A lightning-quick campaigner, Napoleon claimed to set the record
for speed crowning. Before some doddering old Pope pronounced the sacred words,
“Receive the Imperial Crown,” our man crowned himself instead, and before crowning
Josephine he took her crown for test drive too, to make sure it worked.” The
question historians like to ask is: “Didn’t the Emperor look undignified with
two crowns on his head?” They forget he didn’t mind them stacked.
Author of the P.A.T.R.I.O.T Act, John Ashcroft became the
first American statesman to uphold the democratic version of imperial tradition
by anointing himself with Mazola whenever he took office, but in his defense,
he used the economy size, upholding family values that make American Democracy
so great.
And now, in that same exalted tradition, we have Brett
Kavanaugh. He veers away from the low brow economies of the family size,
favoring instead the more expensive live interactive model. While giving lip
service to such small gestures as gaveling down Roe vs. Wade, upholding the
Janus vs. AFSCME ruling and Pennsylvania’s gerrymandering, shreading voting rights, abolishing any
kind of healthcare, putting women in their place, enforcing anti-immigrant
policies, sticking the Betsy DeVoz brand of Christianity in public schools, and
re-establishing Jim Crow, the real reason for picking Kavanaugh is he can be counted
on to crown our very own fearless leader with his get-out-of-jail-free card while
taking great pains not to muss up his hairdo. And, for the next thirty years or
so, crown all succeeding emperors separately but equally.
 |
| The man himself |
Said Corey Booker on Rachel Maddow: “We cannot allow this
nomination to proceed.” A big player in the Starr impeachment proceedings against
poor, cigar-famished Bill Clinton, (from Time magazine:) “In
a 2009 law-review article, Kavanaugh called for Congress to pass a law stating
that sitting Presidents should not be subject to criminal investigations or
civil suits while in office, adding that the Constitution prescribes the
impeachment process as the remedy for ousting a wayward President….If the
Justices are asked to decide whether Trump can be subpoenaed or charged with a
crime in office, it’s clear where Kavanaugh is likely to stand.”
And from the Breakfast Report/Progressive Action quoting
the Daily
Beast: “When
President Donald Trump nominates a justice to the Supreme Court on Monday night,
he will be carrying out the agenda of a small, secretive network of extremely
conservative Catholic activists already responsible for placing three justices
(Alito, Roberts, and Gorsuch) on the high court. And yet few people know who
they are—until now. At the center of the network is Leonard Leo of the
Federalist Society, the association of legal professionals that has been the
pipeline for nearly all of Trump’s judicial nominees. (Leo is on leave from the
Federalist Society to personally assist Trump in picking a replacement for
Justice Anthony Kennedy.) His formal title is executive vice president, but
that role belies Leo’s influence. Directly or through surrogates, he has placed
dozens of life-tenure judges on the federal bench; effectively controls the
Judicial Crisis Network, which led the opposition to President Obama’s high
court nominee, Judge Merrick Garland; he heavily influences the Becket Fund law
firm that represented Hobby Lobby in its successful challenge of contraception;
and now supervises admissions and hires at the George Mason Law School, newly
renamed in memory of Justice Antony Scalia.”
 |
| Imperial court of idiots facing the wrong way |
And Ron Paul issued his warning:
“Trump’s pick for the Supreme Court
will likely determine the direction of the court for decades to come on a number
of key issues, including:
*** Privacy
The recent Carpenter decision was a good first step to establish Fourth
Amendment limitations to the government’s surveillance power in the modern
age. But there will certainly be more cases like it in the years to come;
*** Free Speech After Citizens United, statists across the country have ramped up efforts to place new restrictions on speech. It likely won’t be long before a new case on so-called campaign finance “reform” finds its way to the Supreme Court;
*** Property Rights Justice Kennedy was absolutely terrible on the issue of eminent domain. And with President Trump having first-hand experience using eminent domain to try and seize private property, he could try to appoint another Justice who will have an expansive view of eminent domain powers to the detriment of Americans’ property rights.
*** Free Speech After Citizens United, statists across the country have ramped up efforts to place new restrictions on speech. It likely won’t be long before a new case on so-called campaign finance “reform” finds its way to the Supreme Court;
*** Property Rights Justice Kennedy was absolutely terrible on the issue of eminent domain. And with President Trump having first-hand experience using eminent domain to try and seize private property, he could try to appoint another Justice who will have an expansive view of eminent domain powers to the detriment of Americans’ property rights.
A Swamp
Creature like Judge Kavanaugh isn’t going to come down on the right side of
many of these issues.”
Hurry up, Robert Mueller, time’s almost up!
Take to the streets by joining demonstrations when and
wherever they’re held. If you are physically unable, donate
to MoveOn
Consider organizing and joining a general strike.
Lean hard on your Senators with letters, phone calls, town
halls, and office visits.
Read WILPF
e-news here.
Immigration
More than 10,000 people sign ACLU’s abolish ICE petition
New Jersey to set aside $2 million to help immigrant families.
Resistance
Hundreds of thousands in the largest demonstration since the
Iraq war II, in a “Carnival of
Resistance” march against Blimp Baby in the UK.
The General Convention of the Episcopal Church votes to
divest from companies involved in Israel’s violations of Palestinian hum
rights.
Ireland passes bill boycotting Israeli occupied territory
goods.
1,400 people march in Brussels to remind Trump he’s not welcome.
A small Baltimore group of Target workers demands
accountability from local store managers.
In a court filing, the Southern Poverty Law Center argues
that Duran was arrested and detained by the Department of Homeland “Security”
in order to punish him as a journalist
in violation of the First, Fourth, Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments.
The Center for Constitution Rights files a legal challenge
arguing the court should end the perpetual
Detention of “Forever prisoners.”
Mitch McConnell is confronted by protestors outside a Kentucky restaurant demanding
“Where are the babies, Mitch.”
Hundreds of cancer cases against Monsanto set to go to trial.
Sacramento County supervisors end contract allowing ICE to
rent local jail beds.
Prosecutors drop all remaining charges against inauguration
protesters.
Over 60 Argentinian social movements protest U,.S. military
base in city of Neuquen.
Activists help free Liu Xia
Environment
Navajo Nation’s first solar project now produces electricity
for 13,000 homes.
Ecuador’s Constitutional Court rules against Chevron in
favor of indigenous communities.
In a stunning victory for the Finger Lakes region, a
controversial gas storage project is halted.
In China, an entire province the size of Texas is powered on
100% renewables.
New Zealand announces plans to transition to 100% renewables
by 2035.
Iceland is running 100% renewable energy, mostly through
geothermal plants.
Norway produces 98% of its power needs through renewable
energy.
Holland’s entire train system runs on wind power.
Sweden expects to reach its renewable energy target for 2030
some time this year,
The lower house of the Irish legislature passes a divestment
bill ensuring that Ireland will become the world’s first nation to fully divest
public money from the fossil fuel industry.
Irish Government approves a
ban on the cultivation of GMOs.
Ghana is building roads out of plastic bags.
An Arizona ballot initiative requires 50% renewable energy
by 2013.
A Japanese company creates a vertical axis wind turbine that
could power the country for decades.
The Center for Biological Diversity and other organizations
have won a $17 million settlement to reduce the environmental impact of two
proposed freeway projects in Riverside County (but why are freeways being
designed anyway?)
Real-time daily radiation monitoring to become part of
Edpson’s program at San Clemente
reactor, San Onofre.
Over 65 cities,
among them, Atlanta, Madison , Dan Diego, San Francisco, and Palo Alto, five
counties and one state commit to 100% clean
energy. Five og them hav e already hit their targets.
American Airlines bans plastic straws.
Smithfield Foods enjoined to pay compensatory damages and
$50 million in punitive damages in a
lawsuit filed in Bladen Country, N.C. over the environmental impacts of a hog
farm.
Politics
Democratic lawmakers and liberal groups hold boisterous late-night rally on Supreme
Court steps opposing Kavanaugh.
Alabama, George, and Louisiana are being sued over racial
gerrymandering.
Legal scholars warn claims that ICE agents were ‘just
following orders’ won’t exonerate the from liability for the suffering of
immigrant children.
A DNC panel approves plan to gut the power of super
delegates, The plan would end their ability to cast votes for the presidential
candidate on the first ballot at the party’s convention.
The House Appropriations Committee passes a spending bill that
includes public media funding.
Sanders urges Trump, instead of telling Europe to buy more
guns like the U.S., joining Europe in
guaranteeing healthcare for all.
A bill signed into law July 9 enables federal employees to
file appeals on Merit Systems Protection Board decisions to any federal appeals
court of competent jurisdiction.
Planned Parenthood sues Trump over abstinence=only sex
education.
Federal judge dismisses Trump administration lawsuit against
California sanctuary laws.
House Democrats introduce five articles of impeachment
against Donald Trump, including charges of obstruction of justice, undermining
the judiciary, and undermining the freedom of the press. (Lots of luck with that.,)
Agreements between SB 822 authors Senators Weiner and de
León and Assembly Communications Chair Santiago restore net neutrality, despite
fierce opposition from AT&T, Verizon, and the rest of Big Telecom.
Contra Costa County Sheriff Livingston announces that in the
face of a seven-year campaign by activists, he is ending the ICE contract to
house federal immigration detainees at the West County Detention Facility.
Deputy District Attorney Michael Selyem, 12-year veteran of
the D,A.’s Office has been suspended after targeting Maxine Waters, Michelle
Obama, Mexican immigrants and a victim of a police shooting.
Judge grants standing to a lawsuit against the
administration over the census citizenship.
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy approves $5 million for
reviving and strengthening journalism around the state.
Caribbean Natiions to consider reclassifying marijuana.
Education
In India, a teacher buys a bus, driving to keep rural
children in school.
Peace
20-year conflict ends as Eritrean and Ethiopian leaders
embrace peace.
In a day of action at Buechel Are Force Base organized by
regional Protestant churches and Pax Christi, the treaty to ban nuclear weapons
was signed by hundreds of demonstrators before being sent to Chancellor Merkel.
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