatorship in order to retain their dwindling power and influence.

In two years’ worth of interviews with Romney. American journalist McKay Coppins observed that Romney was wrestling with the related questions, “Was the authoritarian element of the GOP a product of President Trump, or had it always been there, just waiting to be activated by a sufficiently shameless demagogue? And what role had the members of the mainstream establishment—people like [Romney], the reasonable Republicans—played in allowing the rot on the right to fester?”

To me, the answers are simple. Despite the protestations and shenanigans of Florida Governor DeSantis, discrimination, segregation, xenophobia, and all the other ‘not like me’ phobias have been a part of our history. The far-right has existed in this country longer than the Republic in many forms like neo-fascists, neo-Nazis, KKK, Aryan Nation, Sovereign-Citizens, Tea Party, Proud Boys, Oath Keepers, et al ad infinitum ad nauseum. We can go back in history to see established laws that banned all religions other than Protestant Christianity, imposed indentured servitude (slavery), prohibited Chinese and Japanese immigration, segregated whites from all other races, et al ad infinitum ad nauseum. Far-right beliefs and conduct have been passed down from parents to their children since colonists arrived on this continent. [The person who shall no longer be named] did not invent or create such far-right ideology; it has been among us for centuries. What he did accomplish was bring his skills as a conman, huckster, grifter, and snake-oil salesman to harness those disparate but like-minded far-right extremists and gave them a voice . . . public voice at the highest levels of our government. Tiny gave them respectability, and they returned his advocacy with their unwavering loyalty and support. So, yes, Mitt, you are spot on correct; from Tiny himself to his loyal far-right supporters, none of them believe in the Constitution. Further, despite the solemn oath of office sworn under God by many of them, none of them defend the Constitution.

Nonetheless, another moderate Republican voice steps aside. We shall see if a radical picks up the gauntlet and whether Utah becomes more divisive and farther to the right. The World turns.

 

On Wednesday, U.S District Judge Andrew Scott Hanen of the Southern District of Texas, Brownsville Division, issued the latest judicial ruling in years’ worth of judicial pronouncements on the matter of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program—Texas v. United States [USDC TX SD, Brownsville Division Case 1:18-cv-00068 (2023)]. The case has been up and down the judicial tiers several times. Judge Hanen summarized the genesis of the DACA program as well as the litany of litigation that ensued. In articulating the problems with the DACA program, Judge Hanen observed in his conclusion, “The solution for these deficiencies lies with the legislature, not the executive or judicial branches. Congress, for any number of reasons, has decided not to pass DACA-like legislation.” The Dreamers, as the qualified individuals are popularly known, have been in legal limbo for decades. The reality is, that this is the only country they have known, and they have been a political football being kicked this way and that for decades.  President Obama sought to put a bandage on the problem as was his responsibility. Of course, the fBICP objected, as is their right. Congress’ blatant and persistent inaction leaves the Executive with little to no alternative but to act for the public or common good.

The people affected by the DACA program are human beings who followed their parents into this country. They committed no crime or offense against the United States. After years of inaction by Congress, President Obama took appropriate executive action to alleviate the crisis and provide some stability for the Dreamers. God bless him. The common public good cannot and must not be held hostage to the ridiculous tribalism of a willful minority—the far-right Freedom Caucus. Nonetheless, Judge Hanen has chosen to throw the DACA issue back into uncertainty, instability, and intransigence. This latest ruling will undoubtedly be appealed to the Circuit Court of Appeals and ultimately the Supreme Court . . . again! We are waiting for a permanent resolution.

 

On Thursday, Special Counsel David Charles Weiss filed a three-count indictment against Robert Hunter Biden, the president’s son—United States v. Biden [USDC DE Case 1:23-cr-00061-MN (2023)]. All three charges stem from Hunter’s application for a firearm purchase in October 2018 while he was allegedly addicted to crack cocaine, a federal crime. Weiss felt the pressure of the statute of limitations, which would run out this coming October 12^th. 

From the indictment, Hunter broke the law. He deserves to be tried and punished for his crimes. It does not matter who his father is or parents are. However, there are more than a few aspects of this case that bother me. 

First and foremost, he possessed the pistol for 11 days. He committed no crimes with that pistol. He did not intimidate or threaten anyone while in possession of that pistol. The weapon was apparently never even loaded while he possessed it. Second, his drug use was not a matter in the public domain. By all public information, he was a functional addict, who committed no other crimes nor inflicted no injuries on anyone else. Third, the particular laws cited in the indictment are very rarely used by themselves; they are usually attached to other more serious crimes, e.g., robbery, burglary, assault. Fourth, the sequence of events surrounding this case leaves me very suspicious. Weiss was appointed as the U.S. Attorney for Delaware by POTUS45 and immediately began investigating Hunter Biden. President Biden retained Weiss largely due to the ongoing investigation to avoid any accusations of favoritism toward his son. Weiss was the one who reached the earlier plea deal with Hunter. After the deal collapsed in court and under considerable political pressure from the fBICP in Congress, the Attorney General appointed Weiss as special counsel, again to avoid any sense of impropriety. Lastly, the far-right Freedom Caucus in the House of Representatives has been the most vociferous in demanding this prosecution, which makes me inherently suspicious. I find very little I can agree with or support that is espoused by that bunch in Congress.

All that said, at the bottom line, Hunter Biden appears to have broken the specified laws. If the charges are prosecuted and proven in court, then Hunter deserves to be punished. However, the whole case leaves me with a very vile aftertaste of selective prosecution for political purposes. What are those purposes you ask? To give Tiny a tit-for-tat talking point to extend his grift of the American people. It is what it is; so be it.

 

Comments and contributions from Update no.1130:

Comment to the Blog:

“I’d be happier if the ‘wheels of justice’ ground a bit faster, especially in the January 6, 2021, cases. It’s already been 2 ½ years; by this time the punishment isn’t associated with the crime in the minds of MAGAts.

“Someone pointed out that Tiny uses Vince McMahon of professional wrestling fame as a role model and that makes sense. Also, it’s not really important whether Tiny’s sincere and insane or just a con man. Countering his actions is what counts.

“Your other commentator is confusing. Does he have some evidence that “the community feels a parent is incompetent or incapable” in the case of a transgender child? That makes no sense.”

My response to the Blog:

Likewise, my friend. The wheels of justice turn oh so slowly. Respectfully, for the MAGAts, the potential punishments were never associated with his multiple crimes. They never recognized those crimes for ihr Anführer.

Yes, it does make sense—pretend & fantasy for entertainment. Truth and knowledge are the only counters I can think of.

I believe s/he was hypothesizing as to the reason for conservative legal action to interfere. They seem to have a perception that anyone who holds transgender thoughts cannot be sane or rational, and must be “protected.” As the social conservatives seek to do in so many instances, rejection and denial are the go-to position; status quo or even status quo ante are preferred. They seem to refuse to understand the medical matter of gender dysphoria. Superimposed on this personal private matter is the penchant to dictate conduct to all people based on their beliefs, feelings, and values. Freedom of choice seems to be only applicable or acceptable when you choose or behave as they wish. I still do not understand why social conservatives feel compelled to use the law to impose their beliefs on everyone not like them.

 . . . follow-up comment:

“I have a thought rather than an argument. Judging others’ thoughts and decisions about their own lives or those they’re responsible for, especially when those others have sought professional advice, ought to be a named disorder. Instead, we just call it ‘obsessiveness’ or ‘control issues.’”

 . . . my follow-up response:

“OK; thanks for that. I tend to agree.”

 

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

Cheers,

Cap                  :-)

Update no.1130

 Update from the Sunland

No.1130

4.9.23 – 10.9.23

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

 

To all,

 

The follow-up news items:

-- The former leader of the neo-fascist Proud Boys received the longest sentence yet for their participation in the January 6^th insurrection [991]—22 years in federal prison for seditious conspiracy. And, he was not actually at the Capitol building that day . . . kinda like Tiny. The ultimate instigator, leader, and proponent of the insurrection should receive an even greater sentence.

-- Former presidential advisor Peter Kent Navarro was convicted this week of contempt of Congress [1056] for his refusal to testify before the House Select Committee to Investigate the January 6^th Attack [991] on the United States Capitol (HSCJ6) [1020]. He faces a year in prison for his groundless defiance. Navarro joins another convicted Tiny lieutenant, Steve Bannon [1071], who was sentenced to four months in prison. Bannon remains free on appeal. Of course, Navarro immediately started whining about his constitutional right to free speech and separation of power. The one little aspect Peter failed to recognize, acknowledge, or address is neither the Constitution nor any law protects criminal conduct. The HSCJ6 presented far more than probable cause evidence that Ol’ Peter had indeed participated in criminal conduct, which meant the government had every right to compel his testimony. For his blatant defiance of Congress, I hope the judge gives him the maximum sentence.

-- Former White House chief of staff Mark Randall Meadows swiftly filed to move his portion of the Fulton County, Georgia, election interference RICO case {[GA FCSpC 23SC188947 (2023)] [1127]} to federal court. He based his argument on the old Nazi “I was just doing my job” rationale. U.S. District Judge Steve CarMichael Jones for the Northern District of Georgia carefully and surgically dissected Meadows’ argument in his equally swift, 49-page order—Georgia v. Meadows [USDC GA ND Case 1:23-cv-03621-SCJ (2023)]. Judge Jones noted, “When questioned about the scope of his authority, Meadows was unable to explain the limits of his authority, other than his inability to stump for the President or work on behalf of the campaign.” He decided, the “Court’s conclusion that Meadows has not shown how his actions relate to the scope of his federal executive branch office.” In a rather unusual move, Judge Jones virtually accused Meadows of violations of the Hatch Act of 1939 [PL 76-252; 53 Stat. 1147] [570], which prohibits “pernicious political activities” by federal employees, although neither Meadows nor any of the other defendants has yet been charged with violation of the Hatch Act. [I must add here, I think they clearly should be charged with violations of the Hatch Act.] Judge Jones noted in his conclusion, “Assuming jurisdiction over this criminal prosecution would frustrate the purpose of federal officer removal when the state charges allege—not state interference with constitutionally protected federal activities, but—federal interference with constitutionally protected state actions.” [emphasis his] That is precisely the point. Meadows failed, and the order sends a clear message to the other defendants.

 

Here, I need to add just a regrettable FYI: thanks to [the person who shall no longer be named] and his malignant narcissistically distorted BIG LIE, I am afraid the Update is going to carry a very heavy burden of what I suspect will become a flood of court cases of motions, prosecutions, judgments, and appeals. The flood will probably last a couple of years, I suspect. If Tiny is elected again (God forbid), the court cases will grow even more as he tries to inflict his retribution, block prosecution, and vacate convictions. I cannot imagine how bad a second Tiny presidency might be like. Well, frankly, it should be a fBICP (GOP) presidency since far too many of their candidates  and leaders have supported and defended the BIG LIE. Candidly, I would prefer not to think of such a cataclysm. 

 

Comments and contributions from Update no.1129:

Comment to the Blog:

“We shall see how the disqualification process plays out. I don’t expect logic and reason to have a major role.

“All the controversies regarding sexual/gender health (abortion and birth control as well as LGBTQ issues) boil down to the MAGAts and radical Christians having serious control issues. Their ‘leaders’ make the most of that.

“Those who send others to war know the benefits to themselves and ignore the cost to everyone else. Your example of Vietnam is apt. The reason LBJ couldn’t convince us of the necessity of that war is that it was unnecessary. The bulk of our history in the USA is exactly like that. Also, remember that no conquered nation rests comfortably. Indigenous Americans are only one example of that.

“No punishment for drunkenness has yet decreased drunkenness. Good luck with that.”

My response to the Blog:

Yes, it will be interesting to witness. The initiative in Arizona last year was the only bona fide effort I am aware of, so far. It was a state action. To my knowledge, the federal government has never tried to pass an enforcement law for §3. I am not sure how Congress would be able to enforcement the provisions of §3, since responsibility for conducting elections rests with the states, not the federal government. What if the federal government disqualifies a candidate under §3 with the authority granted by §5, and a state, oh say Alabama as an example, decides to list his name on the ballot anyway? Does the FBI arrest the Alabama secretary of state? How do they enforce the law? This whole situation is likely to get much uglier and messier before any clarification can occur.

Perhaps so. While the GOP’s waning control is certainly a factor, I think the answer may well be far more complex. Why would anyone believe they have a right to dictate how another person can conduct their lives? How does such intervention square with “Life, Liberty, and pursuit of Happiness”?

Well, I have a slightly different take on Vietnam. I think LBJ tried, but he built his argument on lies—a foundation of falsehood. Even GWB built his argument on wishful thinking rather than hard evidence. JFK was in the process of seeing the light, but he was assassinated and never transformed those suspicions into actions. GHWB was the only one that mobilized properly for the task presented; he had three times the number of troops for a tenth of the task as his son chose to do. FDR was the last president to carry out a proper full-scale mobilization for the situation at hand, even he fell short when the Japanese decided to attack. In this whole present discussion, I have not yet discerned what the neo-cons expect when they say such things as the military is not prepared for war with the PRC? In WW2, we had more than a hundred active combat divisions; we have only 10 today. They do not say what they want to happen.

True. But, I am not advocating to change drunkenness, only drunkenness that endangers the lives of other people. You want to get drunk, stay home. You want to get drunk at a bar, have someone drive you home. Local jurisdictions are far too lenient with DUI incidents. I see the Texas law as a small step on a long journey.

 . . . Round two:

“I can’t guess the mechanism for carrying out the insurrection clause, but it would involve appeals all the way to the Supreme Court, which takes time. Could that delay keep Tiny off some ballots?

“The GOP is using fears and prejudices that have been around for my entire lifetime, probably forever. Skilled manipulators can use that stuff to elect candidates that benefit the politicians’ buyers financially. Hitler did.

“Daddy Bush was undeniably intelligent. Amoral, but sharp. There’s still a question of whether any given war is moral. Also, the nature of war has changed and that’s another issue around mobilization.

“Understand that an alcoholic will get a drink. Punishment won’t change that. However, Congress has mandated breathalyzers that disable a car in the event of a failed test beginning in 2026. The technology exists and is in use. That gets better results.

“PS: I watched someone on YouTube pass through a town called Parlier, California. Any relation?”

 . . . my response to round two:

In the last few days, I learn of other legal initiatives to enforce the §3 Insurrection Clause in several additional states, e.g., Colorado, New Mexico, New Hampshire & Wisconsin. I have no idea how the numerous court challenges may play out, but there is not much time left to figure it out. The first primaries come in four months. The general presidential election will take place 14 months from now. Delays in such definitive judgment will default to inclusion. In my thinking, the central question will come down to what does ‘due process of law’ look like in any §3 enforcement. As the bottom line, I think §3 must be enforced especially in Tiny’s case.

Quite so. Fear and prejudice are replete in history as far back as history goes, and I am fairly certain it existed far beyond the beginning of recorded human history to as far as human communication began. Ignorance enables susceptibility to fear and prejudice, and we have an awful lot of ignorance around us. The only things that will break it are knowledge and public debate.

GHWB . . . amoral . . . wow! I do not see it as you do apparently. I will gladly debate the morality of war. That said, war is a terrible, tragic action, but it is a larger scale response version to burglary, assault, and murder, which is far more immoral and must be rejected. I am not, never have been, and never will be an advocate for war; it is human disaster. However, sometimes we are left with the necessity by bad men trying to subjugate us and others. Yes, the nature of war has changed and will always change as technology advances. And yes, mobilization comes in many forms or levels depending on the threat, but mobilization is still a necessity. Warfighting is much more than military capability; we have been presented with, if not learned, that lesson the hard way several times just in my lifetime.

I am not against alcohol or other intoxicants; quite the contrary. Freedom is freedom. What I am strongly against is any intoxication or impairment that threatens another living soul or creature. Such public conduct, intentional or not, is simply and absolutely unacceptable and intolerable. We have been far too tolerant in our punishment of public intoxication. I am OK with anyone drinking themselves to death, just stay out of the public domain and don’t take anyone else with you. BTW, mandatory breathalyzers are too easily circumvented—someone else blowing the unit, driving a different car.

We did not get enough rain during this monsoon season. We lost another half dozen mature agave plants, and we are fighting to save what is left. Life goes on.

Passing through Parlier, California, did not take long. It is a small farm town in the Central Valley. Yes, it is a relation. My Great-Great Grandfather Issac Newton Parlier, Jr., founded the town in 1876 and incorporated in 1921. No family there anymore. Now you know.

 . . . Round three:

“I keep seeing a figure that the USA has been at peace for a total of 16 years of our existence. The bulk of the war years were not ‘bad men trying to subjugate us.’ Such excursions as the Spanish-American War, the takeover of Hawaii, Vietnam, and Afghanistan were not that kind of conflict. They were rich Americans getting richer.

“I was talking to other recovering alcoholics about those mandatory breathalyzers yesterday. We agree that foolproof identity verification is needed, such as iris scanning. The ‘different car’ dodge will change when the breathalyzers are mandatory; I believe that’s next year.

“I looked up Parlier, California. Yep, it’s a small place but it’s one more town than is named for my family, despite Rittenhouse being a very prominent name a few centuries ago around Philadelphia.”

 . . . my response to round three:

Wow, I have never thought of our history in those terms. Sixteen seems like a rather small number over 247 years, but now I am curious. You picked a very good example to support your contention. I am not sure I buy it, but it is an intriguing hypothesis. One point to argue, I do not see the ‘takeover’ of Vietnam or Afghanistan you suggest. There was no imperial motive.

I have always been a believer in the old adage, where there is a will, there is a way. All addicts will find a way to feed their addiction until they decide not to do so. It is that premise that led me to write Indulgence. We must find the means to make an individual’s freedom of choice safe for the individual and others around them. The fictional world of Indulgence is probably not achievable, but it is certainly better than the ridiculous and failed so-called war on drugs.

Mother Nature is rather capricious. No sense trying to understand things, although we try mightily to predict what may come tomorrow. But, as we see today, far too many people do not believe the science; they want to believe a snake-oil salesman.

My ancestors were quite foresightful and took full advantage of the federal migration program. My great-great-grandfather’s subsequent generations chose to divide and sell the pieces, such that we no longer hold what he created. Such is life. We move on and do the best we can. I am grateful that you showed interest in the small town.

 . . . Round four:

“I phrased the ‘takeover’ clause wrongly, although Vietnam and Afghanistan could easily count as takeover attempts.

“My only point in the drunk driving discussion is that punishment fails to improve behavior.

“People who prosper in a given set of conditions/climate like to believe those conditions will continue, even in the face of evidence to the contrary.

“Your family’s generations have done what most Americans do. My name-line ancestors came long before there was a federal migration program (or nation) and also took advantage of what they found here. They diversified from the original paper-making and some of them held onto the wealth right down to today. The rest of us moved on and earned our own living.”

 . . . my response to round four:

Sorry, I do not see it. We held no intent whatsoever to takeover, occupy, dominate, or annex either Vietnam or Afghanistan . . . or any nation since the Spanish-American War of 1898. I do not think we have held imperial designs on other nations. The Native American situation is a different matter. We purchased the land and believed we legally owned it. I am not defending our terrible treatment of Native American tribes throughout our history, but note that history only to say the relationship is very complicated.

Your statement is true for all addictive behavior. We see that compulsiveness in all kinds of addictive behavior like pedophilia, gambling, alcohol, psychotropic substances, pharmaceutical abuse, ad infinitum. Psychiatric and medical treatment are far more effective than punishment, but nothing is completely effective, which is exactly why I suspect isolation indulgence may be the only solution.

Of course, the best buggy whip manufacturer/seller wanted his profitable business to continue, but society moved on. We all must adapt, even if we do not want to.

As did my ancestors. My paternal ancestry can be traced back to 1686; been here ever since.

 . . . Round five:

“The concept of neocolonialism applies to many of those military actions. Certainly, most of those nations offered no threat of taking over the U.S. Vietnam? Really? The bulk of Native American territories weren’t purchased. They were taken by military operations resulting in treaties, which were then violated almost immediately.

“No clear method has emerged to address addictive behavior. The closest I’m aware of is education which prevents some cases and detox followed by education, temporary isolation, and mutual aid for the very motivated addict. I doubt simply isolating the addict would limit the damage much.”

 . . . my response to round five:

Certainly some. I just question the quantity. We could debate the justification for the Vietnam War for a long time. As an American citizen and former Marine who served in Vietnam during that War, it was my understanding that we were there to protect the right of the Republic of Vietnam (RVN; South Vietnam) to choose for themselves their form of governance and thus resist the efforts of the Viet Minh (Vietnamese Communist Party; North Vietnam) to impose its form of governance of the RVN. Most of the Native American land was purchased from France in the Louisiana Purchase [30.4.1803 (8 Stat. 202)] [448]. We could argue the legal basis, but that is a fact. Subsequent military operations (for the most part) were intent upon enforcing that purchase and development. Native American tribal abuse in history is an enormous topic, and one that must never be swept under the rug.

Oh so true. I would agree with you. No matter the addictive behavior, my experience has validated to nearly 100% that the only thing that will change addictive behavior is for the addict to convince himself he must change . . . to me that is education, as you say. But, like the old adage, you can lead a horse to water but you can’t make him drink; so to it is with learning. You can give the addict education, but if he was does not to learn, he will not. Thus, my isolation indulgence proposal, i.e., let us at least minimize the collateral destruction of addictive consumption. Yes, you are quite correct as I point out in Indulgence that isolation is not the answer—only one level of community protection. Further, I must add, I do not advocation for isolation; I suggest isolation indulgence, i.e., indulge the addict’s consumption to preclude impact on the community. Isolation indulgence would be the second level, the first level being legalization & regulation from source to consumption.

 . . . Round six:

“I suppose I should let this drop, but I’ll do two more sentences.

“The Native American land being purchased from France doesn’t change the fact that its owners were indigenous, not French.

“Education is an attempt at prevention; recovery is basically a miracle.”

 . . . my response to round six:

Frankly, I would prefer that you did NOT drop these issues. I believe our exchanges (and others) are vital to a healthy democracy. I am truly grateful for all the effort you share in the forum. Nonetheless, I do understand and appreciate that they are time consuming. I do respect your wishes.

Part of the matter is the Native American tribes defined “their land” by violence, by dominating their neighbors and defending “their land.” There were no markers, no borders, no documents, no record of “their land.” The French claimed the upper plains, and they documented their claim. I think the United States made a bona fide attempt to recognize the “Native American land” claims, albeit not universally accepted (e.g., Fort Laramie Treaty of 1851). They also sought compromise to enable development of the land, e.g., granting of right-of-way rights for the Transcontinental Railroad. The two cultures clashed.

Yes, absolutely . . . prevention . . . intervention . . . diversion, et al; none of which can force the addict to alter his behavior. Even punishment cannot force an addict to change as we so well know. Freedom is freedom, and we must recognize that freedom abhors “forced” solutions.

 . . . Round seven:

“I enjoy this interchange, but there are practicalities to recognize about blogging.

“The problem with claiming the Americas for a given European country is that people already lived here. Claiming to own the land makes them not human. That didn’t happen in places like China which possessed prominent military force.

“I’m aware of addiction from the inside. The only apparent remedies I can see are to offer strictly voluntary treatment to the public at large and treatment as a legal consequence, which has resulted in some people recovering. I began my recovery without those choices, but I also came closer to medical death than most other recovering people I know.”

 . . . my response to round seven:

Thank you for that. I am not sure what is meant by “practicalities,” but hey, I accept what comes.

As I suggested earlier, the Native American land ownership is a serious and complicated issue since it involves a starkest of contrast cultures and “legal” systems, so to speak. I do not wish to or intend to lessen the significance. There must be a balance out there somewhere. Most tribes have found an accommodation with the United States; some have not.

As have I, well, at least as close as I ever care to get. I am so glad you found your path out of that hole. Not everyone does, which I know you are well aware. I want to help addicts with their recovery, but only if they want help. What I am most concern about is minimizing or eliminating the collateral damage, i.e., crime and potential for crime.

 

Another contribution:

“In response to your plea re LGBTQ+ children, I suggest the issue in many minds is whether minors are mature enough and parents wise enough to begin permanent sex change procedures for a minor in the face of possibly devastating psychological damage in the event of regrets by a minor victim.”

My reply:

LBGTQ+ medical services are not just gender reassignment surgery. Those needed services include psychological and psychiatric care, hormone treatment, and such. All that aside, a child (<18yo) may not be mature enough to make such a radical choice, but isn’t that the responsibility of the parent(s) and attending physician rather than a neighbor? If the community feels a parent is incompetent or incapable, shouldn’t they be presenting the medical judgment in a court of law long before an LGBTQ+ transition decision? I am struggling with this process . . . why?

From my perspective, this appearance quite akin to racial or ethnical discrimination, i.e., we don’t like Chinese people, so let’s pass a law prohibiting them from becoming citizens, or owning property, or going to public school. Discrimination by any other name or color is still discrimination.

To me, it still boils down to a group of conservative citizens deciding they know best how others should lead their lives regardless of any perceived injury or lack of same. Where is the public harm or injury? By what right do conservatives feels they can dictate to everyone how they live their lives? Just an FYI, the law does not discriminate between positive transitions and negative transitions; it prohibits all transitions . . . plus other non-physical medical processes. By what right, I ask?

 

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

Cheers,

Cap                  :-)

Update no.1129

Update from the Sunland

No.1129

28.8.23 – 3.9.23

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

 

To all,

 

The follow-up news items:

-- Yevgeny Viktorovich Prigozhin [1119, 1128] flew too close to the flame, and . . .

No matter how big or how powerful an oligarch may be, Prigozhin learned the hard way how dictators handle and deal with dissenters. He is not the first and will not be the last.

-- Well, we finally have at least one official opinion regarding disqualification by §3, Amendment XIV, U.S. Constitution. Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes has publicly stated that he has no authority to disqualify any candidate, and thus he cannot refuse to list [the person who shall no longer be named] if he becomes the Republican candidate.

“Can Trump be barred from Ariz. ballot? Secretary of State Fontes says it's open question”

by Mary Jo Pitzl

Arizona Republic

Published: 6:02 a.m. MT Aug. 30, 2023 | Updated 2:05 p.m. Aug. 30, 2023

https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/politics/elections/2023/08/30/adrian-fontes-donald-trump-cant-be-barred-2024-arizona-ballot/70664123007/?utm_source=azcentral-newsalert-strada&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsalert&utm_term=hero&utm_content=pphx-phoenix-nletter17

Fontes cites his understanding of a recent court ruling. The en banc Arizona Supreme Court decision in the case of Hansen v. Finchem [AZ SC No. CV-22-0099-AP/EL (2022)] declared that U.S. Representatives Paul Gosar and Andy Biggs along with State Representative Mark Finchem could not be disqualified by §3 because the authority to do so was vested solely in Congress by §5 of Amendment XIV. Fontes points to the Hansen ruling for his position regarding the potential disqualification of [the person who shall no longer be named] for the 2024 presidential election. Of course, Congress has failed to act. Former POTUS45 has brought us to the point where Congress must pass a law to establish the due process for disqualification of potential candidates, especially under §3. Such a law must also include disqualification of candidates convicted in a court of law on any felony or sentenced to prison for any amount of time. Logic, reason, and common sense are no longer satisfactory for accomplishing such filtration. I believe the defendant representatives in the Hansen case plus all of those who supported and engaged in the January 6^th insurrection should be disqualified from holding any governmental office at any level. They have proven themselves to be incapable of defending the Constitution, abiding by its strictures, and remaining within the spirit of the law. Like former Governor Christie so accurately stated, their conduct is unacceptable . . . period, full stop, drop the mic.

 

Can someone, anyone, explain to me why the Republicans, the MAGA bunch, and the evangelical Christian right-wing are so intent upon denying medical treatment to LGBTQ children and denying the same rights as every other citizen enjoys to LGBTQ citizens? It is truly puzzling to me. How has their proper medical treatment affected anyone or anything in the public domain? I truly do not understand or comprehend what compels some citizens to interfere in the “Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness” of other citizens. Sincerely, please explain . . . someone . . . anyone.

 

A friend and occasional contributor to this humble forum sent along the following article and link:

“Air Force secretary says US not ready for China war — he's right”

by Tom Rogan, National Security Writer & Online Editor

Washington Examiner

Published: September 01, 2023; 04:33 PM

https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/air-force-secretary-deserves-praise-china-war-readiness-honesty

To which I responded:

Absolutely correct. General warfare with any large nation or combination of nations would require broad mobilization and transformation of the economy to a war footing. Heck, the War on Terrorism 20 years ago needed mobilization, but President Bush failed to do so, and tried to fight war on the cheap, and the decision got a lot of people killed for a destiny of failure. Russia is a shell of what the Soviet Union used to be, but it is still lethal. The PRC is far stronger. Even the nuisance DPRK would require general mobilization. The failure to mobilize for warfighting began back in the Truman era (Korea), and presidents since then have failed at that vital measure of war-fighting. The military is just the pointy end of the spear.

To which I will add:

As I use the term ‘mobilization,’ I mean the transformation of the society and economy to the warfighting task, which includes but is not limited to informing the population to an extent that they broadly support the necessity for and objectives of the warfighting. That process includes conscription, service, sacrifice of common goods and services needed for warfighting, et cetera ad infinitum. We had large scale protests against the U.S. participation in the Vietnam War because President Johnson failed to be honest with the American people and especially to convince them of the necessity for the war in Southeast Asia. As a consequence, a significant portion of our population did not support the war, were not willing to make any sacrifices to support the war effort, which in turn the enemy exploited quite effectively. It takes the whole nation to fight a war properly—the military without shackles and the economy behind them completely.

So, are we ready to fight a war with the PRC if necessary? No, we are absolutely not ready. The military is a mere fraction of the body required, and the nation is in a peacetime lethargy occupied by internal political squabbling. We are not ready to fight a war and barely ready to fight a brief battle. We have a very capable military, but they need to be much more to fight a war.

“That’s just my opinion, but I could be wrong.”

 

I do not recall much, if anything, I agree with coming out of Texas politically these days, but a recent bill signed by the governor became law. Texas House Bill 393, also known as Bentley's Law, went into effect on Friday, 1.September.2023. The new law requires a vehicle driver who is convicted of intoxicated manslaughter of a parent must pay child support for each surviving child until 18 years of age or graduation from high school, whichever occurs later. I am impressed with the precision and focus of the law. The next question will be whether prosecutors use the new law to extract appropriate compensation for children who have lost a parent to a drunk driver. It is about freakin’ time! Well done, Texas!

 

Comments and contributions from Update no.1128:

Comment to the Blog:

“Logical defenses don’t exist in the Georgia election RICO case. Expect nonsense and loopholes.

“Both MAGA and anti-MAGA are marketing merch with that mug shot. It began on my side of politics within a couple of hours. I believe that’s one of the most villainous mug shots I’ve ever seen.

“I study history, and I often see it as the study of consequences. Ford’s pardon of Nixon began a series of ‘let’s not dwell on that’ responses to increasingly horrific national scandals leading to our current mess. Let’s take a full inventory of this mess and demand appropriate amends. That’s the only path to healing.

“Tiny could become the next Republican nominee for President. It’s shameful that there’s no obvious better choice from another party. The ‘No Labels’ thing showed up on my local news this morning not looking viable.”

My response to the Blog:

Perhaps so, but that is not going to stop them from making every attempt. Fani Willis and other prosecutors in other cases will likely need to be re-elected or maintain their appointments in the next election. A new prosecutor could simply drop the case. We, the People, must do our part. Yes, we will see every defense tool utilized in these cases, e.g., delay trial start to April 2026 and transfer to federal court. Despite all the legal wrangling, I just want the perpetrators to feel the full weight of justice for their crimes. Yet, every time we face this situation, I am reminded of the O.J. Simpson murder jury [3.10.1995].

I thought his NEVER SURRENDER rendition was first . . . at least the first I was aware of. Yes, my thoughts exactly. Contrition is not a word in his vocabulary, so let him suffer the consequences of his transgressions.

I study history as well. I agree with your assessment. Ford’s pardon may have been an expedient of his day, but it was a tragic action for history and the debacle we face today. I see no indication Tiny has even a modicum of understanding or appreciation of history. To him, he is everything; there is nothing else—malignant narcissism. I agree these prosecutions will not be easy or without more pain, but we must push through to full justice, and amends as you say.

Yes, and as I underestimated in 2016, he may well become president, again. It will be interesting to see if any states disqualify him by §3 from appearing on their state ballot. That could materially affect the outcome. “No Labels” is not looking good here either, but it would not take much to affect the result. It is going to get much crazier.

 

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

Cheers,

Cap                  :-)