Tag: current events

Weekend Update

Chief Justice Urges Political Leaders to Tone Down Rhetoric Chief Justice’s admonition to political leaders has as much chance as happening as he and the rest of the Supreme Court showing spine and good impartial judgment.

Alzheimer’s research in peril. Will Trump budget cuts set progress back by decades? President Trump wants to cut the budget of the National Institutes of Health by 40%. I would think that a man approaching 80 years of age and reputedly evidencing signs of dementia would want enormous amounts of money directed to finding a cure or treatment and quickly. For all the 65 and over voters who voted for Trump last year, here is what your support is getting you – – the possibility of a horrible ending of your life. If you have ever had a family member or friend who had Alzheimer’s, you realize how tragic and devastating this disease is.

Catholic Bishops Try to Rally Opposition to Trump’s Immigration Agenda President Trump got 64% of the white Catholic vote as many bishops and priests urged support for him primarily to overturn Roe v. Wade. My admonition to the bishops: you reap what you sow. Too late now that the Trump Genie is out of the bottle. Your support helped uncap the bottle.

Elon Musk rips into ‘utterly insane’ Trump-backed megabill.Buyer’s remorse! Guess Elon is not happy with his return on investment?

Politicisms (not so polite)

Earth grows hotter by nature, and colder by nurture.

Reason whispers, but influence now belongs to whoever shouts longest and loudest. 

Democracy collapses not with a fight, but with a shrug and a spineless back.

If cowardice was our currency, there would be no national debt.

Washington belies the adage that old age brings wisdom.

You can’t fight today’s demons with the dulled swords of polite politics.

Image by AI

In Christ’s time, 30 pieces of silver, today a meme coin to buy a man’s soul.

Religion used to console the broken—now it emboldens and supports the breakers.

Our national IQ is falling faster than memberships for Kennedy Center events.

Discouraging or expelling foreign college and graduate students is akin to expelling firemen from a growing fire.

A nation in the pall of dementia—its people adrift, having forgotten their roots, their history, their purpose, and their friends.

Amateur Hour in America

I’m waiting patiently to see this generation’s Edward R. Murrow in media and the press.

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I have already seen this Administration’s  Joe McCarthys.

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However there are a few “profiles in courage”…For example,  Hagan Scotten told Justice Department officials that he would not be party to a political prosecution (below)….

But any assistant U.S. attorney would know that our laws and traditions do not allow using the prosecutorial power to influence other citizens, much less elected officials, in this way. If no lawyer within earshot of the President is willing to give him that advice, then I expect you will eventually find someone who is enough of a fool, or enough of a coward, to file your motion. But it was never going to be me.

Hagan Scotten, Assistant United States Attorney, Southern District of New York

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When Trump offered the severance package to federal employees, I did not realize that just about all of Congress decided to cash in and abandon their responsibilities too.

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When Associated Press was denied access to the White House press room I was disappointed other media members did not walk out to show their support. 

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Just a thought, but a long moratorium on reporting news about this Administration and members would be mentally healthy for this country.

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Appropriate Aphorisms for Our Times

“A society of sheep must in time beget a government of wolves.” 

— Bertrand de Jouvenel

“Illegal aliens have always been a problem in the United States. Ask any Indian.”

— Robert Orben

“A government which robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend on the support of Paul.”

— George Bernard Shaw

A Certain Idea of America: Selected Writings by Peggy Noonan (Book Review)

Peggy Noonan is one of the very few Republicans with whom I feel I could sit down and have a civil conversation about politics, history, and current events. My belief is affirmed after reading her book, A Certain Idea of America: Selected Writings, a collection of recent commentaries on politics, personalities, culture, and contemporary issues. Her writing is measured, thoughtful, and often insightful.

For instance, in a column written in 2019, Noonan offered advice to Joe Biden, attempting to dissuade him from running for president in 2020. Her words, in hindsight, appear not only as good counsel but also as prophetic given Biden’s mixed success as president:

“Your very strength – that you enjoy talking to both sides, that deep in your heart you see no one as deplorable – will be your weakness. You aren’t enough of a warrior. You’re sweet, you’re weak, you’re half daffy. You’re meh.”

Noonan stands as an outlier within the Republican Party. Her style of writing seeks to inform, inspire, and not inflame. She is no supporter of Trump. Even her criticism of Trump’s antics and leadership is measured—acerbic yet never descending into vitriol.

One passage in particular may encapsulate her sharp perspective on America’s present and future trajectory:

“In time, we’ll see you lose something when you go post-heroic. Colorful characters will make things more divided, not less. They’ll entertain, but not ennoble. And the world will think less of us – America has become a clownish, unserious country with clownish, unserious leaders – which will have an impact on our ability to influence events.”

This observation feels prescient and poignant, capturing a sense of national disquiet. Unfortunately, not enough Americans shared this view during the last election. Perhaps Noonan could have lent her rhetorical skills to Kamala Harris and the Democrats to sharpen their messaging.

While I don’t agree with all her views—for instance, I’m not as enamored with Billy Graham or Ronald Reagan as she is—I respect her opinions. Her prose is engaging, and the short commentaries, originally published in The Wall Street Journal, make for an easy yet thought-provoking read.

Notes and Asides : Potty Mouths and Pickleball

There can’t be many more stressful and thankless jobs than being the Director of the U.S. Secret Service. Kimberly Cheadle resigned from the job after dodging more bullets from a House Committee meeting yesterday than John Wick running through a gauntlet of assassins. Members of both political parties set their sights on Ms. Cheadle and took their best shots. There also have been complaints about the women who are on Trump’s secret service detail. They were accused of being too small in stature and one female agent was shown having difficutly in unholstering her gun. Best of luck finding a successor in taking a job where any misstep or failure in a very volatile political and violence prone country will get you ridiculed and fired no matter how diligent you and your associates perform.

I thought that having women in high elective office would elevate the national conversation and promote civility. Boy, was I wrong!. Nancy Mace, Lauren Boebert and Marjorie Taylor Greene among others (usually Republican women) have mouths that would embarrass a trucker, rapper or biker.

If you want to guarantee a solid workout playing pickleball, then either play singles or play with a hand-picked group of like-skilled players in a competitive landscape. Do not just go to the park and play 2 hours of pickup and expect it to be a great workout.

The Workout Value Of Pickleball Compared To Other Racquet Sports
Forbes · by Todd Boss · July 22, 2024

I think that the author of the referenced quote did not take into account the age and physical condition of the player. I would agree that for a 20 or 30 year-old, two hours of recreational Pickleball doubles would not be a very good workout. But for someone who is in their 60s or 70s, it constitutes a very good workout.

News Ticker Shock

Nikki Haley supporting Trump…”I will be voting for Trump.”

Justice Alito caught flying another flag outside his home supporting insurrection

60% of Americans think that we are in a recession (poll)

“United Reich” wording posted to a video on Trump’s Truth Social media account

RFK Jr. VP pick Nicole Shanahan profiled as drug user and adulterer in NY Times article

Putin ‘launches space weapon’ while his forces carry out nuke drill near Ukraine

Daily marijuana use outpaces daily drinking in the U.S., a new study says

Folly: Today’s Thumbnails

Folly- lack of good sense or normal prudence and foresight; the fact of being stupid, or a stupid action, idea, etc.:

Cambridge Dictionary

More than 100 GOP primary winners back Trump’s false fraud claims. (Washington Post 6/14/2022)

Republicans jockey to be Trump’s top defender during January 6 hearings. (CNN Politics 6/14/2022)

Guilfoyle’s $60k Payday Goes Viral in ‘Trump World’ – Allies ‘Aghast’ According to Maggie Haberman
A three minute speech to introduce her boyfriend on 1/6/2021

‘The Music Has Stopped’: Crypto Firms Quake as Prices Fall

Newsmax Host Floats Theory That Pelosi Wanted Kavanaugh Killed So Biden Could Replace Him (Mediaite 6/14/2022)

Marjorie Taylor Greene Argues Global Warming Is ‘Actually Healthy For Us’ (Huffington Post 6/14/2022)

Idaho Police Receive Death Threats After Arresting Patriot Front Members (Huffington Post 6/13/2022)

U.S. Supreme Court insulates federal agents from accountability
(Reuters 6/10/22)

We’ll Be Marrying AI Robots in No Time (Bloomberg Opinion 6/14/2022)

Deshaun Watson again denies sexual misconduct accusations as Browns open minicamp: ‘I never assaulted, disrespected or harassed anyone’ (Sporting News 6/14/2022)

Uvalde, 1/6/21 Committee and Joe Biden

I seriously doubt that any major gun control legislation will be passed even with the massacre of young children and teachers at Uvalde. The news cycle on the story is fading with the pending 1/6/2021 Commission hearings.

It will be interesting to see the TV ratings and the reaction to the televised Commission hearings starting tonight. I remember how enthralled the country was during the Watergate hearings that ultimately brought down the Nixon presidency in 1974.

So far the 1/6/2021 Committee has produced and delivered compelling video, text, and testimonial evidence of an attempted coup by Donald Trump. The coup appears more organized than many have thought.

Joe Biden will not be the Democratic nominee in 2024. He is a placeholder President. A likable man, but he is showing his age.

I think there is a 50% chance that Biden will not finish his term due to health reasons. It would also provide Kamala Harris an opportunity to be the frontrunner in 2024 though any support for her appears very soft.

Maybe the dumbest trade in sports history involved the Cleveland Browns picking up DeShaun Watson. He is this football era’s OJ Simpson.

I paid $50 to fill my gas tank and I had a 1/2 tank left! That’s why Democrats are going to lose so many election races in November.