Politics Plus

Yesterday, though the high for the day was only 47°F, when I went to take out my carts for the grocery delivery (around noon) the sun had been shining on the porch for 4-5 hours and if felt much warmer. Today and tomorrow, we are expecting sub-zero (centigrade: -14°F and +5°F respectively) high temperatures with snow possible tonight. I’m glad I ordered when I did. I don’t like making the delivery folk go out in severe weather. Sure, they get tipped, and I can increase it, but there’s really no tip that can adequately compensate for those conditions. Also, it tool me a while and a little research, but I think I have found the phrase for us to throw back in the faces of those who say “Democrats in disarray.”  How does Republicans in rupture” strike you? Happy Winter Solstice, everyone!

And, yes, I saw the Joint Session with President Zelenskyy’s address.  I have set this link to start when he actually started speaking  If you want to see the announcements of the names of the ushers, the entrance of diplomats, and the entrance of the Cabinet, you can use this link insted – it is the whole enchilada.  I will note that there appears to be ab echo in the closed captions (you will see what I mean if you use them) and there are some errors, which happens even with perfect dictio (if there is such a thing).  But the message – including the comparison to Christmas 1944 – comes through.  If you just want a summary, this one is stunning.

Cartoon –

Short Takes –

Crooks and Liars – Fox’s Favorite Priest Defrocked By Vatican Over Abortion Stunt
Quote – Pavone, founder of anti-abortion group Priests for Life, frequently posts on social media about politics and abortion, largely in support of former President Donald J. Trump and the Republican party’s anti-abortion platform. The Vatican said it provided Pavone “ample opportunity” to defend himself, but he provided “no reasonable justification for his actions,” according to the letter.
Click through for (frankly disgusting) details. When I first saw a headline on this, I thought he was being defrocked for not being anti-abortion enough, and I was disappointed. My faith in the current Pope has been restored.

The Daily Beast – Trump Special Prosecutor Has a History of Indicting Presidents
Quote – The story may sound familiar, if not a bit like resistance fan-fiction. But this story is actually about Smith’s efforts in Kosovo, a small country in southeastern Europe that was historically an Albanian enclave in Serbia. It was difficult every step of the way. Smith had to defend his work from widespread accusations that he was conducting an unfair political prosecution to remove the nation’s favorite leader. And the narrative was that cooperators are traitors—and that these lawyers like Smith were trying to destroy the country. It may prove to be an invaluable experience.
Click through for background. BTW, that purple you see in his photos, which looks either affected or athletic, is actually a robe worn in the international court. Here, only judges wear robes, but that’s not true in all courts, and especially in Europe (at least he didn’t need to wear a barrister’s wig.)

Food For Thought