Category: Politics

Respect for Marriage Act

The mystery for me is why did all these senators oppose the idea of same sex marriage. Apparently its religious beliefs. Evangelical Christians are a significant part of the Republican Party.

The measure advanced in a 62-37 vote, with 12 Republicans voting in favor, allowing it to clear the required 60-vote hurdle to prevent a filibuster.

39 Republicans joined all Democrats in the House of Representatives to pass the law. Notable was Rep. Vicky Hartzler of Missouri who was the face of the movement in Missouri to ban gay marriage. She traveled across the state in 2004, urging Missourians to add an amendment to the state constitution defining marriage as between a man and a woman. She reportedly cried on the floor of the House pleading with others to oppose this law.

The list of Republicans senators who voted against the Respect for Marriage Act are as follows:

  • John Barrasso, WY
  • Marsha Blackburn, TN
  • John Boozman, AR
  • Mike Braun, IN
  • Bill Cassidy, LA
  • John Cornyn, TX
  • Tom Cotton, AR
  • Kevin Cramer, ND
  • Mike Crapo, ID
  • Ted Cruz, TX
  • Steve Daines, MT
  • Deb Fischer, NE
  • Lindsey Graham, SC
  • Chuck Grassley, IA
  • Bill Hagerty, TN
  • Josh Hawley, MO
  • John Hoeven, ND
  • Cindy Hyde-Smith, MS
  • Jim Inhofe, OK
  • Ron Johnson, WI
  • John Kennedy, LA
  • James Lankford, OK
  • Mike Lee, UT
  • Roger Marshall, KS
  • Mitch McConnell, KY
  • Jerry Moran, KS
  • Rand Paul, KY
  • Jim Risch, ID
  • Mike Rounds, SD
  • Marco Rubio, FL
  • Rick Scott, FL
  • Tim Scott, SC
  • Richard Shelby, AL
  • John Thune, SD
  • Patrick Toomey, PA
  • Tommy Tuberville, AL
  • Roger Wicker, MS

Trump calls for the termination of the Constitution

A madman dreams of being the supreme leader of the United States. His children and grandchildren would go on to rule this country.

Donald Trump dreams of becoming president for life. No voting is necessary because he believes he is entitled to hold the presidency until the day he dies. The former President Donald Trump on Saturday evening doubled down on his calls to “terminate” the United States Constitution and restore him to power.

Like any dictator he says whatever he wants and he gets it. His admiration for Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping, and Kim Jong-un is because they have absolute power. Military parades are a sign of power and he wanted one in Washington D.C. but was told the tanks and other military hardware would tear up the streets and so he relented.

Trump’s problem is he seems to really believe that the 2020 election was rigged. He doesn’t know how it was accomplished but really doesn’t care. As a spoiled brat as a child who was given everything he wanted he just can’t accept reality.

There are plenty of adult Republicans who have told him to accept reality and move on but it is not a reality he will accept. Unfortunately there remains a large minority of Republicans who have bought his claims of victory. Kari Lake, the failed GOP candidate for governor of Arizona is the best example of someone who has bought Trump’s nonsense.

Can you imagine if Trump wins the election in 2024. What would happen four years hence? He would want to overturn the Constitution and run for a third term.

Sadly USA Today reports “Republican leaders mostly silent over Donald Trump’s call to suspend the Constitution.”

The success of Jack Smith and Merrick Garland are our best hope of saving this democracy.

Gun Lovers are Free to Roam

As I have previously written Americans love guns more than life itself. There really is nothing I can write or say but as this is a topic that really ought to be on everyone’s mind.

What a great country we are where mass shootings are so frequent that the Virginia shooting in a Walmart was on the last page of the front section of the LA Times. It followed the shooting in a Colorado shooting just a few days earlier.

The deadliest mass shooting in the country so far this year was the massacre in which 19 children and two teachers were killed at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, on May 24. It happened 10 days after 10 people were shot and killed in a supermarket in Buffalo.

The Gun Violence Archive, a nonprofit research group that tracks gun violence using police reports, news coverage and other public sources, defines a mass shooting as one in which at least four people were killed or injured.

The Gun Violence Archive has counted at least 606 mass shootings so far this year.

Donald Trump “Give me freedom or give me death”

The former leader of the free world lashed out on Thursday at one of the prosecutors investigating alleged misconduct.

“This case should be dismissed immediately, and the large, highly paid and ‘prestigious’ accounting firm that we relied on to do their job, but didn’t, should pay us a fortune in damages,” Trump said.

As he often does, he labeled the investigation “a total witch hunt!”

Two minutes later, he returned to Truth Social to post the quote, “Give me freedom or give me death.”

Let’s give him death if that is required to sustain the American democracy. We could put him on the gallows that was built to hang Mike Pence.

What a delightful way to end Donald Trump’s efforts.

The gallows built to hang Mike Pence

The New York Post Cracked the Egg!

The cover of Rupert Murdoch’s New York Post is printing a Thursday cover with an egg-shaped Trump on a brick wall with the headline, “Trumpty Dumpty.” The sub-headline said “Don (who couldn’t build a wall) had a great fall — can all the GOP’s men put the party back together again?” The New York Post cracked the egg!

May be a cartoon of one or more people, people standing and text that says 'NEW YORK POST METRO EDITION $2.00 Don (who couldn't build a wall) had a great fall can all the GOP's men put the party back together again? TRUMPTY ரயாா் DUMPTY umnist Piers PAGES'

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When Republicans go Nuts

We are now in the period of madness.

The Republican gubernatorial nominee in Michigan invoked a conspiracy that the Covid-19 pandemic and protests in the summer of 2020 after the killing of George Floyd were part of a decades-long plan by the Democratic Party to “topple” the United States as retaliation for losing the US Civil War, adding that the party wanted to enslave people “again.”

In a six-minute monologue at the beginning of the show, Tudor Dixon said that after the “attempted creation of the Black House Autonomous Zone outside of the White House,” referring to a cordoned off area near the White House erected by activists, that Democrats were using this moment to “topple” the US.

During the Civil War, the Democratic Party itself was divided on the issue of slavery as some Democrats wanted to expand slavery in the West while others wanted to leave it up to referenda in the new territories. It was that divide that led to President Abraham Lincoln’s victory in the 1860 election.

More than 100 years later, however, after the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 while Democrat Lyndon Johnson was president, the Democratic Party lost more and more southern White voters to Republicans, who adopted the mantra of state’s rights and the “Southern strategy” to appeal to conservative White voters. Ever since the 1960s the Democratic Party has been the advocate for minority rights.

Abortion isn’t L.A.’s most relevant issue

Karen Bass is running against Rick Caruso for mayor of Los Angeles. Her problem is she has hitched her wagon to President Joe Biden’s pitch about protecting abortion rights. On her website, abortion is highlighted. “Women’s reproductive rights are under attack,” it says. “Join Karen’s fight to defend legal abortion in L.A.”

Bass isn’t alone in highlighting abortion rights. Bob Hertzberg is running for Los Angeles County 3rd district supervisor. His flyer says Working to expand women’s reproductive freedom.

Abortion rights is a national issue and a state issue. California’s ballot has the issue covered in its Measure 1 that amend the state’s constitution as a right.

The right to an abortion is not among the primary issues confronting Los Angeles. For all the problems the next mayor of Los Angeles will face — discrimination, homelessness, affordable housing, violent crime, corruption, jobs, and potholes to name just a few are the issues that need attention.

Where is Bass’s solution to those problems? They are not on her campaign flyers. They are on her web site. You have to hunt for her answers. Her answer for homelessness is too vague for me. From her campaign site: Karen Bass will bring leadership, accountability and action to dramatically reduce homelessness and end street encampments in Los Angeles. Here is the home page. https://karenbass.com/

If this is the best Bass and Hertzberg can offer they will not get my vote and I am telling everyone I know that we need a mayor and a supervisor that will attack the problems in this city and county.

Preparing for the 2024 Democratic Party Primary

President Biden told 60 Minutes correspondent Scott Pelley last Thursday that while he intends to run for reelection in 2024, the decision is still up in the air.

“Sir, are you committed to running again, or are there certain conditions that have to be right?” Pelley asked.

“Look, if I were to say to you, I’m running again, all of a sudden, a whole range of things come into play that I have– requirements I have to change and move and do,” Mr. Biden said. “In terms of election laws. and it’s much too early to make that kind of decision. I’m a great respecter of fate. And so, what I’m doing is I’m doing my job. I’m gonna do that job. And within the time frame that makes sense after this next election cycle here, going into next year, make a judgment on what to do.”

“You say that it’s much too early to make that decision,” Pelley said. “I take it the decision has not been made in your own head?”

“Look, my intention as I said to begin with is that I would run again,” the president said. “But it’s just an intention. But is it a firm decision that I run again? That remains to be seen.”

Vice President Kamala Harris and California Governor Gavin Newsom have received the message.  They have discretely started to prepare for the 2024 primary. 

Newsom ads in other states have begun.  “Need an abortion? California is ready to help.” That’s one of the billboard advertisements that the Newsome campaign is paying for.  The billboards will be displayed in states including Texas, Mississippi and Ohio.

Harris has been traveling around the country talking about defending democracy and appearing at every photo op from 9/11 ceremonies to abortion rights events and recently appeared on Meet the Press.  All meant to improve her communication skills. She may be the heir apparent but in the rough tumble world of politics it is not a given.

Is the American Democracy Coming to an End?

A Trump supporter attends the former president’s rally in Wilkes-Barre, Pa. (Demetrius Freeman/The Washington Post)

Too many Americans believe that elections are fixed. That is a problem for the survival of the American democracy.

In a survey by The Washington Post of 19 of the most closely watched statewide races in the country, the contrast between Republican and Democratic candidates was stark. While seven GOP nominees committed to accepting the outcomes in their contests, 12 either refused to commit or declined to respond. On the Democratic side, all 19 nominees contacted by The Post said they would accept the outcome.

President Joe Biden gave a speech at Independence Hall in Philadelphia on September 1, 2022 about democracy in America. In that speech he said

“And here, in my view, is what is true: MAGA Republicans do not respect the Constitution.  They do not believe in the rule of law.  They do not recognize the will of the people.” 
 
“They refuse to accept the results of a free election.  And they’re working right now, as I speak, in state after state to give power to decide elections in America to partisans and cronies, empowering election deniers to undermine democracy itself.”

The Washington Post survey proves that many GOP candidates are in opposition to the idea of winners and losers in every election. That should frighten everyone. It frightens me.

Old Men Ruling the World

Sadly we have a world of government leaders who are old. They hold a perspective based on the past. I know. I’m old myself. It’s not just President Joe Biden (79) and King Charles III (73). Xi Jinping is 69. Vladimir Putin is also 69. Donald Trump is 76.

What new ideas can we expect from these people? Donald Trump dreams of becoming president again but we have not heard one new idea. His focus is on his loss of the 2020 election and getting even with his supposed enemies. Joe Biden has not been a uniter and has expressed no vision for the future (think JFK putting a man on the moon). Charles III says he will follow his mother’s example but what did she do other than sit on the British throne?

Leaders of the U. S. congress includes Speaker of the house Nancy Pelosi who is 82. Leader of the Senate Chuck Schumer is 71. Republican Senate leader Mitch Mitchell McConnell is 80. Some other old timers in the Senate

StateFirst NameLast NamePartyAgeBirthdate
CaliforniaDianneFeinsteinDemocratic876/22/33
IowaChuckGrassleyRepublican879/17/33
AlabamaRichardShelbyRepublican865/6/34