Little things sometimes are very important. In Philadelphia on Friday I95 was reopened after a major truck fire destroyed the highway and this critical commerce corridor became operational in less than two weeks after the accident. It happened with Federal funds and the coordination of state and Federal agencies all working together with dedicated construction workers. This is an example of government working for the people. Meanwhile in Congress Republican members in the House were trying to expunge Trump’s two impeachments and in part create a lot of noise and distraction to take our attention away from the mounting indictments and crimes committed by the leader of the Republican Party. When will Republicans in Congress admit Trump is not qualified or can be trusted to be the President of the United States and are willing to do something about it. The reality is it’s the voters who need to vote and find the Republican Party guilty of derelict of their constitutional duties
Republican Party sitting there trying to decide. “On the one hand is the disaster on 1-95, we could take all the options our government has and juggernaut the fix which will help our people, OR, on the other hand we could create a lot of noise and distraction to take attention off the indictments of one guy who broke the law and put 340 Million people at risk…. Um. OK guys, we’re going with the distraction scenario let’s roll! “
All the more reason to televise Trumps hearings. The spectacle will be too enticing for even the far right to ignore, & may at last shine light on actual events vs GOP fairy tales.
Jun 24, 2023·edited Jun 24, 2023Liked by Robert B. Hubbell
You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you cannot fool a granddaughter who needs her swing set any of the time! Happy hammer and nails, Hubbell Family!
Piggy backing on your comment, Lynell, Robert, you have a full life, from making your granddaughter happy with a swing to providing food fir thought and action to thousands of virtual friends and patriotic citizens! Bravo to you and Jill!
I have no idea what “facial overbreadth” is, but when Clarence Thomas uses that, I am confident it is some reactionary BS. He seems so terribly concerned about such a thing being used when the Court rightly decided that the Constitution’s right to privacy would cover the right for contraception - as well as gay marriage and women’s right to choose, by the way. I would refer him back to the Dobbs decision. The case before them was from Mississippi, and asked for a 15-ban on abortion. Instead of addressing “the case before them”, this Extreme Court opted to go BIG and determine that Roe vs Wade was “egregious from the start”. According to whom, I wonder? They have overreached on every consequential decision that has come to them, and managed to tear down years of precedent and established law. Sorry, Thomas, use plain English and just tell us that you hate the right to contraception as well as most anything else that allows women to fully participate in our democracy. Did “facial overbreadth” come to mind when Alito and you were crisscrossing the globe on right-wing donors’ dime????? I’m sorry you had a difficult life. Don’t take it out on us.
Thomas's note was deliberately obscures. The most important part is his parenthetical reference to "substantive due process" in the cite to Griswold. Substantive due process is the theory that forms the basis for all implied rights against the states--the right to an integrated education (Brown v. Board), the right to marry someone of a different race (Loving v. Virginia), the right to marry someone of the same sex (Obergefell), the right to contraception, the right to have sexual relations with someone who is not your spouse. He really wants to turn back the clock to the 1940s.
Thank you for that explanation, Robert. I’m curious. How does Thomas, who is in an interracial marriage himself, believe he has the right to do that or that all these other rights are currently the law of the land? Is he prepared to give up his marriage to Ginni (probably not a bad idea!), or what? What does he suggest in 2023 for people to have sexual relations with someone who is not their spouse? For sure, that will punish millions of Republicans if he toes a hard line!!! Our Founding Fathers, no doubt, could not have envisioned “all the implied rights against the states” that would occur as time went on in America. I’m quite sure, though, they were not purists who never had sex with a non-spouse! Thomas sounds like a maniac.
I think turning the clock back to the 40s is also what many others want to do. It reflects an intense desire to get back to patriarchy and patriotism that represents a past that no longer exists but which, for many, was or is perceived to be more comfortable and acceptable.
In that scenario there is no need to grapple with cultural changes that each of the cases Robert cited represent - separate schools, clear lines you are expected not to cross with regard to relationships, and certainly not extramarital sexual relationships. In essence, life in 2023 is confusing for some in a very unsettling way. From another perspective (say, ours) it is unsettling that those who want to go back can’t seem to accept cultural shifts of these times (2023). Thus, the great divide.
Jun 24, 2023·edited Jun 24, 2023Liked by Robert B. Hubbell
Watching this rebellion in Russia, and wondering at its potential outcomes for Russia, Ukraine and the world, all I can say is thank goodness we have Biden as president, and people like Anthony Blinken and Jake Sullivan in our State Department. They inspire confidence. But make no mistake, Prigozhin and Wagner are terrible terrible people, war criminals, pillagers, lawless and utterly selfish, the definition of Bad News. Biden et all, and our allies in Europe, know this, of course. Given Wagner's reach in Africa, we need to strengthen ties with allies in Africa, which Biden has begun to do. #withagecomeswisdom
Why is it that the press constantly brings up the Hunter/Joe stories, but fails to mention the Donald/Children dealings before, during, and after his Presidency?
Perhaps it's because of the difference in expectations. TFG demonstrates with his every action that he's a fraud, a grifter, a narcissist, and a thief, so nothing he or his offspring do is surprising. President Biden, on the other hand, represents integrity and empathy, so any challenges to those things are newsworthy.
Thank you, Robert, for that link explaining why we, the people, should demand camera coverage of federal court trials. I have already done that with my Congressman a week ago. It is imperative that we witness, in real time, the fate of Donald John Trump. We deserve to have seats, front and center.
I cannot give you any clues as to putting a swing set together but I can tell you that you and your managing editor will be loved for a lifetime. Have fun!
One of the resources I'm watching regarding the situation in Russia is Beau of the Fifth Column. He has the contacts and background to understand impacts of what is going on, in particular the military implications.
Best case scenario: Prigozhin topples Putin but the inner circle of Oligarchs arrest him for treason. They know that Prigozhin is a scarier monster than Putin. Chaos ensues.
Then, areas of Asian Russia (bigger than almost all other nations) start to peel away. "Outer Mongolia" reconnects somewhat with her Chinese cousins. The Slavic Russians have been treating Asians as second class humans forever.
A smaller, less aggressive Russia emerges that wants to rejoin the world?
And just wishfully thinking, perhaps those oligarchs will want to patch up relations with Europe and the West so they can get their yachts back in action - holding parties with international jet setters in the Caribbean.
Somehow I really don’t think we want Russia in “chaos”. A destabilized Russia is really dangerous. This is a very serious confrontation - Russia is a nuclear power.
Completely agree. I think the world would have preferred a quick bloodless coup followed by an election. But given Russia's history of always following one strong man after another, I am not optimistic that democracy could ever take hold there.
Bill Browder's "Red Notice" of a few years back is a pretty good snapshot of Russian politics and who pulls the strings.
I'm afraid Prigozhin would be harder to assassinate or in this scenario arrest than even Putin. Putin relies on distance and loyal guards but Prigozhin is so surrounded by true believers (and you had better believe they know who those are vs the ones who are Just violent criminals) he walks freely among his people. If Prigozhin isn't in this to provide a reason to withdraw from Ukraine and dump a few top brass out a window or into the hot seat in a show trial for misleading the country into a war (in which case expect Putin to remain in power) then I expect he could retain any power he was able to seize. It's a spell binding show for now for certain.
The TITAN tragedy: For the people in the Titan and their families, watching their impending deaths is unimaginable. But --- the cost of this rescue mission must run into the millions. Questions now being raised, legitimately in my opinion, as to WHO will pay are being raised. Thinking of the numbers of kids who could have been vaccinated with the funds made me shake my head. The adventurers chose to do something immensely dangerous. Unvaccinated children in vast numbers have no choice with dread diseases that vaccination can prevent. Another example of the priorities for the rich ($250,000 per seat !!!!) and the sacrificing of the poor.
It certainly was stupid on the part of the ring leader, whose name I'm forgetting. On the plus side, the fact that there was an implosion means that they all died probably within a fraction of a second, probably without suffering. While the suspense was on, I was worried that the sub was intact, and they were going to slowly suffocate.
I don't recall his name either but he was the controlling partner of the company who decided, among other now-apparent poor decisions regarding design & construction of the craft, that his vessel along didn't require that testing and safety certification that's required of all other similar vessels. His company should be required to reimburse the costs of the rescue effort to all of the countries which provided rescue ships, equipment and personnel.
I was also dismayed by the world media attention these billionaires got for attempting such a meaningless dive, but it was good TV and kept the masses engaged, and I guess that’s all that counts. Who WILL pay the bills? The families, I hope!
That's a question that many many are asking! IIRC, there are states? counties? where a person who is lost in the woods or mountains must reimburse the cost of the rescue operation.
In contrast to the boat filled with refugees which sank off the coast of Greece where there was no rescue operation for 300 souls desperately seeking a better life.
Because I have a small space, I am building a custom swing set from scratch with 2" galvanized pipe and Speed Rail connectors. I have purchased the pipe and had it cut to size at a local metal supply shop. Have six post holes and ten bags of Quickcrete ready to go!
It looks as if Putin’s chickens are coming home to roost. We should not gloat, however, as Trump himself is guilty of treason to his country, but we are afraid to call it that. As Gertrude Stein said, a rose is a rose is a rose. The former president had his own Wagner group in the form of militias scattered around the country who are heavily armed, and they came very close to temporarily taking over the government and perhaps would’ve executed some our country’s leaders. As you have noted several times large numbers of the Republican faction continue to celebrate Putin, Russia and Viktor Orban. Well, we may laugh at the clownishness of the MAGA faction, particularly members of the house of representatives, while they enact their own episodes of the world wrestling federation, there are no doubt countless violent cultists ready to commit Mayhem in our nation. Not much between us and the Russians nor Nazi Germany. No laughing matter.
Please don’t use the word *militia*, folks. They are *paramilitaries*. Calling them militias dishonors the true militias of our American Revolution times.
One of the differences between Putin's Russia and Russia under the Communists is the lack of a Politburo or any other political entity that could act to provide a check on the head of the government. Absent that kind of check, the alternatives are military or assassination -- not the kind of alternatives that support national stability.
Great link to The Hartmann Report. We should get on this one! Televising the Trump trial is really important for many reasons including the sheer interest of it. Better than Yellowstone, even Succession with similar themes of betrayal. But without live TV or next day recordings can you imagine The Victim's spin of events for his MAGAs? The Witch Hunt will become the Witch Trial. Surprised his defense hasn't wanted a change of venue to Salem.
Former Ambassador to Russia, Michael McFaul’s comment is so Robert:
“When bad guys are fighting each other instead of attacking the good guys, that’s good for the good guys. It’s really as simple as that.”
https://twitter.com/mcfaul/status/1672475745913012224?s=46&t=G1vnalQqxYifVbjonWfCIA
I'll take it...thanks, Ellie!
Little things sometimes are very important. In Philadelphia on Friday I95 was reopened after a major truck fire destroyed the highway and this critical commerce corridor became operational in less than two weeks after the accident. It happened with Federal funds and the coordination of state and Federal agencies all working together with dedicated construction workers. This is an example of government working for the people. Meanwhile in Congress Republican members in the House were trying to expunge Trump’s two impeachments and in part create a lot of noise and distraction to take our attention away from the mounting indictments and crimes committed by the leader of the Republican Party. When will Republicans in Congress admit Trump is not qualified or can be trusted to be the President of the United States and are willing to do something about it. The reality is it’s the voters who need to vote and find the Republican Party guilty of derelict of their constitutional duties
So if we step back it looks like this:
Republican Party sitting there trying to decide. “On the one hand is the disaster on 1-95, we could take all the options our government has and juggernaut the fix which will help our people, OR, on the other hand we could create a lot of noise and distraction to take attention off the indictments of one guy who broke the law and put 340 Million people at risk…. Um. OK guys, we’re going with the distraction scenario let’s roll! “
VOTE BLUE!!!
My guess is, they will never admit Trump is not qualified because they have tied themselves and their future to him. Moreover, I have speculated to many of them may be facing indictments with him regarding January 6 and their adventure to find 11,000 plus votes in Georgia. How do I know. I don’t but certainly watched and heard their statements as they stood by him during those times of insurrection. And now there are 84 witnesses that the prosecutor asks Trump not be allowed to talk to in regard to the documents case. Here’s the Times report on Jack Smith’s filings: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/23/us/politics/trump-documents-trial-delay.html?unlocked_article_code=zXwfAt9qX2Fty8ngzp8sDHf9JhYvfVIhp8CXa1-Myv98zh1SWeXsCI-PBu2XCcXVyYFF1jSUw7VSKp-qvMYSqLQNb_Mj8hTuNyV14dvlXQbgNybRNyKkcs64sxCjO4e3bJqEFNht2GZbNH5xrYilewQIActzqebKUt09SXEvv9d1EEEkhkYyRuUddtSjybMFYoEqlBPdgX6GLmA-MrbBIPcWlmPpauWPf0XpGIwd8K1ywUfSW_A9uQNJxrSRl5H6eoqPVaMNOS9zFtF5ZC1uR9u28Gc2RsGwIJLHifHw1IT9M8RsqRqLAjPNf9z3Y-v7E5BCXuFTGYKKzJ_UPOGL1sj_mSpQLqr40A&smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare
Thanks for the link to a non-paywalled article.
Does anyone have a free link to yesterday's filings? Court Listener shows they are only available on Pacer
That is the problem not accepting the truth about Trump,
All the more reason to televise Trumps hearings. The spectacle will be too enticing for even the far right to ignore, & may at last shine light on actual events vs GOP fairy tales.
You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you cannot fool a granddaughter who needs her swing set any of the time! Happy hammer and nails, Hubbell Family!
Piggy backing on your comment, Lynell, Robert, you have a full life, from making your granddaughter happy with a swing to providing food fir thought and action to thousands of virtual friends and patriotic citizens! Bravo to you and Jill!
I have no idea what “facial overbreadth” is, but when Clarence Thomas uses that, I am confident it is some reactionary BS. He seems so terribly concerned about such a thing being used when the Court rightly decided that the Constitution’s right to privacy would cover the right for contraception - as well as gay marriage and women’s right to choose, by the way. I would refer him back to the Dobbs decision. The case before them was from Mississippi, and asked for a 15-ban on abortion. Instead of addressing “the case before them”, this Extreme Court opted to go BIG and determine that Roe vs Wade was “egregious from the start”. According to whom, I wonder? They have overreached on every consequential decision that has come to them, and managed to tear down years of precedent and established law. Sorry, Thomas, use plain English and just tell us that you hate the right to contraception as well as most anything else that allows women to fully participate in our democracy. Did “facial overbreadth” come to mind when Alito and you were crisscrossing the globe on right-wing donors’ dime????? I’m sorry you had a difficult life. Don’t take it out on us.
Thomas's note was deliberately obscures. The most important part is his parenthetical reference to "substantive due process" in the cite to Griswold. Substantive due process is the theory that forms the basis for all implied rights against the states--the right to an integrated education (Brown v. Board), the right to marry someone of a different race (Loving v. Virginia), the right to marry someone of the same sex (Obergefell), the right to contraception, the right to have sexual relations with someone who is not your spouse. He really wants to turn back the clock to the 1940s.
Thank you for that explanation, Robert. I’m curious. How does Thomas, who is in an interracial marriage himself, believe he has the right to do that or that all these other rights are currently the law of the land? Is he prepared to give up his marriage to Ginni (probably not a bad idea!), or what? What does he suggest in 2023 for people to have sexual relations with someone who is not their spouse? For sure, that will punish millions of Republicans if he toes a hard line!!! Our Founding Fathers, no doubt, could not have envisioned “all the implied rights against the states” that would occur as time went on in America. I’m quite sure, though, they were not purists who never had sex with a non-spouse! Thomas sounds like a maniac.
If one is a "Justice" on the US Supreme Court, then how much do those pesky little laws for everyone else really apply to you?
Laura Stillman,
So glad you note Thomas’ incoherent obscure opinion. Obfuscation deluxe. Duh!
Read through Oral Arguments for the Hansen case. Nope. Nothing coherent there, either.
Now I’ll read Robert Hubbell’s clarifications to try to wrap my mind around the Hansen case and Thomas’ gobbledygook.
Thank you, Laura and Robert Hubbell!
Thomas certainly had sex out of wedlock, and was a sexual abuser. He's an all around skunk, although saying so is not fair to skunks.
I think turning the clock back to the 40s is also what many others want to do. It reflects an intense desire to get back to patriarchy and patriotism that represents a past that no longer exists but which, for many, was or is perceived to be more comfortable and acceptable.
In that scenario there is no need to grapple with cultural changes that each of the cases Robert cited represent - separate schools, clear lines you are expected not to cross with regard to relationships, and certainly not extramarital sexual relationships. In essence, life in 2023 is confusing for some in a very unsettling way. From another perspective (say, ours) it is unsettling that those who want to go back can’t seem to accept cultural shifts of these times (2023). Thus, the great divide.
Clarification, I should have written same sex relationships rather than extramarital.
Watching this rebellion in Russia, and wondering at its potential outcomes for Russia, Ukraine and the world, all I can say is thank goodness we have Biden as president, and people like Anthony Blinken and Jake Sullivan in our State Department. They inspire confidence. But make no mistake, Prigozhin and Wagner are terrible terrible people, war criminals, pillagers, lawless and utterly selfish, the definition of Bad News. Biden et all, and our allies in Europe, know this, of course. Given Wagner's reach in Africa, we need to strengthen ties with allies in Africa, which Biden has begun to do. #withagecomeswisdom
Why is it that the press constantly brings up the Hunter/Joe stories, but fails to mention the Donald/Children dealings before, during, and after his Presidency?
Perhaps it's because of the difference in expectations. TFG demonstrates with his every action that he's a fraud, a grifter, a narcissist, and a thief, so nothing he or his offspring do is surprising. President Biden, on the other hand, represents integrity and empathy, so any challenges to those things are newsworthy.
Or, click bait?
Thank you, Robert, for that link explaining why we, the people, should demand camera coverage of federal court trials. I have already done that with my Congressman a week ago. It is imperative that we witness, in real time, the fate of Donald John Trump. We deserve to have seats, front and center.
I cannot give you any clues as to putting a swing set together but I can tell you that you and your managing editor will be loved for a lifetime. Have fun!
Love your comment, Marlene!
Robert,
Good luck with the swing set! May it be like I-95 in Philadelphia.
You mean the successful reopening of the road not the original disaster
Umm, yes. You can caught me!
One of the resources I'm watching regarding the situation in Russia is Beau of the Fifth Column. He has the contacts and background to understand impacts of what is going on, in particular the military implications.
https://youtu.be/3Jp_CVK7ZYA
Best case scenario: Prigozhin topples Putin but the inner circle of Oligarchs arrest him for treason. They know that Prigozhin is a scarier monster than Putin. Chaos ensues.
Then, areas of Asian Russia (bigger than almost all other nations) start to peel away. "Outer Mongolia" reconnects somewhat with her Chinese cousins. The Slavic Russians have been treating Asians as second class humans forever.
A smaller, less aggressive Russia emerges that wants to rejoin the world?
And just wishfully thinking, perhaps those oligarchs will want to patch up relations with Europe and the West so they can get their yachts back in action - holding parties with international jet setters in the Caribbean.
Read Diane Francis:
https://dianefrancis.substack.com/p/chinas-russia?utm_source=profile&utm_medium=reader2
Somehow I really don’t think we want Russia in “chaos”. A destabilized Russia is really dangerous. This is a very serious confrontation - Russia is a nuclear power.
Completely agree. I think the world would have preferred a quick bloodless coup followed by an election. But given Russia's history of always following one strong man after another, I am not optimistic that democracy could ever take hold there.
Bill Browder's "Red Notice" of a few years back is a pretty good snapshot of Russian politics and who pulls the strings.
https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/22609522
By the way, your "China's Russia" is a fantastic article. Very meaty.
I'm afraid Prigozhin would be harder to assassinate or in this scenario arrest than even Putin. Putin relies on distance and loyal guards but Prigozhin is so surrounded by true believers (and you had better believe they know who those are vs the ones who are Just violent criminals) he walks freely among his people. If Prigozhin isn't in this to provide a reason to withdraw from Ukraine and dump a few top brass out a window or into the hot seat in a show trial for misleading the country into a war (in which case expect Putin to remain in power) then I expect he could retain any power he was able to seize. It's a spell binding show for now for certain.
Diane Francis' article does a superb job.
The TITAN tragedy: For the people in the Titan and their families, watching their impending deaths is unimaginable. But --- the cost of this rescue mission must run into the millions. Questions now being raised, legitimately in my opinion, as to WHO will pay are being raised. Thinking of the numbers of kids who could have been vaccinated with the funds made me shake my head. The adventurers chose to do something immensely dangerous. Unvaccinated children in vast numbers have no choice with dread diseases that vaccination can prevent. Another example of the priorities for the rich ($250,000 per seat !!!!) and the sacrificing of the poor.
It certainly was stupid on the part of the ring leader, whose name I'm forgetting. On the plus side, the fact that there was an implosion means that they all died probably within a fraction of a second, probably without suffering. While the suspense was on, I was worried that the sub was intact, and they were going to slowly suffocate.
I don't recall his name either but he was the controlling partner of the company who decided, among other now-apparent poor decisions regarding design & construction of the craft, that his vessel along didn't require that testing and safety certification that's required of all other similar vessels. His company should be required to reimburse the costs of the rescue effort to all of the countries which provided rescue ships, equipment and personnel.
Rush Stockton. And, yes, the company should be required to reimburse.
Oops! Stockton Rush, not the other way around.
I was also dismayed by the world media attention these billionaires got for attempting such a meaningless dive, but it was good TV and kept the masses engaged, and I guess that’s all that counts. Who WILL pay the bills? The families, I hope!
That's a question that many many are asking! IIRC, there are states? counties? where a person who is lost in the woods or mountains must reimburse the cost of the rescue operation.
In contrast to the boat filled with refugees which sank off the coast of Greece where there was no rescue operation for 300 souls desperately seeking a better life.
My best advice is to over-engineer the swing set.
Because I have a small space, I am building a custom swing set from scratch with 2" galvanized pipe and Speed Rail connectors. I have purchased the pipe and had it cut to size at a local metal supply shop. Have six post holes and ten bags of Quickcrete ready to go!
Wow! I’m impressed!
Excellent plan. Just the way I’d do it.
No, the best advice is to read the instructions and ask the managing editor to help.
Building the swingset from scratch! see comment in response to Al Griffin.
Which murderous, criminal, fascist, terrorist faction in Russia does the gQp support? The MSM must ask every Republican politician.
I wish I had confidence in the MSM to ask that question.
It looks as if Putin’s chickens are coming home to roost. We should not gloat, however, as Trump himself is guilty of treason to his country, but we are afraid to call it that. As Gertrude Stein said, a rose is a rose is a rose. The former president had his own Wagner group in the form of militias scattered around the country who are heavily armed, and they came very close to temporarily taking over the government and perhaps would’ve executed some our country’s leaders. As you have noted several times large numbers of the Republican faction continue to celebrate Putin, Russia and Viktor Orban. Well, we may laugh at the clownishness of the MAGA faction, particularly members of the house of representatives, while they enact their own episodes of the world wrestling federation, there are no doubt countless violent cultists ready to commit Mayhem in our nation. Not much between us and the Russians nor Nazi Germany. No laughing matter.
Please don’t use the word *militia*, folks. They are *paramilitaries*. Calling them militias dishonors the true militias of our American Revolution times.
One of the differences between Putin's Russia and Russia under the Communists is the lack of a Politburo or any other political entity that could act to provide a check on the head of the government. Absent that kind of check, the alternatives are military or assassination -- not the kind of alternatives that support national stability.
Great link to The Hartmann Report. We should get on this one! Televising the Trump trial is really important for many reasons including the sheer interest of it. Better than Yellowstone, even Succession with similar themes of betrayal. But without live TV or next day recordings can you imagine The Victim's spin of events for his MAGAs? The Witch Hunt will become the Witch Trial. Surprised his defense hasn't wanted a change of venue to Salem.
The judge just gave him the perfect venue: ft pierce, all trump voters.