Hubris Sinks Biden’s First Year

One of my favorite quotes is, I believe, attributed to Carroll Bryant.  While categorizing people into three groups, he said … “Some people make things happen.  Some people watch things happen.  And then there are those who wonder, ‘What the hell just happened?”  Over the last 18 months, President Joe Biden has incredibly journeyed from the former to the latter of these three groups. 

At the beginning of 2017, I thought that the luckiest politician in my lifetime was Donald Trump.  He somehow parlayed a starring role in a reality TV show into the Republican nomination for President, squared off in the general election against what was likely (at that time) the weakest Democratic nominee for President in history, and then remarkably eased into the White House with a victory margin of about 107,000 votes in Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania.  The margin of victory was truly razor thin: https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/politics/2016-election/swing-state-margins/

But three years later, in the presidential campaign of 2020, Joe Biden replaced Donald Trump in the position of luckiest politician.  With President Trump riding high on the popularity and effectiveness of various policy initiatives, he appeared to be a shoo-in for re-election.  The Democratic presidential nominee candidates (all 20 of them) were clawing and gnawing at each other, trying to decide who might have the best shot at toppling the Republican in the White House.  Out of this nomination circus, on the heels of a pandemic thunderbolt that shook the entire planet, rose one of the unlikeliest presidential candidates in history.  The third time proved to be the charm for Biden as he defeated Bernie Sanders, an avowed socialist, for the Democratic nomination and the right to take on incumbent President Donald Trump.  Not many people saw that coming: https://biography.yourdictionary.com/articles/how-many-times-has-joe-biden-run-president-his-political-journey

Under the guise of pandemic lockdown restrictions, Joe Biden severely limited his campaign activities to the smallest numbers possible and largely conducted his race for the presidency from his home’s basement in Delaware.  The fact that he successfully used this strategy to win the election likely says far more about his opponent Donald Trump than it does about himself.  The Democratic game plan of permitting Donald Trump to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory proved wise beyond expectations.  The incumbent President repeatedly allowed his ego and excessive pride to rule his campaign rhetoric.  Trump essentially debated himself and lost; exiting the White House amidst charges of Democratic campaign chicanery that, although based on a significant amount of fact, proved to be essentially unquantifiable and largely unverifiable.  History will record that Joe Biden became President by defeating a man that had presided over a remarkable economic resurgence and relative peace in foreign policy.  The dog that didn’t bark became the Top Dog on the block: https://www.politico.com/news/2020/06/24/dems-warm-to-bidens-bunker-strategy-338853

More through the good fortune of happenstance as opposed to ingenious planning, Joe Biden walked into the White House in January of 2021 holding a strong hand.  Even though he had promised the sun and the moon and all of the stars in his quest for the Democratic presidential nomination, his ensuing campaign of intentional seclusion allowed him to advance to the presidency with few public promises being made.  With the unexpected windfall of a Senate Democratic Majority courtesy of Georgia’s special elections, Biden settled in as our nation’s Chief Executive with a Democratic Congressional majority and a world of possibilities.   What could possibly go wrong with this picture?

Rather than entering into his presidential term with ease and confidence, Joe Biden inexplicably swept into WDC like a hurricane; a liberal windstorm intent on blowing away any trace, positive or otherwise, of President Donald Trump.  Biden and his ilk chose malevolence over magnanimity.  As Biden issued a weekly procession of Executive Orders to dissemble his predecessor’s accomplishments, the Democratic leadership in Congress began behaving as if they had swept into WDC on the wings of an historic blue wave.  In fact, they had crept in overnight with a historically-thin margin in the House and a literal tie in the Senate that lent itself to Democratic control only through Vice-President Harris’ tie-breaking vote.  Biden himself won by a paper-thin margin quite similar to Trump’s victory over Clinton.

Biden, his Administration, and the Democrats in Congress have striven over the last year to fundamentally alter the way our nation’s government works.  With shameless ambition and political thuggery, they have seized every opportunity to jam down the throats of American citizens their liberal agenda of fiscal insanity, socialist engineering of government programs, arbitrary and baseless misadventures in foreign policy, and have pretty well orchestrated an obvious decay in the moral and ethical standing of this country’s leadership. 

Imagine for a moment that Joe Biden had arrived in WDC as the seasoned, moderate Democrat Senator he billed himself to be?  While respectfully bringing attention to his policy differences with those of his predecessor, what if he had simply permitted the successful illegal immigration actions begun by Trump to continue?  Rather than sell his soul to the green idiots of the global warming clan, he could have embraced America’s newfound energy independence and used that position to further his global aspirations and to beef up his economic bona fides.  While slyly allowing his vanquished opponent to stew in his own juices and be publicly judged for the irresponsible rhetoric flowing from his mouth, Biden could have simply ignored Trump and focused on his own agenda.  Instead of joining with the Congressional Democratic leadership in a zealous attempt to re-invent our culture and society, he could have engineered a calm and rational legislative approach that could have built on the positive accomplishments of the previous four years and pointed that hard-earned momentum in the policy direction of his own agenda. 

In other words, all Joe Biden had to do was NOTHING.  By cultivating a perception of an experienced and seasoned legislator that could possibly bridge the deep chasm between our two national parties, he might have become the poster child of empathy for pandemic concerns, the beneficiary of a rebounding economy, the master of a powerful and restored global presence, and a highly popular President viewed largely as a grandfatherly presence in a White House full of competence and calm.  Unwilling to graciously embrace the good fortune that had inexplicably fallen his way, Joe Biden now stands unsteadily astride a nation divided, a citizenry at war with itself over raging social issues, a global environment that is full of danger and uncertainty, and a national economy that is clearly running off the rails and threatening to pile up in a stupendous crash that will yield catastrophic damages. 

Along with his handlers…candidate Joe Biden made things happen in his quest for the Democratic presidential nomination.  He was successful.  Having obtained that opportunity, he retreated into his basement and watched the 2020 presidential campaign unfold to his benefit.  Having come out on top of a tumultuous, treacherously-close, and undoubtedly controversial presidential election, he now sits dumbfounded in our nation’s White House and along with his ill-chosen Administration and political appointees, he wonders…what the hell is happening?  He is not the only one wondering.  Consider the following….

Disingenuous, deceitful, spiteful, inept, bumbling, hypocritical, foolish….all of these terms aptly describes the Biden Administration’s approach to the covid pandemic(s).  Just consider…

https://justthenews.com/government/congress/pandemic-ranges-after-biden-declared-independence-covid-19-july

https://reason.com/2021/12/20/against-faucism/

https://amgreatness.com/2021/12/20/covid-spin-ops-government-failures-buried-government-actions-hyped/

https://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2021/12/what-we-have-done-to-our-children-is-a-crime.php

https://nypost.com/2021/12/26/white-house-puts-teachers-unions-ahead-of-science-on-covid-safety/

https://justthenews.com/accountability/waste-fraud-and-abuse/suteachers-get-bonuses-pay-raises-federal-pandemic-relief

https://www.bostonherald.com/2021/12/04/howie-carr-dementia-joe-biden-wants-you-to-get-vaccillated-at-cvc/

And the economy?  If there is one thing that Trump did right, it was his economic policy.  Why in the world did Biden feel the need to take a wrecking bar to an economy that was simply bursting at the seams to explode into a post-pandemic, robust recovery? 

https://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2021/12/from-win-to-din.php

https://amgreatness.com/2021/12/20/how-inflation-is-squeezing-working-american-families-at-christmas/

https://www.cnsnews.com/article/washington/susan-jones/sen-rob-portman-were-taxing-lot-so-real-issue-spending

https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/the-federal-income-tax-is-already-very-progressive/?utm_source=blog-landing&utm_medium=desktop&utm_campaign=continue-reading

https://reason.com/2021/12/27/does-joe-biden-know-why-delaware-is-home-to-so-many-corporations/

https://www.cnsnews.com/commentary/terence-p-jeffrey/federal-debt-equals-about-287859-income-tax-paying-household

The Democrats…all those new taxes…the exploding federal debt…the yawning federal deficit…the endless procession of federal spending bills………..AND FOR WHAT?

https://reason.com/2021/12/14/bidens-stimulus-bill-subsidized-meat-producers-now-the-white-house-blames-corporate-greed-for-high-meat-prices/

https://reason.com/2021/12/22/rand-paul-feds-wasted-52-billion-on-slot-machine-playing-pigeons-covid-aid-afghanistan-and-more/

https://www.jewishworldreview.com/1221/murdock122721.php

https://www.cnsnews.com/article/washington/susan-jones/sen-cardin-dems-plan-pare-down-bbb-weve-got-find-sweet-spot

Be Informed…Pass the Word…Just Google centerlineright

With the Biden Administration, everything is “all race, all the time”.  How can we, as a people, ever get past our racial issues if all we ever do is emphasize them?

https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/equality-not-elitism/editorials/what-black-lives-matter-has-accomplished

https://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2021/12/biden-racializes-health-care.php

Over the last couple of decades, the Department of Justice (DOJ) has been progressively trending towards an unholy political consciousness.  It has been used as a political tool by many presidents; Obama taking it to new and shameful heights.  Joe Biden and Merrick Garland have thrown aside any pretense towards restoring and maintaining any degree of ethical, politically-neutral, professional, and competent operation of that Department.  What should the media be reporting on these days?  THIS is what the media should be reporting on these days.  We must always remember that when the DOJ can do this to any of us…they can do it to all of us.  The Justice System in our nation is slipping into dangerous territory.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/merrick-garland-one-ups-eric-holder-biden-obama-texas-redistricting-voting-repression-strassel-11639092297

https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/merrick-garlands-jailbreak/?utm_source=blog-landing&utm_medium=desktop&utm_campaign=continue-reading

https://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2021/12/the-okeefe-project-restraining-the-times-3.php

https://realclearinvestigations.com/articles/2021/12/16/dc_bar_lets_convicted_fbi_russiagate_lawyer_back_in_good_standing_as_court_cuts_him_more_slack_807964.html

https://justthenews.com/accountability/russia-and-ukraine-scandals/durham-zeroes-clinton-campaign-could-call-some-aides

The Biden Administration’s meddling in Supreme Court matters should be concerning to anyone who respects our Constitution and expects equal justice for all in America:

https://jonathanturley.org/2021/12/20/from-packing-the-supreme-court-to-sacking-the-senate-clerk-democrats-pledge-politics-by-any-means-necessary/

https://jonathanturley.org/2021/12/13/beware-of-plan-bs-the-white-house-push-to-codify-roe-goes-far-beyond-the-status-quo/#more-181744

So…how has Biden’s “scorched earth on anything Trumpian” worked out for him…and us?

https://www.nationalreview.com/the-morning-jolt/bidens-many-many-wrong-assumptions/

https://www.cnsnews.com/article/washington/susan-jones/biden-difficult-be-president-only-unsolved-problems-get-his-desk

https://www.wsj.com/articles/biden-progressive-example-covid-omicron-inflation-wages-afghanistan-border-crime-harris-11640011955

https://amgreatness.com/2021/12/26/sowing-winds-and-reaping-whirlwinds/

https://amgreatness.com/2021/12/21/the-gathering-cloud-of-political-madness/

https://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2021/12/team-bidens-taiwan-map-flap.php

Rather than face their mistakes and errors in judgment in an honest and meaningful fashion, the Biden Administration, through its useful idiot Jen Circle Back Psaki, puts forth pabulum of misdirection, disingenuousness, outright lies, and shameless denial.  No one handles this tomfoolery better than the Babylon Bee.  Check out some of these highlights: https://babylonbee.com/search?term=jen+psaki

To wrap up this year-end post, I present for your viewing pleasure a great discussion of the year 2021.  Both political sides are marvelously represented by competent journalists in this review of the past year.  This is how political conversation should be conducted.  Your time will be well spent watching this respectful and serious discussion: https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/it-could-have-been-worse-kim-strassel-and-ross-douthat-review-2021/

 

Christmas 2021

Our world is full of abundance and miracles; we live with this every day and tend to take it for granted.  Occasionally, into each of our lives enters grief, despair, disappointment, anger, frustration, loneliness, and tragedies that at times seem too overwhelming to bear.  Yet in the midst of these trials…the blessings, joys, and wonders of this world continue forward.  The healing is eternal.  That is our gift from our Father.  Each of us is a part of that…a critical and unique part.  This world and universe would not be the same if anyone of us were not present.  My Christmas prayer for you…and me…is that we can each somehow embrace this gift we have and share it in a way that makes this world a better place.  May you and yours have a Blessed and Joyful Holiday Season.  

Whether or not you embrace Christianity, the plain and simple truths contained in the Bible…especially the ones written in red…present us with a pathway to peace, happiness, and tranquility in this world.  Any person who has spent more than a passing moment in the deep woods…or on the ocean beach…or in a pasture field…or in any of the infinite places where one can observe our world and its intricacies…must acknowledge that these wonders cannot possibly be the result of happenstance.  Though the world and its inhabitants no doubt evolve, the setting and the fashions in which this world and its inhabitants evolve are far too miraculous to be products of anything but infinite wisdom.  For those who do not embrace God the Father and his son Jesus Christ, may the lessons contained in the scriptures guide your journey through this life.  As for those who have given themselves to our Lord, may his words provide the wisdom, faith, and courage leading to salvation and everlasting life.

The Consequences of Denial

The cluelessness of the Democrats’ “Alice in Wonderland” and “Lollipops, Rainbows, and Unicorns” governing philosophy was mildly upsetting, marginally annoying, and somewhat entertaining in a quizzical sense when they were (A) out of majority status and (B) still had a few people in their leadership that knew the difference between fantasy and reality.  (A) and (B) have both changed.  Our nation is swirling down the toilet.  The world is a very dangerous place.  The detachment that exists between the Democratic Party and the pain, danger, and turmoil directly attributable to their policies is immune to the cold, harsh light of day.  They don’t get it; they don’t want to get it; and they don’t give a flip about not getting it.

My grandchildren are aged 12, 11, and 7.  Anyone of them can, at certain times and on certain subjects, exhibit greater wisdom and common sense than the Democratic leadership that currently runs this country.  That is not hyperbole.  That is not overstatement.  They are literally more intelligent than the doddering old fool that sits in our White House as the Chief Executive.  If you voted for Joe Biden or any Democrat in Congress last November, you should figure out some form of self-punishment and execute it upon yourself.  The tragedy that is playing out today in our nation was foretold, was entirely predictable to anyone willing to think about it, and is on the verge of jeopardizing the future of our nation’s young adults and children. 

Joe Biden, his Administration, and the Congressional Democratic Leadership continue to pour gasoline on a raging fire...then mystifyingly gaze at each other and wonder why the fire is growing. Their response to the global and tyrannical ambitions of Russia and China continues to be appeasement and groveling.  Their reaction to a failing economy that desperately wants to literally explode from its pandemic prison is to throw innumerable roadblocks up for our industrial development, confront our essential and critical energy sector in an adversarial fashion, and hamstring the business environment for the entrepreneurs among us.  They are intent upon implementing a moral decay upon our citizenry as they gut the decency and constitutional foundations of our country with their “anything goes” positions on wokeness, abortion, and law enforcement in general.

It falls to the Republican Party to put up candidates that are intelligent, responsible, sincere, honorable, and worthy of votes when they stand in opposition to this Democratic Madness.  It also falls to the Republican Party to find someone other than Donald Trump to seek a different direction for this nation.  America should not be faced with a “least of two evils” election in 2024 when they vote for our next President.  If the Republican Party fails to coalesce behind a new and capable presidential candidate in 2024, then they will be as much to blame for the consequences of another Democratic Catastrophe in the White House as the Democrats who will celebrate that opportunity. 

The only rational solutions to the civic idiocy that is sweeping our country is the election of a Republican congressional majority to mitigate the awesome power of our senile Chief Executive and his sophomoric Administration…and…to elect a Republican President in 2024 that will be begin to unwind the devastation wrought upon our nation by the first two years of Democratic government rule under Joe Biden and his next two years as (hopefully) a lame duck President.  I will not even entertain the chilling possibility that might lie ahead if the Democrats somehow manage to maintain their Congressional control in 2022 and then maintain control of the White House in 2024.

Turning to the Republican Party for salvation from our current malaise is thin gruel indeed.  The thought of turning to Donald Trump for that redemption is nothing short of pure desperation.  The unfortunate truth is that the Republican Party performs far better in a position of opposition than it does in the position of control.  But even a marginally-effective Republican Party is far more preferable to the Democratic Party rule that we have witnessed over the last year.  I shudder to think of the dilemma voters will face if the Republicans stand Donald Trump up against the Democratic presidential nominee in 2024.  We can only pray it does not come down to that.

Why do I paint such a dark and dismal picture of the greatest nation in the world?  Why am I so pessimistic in a world that is so full of wonder and goodness and daily miracles?  Why continue my attacks on and persecution of the Democrats who control our government?  Here is why….

Be Informed…Pass the Word…Just Google centerlineright

What is the perverse logic that drives the Biden Administration to shut down our energy industry while kowtowing to Russia and their energy industry? 

https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/policy/biden-orders-halt-to-us-financing-of-foreign-fossil-fuel-projects

https://www.cnsnews.com/article/washington/susan-jones/biden-my-effort-combat-climate-change-not-raising-price-gas

https://www.cnsnews.com/blog/craig-bannister/manchin-keystone-pipeline-could-bring-us-900k-barrels-day-surpassing-bidens-1

And why…WHY…do the Democrats continue to pump federal dollars into our economy when inflation is such a clear and present danger?  Ever wonder why all the trail lawyers and the mainstream media fall in step behind the Democrats?  Here is why…

https://nypost.com/2021/12/10/labor-dept-reports-inflation-at-almost-7-percent-under-biden-admin/

https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/why-spending-more-money-isnt-the-answer-on-infrastructure/?utm_source=blog-landing&utm_medium=desktop&utm_campaign=continue-reading

https://www.newsmax.com/politics/cbo-finance-build-back-better-biden/2021/12/10/id/1048217/

https://justthenews.com/nation/economy/consumer-price-index

https://reason.com/2021/12/10/inflation-hits-highest-level-since-1982/

https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/biden-todays-high-inflation-numbers-show-we-have-to-pass-build-back-better/?utm_source=blog-landing&utm_medium=desktop&utm_campaign=continue-reading

https://www.cnsnews.com/index.php/commentary/jeffrey-m-mccall/can-media-cover-build-back-better-fairly-when-it-awards-them-gov

https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/fairness-justice/joe-bidens-bloated-spending-bill-contains-a-special-gift-for-trial-lawyers

The Department of Justice (DOJ) under the Obama Administration was corrupted beyond anything seen before in history.  Following Obama’s departure, that corruption burrowed in and continued into and throughout the Trump Administration.  That same corruption has once again found firm footing under Biden and Attorney General Merrick Garland and is now brazenly out in the open.  We should pay close attention to what our nation’s, our states’, and our local communities’ top law enforcement agencies and leaders have done, what they are doing, and think seriously about what they might do if they remain in power.

Some of what they did….

https://amgreatness.com/2021/11/26/durham-vs-stephanopoulos-who-colluded-trump-or-clinton/

https://www.realclearinvestigations.com/articles/2021/12/09/journalist-authors_isikoff_corn_also_fell_for_danchenkos_mythical_dossier_source_806998.html

https://www.realclearinvestigations.com/articles/2021/11/24/five_trump-russia_collusion_corrections_we_need_from_the_media_now_-_just_for_starters_804205.html

https://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2021/12/08/why_the_russiagate_scandal_outranks_the_rest_146853.html

https://www.tabletmag.com/sections/news/articles/limited-hangout-lee-smith

Some of what they are doing…

https://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2021/12/kamala-harris-to-doj-hands-off-black-supremacists.php

https://freebeacon.com/policy/why-cant-we-talk-about-the-murder-wave/

https://www.cnsnews.com/blog/craig-bannister/smash-and-grab-looters-steal-tools-calif-hardware-stores-use-robbing-more

Just as the DOJ sets the tone for law enforcement at all levels throughout our society; so do the other Federal Agencies that administer our federal government.  Consider the people that Joe Biden has selected to run those departments and agencies and the manner in which they are using their positions.  Is this the direction you want to see for your families?

https://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2021/12/meet-rachel-rollins.php

https://justthenews.com/government/courts-law/video-newly-confirmed-biden-us-attorney-melting-down-news-crew-resurfaces

https://reason.com/2021/11/30/nlrb-overturns-amazon-workers-decision-not-to-unionize-orders-new-election/

https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/you-dont-have-to-look-far-for-the-biden-nlrbs-union-label/

https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/byron-yorks-daily-memo-the-biden-buttigieg-pitch-its-all-free

https://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2021/11/how-racist-are-our-highways.php

https://reason.com/2021/11/26/the-irs-has-a-long-history-of-trampling-americans-rights-biden-wants-them-to-do-it-harder/

Juxtaposition how the Biden Administration’s DOJ has handled the January 6, 2021 Capitol Hill protests compared to the way the Trump DOJ handled the September/2018 Capitol Hill protests.  Were these two events really that different from each other?  Are we really going to accept the premise that the Halls of Congress are more precious and sacrosanct that the Halls of the Supreme Court of the United States?  Once again … Really?

https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2018/09/24/arrested-after-anti-kavanaugh-protest-capitol-hill/

Look at the punishment meted out to the September/2018 protestors while considering the vilification of the January/2021 protestors and the fact that many of the 2021 protestors are still in jail awaiting their justice (I use the term lightly).  Is this equal justice?  What about all of the lives and properties and communities destroyed by the Antifa and Black Lives Matter protests that have occurred all across our country?  How severe was the punishment for those actions?  If you do not see the agenda bias being displayed by law enforcement throughout our nation, you must be wearing blinders.  Or perhaps you are relying on the mainstream media to inform you about these stories?  How’s that working for you? 

https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/the-media-blackout-of-the-waukesha-attack-is-intentional

Joe Biden and the Democratic Party have been shameless and contemptible in how they have handled the covid pandemic.  Failing at every opportunity to credit any previous initiative or action taken by the Trump Administration to battle the pandemic and exercising every chance to exert federal authoritarian actions in the name of pandemic mitigation, Biden and the Democrats have taken Executive Actions far beyond any previously pursued and have damaged the President’s leadership powers for decades to come.  Their lust for power and control is insatiable.

https://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2021/12/bidens-pandemic-history.php

https://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2021/11/the-trump-and-biden-covid-scorecards-another-look.php

https://nypost.com/2021/12/03/biden-still-trying-to-beat-covid-and-failing/

https://www.wsj.com/articles/bidens-covid-death-milestone-biden-administration-trump-11637708781?mod=djemalertNEWS

https://spectatorworld.com/topic/shutting-down-virus-joe-biden-quarantine/

https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/is-michigan-gov-gretchen-whitmer-the-new-angel-of-death

And how are these Biden/Democratic heavy-handed, extra-constitutional, and autocratic power plays working out?

https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/joe-bidens-mandates-arent-doing-so-well-in-court/?utm_source=blog-landing&utm_medium=desktop&utm_campaign=continue-reading

https://justthenews.com/government/courts-law/bidens-losing-streak-courts-shows-no-signs-ending

https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/fairness-justice/bidens-legal-losses-seven-times-courts-have-struck-against-administration

Are the policies of Joe Biden and the Democratic Leadership good for America?  Do their policies and the stories linked above reflect your vision for our country?  Actions have consequences.  Look at what your Democrat and liberal agenda votes have wrought, both at home and abroad …

https://www.dailywire.com/news/only-half-of-2020-college-graduates-had-jobs-within-six-months-of-entering-job-market

https://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2021/12/its-official-yale-is-the-worst.php

https://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2021/12/a-modest-proposal-for-the-penn-womens-swim-team.php

https://www.dailywire.com/news/biden-wont-push-companies-to-drop-beijing-olympics-over-genocide-he-pushed-mlb-boycott-over-gop-law

https://amgreatness.com/2021/11/29/the-twin-pillars-of-bidens-failure/

https://spectatorworld.com/topic/bidens-diplomacy-disaster-iran/

And lest you forget…the Democrats control the White House and the Senate as a direct result of how Donald Trump handled his 2020 Presidential campaign.  All Joe Biden had to do was sit in his basement and watch Trump self destruct.  Then…having flamboyantly snatched defeat from the jaws of victory…Trump helped to insure Democratic Senate control by involving himself in the Georgia special Senate elections.  Remember…the Republicans only had to win ONE of those TWO Senate seats to retain control of the U.S. Senate.  Ask yourself…how much bad legislation would not have been passed; how much irresponsible federal spending could have been prevented; how many ideological and radical Biden appointees would have failed Senate confirmation…if only Trump had kept his mouth shut and stayed out of Georgia’s business?  Some people never learn.

https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/editorials/trump-delivers-for-georgia-democrats-again

Enough of the poison of politics, the wackiness of wokeness, and the frustration of everyday life in America; let us celebrate two of the greatest ladies in the music industry.  Melding together a dynamic and unique vocal style with wicked guitar licks, the Wilson sisters have established a permanent place in rock history for Heart.  Enjoy…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2cZ_EFAmj08

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0DLeH2FWFTE

 

The Abortion State of Play

On Wednesday, December 1, the issue of how federal regulation should impact abortion in America was debated at the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS).  I want to devote this post to that event.  For one like me who has been dismayed and frustrated over the seeming arbitrariness of recent SCOTUS decisions; the plodding pace of our judicial system’s resolution of practical constitutional questions; and the pervasiveness of the woke culture in our society that emphasizes social consciousness over fundamental reason…this event was a moment of celebration.  It replenished and reinvigorated my faith in the basic premises of our nation.  Regardless of what the ultimate SCOTUS decision will be on Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization (JWHO), the presentation of this case sanctified and highlighted respect for the integrity of our constitution, the preciousness of human life in the form of a fetus, and the essential role that federalism plays in the uniqueness of America.  There were literally moments in the course of this argument that I cheered out loud. 

Dobbs v. JWHO will not decide the legality of abortion in our country.  Sometime in June of 2022, the SCOTUS will render a decision on this case that will either uphold or overturn the state of Mississippi’s recently passed abortion law.  Secondly, it will likely determine the legal validity of Roe v. Wade.  If the Mississippi law is upheld, it will likely be a model for many states over the next few years to follow as the primary responsibility for regulating the practice of abortion will pass from the federal government back to the state legislatures.  There will no doubt be some states that, given the opportunity, will outlaw abortion entirely.  There will as well be some states establishing what will likely be the most liberal abortion laws in the civilized world.

Through the consideration of terms like stare decisis, reliance, viability, and quickening…the SCOTUS will also determine how strictly our constitution should be interpreted in the establishment of basic citizen rights.  Of equal importance, they will consider that if a prior SCOTUS determination in that arena is now considered to be improper (not right or wrong, but improperly conceived)…should it be preserved simply on the basis of its longevity?  These questions have arisen before in regards to abortion through the consideration of Planned Parenthood v. Casey; but most observers will acknowledge that while Casey addressed some significant aspects of abortion, it largely skirted the issue and stopped short of dealing directly, fundamentally, and decisively with the legality of the procedure in America.  It also failed to clarify exactly “who” should determine the terms of that legality.

The argument of Dobbs before the SCOTUS went on for about two hours.  Arguing to uphold the Mississippi abortion law was the Mississippi Attorney General Scott Stewart.  He was the advocate for state regulation of abortion and the overturning of Roe.  Arguing against the Mississippi abortion law and for the preservation of Roe as legal precedent was the attorney for the Jackson Women’s Health Organization, Julie Rikelman. Supporting Ms. Rikelman in her efforts was the Solicitor General of the United States, Elizabeth Prelogar.  Representing the United States at the direction of the Biden Administration, Ms. Prelogar argued along with Rikelman to overturn the Mississippi law and to sustain the precedent value of Roe.  All three of these players in this particular drama conducted themselves admirably in a professional sense; they argued their particular positions about as well as they could be argued.  Forgive my redundancy, but…They each gave it their best shot.  They left it all on the field.  There is no reason for the SCOTUS to refrain from a full resolution of this abortion question based on any presumption of insufficient material to consider.  Everything was placed on the table.  It is now time to resolve this issue.

Professional SCOTUS watchers who have spent years attempting to divine the tea leaves from case presentations all warn that it is a mistake to predict a case outcome based on the questions posed from the SCOTUS Justices…but they all do it anyway.  Following the presentations, it appears to be pretty well agreed upon that there are four Justices (Thomas, Barrett, Gorsuch, Alito) who are ready to uphold Dobbs and overturn Roe.  It is equally agreed upon that there are three Justices (Sotomayor, Kagan, Breyer) who are inclined to overturn Dobbs and uphold the precedent value of Roe.  Given the fact that a simple majority (five votes) is required to constitute a decision; the attention therefore falls upon Justices Kavanaugh and Roberts. Based on what I have read from those who are qualified to make such a guess, the prevailing opinion is that Kavanaugh is leaning solidly towards upholding Dobbs and overturning Roe.  Given his history of seeking compromise and middle ground, oftentimes with infuriating logic, it is difficult to know where Roberts resides on this case.  But after considering the questions he posed during the argument, most seem to agree that Roberts is leaning cautiously towards upholding Dobbs and overturning Roe. 

The line appears to be shaping up with an expectation of a final 5-4, or possibly 6-3 super majority, vote that will uphold the Mississippi law and overturn Roe v. Wade.   If this turns out to be accurate, it will be a watershed moment in our nation’s history.  In football analogy, Roe v. Wade was a “pick 6” that created a constitutional right to abortion out of whole cloth.  Planned Parenthood v. Casey was a “punt” with no satisfying or long-term resolution to the issue.  Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization holds the potential to be a game-winning touchdown following a long drive with a two-point conversion.  It could be that emphatic.

By way of addressing this episode, I am going to first present the actual text and a good summary of the Mississippi abortion law; it is the central topic in this entire story.  After literally years of waiting, this case represents what many pro-life advocates would term the “ideal vehicle” to be used in tearing down Roe.  In plain terms, the law states that a woman in Mississippi may obtain an abortion within the first 15 weeks of pregnancy.  After that date, abortion will be prohibited, with the exceptions of profound fetal abnormalities or conditions directly and adversely affecting the health of the mother.  One way to interpret this law is to say that at 15 weeks, the fetus is developed to the point where it functions as a human being, it possesses awareness and can feel pain, and it should enjoy the liberty of life like all other human beings.  To abort it beyond this point constitutes murder. 

This particular Mississippi law will not satisfy the pro-life or the pro-choice advocates located at either end of the abortion argument spectrum.  One extreme believes that life begins at conception and no abortions should occur. The other extreme believes abortion should be available upon demand up until the moment of delivery.  But this law does represent a common sense, practical, and reasonable starting point to deal with an emotional and polarizing issue.  Here is actual text followed by a short summary of the law; more details emerge in the following linked articles:

Text: https://legiscan.com/MS/text/SB2116/id/1846191

Summary: https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2021/dec/01/tate-reeves/fact-check-how-mississippis-abortion-law-compares-/

Next I want to provide a link to the Constitution of the United States.  In the course of the case argument, there will be many references to certain sections of the Constitution and this link is a very “user friendly” site that will permit you to read and judge for yourself what the Constitution says and intends.  As I have oftentimes said, it is a simple document using simple language: https://www.heritage.org/constitution?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI3diQyIuC7AIVFYTICh38IwFtEAAYBCAAEgJ5MfD_BwE

And as a final step in presenting this subject, I want to link the actual transcript from the SCOTUS presentation of Dobbs.  Remember that each Justice, through the wording of their remarks and questions, are attempting at some level to influence the ultimate decision: https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/19-1392_gfbi.pdf

As an attachment to the actual transcript of the case arguments, here is a running commentary of the proceeding featured by National Review that really helps to expand one’s understanding of the proceedings: https://www.nationalreview.com/2021/12/dobbs-supreme-court-oral-arguments-live-updates/

Now…let us consider some of the commentary surrounding this SCOTUS case….

https://www.nationalreview.com/bench-memos/dobbs-the-courts-historic-moment-part-1/

https://www.nationalreview.com/bench-memos/dobbs-the-courts-historic-moment-part-2/

https://www.nationalreview.com/bench-memos/dobbs-the-courts-historic-moment-part-3/

https://www.nationalreview.com/bench-memos/reagan-ag-ed-meese-success-of-conservative-legal-movement-turns-on-overruling-roe-casey-in-dobbs/

https://www.dailywire.com/news/dem-senator-warns-of-revolution-if-roe-overturned-in-case-now-before-scotus

https://www.nationalreview.com/bench-memos/what-they-are-saying-about-dobbs-v-jackson-womens-health-organization/?utm_source=blog-landing&utm_medium=desktop&utm_campaign=continue-reading

https://jonathanturley.org/2021/11/30/the-washington-post-criticized-for-historically-inaccurate-originalist-argument-for-abortion/#more-181293

https://www.cnsnews.com/article/national/michael-w-chapman/frc-report-abortion-demand-6-countries-us-china-n-korea-s-korea

https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/fairness-justice/editorials/dobbs-abortion-case-threatens-democrats-house-of-cards

https://www.nationalreview.com/bench-memos/my-wsj-op-ed-on-the-chief-justice-and-dobbs/?utm_source=blog-landing&utm_medium=desktop&utm_campaign=continue-reading

https://jonathanturley.org/2021/11/29/roe-redux-is-the-viability-test-still-viable-as-a-constitutional-doctrine/

Be Informed…Pass the Word…Just Google centerlineright

To me, this abortion issue that now lies before the SCOTUS is much more about our Constitution than it is about the issue of abortion.  The essential place and function of the SCOTUS in our nation’s foundation is at issue here.  Should that body serve as the arbiter of this nation’s formative blueprint and make certain that our Legislative and Executive branches hew to those principles…or…Should it be the “social conscience” of our nation and literally foist upon this country mores and behavior that it considers to be the products of an “evolving culture and society”?  To put it more bluntly…should it insure legal adherence to the Constitution as it is written or should it supplant our State and Federal elected officials in their civic duties and responsibilities?  Here are some views on that subject:

https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/george-washington-on-respecting-the-constitution-as-written/?utm_source=blog-landing&utm_medium=desktop&utm_campaign=continue-reading

https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/thomas-raises-primary-questions-in-mississippi-abortion-law-case

https://www.dailywire.com/news/joy-behar-its-time-to-tweak-1st-and-2nd-amendments-because-founding-fathers-didnt-have-ar-15s-and-twitter

https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/we-need-less-transparency-in-the-supreme-court/

Regardless of your personal feelings about abortion, this specific issue as viewed through this specific case is a wonderful illustration of our nation’s governmental essence.  The way we deal with this particular issue says as much or more about us as what we end up doing about it.  It is fascinating to read the probing questions and remarks offered by the SCOTUS Justices and wonder…are they trying to inform themselves, trying to persuade others on the Court, or simply trying to consciously pursue an elusive truth?  We should expect the answers to these questions come next June.