Bits n’ pieces from east, west and beyond
East, west or beyond, sooner or later events elsewhere may have a local impact.
A recent sampling:
Not so long ago, were it not for the source, the recent statement would have caused bipartisan whiplash.
Trump: “I would encourage [Russia] to do whatever the hell they want” to NATO countries, which includes the U.S.
Politico said Poland’s Deputy Prime Minister called Trump’s stance “completely incomprehensible.” But Trump has documented ties to Russia, including the Senate Intelligence Committee (with Republicans) finding Trump’s 2016 campaign team worked with Russian “operatives”; testimony included a Trump advisor advocating for Russia’s control of Ukraine’s industrial heartland.
The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments recently about whether Donald Trump is disqualified from holding office for attempts to subvert the 2020 election under the 14th Amendment.
Jason Murray represented Colorado, where the 14th has been cited as reason to keep Trump off their primary ballot. The New York Times had a blow-by-blow account of the SC proceeding. This ruling is expected to be “prompt, instead of the usual three months. A Trump-appointed SC judge suggested Trump wasn’t given due process in Colorado, but Murray said Trump’s attorneys did not use all their allotted court time, such as for calling witnesses, and Trump declined to testify in Colorado.
One justice said the 14th prohibits an insurrectionist from holding office, but does not say they cannot run for office. Murray argued that resolving the issue now avoids a constitutional crisis later should Trump win and the issue’s not resolved. To settle how each state makes decisions about an insurrectionist on the ballot, Murray said the court could write an opinion about insurrection against the Constitution being rare and requiring an assault on not just application of law but on constitutionally mandated functions, such as on Jan. 6.
(In 2020 the SC declined Trump’s request to intervene in his election loss.)
NPR: Trump will appeal his immunity from prosecution case (for insurrection) to the Supreme Court. He faces felony charges for trying to overturn the 2020 election. Court watchers say Thomas should recuse himself due to his wife’s Jan. 6 involvement.
PBS noted that Thomas has deliberated on several 2020 election-related cases; in one case he was the only Justice to side with Trump.
France’s Senate recently passed legislation requiring solar panels on all new and current parking lots that provide cover for at least 80 vehicles, Optimist Daily reported.
Boost for medical debt crisis relief: Connecticut’s governor said medical debt for 250,000 eligible residents would be canceled, The Lever reported. Of U.S. households, 19% have medical debt.
After investigating President Biden for criminality when classified documents were found at his home, Special Counsel Robert K. Hur cleared Biden of wrong-doing. CBS said Hur found Biden had instances of poor memory: when investigated he could not remember dates of key events during his time as vice president (2009-2017).
CNN said classified documents were found at former vice president Mike Pence’s home but there were no charges. Trump faces 40 federal charges for having classified documents at his public residence. Hur noted that Trump did not cooperate with investigators.
The response to accusations of Biden having a poor memory included critics pointing out that Hur, a former Trump official, has no expertise in age-related memory loss. Political commentator Brian Tyler Cohen noted that Biden presided over 15 million more jobs; 800,000 manufacturing jobs; 23 straight months of below 4% unemployment; wages now outpacing inflation; canceling student loan debt for 3.7 million; shoring up the nation’s reputation overseas (including strengthening NATO); expansion of veterans’ care, and reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act.
Biden supporters also trotted out proof of Trump’s age-related decline, such as mistaking photos of his ex-wife for E. Jean Carroll, confusing basic facts, and gaffes like advising “get over it” when students are shot at school.
Recently House leaders, unwilling to pass legislation to beef up southern border enforcement, which would have also allowed aid for Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan and Palestinians, instead proposed $17.6 billion for Israel; that vote failed. Punchbowl News said Republicans knew the proposal would fail.
The CDC says smoking has dropped from 16% of the population, two years ago, to 14%.
Blast from the past: “The first wish of my heart was, if parties existed, to reconcile them.” George Washington (1732 - 1799), writing to Thomas Jefferson. Initially Washington claimed allegiance to no political party; he tended to be exasperated and distraught by lawmakers’ temperaments.
And another blast: President Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865), said one of the most influential books in his life was Capt. Riley’s Narrative, about white men enslaved in Africa. The book caused Lincoln to say, in jest, that lighter skinned people have the right to enslave, and therefore if someone has lighter skin than yours, he can enslave you. But if it’s about intelligence, and you meet a person more intelligent than yourself, that person can enslave you.
Then he surmised that it’s a matter of self-interest as to whom one can enslave: if it’s in your own interest, you can enslave another. But then that person could enslave you. His thinking evolved to see hierarchy as a slippery slope without solid footing.