Month: June 2023

Away For Next Two Weeks On Vacation, On Baseball Stadium Tour!

Ronald 19 Comments

To all my readers and followers:

I will not be online or contributing any posts on public affairs for the next two weeks, as I am going on vacation with my older son, on a baseball stadium tour, including Washington DC, and the states of Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, and Illinois, both National League and American League Major League Baseball games at 8 stadiums!

I realize a lot of news will occur, but everyone needs a break, so I look forward to resumption of commentary at the end of June!

Everyone who reads and follows me, including those who are on vacation, have a great time away from “reality”, which all of us need in this “crazy” world!

With Trump Criminal Indictment, Many Republican Senators Back Away From Endorsements!

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Donald Trump has become the first President to be criminally indicted by the US Government, alongside his indictment by the state government in New York, and also being impeached twice while President.

Today, Trump has reached his 77th birthday, and there are already signs of dwindling support for the 45th President, with the crowds at his two indictments being nowhere near what he asked of his supporters.

And at least in the US Senate, there are many Republicans who are moving away from Trump, at the least neutral, but with some endorsing other Republican contenders or considering such.

There is concern that Trump would take down the party in Congressional elections in 2024, and cannot win the Presidential election against Joe Biden.

One must recall that Trump has NEVER won the popular vote, neither in 2016 nor 2020, and each time the Republicans have been on the ballot since his election, they have lost control of the House of Representatives in 2018, the Senate in 2020, and only barely won control of the House of Representatives in 2022, while seeing a Democratic gain in the Senate of one seat. Additionally, many gubernatorial races have been lost by candidates backing Trump on his claim that he won the Presidential Election of 2020,despite more than 60 court cases showing otherwise!

The Senate Minority Leader, Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, refuses to comment on the Trump indictment, but the two men have not spoken since the January 6, 2021 US Capitol Insurrection.

Second ranking Republican John Thune has expressed criticism of Trump, and has endorsed South Carolina Senator Tim Scott for President, along with the other South Dakota Senator—Mike Rounds. And the two North Dakota Senators, Kevin Cramer and John Hoeven are backing North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum, the “forgotten” Presidential contender.

Mitt Romney of Utah, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, and Susan Collins of Maine are also critical of Trump, as are Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia and Bill Cassidy of Louisiana.

Only about ten Republican Senators are supportive openly of Trump.

Chris Christie The 2024 Republican Version Of Jon Huntsman In 2012 And John Kasich In 2016!

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This author and blogger has always tried to find a Republican Presidential contender who he could consider “acceptable” if such candidate was to be the party nominee, and potentially win the Presidency.

So in 2012, former Utah Governor and Barack Obama’s Ambassador to China Jon Huntsman was seen as the “Best” choice of the opposition party, and seen as very competent and decent, although not preferred by this author and blogger over reelection of Obama. Of course, it turned out that former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney was the Republican Presidential nominee in 2012.

Then in 2016, it was clear to this author and blogger that Ohio Governor John Kasich was the “Best” choice of the 17 Republicans running for President. His record was not “preferable” over Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, but like with Huntsman, Kasich came across as very competent and decent, over the eventual nominee, Donald Trump.

Now for 2024, while the Republican field of Presidential candidates is undesirable over the alternative of Joe Biden, it is clear that former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, particularly after last night’s CNN Town Hall, is by far the best choice of a horrible lot.

Christie is, however, far from as “decent” as Huntsman and Kasich were, and one almost wishes that either or both Huntsman and Kasich were running for President now!

But while disagreeing with Christie on many matters, he is strong in condemning Donald Trump, while no other Republican candidate is willing to do so, and he comes across as rational and reasonable.

However, the so called “Bridgegate” scandal that led to blockage of traffic on the George Washington Bridge between New York and New Jersey was a major stain on his record, and his brashness and bullying nature has some elements of Donald Trump.

And of course, he DID work with and support Donald Trump after his own failed candidacy in 2016!

This is more a case of looking for the candidate with the fewest evils, rather than the overall decency and competence of Jon Huntsman and John Kasich.

Christie is the least liked Republican candidate in the field, and is almost certainly to have very little chance of being the nominee, but again, in a field of terrible candidates, it would be “safer” for him to be the opponent of Joe Biden than anyone else in a horrendous field of candidates.

The sad situation that America is faced with in 2024 is that it is absolutely essential that Donald Trump never have a chance for a second term, and hopefully, Christie’s broad based attack on Trump will, at the least, prevent Trump from having the opportunity to be on the ballot at a time when he will be on trial for criiminal actions.

It is also urgent that the nation reelect Joe Biden as the only truly sane answer for the next term in the Presidency!

Crazy: Many Republicans And Right Wing Media Calling For Revolution And Sedition!

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It is crazy and unbelievable to see many Republicans and Right Wing Media calling for revolution and violence because Donald Trump is facing prosecution for endangering national security by his illegal possession of highly sensitive documents at his Mar a Lago estate in Florida!

This craziness is being heard and seen on Fox News Channel, NewsMax, and on talk radio shows.

Among those advocting revolution, violence, and retribution, besides Donald Trump himself, are members of his family; failed Arizona gubernatorial nominee Kari Lake; right wing lunatic Mark Levin; Right wing activist Charlie Kirk; disinformation super spreader Alex Jones; Fox News Host Tucker Carlson; Donald Trump Jr’s fiancee Kimberly Guilfoyle; Arizona Congressman Andy Biggs; Georgia Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene; and a host of other extremists.

And Republican Presidential contenders, except for Chris Christie and Asa Hutchinson, are talking about pardons for January 6 insurrectionists and Trump himself, if any of them were to be elected President.

And top Republican leaders, at least in the House of Representatives, including Speaker Kevin McCarthy, are failing to realize how Trump endangered the national security of the US!

And Donald Trump, in two rallies since the announcement of the indictment, has promoted threats and violence against the prosecutor Jack Smith; the Department of Justice; and the FBI, making him “a clear and present danger” to the American government and nation!

Meanwhile, at least two former Trump Cabinet officers, Attorney General William Barr, and National Security Adviser John Bolton, have made it clear that the case against Donald Trump is very strong and powerful!

The Way To A Democratic House Of Representatives Majority In The 119th Congress!

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With the Democratic Party only needing to gain a minimum of five seats in the House of Representatives in the Congressional Elections of 2024, some key points to make.

California, Florida and New York, three of the four largest Congressional delegations due to their large populations, have Republican members who won in 2022, but represent districts won by Joe Biden in 2020.

Partisan gerrymandering in both New York and Florida also were the key to Republicans winning a small majority of five seats, which has upended so much in the 118th Congress.

Now, with the Supreme Court backing a challenge to an Alabama reapportionment that denied African Americans fair representation, there is also a good chance of gaining a seat in that state, plus the possibility of the same gains in Texas, Florida, and a few other states that have undermined black or Latino representation based on their proportion of state populations.

With the 118th Congress unable to accomplish much under Republican Speaker Kevin McCarthy, the odds are growing that the Democrats will win back control of the House, and by more than just a bare margin.

A major Joe Biden victory against Donald Trump and other MAGA Republicans could produce a second term of major movement forward, both in Congress and the White House!

Shocking Military And Intelligence Documents At Mar A Lago Makes Trump A Massive National Security Threat!

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The detailed 37 count indictment against Donald Trump reveal shocking military and intelligence documents held at Mar a Lago, and often shared with others, making Trump a massive national security threat!

Trump’s lies and deceit have made America less secure in its relations with its foreign allies, but also may have revealed deep military and intelligence sources that might help our foreign enemies to undermine America’s ability to deal with the constant threats from those nations that would wish us ill!

Everyone who serves in the military, and in intelligence agencies, is in danger, and who can say that there have not been victims who the nation will never learn about!

Donald Trump To Be Indicted In South Florida Court On Tuesday June 13

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Donald Trump is about to be the first President to be federally indicted, on 37 counts of violation of the Espionage Act; unauthorized retention of national security documents at his Palm Beach estate Mar a Lago; conspiracy to break the law knowingly; obstruction to conceal records; false statements to law enforcement officers; and likely mishandling of official documents, and other charges not yet made public before next Tuesday in a South Florida federal court.

If Trump had not retained documents he was not allowed to have in his private possession, and then refused to hand them all back to the government in a timely fashion, this situation would never have developed as it has!

This is a sad moment, but unavoidable for upholding the Constitution, rule of law, and American democracy.

This is a crisis time now, as Trump supporters could be liable to conduct themselves as they did on January 6, 2021, and provoke violence and bloodshed anywhere and everywhere.

And the Republican Party, with only a few exceptions, is falling in line behind Trump, accusing the Biden Presidency of having conspired against an opponent, continuing their defense of a man who incited an insurrection against the government, and put former Vice President Mike Pence and all members of Congress into danger of bloodshed and violence on January 6, 2021.

It is the grand jury that is bringing charges based on evidence, not the President or anyone else in the government, as the right wing extremists are claiming.

No one is above the law, and Donald Trump now stands as twice impeached, and twice indicted, with the likelihood of still two more indictments at the minimum, regarding the Insurrection and the interference in Georgia voting!

It Seems Donald Trump Finally Will Be Indicted In Documents Case

Ronald 6 Comments

It now seems that former President Donald Trump finally will be indicted in the Mar a Lago Documents case, and likely very soon.

He also faces likely prosecution in Georgia and in Washington DC, and South Florida has also been added, due to the controversy over the holding of government documents at Trump’s Palm Beach County estate.

After tedious investigations, including that by the January 6 House Committee, and grand juries in different locations, it is time for prosecution to hold Trump accountable for his illegal, unconscionable actions against American democracy, the Constitution, and the rule of law!

Mike Pence And Chris Christie Enter The Presidential Race

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Between yesterday and today, two more contenders for the Republican Presidential nomination have announced their candidacies to challenge former President Donald Trump.

Former Vice President Mike Pence and former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie have very little opportunity, as the situation stands at the moment, to be successful in their quest for the Presidency.

Pence will be on a CNN Town Hall tonight, and Christie is well known for having ability to speak up and gain interviews without any issues.

Christie will be the most critical of any Republican candidate, but Pence is expected to avoid much criticism of his former boss, wishing not to alienate MAGA supporters.

If anything, Christie might have more credibility than Pence, who comes across as very weak and unwilling to emphasize how his life was in danger on January 6.

But with the Republican Party demanding all participants in the first Republican debate on Fox News Channel on Wednesday August 23 to take an oath to support the party nominee, Christie might not be eligible to participate in party debates.

Mike Pence is trying to use evangelical Christians in Iowa to promote his candidacy, while Chris Christie is appealing to New Hampshire as his location to advance his candidacy.

June 6, 1944 And June 6, 1968: Turning Points In American History!

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June 6 is a special day in American history, as two events 24 years apart have had a great effect on the nation and the world.

The sacrifices of Allied soldiers from the US, Canada, and Great Britain in 1944 at Normandy, on D Day, started the process of liberation of Europe from the horrors of Nazi Germany, and it helped to lead to an unexpected event, the election of Dwight D. Eisenhower, to the Presidency in 1952.

24 years later, New York Senator Robert F. Kennedy was tragically assassinated in Los Angeles, after having won the California Presidential primary, with the growing belief that he might become the Democratic Presidential nominee in 1968.

His tragic passing sadly ended with the election of Richard Nixon, and the rise of right wing Republican conservatism 12 years later, with the election of Ronald Reagan.

The political effects of both events shaped the future, and mostly led to unfortunate events that prevented the nation from moving in the proper direction, particularly after 1968.