Update no.1086

 Update from the Sunland

No.1086

31.10.22 – 6.11.22

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

 

To all,

 

As is often the case for me, I had the live streaming video up full screen on my desktop computer Tuesday morning [all writing work ceased] for the latest Falcon 9 Heavy launch from Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The rocket carried the U.S. Space Force Mission 44 classified payload. Unfortunately, heavy fog blanketed Cape Canaveral, so we could not see the engine start and liftoff on time Tuesday at 06:41 [T] MST {09:41 EDT (13:41 UTC)}. The USSF-44 payload was en route to a geosynchronous Earth orbit. Unfortunately, heavy fog obscured the launch pad and the 1.7M lb_f thrust at sea level of the F9H rocket. F9H is not quite the Saturn V rocket at 7.6M lb_f but still a very impressive vehicle once it was clear of the fog.

 

Jeanne and I both cast our votes by mail. We were automatically sent our ballots probably because we are old. Our ballot in Arizona had several offices with only one candidate running uncontested. If I could determine that even those uncontested candidates were election deniers, I refused to vote for them, and I did not add in a “write-in” candidate. To me, election deniers and proponents of the BIG LIE are unqualified to run for any public office. Further, the audacity of the fBICP was on graphic, printed display with just one of ten major propositions—Proposition 128. The voter description was:

A “YES” vote shall have the effect of amending the constitution to allow the state legislature to amend, divert funds from, or supersede an initiative or referendum measure enacted by the people of Arizona if the measure is found to contain illegal or unconstitutional language by the Arizona or United States Supreme Court. 

A “NO” vote shall have the effect of retaining existing law on the state legislature’s ability to amend, divert funds from, or supersede an initiative or referendum measure. 

The key words are: amend, divert, and supersede. This is exactly what the fBICP thinks of We, the People. This one proposition alone speaks volumes. The fBICP seeks autocracy dominated by them. After 235 years, the fBICP seeks to abandon a representative democratic republic as established by the U.S. Constitution. President Biden is spot on correct; democracy itself is paramount on the ballot.  We shall soon see what the majority of voters think of our Republic.

The ballot also had an accept or reject vote on 53 judges that had to be researched for a retention vote, and I had to reject a handful of that lot for one reason or another. This ballot took an inordinate amount of time to complete. But, it is done, and our completed ballots were posted by the suggested deadline a week prior to the election [8.November.2022]. Now, we wait.

 

In the category of something you do not see everyday, NASA’s Antares 230+ rocket with its CRS NG-18 payload, the 18^th resupply mission to the International Space Station (ISS), was on track to launch at Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport on Wallops Island. The Antares launch had a five-minute launch window that opened on Sunday, November 6^th, at 03:50 [T] MST {05:50 [R] EST}. NASA had to scrub the launch because of a fire alarm at the Northrup-Grumman Cygnus spacecraft control center in Dulles, Virginia, that required the personnel to evacuate from the building. The team was required to control the payload vehicle from the point of payload separation. NASA will try again on Monday morning.

P.S.: Antares launched nominally at 03:32 [T] MST, Monday, 7.November.2022, and the Cygnus supply vessel is in orbit and en route to the ISS. The vehicle is scheduled to arrive and dock with the ISS in two days.

 

My favorite, above all others—any genre, any level—artistic work of music is hands down Ludwig von Beethoven’s 9^th Symphony in D minor, Opus 125. The symphony was first performed in the Kärntnertortheater in Vienna, Austria, on 7.May.1824, three years before the composer’s passing. The 9^th was first performed in the United States in New York City by the New York Philharmonic in 1846, only four years after the founding of the orchestra. The latest rendition of Beethoven’s Opus Magnum was performed by 84-member New York Philharmonic with four soloist and a 120-member chorus. The event celebrated the newly renovated David Geffen Hall and was broadcast by PBS “Great Performances” (S50 Ep3) on 4.November.2022. As many time as I have seen and heard Beethoven’s 9^thSymphony, it never ceases to brings tears of joy—a glorious piece of music.

 

The follow-up news items:

-- ‘Tis the season for stays. In the multi-dimensional legal battle with [the person who shall no longer be named] over his personal and corporate taxes [789 (at least)]. This time, Chief Justice Roberts issued a temporary stay order in the case of Trump v. House Ways and Means [598 U.S. 22A362 (2022)]. The stay applies to the DC Circuit’s mandate for the man to handover his tax records to the U.S. House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee Trump v. House Ways and Means [DC CCA No. 21-5289 (2022)]. With the Chief Justice’s assistance, it appears [the person who shall no longer be named] may well be successful in stonewalling the House investigation as the mid-term election is two days away and the new Congress is two months away.

-- As another stay was added, the Supreme Court vacated Justice Thomas’ stay in the case of Graham v. Fulton County [598 U.S. 22A337 (2022)] [1085]. The Fulton County prosecutor is investigating the BIG LIE [1022, 1038] enveloping the 2020 election [982] in Georgia. The Court concluded that if Senator Graham had any specific issue regarding the Speech or Debate Clause (U. S. Const. Art. I, §6, cl. 1) during his questioning before the Special Purpose Grand Jury, he still had full access to the District Court to resolve the issue. Graham is scheduled to testify under oath before the Fulton County (Georgia) Special Purpose Grand Jury on 17.November.2022. Even if Graham does testify, it will most likely be quite some time before we see the consequences.

 

Defeated Brazilian president Jair Messias Bolsonaro is taking a page from his idol’s playbook and refused to concede his defeat at the polls [982]. Whether he attempts a coup d’état as 45POTUS did is yet to be seen—not a positive sign. We are watching.

 

The CBS 60 Minutes program, “Belief in the Ballot” (1^st segment, S55, Ep7) featured the plethora of election deniers who are fBICP (GOP) candidates for high public office—governor, attorney general, secretary of state, and the vanguard of that group happens to be in Arizona. I urge everyone to watch at least that segment of that particular program regardless of your political beliefs or national origins, and ask yourself WHY?

 

We have many dramatic election subtexts going on in Arizona. Another unusual episode centers upon Cochise County, Arizona (southeast corner of the state) Board of Supervisors has defied state law and declared that they will perform hand count of all ballots in the upcoming mid-term election (8.November.2022). The decision is being challenged in court, so we will eventually understand why. The election devices in Cochise County may have been compromised by the fBICP as was done in Maricopa County simply because of the BIG LIE [982], or their reason may just be they have lost confidence in their machines. There are so many knock-on effects as direct and indirect consequences of the BIG LIE and the complicity of the fBICP that we have no way appreciate. It will take history some time to sort out what happened, why, and the ultimate effects on our representative democracy. 

Machines are ideal for repetitive tasks; human beings are not suited for repetitive tasks like counting votes and ballots. In such discussions, I am constantly reminded of Josef Stalin’s prescient words, “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.” We are headed toward Stalin vision rapidly rather than away from it. All of these election machinations are a direct result of [the person who shall no longer be named] and his fact-less, merit-less, BIG LIE. While I largely blame him directly, the complicity and acquiescence of the fBICP (former Republicans). He would be alone in the wind if it was not for the fBICP who sustain this man’s BIG LIE.

 

If I had to choose one image to summarize the political situation in the United States of America and where we find ourselves in at present, this one is the image I would choose.

 

 

If you have watched “The Handmaid’s Tale,” you know the story line. For those viewers and afficionados to the Hulu series, no more needs to be said of the dystopian future drama. For those who may be unfamiliar with the series, Gilead (Northeast United States) has seceded from and is at war with the remainder of the United States. Gilead is a paternalistic, religious-based autocracy. It is not just the “handmaids” who are forcefully relegated to being living birthing machines and are totally subjugated; even the “wives” of the elite “commanders” are subservient, 2^nd class citizens. As depicted in the 1^st season, the “ceremony” requires the commander’s wife to cradle the handmaid vessel in her lap between her legs as the commander impregnates the handmaid in a conventional manner. The resultant child becomes the property of the commander. The above image is exactly as I see our political situation, either we are free or we are not. While the residents of Gilead did not choose their governance, they must live by the dictated rules of the commanders. Many of the transgressions are punished by a public death on the wall. In this fictitious confrontation, I stand with June Osborne [AKA Offred, as in “Of Fred,” i.e., belonging to Commander Fred Waterford]. I choose freedom and liberty, as does June, determined by me, not by some elite group.

 

In yet another important commentary on contemporary American society, I point to Bill Maher’s concluding commentary in his Friday evening show “Realtime with Bill Maher”—4.November.2022, S20 Ep33.  His opinion was spot on the money

 

On 12.July.2021, nine months prior to his invasion of Ukraine, Vladimir Putin published his treatise titled: “On the Historical Unity of Russians and Ukrainians.” He sought to rationalize and justify his plans to invade and re-subjugate Ukraine. It is an interesting read, and I do not dispute his selective rendition of history. What I find debatable is his interpretation of history and his selective representation that ignores many important and relevant facts. As I read his opinion, I am struck by his belief that it is all Russia, Russia, Russia. He refused to acknowledge that the Ukrainian people have a will of their own. Putin picks the history, interpretation, and ignorance to support his intentions. The process is not unique—Hitler did it; Bush43 did it, and Vlad is hoping he will get away with it. Contrary to Vlad’s presentation, this is not about Russia. It is all about whether Ukraine will be free, independent and sovereign. Putin is wrong. I stand with Ukraine. I also think President Biden is doing far better than his three predecessors in dealing with Russian hegemony. Putin closed his essay with:

“Today, these words may be perceived by some people with hostility. They can be interpreted in many possible ways. Yet, many people will hear me. And I will say one thing – Russia has never been and will never be ‘anti-Ukraine.’ And what Ukraine will be – it is up to its citizens to decide.”

Putin’s words are particularly ironic when you watch, see, and hear about the atrocities being committed daily by Russian Army soldiers under orders from Putin. I do not perceive hostility; I see hostility. He has repeatedly proven that his words are worthless. His actions speak volumes.

 

Comments and contributions from Update no.1085:

Comment to the Blog:

“The election in Brazil has ended, and the only real question is whether the loser will try the same Big Lie strategy as 45POTUS.

“I’m concerned about the Supreme Court issuing stays of testimony. There’s no reasoning given and the Supreme Court is under suspicion by now.

“I wish Arizona and the USA well. I have done what little I can do.

“Reagan got a lot of use from Christian Nationalists, and Republicans have used them ever since. Neither group is concerned with collateral damage to the rest of us.

“There’s no point in responding to your hateful correspondent with fact and reason. They’re apparently the kind of person who eagerly seizes upon conspiracy theories to support their fears. I’m all the way across the political spectrum from them, and I see the Democrats’ flaws as policy matters, not criminal conspiracies.

“Hitler’s motives, or any such creature’s, are below the rational level of his mind.

“By way of values, I’m one of those old ‘60s hippies. I can see most issues as a choice between love and hate, unity and division, self and species. Humans creep toward love and unity ever so slowly, with setbacks as part of the process.”

My response to the Blog:

Yep, the Brazilian version of 45POTUS was defeated by a substantial margin, as 45POTUS was in the last election in the U.S. (2020). We shall see if Bolsonaro will be more responsible and respectful than [the person who shall no longer be named] with his electoral loss. Our disgusting U.S. version persists with the BIG LIE to this very day. And the far greater tragedy in our sordid affair is the election deniers who are subverting and corroding public confidence in the election process simply because of the BIG LIE, i.e., “it had to be stolen because I never lose.” His malignant narcissism and egocentricity are at the root of it ALL.

I share your concern precisely. I cannot imagine why the Supremes would stay testimony in either case. Just those stays alone leave me deeply nauseated about what lays ahead from the SCOTUS with respect to the various election interference investigations. I suspect they will not render judgment before January 3^rd, which will add to the tragedy.

I have finished everything on my ballot except for the retention of judges (all 53 of them). I do not know many of them, so I must do google search as best I can. I am nearly done and will submit today. I pray the voters in Arizona will do their part to reject this bevy of insurrectionists and election deniers, but like I said before, Arizona voters repeatedly elected Paul Gosar and Andy Biggs among others (go figure). Anything is possible here. We shall wish and pray for the best.

I agree with your opinion regarding Christian Nationalists (which to me is just a fancier label for white supremacists). I think we are bearing witness to the American version of scorched earth, i.e., if the conservatives cannot have it their way, then they will burn the house down. The burden falls to the rest of us to defend the Constitution and what is left of this once grand Republic.

All voices are welcome in this humble forum . . . well, the majority of voices; I doubt I would allow [the person who shall no longer be named] to contribute. If any contributor wishes to voice their opinion respectfully, I encourage them to speak, and I try my best to respond sincerely and respectfully. I feel compelled to respond as best I can.

Perhaps so. But again, the burden falls to us to understand the motive as in any criminal investigation and trial. Why are they doing this?

I like your “creep toward love and unity.” It is a more optimistic view of the future.

 

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

Cheers,

Cap                  :-)