It used to be that we would look to people and history for those courageous moments, those courageous people who we sometimes call heroes. Men and women of conscience standing up in difficult times. Perhaps we still will at some time in the future but not today. Today we have cowardice staring us in the face.
Lamar Alexander, the Senator from Tennessee, helped show the way last night as he put his imprint on the fake trial being held in the US Senate. He is ending his career in what will be identified in history as disgrace. His legacy will be that he concluded that the President of the United States is guilty of soliciting aid from a foreign country to smear a political opponent and to thereby interfere in an American election. Yes, guilty as sin, but not impeachable. Ponder that for a minute or two.
Then we have John Bolton, another profile in cowardice. First he refuses to take part in the House of Representatives' proceedings, playing games with the courts, while others of his colleagues testify. He then announces to his Republican friends in Congress that he's very willing to testify in the Senate trial as part of a promo for his upcoming book. He implies he has lots to tell but also knows that there is little chance that he will be called as a witness. He's off speaking to private groups continuing to float his conservative views on war and international issues. His story is that he has lots of information about what the President said and when he said it. He implies that the President and his top ranking aides may have committed illegal acts. He does all of this knowing that the odds of him being called to testify are slim to none. He does this while promoting his tell some book hoping to add to his millions. Courage or cowardice, you be the judge.
In the meantime other GOP Senators tow their Mitch McConnell line. They will reap what they sow in one way or the other. They will have to live with the consequences of Donald Trump unleashed in the coming days and months. They gamble with thinking that he can be controlled if need be. They are sorely mistaken I believe. He will lash out unencumbered. There will be no policy debates or compromise. The cult of racism and authoritarianism is almost complete. Our only hope is that the anger of the electorate is not something to be fiddled with come November. The sound bites from the fake trial will be played over and over.
The damage that has been done though is much greater. It is something that we can't yet measure completely. The fact is that our Constitution has been proven to be vulnerable to selfish and unethical men and women. Profiles in cowardice rule the day.
Friday, January 31, 2020
Sunday, January 26, 2020
Cover Up Falling Apart
Well with the latest reporting from the New York Times and Washington Post, it looks like Donald Trump's cover up is falling apart as excerpts from John Bolton's book make an appearance. On top of everything else, it seems the White House has had the manuscripts in their possession since Dec. 30th. Plenty of time to see this one coming.
So now what? The ball is in your Court (literally) Senators. You can call him (Bolton), Mulvaney, Pompeo, Blair, etc. and have them testify under oath. Clear everything up and get it behind us........but you probably won't. My guess is that the White House and the attorneys for the President, with help from Mitch McConnell and GOP Senators will try to close this whole thing down as soon as possible. Boom, over and done with. Nice try but it won't work. More is coming - drip, drip, drip. The stain will grow in size. It can't be scrubbed away.
Nov. will come and go and so will a good many of these politicians, crooks and hangers on. Open the windows, swing open the doors. Let the wind of change help clean up this mess. Fools didn't realize that the covers do come off and yes it is and will continue to fall apart.
So now what? The ball is in your Court (literally) Senators. You can call him (Bolton), Mulvaney, Pompeo, Blair, etc. and have them testify under oath. Clear everything up and get it behind us........but you probably won't. My guess is that the White House and the attorneys for the President, with help from Mitch McConnell and GOP Senators will try to close this whole thing down as soon as possible. Boom, over and done with. Nice try but it won't work. More is coming - drip, drip, drip. The stain will grow in size. It can't be scrubbed away.
Nov. will come and go and so will a good many of these politicians, crooks and hangers on. Open the windows, swing open the doors. Let the wind of change help clean up this mess. Fools didn't realize that the covers do come off and yes it is and will continue to fall apart.
Saturday, January 25, 2020
A Constitution and Democracy Under Siege
I'm to the point where I sometimes wonder why I continue to write. I usually come around quickly as I'm reminded that writing has become my form of protest and resistance. It's not as easy to march, rally, be arrested or go to jail as it was in my youth. Especially now as I experience more physical limitations. So I write because I believe it may stir a conscience here or there. Writing is my form of protest. Perhaps it will help to set off the alarm bells and sirens as we see institutions and values crumbling in front of our eyes.
Which brings me to the crumbling state of our Constitution and our democracy. It is not only those things that are crumbling by the way. We are also seeing the Republican Party disappearing before our eyes. I watched the Impeachment Trial last night as the House Managers wrapped up their case and presentation against President Donald Trump. There have been criticisms about the repetition and tediousness of the trial so far. There has also been praise for the arguments and passion that Adam Schiff and others have given through the process. The building of a solid case for impeachment and removal from office based on facts has been laid out.
The signs of trouble ahead though are very clear. A GOP Senator sends a note to the Chief Justice and complains about strong arguments that can and should be made about how enabling a President can make you a participant in the coverup of his actions. Others feign outrage when Adam Schiff quotes a news article about what the President's reaction may be if GOP Senators vote against his positions. Imagine, quoting a news article. Yes these are the so called moderate Senators who are so disgusted with Schiff but who at the same time accept the language and actions of a Presidential bully. Yes Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins are so offended by Schiff's words but they accept Donald Trump's boorish behavior. That's not all that they accept. They seem to accept that the Constitution cannot be upheld when a demagogue is in power. They seem to accept that their branch of government is not equal to the Executive or Judicial branches. They seem to accept that misconduct and foreign interference in our elections is okay and the norm. They seem to accept that a rigged trial without witnesses or crucial documents is the new standard. These are the moderates.
Now we await the President's defense. His lawyers are about to attack the process and attack the opposition. They will try to persuade the jurors and judges that they don't need witnesses or documents. They will argue about Executive Privilege that has not been invoked. Finally they will most likely do what the President tried over and over to do. They will probably attack the President's political opponent. They will question Joe Biden's ethics and actions while accepting the actions and ethics of Donald Trump. The question is, will they argue the facts? Will they defend the facts? We shall see. People are hoping for some kind of epiphany or perhaps a turnaround in the partisan positions taken by both sides. But hoping never works very well. Hoping is not an action. Real actions are going to be necessary very soon.
Which brings me to the crumbling state of our Constitution and our democracy. It is not only those things that are crumbling by the way. We are also seeing the Republican Party disappearing before our eyes. I watched the Impeachment Trial last night as the House Managers wrapped up their case and presentation against President Donald Trump. There have been criticisms about the repetition and tediousness of the trial so far. There has also been praise for the arguments and passion that Adam Schiff and others have given through the process. The building of a solid case for impeachment and removal from office based on facts has been laid out.
The signs of trouble ahead though are very clear. A GOP Senator sends a note to the Chief Justice and complains about strong arguments that can and should be made about how enabling a President can make you a participant in the coverup of his actions. Others feign outrage when Adam Schiff quotes a news article about what the President's reaction may be if GOP Senators vote against his positions. Imagine, quoting a news article. Yes these are the so called moderate Senators who are so disgusted with Schiff but who at the same time accept the language and actions of a Presidential bully. Yes Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins are so offended by Schiff's words but they accept Donald Trump's boorish behavior. That's not all that they accept. They seem to accept that the Constitution cannot be upheld when a demagogue is in power. They seem to accept that their branch of government is not equal to the Executive or Judicial branches. They seem to accept that misconduct and foreign interference in our elections is okay and the norm. They seem to accept that a rigged trial without witnesses or crucial documents is the new standard. These are the moderates.
Now we await the President's defense. His lawyers are about to attack the process and attack the opposition. They will try to persuade the jurors and judges that they don't need witnesses or documents. They will argue about Executive Privilege that has not been invoked. Finally they will most likely do what the President tried over and over to do. They will probably attack the President's political opponent. They will question Joe Biden's ethics and actions while accepting the actions and ethics of Donald Trump. The question is, will they argue the facts? Will they defend the facts? We shall see. People are hoping for some kind of epiphany or perhaps a turnaround in the partisan positions taken by both sides. But hoping never works very well. Hoping is not an action. Real actions are going to be necessary very soon.
Monday, January 20, 2020
In The Still of The Night - Mitch McConnell's Trial Rules
All of us have had some experience with the justice system. If not ourselves, a relative, friend or co-worker has shared their story. Maybe it was a traffic ticket, or jury duty, or a credit or real estate deal with problems. Some have probably experienced more serious issues as the accused or as a victim. Something was stolen, there was harassment or a physical confrontation. And it doesn't necessarily have to be through a court of law. It could be interactions with a Human Resources Department, a School Board, or an organization we belong to. Our view of justice and fairness though comes from these experiences.
With this backdrop, we are all beginning to see how justice may or may not work when you're the President of the United States and your trial is held in the US Senate, currently under the leadership and stewardship of Mitch McConnell. I mention stewardship because the US Senate is one of those institutions with a mighty past that needs protection from those who may want to change its functions forever.
The President of the United States is on trial. It seems that the rules for his trial will be much different than anything many of us are familiar with. It looks more and more like this trial will not allow witnesses or important facts to be presented. It also looks like a real defense will not even be necessary. Instead, it seems that a show trial will be the basis of what occurs. Rules have been established by Mitch McConnell with little to no bipartisan agreement. One of these rules deals with the hours and time frame of the trial itself. Due to the Chief Justice's duties that continue on the Supreme Court, the trial's hours will begin at 1:00pm each day and may continue for up to 12 hours per day for the presentation of the prosecution and the defense. This means that trial presentations will go potentially until 1:00am in the morning. Much of the proceedings will be late at night based on these hours, out of the public view. In the still of the night, prosecutors, defense attorneys, Senators, and the Chief Judge will hold a trial that accuses the President of Abuse of Power and Obstruction of Congress.
Yes, we should all be wondering and asking how this stacks up against our own experiences with justice? Is this the way it's supposed to work? Is this what we can and should expect for ourselves in the future? Can a person with so much power actually walk down 5th Ave and shoot someone with no one flinching and no consequences? Is the silence of the night, the silence we should expect to hear from Senators? Let's hope not, but I fear it may be and that our country is in much more trouble than most can imagine.
With this backdrop, we are all beginning to see how justice may or may not work when you're the President of the United States and your trial is held in the US Senate, currently under the leadership and stewardship of Mitch McConnell. I mention stewardship because the US Senate is one of those institutions with a mighty past that needs protection from those who may want to change its functions forever.
The President of the United States is on trial. It seems that the rules for his trial will be much different than anything many of us are familiar with. It looks more and more like this trial will not allow witnesses or important facts to be presented. It also looks like a real defense will not even be necessary. Instead, it seems that a show trial will be the basis of what occurs. Rules have been established by Mitch McConnell with little to no bipartisan agreement. One of these rules deals with the hours and time frame of the trial itself. Due to the Chief Justice's duties that continue on the Supreme Court, the trial's hours will begin at 1:00pm each day and may continue for up to 12 hours per day for the presentation of the prosecution and the defense. This means that trial presentations will go potentially until 1:00am in the morning. Much of the proceedings will be late at night based on these hours, out of the public view. In the still of the night, prosecutors, defense attorneys, Senators, and the Chief Judge will hold a trial that accuses the President of Abuse of Power and Obstruction of Congress.
Yes, we should all be wondering and asking how this stacks up against our own experiences with justice? Is this the way it's supposed to work? Is this what we can and should expect for ourselves in the future? Can a person with so much power actually walk down 5th Ave and shoot someone with no one flinching and no consequences? Is the silence of the night, the silence we should expect to hear from Senators? Let's hope not, but I fear it may be and that our country is in much more trouble than most can imagine.
Sunday, January 19, 2020
Celebrating MLK's Birthday Shouldn't Be Easy
Martin Luther King, Jr was a preacher, an organizer, a radical and a troublemaker. He was also a teacher, a husband and a father. He became a leader and like many before him, he didn't ask for that leadership role. It was thrust upon him by the times he lived in, by those who needed him and in the end by his conscience. Today, many find it easy to sing his praises, to raise him as a hero and to quote his many words of love and nonviolence.
How real is the praise? Some of it is and some of it isn't. Some of it comes from people who have no real sense of who he was, what he believed in and fought for or the positions he took. There is no better time than the celebration of his birthday to think hard about this man, his work and his message. Yes, a reality check is in order every once in awhile.
We should remember that Martin Luther King, Jr. was not loved for his actions or beliefs by the vast majority of Americans in all parts of the country during his life. He was viewed as a troublemaker, an outsider, a communist and as someone who just didn't know his place. He wasn't well liked by politicians or the media. Even liberals and progressives argued and questioned his motives and actions. We should remember and reflect on why he had to write that letter from a Birmingham Jail. Yes, why did he have to shake the conscience of fellow preachers and clergy to think about and speak up about injustice that stared them in the face each day?
Dr. King encouraged nonviolent confrontation that led to hundreds of people being beaten, water hosed and jailed. He spoke out about the power structure of white society and the unfair economic system that placed millions in constant poverty. He spoke out about the immorality of nuclear arms.
After being influenced by many young people and his own reflections, he spoke out against the war in Vietnam. He wouldn't have supported our current wars, our drones or our weapons of mass destruction. He wouldn't have supported the privilege of a few over the 99%.
Here are some reflections on the eve of his birthday. We need to remember, we are a country that separates families and places children in cells/cages. We are a country that suppresses the votes of people of color. We are a country where people need to worry about their homes and their healthcare.
No, if we look at his history, our history and our present, celebrating Dr. King's birthday shouldn't be easy at all.
How real is the praise? Some of it is and some of it isn't. Some of it comes from people who have no real sense of who he was, what he believed in and fought for or the positions he took. There is no better time than the celebration of his birthday to think hard about this man, his work and his message. Yes, a reality check is in order every once in awhile.
We should remember that Martin Luther King, Jr. was not loved for his actions or beliefs by the vast majority of Americans in all parts of the country during his life. He was viewed as a troublemaker, an outsider, a communist and as someone who just didn't know his place. He wasn't well liked by politicians or the media. Even liberals and progressives argued and questioned his motives and actions. We should remember and reflect on why he had to write that letter from a Birmingham Jail. Yes, why did he have to shake the conscience of fellow preachers and clergy to think about and speak up about injustice that stared them in the face each day?
Dr. King encouraged nonviolent confrontation that led to hundreds of people being beaten, water hosed and jailed. He spoke out about the power structure of white society and the unfair economic system that placed millions in constant poverty. He spoke out about the immorality of nuclear arms.
After being influenced by many young people and his own reflections, he spoke out against the war in Vietnam. He wouldn't have supported our current wars, our drones or our weapons of mass destruction. He wouldn't have supported the privilege of a few over the 99%.
Here are some reflections on the eve of his birthday. We need to remember, we are a country that separates families and places children in cells/cages. We are a country that suppresses the votes of people of color. We are a country where people need to worry about their homes and their healthcare.
No, if we look at his history, our history and our present, celebrating Dr. King's birthday shouldn't be easy at all.
Friday, January 3, 2020
Killing In Your Name
People really need to understand what has just happened. The United States targeted an individual from a sovereign nation and killed him in another sovereign nation. While some will cheer and rant about terrorists, the reality is that we are witnessing political assassination, an attempt at regime change and cold blooded murder. War is hell. People die in war all the time and that's why some oppose it all the time. But when a nation's leader and his generals use the latest technology to target a specific individual for killing it has to be called what it is - murder.
The hypocrisy of the United States being outraged about foreign interference in its elections is staring everyone in the face. Oh yes it's terrible and not right that foreign countries tried and are trying to interfere in US elections. Somehow though, we believe that it is totally appropriate to be involved in regime change in a country like Iran.
We have to come to grips with the moral questions raised by taking people out with precision missile strikes by drones or planes or ships. We have to come to grips with what our reaction will be when a similar action is taken by an 'enemy' and we call that action barbaric or terroristic. America is not the only one, true country with all of the moral high ground on the planet earth.
The hypocrisy of the United States being outraged about foreign interference in its elections is staring everyone in the face. Oh yes it's terrible and not right that foreign countries tried and are trying to interfere in US elections. Somehow though, we believe that it is totally appropriate to be involved in regime change in a country like Iran.
We have to come to grips with the moral questions raised by taking people out with precision missile strikes by drones or planes or ships. We have to come to grips with what our reaction will be when a similar action is taken by an 'enemy' and we call that action barbaric or terroristic. America is not the only one, true country with all of the moral high ground on the planet earth.
Wednesday, January 1, 2020
A Hero - John Lewis - Continues to Inspire
Rep. John Lewis is a true American hero. He's also one of mine. He's an example of a man who knows who he is, who knows what's right and who knows when and how to act for the sake of peace and justice.
John Lewis has inspired many over the years, partly because of his history at the foot of the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama in 1965 and partly because of his commitment to non violence in general as well as his commitment to civility in Congress. The video and still photos of Lewis and others being beaten in Selma are embedded in history forever. Here's the other thing that draws people to John Lewis. He really believes in those things he preaches, teaches and talks to all of us about. He believes in non violence, turning the other cheek, forgiving your enemy and standing strong in the face of injustice.
Lewis has spoken to elementary, high school and college students all over the country. He has told them over and over that they should go out in the world and to get into trouble, good trouble as he makes sure to clarify. His view of good trouble is standing up to injustice no matter where it appears. No matter if its in your school, at your workplace or in government on any level. But his message about getting into trouble is also wedded with discussions about the importance of civility and getting along, finding compromise but not compromising your beliefs.
John Lewis has always understood the power of non violence. He also has understood the power of music and how it plays a role in uniting people during a protest. Lewis uses this understanding every year when he brings members of Congress together for an annual Civil Rights Pilgrimage that usually includes Birmingham, Montgomery and Selma, Alabama. Visiting iconic sites where blood was spilt, and injustice confronted, Lewis makes sure that non violence is discussed and explored. He makes sure that people not only hear the music but also participate in the songs and chants of the movement.
I've been lucky enough to march with John Lewis a couple of times. First in 1965 in Selma when I was one of thousands of people who responded to Martin Luther King, Jr's call for people from other parts of the country to come and join in the protests for voting rights. Then again in 2007 when I joined then Congressman Amo Houghton from my area in one of those Congressional Pilgrimages led by Lewis.
John Lewis recently announced that he has stage 4 pancreatic cancer and is undergoing treatment. He says this is the hardest journey he has ever undertaken but he is moving forward. So a hero continues his march. We should all learn from him. This good troublemaker deserves as much support as we can all offer him. He is a treasure. He's still here doing what he does best, standing his ground and inspiring young and old.
John Lewis has inspired many over the years, partly because of his history at the foot of the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama in 1965 and partly because of his commitment to non violence in general as well as his commitment to civility in Congress. The video and still photos of Lewis and others being beaten in Selma are embedded in history forever. Here's the other thing that draws people to John Lewis. He really believes in those things he preaches, teaches and talks to all of us about. He believes in non violence, turning the other cheek, forgiving your enemy and standing strong in the face of injustice.
Lewis has spoken to elementary, high school and college students all over the country. He has told them over and over that they should go out in the world and to get into trouble, good trouble as he makes sure to clarify. His view of good trouble is standing up to injustice no matter where it appears. No matter if its in your school, at your workplace or in government on any level. But his message about getting into trouble is also wedded with discussions about the importance of civility and getting along, finding compromise but not compromising your beliefs.
John Lewis has always understood the power of non violence. He also has understood the power of music and how it plays a role in uniting people during a protest. Lewis uses this understanding every year when he brings members of Congress together for an annual Civil Rights Pilgrimage that usually includes Birmingham, Montgomery and Selma, Alabama. Visiting iconic sites where blood was spilt, and injustice confronted, Lewis makes sure that non violence is discussed and explored. He makes sure that people not only hear the music but also participate in the songs and chants of the movement.
I've been lucky enough to march with John Lewis a couple of times. First in 1965 in Selma when I was one of thousands of people who responded to Martin Luther King, Jr's call for people from other parts of the country to come and join in the protests for voting rights. Then again in 2007 when I joined then Congressman Amo Houghton from my area in one of those Congressional Pilgrimages led by Lewis.
John Lewis recently announced that he has stage 4 pancreatic cancer and is undergoing treatment. He says this is the hardest journey he has ever undertaken but he is moving forward. So a hero continues his march. We should all learn from him. This good troublemaker deserves as much support as we can all offer him. He is a treasure. He's still here doing what he does best, standing his ground and inspiring young and old.
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