Update no.1037

Update from the Sunland

No.1037

22.11.21 – 28.11.21

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

 

            To all,

 

I hope and trust everyone enjoyed a Happy Thanksgiving Day celebration.  We had the distinct pleasure of our grandson Wyatt, who was generous enough to bring his parents along with him for a long holiday weekend or a short vacay (depending upon one’s perspective). Despite the rancor and rampant, corrosive tribalism, we have much to be grateful for in this once grand republic. There is always hope that we will one day outgrow the contemporary dissonance and return to the lofty ideals that made this republic great.

 

Tuesday night, 23.November.2021, at 22:21 [U] PST, SpaceX launched an ambitious space vehicle for NASA from Space Launch Complex 4-East at Vandenberg Space Force Base, California. The craft is called the Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART). The 670-kilogram package was lifted into space by a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and sent on its way to the planned target—the moonlet Dimorphos orbiting the larger asteroid Didymos, roughly 7M miles beyond earth. The mission was planned and sponsored by NASA’s Office of Planetary Defense Coordination. The spacecraft will separate with a small vehicle known as the Cube about 10 days prior to impact. The Cube is expected to fly by and observe the impact at a distance of 55 kilometers. The 510-kilogram impactor will be traveling at 6.7 kilometers/second at impact and transfer its momentum to the moonlet to slow the 4.8M metric-ton rock by roughly 0.7 micrometers/second. By slowing the moonlet ever so slightly, the orbital distance will decrease, and the orbital period will decrease by a small amount that can be measured on earth. The test will demonstrate whether the momentum transfer method for deflection will work for planetary defense to avoid a mass extinction event. Neither Didymos nor Dimorphos pose any threat to earth. In addition to testing the physics in a practical manner, the test will also give us good metrics on when and how to alter the trajectory of a threatening object.

 

This week’s PBS Nova series program was “Universe Revealed –Big Bang” S48 Ep21, broadcast on 24.November.2021. The discussion of the Big Bang always yields one consistent question; what happened before the Big Bang? Another question has arisen when I learned that the Hubble Space Telescope took four months of constant staring to image the farthest known galaxy to date—GN-z11, 13.4B LY away. Will wonders ever cease?

 

            The follow-up news items:

-- The United States House Select Committee to Investigate the January 6^th Attack on the United States Capitol [1020]issued more subpoenas this week. In this bunch were the leaders of the far right-wing extremist groups that were involved in the January 6^th attack [991], including the Oath Keepers and Proud Boys. The Select Committee is methodically and relentlessly working their way to Perpetrator Number 1.

 

The McMichael trial for the murder of Ahmaud Aubrey is over. The jury found all three defendants guilty on multiple charges, including murder. The evidence was pretty solid for the murder conviction. Unfortunately, from my perspective, the most notable element of the trial was a graphic demonstration of the trial lawyer’s old adage. When the facts are on your side, argue the facts. When the facts are not on your side, argue the law. When the facts and the law are not on your side, pound on the table. We have witnessed the “pounding on the table” phase in the McMichael case. Attorney Kevin Gough for Willian ‘Roddie’ Bryant, Jr., the third defendant, made an outrageous claim repeated numerous times that “black pastors” were unfairly in the gallery. Beyond the blatantly racist claim, Gouch’s point had no bearing on the trial. It was a sleight of hand distraction intended to sway the majority white jurors. All three were found guilty of felony murder among other charges. All three are facing life in prison and rightly so.

 

Another notable court case was decided this week. A civil suit stemming from the “Unite the Right” Rally in Charlottesville, Virginia [12.August.2017]—Sines v. Kessler [USDC VA(WD) no. 3:17-cv-00072 (2021]. Nine plaintiffs originally filed the civil lawsuit on 11.October.2017 against 14 individuals and 10 organizations. In such cases, I try to avoid the long laundry lists of defendants. In this particular instance, the list of defendants is too important to the meaning of what we endured during the last administration. In Sines, the defendants were:

JASON KESSLER, RICHARD SPENCER, CHRISTOPHER CANTWELL, JAMES ALEX FIELDS, JR., VANGUARD AMERICA, ANDREW ANGLIN, MOONBASE HOLDINGS, LLC, ROBERT “AZZMADOR” RAY, NATHAN DAMIGO, ELLIOT KLINE a/k/a/ ELI MOSELY, IDENTITY EVROPA, MATTHEW HEIMBACH, MATTHEW PARROTT a/k/a DAVID MATTHEW PARROTT, TRADITIONALIST WORKER PARTY, MICHAEL HILL, MICHAEL TUBBS, LEAGUE OF THE SOUTH, JEFF SCHOEP, NATIONAL SOCIALIST MOVEMENT, NATIONALIST FRONT, AUGUSTUS SOL INVICTUS, FRATERNAL ORDER OF THE ALT-KNIGHTS, MICHAEL “ENOCH” PEINOVICH, LOYAL WHITE KNIGHTS OF THE KU KLUX KLAN, and EAST COAST KNIGHTS OF THE KU KLUX KLAN a/k/a EAST COAST KNIGHTS OF THE TRUE INVISIBLE EMPIRE. (emphasis mine)

I highlighted a few of this rogue lot to illuminate the leaders and curious association of participating groups. This list alone defines the purpose of the rally. These were the folks who were marching in a torchlight parade [ala 30.1.1933] as they shouted, “Jews will not replace us.” This is the same group [the person who shall no longer be named] proclaimed were “good people on both sides.” I found it particularly interesting that the case was tried under the Ku Klux Klan Act of 1871 (AKA Civil Rights Act of 1871, or the Force Act of 1871) [PL 42-I-022; 17 Stat. 13] [539]. The jury in Sines case found the defendants to be liable for injuries to the counter-protesters to the tune of US$26M in damages.Now, we will wait to see what can be extracted from whatever assets these yayhoos possess. They all deserve to be relegated to poverty existence to contemplate the error of their ways. I doubt they will achieve the penalty threshold, but there is always hope.

 

An article in the Arizona Republic after the censure of Representative Gosar by the House of Representatives [1036] struck a nerve.

“Censuring Rep. Paul Gosar was warranted. Booting him from committees was a mistake – Opinion: Censure was warranted. But stripping Gosar of committee assignments denies his constituents equal representation and invites retaliation.”

by Robert Robb

Arizona Republic

Published: 7:00 a.m. MT; Nov. 24, 2021

https://www.azcentral.com/story/opinion/op-ed/robertrobb/2021/11/24/censure-rep-paul-gosar-but-dont-kick-him-off-committees/8735479002/?utm_source=azcentral-Opinions%20News%20Now&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=baseline&utm_term=hero&utm_content=1531AR-E-NL

In short, I fundamentally disagree with Mister Robb. However, I do agree that Gosar’s constituents deserve representation in Congress, but the censure of Gosar deserves punishment and stripping him of his committee assignments is about the only punishment available. In my humble opinion, Gosar’s conduct (along with Greene, Boebert, Gates, and others) deserves expulsion. His conduct should be absolutely and categorically unacceptable in any governmental body and especially in Congress. There should be a threshold for tolerable conduct, and Gosar has vastly exceeded that threshold. If the citizens of Arizona’s 4^th Congressional District want representation, vote for a representative who is at least less offensive to good order and discipline than Gosar. He deserves to be relegated to the dustbin of history for his abhorrent conduct and behavior.

 

            Comments and contributions from Update no.1036:

Comment to the Blog:

“I would have liked to see the eclipse this past Friday, but I don’t have what it takes to be up at the right time.

“We may hope the government handles the implementation of the Infrastructure Act well. With this much money at stake, there’s potential for great national benefit, considerable corruption, or most likely, some balance of both.

“It’s good to see the January 6 actors sentenced, but I want to see their seditious leaders go down.

“We don’t know whether Rep. Gosar has had visits with the FBI. They don’t publicize everything they do.

“Kyle Rittenhouse placed himself in perceived danger, heavily armed, and he was the only shooter in the whole incident. It’s hard to see that as legitimate self-defense. Do you really believe he was motivated to guard someone else’s business in another state? I don’t. The fact that Rittenhouse shot white people doesn’t change the ultimate target of his fear/grievance, which is anyone different from him. This verdict will give license to other vigilantes to ‘defend’ themselves from their perceived enemies (other races, social classes, political positions, or whatever).”

My response to the Blog:

We all have our priorities, my friend. At least you had the desire to see the eclipse, which was more than most.

Yes, agreed, the potential for abuse is enormous. I hope Mitch Landrieu is up to the task of supervising this beast. We certainly need sustaining maintenance, improvement of antiquated infrastructure, and the mounting need for new infrastructure to match our times. We shall have to watch as best we can, and this is one of those instances where we need an active, aggressive, free press.

Yes, absolutely, the pawns and minions deserve punishment under the law for succumbing to the Siren’s Song, but it is the instigators and planners that warrant the maximum penalty under the law for what they have done to besmirch the history of this once grand republic. We know who those instigators are. But they must be charged, tried, convicted and sentenced in a court of law.

Correct, we do not know, but he certainly deserves those visits. He also deserves charges IMHO.

On the Rittenhouse case, we shall respectfully disagree. I do not agree that he placed himself in a position that denies him self-defense. Again, there is not one scintilla of evidence that he went to Kenosha that day with his semi-automatic rifle with the intend to kill, injure or otherwise commit any crime. That young man did more than I would have done to fulfill what I have espoused as a citizen’s obligation. He was trying to protect property. The character of his attackers reinforced his legal defense. That said, I will add that it is tragic that he had been setup as some right-wing, militia hero. We do not need vigilantes. I do not agree with your premise that his motive was “anyone different from him” other than those committing property crime. His attackers tend to validate my hypothesis that a criminal, anarchistic element exploits legitimate protests to foment anger, disruption, and contamination of legitimate protests. Black Lives Matter deserves far better, but Rittenhouse is NOT the adversary.

 . . . follow-up comment:

“With respect to Kyle Rittenhouse, I reserve the right to say, ‘I told you so’ when more of his kind attack others.”

 . . . with my follow-up response:

LOL Understood and accepted. We shall hope your premonition is not correct or realized.

 

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

Cheers,

Cap                  :-) 

Update no.1036

Update from the Sunland

No.1036

15.11.21 – 21.11.21

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

 

            To all,

 

A rare celestial event occurred early Friday morning, 19.November.2021—the longest lunar eclipse in 600 years (3 hours, 28 minutes, and 24 seconds). We had high, thin, cirrus clouds, so it was not the best atmospheric conditions for such observations. However, the clouds were thin enough for a good view of the phases of the eclipse. About 3% of the moon’s surface remained sunlit, so it was technically not a total eclipse, but very close and well worth the watching.

 

I recognize and acknowledge that space with all its wonders and marvels is not everyone’s interest, concern, or curiosity, but I write this humble Blog, and I have always been fascinated by space. This week’s illumination and recommendation is the PBS Nova series “Universe Revealed – Black Holes” S48 Ep20, broadcast on 17.November.2021. The phenomena of black holes inspire awe and respect. Our galactic black hole is known as Sagittarius A*, and we are detecting more and more associated events with and around that entity. The better our instruments of detection get, the more we will see and learn.

 

This seems to be happening more often than not these days, but once again, I note and recommend another exceptional science documentary program—CNN Special “The Hunt for Planet B,” broadcast Friday evening, 20.November.2021. While the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is a featured element of the story, the documentary is primarily about the search for exoplanets in the habitable zone (not too cold and not too hot) around other stars and among those candidates the search for the ingredients of life and for life itself. The program provides a good summary of what we know, and what we are doing to learn more.

 

For those who may be interested in such things, the European Space Agency (ESA) will launch the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) from their facility at Kourou, French Guiana, on 18.December.2021, at 07:20 [R] EST. The seven-ton JWST complex, 50-step, unfolding deployment sequence will begin roughly 33 minutes after launch and will take approximately two weeks to complete during transit to its final location in a small halo orbit at Lagrange Point L2 (1.5M kilometers) from earth. You know what I will be doing that morning.

 

            The follow-up news items:

-- On Monday, with Congress back in town, President Biden signed the massive US$1.5T Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act [PL 117-058; H.R. 3684; House: 228-206-0-0(1); Senate: 69-30-0-1(0); 135 Stat. xxx] to improve the physical infrastructure of this once grand republic. The president appointed former New Orleans mayor Mitchell Joseph ‘Mitch’ Landrieu to be Senior Advisor to the President of the United States for Infrastructure Coordination. Like President Franklin Roosevelt with the enactment of the Lend-Lease Program, Ed Stettinius was appointed overall administrator for the program, and Averell Harriman was appointed special envoy for Lend-Lease to Great Britain and Europe in the spring of 1941. 

-- On Wednesday, Jake Angeli (born Jacob Anthony Angeli Chansley) [AKA and self-professed “QAnon Shaman”, “Q Shaman”, and “Yellowstone Wolf”] was sentenced to 41 months in prison (with credit for 10 months time served) for his part in the January 6^th insurrection [991]—many more to come. Angeli will have plenty of time to contemplate the error of his ways.

-- Also on Wednesday, the House of Representatives voted on and passed H.Res.789, Censuring Representative Paul Gosar [House: 223-207-1-3(1)]. Representative Paul Anthony Gosar of Arizona was a significant congressional player in the January 6^th insurrection [991]. However, the House censure was not for his part with the insurrection, but rather for participating in and publishing an anime of him (Gosar) killing Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York and attacking President Biden. [FYI: I am surprised Gosar did not get a serious visit from the Secret Service and Federal Bureau of Investigation for that one.] Five Republicans did not join their fBICP colleagues in the vote against censure; those Republicans were: Griffith of Virginia (not voting), Joyce of Ohio (present), Cheney of Wyoming (yea), Kinzinger of Illinois (yea), and Perry of Pennsylvania (not voting). I suspect we shall learn much more about Gosar’s contribution to the insurrection when the House Select Committee to Investigate the January 6^th Attack on the United States Capitol [1020] issues its final report and any derived charges. In a despicable display, a couple of dozen fBICP members stood in the well with and behind Gosar as he was censured by Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

Of course, Minority Leader McCarthy, on behalf of his fBICP brethren, vowed vengeance against all of those who voted for censure, including the two Republicans, Cheney and Kinzinger, and recriminations for the Democrats when they are eventually rendered to the minority (which the fBICP hopes to accomplish next year).

In the press coverage afterward, Gosar’s sister reiterated her disdain for her older brother’s conduct. All of his siblings have condemned his embrace of white supremacy, the insurrection, and [the person who shall no longer be named] and his BIG LIE.

-- On Friday, the House of Representative passed H.R. 5376 – Build Back Better Act, the US$1.9T social infrastructure bill. This is the companion bill to the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act [PL 117-058; 135 Stat. xxx] noted above [House: 220-213-0-1(1)], with only one Democrat (Golden of Maine) crossing party lines. The bill now goes to the Senate.

-- Also on Friday, the 19^th, the jury reached its verdict in the Kyle Rittenhouse trial [1035]. He was found not guilty on all charges. Based on the evidence I saw and heard during the trial, I would say rightly so. The verdict is significant in many ways but notably Rittenhouse agreed to accept lesser non-specified charges, and the jury chose not to do so. He was over-charged from the get-go, and the evidence substantially validated his contention of self-defense.

Of course, the politco-sphere has erupted. A friend, contributor, and brother-in-arms sent along the following article:

“The Kyle Rittenhouse Verdict Reinforces a Long American Tradition: White Animus Against Black Grievance – It’s not just the acquittal but the embrace of Rittenhouse as a hero”

Opinion by Erin Aubry Kapan

Politico

Published: 11/20/2021; 07:00 AM EST

https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2021/11/20/kyle-rittenhouse-verdict-reinforces-american-tradition-523114

All three of the men shot by Rittenhouse during the Kenosha riots of August 2020 were of light skin pigmentation. The article’s suggestion that the verdict was a demonstration of “white animus against black grievance” is simply a comparable over-statement to the over-charging of the prosecution. The verdict is also not some validation of vigilantism. Further, there are monumental differences between the Rittenhouse case and the McMichael trial in Georgia (Ahmaud Arbery). Rittenhouse is neither hero nor villain. He simply a young man who was trying to do the right thing and got sucked into a terrible tragedy. Let us not make more of this than already exists.

 

Early Monday, the 15^th, Russia detonated an anti-satellite weapon that destroyed one of their satellites and created more than 1,500 pieces of trackable orbital debris (golf ball size and larger). One of many problems with such events is the potential for chain reactions—one of those bits hits other satellites causing even more potentially lethal orbiting debris. Momentum transfer is a very real physics phenomenon—a very small mass traveling at high speed can do extraordinary damage.

The event caused NASA to order the International Space Station (ISS) astronauts and cosmonauts into their reentry spacecraft for protection. The United States Government (USG) condemned the Russian escalation of the militarization of space situation. No one was injured, yet, but some of the debris will remain in orbit for quite some time presenting a persistent threat. This episode is yet one more demonstration of the dictator Putin’s hegemonic efforts in space, which by treaty is supposed to remain neutral. 

 

            Comments and contributions from Update no.1035:

Comment to the Blog:

“I can watch past episodes of NOVA on my computer, so maybe I’ll look at some of those. However, the ‘Edible Insects’ episode looks like a higher priority. That may be the future of livestock.

“While I would relish Steve Bannon’s conviction and sentencing, it’s more important to use him to get to the top. Most criminals will turn on the boss in order to get a lesser punishment.

“The ‘anti-gun crowd’ does not condemn any firearms usage by private citizens. That’s part of the misinformation you condemn. We do condemn their use by Kyle Rittenhouse who presumed that police in another state needed him to assist them by using a weapon that was illegal for him to own. If the police need public assistance, they ask for it. Knowingly placing himself in danger negates any claim to self-defense, and visible heavily armed outsiders increased the chances of violence. Kyle and his kind are a national disgrace and must be treated accordingly.

“I went ahead and got the ‘booster’ vaccination Saturday due to social pressure. I had quite a bit more side effects this time and did nothing at all on Sunday. The distortion on the booster shot is quite a bit more severe than for the first round of vaccines, but you and others seem to think Dr. Faust and his kind are 100% honorable and truthful. They’re better sources than the noise from their opposition, but there are no reliable American sources.”

My response to the Blog:

The edible insects episode was fascinating as well, but it is the majesty of space that continues to attract my attention and awe.

Re: Bannon. We are in complete agreement. He was and is just a tool . . . in more ways than one. We need the terrible swift sword to emphasize the swift adjective.

I beg to differ. Some of the anti-gun crowd do in fact condemn firearms for any reason other than the military. Some folks argue that armed police instigate fatal shootings. With respect, I have heard law enforcement ask for evidence, but I do not recall the police ever asking for armed assistance . . . well, beyond the Wild West and posses to capture criminals. The Kenosha riot of August 2020 clearly demonstrated, like so many other similar occurrences, the insufficiency of police forces to protect life and property. I understand your national disgrace label, but as I noted in my original posting, I am conflicted. When does bona fide public assistance become vigilantism or worse criminal conduct? I do not and have not seen any evidence that Rittenhouse went to Kenosha with the intent to kill or even injure anyone. I do not see any evidence that Rittenhouse was attempting to enforce laws. The evidence suggests his intent was as a deterrence.

I do not share your distrust of Dr. Fauci or the medical establishment. We have our boosters. Jeanne had more of a reaction than me, but I see that as a positive sign. Her reaction passed in a day and a half. I am happy that you are doing better.

 

Another contribution:

“One of your best, on all topics, although a lengthy read!

“Regarding poor young Rittenhouse, I was pleased to hear of the offer of the prosecutor to allow jury consideration of new lessor charges, rather than risk an unjust verdict based upon over or under emphasis of the fact that the kid made a brave but stupid decision to go where he was unqualified to be.

“Smile at strangers!”

My reply:

I have mixed feelings about the lesser charges decision. Yes, he was woefully unqualified beyond his concern for civil unrest. Based on the Press coverage, I understood the prosecutor’s charges against Rittenhouse. As the evidence was presented and tested in court, my understanding evaporated. I think he was seriously over-charged. And as I indicated in my original posting, I am conflicted about the line between concerned citizen and vigilantism and criminal conduct. I saw no evidence whatsoever that he went to Kenosha with the intent to kill someone or even injure anyone; thus, the charge of murder is excessive. I thought the evidence (as much as I could see) supports a not guilty finding. But, then again, I thought the evidence in the O.J. Simpson murder trial supported conviction well beyond any reasonable doubt. So, who am I to decide these things? The jury will decide.

I want citizens to help and assist law enforcement, not stand back and do nothing.

 

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

Cheers,

Cap                  :-) 

Update no.1035

 Update from the Sunland

No.1035

8.11.21 – 14.11.21

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

 

            To all,

 

I imagine most folks are getting tired of my viewing recommendations. However, I am simply too impressed by good documentaries. The latest edition was another PBS NOVA program; this one titled: “Universe Revealed – Alien Worlds” S48 Ep19, broadcast on 10.11.2021. The program described the search among exoplanets for earth-like candidates, i.e., sustained liquid water. As with most of these programs, I learned a lot about the process and the state of our knowledge. This is another highly recommended program.

 

            The follow-up news items:

-- After the House passed H.Res.730, referring the contempt of Congress charge [1032], the Justice Department finally got around to indicting Steve Bannon on Friday. He is expected to be arrested on Monday and arraigned shortly thereafter. Bannon deserves a fair trial, but the prosecution should make quick work of this one. He also deserves to go to prison to contemplate the error of his ways, and his buddy is no longer in the Oval Office, so there will be no pardon coming to mask his criminal conduct.

 

I am reminded incessantly these days of just one of Edmund Burke’s myriad pearls of wisdom.

"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing."

-- Edmund Burke

When I see incorrect statements, misinformation or opinions based on such false pseudo-facts, I confront it with facts as directly as I am able. I could probably spend the rest of my old, tired life doing nothing but fact-checking and refuting the avalanche of false information flooding our communications. So much of the problem is complacency. Folks just do not want to take the time to research issues; they simply believe what feels good to them.

Now, we will debate what is good and evil? To the consumers of magic snake-oil elixir peddle by [the person who shall no longer be named], anyone who does not believe as they believe is evil. To me, anyone who disregards the Constitution is evil and must be resisted.

 

A political cartoon depicted the voters popping the bubble of WokeWorld in which the cartoonist showed Democrat mules holding signs:

Defund the Police

America is Racist

Silence the Parents.

To me, the cartoon represents precisely the acid that is corroding this once grand republic—the grotesque exaggeration to the extreme of political rhetoric. To be fair, the acid is thrown and splashed by both sides, and the burn alienates both sides. To be direct, no human being has ever even remotely suggested the “Defund the Police” means disbanding the police. It was a poor choice of words chosen to call for police reform. Or, that America is Racist. Yet, there should be zero doubt whatsoever there is individual racism and worse institutional racism does exist and must be confronted and resisted. America may not be racist, but non-trivial segment of America and Americans are in fact racist. Further, no one is trying to silence the parents in the education of their children. That is precisely why school board meetings are public events. The education curriculum cannot be left to the lowest common denominator or allowed to descend into chaos. If parents want their children to be taught what they want taught, then they should home school them. We have a public school system—not a fBICP school system. Just like the BIG LIE, the tactic used in that cartoon (and many others) is not to inform, resolve, or heal, but rather to incite and sustain the believers.

 

On Tuesday, 9.November.2021, United States District Judge Tanya Sue Chutkan of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia issued her ruling in the case of [the person who shall no longer be named] v. Thompson [USDC DC Civil Action No. 21-cv-2769 (TSC) (2021)]. The plaintiff claimed executive privilege to withhold a long list of documents from the United States House Select Committee to Investigate the January 6^th Attack on the United States Capitol [1020]. The judge bitch-slapped the plaintiff when she noted, “But Presidents are not kings, and Plaintiff is not President.”  Judge Chutkan went on to conclude, “Accordingly, the court holds that the public interest lies in permitting—not enjoining— the combined will of the legislative and executive branches to study the events that led to and occurred on January 6, and to consider legislation to prevent such events from ever occurring again.” Judge Chutkan was asked to review her ruling, which she did and affirmed the finding on the 10^th. The judge’s ruling meant the National Archives would release the requested Executive Branch documents from the previous administration to the Select Committee on Friday the 12^th.

The following day, the 11^th, a three-judge panel of the Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia issued an “administrative injunction to protect the court’s jurisdiction to address appellant’s claims of executive privilege and should not be construed in any way as a ruling on the merits.” They did not review or reference Judge Chutkan’s findings and simply stopped to preserve ability to review the arguments. If they had not issued injunction, an appeal or appellate review would have been moot, since the document would have already been in the hands of the Committee. The Court set the 30^th to hear oral arguments, which means we should have the Appeals Court ruling in the first couple of weeks of December.

The Appeals Court is showing far too much deference to a former president who incited an insurrection against the constitutional government of the United States of America. [The person who shall no longer be named] is NOT attempting to preserve the integrity of the presidency. He is blatantly trying to run out the clock on the Select Committee’s work in hopes that the fBICP takes control of the House in next year’s mid-term elections.

He likes to rationalize what happened on the 6^th of January by claiming people were very angry . . . yeah because he made them angry by pumping the BIG LIE incessantly to everyone. Sure, there is a faction among our citizenry who believe what [the person who shall no longer be named] said, simply because he said it. That faction is a minority. The majority of Americans cheered when the election was decided. Further, the minority faction is so bloody delusional from the magic snake-oil elixir they have swallowed that they are now claiming the former president will be reinstated by the end of this year. Sadly, such claims demonstrate the ignorance of that group; they have not the slightest clue what the Constitution or the law allow, specify, or establish. This nonsense simply moves us closer to Putin’s objective—discredit democracy as a viable form of governance. They are aiding and abetting one of our principle adversaries. Further, the chaos that he leaves in his wake has apparently convinced Putin to renew his military efforts to subjugate Ukraine and destabilize Poland. [The person who shall no longer be named] is a one-man wrecking crew of this once grand republic. History shall record his presidency in infamy.

 

The Kyle Rittenhouse trial in Kenosha, Wisconsin, is expected to be placed in the jury’s hands next week. The defense rested on Friday. I have not heard all of the testimony, but I have listened to healthy chunks of the evidence and testimony. From 23.August.2020 to 1.September.2020, Kenosha was gripped by violent riots in the aftermath of the August 2020 police shooting of Jacob Blake, a young man with dark skin pigmentation. Rittenhouse went to Kenosha ostensibly to assist law enforcement in protecting people and property, and on the 25^th, he shot and killed two men, and wounded another—the event for which he stands trial today. Rittenhouse voluntarily went to the police and surrendered himself.

I confess to dramatically mixed feelings and opinions on this one. I acknowledge that the anti-gun crowd condemns any firearms usage by private citizens, i.e., not law enforcement. I am not the jury, and we shall soon see what the jury’s assessment of the evidence and arguments is. That aside, I saw / heard nothing that suggests Rittenhouse went to Kenosha with his semi-automatic rifle and any intent to use or injury anyone. The evidence I saw suggests quite the opposite that he was attacked and fired his weapon in self-defense.

Some have and will continue to argue that Rittenhouse was not law enforcement but a vigilante and should not have gone to Kenosha with or without his weapon. Conversely, I have long argued that, as citizens, we have an obligation to assist law enforcement in protecting our public safety. We never have enough law enforcement officers. I saw no evidence that he acted in an offensive or aggressive manner until he was attacked by multiple assailants, and he was not acting independently from law enforcement. Therein lies the difference with the Ahmaud Arbery murder aftermath, or even the Trayvon Martin case. The McMichael father-son vigilante team acted unilaterally from the police in Georgia. George Zimmerman also acted unilaterally from the police. There is a fine line between warranted and unreasonable     violence, but the same fine line exists for police.  The difference is that the police are usually well trained to recognize the line and mostly try to avoid crossing the line.

 

On the 5^th of November, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued COVID-19 Vaccination and Testing; Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) [86 Fed. Reg. 61,402]. Petitioners, a long list of business entities and states, challenged the OHSA ETS. They sought and received a temporary stay to preserve the status quo pending a hearing for a permanent injunction {BST Holdings v. OSHA [5CCA no. 21-60845 (2021)]} that was granted the next day [6.11.2021]. A three-judge panel of Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals heard the arguments and rendered judgment on the 12^th. The Circuit based its judgment of OHSA on the interpretation of “grave danger.” The court argues that we have been dealing with the pandemic for nearly two years, thus the danger could hardly be classified as grave. At the end of the day, the court granted the stay pending adequate judicial review. No timetable for that judicial review was set or even mention, which implies that the process will be laborious and time-consuming.

The court makes a reasonable argument, albeit a good way along the conservative end of the spectrum. The difficulty I find in the court’s reasoning is it virtually ignores the contextual reality in which the question is asked. The current administration inherited a baffling mash of non-compliance, fragmented enforcement, and mind-numbing consequences. The administration was relegated to encouragement / enforcement in progressive stair steps that led to the OHSA ETS. In reading the court’s reasoning for issuance of the stay, they were focused on the negative rather than the positive, or even a balance between the two. They failed to acknowledge any compelling interest of the government to protect public safety and well-being. Nonetheless, with past Supreme Courts, I would say the Fifth Circuit’s BST Holdings ruling would not likely stand. However, with the current Court, I am doubtful the Fifth Circuit findings will be overturned. The Court is ensuring that we will continue to muddle along as citizens die from a terrible virus. I cannot see what more we need to present to show the direct threat to public safety we still face.

 

            Comments and contributions from Update no.1034:

Comment to the Blog:

“The Democrats have salvaged the bipartisan infrastructure bill. That will most likely benefit me as a utilitarian cyclist and pedestrian. Maybe our transit agency will even make improvements. The Democrats have fumbled the larger social-needs bill as expected. The big-money folks fear it would cost them some small share of their immense wealth, and it’s not going anywhere. Moments like this are the reason the Democratic Party supports tools like Manchin and Sinema. They willingly take the blame for the party once again failing to deliver on their promises. I will note that the amounts of money being discussed are spread over ten years and are much less than we’re spending on the military-industrial complex.

“I watched the January 6 insurrection for hours live on TV. I saw enough.”

My response to the Blog:

Yes, the infrastructure bill (H.R.3684 - Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act) is finally passed, although, as of this writing, the president has not yet signed it into law. I would also like to illuminate another large recently passed law {Surface Transportation Extension Act of 2021 [PL 117-044; H.R.5434; Senate: unanimous consent; House: 365-51-0-15(4); 135 Stat. 382]}, which approved significant federal spending on a wide variety of surface transport projects. I hope you see demonstrable benefit from the new law soon. The fate of the Build Back Better Act is unclear. One of the factors not mentioned to date to my knowledge is the congressional leadership can easily and readily negate the obstinance of Manchin and Sinema by finding two Republicans in favor of the bill. There is no hope for the fBICP; they are a lost cause. But, there are still a few Republicans in both chambers to pass these bills. I also agree with your observations on defense spending.

Yes, I watched as well. I saw it live and I still watch it. Further, I will probably continue to watch those videos in the context of investigation and prosecution. Both documentaries cited in last week’s Update [1034] were not simply the re-display of those videos, but rather placing those public events into a much larger context. They were enlightening.

 . . . Round two:

“Senator Murkowski might play along with the Democrats, according to a rumor. Meanwhile, I find it strange that the Democrats can’t bring two of their senators into line. Sinema is particularly difficult to understand. She started her political life as a Green Party person and claims to have converted to ‘practical’ politics. Her financial sources might be more important than her claims of values.

“The wheels of justice grind slowly in the insurrection cases. It remains to be seen how fine the results will be.”

 . . . my response to round two:

Senator Murkowski is not alone. Frankly, on this issue at this time, I would rather leave Manchin and Sinema to their choices. We need to move on . . . soon. There are too many equally important topics to deal with like voting rights, immigration reform, civil rights reinforcement, law enforcement reform, ad infinitum. All members of Congress—House and Senate—should have not just their tax returns made public but also all donors large and small. We need full disclosure to have any sliver of hope of returning integrity to Congress. To be blunt, I fear those opposed to the fBICP in this once grand republic will not rise to the challenge next November.

 . . . Round three:

“I'm poor and so are most of my family. The middle class needs help, perhaps even more than the poor. I don't agree that it's time to move on. The Democrats aren't going to win those other battles anyhow.”

 . . . my response to round three:

Some among us are wealthy solely by the providence of birth. At the end of the day, all of us must do the best we can with what we have. When you say you don’t agree that it is time to move on, what are you proposing? We cannot continue to wallow around in the muck of this sausage-making. We must move on.

 . . . Round four:

“‘All of us must do the best we can with what we have’ seems to support social Darwinism. Nope.

“What is really needed is to take money out of our political process. In the meantime, continuing effort to drag the good of the entire public and the planet ahead of the greed of the wealthy at least some of the time is the only worthy cause.”

 . . . my response to round four:

“Social Darwinism” was not or is not my intention. I am sorry that you see my words in that context. I am only attempting to convey my sense of citizenship duty. I simply see abstention or worse outright complacency as dereliction of the duty I see and feel. We have 234 years of history as a representative democracy—a republic. I see complacency or abstention as abdication of citizenship and relegates the republic to any motivated minority that comes along. To be blunt, a version of that reality played out before us in history in 1933 Germany. Voting complacency brings us yet one more step closer to the dictatorship the Germans suffered for the next several decades of war and its aftermath; albeit, we are still capable of voting for a dictator.

I will confess to significant confliction with the inadequacy of candidates in our binary system of realpolitik. In the 2016 election, more so than any other election I can recall, I could not vote for either binary candidate for vastly different reasons. Nonetheless, I felt the duty to vote for the best candidate on the ballot; frankly, I was not impressed with any of the nearly dozen candidates, but I tried to choose the best among that lot. I doubt my vote aided the election of [the person who shall no longer be named], but the potential was certainly present.

We are in absolute agreement. Money is the ultimate corrupting factor in our system of governance. Dark money is far worse. Why the Supreme Court chose to ignore those realities is beyond my comprehension. I have read that case several times and I still shake my head. Short of an unlikely constitutional amendment to override the travesty of Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission [558 U.S. 310 (2010); 21.1.2010] [424], we must endure the corruption of money. As such, I would agree in principle with your worthy causal purpose. Yet, as always, the devil is in the details of every individual instance. We shall overcome.

 

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

Cheers,

Cap                  :-)

Update no.1034

 Update from the Sunland

No.1034

1.11.21 – 7.11.21

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

 

            To all,

 

The United States House Select Committee on the January 6 Attack [1020] continues its work despite all of the obstacles and resistance thrown up by [the person who shall no longer be named], the fBICP, and their minions. An evolving centerpiece of the insurrection is a memorandum purported to be written by conservative attorney John C. Eastman—the same John Eastman who stood on the stage with ‘Rudi’ Giuliani on 6.January and encouraged the Save America March rally [991] to march on the Capitol Building while Congress was in session. In all fairness and full disclosure, the Eastman memo is not signed or dated; those facts alone raise red flags of suspicion in my assessment—plausible deniability. The public source of the memo was the Woodward/Costas book Peril, and Woodward is usually a reliable source. He presumably obtained the memo from a source inside the White House. In his proposed six-step program to overthrow the constitutional election, Eastman utilizes his assessment of a conflict between the 12^thAmendment and his contention of unconstitutionality in the Electoral Count Act of 1887 [PL 49–90; 24 Stat. 373][992]. As I read the Eastman memo, I am reminded that [the person who shall no longer be named] came dreadful close to succeeding with his coup d’état. We can only hope that the House Select Committee successfully concludes their investigation with criminal charges to the Justice Department for prosecution of those who inspired, encouraged, and carried out the insurrection. I also hope they propose legislation to correct the vulnerabilities in our election system that allowed the 6^th January insurrection to come so damn close. And, I emphatically state that our electoral vulnerabilities do NOT include restricting access for citizens to cast their vote, but rather what the fBICP is doing to count the votes. Soviet dictator Josef Stalin famously declared, “I consider it completely unimportant who in the party will vote, or how; but what is extraordinarily important is this—who will count the votes, and how.” The fBICP is taking us down the exact same road.

 

In the aftermath of the off-year elections this week, Representative Abigail Anne Spanberger née Davis of Virginia said, “Nobody elected [Biden] to be FDR - they elected him to be normal and stop the chaos.” I would say spot on. In fact, I said exactly the same (or similar) thing before the 2020 election—unity, calm, and optimism with honesty [981]. While I agree with Spanberger’s sentiment, the difference is Congress, not the Executive.
73^rd Congress              1933-1935       Senate: 58-36; House: 322-102

117^th Congress            2021-2023       Senate: 50-50; House: 221-213

In 1934, FDR enjoyed filibuster-proof majorities in both chambers of Congress. I certainly laud President Biden’s personal effort to pass sweeping infrastructure changes. Unfortunately, I fear the expenditure of energy may have exhausted the capacity of Congress to do anything else, like immigration reform or strengthening the PPACA [432]

 

Late Friday evening, the House of Representatives finally passed H.R.3684 - Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act [1020, 1022] [House: 228-205-0-1(1)]. President Biden held a presser Saturday morning to acknowledge the long-awaited passage of the massive, bi-partisan, infrastructure improvement, funding bill. President Biden expects to sign the bill into law early next week. Most of the House Progressives who had held out demanding both the infrastructure bill and Build Back Better Act be passed together backed off. I am grateful the Progressives finally accepted separate passage, and I sure hope the House AND Senate pass H.R.5376 - Build Back Better Act—the controversial companion social infrastructure bill.

I am historically and naturally fiscally conservative. However, after so many years of Republicans (so-called conservatives) spending Treasury funds like drunken sailors, I fully support the Democrats having their turn at spending money neither party has in the Treasury. I will also say that it is about time that the government attack some of the social issues. I am far more tired and intolerant of the blatant hypocrisy than I am of the national debt. Republicans have ignored the debt when they spend and use the debt as a bludgeon when they don’t like the spending. So, I say pass the Build Back Better Act as soon as possible, and let us get on with things.

 

I was fortunate enough to watch two important documentaries of events surrounding the January 6^th insurrection.

“Four Hours at the Capitol”—an HBO Special program broadcast on 20.October.2021.

“Trumping Democracy – An American Coup” reported by Jake Tapper, CNN Special Report, broadcast 5.November.2021.

First and foremost, any citizen of the United States of America, or any person who appreciates and enjoys freedom anywhere in the world, must watch these two documentaries. Taken with other documentary evidence like the Eastman memorandum noted above, we can see just how close we came to a former president of the United States carrying out a successful coup d’état insurrection against the constitutionally elected government of this once grand republic. It is truly sad, disappointing, and disgusting that we came within one or two patriotic Republicans of the coup being successful. Although I feel some reluctance to do so, I must acknowledge, credit and laud the actions of Vice President Mike Pence as one of those patriotic American citizens. He resisted the enormous pressure applied by [the person who shall no longer be named] and his fBICP minions to subvert the Constitution. From the get-go, the BIG LIE has been sustained by false, baseless, unsubstantiated conspiracy theories perpetrated by the QAnon crowd und ihr Anführer. For the life of me, I do not understand and perhaps I am incapable of appreciating why so many good citizens believe in that man. He was, has been, and remains an egocentric, narcissistic con man snake-oil salesman who contaminated and compromised so many good American citizens, and worse, those same citizens genuinely believe he is the messiah. Sad, very sad! The damage that man and his minions have done in corroding the very fabric of this once grand republic is incalculable, and may have gone beyond the point of no return. He must pay the price for the damage he has done. He deserves solitary confinement in a SuperMax for the rest of his natural life—however much remains.

 

            Comments and contributions from Update no.1033:

Comment to the Blog:

“I have saved somewhere in my ‘library’ files, a series on sex work as told by sex workers and their family and friends. One of these days, I’ll send you a link to that.

“Most of us realize that we would have seen evidence of any widespread voter fraud or ‘irregularities’ in last year’s elections by now if such evidence existed. For the benefit of your other correspondent, I’ll note that my precinct in my last residence, the new location to which that one was moved while I lived there, and my current precinct are all well beyond the bus lines. I doubt that only a few voters are inconvenienced by such manipulations.

“I would not care to face Mitt Romney’s God with Romney’s track record.

“You give no source for your poetic quote. Are you stating a particular person’s viewpoint?”

My response to the Blog:

Yes, absolutely, but the issue is not widespread voter fraud, i.e., voter fraud at a sufficient level to affect the election outcome. {The person who shall no longer be named] and his fBICP acolytes have stood upon their claim that one fraudulent vote is too many. That is why I have tried to articulate not just the paucity of significance in the 0.017% suspect, questionable, or fraudulent voting. To me, this is one of those examples where the cost will vastly exceed any tangible benefit—well beyond the point of diminishing returns. However, just one fraudulent vote attempt gives the fBICP a hypothetical argument, i.e., intellectually one fraudulent vote is too many. The fBICP is chasing a ghost of their own creation in order to implement draconian restrictions in the name of election integrity. Your voting inconvenience has become an obstacle that will prevent others from voting. The fBICP is gambling that the number of Democrats or likely Democratic voters will be prevented from voting is greater than the number of Republican or likely Republican voters who will be discouraged. They are desperate to keep citizens who might be likely to vote against them from voting. Thus, they have restricted the use of absentee or mail-in ballots, restricting polling station hours, early voting days, and as in your case, decreased or moved polling stations to make it far more difficult for citizens to cast their vote.

In an odd way, what the fBICP is doing is understandable; they are desperate to stem the tide against them, and desperate times lead desperate people to do desperate things. So, strangely, they are acting in character. What is surprising and disappointing to me is the paucity of any organized legal resistance. These draconian laws must be challenged in court and struck down for what they are—unconstitutional infringements upon citizen voting rights.

Good point. I will point out that some resistance is better than no resistance or with the likes of Jordan, Gates, Green, Cruz, and Paul, outright support for the myriad transgressions of [the person who shall no longer be named] and his insanity. Something is better than nothing.

You may be giving me more credit than I deserve. I am not sure what is poetic in last week’s Update. If you are referring to my little soliloquy on freedom, those are my words in a contra-reflection of our current predicament. I have been watching several different post-insurrection documentaries, and I continue to be struck by the blatant parochialism of that mob. I suspect those involved truly believed the Constitution does not apply to them, only the words and commands of ihr Anführer, and they are the only ones defending freedom as they perceive the principle and concept. Those words were simply my musings about the fallacy of their beliefs, arguments, and actions.

 . . . with follow-up comment:

“I saw a headline this morning about Virginia gubernatorial candidate Glenn Youngkin already claiming the Democrats ‘cheated.’

“It would make easier reading if you tipped off the change of narrator. That's the poetic part.”

 . . . and my follow-up comment:

Yeah, he has been making more frequent unfounded accusations. As of this morning, he has won. So, does that mean his win is fraudulent. That he benefited from vote cheating? McAuliffe has made no such claim.

I chose the ambiguous first-person perspective to make slightly less confrontational and more stimulative to thinking about what freedom means. Thank you for the clarification.

 

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

Cheers,

Cap                  :-)

Update no.1033

 Update from the Sunland

No.1033

25.10.21 – 31.10.21

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

 

            To all,

 

Yet another must-see television documentary aired this week; CNN broadcast “This is Life” with Lisa Ling, titled: “Sex Work: Past, Present, and Future” (S8 Ep3). As always, Ms. Ling does an exceptionally good job of balancing opposing forces around an issue. Like so many morality matters, the socially conservative moralists believe it is their duty to impose their moral choices on everyone else, because only their moral choices are the correct ones. Ms Ling demonstrates the fallacy of such moral arguments. I urge everyone to watch and listen to this episode, and more importantly, everyone should think about the information she presented.

 

            The follow-up news items:

-- The people prosecuted for 2020 election [982] fraud so far are Republicans in Nevada and North Carolina. 

“After crying fraud, Republicans go silent when Nevada ally is charged with voting twice”

by Mark Z. Barabak

Los Angeles Times

Published: OCT. 26, 2021; 5 AM PT

https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2021-10-26/nevada-man-who-alleged-voter-fraud-charged?utm_id=40529&sfmc_id=1729095

“NC federal attorneys: 24 more charged in voter-fraud probe”

by Gary D. Robertson

Associated Press

Published: March 19, 2021

https://apnews.com/article/north-carolina-general-elections-elections-raleigh-voting-633ce0fd33f28ec627551b043ed423fd

I am compelled to remind everyone that the most prominent election fraud prosecution stemming from the 2016 election [778] was also in North Carolina and involved Republican operatives.

“The Tearful Drama of North Carolina’s Election-Fraud Hearings – How Mark Harris, a prominent Republican pastor in Charlotte, lost his way in the Ninth Congressional District.”

by Doug Bock Clark

New Yorker

Published: February 24, 2019

https://www.newyorker.com/news/dispatch/the-tearful-drama-of-north-carolinas-election-fraud-hearings

I remind everyone that a common, if not axiomatic, activity of fascist, dictatorial, or autocratic organizations is to accuse your adversaries of doing what you have been doing—otherwise known as distraction or sleight of hand. I will also point out that it is quite likely the demonstrable (criminal) fraud carried out in the 2020 election may well be Republican rather than Democrat as the BIG LIE of [the person who shall no longer be named] has espoused. The truth shall set you free.

As has become more the norm than the exception, the fBICP (formerly Republican Party) accused everyone else of doing what they are doing. Also, as is par for the course, they continue to scream in protest for something that does not exist except by their own party. Sadly, most folks on both sides will not pay attention long enough to reject the BIG LIE nonsense being fed to the fBICP.

-- Representative Adam Daniel Kinzinger of Illinois [1020] announced his intention not to seek reelection next year—the loss of an important voice in the House of Representatives. Of course, [the person who shall no longer be named] had to gloat, “Two down. Eight to go.” It appears even Mitt Romney has sold his soul to the fBICP and the Oh So Great Orange One. I am reminded of the Good Book’s wisdom. “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, saith the Lord.” Romans 12:19 The man just does not know how to keep his mouth shut; he is his own worst enemy. But hey, that’s just my opinion.

 

Freedom

Freedom is a beautiful, magnificent principle.

I have enjoyed freedom all of my life.

I love freedom.

I love freedom so much I will defend freedom and call myself a patriot for doing so.

I will carry and wave big flags to prove my patriotism to everyone.

Freedom allows me to make choices that I like, and I approve of because they are good, right, and moral.

My freedom is democracy.

But, you do not choose well, so I do not like your choices. Therefore, your choices are not freedom; they are just wrong, immoral, and frankly unacceptable to me. Thus, I will use my freedom—the only real freedom—to pass laws to prohibit your choices.

Freedom is good for me, but it is not good for you, because I do not like and approve of your choices. 

Your freedom is communistic, immoral, unpatriotic, and just flat wrong.

Such polar reasoning of tribalism is exactly what is corroding this once grand republic. The reality is, either we all enjoy freedom, or none of us can enjoy freedom. We must find a way to learn the lessons documented in the Declaration

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

Beyond the pejorative masculine pronoun, which was a product of the times in which the Founders lived, the meaning of the declarative statement remains just as valid today.  We are all entitled to freedom—freedom of choice—freedom to choose what matters to our individual “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” The sooner we relearn that important lesson the better it will be for all of us—freedom for all, or freedom for none.

 

If you need a reminder of why President Biden is a far better president than his predecessor [the person who shall no longer be named], I offer this simple reminder.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xeCg0hCFiA

I also offer a more recent comparison:

https://www.facebook.com/nycjayjay/videos/1078715326212488

We must never forget. We cannot accept or even tolerate a classic “Ugly American” as president of the United States of America. I do not care what party, how good he may be in other areas, or what he may say. The president is the direct international representative of the United States—all Americans, not just white supremacists, QAnon adherents, and consumers of the magic snake-oil elixir.

 

            Comments and contributions from Update no.1032:

Comment to the Blog:

“I noted the resemblance to your name, but trust that I can tell the difference between Parler and Parlier.

“We shall see whether Attorney General Garland has the moral fortitude to apprehend Steve Bannon. I see that as about an even bet.

“Anyone who couldn’t see through the Republican voter fraud claims isn’t looking.

“Cadet Bone Spurs is devoid of respect for anyone or anything. Thus, his followers have a license to destroy things and people.”

My response to the Blog:

LOL. Yeah, but still . . . I know what one character difference means in web searches. LOL Being so close to a bad site is a whole lot different from proximity to a good site.

Agreed, but I hope the odds are a lot better than even. The one paramount wild card here is, we have not seen the whole of the evidence submitted by the House. I want him to take the time he needs, but I sure hope it is not long. The evidence he has must exceed the “beyond a reasonable” doubt threshold for conviction. This needs to move fast—expedited as they say. I suspect Bannon’s tactical position is take as much time as possible and then negotiate a solution prior to jury selection.

Spot on correct. But, there are an awful lot of American citizens who have swallowed the magic snake-oil elixir, and that is a scary thought. Only one person peddles that worthless liquid.

Again, spot on correct, which is precisely why he is culpable. They are doing exactly what he wants them to do. He has got far too many acolytes to do his wet work for him, just as Adolf Hitler exploited the loyalty and enthusiasm of his acolytes.

 

Another contribution:

“This Update is among your most eloquent. Mind sharing what brand if coffee you may have enjoyed as you wrote, Cap?

“My only limited negative reaction, my esteemed friend, having become reluctantly accustomed to your continuing excessive diatribes regarding former POTUS Donald Trump, is that you never seem to acknowledge any merit in legitimate efforts to reduce voter irregularities (avoiding the inflammatory and less applicable term ‘fraud’) like limiting opportunities for automated mail-to-last -known-address ballot distribution to unqualified or non-resident or multiple- registered or deceased voters, similar efforts to reduce the dangers inherent in so-called ‘voter harvesting,’ and honorable efforts to enforce compliance with widely acceptable laws requiring timely purging of voter roles, etc., etc.

“I am thoroughly disgusted with both major political parties' gerrymandering antics as I pray for a national solution to that old problem, and I sympathize with those few citizens who really are unreasonably inconvenienced by reduced voting precinct locations (an admittedly suspicious but possibly sometimes justified reduction in perceived ease of voting), but many other efforts such as my above examples are absolutely essential and should be applauded by patriots like you!

“How about commenting in such laudatory efforts?”

My reply:

Thank you very much for your generous words. Short story . . .

During the summer of 1967, I was standing midwatch as the starboard lookout during our Pacific transit to Pearl Harbor aboard the USS Richmond K. Turner (CLG-20). The Officer of the Deck (a Navy lieutenant) joined me for a little chit-chat. He wound up asking me, “Where is your cigarette and coffee?” I responded, “I don’t smoke or drink coffee.” He gushed, “You’re never going to make it in the Navy if you don’t drink and smoke.” We laughed. He was correct. I chose the Marine Corps. LOL Still stands, I don’t smoke anything, and I do not drink coffee. Tea is my choice.

“Excessive diatribes” only applies if my criticism is wrong or misapplied. Am I wrong? If so, please help me understand my errors.

The list of transgressions by [the person who shall no longer be named] vastly exceeds his accomplishments of any kind. After his conduct on the 6^th of January alone, he has destroyed any semblance of respect due him. Worse, he continues to this day to debase the office he was trusted to hold and protect. So, with respect, I will accept your criticism as appropriate and understandable. However, he has done nothing to regain his integrity. To put my criticism of that man in perspective, it is hard to say that [the person who shall no longer be named] is the single greatest threat to the Constitution and the democracy of this once grand republic since long before we became a republic. Yes, I know the history. The Civil War fractured the Union and resulted in half a million fatalities of American citizens on both sides, and amplified divisions that survive to this day. And yet, I see what [the person who shall no longer be named] has done as far more corrosive and enduring damage to what we once knew as a grand republic. Now, I freely admit that I could be wrong {contrary to what [the person who shall no longer be named] so infamously proclaims}; but, that is precisely how I see things. I am incapable of standing by silently (condoning) his disparagement of the nation, the office he held, and the men who have stood watch in harm’s way at the gates that protect us. Nope, he gets no slack from me.

With respect, you are repeating the BIG LIE nonsense. I know for a fact that not one unrequested absentee ballot was sent in Arizona. I cannot speak for California, or Pennsylvania, or any other state. But, for the sake of argument, let us assume your statement is true—one or more states sent out absentee ballots willy-nilly to everyone. You (and many others) fail to acknowledge the safeguards like signatures, name & address correlation, et cetera, that are in place to prevent fraud. That aside, the answer to fixing the unsubstantiated problem is NOT restricting access to absentee ballots and ease of posting those ballots; it ONLY hurts (disenfranchises) those citizens with less capacity to adapt. That alone makes the fBICP’s actions wrong in very bad ways. The BIG LIE has produced all this oppression. The fBICP oppression does not affect me; I have the capacity to adapt; but, it does affect millions of American citizens who should have just as much respect as you and me.

Election fraud has been a part of every election since 1789. We have implemented safeguards. There is no such thing as perfect security. We could spend billions, if not trillions, to correct the last 0.017% of fraudulent vote casting, but I will continue to argue that effort is well beyond the point of rapidly diminishing returns. No, I do not buy and I cannot condone the BIG LIE. We humored him with 60+ court cases of his unsubstantiated rumors and accusations; he failed in every court case; not one court ever got passed probable cause.

I appreciate your admonition, but NO I shall not applaud the fBICP efforts to falsely and indirectly substantiate the BIG LIE. In our first election 232 years ago, only male, white, educated, property owners were allowed to vote. Today, we have multiple constitutional amendments and myriad laws to guarantee every citizen’s right to vote. We should not be making voting harder; we should be making it easier. The fBICP is violating the Constitution and the law. They are using a nuclear weapon to swat a fly. To me, this is also quite akin to the damnable war on drugs—massive overreaction and general oppression to solve a 0.017% problem. Wrong, wrong, wrong!!

I truly hope you accept this latest diatribe in the spirit it was offered.

I do and will applaud that which is laudable. It is NOT [the person who shall no longer be named] or the voter suppression efforts of the fBICP.

 

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

Cheers,

Cap                  :-)