Newsbites, 7/28/24

Republicans fall in line; Democrats fall in love.

--Amerian truism, 21st century

What a week it's been since Biden bowed out of the presidential race!  For once it's the Democrats who have "fallen in line" behind Kamala, with no exceptions that I've heard of.  Which is a damn good thing, because there's only 101 days left till the election, and no time to waste.

(Another time we'll talk about the absurdity of election campaigns that go on for months and years.  Britain and France just had elections - it was 6 weeks of campaigning for the Brits and only 4 weeks for the French.  How wonderful it would be if ours were that short.)

A few newsbites from the weekend.  First, Pete B. rips Vance and the whole Republican scheme:

 

Kamala raises $200 million in the first week:

 

Washington Week in Review panel discussion:

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Sunday Drive: Frenesi

A light and breezy tune for a summer afternoon.  Artie Shaw conducts his orchestra in the 1941 hit:

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Trump Promises "You Won't Have to Vote Anymore" if He's Elected

Chilling words.  Of course he means what he says.  And Christianity has nothing to do with it.

 

His Christianist followers say we Democrats are inciting violence against Trump by saying mean things about him, like he's a dictator and a threat to democracy. 

As if that's just some ridiculous notion we dreamed up out of thin air. 

Listen to his words. Read His Lips. 

He is the golden idol of a massive cult, and his followers are chugging down the Kool-Aid. 

We just can't let American history end this way. 

Vote!  While you still can.

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Waitin' for the Weekend

Orange you glad it's Friday?

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Newsbites 7/26/24

There are 103 days left until the election, November 5th.  Check your voter registration, and be sure it's up to date.

What a difference a week makes - from depression to elation!  I Hope the Dems keep the campaign train fired up and steaming right on to victory - not just for the good of the party, but also for the country and the world, and all us little people who live and love and work in it.

Here are a few news clips worth watching.  First, the Obamas endorse Kamala: 

 

Governor Walz on the "he-man woman haters" in the Republican party:

 

Secretary Pete on Trump's fear of debating Kamala:

 

Former Ambassador Susan Rice on Kamala's creds to be Commander-in-Chief:

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Tim Walz for Veep!

Governor Tim Walz (D-Minn.)

In the last 24 hours, your Head Trucker has discovered Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, and I think he would be a super Vice President for Kamala.  Of course, I know only what I've seen on YouTube and read on Wikipedia - which is true for all other candidates and politicians as well - but what I have seen and heard gives me great confidence that Walz is the man.  

And with Kamala, it would be a match made in political heaven - an irresistable Tracy & Hepburn team.

Poster for Woman of the Year, 1942.
Click to enlarge.

What makes me so confident is more than Walz's resume - small town guy, family man with 2 kids, 24-year Army National Guard vet (artillery), high school teacher and football coach, 12 years a Congressman, 5 years as governor of Minnesota - but beyond all that, he's highly articulate, witty, and humorous, with a positive outlook on America.  A happy, hopeful guy - unlike the angry, snarling opposing team - and he's only 6 months older than Kamala.  He also has executive experience (governor), which Kamala does not.

Biden Addresses the Nation

Does character in pulic life still matter?

In a speech to the nation from the Oval Office tonight, President Biden explained his decision to bow out of the presidential race and his vision for the country's future.

Rachel Maddow comments on what she calls "a timeless speech about a very specific moment":

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Mark Kelly for Veep?

Kamala made her first campaign speech at a rally held yesterday in Milwaukee, and it was powerful:

Now, your Head Trucker has been reviewing potential VP picks for Kamala, just in case she phones and asks my advice.  And I want to say that Senator Mark Kelly stands very high on my short list.  He's a butch white man, for one thing, and that is no small consideration.  (Drop the PC sputtering, girls - we are talking reality here.)  For another, his life and career are exemplary.  And he's the kind of self-confident guy who is very comfortable supporting women's rights (with a wife and two daughters, he'd better be).

Kelly has been a senator from Arizona since 2020, but come to find out, he was born and raised in New Jersey, son of a mom and dad who were both police officers, so he is a working-class guy.  He graduated from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, joined the Navy, and became a combat pilot who flew 39 missions over Iraq in the Gulf War.  Then he got picked by NASA to fly four space shuttle missions, commanding two of them.  A 25-year Navy veteran who earned lots of medals for service to his country, he's been a senator since 2020.

Kelly is also the husband of former U.S. Congresswoman Gabby Giffords, who was left permanently disabled after an assassination attempt and mass shooting in Tucson in 2011.  After Gabby partially recovered from her injuries, the couple founded a gun-control advocacy group now known as Giffords.

Kelly was born in the same month as Kamala Harris, October 1964.  He supports all the issues you'd expect a Democrat to support, and he sits on the Senate Armed Services Committee.  He's not exactly telegenic, but he's a decent speaker, and his record of public service is unimpeachable.  What's not to like?  

Pete, Bernie, Trae on Kamala

Official White House portrait of Kamala Harris,
Vice President of the United States
Click to enlarge.

Well, what a weekend that was, a total turnaround in the Democratic party, which raked in $80 million in campaign contributions from small donors in 24 hours.  Whooeee!  We are fired up for sure, now.  

This is the most electrifying political moment in my memory, which goes back to the time of JFK.  Your Head Trucker voted for him, I'm proud to say.  It's no lie - I went into the voting booth with my mom, and she let me pull the lever next to his name

This was state of the art in 1960, and they kept working just fine all over the country for decades.  The votes were recorded and tallied electrically.

.But between you and me, fellas, although I'm very enthused about smart, strong Kamala, I also know she has flaws alongside her virtues:  she's a human being, like all other politicians.  I may not agree with everything she says and does; but I do believe her heart and mind are firmly on the side of democracy and the rule of law, with liberty and justice for all.  

And she's electable!  She has my vote in the bag already, and I hope will get enough more to stop the fascist steamroller from taking over.  That's a mighty big, mighty tough job - she will be a target for outrageous abuse and maybe worse.  We should all keep her in our prayers.

Here's Secretary Pete:

 

Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) ;  I was never a Bernie fan, but I agree with every word he says here:

 

And here's that hillbilly sumbitch Trae Crowder, plagiarizing me. What he says about the veep choices in the last part of this video is exactly what I wrote in my Sunday post - a part I later deleted, thinking it sounded too smartass. 

Damn, boy! What you mean, poaching off my blog? Or are you some kinda fuckin' mind reader or somethin'? Hell, maybe we just think alike, in which case you are a goddamn smart fella. Next time you come through town, gimme a call, I'll buy you a beer.

BONUS:  Kamala outlines her experience and her vision in her first speech to campaign workers in Wilmington, Delaware, yesterday:

And this just in:

AP Survey Shows Kamala Harris Backed by Enough Delegates to Become Democratic Nominee

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BIDEN BOWS OUT

President Biden has announced he is leaving the presidential race, and has endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris to succeed him as the Democratic candidate. 

Click to enlarge.

NBC News reports:

Sky News (UK) reports:

CBS News:

What I Say:  Thank God.  Now we have a chance to win this election and save democracy.  A really good chance.

Thank you for your service, Joe - and for choosing your country over your own ambition.  This single act shows you are a true patriot.  History will be kind to you.

I can breathe again.

* * * * * * * * * *

Bill and Hillary Clinton have endorsed Harris:

Click to enlarge.

3 p.m.:  Harris takes up the challenge, reports the Guardian;

I am honored to have the President’s endorsement and my intention is to earn and win this nomination. Over the past year, I have traveled across the country, talking with Americans about the clear choice in this momentous election. And that is what I will continue to do in the days and weeks ahead. I will do everything in my power to unite the Democratic Party — and unite our nation – to defeat Donald Trump and his extreme Project 2025 agenda.

We have 107 days until Election Day. Together, we will fight. And together, we will win.

You go, girl!  Now put on your running shoes, get out there and fight like hell!  We got your back!

What will her campaign against Trump look like?  Check out these two videos from 2019. when Harris was running for the Democratic nomination:

 

Yesss!  Fired up!  Ready to go!  Whooeee!

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Sunday Drive: Desiderata

Click to enlarge.

For my truckbuddy Frank, who reminded me of it:  The 1927 poem by American author Max Ehrmann, as spoken by Les Crane on the 1971 Grammy-winning recording, which your Head Trucker used to own.

Note to the younger generations:  The visuals in the above video are of recent date.  There were, of course, no music videos in 1971, nor any VCR's or home computers or Internet.  You listened to the radio, you listened to records, and you made up pictures in your head.  Once in while, if you happened to be sitting in front of the TV set, watching a particular show at a particular time, you might get to see a song performed; but you never saw that episode again, not ever.

Believe it or not, children, that's just the way it was, and we all thought it was wonderful.  You don't miss what you never had.

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Trae Crowder Rips Vance

Your Head Trucker doesn't necessarily agree with every word that comes out of Trae Crowder's rude, crude mouth - but what he says about his old drinking buddy J. D. is certainly noteworthy.  Funny, too.

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Waitin' for the Weekend

You know, fellas, your old Head Trucker is always concerned for your mental and moral welfare.  So at the end of a hellacious week, our text for the day is, Resist the Devil, and he will flee from you.  

And to show you how it's done, here's a charming little sermonette in film:

 

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We're Fucked

 And by "we," I don't mean just Democrats.  I mean Democracy.

This morning I saw this headline:

Tonight, I saw this one:

Shit.

Whether crude face-saving ploy or cosmic irony, this election's over.

Shit.

Frail old grandpa or death-defying superhero, whodyathink is gonna win?

Shit.

The clock's running down and we got no team, no replacement.

Shit.  Shit.  Goddamn fucking shit.

What else is there to say?

Update, 7/18/24, 11 a.m.:

Well, I was pretty upset and frustrated yesterday, fellas.  I still am; but please don't despair.  Bad things happen, and we've seen a string of them in the last few weeks.  But good things happen, too. 

Perseverance through adversity is what makes a man a man:  what has made many men worthy of our respect and admiration down through the ages.  Even a girly boy like me can be a real man by that measure.

I really don't know if it's better for Biden to stay or go, or what the future holds for us and our country.  But we can face it together if we hang tough, buddies.  A good time may come yet.  Keep a smile on your face and peace in your heart.  

Cowboy up!  The rodeo ain't over yet.

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Convicted Felon Picks "Never-Trump Guy" for Veep

I think that I’m going to vote third party because I can’t stomach Trump.  I think that he’s noxious and is leading the white working class to a very dark place.

--J. D. Vance, 

NPR "Fresh Air"

August 17, 2016

The words quoted were spoken when Trump was making his first run for the Presidency. Vance is now the junior Republican senator from Ohio, who began his political career just 18 months ago in January 2023 and today was formally named the vice-presidential candidate at the Republican convention in Milwaukee.  

Vance's remarkable rise from childhood poverty to Yale Law School to author and journalist to the heights of national politics is very well documented in his Wikipedia article as well as today's report on his nomination by the Associated Press.  I recommend these sources to all my truckbuddies for reading and reflection.

In 2016, Vance repeatedly condemned Trump harshly.  But by 2021, Vance had become one of Trump's staunchest supporters.  Now what on earth could make a smart guy like that do a total 180?  I wonder.  I highly recommend watching the following reports by Rachel Maddow and by Nicolle Wallace on Vance's stunning transformation from outspoken never-Trumper to toady-in-chief:

And if there's still any question in your mind where Vance stands, check out this New York Times report from last December that begins, "When a historian wrote an essay the other day warning that the election of former President Donald J. Trump next year could lead to dictatorship, one of Mr. Trump’s allies quickly responded by calling for the historian to be sent to prison."  Yep, it was Senator Vance - himelf a published book author and writer for the likes of CNN and the NYT -  who wanted a fellow writer thrown in jail merely for daring to suggest that the divine DJT could ever possibly become a dictator.  Perish the thought.

Who's really on the side of democracy here, and who's all for dictatorship, hmm?

For another perspective on the crisis in American politics, listen to the remarks by former U.S. Representative (R-Ill.) Adam Kinzinger on the Stephen Colbert show earlier this evening:

Part 2 of 3 - remarks about Vance

While in Congress, Kinzinger was an outspoken critic of Trump - one of the very few Republicans who had the guts to call a spade a spade - and served as one of the two Republican members on the January 6 Committee that conducted an exhaustive inquiry into Trump's failed self-coup in 2021.

And just for laughs, though it is no laughing matter, you could read this dimwitted opinion piece (or plain old propaganda?) by a completely cluleless Guardian contributor in the UK:  

Blue MAGA:  We Need to Talk about the Cult-like Turn of the Democratic Party.

That's as Orwellian a wordfuck as I ever saw:  black is white, white is black, and 2 + 2 = 5.  Sad!

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Biden Tells the Nation: Cool It

For the second time since Friday's assassination attempt on Donald Trump, President Biden addressed the nation today, saying,

There is no place in America for this kind of violence, for any kind of violence, ever, period, no exceptions.  We can't allow this violence to be normalized.  You know, the political rhetoric in this country has gotten very heated.  It's time to cool it down.  We all have a responsibility to do that.

What I say:  Well, all right, Mr. President.  I agree that calmness is needed now.  But a spade is a spade is a spade.  

How can you succeed in defeating this Teflon-coated opponent if you don't plainly point out that he tried to overthrow the government of the United States, overturn an election, and is a pathological liar with no conscience or sense of shame?  As you yourself have done before.

How can we ordinary citizens down here at the bottom of the totem pole discuss what you yourself have called a grave threat to democracy without telling the simple truth?  Without mentioning the many, many outright lies and bogus claims that we have all seen and heard, which were recorded by every news outlet in the country?

How can any decent, intelligent, moral person ignore that fact that your opponent and his political cohorts are openly planning to shred the Constitution and establish a permanent dictatorship in this country?  Aided and abetted - indeed, encouraged - in that enterprise by a corrupt and partisan Supreme Court?

Just what are we supposed to say - cooly, calmly, reasonably?  Please tell us in plain words so that we can follow your lead,

I know you're a very busy man, and don't have the time to get back to every constituent immediately.  That's okay - I'll wait for your response.  But I'm not sure history will.

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Sunday Drive: Do the Locomotion

Richard Simmons in 2011.  Click to enlarge.

Bubbly, bouncy Richard Simmons died yesterday at his home in Hollywood Hills, just a day after his 76th birthday.  I'll be honest, I never liked or watched his show:  too silly and way too, um, fruity!  Your Head Trucker never wanted to be that damn obvious: there's safety in camouflage and just keeping your gay mouth shut. And apparently Richard never spoke about his sexuality one way or the other in public.

But twinkly, sparkly Richard had a huge fan base, and thousands claimed his exercise and diet routines saved or greatly improved their lives. I have read that during personal appearances he would hug his fans, weep with them over personal stories, and even pray with them.  So at the end of the day, with so many testimonials, I say he was a sweet guy who used his fabulous talents to do much good for others, so he's OK in my book.  And no doubt St. Peter will smile and wave him right on through the Pearly Gates, toll-free.  May he rest in peace.

I couldn't find a single-song tape to play for you, but you can listen to just the first one on this.  Got your dancing clothes on?  Well move it, girlfriend!

Update, 7/21/24:  Richard's "team" has shared his final social media message to his fans, written but not yet posted at the time of his death.

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DON'T CELEBRATE

ABC news reports on the attempt to assassinate Donald Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania, about 35 miles (55 kilometers) north of Pittsburgh:

 

NBC provides this aerial photo of the location where the shooting occurred during a Trump campaign rally.  (148 yards = 444 feet = 135 meters)

Click to enlarge.

According to early reports, the shooter on a nearby rooftop fired at least eight shots from an automatic rifle.  On spectator was shot in the head and died instantly.  Two others are in critical condition at a local hospital.

The shooter was killed by a police sniper.  Details are yet to be provided.

This despicable act will only infuriate and energize the Trumpists.  Political violence has no place in American life.  What goes around, comes around, fellas.  Don't rejoice, don't gloat.  Biden could be next. 

And now Trump is a kind of martyr:  the Passion of the Donald will be a powerful icon.  This changes everything.  

Pray for our country:  deliver us from evil.

CBS News:

NBC News:

 President Biden spoke at an impromptu press conference shortly after the shooting:

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Waitin' for the Weekend

Oh yeah, baby . . . pull my chain. 

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Vive La France Libre!

An alliance of left-wing parties has slapped down the far-right National Rally in France in today's legislative elections.  This will complicate things for centrist President Emmanuel Macron, but when have French politics ever been easy?

Thank God the fascist threat is removed - for now.

This is an upset victory; last night all the pollsters were predicting a right-wing majority.  But the left turned out en masse.  A lesson for us in America.  The bullies don't have to win, if we stick together. 

 

The French election upset follows the victory of the Labour Party in last Thursday's UK election.  Having accepted the King's invitation to form a government, Sir Keir Starmer is now off to a running start with his program of "National Renewal," after 14 years of endemic corruption, mismanagement, and gross incompetence by successive Tory governments.

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Sunday Drive: Rhythm of the Blues

An old favorite by Mary Chapin Carpenter:  just the right vibe for a lazy, wistful Sunday afternoon.

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Waitin' for the Weekend

Three cheers for the red, white, and blue!

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God Bless America

From the mountains, to the prairies, 

To the oceans white with foam-- 

God bless America. my home, sweet home.

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Supreme Court Gives Trump Absolute Immunity

The front pediment of the Supreme Court building.

CBS News reports:

 

NBC News reports:

 

This is a black day in American history.  In a momentous, breathtaking, party-line decision released this morning, the six Republican-appointed justices (three of them appointed by Trump) ruled that Trump - along with all former and future presidents - has "absolute immunity" and cannot be prosecuted for any "official act" during his presidency.  The Supreme Court summarizes its decision (read the full document here) -- emphasis mine:

Under our constitutional structure of separated powers, the nature of Presidential power entitles a former President to absolute immunity from criminal prosecution for actions within his conclusive and preclusive constitutional authority. And he is entitled to at least presumptive immunity from prosecution for all his official acts. There is no immunity for unofficial acts. 

This case poses a question of lasting significance: When may a former President be prosecuted for official acts taken during his Presidency? In answering that question, unlike the political branches and the public at large, the Court cannot afford to fixate exclusively, or even primarily, on present exigencies. Enduring separation of powers principles guide our decision in this case. The President enjoys no immunity for his unofficial acts, and not everything the President does is official. The President is not above the law. But under our system of separated powers, the President may not be prosecuted for exercising his core constitutional powers, and he is entitled to at least presumptive immunity from prosecution for his official acts. That immunity applies equally to all occupants of the Oval Office.

The three Democratic-appointed justices dissented.  Justice Sotomayor's dissent was particularly irate (pp. 68-97):

Today’s decision to grant former Presidents criminal immunity reshapes the institution of the Presidency. It makes a mockery of the principle, foundational to our Constitution and system of Government, that no man is above the law. Relying on little more than its own misguided wisdom about the need for “bold and unhesitating action” by the President, ante, at 3, 13, the Court gives former President Trump all the immunity he asked for and more. Because our Constitution does not shield a former President from answering for criminal and treasonous acts, I dissent. , , ,

Looking beyond the fate of this particular prosecution, the long-term consequences of today’s decision are stark. The Court effectively creates a law-free zone around the President, upsetting the status quo that has existed since the Founding. . . .  The President of the United States is the most powerful person in the country, and possibly the world. When he uses his official powers in any way, under the majority’s reasoning, he now will be insulated from criminal prosecution. Orders the Navy’s Seal Team 6 to assassinate a political rival? Immune. Organizes a military coup to hold onto power? Immune. Takes a bribe in exchange for a pardon? Immune. Immune, immune, immune.

Let the President violate the law, let him exploit the trappings of his office for personal gain, let him use his official power for evil ends. Because if he knew that he may one day face liability for breaking the law, he might not be as bold and fearless as we would like him to be. That is the majority’s message today. Even if these nightmare scenarios never play out, and I pray they never do, the damage has been done. The relationship between the President and the people he serves has shifted irrevocably. In every use of official power, the President is now a king above the law. 

Never in the history of our Republic has a President had reason to believe that he would be immune from criminal prosecution if he used the trappings of his office to violate the criminal law. Moving forward, however, all former Presidents will be cloaked in such immunity. If the occupant of that office misuses official power for personal gain, the criminal law that the rest of us must abide [by] will not provide a backstop.

With fear for our democracy, I dissent. 

The Court's reasoning on both sides of the case is nuanced and detailed, and requires an understanding of the basics of law and government to fully comprehend.  (See the wikiarticle Sovereign Immunity and related topics.)  None of which matters to Trump and his followers.  He and they will take it as a Get-Out-of-Jail-Free card, a license to kill, complete freedom to do whatever he wants.

And he has already said he wants to be president for life, terminate the Constitution, and kill his political enemies.  Now he has all the justification he needs to do whatever he wants, with no consequences.

It's a helluva mess, fellas.  Instead of being the backstop of democracy, the six Republican justices have sold the country down the river.  And they knew exactly what they were doing - they aren't ignorant, dimwitted "deplorables" out in the boonies.  They know the effect this ruling will have on Trump's court cases and on the election.  They know.  

The only chance left to stop the madness is the ballot box - we have to save ourselves, because the politicized Supreme Court certainly won't. So Democrats and all others who aren't in league with the devil had better sure turn out in droves for this election.  It doesn't matter if Biden or someone else is the candidate - the only thing to do is Vote Blue, No Matter Who.

God help us all.

FYI:  Opinion polls show that voters are evenly split (within the margin of error) between Biden and Trump.  Your Head Trucker cannot understand how half the population intends to vote for Trump, but go look at the figures for yourself:  

Nationwide opinion polling for the 2024 United States presidential election (Wikipedia)

Update: This evening, President Biden addressed the nation from the White House, succinctly and eloquently denouncing the Supreme Court's ruling: 

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