Resounding applause to the House Ethics Committee for calling out egregious self-dealing, abuse of office and financial misappropriation. Perhaps they might assist Chief Justice Roberts in composing an Ethics Code for the Supreme Court, then apply the exact same standards and scrutiny to the current candidates for President...especially the Republican front runner.
Nov 18, 2023·edited Nov 18, 2023Liked by Robert B. Hubbell
I'm anxious to hear more about the Colorado decision and the appeal process. I have long felt that there was a need for some judicial authority to determine that the Defendant had engaged in an insurrection, in order for the 14th Amendment to apply, but I never thought any reasonable person would buy the argument that a president is neither an office holder nor an officer in the federal government. The judge's decision on the latter may call into question the decision on the former.
The fact that the judge found the Defendant engaged in an insurrection but that 14A doesn't apply to the presidency is perplexing, and would seem to provide grounds for a successful appeal to the Colorado Supreme Court, which will likely then be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court. Perhaps this split verdict will lead to a unified verdict sooner rather than later.
In my family we have a truck driver who delivers fuel and people do like to have their gas on holidays. He almost never gets Thanksgiving off. We’re grateful he has the day this year (but not Christmas). Another family member works in the restaurant industry. He does get the day but never can even think about a long weekend. Indeed, we all do well to remember the many who help keep our lives comfortable and who are often unseen.
I think that judge in Colorado didn't want to be the one who Trump would point the finger at if she ruled him off the ballot, so she did everything to lay grounds for it and kicked it upstairs to be "reversed." Which if true demonstrates fully the threat Trump is, that she would be that afraid of him that she would make a decision that was obviously ludicrous, to stay out of the line of fire.
Oath taken by presidents at inauguration. This ruling is horrifying. "I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."
Robert, you’re absolutely right about the issue with opening up the comments section. I have noticed that with newsletters where the writers allow anybody to comment, the forum becomes flooded with trolls, people trying to sell T-shirts and mugs, and all sorts of oddballs spewing their MAGA nonsense. It’s a pleasure to not have to deal with that kind of craziness in this forum.
It’s Saturday and I believe we should dedicate this space to good news and leave the rest behind for the rest of the week. I’m not sure if anyone saw this but it’s very encouraging:
The recent NYT poll asked battleground voters how they would vote if Trump was convicted and sentenced to prison. The results suggests there are significant risks for Republicans in nominating a serial criminal, sex offender and insurrectionist:
Well, maybe Colorado judge Sarah Wallace is simply being literal and seeing if we'll get the joke: Trump was more a President under Russia than the United States. Ha, kind of, and...ugggh.
Here in Colorado I wrote my first letter to our Secretary of State, heroine of defending democracy Jena Griswold, in June 2022. Off and on for almost 3 years I've been reading and thinking about this disqualification clause. Today's ruling defies basic...reality. Judge Luttig said it best. Ok, SCOTUS, here we come (let's hope)!
Is there any possibility that Jack Smith will seek relief in an appellate court for all these ridiculous and slow-rolling rulings that while not illegal are increasingly hard to construe as anything but an intent to aid the defense?
Great suggestions to talk to those working. At the Dollar store I asked the check out person how her day was going. She was shocked. She was not invisible any more. She shared she had one more hour to work. I wished her a great day and thanked her. It takes 5 seconds to “see” the person checking you out especially in this crazy busy season!
Thank you, Tim R, for your dedication to your patients during this holiday season. Thank you, Robert, for reminding us about Tim and the many others who make life run smoothly for the rest of us.
For some of us, these are not holidays because we are at high risk of complications from Covid, and cannot eat indoors with other people. These are just days in which we are alone, and contemplating the possible collapse of our democracy. If Trump is allowed to threaten prosecutors and judges with impunity, then we will get a Fani Willis postponing the trial, till it won’t even matter, and the judge in Colorado, making a ruling that makes no sense, except to protect herself.
Well Robert, the paywall is very effective. I have noticed over the past couple of years that the followers of the too many Substacks I subscribe to have developed serious intelectual relationships and friendships from the quality of the comments to each other's comments over time. The cheap ass trolls just do not have the commitment. The free readers at least get the content.
Thank you, Robert, for regularly providing this opportunity for readers, for taking the time to read every email (!), and for your endorsement and extension of Tim's important message. I would like to use this opportunity to let anyone deeply concerned about the climate crisis know about two things that helped me significantly during a recent struggle with my own sense of the urgency. First, in a New York Times magazine (October 29th issue), which was entirely devoted to articles about the climate, there was one called, "Time to Get Help". It focused on the growing field of climate therapists. Although there are only around 100 at this point, the number is increasing. (Note was made of the fact that many of the people seeking such help are scientists and climate activists.) Second, I learned of the Climate Psychology Alliance of North America. Their website states that their goal is to address "the psychological dimensions of the climate and ecological crisis and promote cultural shifts toward human resilience". You can search for a climate aware therapist within various ranges of where you live (althoughI am sure the likelihood of finding one at this point is not high). You can also find on that page a video of a conversation between environmentalist Bill McKibben and British psychoanalyst Sally Weintrobe, who has written a book which focuses on the psychological roots of the climate crisis. It was a great discussion which was further enhanced by very thoughtful questions from four pre-selected journalists from different places. I was very glad to discover both of these and hope that sharing this may help others.
Resounding applause to the House Ethics Committee for calling out egregious self-dealing, abuse of office and financial misappropriation. Perhaps they might assist Chief Justice Roberts in composing an Ethics Code for the Supreme Court, then apply the exact same standards and scrutiny to the current candidates for President...especially the Republican front runner.
I'm anxious to hear more about the Colorado decision and the appeal process. I have long felt that there was a need for some judicial authority to determine that the Defendant had engaged in an insurrection, in order for the 14th Amendment to apply, but I never thought any reasonable person would buy the argument that a president is neither an office holder nor an officer in the federal government. The judge's decision on the latter may call into question the decision on the former.
The fact that the judge found the Defendant engaged in an insurrection but that 14A doesn't apply to the presidency is perplexing, and would seem to provide grounds for a successful appeal to the Colorado Supreme Court, which will likely then be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court. Perhaps this split verdict will lead to a unified verdict sooner rather than later.
In my family we have a truck driver who delivers fuel and people do like to have their gas on holidays. He almost never gets Thanksgiving off. We’re grateful he has the day this year (but not Christmas). Another family member works in the restaurant industry. He does get the day but never can even think about a long weekend. Indeed, we all do well to remember the many who help keep our lives comfortable and who are often unseen.
I think that judge in Colorado didn't want to be the one who Trump would point the finger at if she ruled him off the ballot, so she did everything to lay grounds for it and kicked it upstairs to be "reversed." Which if true demonstrates fully the threat Trump is, that she would be that afraid of him that she would make a decision that was obviously ludicrous, to stay out of the line of fire.
Oath taken by presidents at inauguration. This ruling is horrifying. "I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."
Robert, you’re absolutely right about the issue with opening up the comments section. I have noticed that with newsletters where the writers allow anybody to comment, the forum becomes flooded with trolls, people trying to sell T-shirts and mugs, and all sorts of oddballs spewing their MAGA nonsense. It’s a pleasure to not have to deal with that kind of craziness in this forum.
I see you, Tim R. I'm a Hospice volunteer. Life, and death, go on without a care for the holidays.
David French, a paragon of the conservative world wrote in the New York Times on October 29 what should be the Democrats’ narrative for Biden in 2024.
“In the face of disease, war, inflation and division, the economy thrives — and democracy is alive.”
Only a vote for a Democrat-from Biden on down the ballot-can keep it that way.
It’s Saturday and I believe we should dedicate this space to good news and leave the rest behind for the rest of the week. I’m not sure if anyone saw this but it’s very encouraging:
The recent NYT poll asked battleground voters how they would vote if Trump was convicted and sentenced to prison. The results suggests there are significant risks for Republicans in nominating a serial criminal, sex offender and insurrectionist:
Battleground 49-39 (Biden +10)
AZ 47-42 (+5)
GA 50-38 (+12)
MI 49-37 (+12)
NV 50-38 (+12)
PA 48-44 (+4)
WI 50-36 (+14)
Well, maybe Colorado judge Sarah Wallace is simply being literal and seeing if we'll get the joke: Trump was more a President under Russia than the United States. Ha, kind of, and...ugggh.
Here in Colorado I wrote my first letter to our Secretary of State, heroine of defending democracy Jena Griswold, in June 2022. Off and on for almost 3 years I've been reading and thinking about this disqualification clause. Today's ruling defies basic...reality. Judge Luttig said it best. Ok, SCOTUS, here we come (let's hope)!
Is there any possibility that Jack Smith will seek relief in an appellate court for all these ridiculous and slow-rolling rulings that while not illegal are increasingly hard to construe as anything but an intent to aid the defense?
Great suggestions to talk to those working. At the Dollar store I asked the check out person how her day was going. She was shocked. She was not invisible any more. She shared she had one more hour to work. I wished her a great day and thanked her. It takes 5 seconds to “see” the person checking you out especially in this crazy busy season!
Thank you, Tim R, for your dedication to your patients during this holiday season. Thank you, Robert, for reminding us about Tim and the many others who make life run smoothly for the rest of us.
For some of us, these are not holidays because we are at high risk of complications from Covid, and cannot eat indoors with other people. These are just days in which we are alone, and contemplating the possible collapse of our democracy. If Trump is allowed to threaten prosecutors and judges with impunity, then we will get a Fani Willis postponing the trial, till it won’t even matter, and the judge in Colorado, making a ruling that makes no sense, except to protect herself.
Well Robert, the paywall is very effective. I have noticed over the past couple of years that the followers of the too many Substacks I subscribe to have developed serious intelectual relationships and friendships from the quality of the comments to each other's comments over time. The cheap ass trolls just do not have the commitment. The free readers at least get the content.
Thank you, Robert, for regularly providing this opportunity for readers, for taking the time to read every email (!), and for your endorsement and extension of Tim's important message. I would like to use this opportunity to let anyone deeply concerned about the climate crisis know about two things that helped me significantly during a recent struggle with my own sense of the urgency. First, in a New York Times magazine (October 29th issue), which was entirely devoted to articles about the climate, there was one called, "Time to Get Help". It focused on the growing field of climate therapists. Although there are only around 100 at this point, the number is increasing. (Note was made of the fact that many of the people seeking such help are scientists and climate activists.) Second, I learned of the Climate Psychology Alliance of North America. Their website states that their goal is to address "the psychological dimensions of the climate and ecological crisis and promote cultural shifts toward human resilience". You can search for a climate aware therapist within various ranges of where you live (althoughI am sure the likelihood of finding one at this point is not high). You can also find on that page a video of a conversation between environmentalist Bill McKibben and British psychoanalyst Sally Weintrobe, who has written a book which focuses on the psychological roots of the climate crisis. It was a great discussion which was further enhanced by very thoughtful questions from four pre-selected journalists from different places. I was very glad to discover both of these and hope that sharing this may help others.