Today will be another attempt to catch up on recent events, spiced with a few observations and thoughts. I’ll explain the title at the end.

Only A Fool Would Believe

Saturday night Donald Trump, (a/k/a the former guy), held one of his ego satisfying rallies in Texas. He mainly did his aging rock star greatest hits (a/k/a lies) act but he added a new and frightening “song”. He indicated that he would pardon the January 6th domestic terrorists. He hinted is that he might also pardon himself if necessary. The latter is clearly unconstitutional (except probably in Clarence “Just Give The Money To Virginia” Thomas’ “mind”); the former is chilling.

Trump’s words give new meaning to the phrase, “I alone can fix it.”

Only a fool would believe a Trump promise, especially a vague one; but then his most fervent supporters resemble that remark.

It’s Still The Economy But Stupid Takes On A Different Connotation 30 Years Later

Thursday some economic numbers came out telling the true story that overall, the American economy is pretty good. The issue is that the Democrats are doing a lousy job of communicating that to the voters. The economy grew at a rate of 1.7% (for an annualized rate of 6.9%) in the fourth quarter despite supply chain issues and the Omicron variant.

Unemployment stands at an incredible 3.9%.

Is it any wonder that the Fed is signaling a pending rate increase?

All this an we haven’t had a Biden economic bailout package. My only question is if the Democrats can communicate the great economic news to the less well educated among us.

What A Difference The Absence Of Sabotage Makes

A record 14.5 million Americans enrolled in Obamacare this past enrollment period. The Biden administration was not trying to sabotage the plan; the Trump administration did. The bottom line is that more Americans will live longer and healthier lives.

The Graham Factor

On Sunday, Republican South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham had nothing but great things to say about J. Michelle Childs. The contest is far from over even though I think the field is small. Since Graham both sits on the Senate Judiciary Committee and has often voted from the judicial nominees of Democratic presidents his words are worth considering. Biden is savvy in the ways of the Senate and this committee in particular. I wouldn’t doubt that he will have a conversation with Graham before announcing his nominee. Graham may or may not be the queenmaker here but his thoughts will be sought and will certainly be taken into consideration.

A Big Deal That Got Little Attention

In the standoff with Russia over Ukraine a factor that cannot be dismissed is the fact that many European NATO members are significantly dependent on Russia for fuel. The Biden administration is making provisions to plug the gap in the event the Russians turn off the tap.

Trump Trouble In Georgia

Fulton County DA, Fani Willis, got the green light from the county’s judges to empanel a special grand jury to look into possible illegal election activity by Donald Trump. The walls just keep closing in on Trump. Sooner or later one or more of them is bound to crush him. I find a poetic justice in that several of the walls are being “pushed” by Black women. Trump has a problem with women; especially women of color.

An Update And Clarification

A few days ago, I wrote that Trump “attorney” John Eastman had taken the Fifth about 150 times when interviewed by the January 6th Committee. Well, I overstated that by a bit if you took my statement to the maximum. He only took the Fifth 146 times. Do you really want an apology from me John?

Truth In Advertising

There is no truth to the rumor that the Republican National Committee (RNC) is changing its name to the Trump Legal Defense Fund although that would be a more accurate financial disclosure.

The New Felony Squad

Republican Representative Jeff Fortenberry, who is under federal felony indictment, announced that he will seek reelection (and will probably win). The first two House members to endorse Trump in 2016, (Chris Collins and Duncan Hunter, Jr.), were convicted, resigned and subsequently pardoned by Trump on his way out the door in 2021. Things are looking worse and worse for Florida’s Matt Gaetz. Is Kevin McCarthy going to call his caucus the Felony Squad?

A Self-Liquidating Problem?

At least from a fatality standpoint, COVID-19 has become primarily a red disease. Vaccine resistance is almost exclusively Republican. While breakthrough case of the fully vaccinated do occur only 1 in 34,000, (.003%), end in death. Serious cases requiring intense hospitalization are almost exclusively the unvaccinated.

I know the word is considered crude, but baring age or a medical issue, only the stupid are refusing vaccination. Could they be self-liquidating and the problem will diminish with them in a sort of natural selection?

Oh, Brother

I neither have the time nor the interest to chase down every item of right wing mythology so I don’t know the details of this false one. There is something going around about Georgia’s Secretary of State, Brad Raffensperger’s, brother. The rumor is obviously false because he doesn’t have a brother.

If We Get Nothing Else

If we get nothing else out of the 1/6 Committee, can we at least get a federal law making domestic terrorism illegal? I really don’t think that is too much to ask!

Streamline The Process

This one won’t happen anytime soon but that does not diminish the fact that it is needed. We have one of the most convoluted and complex processes of electing a president that mankind has ever known. I’m for eliminating the Electoral College and replacing it with a simple popular vote. That isn’t going to happen, at least not in the foreseeable future.

Beyond that we have a plethora of steps. Theoretically they help prevent fraud/tampering and ensure the integrity of our elections. In reality they are just additional vulnerabilities that bad people can exploit. It is probably too much to ask, but I’d like to see the 1/6 committee come up with a streamlined procedure and it to become law.

People Power

I wanted to end on a high note, (last segment anyway). Russia had announced it would be holding live fire naval exercises off the coast of Ireland in waters Irish commercial fisherman use. The fishermen said they were fishing and that was that. They planned on taking around 50 or 60 boats into those waters. The Russian Navy has backed down announcing they would move the location of the exercises. NATO and the Ukraine may be somewhat confused and intimidated by Russia but a bunch of Irish fishermen aren’t.

I chose “Trying Again” as this article’s title. I really don’t know if I meant I was trying to catch up again or that for the most part the news is trying again.

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