The Supreme Court Kavanaugh Debacle

Things they don't explain-

By Chuck Marshall

   The honorable Ruth Bader Ginsburg, United States Supreme Court Justice



    It is frustrating to me that we watch as members of our media, our entertainment,  our sports teams, and even members of our wonderful government start ringing alarms regarding a situation that is currently in the news and they reveal how much they don't understand their own government.   Put in another way;  The don't know what the fuc* they're talking about OR if they do they are misleading the public on purpose to stir the pot.  Most likely, it's both.  They know they're lying, they just don't know exactly in what way. 

     The best current example of this is the selection Judge Kavanaugh to replace Justice Kennedy as one of the sitting nine justices of the supreme court.  He was selected by President Trump for this life-long (unfortunately for all of us)  position early this summer.  This will give the conservatives a clear majority for rulings at the highest level of  our judiciary.  The left wing of our nation has gone apoplectic thinking Roe VS Wade will be overturned and so they have turned the entire occasion into a bizarre "blast to the past" of early 80's house parties with horny, drunken teenagers.  I am not commenting on what was done because I was not there and like the rest of the world,  I have no idea.  That's why we have courts and law enforcement to sort it all out.  Today it's all all a matter of  "he said- she said" absurdity drummed up by the Democrats and the media to block Republican  progress and to increase the ratings for their, flat, unintelligent analysis trotted out every evening by dimwitted, "talking heads".

    I can comment on something that the media rarely brings up.  The reality of the situation and why both parties, as usual, are a detriment to our country and they are useless bags of hot air intent on helping  nobody with the very big exception of themselves.     

A)  Overturning Roe VS Wade is highly unlikely, and Kavanaugh just like Gorsich before him  (also appointed by Trump last year)  has commented that he would not consider overturning Roe Vs Wade, (the Supreme court ruling from the early 70's that made abortion legal, or at least "not illegal").  The prevailing opinion, even in conservative circles, is that abortion is the "law of the land".  The exception could be limits on when the abortion occurs and that would be left up to the states.  So, for 99.9% of the population nothing is likely to change at all even if the entire court is conservative.

B)   The bigger problem is that we're in this situation at all where the supreme court justice is seen as so important to the course of our nation.  The courts should not and were never meant to have so much power that they can create law by simply declaring something one way or another.  Congress, aka the legislative branch of the US government WRITES the laws, The President ENFORCES the laws, the Courts INTERPRET the laws.  That's how it is supposed to be.  Nowhere is it said or written that the courts can also be used as a weapon to enhance any political philosophy.  But here we are.

C) Keeping justices for life is an unfortunate detail of our government that IMHO does harm to the Republic.  The idea of "lifetime" when this was written into law was that man was expected to live to be in his 50's.   Anything over 80 would have been laughable due to the unlikelihood and the humor of seeing such an old person with such power.  It would have been compared to the lunacy of various kings and queens that populated Europe at the time.  Today of course, it's more common than not to live into your 80's.  We see the consequences of one party holding onto power through the courts in the picture above.  This, as many aspects of our government, has become a joke.

       Mostly I blame  Congress for it's never ending partisan politics and shocking inability to get anything done with the glaring exception of spending our money.  If Congress did its job, it would be less likely either party would look to the courts to "get their way".  But this is how it has all evolved to today, 2018,  or should I say "has not evolved".

In My Humble Opinion.....

Why You Might Vote for Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump

By Chuck Marshall

After a terribly contentious election year,  which is now drawing to a close,  I've decided to write a positive blog elaborating on the good in both candidates-- to help anyone who is feeling so flustered or concerned about their selection.  Don't fret too much about the whole thing.  We still live in a free society where the fact of the matter is, whoever is elected will have their power checked by the other branches of government and the press. In fact, that's one of the keys to my complaints about the election process is the candidates are never engaged with questions as to what they would do to work with Congress.  President Obama was, in my humble opinion, a failure in this endeavor.  

Why you might vote for Hillary Clinton:

1)  Hillary has a great degree of experience having served 30 years in various forms of the government.   Most importantly, as Secretary of State for 4 years.   An essential aspect of the American President is diplomacy and foreign affairs.   There is no learning curve here.

2)  Hillary served as a US Senator.  This experience should prove invaluable in her quickly getting to work,  in cooperation  with Congress,  to accomplishing  things done at the top level.   Can you imagine a government that actually gets things done ?  Again, there is no learning curve here.

3)  Having been married to the President of the United States for 8 years, surely she learned quite a lot, and with all due acknowledgement to Bill Clinton's problems, the 90's were a very prosperous decade.  As she learns the process, her husband should be an enormous asset for her and for the country.

4)  I think Hillary is (underneath all the rhetoric)  a moderate Democrat not a left wing Democrat like Obama., therefor she's more likely to work with Congress.  Again, one of the most important aspects of being President is working with Congress.  She has the knowledge and ability and political wisdom to get things done no matter which party is running Congress.

5)  She's obviously very intelligent.  I think we all want our President to be as highly intelligent as is possible.  The stakes are so very high.

6)   People say "she's not likable".   Not being "likable" is not a reason to dismiss a candidate.  As Oprah Winfrey put it;  "She's not gong to be coming over to your house".   In addition, she seems to be a good mother to Chelsea., and Chelsea seems to be a fine and successful young woman.  You can't fake good kids.


Why you might vote for Donald Trump;

1)  Donald has been an important part of raising his children, despite being divorced from their mother (except for the youngest, of course).   All of his kids seem to be very bright and successful and happy.  That takes a lot of doing, commitment and love.  Again, you can't fake good kids.

2) A successful businessman,  Donald understands how to negotiate and deal with situations in the best interest of his business and his family.   As the President he will be negotiating and dealing in the best interest of the American people.  I'm not sure we've ever had a good  negotiator as President, so this could yield even more than anyone thinks.

3)  Donald is unpredictable, which I know Wall Street hates, but our enemies also hate it.  I feel like ISIS  is far less  likely to attack our country when  President Trump has openly questioned why we don't use nuclear weapons "since we have them".  That will jolt them  awake from their sleep during any of their barbaric plans to harm our country.

4)  Tireless.  I am very, very impressed with his work ethic.  The man does not stop, and he is more determined than I've ever seen anyone to succeed.   That sort of determination is what we need in a President, and on the side of the American people.

5)  Although Republican, I think everybody knows the Republican hierarchy see Trump as a highly unfortunate nominee.  A political nightmare.   They have demonstrated this by not lifting a finger to help the man out.  Because of this, I think Trump will be in a prime position to be one of the least partisan Presidents we've had in a long time.  The government must get back to "doing things"., and stop arguing about everything.  Perhaps Trump, of all people, could be the one to do that. Can you imagine the irony ?

6) Trump owes nothing to anyone, he self financed his election and is already financially successful.  It's  nice  to consider there aren't little "deals" going on after he's elected to help wealthy interests get what they want ahead of the American citizen.  We come first, and that has been one of the more convincing mantras coming from the Trump camp;  "I am going to be working for you".

Finally, I say a prayer for  our country;  "God please direct our nation to the best outcome for all considered"    Amen.

Sympathy for the Devils

By Chuck Marshall

Across the Board Failure in Governing
   

As I look at the fiasco in our presidential election, I ponder more and more the disaster that is our government.   This is true from the top right down to the local level.  The people are so desperate for change that those who are still members of either of the dominant political parties are choosing the one that is "least" connected to Washington.  Even when it's a socialist handing out goodies at our expense or an odious and perverted candidate such as Donald Trump.  Hey, at least both of them can claim not to be "sold" to the special interests and I agree that's almost enough to support ANY candidate.   So, I  totally sympathize with both Trump and Sanders supporters and their frustration at the status quo.  To keep choosing the Washington insiders is to choose to encourage their inept performance and tacitly condone the actions of the last 30 years.   Performance of total and complete and absolute failure.  (stay tuned for a future blog listing the grievances against our government).

     In DC, it is all a game and all activity springs from the lobbyists and their wants and needs.  Our congressmen work their position as a tool of the special interests and all activity is to keep these specific groups happy and profitable from the process of taxation down to regulations that "won't be too inconvenient" for corporations.  Heaven forbid !   Or, prevention of laws that might tie the hands of our noble leaders on Wall Street and their unrestrained avarice.  Their lust and greed for money truly knows no boundaries.  The needs and interests of the American people come in at "dead" last as a priority for our leaders both on Wall Street and in DC and even here in Florida.    

    At the state level here in Florida, as is probably true in much of the US, we have a legislature that DOES NOTHING to move things forward unless it's in the name of "creating jobs".  All else comes in a distant second, meanwhile Florida's unemployment is at 5.65% (full employment is considered to be around 4.5%- so I can see why they're so desperate to fix this glaring problem (sarcasm)).  Meanwhile citizens have to sue the government to get them to improve our schools.  Citizens have to sue the government to get them to enforce an amendment approved of by a super majority of the people four years ago (fair districts amendment here in Florida).  I'm sure you all have example in your state of similar situations... hopefully not as bad as they are here in Florida !

     Anyway, something has got to change and - once again, I sympathize with Trump/Sanders supporters.  It is a vote that says "I am sick of DC and their corrupt, inept ways".  It is a sad testament to the lack of trust for our leadership in America  that to get anyone's attention candidates must behave as they have these past months.   There are other culprits in all of this, including the citizens themselves- we're all rolled up in this - but the real shame goes to our  leadership for their partisan and inept ways.

Election Process Fails All of Us

    

      It's all a game.  That's what the problem is with our election process.   It has turned into a game- just like football or basketball- where we have the Left VS the Right and it all becomes about the game and not about the actual issues.  The ideas to fix our country are never the focus.  This is why nothing ever gets fixed and why we're in the middle off the most inept., incompetent, disgraceful government the United States has ever had.  It's all a game.  When the focus is the disagreement then the solutions become secondary.  When the focus is specific faults of the candidates' personalities that have nothing to do with leadership., then it's a game.   When it's about who can get the most attention due to outrageous comments,  then it's a game.   The citizens of the United States and the world deserve better than this !  I mention the world because we are the leaders of the world.  The world has little hope of stability and prosperity under the leadership of any other country.  We are it, and we've turned the entire process of Democracy into a game.

     Who's at fault for the game we call politics ?  We all are, because we'd rather watch the candidates at each other's throat than listen to plausible solutions.  We want the game because it's easier to lay back and be entertained rather than think hard about the issues and work to distinguish who can help move our country and the world towards solutions to the problems at hand,  The half-truths that the candidates feed the people are meant for the uninformed American public because it's easy to confuse an issue and disguise the truth from the people under such circumstances.   Political ads, at their core, are all lies.  We're so close to solving serious problems but the brass ring continues to elude us.  We still have wars and recessions and poverty and pollution and uneducated children because we refuse to cooperate and be smart and select leaders who will lead us and bring solidarity and progress    We refuse to do the work that needs to be done therefor we allow the political parties and the media and special interest to lead us by the nose down roads that lead to THEIR  prosperity and THEIR opportunity and THEIR power.  We are the enablers.

     What's the solution ?  1) Remove money from election process in totality. There was a time when elections were the candidates, the voters and a ballot box.   The problem is there's  money to be made, but why is that the obligation of the citizen to allow that ?   2)  Remove any and all advantages that the dominant political parties have in the election process AND in the governing process.  In the beginning of our republic there were no parties and things still "got done".  3)  Educate our children to understand and scrutinize their leaders and to participate in the government.so that they see the complexity of the issues not the "black and white" that we've all been brought up on;  the "left vs "right", "Democrat vs Republican", "conservative vs liberal"  bunk that the media has spoon fed us for so long.  It only behooves  them and their political cronies to maintain the status-quo.  There will always be disagreement, but that should not stop action to  minimize the struggles of the every-day citizen and to encourage liberty and the pursuit of happiness.  We have it in our power to do this.  We owe it to our children to fix this thing we call politics.

Witch-Hunts Sometimes Catch a Witch

By Chuck Marshall


     In my last blog I elaborated on the witch hunt for Ben Carson and how the media attacks and interrogates him for standing up for his principles.  Sometimes a "witch hunt" actually catches a real witch.  Case in point;  Hillary Clinton.   Today she is testifying to the Congressional committee regarding Benghazi.   Exactly what did she know or not know on Sept. 11, 2012 when our ambassador and 3 other Americans were killed ?   Was the White House playing politics with the truth when they claimed it was a video that instigated a mob to attack our embassy when it was actually an organized terrorist attack?   A terrorist attack would have been highly uncomfortable for a sitting President up for reelection so they clearly tried to hide the truth.     What it comes down to is whether she was negligent in protecting our people in Libya AND whether she and the President played politics regarding the details.  I think it goes without saying that they played politics., they're politicians !    Without her coming out and announcing what was true,   I don't see Hillary admitting to anything,  So, they chase the witch but are almost assuredly going to find only a ghost that will slowly vanish before the nation's eyes.  She won't admit to anything and the left is unconcerned with the details as long as their guy...er "gal" gets the White House.  

     Hillary is extremely adept at dodging questions.  She is not an honest person and she never will be.   In addition, and in true partisan fashion the Democrats on the committee are openly defending her position against the Republicans.  Never mind the truth here !  This is the Democratic party's likely choice for the presidency and they will watch her lie her way to the White House rather than stand up for the truth,.  Once again, the division in government is glaring but typical.   The Republicans are asking the tough questions and the Democrats are eager to dismiss the entire thing as, er... partisan politics !   Would the Republicans do the same thing if the situation was reversed ?  During the Nixon hearings there was no partisan politics coming from the right wing as they asked tough questions of all involved with Watergate.  Today I doubt that would be the case.   If  George W. Bush was being questioned under similar circumstances the Democrats would ask the tough questions and the Republicans would gloss over any obvious lies or incompetence (since we're talking about W.Bush !).

      We are a divided nation, and for the political parties the truth and competence and what is right for the American people are all very secondary issues.   This witch will not be burned at the stake.  Far from it.  Her lies and deceit will be ignored and defended so we can take one more step away from a morale country to a country that rings the bells of mendacity in the name of  getting the prize for "our side".  The losers, ever more frequently, are the American people.  

Solutions Elude Political Parties

By Chuck Marshall

As is common in this blog I have to come out and criticize either party for their lack of ideas and solutions.  I do sometimes wonder  if good ideas elude them  because it doesn't behoove them to have ideas.   Recently the Republicans had a stand off with the Democrats and President Obama's "Immigration Reform" which they believe to be "overreaching".  In agreement with them, Obama himself explained many times in the last several years that he would not issue an executive order regarding immigration reform because that would have to come from the legislative branch of government.    But I don't understand 'nor has it been clarified to me what it  is the Republican right wing wishes to do ?  Do they really want to ship all these illegals right back to their home countries?

Instead of proposing a reasonable plan to fix the situation and perhaps offer up legislation that might be agreeable to the President, the GOP decides to try and turn this in to another "anti-Obama" issue and  proceeds to  nearly force a closure of the department of Homeland Security.  Speaker of the House "Boehner" very wisely took the high road and made peace with the Democrats in order to broker a deal that the President wouldn't veto.  Still, they push the country's safety to the edge over their ridiculous partisan political games.    A wise Republican  led congress would see the opportunity to offer other solutions that would help to solve the problem of illegal immigration and leave the legalities of what President Obama has done to the courts.  That's what courts do, folks.  

This is what you get when you load up the government with expert "politicians" not leaders.  Slick lawyers and future lobbyists who are very skilled at making themselves look good during campaigns but they are not good  at leading our country and offering solutions to  very real problems.  Their solution is to do something "anti-Obama" because they can ring that bell in the next round of elections soothing the anger of their constituents and thus securing themselves another term in Congress, and perhaps even more importantly,  securing themselves a "juicy plumb" of a job on K street as a seven figure lobbyist.

In my humble opinion.....