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Thursday, July 14, 2022

Should New SCOTUS Appointees Be Impeached For Committing Perjury During Confirmation Hearings?

That's the argument. Now we'll meet those contestants:

1)  Neil Gorsuch.  

Research and documentation is available on Justice Gorsuch and basically what it boils down to is that in his opinion, during his confirmation hearings in the Senate, he agreed that Roe v. Wade was settled law and precedent as far as the Supreme Court was concerned.

The Honorable Neil M. Gorsuch being sworn in for Confirmation Hearing testimony.

2) Brett Kavanaugh.  

Senator Diane Feinstein, during his Confirmation Hearings,  asked Kavanaugh what he meant by “settled law” and whether he believed Roe v. Wade to be correct law. Kavanaugh said he believed it was “settled as a precedent of the Supreme Court” and should be “entitled the respect under principles of stare decisis,” the notion that precedents should not be overturned without strong reason.

Kavanaugh did not answer Feinstein directly, instead pivoting to how he understood “how passionate and how deeply people feel about this issue.” He went on at length to talk about how Planned Parenthood v. Casey had reaffirmed Roe, making it “a precedent on precedent.” (Precedent ON precedent) That's important because he's saying it's settled, over and done with... twice.

The Honorable Brett Kavanaugh being sworn in for Confirmation Hearing testimony.

3) Amy Coney Barrett.  

During the second day of her confirmation hearings for the Supreme Court, Judge Amy Coney Barrett drew criticism for her use of the phrase "sexual preference" while facing questions from the Senate Judiciary Committee.

In response to a question from Senator Dianne Feinstein, about whether the Constitution affords gay people the right to marry, Barrett, who dodged the question, said she has "never discriminated on the basis of sexual preference and would not ever discriminate on the basis of sexual preference."

Several hours later, Senator Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, chastised Barrett for using the term, calling it "offensive and outdated."

"It's used by anti-LGBTQ activists to suggest that sexual orientation is a choice.  It is not. Sexual orientation is a key part of a person's identity," Hirono said. "That sexual orientation is both a normal expression of human sexuality and immutable was a key part of the majority's opinion in Obergefell."

The Honorable Amy Coney Barrett being sworn in for Confirmation Hearing testimony.

Pretty astonishing that in 2020, a 47 year old, White female in a position as a Circuit Court judge would use a term like "sexual preference" to refer to LGBTQ individuals, apparently naive or just stupid about such important things in the 21st century. (See separate blog post about Justice Barrett)

(Link: https://tomb2010.blogspot.com/2020/11/newly-confirmed-supreme-court-justice.html)

To be clear, NO, Justice Barrett's comments regarding LGBTQ individuals is not about abortion rights, however, IF SCOTUS is so flippant and trigger-ready to dismiss 50 years, one half century of legal, established precedent, imagine what else they'd be willing and eager to do.

So now, having all three committed perjury during their Confirmation Hearings, should they be impeached?  And can they be impeached?  

The short answers are "Yes", and "Maybe". 

The U.S. House of Representatives has the authority to impeach a federal judge by a simple majority vote under Article I of the Constitution. However, a justice cannot be removed from office without a trial in the Senate and only if two-thirds of senators vote to convict, according to the Brennan Center for Justice.

So, like a regular impeachment trial, similar to those that the orange-obese-man-child-pretending-to-be-a-leader, the impeachment process would begin in the House and end in the Senate.

 

We can only hope this moves forward, since SCOTUS is taking us so far back in time. 

 

Friday, June 24, 2022

50 Years Of Legal Precedent Overturned

Reproductive health just got a whole lot harder and a whole lot scarier for women in the United States.

In a 6 to 3 ruling by SCOTUS on June 24, 2022, the conservative court drew a line in the sand, making abortions harder to obtain and in many states illegal.

And to be clear, NO, abortions and abortion rights are NOT part of the Constitution, but again, for 50 years they have been legal with a long history/precedence set by the Supreme Court.  

No more.

Remember:   Once those rights are taken away, they can never be completely restored.

In the United States in 2022, guns have more rights than women, school children and books.   

Think about that.

 

It's a very dark day in America.

Saturday, May 28, 2022

Republicans

Republicans are all too quick to NOT regulate what's important for the country:

  • Air pollution
  • Wall Street Banks
  • Guns
  • Clean drinking water
  • Oil companies

Abortions?  NO.  No, sir.  We cannot allow any woman anywhere to give up her unborn child. Period.

No hypocrisy there, right?  

Or another way to look at it:

"It's okay if we (Republicans) do it, but NEVER okay if you (Democrats) do it."

I believe that's called a double-standard.

One last little thought:

 

They don't take responsibility for ANYTHING

but they have an excuse for EVERYTHING.

Friday, May 27, 2022

Think About The Hypocrisy

 Thoughts and prayers.  Thoughts & prayers.   Thoughts and prayers.  Thoughts & prayers.   Thoughts and prayers.  Thoughts & prayers.   Thoughts and prayers.  Thoughts & prayers.   Thoughts and prayers.  Thoughts & prayers.   Thoughts and prayers.  Thoughts & prayers.   Thoughts and prayers.  Thoughts & prayers.   Thoughts and prayers.  Thoughts & prayers.   Thoughts and prayers.  Thoughts & prayers.   Thoughts and prayers.  Thoughts & prayers.   Thoughts and prayers.  Thoughts & prayers.   Thoughts and prayers.  Thoughts & prayers.   Thoughts and prayers.  Thoughts & prayers.   Thoughts and prayers.  Thoughts & prayers.   Thoughts and prayers.  Thoughts & prayers.   Thoughts and prayers.  Thoughts & prayers.   Thoughts and prayers.  Thoughts & prayers.   Thoughts and prayers.  Thoughts & prayers.   Thoughts and prayers.  Thoughts & prayers.   Thoughts and prayers.  Thoughts & prayers.   Thoughts and prayers.  Thoughts & prayers.   Thoughts and prayers.  Thoughts & prayers.   Thoughts and prayers.  Thoughts & prayers.   Thoughts and prayers.  Thoughts & prayers.   Thoughts and prayers.  Thoughts & prayers.   Thoughts and prayers.  Thoughts & prayers.   Thoughts and prayers.  Thoughts & prayers.   Thoughts and prayers.  Thoughts & prayers.   Thoughts and prayers.  Thoughts & prayers.   Thoughts and prayers.  Thoughts & prayers.   Thoughts and prayers.  Thoughts & prayers.   Thoughts and prayers.  Thoughts & prayers.   Thoughts and prayers.  Thoughts & prayers.   Thoughts and prayers.  Thoughts & prayers.   Thoughts and prayers.  Thoughts & prayers.   Thoughts and prayers.  Thoughts & prayers.   Thoughts and prayers.  Thoughts & prayers.   Thoughts and prayers.  Thoughts & prayers.   Thoughts and prayers.  Thoughts & prayers.   Thoughts and prayers.  Thoughts & prayers.   Thoughts and prayers.  Thoughts & prayers.   Thoughts and prayers.  Thoughts & prayers.   Thoughts and prayers.  Thoughts & prayers.   Thoughts and prayers.  Thoughts & prayers.   Thoughts and prayers.  Thoughts & prayers.   Thoughts and prayers.  Thoughts & prayers.   Thoughts and prayers.  Thoughts & prayers.   Thoughts and prayers.  Thoughts & prayers.   Thoughts and prayers.  Thoughts & prayers.   Thoughts and prayers.  Thoughts & prayers.   Thoughts and prayers.  Thoughts & prayers.   Thoughts and prayers.  Thoughts & prayers.   Thoughts and prayers.  Thoughts & prayers.   Thoughts and prayers.  Thoughts & prayers.   Thoughts and prayers.  Thoughts & prayers.   Thoughts and prayers.  Thoughts & prayers.   Thoughts and prayers.  Thoughts & prayers.   Thoughts and prayers.  Thoughts & prayers.   Thoughts and prayers.  Thoughts & prayers.   Thoughts and prayers.  Thoughts & prayers.   Thoughts and prayers.  Thoughts & prayers.   Thoughts and prayers.  Thoughts & prayers.   Thoughts and prayers.  Thoughts & prayers.   Thoughts and prayers.  Thoughts & prayers.   Thoughts and prayers.  Thoughts & prayers.   Thoughts and prayers.  Thoughts & prayers.   Thoughts and prayers.  Thoughts & prayers.   Thoughts and prayers.  Thoughts & prayers.   Thoughts and prayers.  Thoughts & prayers.   Thoughts and prayers.  Thoughts & prayers.   Thoughts and prayers.  Thoughts & prayers.   Thoughts and prayers.  Thoughts & prayers.   Thoughts and prayers.  Thoughts & prayers.   Thoughts and prayers.  Thoughts & prayers.   Thoughts and prayers.  Thoughts & prayers.   Thoughts and prayers.  Thoughts & prayers.   Thoughts and prayers.  Thoughts & prayers.   Thoughts and prayers.  Thoughts & prayers.   Thoughts and prayers.  Thoughts & prayers.   Thoughts and prayers.  Thoughts & prayers.   Thoughts and prayers.  Thoughts & prayers.   Thoughts and prayers.  Thoughts & prayers.   Thoughts and prayers.  Thoughts & prayers.   Thoughts and prayers.  Thoughts & prayers.   Thoughts and prayers.  Thoughts & prayers.   Thoughts and prayers.  Thoughts & prayers.   Thoughts and prayers.  Thoughts & prayers.   Thoughts and prayers.  Thoughts & prayers.   Thoughts and prayers.  Thoughts & prayers.   Thoughts and prayers.  Thoughts & prayers.   Thoughts and prayers.  Thoughts & prayers.   Thoughts and prayers.  Thoughts & prayers.   Thoughts and prayers.  Thoughts & prayers.   Thoughts and prayers.  Thoughts & prayers.  

 

Republicans, listen up:

Fix this mess you've created with guns.  The 2nd Amendment to the Constitution is more important to you than your own children.

You've got BLOOD on your hands now. 

Wednesday, May 25, 2022

We've Moved On From "Thoughts & Prayers" To Banning Books Over Banning Guns

 We've Moved On From "Thoughts & Prayers" To Banning Books Over Banning Guns.

The wealthiest nation on the planet, and yet every single day we knowingly, naively and somewhat stupidly send our most precious, sacred gifts, our children off to school knowing full well that there WILL BE ANOTHER MASS SHOOTING today somewhere in our country.  That IS a fact.

This was NOT an issue 20, 30 or even 40 years ago and yet today in 2022, well into the 21st Century, it's just a fact-of-life.

Why?  Complacency that, nope, we cannot do a single thing to fix gun violence because it would infringe upon the 2nd Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens.  That's part of it.  A big part to be sure.

Senator Chris Murphy, (D) from Connecticut, asked on the Senate floor recently, "What are we doing?", in reference to gun violence and why aren't we doing something?

Complacency. Sleeping with the NRA.  Allowing the NRA to pad the wallets of the majority of Republican and some Democratic senators and House members in D.C. 

The NRA for its part, always consistently pushes for more guns in schools, as well as more armed security guards/officers, because nothing says "Safe Space" like guys/gals in uniform with a loaded AK-47 by each and every school exit.  NRA, it's a school NOT a prison.

The lieutenant Gov. Dan Patrick telling Beto O'Rourke that... well, you can see what he said.

NOW, is NEVER the time to talk about guns, gun control, sensible, realistic gun safety measures if you're a Republican... anywhere, not just in Texas.  And did you notice, it's primarily old White men pulling the strings and calling ALL of the shots. For her part, Teddy Cruz, should he ashamed since he's part Hispanic... I'm guessing just the name part.

Sandy Hook wasn't enough. The Pulse nightclub wasn't enough.  Parkland/Marjorie Stoneman Douglas wasn't enough.  Columbine wasn't enough. And now, clearly Uvalde, Texas is still NOT enough.

It kinda makes you wonder what sort of "thoughts and prayers", Rep. Gonzales is sharing with his constituents there in Uvalde, Texas. "Pray that we never lose our guns to those Leftists.  Our kids?  Sure, why not?"

Here's a thought, in the spirit of peaceful protests:

Keep your child home from school for one week and when asked why... tell them.  UNLESS and UNTIL something is done about these mass shootings, I want my child at home where he/she is guaranteed to be safe.  Yes, I am suggesting that you keep your child home from school to show school officials, and just maybe our representatives in D.C. how serious we are about NOT having our precious gifts, our children, become fish in a barrel to be hunted.

I think what needs to happen is for more and more Republicans to be the victims of these mass shootings, and specifically more Republicans in Congress, both the House and Senate.

Maybe then we'll see some real, long-term change occur?

 

D  O    S  O  M  E  T  H  I  N  G  !!! 

Saturday, February 26, 2022

Trayvon Martin Revisited

Today, February 26, 2022 marks 10 years since the passing of young Black man, Trayvon Martin at the hands of George Zimmerman. He would have been 27 years old today.

Trayvon Martin, a Black 17-year-old whom George Zimmerman gunned down on February 26, 2012.  10 years ago today.  One decade.  Let that sink in.

On the night of the shooting, Zimmerman, who was a neighborhood watch captain in Sanford, Florida, called 911 on Martin. Zimmerman described the teenager using a label that's long been tagged to Black boys: suspicious. Disregarding police orders not to engage, Zimmerman confronted the teenager. An altercation broke out; Martin was shot dead.

Zimmerman claimed that he acted in self-defense, and he was eventually acquitted. The case illustrated in heartrending fashion a long US history of weaponizing the principle of self-defense against Black men and boys and, more to the point, portraying them as unpredictable aggressors whose every move must be controlled.

Trayvon, visiting relatives in order to watch a basketball game on TV, never had a chance against Zimmerman driving an SUV and wielding a gun. Zimmerman would be acquitted by the jury and now has a target on his back for his actions that night, 10 years ago.

Not unlike young Emmet Till.  History is filled with examples of the sometimes lethal consequences that racist perceptions have for Black boys. Maybe the most infamous example occurred in 1955.

 

In August of that year, 14-year-old Emmett Till, who was visiting relatives in Money, Mississippi, was accused of flirting with or making advances at a 21-year-old White woman, Carolyn Bryant (later Bryant Donham). Four days later, her then-husband and his half-brother kidnapped Till, beat him, shot him in the head, tied a 75-pound cotton-gin fan to his neck with barbed wire and then discarded him in the Tallahatchie River -- all punishment for the boy's alleged violation of the state's racial order, for the danger he, a mere child, posed to it.

An all-White jury acquitted the two men not even a month after Till's swollen and mangled body was retrieved from the river.

Till's story exemplifies a wider truth:  Black boys are often viewed differently than their White peers simply because of their race.

On Tuesday, February 22, a jury issued a guilty verdict in the federal hate crimes trial of the three White men who killed 25-year-old Ahmaud Arbery, supporting the prosecution's case that the men chased and murdered Arbery precisely because he was Black.

Perhaps coincidentally, the verdict was released almost two years ago to the day -- February 23, 2020 -- on which Travis McMichael, Gregory McMichael and their neighbor William "Roddie" Bryan followed Arbery through the streets of a Georgia neighborhood and gunned him down.

To illustrate that the McMichaels and Bryan pursued Arbery out of racial animus, the prosecution highlighted that the three men talked about Black Americans using racist language.

Prosecutor Christopher J. Perras said during closing arguments on Monday that Arbery's killers saw "a Black man in their neighborhood and assumed the worst of him."

"This wasn't about trespassing. This wasn't about neighborhood crimes, either. It was about race -- racial assumptions, racial resentment and racial anger," Perras said.

Last year, during the state murder trial of the three men, Laura Hogue, one of Gregory McMichael's lawyers, unsuccessfully sought to win sympathy for her client by making a comment to jurors about Arbery's "long, dirty toenails" -- a move that was decried as a sop to racial assumptions that cast Black men and boys as beasts.

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It’s astonishing to me that all of this hatred of African-Americans spewing out of White people, a majority population in the U.S. in the 21st century causes those same White people to forget how our African-American brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers, aunts, uncles and friends came to be here in America:  White Europeans seeking religious freedom from the Church of England came to North America and then decided that, [Doing my best backwoods, hillbilly impersonation] “You know what? We gonna need to find us some help building and taking over all of this land. I’ve got it!  We’ll take us some boats, go to that dark place (Africa) and bring us back a whole heap of them peoples to do that back-breaking work for us.  Then we’ll put ‘em all back on them boats and send ‘em home.”

 

Yeah. How did that work out for you?