Author: Jack
I retired in 2008 and so I have more time now to devote to several of my interests The blog here is mainly for my interests in some current events but may have the occasional rant on other subjects. I have also decided to keep my genealogy posts and book reviews here instead of 2 additional blogs (and so simplify my life a little).

Climate change and business regulation

Climate change and business regulation

Posted on by Jack

I have written a bit about climate change and its many threats to our future (https://www.jackreidy.com/blog/tag/climate-change/) but have not written on it in a few years. Since last year was the hottest on record (https://www.climate.gov/news-features/featured-images/2023-was-warmest-year-modern-temperature-record) it seems to be a good time to write more about the climate crisis.

There has been recent news on the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) voting to require companies to disclose their climate harming emissions (https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2024/03/06/sec-climate-disclosure-rule/ ) which contribute greatly to climate change (aka global warming).

Since overwhelming evidence indicates that climate change is a great threat to the financial prospects of companies, the economy as a whole, and human health, I hope this effort succeeds.

White Rural Rage:  The Threat to American Democracy  by Tom Schaller and  Paul Waldman

White Rural Rage:  The Threat to American Democracy  by Tom Schaller and  Paul Waldman

Posted on by Jack

The book “White Rural Rage:  The Threat to American Democracy”  by Tom Schaller and  Paul Waldman brings together a huge amount of information to discuss rural areas, their problems, and potential solutions as well as the current political situation which contributes to these problems and presents a threat to American democracy.   I think that may be the longest and most complicated sentence I’ve written lately, so let me explain.

Continue reading “White Rural Rage:  The Threat to American Democracy  by Tom Schaller and  Paul Waldman”

Disqualifying the District Attorney (DA) in Georgia from the RICO case

Disqualifying the District Attorney (DA) in Georgia from the RICO case

Posted on by Jack

Last week I was watching the circus where lawyers for Donald Trump and various co-defendants are trying to disqualify the District Attorney (DA) in Georgia from the RICO case related to the conspiracy to steal the 2020 election for President.  By watching I mean that I watched some of the hearing on TV but mostly have been following it on the news.

My main interest is in the potential trial but a bit enhanced because I lived in Georgia for 30 years.
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I Never Did Like Politics

I Never Did Like Politics

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Both my parents grew up in New York City while Fiorello La Guardia was mayor. I can remember them talking about Mayor La Guardia when I was growing up.  He seemed interesting but I never got around to learning much more about him.  This book fixed that problem.

The book is  “I Never Did Like Politics: How Fiorello La Guardia Became America’s Mayor, and Why He Still Matters” by Terry Golway.
Continue reading “I Never Did Like Politics”

Was January 6 insurrection an inspiration for the Brazil insurrection?

Was January 6 insurrection an inspiration for the Brazil insurrection?

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I was just reading about the criminal charges for the Brazil insurrection in 2022 and was wondering if the 2021 insurrection in the US was at least a partial inspiration. The article was Bolsonaro and Allies Planned a Coup, Brazil Police Say and it starts like this:
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Putin’s Pals screw Ukraine and the border with a single move

Putin’s Pals screw Ukraine and the border with a single move

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It appears that quite a few Republicans want to eliminate US aid to Ukraine. I previously called this group The Appeasement Caucus. Just appease Putin and let him take Ukraine. You would have thought they would have learned from history that appeasement is not a good strategy. See Hitler and World War 2 for a good example.
Continue reading “Putin’s Pals screw Ukraine and the border with a single move”

Speaker Mike Johnson and the failure to govern

Speaker Mike Johnson and the failure to govern

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House Speaker Mike Johnson tied aid to Ukraine to immigration reform. On his visit to the border, he repeated his demand Now a bipartisan agreement has been reached in the Senate on Immigration reform has been reached and President Biden is agreeable. All depends on Mike Johnson and his majority in the House.
Continue reading “Speaker Mike Johnson and the failure to govern”

DISCLOSE Act, dark money in our elections

DISCLOSE Act, dark money in our elections

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Today I received an email asking me to support the Disclose act to get dark money out of politics by requiring disclosure of who is contributing. There are been many versions over recent years and none have made it into law. This bill seems like a good idea to me but I would like to hear more since as they say the devil is in the details.

The current version is S.512 which was sponsored by Senator Whitehead almost a year ago (Feb 16 2023) and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration. According to https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/senate-bill/512 there has been no action since then.
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Renegade: Defending Democracy and Liberty in Our Divided Country by Adam Kinzinger

Renegade: Defending Democracy and Liberty in Our Divided Country by Adam Kinzinger

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After the shock of the January 6, 2021 insurrection (https://www.jackreidy.com/blog/2021/07/02/insurrection-based-on-a-lie/ and https://www.jackreidy.com/blog/2021/12/06/a-national-disgrace-or-6/), I followed the news about it closely. I was very impressed by the 2 Republicans who sacrificed their positions in the Republican party and ultimately their seats in Congress to serve on the committee investigating this.
Continue reading “Renegade: Defending Democracy and Liberty in Our Divided Country by Adam Kinzinger”

Presidential Pardons

Presidential Pardons

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As mentioned previously, I get a daily email from Just Security.

Yesterday’s email mentioned an interesting article on presidential pardons. This power has been abused by numerous Presidents and Donald Trump could use it to pardon himself if re-elected and has also mentioned pardon numerous criminals including those who are in jail after being convicted of crimes in the January 6 insurrection.

The authors discuss the role of Congress in curbing abuse of the presidential pardon and increasing transparency. I hope you find “Congress Can Curb Abuse of the Presidential Pardon Power” as interesting as I did.

Just Security, National Security, and a second Trump Presidency

Just Security, National Security, and a second Trump Presidency

Posted on by Jack

I have been a follower of the Just Security website https://www.justsecurity.org/ for several years. I get their daily email highlighting what is published that day and read articles that I look interesting to me.

As a citizen I have been concerned with many of Donald Trump stated goals if he wins a second term. As a former civil servant (30 years at CDC) I have been disturbed by his plans to politicize the federal civil service.

Yesterday there was an article called Trump’s Stated Goals for the U.S. Intelligence Community: Assessing the Impact – https://www.justsecurity.org/90714/trumps-stated-goals-for-the-u-s-intelligence-community-assessing-the-impact/

It starts like this:

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Republican Senators are blocking aid to Ukraine.

Republican Senators are blocking aid to Ukraine.

Posted on by Jack

This may be the intent of some who don’t think we should be supporting Ukraine. But others are just holding the aid hostage to try to get what they want in immigration policy. This latter group want to hold up aid which is needed to stop Putin’s expansion into Ukraine (https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-67649497).

I think this is a big mistake. The aid is needed now to resist the invasion. Perhaps more so, since European Union is aid is being blocked by Victor Orban (https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-67724357).
Continue reading “Republican Senators are blocking aid to Ukraine.”

Republicans take a chance on Trump

Republicans take a chance on Trump

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It seems the Republican party will take a chance on former President Donald Trump. The insurrectionist and former President is way ahead in the primary and is considered the likely nominee. So far state judges have ruled against attempts to exclude him from the primary ballot but at least some of those decisions are being appealed
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Was Nixon right ?

Was Nixon right ?

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During the David Frost interviews former president Richard Nixon said: “Well, when the president does it, that means that it is not illegal”.

Is that really that different from former president Trump’s claim of immunity ?

Was Nixon right then ? Is Trump right now ?

The 2 former Presidents make very similar claims but this has never been decided by a court since the issue has never arisen before. I suspect it will be decided by the Supreme Court either right away or after a delay in the appeals court.