When will the assault on democracy end?

Pearl Harbor, September 11, 2001 and now January 6th.

The New Yorker (click here) is publishing the full report of the House Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack, in partnership with Celadon Books. The edition contains a foreword by the magazine’s editor, David Remnick, which you’ll find below, and an epilogue by Representative Jamie Raskin, a member of the committee.

Our forefathers and mothers came to the USA for freedom. They wanted to live their lives in peace and with the right for free thought and expression of that thought. Who would know after all this time that free thought and peace would be an enemy to anyone?

Merrium-Webster

1: the quality or state of being free: such as

 a: the absence of necessity, coercion, or constraint in choice or action
 b: liberation from slavery or restraint or from the power of another :                           INDEPENDENCE

 c: the quality or state of being exempt or released usually from something                 onerous freedom from care
 d: unrestricted use gave him the freedom of their home
 e: EASE, FACILITY spoke the language with freedom
 f: the quality of being frank, open, or outspoken answered with freedom
 g: improper familiarity  (any inappropriate or unduly intimate or informal conduct)
 h: boldness of conception or execution

See, freedom, is a lot more than freedom of speech. Freedom is a state of being. It is the right to one's own body, movement, and any aspect of life. Freedom touches all aspects of one's life with bold intent of self-expression OR the withholding of that expression.

It is so sad to realize a segment of the American society hates freedom so much they were willing to remove the very document, the USA Constitution, that ensures and enshrines the freedom so many of our ancestors wanted and fought to institute and/or keep.

The USA Constitution is powerful. It has built a nation of people into the most secure and powerful country in the world. And the incredible aspect of the USA Constitution is that it demands peace as the pinnacle of this country's development. The idea of peace is also enshrined with the understanding of freedom, for without peace freedom is simply a word and not a method of living. Peace is necessary to fully appreciate and understand freedom.

What do you want to do with your freedom? 

George W. Bush decided painting was a freedom he loved. If there was not enough peace in his life he would not be AVAILABLE to paint and freedom of expression would be denied to him.

Showcasing (click here) President George W. Bush’s tribute to America’s servicemen and women

...But it wasn’t until Bush had a conversation with Fort Worth, Texas, painter Sedrick Huckaby that he thought to combine his interests in art and military service. “[He] suggested I paint people whom I knew but others didn’t,” writes Bush in the book’s introduction. “Instantly, I thought of painting wounded warriors I had gotten to know.”...

We all know George W. Bush had an abiding regard of the people who served our military. While the military personnel might appreciate a visit from the Commander and Chief, it was often regarded as politics and not profound respect for all that served. So, with the understanding this respect was part of the former president's idea of freedom, to express it in THE WORK of painting is a deeper understanding of his respect.

What if that expression were gone? What if it were oppressed and never even considered valuable? Would our military have a clear understanding of their standing in the American society? 

The value of freedom as granted under the USA Constitution is precious and should never be taken for granted or spat upon. 

Our country is great. There is a reason.

Nasrallah should look toward peace.

Cleric Nasrallah was far more wise to stay out of the fray as he stated in the beginning of the war between Israel and Hamas. Cleric Nasrallah needs to reflect on the fact that Israel formally declared war against Hamas and he was giving aid and comfort to the enemy of Israel. They didn't come for the Cleric. Israel knew exactly who was to be dealt with and they carried out an act to end one of the masterminds that killed 1200 of it's citizens.

January 3, 2024

Hezbollah chief Hasan Nasrallah (click here) said in an address Wednesday that Israel should expect “a response and punishment” a day after the death of senior Hamas leader Saleh Arouri in a suspected Israeli drone strike in a Beirut suburb. Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed militant group based in Lebanon, has traded fire with Israel in recent weeks, though the Lebanese government said it was urging Hezbollah to show restraint. “If the enemy thinks of waging a war on Lebanon,” Nasrallah said, they “will regret it.” Before Nasrallah’s speech, the Israel Defense Forces said its troops were “prepared for any scenario.”...

Cleric Nasrallah should be careful not to become a puppet to Iran. This war is not about the Shi'ites. This is about a deadly attack on citizens of Israel within their own borders. I wish Cleric Nasrallah and the Grand Ayatollah Sistani (click here) would collaborate to find a peaceful end to all this. I remind that the power of Islam is it's people. The Grand Ayatollah knows all too well how the people marched to the Imam Ali Mosque in Najaf and that march ended a siege of American troops and their tanks. It was correct and right that it occurred and the mosque was intact and maintained as a place of worship.

Hezbollah is not a part of this, nor should its members be seeking revenge against Israel for defending it's citizens. The tragedy of Palestinians has yet to be defined, but, one thing is certain, the citizens of Gaza were used as a weapon of war as Hamas deployed the strategy of "human shields." That strategy led to the death of the very people Hamas should have sought to protect.

Cleric Nasrallah needs to maintain the understanding this is not about the Shi'ites. This is about the violent regime of Hamas that brought innocent Israeli lives to an end. Iran is attempting to bring about a war of inclusivity with all Shi'ites, but, that is a wayward view of the world. This war is about ending the blood thirsty regime of Hamas. This is not about Hezbollah or Iran or Iraqi Shi'ites. It is wrong to expand this conflict. It will lead to greater and greater deaths. The Shi'ites should be standing up for peace and not the death of others.

I remember it like it was yesterday. The Grand Ayatollah Sistani moved the people to walk the path of Mohammad and stopped the hostilities of the USA military. It was the most magnificent movement of people I ever witnessed. The Shi'ites cannot compete with advanced militaries. However, militaries can't compete with the people.

August 25, 2004

Shiite Muslims (click here) demonstrate outside the Imam Ali shrine in Najaf, southwest of Baghdad

...Makeshift barricades (click here) set up to protect the entrance were torched as tanks moved along the western side of the compound wall towards the surrounding Old City.

To the east, US forces had smashed through militia defences in the marketplace in Midan square while the heavy boom of artillery fire thundered out across the area from the southern side.

The situation on the northern side, closest to the city's vast cemetery, was not immediately clear but the southern and northern exits from the shrine were in the sights of snipers, preventing anyone from entering or leaving.

The shrine -- one of the holiest Shiite pilgrimage sites in the world -- was very close to being sealed off from the rest of the city, the AFP correspondent said....

The Anthropocene

Why is it that humans have to a aggrandize their own existence?

Quite possibly the best synonym for Anthropocene Epoch is death.

In 1922 British geologist Robert Lionel Sherlock (click here) published a book, Man as a Geological Agent: An Account of His Action on Inanimate Nature, that put forth what is now considered to be the central argument for recognizing the Anthropocene as a new geological epoch: the scale and character of human activities have become so great as to compete with natural geological and geophysical forces. One hundred and one years later geologists have broadly rallied around Sherlock's core idea, and the Anthropocene Working Group—a committee of scientists (including me) who report to the International Commission on Stratigraphy—has proposed Crawford Lake in Canada as the official site for marking the Anthropocene....

When the dinosaurs all died did they call it the Triassic Epoch? No, it is called the Triassic–Jurassic (Tr-J) extinction event (TJME).

See, that is what humans are on the brink of, extinction. 

Ya know. A long time ago when scientists stated it was important to uphold life and maintain species integrity and diversity, they meant it. Why did they mean it? Because they were "tree huggers" and "left wing bleeding hearts?" No, because they knew if species of the natural world began to fail, die off and become extinct, humans would not be far behind.

So the idea that Earth is dominated by humans to the point where they change the environment is a very sad observation. Humans must learn to live with Earth as the planet it is, otherwise, it will be lost to dangerous conditions such as methane overload or it is just to hot to sustain life.

The last thing anyone in this world should be considering normal is the domination of human abuse and immorality when it comes to Earth and it's gaseous layers where humans live and breath. The human species needs to be far more reverent about the precious planet we have to live on. It should not be taken for granted.

Yes, the USA southern border is all nonsense.

Mexico is an ally. There is nothing to fear. Mexico and the three Northern Triad countries of Central America are all allies to the USA.

These countries are overwhelmed with the climate crisis. A secondary issue is the drug cartels, but, they are dealing with the climate crisis as well. 

The migrants coming into the USA illegally face many problems and it is those problems that brings them to the USA. It is survival. Many are climate refugees. As allies facing a different struggle than war they come to us for relief. The majority of those crossing the USA border are poor and destitute without violence in mind or munitions to threaten anyone they meet at the border. The cartels are the only violent threat to Border Guards.

The migrants would still be home if the USA right wing extremist Republicans didn’t end the progressive programs of the USA to build those countries into stronger allies. Sure there is corruption. But, our programs were working, including priorities to end that corruption.

So. All the hubbub about the insecurity of the USA southern border is nothing but politics. There is absolutely nothing to fear from these people. They are being treated as chattel by the southern border states and being shipped north. The northern states need support from the federal government to absorb all the costs that go along with housing them, providing medical care, and processing them. 

Anyone know how many immigration courts are in the northern tier states?

(click here) It would seem as though migrants to the USA, be they legal or illegal, are peaceful people. They love freedom. 

The USA is a mighty nation of mostly moral people. Being the only remaining Superpower is an inconvenient responsibility and unfortunately Americans don’t have the luxury of looking the other way.

It is time Americans become aware of successful programs ended by the Trump White House of the very countries now shedding citizens as migrants headed north.

None of the Northern Triad governments are promoting Illegal migration. 

There is nothing to fear. I will say this, as illegal migrants come unprepared for cultural differences including language and the free flowing gun supply in the USA there is crime. But, that is more reason to incentivize the successful programs through USAid to these people to remain in their own countries.

The bottom line is the Republicans that are now in seats in the House and Senate are completely wrong in their priorities. It is highly unethical for freely elected officials to use their power to cause problems that lead to their own politics.

Fully fund Ukraine, Israel and return progressive programs to Central America. 

Russia is launching missiles at Ukraine?

So much for peace talks. Peace talks would require a ceasefire. Anyone care about this ceasefire?

Czar Putin has decided Russia is winning the war with Ukraine. Why? Politics. This is Putin Politics. Destroying Ukraine and rebuilding the Soviet Empire, not the USSR, but the former Russian Empire IS Putin Politics. Death has no limits to his ambitions. But, there is another reason he cited.

The other reason Is because the USA Republican Party has waved the white for the sake of their politics at the southern US border.

See, Czar Putin believes the war with Ukraine is a war of attrition, as does the free world, but, for very different reasons. The Free World views Russia declining in every aspect of sovereign authority but bolstered by its allies. Russia on the other hand does not see the will of the Ukraine people diminishing, only their associations with First World countries becoming delinked from the support Ukraine has received.

It is easy to look the other way as the USA did with WWII until the war came to Pearl Harbor and a sunken Lusitania. That is what will happen in the war with Ukraine.

As the USA Republicans play politics with the US southern border in order to keep their House majority, the wars in Ukraine and Israel will fall into disrepair and disorder. The focus of the American political system will shift from national security to international apathy only to find the enemy of Israel and Ukraine will be assaulting US sovereignty and its borders to shift the war from “over there” to here. Once that happens, and it will, Hezbollah and Venezuela are near border threats, what will NATO due with a two front war at Polish borders and in the USA?

What will happen then to a vibrant Middle Class and American economy as terrorists’ threat once again haunt Americans? What will it look like as NATO deploys on eastern borders to protect the European Union from Russian ambitions?

The absolute political foolishness of the extreme right wing of the Republican Party as demonstrated by the priorities of the U.S. House Speaker is a threat to American national security and every ally we have. As our resolve weakens to protect democracy at every turn the true ambitions of China will be felt in the Pacific and the question will become can the USA fight a three front war with terrorists domestically weakening the resolve of a once indomitable nation of Free People?

Israel and Ukraine require full backing from the Free World to maintain democracy as a viable governance to progress the future of peace and prosperity.

The knuckle draggers of the USA are Republicans.

They don’t care about their own self-interest. They are stupid and like it that way. The reason they love Trump is because he is as stupid as they are in sticking it to “the system” and declaring bankruptcy over and over as a business practice. He is the ultimate knuckle dragger and they love it. He is an abject failure of capitalism and they believe in it as if a religious doctrine. 

They like being stupid along with their sexually exploitive pastors and maintain cultural stupidity as a profit motive.

To prove my point further, Knuckle Dragger Extraordinaire is the US Speaker of the House. His entire district is a failure and example of how “the party” is served before the people. 

The Speaker of the House should be an example of how to legislate best to serve the people. The current Speaker is none of these things. 

Insurrectionist

 I don’t believe Trump’s involvement is in question and conservatives are ignoring the 14th Amendment. Something is wrong in the USA. The Supreme Court is throwing election authority to the States and the conservative judges ignore the 14th Amendment. There is something far afield when a court considers insurrection a political issue. 

Shame on Michigan.

Christmas 2023

Has the Middle East ever seen such disturbance in any holiday season? This is a result of violence by Jihadists who embrace death over life and prayer. 

The killing of Christians in the Middle East is nearly a sport, from Egypt (click here) to Bishops in celebration and prayer the deaths added together are alarming. 

There is a difference between Jihadists and governance for peace. One wants nothing more than annihilation of other faiths, while peace is the goal otherwise. There is no room for Jihadists in the Middle East as their missions, since bin Laden, are perverse and anti-God.

May the Middle East find peace, worship, and the choice of life over suicide. God does not ordain suicide or murder. May all those so very misguided come home to peace and life.

The true Russian president has been located in Siberia.

I am getting a little tired of criticism of Israel.

Hamas needs to surrender (click here) and end the occupation of Gaza. Hamas and its cohorts are terrorists that have taken control of Gaza a Palestinian territory. Gaza is not safe as exhibited by the slaughter of 1200 unarmed and innocent Israeli citizens on October 7th.

The war is justified because of the clear and present danger of Hamas. This is not a difficult issue. Hamas and other  jihadists occupied and occupies Gaza. They are murderers.

The jihadists built tunnels for nefarious reasons. There was no transportation subway. The tunnels ensnared the Palestinian people as human shields so the jihadists could carry out attacks on Israel over decades with impunity.

THE WORLD WATCHED as the terrorists took control of Palestinian territory. It was the jihadists that ruled in Gaza, not the Palestinian Authority. The jihadist are the problem, not Israel.

The hospitals were at the very least warehouses for munitions. Where in the civilized world do hospitals other than Gaza stockpile munitions in their basements! There is no debate here. If hospitals are to be safe they cannot harbor terrorists and their munitions to kill people.

Gaza on October 6, 2023 was allowed to exist. It can no more.

The Insurrection Amendment is real.

Trump broke an enormously important amendment to the USA Constitution. No one is above the law and no act of violence against judges is going to change that. Those unaccepting of the rule of law of the USA Constitution and acts violently are criminals. 

“Just Icelandic”

Congratulations (click here)

This website has to qualify as citizen scientist of the year. It was the first to sound the warning that would lead to the evacuation of an entire town saving thousands of lives.

Citizen scientists around the world are the using heroes of Earth. It is remarkable to realize this website and its creator single handedly alerted an entire city of its potential fate. 

Absolutely amazing and so very dedicated to the truth.

Clarence Thomas needs to be impeached.

No one did this travesty to Thomas, he did it all by himself, except perhaps, pillow talking Ginny.

Thomas has to go!

$285,400. That's the salary for associate justices of the Supreme Court in 2023. The amount is less than the court's salary in 2000 when adjusted for inflation; the previous salary of $173,600 would be worth approximately $315,782 today.

More than a quarter million dollars in salary, a full time judicial staff, and expense budget and Thomas is blackmailing conservative legislators. 

December 18, 2023
By Alison Durkee

Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas (click here) pressed a lawmaker in 2000 to raise justices’ salaries, sparking concerns among Republicans that he’d resign if Congress didn’t, ProPublica reported Monday—raising more speculation about an influx of gifts from wealthy friends that Thomas received in the ensuing years that have already sparked an ethics controversy at the court....

All of this is illegal. All of it. Seeking to intimidate a freely elected government official is illegal. It is just that simple. Thomas needs to up on charges for coercion. Accompanying  those charges his law license needs review and revocation. This level of unethical conduct of a Supreme Court Justice is at the very least appalling.

The difference between Thomas and the former Justice Souter is astounding. Souter was interested in his work and lived humbly all those years. As soon as he retired he had time to look for a home more suitable for his many books and family and moved to a love new home. But, his reasoning was impeccable. 

August 3, 2009

By Katie Zezima

While the new home is only eight miles from his rustic farmhouse, the two could be worlds apart.

...Justice Souter (click here) told a Weare neighbor, Jimmy Gilman, that the two-story farmhouse was not structurally sound enough to support the thousands of books he owns, according to The Concord Monitor, and that he wished to live on one level....

...“It was quite a shock to us to learn that he’s moving,” said Betty Straw, who taught Justice Souter in sixth grade. “While we’re sorry — we had hoped he would come back to Weare — we understand the circumstances. It seems more desirable to make a move, and we have to abide by his decision.”

Justice Souter bought the new home from Michele Perkins, the president of New England College in Henniker.

“My husband, James, and I have always admired and respected Justice Souter and are delighted that he has returned to New Hampshire,” President Perkins said in a statement. “We wish Justice Souter every happiness in his new home.”

Power vs governance

Why are the Republicans putting the USA southern border before allies? To keep their USA House majority. It has nothing to do with real governance; it is about power. 

The USA Senate Republicans believe they will take the Senate majority with Manchin leaving his seat. So, the House currently has a majority because of Republicans newly elected along the U.S. southern border. By both houses screaming about the border their politics and not policy are coming first. 

The Republicans believe either Trump or Manchin will be elected president and they will have both branches of government to outlaw abortion and continue with fossil fuel corruption.

Biden and Harris are interested in governance. 

Trump is interested in a forever dictatorship.

Manchin/Romney are the alternative backed by Big Oil and every other Big Anything that is looking for profit outside what good leadership actually brings. Basically, corruption to nullify any government regulation. Consumers be damned. 

That rounds out the 2024 elections. Screaming about the southern border is a mirage to the real agenda. 

Chris Christie has picked up support in New Hampshire by telling the truth about everything, including Trump. Hailey’s team is paying attention and changed her posture with Trump to come closer to Christie and it looks like it is working. Christie needs to call Hailey out on her copy cat style to his focus and single handed effort to bring morality to the Republican brand again.

Except for Christie, Republicans are toeing the Evangelical line of extremism for funding that leads to power brokering and not governance.

Oh, yeah, Musk and Bezos complain there aren’t enough people on Earth. That’s a profit statement. More people, more consumers, more people to buy what they are selling.

For four hours…

…Czar Vladimir Putin ranted on about his obsession with Ukraine. Where are the great accomplishments by Russians? None? None to obsess over and make the country proud? Only brutal hatred of Ukraine and the Free World for four boring hours. That is how the Russian Czar unites Russians? 

Smart bombs vs. Dumb bombs

Israel has munitions, they use what they use to defend their country. Perhaps Israel needs some Free World consulting in relation to the BEST defense now and in the future. 

The rockets used by the Jihadists are all dumb bombs but they effectively kill anyway. 

Grinch?

What statute is that?

There is no professional standard in Trump’s legal camp.

Immunity from the rule of law? That is anarchy. Isn’t that what happened on January 6th? Anarchy? 

Look, Trump assaulted his bodyguard because Trump wanted to be at the Capitol for the hangings. He wanted to supervise them.

The Secret Service protects “the President.” They don’t protect Donald John Trump. The President was denied his recreational activity at the Capitol Dome on January 6th because there was no reasonable way to protect “the President “ from a violent mob.

During Trump’s speech before the mob was directed to march to the Capitol he complained that the magnetometers were unnecessary because the mob loved him and any gun was never going to be used against him. He stated it to set the scene for the Capitol and demoralize the Secret Service. Trump wanted to supervise Pence and the electoral count. He absolutely did. He fully intended to be at the Capitol to change the delegates at the electoral count. Trump had alternate electors standing by to change the outcome of the election. Is Trump not as guilty as any other American already prosecuted and sentenced?

Immune? It was premeditated. It was a plot against the USA Constitution? Trump should be immune of such a crime?

No Truth will come of the U.S. House Investigation

The Republicans of the U.S. House want to create their own narrative. Their Speaker is a Trump puppet. Puppets don’t think for themselves.

What authors from the National Enquirer have written the script for the made for TV Impeachment?

Hunter Biden

Enough already. We know if he wasn’t the President’s son, the scrutiny of his life would not be this intense. Hunter Biden has had an enormous amount of loss in his life and to deprive him of the loss of personal freedom is just wrong. I am sure many people could point to other Americans claiming they had more loss that effected their lives. This is the President’s surviving son who has successfully overcome a wicked addiction.

What has been impressive was the fact he wrote a book in order to be transparent about his many ups and downs in life. I think Hunter Biden’s many, many prosecutions should be recognized in a pardon. The intense scrutiny of this man would never have occurred if he weren’t Joe Biden’s son. I think most people recognize the brutal politics involved. It is time to seriously consider a pardon for Hunter Biden. It might be different if he hadn’t turned his life around, but, he has and that is the true meaning of a pardon.

Israel did not start this war.

I think the generals are best to discuss tactics in Gaza. I have seen some pictures of the outcome of the tactics by Israel and the correctly targeted underground tunnels. Whether that targeting killed civilians and/or militants/combatants/Hamas/Islamic Jihad can only be known by the reporting of the dead. I have yet to hear that Israel has deliberately targeted civilians. The casualties are a result of an effective campaign by the military.

I think others need to measure criticism of Israel in factual terms and not inflammatory language. Facts are needed. Israel has extensive intelligence of Gaza. That intelligence was and is used in combat to conduct bombing, shelling and ground movement of troops. I think when Israel actually presents its facts others will be surprised at the accuracy of the targets. 

I realize the health care system in Gaza has collapsed. The reason for that is the fact Hamas had munitions stored in the basement of those buildings connected by tunnels. 

Israel wants its citizens safe. It has a strong military presence built over decades of time. Israel’s capacity is no surprise and neither is its intelligence capacity.

If Israel is to protect its citizens in a war with terrorists then it has to wage war that is effective. The definition of effective in war can be brutal within the understanding of Hamas’ occupation of Gaza.

I have yet heard alternatives to Israel’s invasion into Gaza. Israel is not going to surrender. Hamas and Islamic Jihad needs to surrender and lay down their arms. In doing so they need to release the hostages. 

The initial attack by Hamas into Israel was not just a few terrorists. There were many members of Hamas that murdered that day. Israel did not ask for this war. Hamas is the blatant aggressor.

I remind that Gaza was once governed by Israel. It was under the late Prime Minister Sharon that Israel left Gaza for the hope of peace. Israel knows how to govern Gaza.  Deciding now the governance of Gaza requires a peace process and there are no current peace processes in Gaza. The militants/combatants need to surrender, release hostages, and allow the humanitarian effort to take over the activities in Gaza. It is what all the people want, yet the combatants show no interest in protecting lives of Palestinians and Israelis.

The rise of jihadists in the region supported by Iran only creates hatred and mistrust. How is any peace process going to work if these dynamics in the region continue? 

You will excuse me, but, Gaza given to Palestinian extremist terrorists is a huge failure. It is a failure of the anticipated peace that resulted in putting the Palestinian people in the middle resulting in their victimization as human shields. Residential areas in Gaza and the very hospitals were governed by putting civilians at risk. That was the governance Israel faced when the war was declared. Israel had and has few options to end the endemic treat of terrorists. When is the world going to accept this failure of international policy that allowed the Palestinians to be used by terrorists as human shields? 

Where is Alexey Navalny?

Everyone should have had this figured out; Putin is seeking to renew his dictatorship and his favorite opponent disappears within Russia’s prison system.

This is a human rights abuse. Hiding people from their loved ones is a violation of their human rights.