Symphony

Encore of Revival: America, September 13, 2021

Democrats are toast. They were played as the Fool card. All they’ve accomplished is reminding the public that Republicans aren’t so bad. Tax and spending hikes won’t work. Promising to never mandate vaccines then mandating vaccines is akin to H. W. Bush’s infamous “Read My Lips” speech in which he promised, “No new taxes.” It’s self sabotage; it may not even be intentional. With Republicans, it would likely be intentional; with Democrats, it doesn’t need to be. We can’t argue “conspiracy” on this one.

The UK doesn’t want to go near vaccine mandates, not even lockdown. It’s as if the rest of the world has moved on from COVID while Democrats in the US are still playing it for political capital. It’s much like Democrats addressing the racism issues of 1965 while campaigning in 2008, rather than addressing the racism issues of 2008 in 2008. That’s why America hasn’t seen progress on police racism. And, that’s why America isn’t seeing progress on COVID.

COVID was the “trump” card that trumped Trump in 2020. But, we’re on a new round and trump is a different suit. But, Democrats can’t figure out that they were never the trump card themselves. They always played the Fool. And in 2024, Republicans will comeback with the most dangerous popularity margin the nation has yet seen.

Encore of Revival: America, August 30, 2021

The crises that brought down presidents! COVID was the prime excuse to hate Trump in his last year. It has now become the second reason to hate Biden and the reason California’s governor faces recall. Biden mainly faces the challenge of Afghanistan. A member of Trump’s former staff reminds us all.

This is the trouble with trusting politics. Republican voters trusted election polls, until rules were broken, then ignored. Democrat voters trusted the conclusion of Congress to choose Biden; now they have another Democrat in the White House to make people sick of Democrats. The cycle just keeps on.

We are looking at a Republican majority in the midterm election, as usual. Then, a possible Republican supermajority in the next general election, in which Trump will likely run and more likely win. Republicans managed a way to hold the Supreme Court through that time, which is suspicious.

No matter how good and benevolent, power corrupts and none should trust a supermajority within mankind. Fortunately, Trump isn’t seen as the immortal messiah his supporters once thought he was. Democrat voters already learned that lesson with Obama. Now, Republican voters have too.

Trump

Analysis: Kayleigh McEnany is gaslighting America // CNN

Pandemic

Biden in the ‘loneliest job,’ a presidency driven by crisis // AP

How Gavin Newsom went from landslide victory to fighting for his political survival // MSN News

NATO Focus

Biden pays respects to US troops killed in Afghanistan // AP

Pentagon deploys special Hellfire missile to strike ISIS-K in Afghanistan // Task & Purpose

Symphony

Encore of Revival: America, April 26, 2021

Conviction! The George Floyd murder trial has concluded with a conviction on all counts. The police officer who murdered Floyd while on video will go to prison. People are happy. People are overjoyed. But, should we be surprised?

A murder conviction of a murderer shouldn’t be a reason to celebrate, it should be normal. But, apparently it’s not. So far, the public has responded with gratitude, but we still have a long way to go.

There could have been riots. There could be speeches of ingratitude—complaining about the glass being half-empty, so to speak. But, thankfully, that’s not happening. Gratitude is good. But, we need to restore trust in law enforcement to a point where there is no need for a murder trial for police because police shouldn’t be killing people.

Meanwhile, the Court sits in charge and rules in favor of itself as always. It is attracting the spotlight. With noises of 2024, so is Trump.

Trump

Trump on if he’s considering a 2024 presidential run // youtube.com

Law

‘The Supreme Court ruled in favor of scam artists,’ FTC chief says after justices gut agency’s powers // Politico

Security & Public Safety

Derek Chauvin found guilty of all three charges for killing George Floyd // CNN

State lawmaker wants to rework police chase policy and end legal defense officers use to avoid liability // Chicago Sun Times

Minneapolis braces for unrest as Derek Chauvin trial enters final phase // MSN News

Murder case against ex-cop in Floyd’s death goes to the jury // AP

Judge Cahill Scolds Rep. Maxine Waters for Trial Comments // Mediaite

NATO Focus

Vladimir Putin issued ‘stark warning’ to US, NATO // youtube.com

Symphony

Encore of Revival: America, March 22, 2021

Democrats push forward as if a 50-50 Senate proves a national mandate. In some sense it does. Even with suspicion of a stolen election, Republican voters allowed that by winning arguments rather than winning friends. But, as the well-earned Democratic agenda moves forward, Roe v Wade does too.

Arkansas just passed a law directly challenging Roe v Wade and with a a 6-3 Republican-appointed Supreme Court, an overturn is not unlikely.

While courts take what they take, Democrats are setting up danger in the Senate. Removing the filibuster won’t even give Democrats two years to work before a routine mid-term flip in 2022. With the unresolved suspicions of election stealing, the “incumbent” rules won’t apply the same either. We are set for a Republican takeover in 2024, without a filibuster-curbed Senate, made possible by Democrats, who were give power by unsympathetic Republicans, and only stoppable by a third party. Whether we see that third party before or after 2024 has yet to be seen. We just don’t know how many people have woken up to the nation’s deeper problems.

Law

Arkansas governor says he signed near-total abortion ban so Supreme Court can decide if it’s a ‘direct challenge’ to Roe // CNN

Congress

When LBJ and Hubert Humphrey Teamed Up to Break a Talking Filibuster // Politico

Mitch McConnell warns Democrats that overhauling filibuster rules will lead to ‘completely scorched earth Senate’ // CNN

State & Local

Michigan restaurant owner in jail for defying virus orders // ABC News America

NATO Focus

USS Dwight D. Eisenhower Conducts Passing Exercise with Turkish Navy // US Navy

Symphony

Encore of Revival: America, March 1, 2021

Trump is back in favor with the party that stabbed him in the back, and Washington is back to business as usual. I only took a month.

The latest porkulous bill, proposed at $1.9T, is being delayed. Democrats in Congress want to use budget reconciliation to double minimum wage across the nation. Rules of the Senate say “probably not”, though the vice president has the final say on rules, but two Democrats in the Senate also disagree, giving them the last say that matters. Without this theater on minimum wage, the porkulus lawmaking process would go more quickly, Americans would get their measly $1,400 more quickly, and other people would get bigger checks more quickly.

The Senate’s requirement of 60 votes to pass a bill is meant to protect the minority. Now, Democrats in Congress call this tyranny from the minority. Since when did Democrats side against minorities?

And, since when did Republicans in Congress support Trump? Why would Conservative voters trust the party that ignored their wishes at state legislatures?

America is past the point of insanity. Conservative and Liberal voters agree on so many things. But, they only use petty differences to scorn whoever sits opposite the fence. They never try to win peace or persuasion to overcome the many problems on which they agree. Now that the RNC has an enemy to complain about, and now that they can pretend to support the president they wouldn’t defend from dubious election stations, Republicans on Capitol Hill are as happy as pigs in their own poop. But, some Americans are waking up to what’s going on. Some are awake.

Trump

Pence speaks highly of Trump in meeting and plans to launch a political group // CNN

Washington as Usual

Biden’s $1.9 trillion COVID relief bill passes House, but faces Senate hurdle // CBS News

Stimulus Talks Update: House Democrats Release New Version of Covid Relief Bill // Bloomberg

State & Local

Whitmer Wants You To Buy Michigan As She Buys Wisconsin // WBCK 95.3 Battle Creek

Liquor license suspensions upheld for 8 violators of Michigan’s dine-in ban // MLive.com

Republicans

LIVE: Former President Trump speaks at CPAC 2021 in Orlando, FL | NewsNOW from FOX // YouTube @ NewsNOW from FOX

A Day Before He Speaks, Conservative Gathering Is Mostly About Trump // NY Times

McConnell says he’ll ‘absolutely’ support Trump in 2024 if he’s the GOP nominee // CNN

Violence, Radicalism & Terrorism

Capitol rioter’s lawyers call him ‘very naive,’ argue for his release // The Hill

Soc Media, Cybersecurity & Tech

California Judge Allows State’s Net Neutrality Law to Go Into Effect // Hollywood Reporter

Space

Say it is impossible, okay…
Mars Is a Hellhole // The Atlantic

Music & Entertainment

Tom MacDonald – ‘Clown World’ // YouTube @ Tom MacDonald

Europe

Those who (don’t) forget // Berliner Zeitung (Germany)

The Isles

Harry and Meghan to leave royal life for good says Buckingham Palace // YouTube @ BBC News

Meghan and Harry blindsided The Queen with Oprah interview // Daily Mail

Symphony

Encore of Revival: America, February 15, 2021

We are in a new world of politics. Trump actually stands a chance of being a 2024 contender. Even with the irreparable damage the Republican Party did itself, even with the march Trump invited to Washington going its own way, even with lost trust in the election systems—Trump actually stands a chance of being a 2024 contender. A new party or three will likely rise. Party coalitions may become necessary. Something severe will be required of the election system. But, Trump actually stands a chance of being a 2024 contender.

Biden will only embolden Conservative voters, as Democrats always do. Trump overstepped and lost some enthusiasm from his base. Though he didn’t lose much, to stand a chance he will need some diversity in his platform and a Conservative rejected by Republicans. Palin could make it a winning Republican ticket, if any third parties got behind hit. But, Trump actually stands a chance of being a 2024 contender.

Trump is not Jesus Christ. That’s a lesson his base learned the hard way. He can’t stop the problems that are bigger than America itself. He won’t stop the push for a police state nor will he regain trust in law enforcement. Biden may take care of that anyway, which could completely change the issue by 2024. But, the fact that Trump even stands a chance of being a 2024 contender tells us about the state of America itself.

Biden and Trump are both heavily disliked for their own reasons, but things haven’t completely fallen apart yet. The road ahead looks much bumpier than the road behind, but at least the road continues.