Category: Current Events

Don’t let them get away with  the Jan 6 insurrrection

Don’t let them get away with the Jan 6 insurrrection

It was a bit over a year ago when a mob attacked the US Capitol to disrupt the electoral count and install their choice as President. This is the first attempt to prevent the peaceful transfer of power in our country’s history. This insurrection was based on a lie, And it is important that we find how it happen and what we can do to prevent a repeat.

The January 6 House select committee was charged to do just that after Republicans blocked a bipartisan commission on this attack. The committee appears to making progress despite Republican opposition and the non-cooperation of some high profile Republicans. Kevin McCarthy is the latest.

Since Rep. McCarthy is the House minority leader I find it unlikely that he knows nothing that could be of interest on the January 6 committee. Is his plan and that of some other non-cooperating Republicans to just stall until Republicans can take the House and kill any investigation? If that seems likely to you, you might want to think twice about voting for any Republican in the election later this year.

2020 election nonsense continues

2020 election nonsense continues

I’ve not written much about the 2020 election in a while. At least not directly. I have written some about the consequences such as the January 6 insurrection and possible coup attempt. But I thought the bogus claims of election fraud would be over by now The claims have been the subject of many lawsuits but evidence has never been found. But the claims still live on in the minds of many Republicans.
Continue reading “2020 election nonsense continues”

Should we expand the Supreme Court ?

Should we expand the Supreme Court ?

I’ve been doing a bit of reading on this an here are a few articles.

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/12/15/opinion/expand-supreme-court/

https://www.brookings.edu/policy2020/votervital/should-we-restructure-the-supreme-court/

https://www.politico.com/news/2021/04/26/liberals-expand-supreme-court-democrats-484562

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2021/12/09/expand-supreme-court-laurence-tribe-nancy-gertner/

https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/SCOTUS-Report-Final.pdf

Republicans, choose wisely

Republicans, choose wisely

Republicans in the Senate have a unique opportunity. The Build Back Better bill can be passed with votes of 50 Senators. The Democrats have 49 but Senator Joe Manchin is delaying and perhaps killing the Bill. This is an opportunity for a Republican Senator or perhaps Senators. Let me explain.

Back in January it occurred to me that Republicans have a choice between constant opposition or using power wisely as powerful leaders and maybe even pleasing constituents while doing so. At the time I was writing about both Houses of Congress but this time I am writing specifically about the Senate. See my earlier post – Republicans can choose power.

Simply put, Republican power is a choice. Choose wisely.

Philadelphia Proud Boys in the insurrection

Philadelphia Proud Boys in the insurrection

I’m from outside Philadelphia so I was pleased to see that 3 Philadelphia Proud Boys were recently charged in the Jan. 6 insurrection ( https://www.inquirer.com/news/philadelphia-proud-boys-capitol-riot-20211214.html ).

Justice is moving slowly but my hope is that more of the insurrectionists will be punished for their roll in the attack on the Capitol and attempt to interfere with the certification of the election. The identification and investigation is continuing. Live in fear if you took part in this and have not been caught yet.

Filibuster reform

Filibuster reform

I’m an currently reading an advanced reader by Ira Shapiro about the US Senate. One of the problems he mentions is the filibuster. I’ve had quite a bit to say about the filibuster here.

I ran across this this morning while looking for some of Ira Shapiro’s shorter writing on the Senate. It is well worth the read if you are interested the the Senate or the filibuster.

How Joe Manchin Could Make the Senate Great Again

A national disgrace or 6 disgraces

A national disgrace or 6 disgraces

Today is the 11th month anniversary of the January 6 attack on our Capitol (It’s only the beginning of the Capitol terror hunt and Insurrection based on a lie.) Let’s call that disgrace #1.
Continue reading “A national disgrace or 6 disgraces”

I was wrong.  There is more news on Voting Rights

I was wrong. There is more news on Voting Rights

This is today’s news so naturally I could not have it in yesterday’s post (Update on voting rights)

But this is older:
Yes, another filibuster. This one of the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act last month.

Stay tuned in case something happens to protect voting rights.. Maybe a way around the filibuster. Maybe enough Republicans will be voted out of office in 2022. Of course that last depends on voting and that seems to be the problem.

Update on voting rights

Update on voting rights

I wrote about Republicans opposing federal protection of voting rights which is needed because states are working to discourage voting and if people do vote despite their efforts some states can just invalidate the votes they don’t like. (see Senate Republicans oppose voting rights and oppose even talking about voting rights and Saving Republicans and Democracy ).

There has been no progress as far as I can tell.

Senate Republicans oppose voting rights and oppose even talking about voting rights

Senate Republicans oppose voting rights and oppose even talking about voting rights

Republicans again filibuster a bill to protect voting rights. As state Republicans pass bills to suppress voting and subvert elections, the Republicans in Congress do nothing. In some states they not only make is harder to vote but if the legislature doesn’t like the will of the people, they can just overturn the results of the election.

Senate Republicans as well as House Republicans are apparently fine with that.
Continue reading “Senate Republicans oppose voting rights and oppose even talking about voting rights”

We can save democracy.

We can save democracy.

Yesterday I wrote about Saving Republicans and Democracy. I was encouraged by the article We Are Republicans. There’s Only One Way to Save Our Party From Pro-Trump Extremists..

The article is definitely worth reading. It starts like this.
Continue reading “We can save democracy.”

Saving Republicans and Democracy

Saving Republicans and Democracy

The Republican Party used to be highly principled and an important part of our democracy. But now they seem to favor various conspiracy theories, favor insurrection, and even oppose the very idea of democracy. That is why I was hopeful that the party could be saved as a valuable part of our democracy when a group of Republicans called “for the Republican Party to re-dedicate itself to founding ideals—or else hasten the creation of an alternative.” (see Save the Republican Party). 

But it now seems the party is even more tightly aligned  with  Donald Trump and the irrational. An alternative party may be the answer.
Continue reading “Saving Republicans and Democracy”

Compromise on infrastructure that makes sense

Compromise on infrastructure that makes sense

Reading the news lately on the big infrastructure package (aka President Biden’s Build Back Better plan), it seems like the big stumbling block is price. Some think 3.5 trillion is way to much: others think of it as a compromise on the low side.

I recently read an article (How the Democrats Can Pass the Entire Reconciliation Bill) which makes a lot of sense to me. Here is a brief excerpt:
Continue reading “Compromise on infrastructure that makes sense”