Update no.1137

 Update from the Sunland

No.1137

23.10.23 – 29.10.23

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

 

To all,

 

The follow-up news items:

-- On Tuesday, the Georgia RICO case—Georgia v. Trump {+18 others}[GA FCSpC 23SC188947 (2023)] [1127]—continues to churn and advance. Jenna Lynn Ellis makes four of 19 so far. She pleaded guilty and agreed to similar terms as the others who changed their pleas to guilty and agreed to testify. They will avoid prison time as long as their cooperation is deemed substantive and worthy.

-- As soon as the Republican Conference selected a new candidate—Representative Emmer—in secret balloting, he withdrew from contention. As soon as Emmer was selected, he withdrew before he could get to the House floor, leaving the runner-up Representative Byron Lowell Donalds of Florida as the presumptive candidate. Then, suddenly, Representative James Michael ‘Mike’ Johnson of Louisiana popped up as the Conference choice . . . well at least the majority of the Republican Conference. Johnson is a self-professed evangelical Christian and also an active, staunch, election-denier. He is 51 years old (a few years older than our children), and took his seat in the House of Congress in 2017 (six years), which makes him the least experienced speaker in 140 years. John is an ultra-conservative—fiscally, socially, historically, and just about every other kind of -ally we wish to choose. For the record, the final vote was:

Oct 25, 2023, 01:50 PM | 118^th Congress, 1^st Session

Johnson (LA): 220 (215 needed to win)

Jeffries: 209

Present: 0

Not Voting: 4 [3 Democrats; 1 Republican]

Johnson was elected speaker on purely party lines. The fBICP finally got in line; the moderates could not sustain their objections to an extremist. Beyond the formal House declaration, Johnson held an impromptu presser on the steps of the Capitol. On Johnson’s left shoulder were Stefanik, Boebert, and Representative Virginia Ann Foxx, née Palmieri, of North Carolina, the chair of the House Education Committee and member of Congress since 2005. Once Johnson made his benign, rah-rah speech, the journalists in the audience were shouting questions as they always do. After one question Foxx did not approve of, she shouted, “Shut up!” That one incident speaks voluminous volumes about the fBICP. They cannot and refuse to tolerate an aggressive and inquisitive press. They seek an end to democracy and implementation of an autocracy where they decide what is permissible, or worse a dictatorship with ihr Anführer deciding what is acceptable. These are the times in which we live.

-- Also on Tuesday, it was widely reported in a variety of news sources that former chief of staff Mark Meadows [1125] has testified to the federal grand jury and has been granted immunity in exchange for his unfettered testimony against [the person who shall no longer be named] and others associated with the BIG LIE, election denial, and the insurrection.

-- Former vice president Mike Pence of Indiana [1128] has withdrawn from the 2024 presidential race. Undoubtedly, the donor support for his candidacy thinned making further campaigning impossible. Money will continue to narrow the field.

 

As noted above, the vice screws of justice move the jaws closer on [the person who shall no longer be named] and his enablers. Some of his cohorts have turned state’s evidence against their former leader, which adds significant pressure on those still facing the docket. As expected, as that pressure mounts, Tiny is reacting as he always does, by lashing out at those who pursue him. His three oldest children including his precious Ivanka are scheduled to testify in court this week despite his concerted efforts to stop their testimony. That reality alone is ont likely to sit well with him. He was fined an additional US$10,000 by Judge Engoron in the New York business fraud case—New York v. Trump [NYSCEF Index No. 452564/2022] [1133]. I would bet a dollar to donuts that latest fine will not stop Tiny’s rabid mouth from yammering away in defiance of the judge’s orders. He appears to be heading rapidly toward a contempt of court charge. I expect that judge to continue ratcheting up the punishment until Tiny spends a few days in jail. Perhaps that will sober him up, but I think that is a long shot at best.

 

On a separate but related note from my perspective, it certainly appears to me that evangelicals do NOT believe in freedom of choice; they believe in, advocate for, and seek to enforce freedom of compliance. They want everyone to comply with their beliefs, their views, and their opinions. Their world is about control and dominance that has nothing to do with freedom, or rather freedom as they define it. I can never accept that form of what they call freedom and I call moral projection at its worst. I do not want anyone telling me how I should live my life (what remains of it).

 

Comments and contributions from Update no.1136:

Comment to the Blog:

“The Republicans have split into two parties, and one of them will have to make a coalition with the Democrats for Congress to function.

“Tiny’s legal situation is turning against him. In particular, prosecutors ‘flip’ co-defendants (Cheseboro and Powell in the Georgia case) to obtain convictions of higher-ups in RICO cases. That works.

“Tiny has the right to remain silent. We shall see if he has the ability.”

My response to the Blog:

Sure appears so doesn’t it. I suspect it is more complex than that. There are the ideological hardline far-right bunch often referred to as Freedom Caucus, Tea Party, nationalists, isolationists, and other less complimentary terms. I am convinced there are some true Republicans left in the bunch. However, I suspect the majority in the Republican Conference are of the go-with-the-flow variety (ideologically malleable). Regardless there are far too many election-deniers in the current eight candidates; that fact alone disqualifies them from any leadership post set aside the speakership. To me, it disqualifies them from Congress, full stop.

As I wrote, I suspect there will be more of that bunch who will flip . . . potentially down to the four principals. It does indeed work. So far, the Georgia RICO case prosecutors appear to be doing a masterful job.

Tiny’s malignant narcissism and rabid ego will not allow him to be silent. I suspect Tiny may be treated to one or more stints in jail for his transgressions. I think he truly believes the law does not apply to him. He is approaching a very rude awakening.

 . . . Round two:

“I don’t see the radical Republicans as having ideology as much as blind loyalty to Tiny’s brand of insanity. Many of the other Republicans are typical politicians, going the way the wind blows.

“It’s getting late in the game to flip in that Georgia RICO case. The prosecution probably already has plenty of witnesses for their conviction of the big shot.”

 . . . my response to round two:

Perhaps so, but chaos is an ideology of sorts. I suspect far too many so-called Republicans seek chaos to further prepare the political ground for an autocratic dictator to “restore order.” If so, that is an ideology. Others, more than a few, see a congressional seat in terms common to the grifter, e.g., George Santos, and he is not alone.

Yes, it is, but it is the evidence they have that is convincing some of these perpetrators to flip and turn state’s evidence. As is their inclination, prosecutors want to focus their energy and resources on the true perpetrators rather than the minions that carried out the crime. Jenna Ellis was one of those. I would put Powell and Chesboro in the tier two perpetrators. Ellis was tier three or four; she was a low level but substantive player. The Meadows federal immunity deal might lead to him turning in the Georgia RICO case. We shall see. All of this does not look good for Tiny and his lieutenants.

 . . . Round four:

“Chaos is a condition. Seeking it is an addiction or a plan, not an ideology.

“Powell and Chesebro are high-value witnesses against Tiny in the Georgia RICO (criminal) case. Mark Meadows knows more than anyone else and has immunity. The worms are turning.”

 . . . my response to round four:

That is a matter of personal interpretation or preference it seems to me. You are entitled to your view. I see it in larger terms. Chaos is a means to an end. It is the objective they seek that matters, but the tools they use are part of the equation, thus my inclusion. We must remain vigilant and prepared.

Yes, they are; higher than Ellis, but she will still be important. Absolutely, whether the prosecutors even offer Meadows a plea deal is yet to be seen. Personally, I think they have sufficient hard evidence to convict him, and he deserves prison as much as Tiny does. So, if they do offer him a plea deal, it should be for 10 years in prison rather than 25 years. The gears of justice are indeed finally turning.

 

Another contribution:

“Goodness mate-who is governing your country then?”

My reply:

President Biden is still president, and he governs the United States. The House of Representatives is just one of two chambers in Congress that is paralyzed with no speaker. No legislation can be accomplished. But, the president is still the president. The Judiciary continues to grind on with the myriad cases against you know who.

Have faith, my friend; we shall overcome. Patience.

 . . . Round two:

“Do you need an election to appoint a new and fresh governing body?”

 . . . my reply to round two:

Yes, absolutely! Unfortunately, the next opportunity we have to replace these clowns is 2024, a week over 12 months from now. We also need a viable opposition party. Giving any political party singular control of Congress is not helpful. We need vigorous debate, negotiations, and compromise, rather than ideological dicta from one side or the other. The Republicans have cut their own arteries and are watching themselves bleed out. They have got to stop this nonsense and get back to work.

 . . . Round three:

“Yes Cap-certainly agree with your words but how do we convince politicians that we the public who put them in power do not like the way they are conducting business. We have had a similar position here where our political leaders who we put in power upset society with the endless personal battles between them and their colleges and the other political parties. We put these guys into power to lead the country to greater success in all we attempt. Not rabbiting on like juniors arguing over matters that need positive action. How do we stop that form of government?”

 . . . my reply to round three:

Our primary tool is our vote. In between our opportunities to vote, we must communicate our views to our representatives in Parliament, Congress, No.10, and the White House. They must know how we see things in our words. If nothing else, those representatives must know we are watching and paying attention to what they do. How do we stop the nonsense in government? We vote out the old, and vote intelligently for new representatives. Eventually, they will get the message.

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

 . . . Round four:

“Thanks again Cap. Sorry to hear about your latest shooting-will there finally be national action to ban illegal fire arms?”

 . . . my reply to round four:

Another genuine tragedy. The shooter was clearly and demonstrably mentally ill and disturbed, and we failed to help him and protect the community. We do not yet know whether the rifle he used was legally or illegally acquired. He certainly should not have been allowed access to such a powerful weapon. We shall see what comes of this latest calamity.

 . . . Round five:

“Thanks cap-I shudder at the experience those people have gone through. The world is in something of a mess.”

 . . . my reply to round five:

Oh my, yes, indeedie . . . quite the mess. At least in the Maine case, the perpetrators did himself in. Now, the hand wringing begins.

 

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

Cheers,

Cap                  :-)