Politics Plus

Well, today’s the day. But I thought I’d put in a little map to somee other news ….

Axios reports the at SCOTUS will hear oral arguments February 8 on Colorado’s disqualification clause case (which is going to be referred to as DQ in this case and every case of its kind.  Don’t mistake it for Dairy Queen.)

Huff Post has a scoop – with receipts.  Videos of interviews with DEmocrcratic legislators who were traumatized by Jan 6,Made soon after it, but until now unseen

“Of course, not every single person named in the [Epstein-Maxwell] documents was necessarily involved in or aware of any sex trafficking — in fact, it appears that the majority were not. Part of the way Epstein provided cover for himself was specifically by associating with people who had no idea about his activities, so that they could say, ‘Well, I’ve been on that plane and I didn’t see anything weird, so this must all be nonsense!’” And, yes, that’s exactly how they think. And sadly, it’s been working for a long time. Especially on domestic abuse by “respectable pillars of the community.” But it does mean that if someone you care about is in these lists, they may not be guilty, only “beard”s (ignorant ones at that.).  The article contains much more – probably more than you want to know. The cat photo is part of a New Year’s gift to readers – no pictures of ugly people for a week, just cats – and of course Wonkette is part of Substack.

If you want a more compact summary, with fewer details, Mary Trump is the place to go.

And over at Dem Underground, someone – I assume a Seinfeld fan – came up with the nuckname for Trump** “poop Nazi.”

There are other cartoons out there which reference the Wise Men and/or epiphany – but this one is just so beautifully tailored in its allusions, I couldn’t resist.  Let’s hope many Americans receive the same epiphany.

Reading yesterday’s comments, I think I need to be a bit more clear. My donations are still catching up with years of not getting them done every year. The pickup yesterday came at about 11:30 but I was still wiped out for the rest of the day. It consisted of about 10-12 cardboard boxes, ranging from some small enough for me to actually carry up to about 3′ x 4′ x 12″, plus an old (and now too large) wheelchair and an old oxygen concentrator. That is not going to fit in a PT Cruiser, nor in anything smaller than a dually. Also, I was warned upon leaving rehab not to drive until I had a doctor’s clearance to do so, which I don’t. Not that the car will start. Trinette managed to keep the battery powered while I was not home, but it only takes one small slip to lose that, and I don’t see the point of getting it jumped when I can’t go anywhere. But the picking up is done by the Vietnam Veterans of America, a group I can support, and they don’t charge for it. And, believe me, there’s more where that came from. I’ll be happy if I can start getting stuff out faster. I did learn after the first pickup last year that there’s no point in using trash bags – the porch is covered but not enclosed, and they are too flimsy. But cardboard boxes work well and can be left out to wait.

But enough about that. Today I caught up on two of the last three days of email, and found two substack articles, wildly different, but both deserving of attention. One was from Margaret Atwood, who, now having received her pacemaker, was finally able to travel to Scotland to receive her honorary Doctorate of Letters, and to give a graduation speech and to preach a sermon – both of which she extensively quotes – and the sermon was about the power, and the dangers of that power, of words.

The second was from Robert Hubbell, and, basically, takes the events from the first half of the week and breaks them down into what they might portend for the future. That, to me, is important, since it’s very tricky to predict what the effects of any political move may be in the long run. It entirely possible – though far from certain – that fifty or a hundred years from now the Republican sham impeachment of Joe Biden may be perceived as a great honor for him, and a horrid black mark against the Republican Party, maybe even one which was highly influential in its dissolution.

This was in Freya’s newletter – and so perfectly expresses how I feel – I have to share it.

Quick update:

I just got a call from Virgil.  He is in the hospital himself, having had surgerrry for a broken hip.  I had not had a call from him for some time and was worried but had not said anything  because – well, I just couldn’t.  But now that I know where he is, I can.  He sounds good and has nothing but praise for the hospital and the surgeon.