It is difficult to explain a ministerial function. As provided for by the founders, it is exempt from oversight or review because it is presumed to involve no decision-making or influence. So, in doing his ceremonial duty, Pence was being properly conservative. But, while Judge Luttig is correct that there is no legal or historical precedent for not carrying out the ministerial duty of transmitting information from the electorate to the Congress, another ministerial function, that of criminal prosecutors has been perverted with abandon. Not only are prosecutors second guessing law enforcement investigators; they have arrogated to themselves what crime to charge and then, via the plea bargain, they subvert the function of the judicial branch even as they claim that the judge is free to reject the plea and the recommended penalty. Modern unsupervised prosecutors enjoy absolute immunity--just the position the insurrectionists want for their iconic POTUS. You will recall that one argument for the Iraq war was that as a war commander the POTUS would be supreme. That turned out to be wrong because the SCOTUS determined that "all persons" are entitled to the rights guaranteed by the Constitution. Public officials have to follow the law. That was what Trump should have learned but didn't from the first impeachment. The reason he did not is because Republican office holders do not subscribe to government by the people, especially now that "people" includes women, youths, Native Americans and "naturalized" immigrants. Government by the people was OK as long as white males were in control of women, children and foreigners. The supremacists thought they had found a champion and vanquished the opposition when Trump was elected. But, the fact that the woman collected more votes put them on alert that male supremacy is not secure. Male supremacy is the real issue but cannot be admitted. Biden is "weak" because he made Harris VP. That Trump referred to the resistant Pence as a "pussy" is telling. Male hegemony is the crux of the issue.
“[T]he former president and his party are today a clear and present danger for American democracy,” Luttig reiterated to NPR’s All Things Considered. And, as if in confirmation, delegates to a convention of the Texas Republican Party today approved platform planks rejecting “the certified results of the 2020 Presidential election, and [holding] that acting President Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. was not legitimately elected by the people of the United States”; requiring students “to learn about the dignity of the preborn human,” including that life begins at fertilization; treating homosexuality as “an abnormal lifestyle choice”; locking the number of Supreme Court justices at 9; getting rid of the constitutional power to levy income taxes; abolishing the Federal Reserve; rejecting the Equal Rights Amendment; returning Christianity to schools and government; ending all gun safety measures; abolishing the Department of Education; arming teachers; requiring colleges to teach “free-market liberty principles”; defending capital punishment; dictating the ways in which the events at the Alamo are remembered; protecting Confederate monuments; ending gay marriage; withdrawing from the United Nations and the World Health Organization; and calling for a vote “for the people of Texas to determine whether or not the State of Texas should reassert its status as an independent nation.”
A pre-war evaluation of Russia’s military logistics ability. [Click] In the event, they have done even less well, but the basic point is that they are hard pressed to advance more than 90 miles beyond their border. Their situation is somewhat better in Ukraine because of the common railway gauge.
Also related: Item picked up from the Internet: Russia is dependent on American-made bearings for its railway cars. Presumably that would also be true of tanks and heavy trucks. Supply of said bearings have been cut off.
💙💙💙Happy Father’s Day, Alan and Bill, and to all who stand strong to help folks younger to stand strong.💙💙💙
ReplyDelete~ listener
DeleteThanks, listener.
DeleteSpeaking of which…
ReplyDeleteHeather Cox Richardson on Judge Litton’s testimony
This one’s not to be missed!!
~ listener
* Judge Luttig
DeleteIt is difficult to explain a ministerial function. As provided for by the founders, it is exempt from oversight or review because it is presumed to involve no decision-making or influence. So, in doing his ceremonial duty, Pence was being properly conservative.
DeleteBut, while Judge Luttig is correct that there is no legal or historical precedent for not carrying out the ministerial duty of transmitting information from the electorate to the Congress, another ministerial function, that of criminal prosecutors has been perverted with abandon. Not only are prosecutors second guessing law enforcement investigators; they have arrogated to themselves what crime to charge and then, via the plea bargain, they subvert the function of the judicial branch even as they claim that the judge is free to reject the plea and the recommended penalty. Modern unsupervised prosecutors enjoy absolute immunity--just the position the insurrectionists want for their iconic POTUS.
You will recall that one argument for the Iraq war was that as a war commander the POTUS would be supreme. That turned out to be wrong because the SCOTUS determined that "all persons" are entitled to the rights guaranteed by the Constitution. Public officials have to follow the law.
That was what Trump should have learned but didn't from the first impeachment. The reason he did not is because Republican office holders do not subscribe to government by the people, especially now that "people" includes women, youths, Native Americans and "naturalized" immigrants. Government by the people was OK as long as white males were in control of women, children and foreigners.
The supremacists thought they had found a champion and vanquished the opposition when Trump was elected. But, the fact that the woman collected more votes put them on alert that male supremacy is not secure. Male supremacy is the real issue but cannot be admitted. Biden is "weak" because he made Harris VP.
That Trump referred to the resistant Pence as a "pussy" is telling. Male hegemony is the crux of the issue.
I think you have something there, Hannah!
DeleteHeather C R's daily post included:
Delete“[T]he former president and his party are today a clear and present danger for American democracy,” Luttig reiterated to NPR’s All Things Considered.
And, as if in confirmation, delegates to a convention of the Texas Republican Party today approved platform planks rejecting “the certified results of the 2020 Presidential election, and [holding] that acting President Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. was not legitimately elected by the people of the United States”; requiring students “to learn about the dignity of the preborn human,” including that life begins at fertilization; treating homosexuality as “an abnormal lifestyle choice”; locking the number of Supreme Court justices at 9; getting rid of the constitutional power to levy income taxes; abolishing the Federal Reserve; rejecting the Equal Rights Amendment; returning Christianity to schools and government; ending all gun safety measures; abolishing the Department of Education; arming teachers; requiring colleges to teach “free-market liberty principles”; defending capital punishment; dictating the ways in which the events at the Alamo are remembered; protecting Confederate monuments; ending gay marriage; withdrawing from the United Nations and the World Health Organization; and calling for a vote “for the people of Texas to determine whether or not the State of Texas should reassert its status as an independent nation.”
Gee--sounds like there must be something awful bad in the water down there.
DeleteA pre-war evaluation of Russia’s military logistics ability. [Click] In the event, they have done even less well, but the basic point is that they are hard pressed to advance more than 90 miles beyond their border. Their situation is somewhat better in Ukraine because of the common railway gauge.
ReplyDeleteRelated:
Not Built for Purpose: The Russian Military’s Ill-Fated Force Design [Click]
Also related: Item picked up from the Internet: Russia is dependent on American-made bearings for its railway cars. Presumably that would also be true of tanks and heavy trucks. Supply of said bearings have been cut off.
DeletePolls in France close at 8PM, about 2.5 hours from now.
ReplyDeletePreliminary results are released quickly and are usually quite accurate, but if really close may be delayed.
Deleteacron’s centrist grouping to lose absolute majority in parliament, say projected results [Click] Macron’s supporters seem to have a plurality, but not a majority.
DeleteThat's going to mean changes (or perhaps stymied movement), going forward.
DeleteWhat the lefties in France are saying they want is very modest, but at least some of the "centrists" are screaming bloody murder.
DeleteAmerica’s Most Important Economic Storyteller [the Federal Reserve] Is Confused [Click] “An old economy is dying, and a new economy is struggling to be born. Now is the time of monstrously confusing data.”
ReplyDelete