Call Me Crazy

... but I firmly believe that good wins, at least over the long haul.  Which is another way of saying that the fear-mongering, racism, and xenophobia that have become de rigeur in our political discourse in the past few years can be ameliorated and even eliminated.

If we try hard enough.  If we remain active in the lives of our communities and country.  If we track H. R. 1, the first bill introduced by the newly-Democratic-controlled House of Representatives.

This bill is described as seeking to expand Americans' access to the ballot box, reduce the influence of big money in politics, and strengthen ethics rules for public servants.

All laudable goals.  Can't imagine why the Republican-dominated legislature of the past couple of years never proposed such a bill - unless it's the supine nature of those legislators ... or the fact that their H. R. 1 accomplished, not leveling the economic and political playing fields, but rather the tax break for the wealthy of which Mr. Trump is so proud ...

Civility

Rashida Tlaib, the newly-elected (Democratic) member of the House of Representatives for Michigan's 13th Congressional District, can't be accused of obfuscating.  At a post-swearing-in gathering Jan. 3, she reiterated, in no uncertain terms, one of her campaign promises.

Tlaib, a Muslim of Palestinian decent, described explaining to her son that bullies like Donald Trump don't win, and that she intended to deal with Mr. Trump going forward by impeachment, garnished with the F-bomb.

Like Speaker Pelosi, I have "generational problems" with the free use of the F-bomb that seems more and more accepted today.  Like Rep. Elijah Cummings (D - MD), incoming Chair of the House Oversight Committee, I recognize the need for greater civility in our public discourse.  But in the end, I think the Speaker nailed it when she said, in response to criticism of Rep. Tlaib, It's nothing worse than the President has said.

Monolithic Arithmetic

Of the 435 seats in the House of Representatives, 54%, or 235, are now filled by Democrats.  Only 200, or 46%, are held by Republicans.  Which makes it clear that the latter missed an opportunity to demonstrate bi-partisanship today.

Among 200 Republicans, none voted for Nancy Pelosi for Speaker.  192 chose Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R - CA, 23rd District), an original even among those who habitually bash Democrats, and eight picked Rep. Jim Jordan (R - Ohio, 4th District), he of the effort to impeach Rod Rosenstein..  Can you say monolithic, boys and girls?

Apologies to E. B. Browning

My cousin Alex once accused me of being interested solely in bashing Donald Trump.  Take a look at today's "press opportunity", Lexie, and tell me how we, as citizens concerned about the lives of our communities and country, can do otherwise.

What follows is my personal Trump Top Ten from today's cabinet meeting cum press opportunity.  With apologies to Elizabeth Barrett Browning, the outline attempts to answer the question How unsuited is he to be President?  Let me count the ways ...

1. Jim Mattis didn't resign; I essentially fired him.
2. I'm not happy with how Mattis handled Afghanistan.
3. Russia was in Afghanistan because it was defending itself from terrorists.
4. Obama gave Syria away.
5. Syria is nothing but sand and death.
6. The Kurds only fight well when we're along side them.
7. The Kurds sell oil to Iran even after I asked them not to.
8. The Saudis are fighting in Yemen because the Saudi / Yemeni border is so long.
9. We need a wall at the Mexican border.
10. The new version of NAFTA (USMCA) will pay for the wall.

The Best of 2018

It's that time when news outlets of every shape and size, including this modest blog, review what they consider the best and worst of the year just ended.  For 15104, the worst is the ongoing chaos of the Trump Administration.  The best, however, is so powerfully hopeful that it more than balances out the former.

In the midterm elections of 2018, 36 women won new seats in the House of Representatives.  Of these, three are women of color, and two are Muslims.

Mazel'tov, k'ap'la, toutes nos félicitations, and whatever other congratulatory exclamation you can think of ...

The Once and Future Speaker

Since 1788, there have been 62 Speakers of the United States House of Representatives.  Some few of those, especially the earliest, had no affiliation to a political party.  Another few were members, not of the party that controlled Congress, but rather of the minority. A handful had multiple terms as Speaker - for instance, Henry Clay in the 19th Century, and John Boehner in the early 21st.    Until 2007, however, one characteristic of Speakers remained universal - they were all males.

On Thursday, two days from this posting, a new Speaker will be sworn in who will (again) challenge two of the paradigms just cited.  Nancy Pelosi will, for the second time, become Speaker, approaching John Boehner's number of Congresses served.  At the same time, Pelosi will continue to be the only female Speaker (so far) in United States history.

Border Security - a Parody

The greatest threat to the security of the United States does not involve its southern border.  The threat is neither created nor exacerbated by drug traffickers from Mexico, or refugees from Central America.  The preeminent threat to our safety involves our border with Canada.  That over-2000-mile perimeter is the longest unguarded frontier in the world.

But that must change.  According to the Department of Homeland Security, more Canadians overstay their visas than do all other nationalities.  So, if we are to preclude rampant metric-system measurements, if we are to avoid having kilograms and kilometers foisted upon us, if we are to be able to continue to purchase cheese curls rather than the batonnetes de fromage I had to buy at Sobey's in Halifax, we must force obstructionist  Republicans to focus on our northern border.