Update no.1085

 Update from the Sunland

No.1085

24.10.22 – 30.10.22

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

 

To all,

 

The follow-up news items:

-- As the BIG LIE [1002] continues to percolate throughout this once grand republic, sustained by [the person who shall no longer be named] and his MAGA minions, various criminal investigations continue inexorably to their conclusion. Senator Lindsay Graham of South Carolina has defied the Fulton County, Georgia, prosecutor investigating the election malfeasance of [the person who shall no longer be named] and his lieutenants. He gained a temporary reprieve in the form of a stay of a lower court order for him to testify under oath before the Fulton County special purpose grand jury. The stay was ordered by Associate Justice Clarence Thomas—Graham v. Fulton County [598 U.S. 22A337 (2022)]. The justice offered no rationale. Now, we are forced to wait while SCOTUS does whatever it is they intend to do, and Graham avoids the noose for a little longer.

-- The U.S. Supreme Court seems to be in the mood to issue stays of lower court orders compelling testimony before the United States House of Representatives Select Committee to Investigate the January 6^th Attack on the United States Capitol {HSCJ6} [1020]. In the continuing fallout from the 2020 election [982] and the BIG LIE of 45POTUS, Associate Justice Elena Kagan issued another stay—Ward v. Thompson [598 U.S. 22A350 (2022)]. Arizona fBICP (GOP) Chair Kelli Ward, née Kaznoski, and her husband Michael have been subpoenaed by the HSCJ6 to testify under oath about their part in the insurrection [991]. Both the Wards were alternate (illegal & unconstitutional) electors. They sought to subvert the 2020 election. In her stay, Justice Kagan provided no rationale for the stay, and like Thomas in the Georgia stay, offered no plan for what lays ahead. I suspect SCOTUS is going to decide some overarching case, but I cannot imagine why they would stay testimony in such important cases.

-- As a consequence of Liz Truss’s abrupt resignation after just six (6) weeks of her premiership [1078 & 1084], the Conservative Party chose Rishi Sunak to become their leader, and as such, he became prime minister on 25.October.2022, after his audience with King Charles III. Sunak is the youngest PM in modern times. He’s the first PM of Asian heritage. And he may well be the wealthiest PM in British history. Good luck to Prime Minister Sunak.

 

Another PBS Frontline program of note: Putin’s Attack on Ukraine: Documenting War Crimes (S40 Ep19), broadcast on 25.October.2022. The documentary is not pleasant to watch, just as it is not pleasant to see the films and photographs from the Holocaust, but it is essential to watch, lest we ever forget what Putin has done in Ukraine.

 

The title of a recent article in our local newspaper seemed to summarize our entire election situation here in Arizona.

“Arizona's election is all about selling snake oil. Take a good look, America – Opinion: Once again, the world is watching Arizona, and what an ugly picture we present. Take a good look, America. This is what two years of false cries that you cannot trust elections will get you.”

by Laurie Roberts

Arizona Republic

Published: 8:10 a.m. MT Oct. 26, 2022; Updated 10:43 a.m. MT Oct. 26, 2022

https://www.azcentral.com/story/opinion/op-ed/laurieroberts/2022/10/26/arizona-election-kari-lake-selling-snake-oil/10605167002/

The title alone speaks volumes and says it all, at least from my perspective. We have some ultimate BIG LIE supporters and election deniers. The worst of them all is actually running for Secretary of State—responsible for the conduct of elections. Our mid-term election day is a week from Tuesday. When the residents of Arizona can elect representatives like Paul Gosar [1070] and Andy Biggs [1070], I suppose any crazy, cockamamie thing can happen. We shall soon see.

 

On Tuesday, 25.October.2022, there was a break-in at Democratic Party gubernatorial candidate Katie Hobbs’ campaign headquarters in Phoenix. It is impossible to avoid returning to the Nixon (Republican) campaign break-in at the Watergate complex [28.5.1972 & 17.6.1972]. Police have arrested a suspect and at present they have not found any political motive.

 

A friend and frequent contributor to this humble forum sent along the following article.

The contributor said:

“Here's a relevant discussion of religion and politics.”

“How Much Power Do Christians Really Have? – The invisible divide that's shaping how Republicans and Democrats think about religion — and politics”

by Amelia Thomson-DeVeaux

FiveThirtyEight

Published: OCT. 27, 2022, AT 6:00 AM

https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/how-much-power-do-christians-really-have/

 . . . to which I responded:

Oh my, yes, indeedie . . . relevant.

Like so many aspects of American society, labels can become distracting. ‘Christians’ is a very broad label, and to cast upon all Christians the beliefs and actions of the Christian Nationalist movement is an ever-reach. Yes, I see many elements of reality in the article’s perspective.

I have long held the opinion that the mixture of politics and religion is a volatile and destructive concoction. The tension between religion and politics has existed for centuries and millennia; we have myriad examples in history. One of the great promises of this Republic was best summarized by President Jefferson’s Letter to the Danbury Baptists[1.1.1802]. Yet, the conservatives (who generally seek to preserve the status quo ante, i.e., white, Christian, male domination) have turned to any tool they can grab ahold of to perpetuate their conservative values, e.g., the flag, patriotism, religion, and Christianity itself. From my perspective, Christian Nationalism is just a more palatable moniker for white supremacy. I will add here that I see Dobbs v. Jackson [597 U. S. ____ (2022)] [1067, 1068] and Citizens United v. FEC [558 U.S. 310 (2010)] [424] in exactly the same light, returning us all to the status quo ante. The only question to the conservatives is how far back do we go to achieve “before”? The conservatives have chosen to subvert Christianity for their purpose, and we must deal with it.

I will note here that religion has been used as a tool by dictators and autocrats to control the people within their sphere throughout history. We just see a different version of the same phenomenon today.

In the form of context, I see religion’s place in our lives, in our society, in the frame of Jefferson’s letter. Religion is an important if not vital part of civilization, but the domain of religion is the spirit and soul of the individual. Politics is the domain of the common good or the collective. Christianity began in persecution, but as the religion gained believers (strength), flawed men turned the religion of persecute others in order to enhance their position (their beliefs, their values, their choices), e.g., the Inquisition. Religious dogma of the day was the antithesis of freedom and liberty; religion demanded conformity, adherence, and submission. To me, the dicta of priests is no different from the dicta of dictators.

Religion should confine itself to the soul of individuals. The State must see to the security and well-being of the collective, and at least in this Republic, must protect the liberty and freedom of We, the People.

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

 . . .the contributor added:

“Please note that the article is not written as a broad-brush criticism of Christians in general. Its central function is pointing out the conflict between those of the "conservative" Christians who use religion as a political force and all other Christians. The article points out that Christians who are either not political or not conservative are getting stressed because of those others. Some of those people leave denominational Christianity altogether or refuse the label, Christian. While I myself have no affinity for the Judeo-Christian religions, I know people in both camps. The political "Christians" aren't people I can count as friends except in one case, and our discussions about the topic are minimal.”

 . . . to which I responded:

Quite so and agreed.

I have no problem with social conservatives. They are entitled to believe what they wish to believe. Where some social conservatives get crosswise with me is when they decide to impose their values, their beliefs, and their opinions on everyone else, i.e., the moral projectionists. From my perspective, a smaller subset of social conservatives is the Christian Nationalists who believe the United States is a Christian nation; they are not just moral projectionists but they wish to dominate non-Christians and exclude those they do not approve of. The oddity in all this . . . the Christian Nationalists are against immigrants from the south who are Christians, because they have darker skin pigmentation and speak Spanish. So, their political stance in not just Christianity, but it also includes other social factors, which is precisely why I place Christian Nationalists in the same group as other white supremacy groups.

 

Comments and contributions from Update no.1084:

Comment to the Blog:

“Breaking news this morning is that Rishi Sunak will be the UK’s next Prime Minister. Good luck to him; he’ll need it.

“As a simple, practical matter, Steve Bannon should go ahead and do the jail time. I assume he has overwhelming (and mostly false) fears about that.

“I like the tag 45POTUS for the deplorable former Resident. It crystallizes the reason he’s a villain and includes a popular caliber of weapon. I knew American politics had changed in my lifetime, but confirmation came when the GOP nominated a person for that job who has had legal issues continuously since 1973, in 3,500 cases prior to his election. That far exceeds what’s typical in his industry, real estate.

“The Constitution was written, perhaps unintentionally, to keep white male property owners in charge. That’s backfiring.

“Would that the RNC had let 45POTUS go. We could use at least a third party in this nation. Only Lincoln is a success story with that one, though, and the Whigs were so weak by then that they vanished.

“It’s worth noting that Benjamin Franklin, as far as I know, was the only Founder who came from the common people.

“The quote you give describes the cycle of empires, which has been studied by political science.

“I experience the disease of addiction and have seen many other examples. There’s an entire academic field around that. Punishment doesn’t help. Some drugs of abuse can be used to treat other illnesses, for example, opiates, benzodiazapenes, and various other medications.

“I have completed my ballot, refusing to vote in several races. I didn’t vote for any evil that I could see, “lesser” or otherwise. The lesser evil enables the greater evil.”

My response to the Blog:

Quite so. Sunak meets with The King today to get his charge. He represents many firsts for the United Kingdom. And yes, he will need lots of luck and skill immediately, no honeymoon.

I doubt Bannon will opt for getting it done. I think will follow the playbook of sein Anführer and delay as long as possible by any means possible. Perhaps he imagines that if the fBICP takes control of the House and dissolves the HSCJ6 the genesis of his immediate troubles will be moot, or maybe he thinks he can get to 2025 and obtain another pardon. Who knows. Regardless, he belongs in prison for four months (and should be longer).

Oh my, you got that right in spades, my friend. I was truly gobsmacked when he won the primaries and the nomination. How could anyone vote for such a deeply flawed man and an obvious conman? He was selling a pig in a poke for long before his election. But, his believers did, and they voted.

I do not share your perspective of the Framers. One thing is very, graphically certain; the contemporary conservatives want to preserve the status quo ante when white, (most often old) male, Protestants controlled all the levers of power and dictated and enforced the law they created to maintain their power. They gurgle the idealistic words of liberty, freedom, melting pot, and equality, but they never believed or meant them. They maintain a façade of respectability, but the winds of change are blowing warm.

Yea verily! We would have a vastly different situation if McDaniel had called his bluff.

I have not studied the biographies of all the Founders, but I believe you are correct. Like all of us, Ben Franklin had his flaws, but I truly appreciate his wisdom and insight.

Yep, quite so. A few years ago (pre-45POTUS), I would have said the Tytler Cycle does not apply to the United States of America, but that conman has singularly thrust us to the conclusion. Democracy is that fragile and tenuous, and we dreadfully close to losing it all.

There are many aspects of the psychotropic substance issue, not least of which is the disease of addiction. My interest in the question has personal roots as well. However, it is the philosophical perspective that drives my thinking—are we free or are we not? I have seen the destruction of street drugs, i.e., contamination, impurity, and inconsistency. Alcohol has been legal for nearly a century, and we still have alcohol fatalities (direct and induced). Even if all the psychotropic (Schedule I) substances were fully regulated like alcohol, we will still have fatalities, but far less than we experience today. We must find a better way that respects every citizen’s fundamental right to privacy and freedom of choice. My most immediate objective is to minimize the collateral damage of prohibition.

I have completed the easy part of my ballot. I am still researching other elements, e.g., judges and a plethora of referenda for this election. I suspect this is part of the fBICP effort to saturate the electorate, kind of a version of the Rasputin Hypothesis.

 . . . with follow-up comment:

“In addiction, free will fails. Based on my experience, discussions with dozens of others, and many studies, at some point in the process, the addicted person loses free choice about using. Treatment works for that if the addict is ready. I favor regulating and treating such substances basically like alcohol, with attention to our success in reducing nicotine addiction over the past several generations.

“I mailed my ballot. Done.”

 . . . and my follow-up response:

I have long held and still do hold that addiction for any individual, regardless of the medium of addiction, e.g., psychotropic substances, porn, tobacco, pedophilia, sex, or any addiction for that matter, the only thing that can break it is when the individual decides he has had enough and must change. Others can help, but only if the addict wants help. There are many support systems, but they work only when the individual convinces himself he must change. Yes, I agree, some individuals never reach that point and never seek help and actively resist any attempts to help. Those so afflicted often maintain their addiction to a terminal end. I also agree that psychotropic substance addiction should be treated like other addictions, e.g., alcohol and tobacco. We have a very long way to go for a more enlightened tomorrow.

Congratulations. Thank you for voting. I am still doing my research; ballot is partially completed.

The earth continues to turn. Life goes on.

 

Another contribution:

“You have a strong urge to protect others from evil ? Please don’t make me laugh .. you who thinks Steve Bannon and Trump should be in prison but you blindly see no wrong doing in the Clinton, Obama or Biden families. Tulsi Gabbards recent withdrawal from the Democrat party and her very accurate statement of who they are should have made you see the light, but no .. you wear blinders because you hopelessly choose to wear them .”

My reply:

Respectfully, I think you have missed a few of the Updates. From the moment I became aware of Hillary Clinton’s unilateral decision to conduct official government business using her private eMail server, I voiced by condemnation of her actions. That was circa 2013, although the issue did not explode until she declared her candidacy in 2015 [706, 715]. From the public facts available, I was convinced that she had violated multiple laws [737]. She made exactly the same mistake that [the person who shall no longer be named] is  making today, official (professional) eMails, texts, messages, letters, or any form of communication are NOT personal property; they are the property of the U.S. Government and belong to We, the People. I saw more than enough factual evidence beyond the “probable cause” threshold that warranted her charging and prosecution. It still baffles me why she was not charged. The Justice Department never (to my knowledge) provided rationale for their decision not to prosecute. I might understand the paucity of prosecution under the 2^nd  term of President Obama. But, given that, why didn’t the 45POTUS Justice Department (Sessions & Barr) charge and prosecute her. The only conclusion I could reach is, the USG had insufficient factual evidence to gain a conviction beyond a reasonable doubt. Regardless, her eMail server fiasco during her tenure as Secretary of State exceeded my threshold of tolerance; to me, her mistake disqualified her, and as a consequence, I could not vote for her.

I am not aware of any even remotely criminal conduct by either President Obama or President Biden. QAnon and snake-oil accusations are not factual or evidence. If you have factual evidence to indicate such criminal conduct, I will gladly listen and assess. Presidents Obama and Biden are just citizens; if they violated the law, they deserve to be charged, prosecuted, convicted, and punished. I appreciate and acknowledge that some folks do not like Presidents Obama or Biden simply because they are not of their tribe, but that is a very long way from “probable cause” and even farther away from “beyond a reasonable doubt.” Facts!

Back when Tulsi Gabbard was a candidate for president, I supported much of what she said, and I liked the way she said it. I have listened to more than a few of Tulsi Gabbard’s pronouncements in recent months. It is the content of her words that I reject and disagree with. For reasons I know not, she has turned to the dark side. So be it; her choice.

You are free to accuse me as you wish. You are also free to speak your mind. I simply do not agree.

 . . . with follow-up comment:

“Cap .. you do not believe Tulsi knows what she’s talking about and she is around those slimy Democrat politicians and left run medias every day .. you are not. She has not joined the dark side .. she has seen the light . You have no idea how dark the side you support really is. And it’s all because you hate Trump so much you don’t care to see it .  

“And they have never done anything to Clinton just like they have not investigated the Bidens .. this is not about Q .. this is about reality 

https://youtu.be/kYC_xJb0LmE

Judicial Watch sues for public information..”

 . . . and my follow-up reply:

I know you believe and espouse what you wish to believe, as do I and also Tulsi Gabbard. From my perspective, Gabbard has become a more refined and smoother version of Marjorie Taylor Greene.

‘Hate’ is a very powerful, emotional, and strong word. I do not use the word very often. I do not recall ever using that word with respect to [the person who shall no longer be named]. I do not hate him; I simply recognize him for what he is—a huckster, conman, snake-oil salesman. The fact that so many American citizens have been seduced by his Siren Song is sad, tragic, unfortunate, and regrettable, but that is life. I think we have a long history of you seeing the man in a far different light than me, which is the choice of each of us in a free society. I am truly sorry you and so many others cannot see him for what he is, but that is life. You believe what you wish to believe, as do I.

Like all successful conmen throughout history, [the person who shall no longer be named] has studied his prey and adapted well to that group. He has refined his ‘pitch’ to reinforce the beliefs of his target audience. His success in convincing so many American citizens to believe in his snake-oil is testament to his skill, which is exactly why the mythology of the Sirens grew into the historical record. What that man does is definitely not new; that conduct has been around for millennia.

I have studied enough right-wing sources to recognize them for what they are as well. I have listened to and researched the subjects of QAnon, Alex Jones, Tom Filton, Tucker Carlson, Sean Hannity, et al ad infinitum ad nauseum. I do not need more evidence. The latest version as you noted is simply more of the same—accusations, no evidence.

There is an old, time-tested, political adage—perception is 90% of reality. It is the nature of life, especially in a free society. I do not and will not condemn your choices. They are yours, not mine. I have my own. I respect your right to choose, and I am truly grateful that you are willing to share your perspective on contemporary issues.

 

A different contribution:

“Had a look at the world news-damned alarming what is happening in Ukraine. Is Putin really gearing up for using nuclear weapons? It will be his biggest downfall of all. We’ve been this way before haven’t we,-an island in your neck of the woods. I would like to say more Cap but my previous experiences would tell me ‘NO’. I know you’ll understand.

My response:

I could attach a plethora of adjectives to the events in Ukraine, some of them quite profane. I try to understand the motives—why? Mein Kampf gave us a fairly clear view of Hitler’s motives, although far too many people chose not to heed the warning signs. We do not have a similar manifesto from Putin. I suspect he is being driven or pushed by the far right-wingers in the Duma and Russian society. The right-wingers attempted a coup d’état to impose their choices during the disintegration of the USSR. Putin has been their man from the beginning. They refuse to accept the disintegration, and thus, still believe Ukraine, like Georgia, Kazakhstan, et al, are still part of Russia, or the Russian Federation as they now call it. They refuse to recognize the independence of Ukraine. Despite their imaginings, Ukraine has been an independent, sovereign country recognized by the United Nations since 24.August.1991. Other parts of the former USSR have chosen independence, while others like Belarus have chosen to be vassal states of Russia. It is unfortunate that Putin and the right-wingers seek the status quo ante, but the Ukrainian people have made their choice, and they deserve their independence. Clearly, the Ukrainian people have seen themselves as independent from long before 1991. Then, we have Putin threatening the world with nuclear weapons to intimidate Ukraine and her supporters into submission to Russian will. Nine months ago, I would not have imagined Putin, or the right-wingers, would threaten anyone with their nuclear weapons, but the old adage, desperate times lead desperate people to do desperate things. applies. That said, to answer your question, I do not think they are foolish or suicidal enough to initiate a nuclear strike on the West, but I now believe he is desperate enough to detonate a dirty bomb in Russian territory that he would use as pretext to use tactical nuclear weapons inside Ukraine; Kherson being a likely target. The Russians have long used scorched earth as a tactic, i.e., if I can’t have it, no one will have it. We must remain attentive, observant, and suspicious, and most of all prepared. He is desperate, and the unthinkable is now in the category of possible.

I am compelled to publicly state that we see the exact same forces at play in the United States of America. A large portion of our right-wingers seek my way or no way. Add to that group the anarchist element that seeks no government, every man for himself, and we have a very odiferous admixture of destructive forces.

I was quite concerned about the health and well-being of the United States back in the 60s and 70s with the Vietnam war protests, civil rights movement, Watergate, and extremist groups sprouting up everywhere. But, those days pale in comparison to what we face today. I fear for the Republic.

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

 . . . with follow-up comment:

“What is it in human nature that divides us all?. Why can’t we all live together in peace on this wonderful blue lump in space?

“One day couldn’t we all come together as a unilateral body? Just think what benefits all might secure from such a society or am I dreaming Cap.?

“What then is the answer?

“Clearly mankind needs quickly to see all of we the inhabitants as a single form of energy working together for the benefit of us and the other forms of life that we share this planet with. Will that ever happen Cap?”

 . . . and my follow-up response:

Very good question. I suppose there are many contributing factors.

To me, the international aspects (worldwide) are simply a much larger scale of what we face at the local level. Again to me, it seems the common thread is tribalism, or rather various versions of tribalism. We grow up with a given set of rules. Our sphere is initially our parents, and that sphere expands as we grow and learn. But, those rules are familiar, and perhaps even comfortable; we know them. Then, someone comes into our sphere and wants to change the rules, we tend to object and seek to exclude those change agents. As I look at U.S. history, this thread of tribalism goes back to the very first European settlers. My paternal ancestors fled France because of violent persecution simply because of their chosen religious beliefs; they were Huguenots in a Catholic country—Christian upon Christian. The oddity that does not track is, many fled Europe to escape persecution for their religion, and then as they grew in the American colonies, they turned around to persecute and exclude people not like them, Irish Catholics being an excellent example.

Intellectually, the ideals upon which this once grand Republic was founded still seem like the shining light of hope that one day we will overcome and abandon the tribalism that separates us.

Lastly, I do not see it changing other than new versions of the same thing until we learn to respect others not like us, to cherish diversity, and to embrace change.

 

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

Cheers,

Cap                  :-)