September 23, 2019

I drove past Mar-a-Lago yesterday.

My wife & I went to Fort Lauderdale for the weekend, to see the Who play Friday night & spend the weekend there.

I drove A1A most of the way back north, including the bit (South Atlantic Blvd) that runs along the back of MaL.

I flipped him off & yelled a few choice words (even though he wasn't there) for myself & for all of my DU friends as I drove by.

Then I turned around & did it again.

It felt good.

September 18, 2019

What will Trump defend?

Russia attacked American elections, & Trump refused to implement the sanctions that were overwhelmingly approved by Congress.

Iran (maybe, we don't really know yet) attacked a Saudi oil facility & Trump's response (on Twitter, of course) is to "substantially increase sanctions!"

Trump does more to defend Saudi oil than he does to defend our own elections.

May 21, 2019

Great Twitter thread about the impeachment process.

I've tried to explain this multiple times here & on Twitter, but Malcolm Johnson does a much better job than I did.


THREAD: I'm not a Lawyer, but I have a particular view when it comes to Impeachment.

When I worked for Warner Bros. Legal and Business Affairs, we had a simple guideline for pursuing litigation. First, we'd send the offending party a 30 day cease and desist letter... 1/12

When that didn't work, we'd send them ANOTHER 30 day cease and desist letter...and if that didn't work, we'd send a THIRD 30 day cease and desist letter... 2/12

But on day 91 of that process, we'd initiate litigation.

Inevitably we'd be in court, and the Judge would ask us, "Okay, but have you given the offending party every chance to comply with your wishes?" 3/12

And we'd be able to say "Yes, we have your honor. Here is our first 30 day cease and desist, here's our second and here's our third. All documented, and transmitted, all ignored by the Offending Party." 4/12

Suddenly, we weren't the ones having to prove anything, it was the guys we were suing. The Judge would look at them, and say "So what about this counselor? Why have you ignored their lawful request??" 5/12

In terms of Impeachment, we are on the second 30 day cease and desist letter, metaphorically speaking.

The Democrats are bound for court and are now collecting documentation to show how much the Administration is acting unlawfully. 6/12

We are going after Tax Returns via Ways and Means.
We are going after Bank Records via Intelligence and Finance.
We are after Testimony via Judiciary and Oversight.
All of which we have a right to.
All of which have been subpoenaed. 7/12

So when you see the Chairmen of these various committees "not going fast enough" remember, they are collecting documentation with each of these extended deadlines. 8/12

When the Democrats face a judge, they'll be able to say "Look, your Honor, we gave the Administration EVERY CHANCE to comply with the law."

What you call slow and ineffective, is what a Lawyer would call crossing every "t" and dotting every "i" before going into court. 9/12

Because it's a dead cinch lock that the Judge will rule in our favor once those "t"s & "i"s are taken care of...because what I expect to happen...and what I think every Democrat expects to happen is that Trump will then defy whatever ruling the Judge hands down... 10/12

...and once that happens, once Trump defies a Federal Judge's ruling (which I expect to happen 100%), well the pressure to impeach won't be on the Democrats. It'll be on the Republicans. 11/12

So, if you're patient, this is going to play out the way you want. Trump can't help himself. 12/12 END


[link:https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1130599849995325440.html|

May 16, 2019

I think these bans are about more than abortion.

Republicans saw women voters (largely the pro-life ones) deliver victories to Democrats in the 2018 elections, threatening GOP control of government.

Now, Republican legislators are trying to make abortion & even miscarriage a felony.

Why? Sure, there's the usual "pro-life" base BS, but I think a lot of folks are missing something important:

FELONS CAN'T VOTE


These bans are a way they can take the right to vote away (at least temporarily in most states) from pro-choice women who have an abortion. It's safe to say this will suppress Democratic votes more than Republican votes.

April 25, 2019

My thoughts on Biden & the idea of an "elder statesman."

I confess, even though I like Biden a lot, I've been hoping he would stay out of this race because we have so many other great candidates running. I felt it was time for this new generation of Democrats to move up in the party & take the reins.

However. I've recently started thinking differently.

I asked myself, "what does Biden offer that the other 'new generation' candidates don't offer?"

The biggest thing Biden offers that they don't is that he can fill the role of "elder statesman."

We all know our country has gone to hell in a flaming dumpster under Trump. Our Constitution is being ignored, our laws are being openly violated, & time-tested norms that made our country great are being flushed down Trump's gold-plated toilet. Our status on the international stage has been diminished, we've abandoned essential American values like human rights, & relationships with our allies have been damaged to the point where many of them are wondering if America has truly lost its way.

Due to all of this, the next POTUS faces a unique & daunting challenge. They will have to deal with much, much more than the usual agenda of tax policy, healthcare, infrastructure etc. They will have to be the steady hand that guides America back from the brink of Trump insanity, restores our norms & values, & reassures the world that NO, America has NOT lost its way. They will have to heal the wounds caused by Donald Trump, & that is not a minor task.

I can see how Biden could easily be that steady, trusted, reassuring hand, the "elder statesman" who guides our country on the path back to sanity & rebuilds relationships with our allies.

I'm starting to think that right now, at this unique point in our history, this is what our country needs more than anything. Job One is to make America America again.

But what of all those great "new generation" Dems?

Well, they're not going away. No matter what happens in the primary they will still be here to fight with us. And, I'll bet that if Biden wins the nomination he would pick one of them as a running mate. (Personally I think Harris would be an awesome choice.)

I'll be watching & listening to all the candidates & if Biden looks like he's the best choice to send Trump packing, I'll be changing my candidate preference.

February 15, 2019

Happy Valentine's Day to all my DU friends!

I hope this is an appropriate forum for this, forgive me if it isn't.

And THANK YOU to whoever gave me the hearts!

I think I have a few hearts left to give, if there's anyone who hasn't received one.