I could call this column A Tale of Two Writers. One cites thoughtful remarks by a distinguished retired officer, recalls memorable speeches by a fallen political martyr, and remembers with appropriate affection a great athletic hero of yesteryear. The other trivializes his otherwise-merited opposition to a presidential candidate by referring to him as an ogre, a grifter, prohibitively dreadful, and a Mean Tangerine. Joe, calm down and do a little more self-censoring.
As for the Supreme Court, I call your attention to a recent study reported in Politico --of all places--which noted that today's court rules unanimously nearly half the time, and when it splits often does so in ways not predicted by the pundit class. That study concluded that the court is better characterized as 3-3-3 than 6-3. The court, whose predecessor found broad presidential immunity from civil suit, has the ultimate responsibility to determine what, if any, presidential actions are also immune from criminal prosecution. That is a sobering responsibility and should be determined on an adequate record from the courts below. It isn't the court's fault that Merrick Garland took forever to bestir himself. Again Joe, start thinking like Learned Hand, not Mme. Defarge or Inspector Javert.
Lest you and my fellow readers misunderstand where I am coming from, let me close this critique by assuring that I am no more likely than you to cast a vote for Donald Trump come November.
Donald Trump has made a mockery of everything I've spent my life believing. He has made a mockery of serious governance. He doesn't give a fig about anything except himself. He is laughing at you, at us. We should be able to laugh back a little. But I'd add that "prohibitively dreadful" isn't hyperbole--he's one of the worst people I've ever known, and I've known him for 40 years. And that if his own lackeys call him Orange Jesus behind his back, I can call him the Mean Tangerine.
Peace,Joe. My assessment of him doesn't differ in substance from your's or John McNamara's. You can call him whatever you please and I'll keep paying to read and listen to you and John Ellis on the podcast.
Joe is getting it. We have to get,it into our heads that the Supreme Court’s is corrupt. We can’t do anything about it right now, but we have tô understand it. This court is deliberately delaying the immunity issue so there can’t be a trial. It is important that we really realize this - this is not remotely normal. One of the major institutions of’America is actively working with the forces trying to destroy American democracy. I’ve come,to understand that over the last few months, what I do not understand is the behavior of the so called liberal minority. (Liberal in the old fashioned sense of defending democracy) Thre of them have been cowards. When will they recognize that they do not belong to some august body trying to do good for the America people. They are part of an a bad, ill conceived institution that has done far more harm,to America than good is now poised to destroy the country. I sure hope they stop going out for tea with Jistice Barrett.
Myself, I like the Mango Mussolini. But, yes, I won’t rest until the Supreme Court comes out with a decision that asserts that Presidents cannot act with impunity. Theoretically, if they fail to take action, Biden can simply have his opponent arrested and be done with it. My sense is that Roberts and Kavanugh are trying to find some credible structure that does not give Presidents Carte Blanche but also prevents us from an endless cycle of prosecution - which is what we are sliding toward currently. I have to believe that Roberts is keenly aware of the collapse of court credibility if no decision is made. So, let’s not freak out for at least a few more days. But, yes, 🤞🏻
One of the best things I’ve read in a long time. As a Democrat, I’m no fan of Reagan, but as someone who grew up in the 80’s, his referral to America as the “shining city on the hill” has always stuck with me. Sadly, because of Trump, whether he wins or loses in November, we will never be that again, at least in my lifetime.
As to the 2000 election, that was a battle between state election law, in which the State of Florida gave Gore the victory and Federal Election Law, which gave Bush the victory. One of the rules of Federal Election Law is that once the ballots are cast, the rules in place BEFORE the voting, govern the voting.
All that hanging chads, dimples, and so forth in Boward County, to name just one, were created after the election, and therefore not allowed under Federal Law. That being the case, the Supreme Court had no choice but to declare Bush the winner, by 5,000+ votes. He was not my guy, but he won fair and square, by the book and by the law, like it or not.
As for Mays, was maybe eleven or twelve when the Giants came to San Francisco, lived just across the Golden Gate Bridge, and despite the local newspapers praising Orland Cepeda, he never came anywhere near to Mays. Saw him a lot in Candlestick, every game my dad could get off to go to, he would take me, by mother and my older brother, it was a lark.
My favorite memory of Mays, is at a Dodgers game in Los Angeles, for the playoffs. Tommy Davis hit a long drive out to centerfield, he saw Mays running and tapping his glove. That was it, Mays always did that before he caught the ball. So Davis headed back to home plate, he knew Mays would catch it.
Only Mays couldn't get there, by the time he caught up to the ball, and threw it to first, Davis barely had time to get back to First. He did make it though. Mays was just fun to watch.
He covered from left right field, all of centerfield and right left field, plus almost all the way to second base. That guy could run, catch and bat, and make it fun to watch.
Willie - the soul of baseball (no pun intended). I look for players of any sport who radiate joy like that. They really are there. Willie was my favorite too, and my Dad’s. Spent a lot of time imitating the stance, the swing and the catch and throw. The latter two didn’t go over with the Little League coach. Personally, though I share your views on RFK, Trump, SCOTUS and the cowardly GOP (especially the sophistical, preening, fake intellectually serious, J.D. Vance), I think joy will win out and we will find ourselves in touch with our better angels. Going to be a close call, however.
I could call this column A Tale of Two Writers. One cites thoughtful remarks by a distinguished retired officer, recalls memorable speeches by a fallen political martyr, and remembers with appropriate affection a great athletic hero of yesteryear. The other trivializes his otherwise-merited opposition to a presidential candidate by referring to him as an ogre, a grifter, prohibitively dreadful, and a Mean Tangerine. Joe, calm down and do a little more self-censoring.
As for the Supreme Court, I call your attention to a recent study reported in Politico --of all places--which noted that today's court rules unanimously nearly half the time, and when it splits often does so in ways not predicted by the pundit class. That study concluded that the court is better characterized as 3-3-3 than 6-3. The court, whose predecessor found broad presidential immunity from civil suit, has the ultimate responsibility to determine what, if any, presidential actions are also immune from criminal prosecution. That is a sobering responsibility and should be determined on an adequate record from the courts below. It isn't the court's fault that Merrick Garland took forever to bestir himself. Again Joe, start thinking like Learned Hand, not Mme. Defarge or Inspector Javert.
Lest you and my fellow readers misunderstand where I am coming from, let me close this critique by assuring that I am no more likely than you to cast a vote for Donald Trump come November.
Donald Trump has made a mockery of everything I've spent my life believing. He has made a mockery of serious governance. He doesn't give a fig about anything except himself. He is laughing at you, at us. We should be able to laugh back a little. But I'd add that "prohibitively dreadful" isn't hyperbole--he's one of the worst people I've ever known, and I've known him for 40 years. And that if his own lackeys call him Orange Jesus behind his back, I can call him the Mean Tangerine.
Peace,Joe. My assessment of him doesn't differ in substance from your's or John McNamara's. You can call him whatever you please and I'll keep paying to read and listen to you and John Ellis on the podcast.
I actually thought Joe was remiss in not calling 45 a moral degenerate too.
Joe is getting it. We have to get,it into our heads that the Supreme Court’s is corrupt. We can’t do anything about it right now, but we have tô understand it. This court is deliberately delaying the immunity issue so there can’t be a trial. It is important that we really realize this - this is not remotely normal. One of the major institutions of’America is actively working with the forces trying to destroy American democracy. I’ve come,to understand that over the last few months, what I do not understand is the behavior of the so called liberal minority. (Liberal in the old fashioned sense of defending democracy) Thre of them have been cowards. When will they recognize that they do not belong to some august body trying to do good for the America people. They are part of an a bad, ill conceived institution that has done far more harm,to America than good is now poised to destroy the country. I sure hope they stop going out for tea with Jistice Barrett.
Myself, I like the Mango Mussolini. But, yes, I won’t rest until the Supreme Court comes out with a decision that asserts that Presidents cannot act with impunity. Theoretically, if they fail to take action, Biden can simply have his opponent arrested and be done with it. My sense is that Roberts and Kavanugh are trying to find some credible structure that does not give Presidents Carte Blanche but also prevents us from an endless cycle of prosecution - which is what we are sliding toward currently. I have to believe that Roberts is keenly aware of the collapse of court credibility if no decision is made. So, let’s not freak out for at least a few more days. But, yes, 🤞🏻
One of the best things I’ve read in a long time. As a Democrat, I’m no fan of Reagan, but as someone who grew up in the 80’s, his referral to America as the “shining city on the hill” has always stuck with me. Sadly, because of Trump, whether he wins or loses in November, we will never be that again, at least in my lifetime.
The mean Tangerine is perfect for the man.
As to the 2000 election, that was a battle between state election law, in which the State of Florida gave Gore the victory and Federal Election Law, which gave Bush the victory. One of the rules of Federal Election Law is that once the ballots are cast, the rules in place BEFORE the voting, govern the voting.
All that hanging chads, dimples, and so forth in Boward County, to name just one, were created after the election, and therefore not allowed under Federal Law. That being the case, the Supreme Court had no choice but to declare Bush the winner, by 5,000+ votes. He was not my guy, but he won fair and square, by the book and by the law, like it or not.
As for Mays, was maybe eleven or twelve when the Giants came to San Francisco, lived just across the Golden Gate Bridge, and despite the local newspapers praising Orland Cepeda, he never came anywhere near to Mays. Saw him a lot in Candlestick, every game my dad could get off to go to, he would take me, by mother and my older brother, it was a lark.
My favorite memory of Mays, is at a Dodgers game in Los Angeles, for the playoffs. Tommy Davis hit a long drive out to centerfield, he saw Mays running and tapping his glove. That was it, Mays always did that before he caught the ball. So Davis headed back to home plate, he knew Mays would catch it.
Only Mays couldn't get there, by the time he caught up to the ball, and threw it to first, Davis barely had time to get back to First. He did make it though. Mays was just fun to watch.
He covered from left right field, all of centerfield and right left field, plus almost all the way to second base. That guy could run, catch and bat, and make it fun to watch.
We need more like him, today more than ever.
Willie - the soul of baseball (no pun intended). I look for players of any sport who radiate joy like that. They really are there. Willie was my favorite too, and my Dad’s. Spent a lot of time imitating the stance, the swing and the catch and throw. The latter two didn’t go over with the Little League coach. Personally, though I share your views on RFK, Trump, SCOTUS and the cowardly GOP (especially the sophistical, preening, fake intellectually serious, J.D. Vance), I think joy will win out and we will find ourselves in touch with our better angels. Going to be a close call, however.