Claims And Issues

I'M AN AMERICAN. NOW I'M AN AMERICAN IN A HURRICANE.

Hurricane Seen From Space (NASA)

 

I Am An American.

My name is Wall.

My name is Cortez.

My name is Murphy.

My name is D'Angelo.

My name is Floyd.

My name is Korematsu.

My name is America.

We do not have one name.  We have many names.  We do not have one skin color.  We do not have one religion.  We have many.

We are America.  We are many and we are one.

Now I Am An American in a Hurricane.

I have been an American in a metaphorical Hurricane for a long time.  Bright times are ahead.

By the time you read this, I will be an American in a real Hurricane and we may have been without power for a couple of days.  Bright times are ahead. 

Pray for me anyway.

Thanks.

Please read the disclaimer.  ©2022 Dennis J. Wall.  All rights reserved.

Book Review: "AMERICAN PSYCHOSIS" by DAVID CORN.

                Capitol Hill Coup (Manuel Balce Ceneta / Associated Press)

With this book's 355 pages of text and more pages of notes on sources plus a bibliography, David Corn has made a great contribution to understanding how the events of January 6, 2021 are not a one-off.  The Republican Party leadership has been building to this end for a long time by welcoming the forebears of insurrection and by refusing to chastise the kooks, for the most part.

The author's theme is so focused on the Republican Party leaders encouraging the increasingly loud and violent people to seek safety and approval in its ranks, that he does not mention that The Grievance Boy lost the 2016 election by 3 Million votes.  (He does mention the failure in the 2020 election, losing that one by 7 Million votes.)

If you are looking for an explanation of whether the recent takeover of the Republican Party by violent extremists is a new phenomenon (it's not), or if you are trying to understand whether the Party leaders actually encouraged these yahoos (they did), then you should read this book.

After reading this well-written and thoroughly researched book, I am left with a new question, a very different inquiry perhaps:  What were the responses of the victims of the political fight club (as the author calls it) to the attacks of the vigilantes (as the author calls them)?  And however the victims may have responded, did it have the effect of encouraging the gangs (again, as the author calls them) ultimately to commit January 6th?

Please read the disclaimer.  ©2022 Dennis J. Wall.  All rights reserved.

P.S. to " MEET THE JUDGES WHO RESTORED THE REPUBLIC FOR NOW."

United States Supreme Court (AP / Jacquelyn Martin)

If (some say when) they ask for an emergency blockade of the Eleventh Circuit's decision to allow the United States to continue to investigate criminal violations involving the confidential documents found under a Court-authorized search warrant to investigate criminal violations, and also that part of the Eleventh Circuit's decision to allow the United States to continue to evaluate the damage done to our national security, then it might be worth knowing who the U.S. Supreme Court Justice is who handles emergency applications for a stay of Eleventh Circuit Orders:

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas.

Think they'll ask for an emergency blockade of the Eleventh Circuit's decision?

Please read the disclaimer.  © 2022 Dennis J. Wall.  All rights reserved.

MEET THE JUDGES WHO SAVED THE REPUBLIC FOR NOW.

Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals, Atlanta, Georgia (Image Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals Website)

On September 21, 2022, a federal appellate court ruled that while its appeal is pending, the United States can use the classified materials it confiscated from the beach resort in South Florida under an authorized search warrant, to investigate whatever crimes may have been committed and to review whatever damage was done to national security.  They also ruled that the United States does not have to submit the classified documents to a special master to review in the meantime.

With their unanimous order, they restored the Republic, at least for now.  Meet the Judges.

JUDGE ROBIN S.  ROSENBAUM is the senior judge among the three judges on this panel.  She has been on the Eleventh Circuit since 2014.  Having turned 56 this year, she is also the oldest of the three judges on this panel.  Judge Rosenbaum is familiar with the inner workings of most of the parties in this case, having worked as a Trial Attorney in the Department of Justice, as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Southern District of Florida, as a U.S. Magistrate Judge in the Southern District of Florida, and as a U.S. District Judge in the Southern District of Florida.

A graduate of the University of Miami Law School, she was nominated by President Obama and she was confirmed to the Eleventh Circuit by a vote of 91 to 0.

JUDGE BRITT GRANT was a Justice of the Georgia Supreme Court before she went to the Eleventh Circuit in 2018.  A graduate of Stanford Law School, Judge Grant was confirmed by a vote of 52-46.  She is 44 years old and a Republican by party.

JUDGE ANDREW L. BRASHER rounds out this panel of three Judges.  Judge Brasher turned 41 this year and has been on the Eleventh Circuit since June 2020.  Previously he was appointed a U.S. District Judge in Alabama where he served for about a year before going to the Eleventh Circuit.  A graduate of Harvard Law School, he too is a Republican by party.

Contrary to Mainstream Media and Alternate Media headlines, this decision did not resolve the appeal in favor of the United States, although that is the likely outcome after this ruling.  Also, this panel which decided the motion (called a "motions panel") may not be the same panel of Judges who will decide the entire appeal.  So it's on with the appeal and let's win there!

Please read the disclaimer.  ©2022 Dennis J. Wall.  All rights reserved.

BOOK REVIEW: "HOLDING THE LINE" by GEOFFREY BERMAN.

Gettysburg 2022 (Mark McClain / Washington Post)

The author mentions one time in 316 pages that Rudy Giuliani was his law partner.

He also mentions one time that he applied for a different job but took this one as the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York when it was offered to him after the previous occupant was forced out. 

The title of this book describes the author's view that, like others, he would not confront Bill Barr or Mr. Barr's boss, if he could help it (at least until he himself was forced out by Mr. Barr under false pretenses), because it was better for us and for him that no-one else was in his position in the government.  The thinking went that if people like him were there, things would not be as bad.

The author is convinced that this path he is pushing was the right way for him to go, that of all possible options, he took the high ground.  As a reader, I was not convinced.

Please read the disclaimer.  ©2022 Dennis J. Wall.  All rights reserved.

HERE'S EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW, AMERICA. YOU TOO, OHIO.

John F. Kennedy, President of the United States, receiving Notre Dame's Laetare Medal from Rev. Theodore Hesburgh, President of the University of Notre Dame (Notre Dame Archives)

On stage at a rally in Ohio, with J.D. Vance standing near him, here's what he had to say, as quoted by The Los Angeles Times:

 

J.D. is kissing my ass.  Of course, he wants my support.

 

What kind of character does a person have?  I am speaking here about J.D. Vance, of course.

And there is a message here for America too:  Is this something that the greatest president in history would say and do, is that what you think, America?

Please read the disclaimer.  ©2022 Dennis J. Wall.  All rights reserved.

HERE'S EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW, OHIO. YOU TOO, AMERICA.

President Reagan presents Mother Teresa with the Medal of Freedom (Wikipedia)

On stage at a rally in Ohio, with J.D. Vance standing near him, here's what he had to say, as quoted by The Los Angeles Times:

 

J.D. is kissing my ass.  Of course, he wants my support.

 

What kind of character does a person have?  I am speaking here about J.D. Vance, of course.

And there is a message here for America too:  Is this something that the greatest president in history would say and do, is that what you think, America?

Please read the disclaimer.  ©2022 Dennis J. Wall.  All rights reserved.

WHY IS FLORIDA PAYING TO FLY PEOPLE OUT OF TEXAS?

This is a postscript to another article published here earlier today.

Governor Ronald DeSantis has taken responsibility for flying people out of Texas to Martha's Vineyard:

DeSantis claimed credit for the planes leaving Texas. He told NPR and other outlets that it was part of the state’s program to relocate migrants to a “sanctuary destination.” It’s unclear whether the migrants in the planes had any connection to Florida. The Florida Legislature set aside $12 million for the state’s migrant relocation program.

Stephen Neukam, Fight over border security escalates after governors send migrants to Kamala Harris’ home, Martha’s Vineyard /  The latest moves by Gov. Greg Abbott and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis this week have triggered outrage among immigration rights’ groups and Democrats who have accused the Republicans of engaging in human trafficking and treating migrants like “human cargo” to score political points, TEXAS TRIBUNE, Sept. 15, 2022.   Mr. DeSantis apparently gets publicity out of it.

What does Florida get out of it?  Why are these flights being paid for by Florida taxpayers?  Is Texas going to reimburse Florida?  Is DeSantis going to pay for these flights?  Is his publicist?  Is his campaign going to pay?

I ask again, why are Florida taxpayers paying for these flights of people out of Texas to Martha's Vineyard?

Please read the disclaimer.  ©2022 Dennis J. Wall.  All rights reserved.

IT'S CERTAIN TEXAS, FLA GOV'S SPENDING $24 MILLION. HUMAN TRAFFICKING TOO?

The Faces of Compassion (Ted S. Warren / AP)

Texas Governor Gregory Abbott publicly took responsibility for sending busloads of people to Vice President Kamala Harris's house.  He was "relocating migrants" at taxpayers' expense, and so far he has spent $12 Million of their money to do it.  See Stephen Neukam, Fight over border security escalates after governors send migrants to Kamala Harris’ home, Martha’s Vineyard /  The latest moves by Gov. Greg Abbott and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis this week have triggered outrage among immigration rights’ groups and Democrats who have accused the Republicans of engaging in human trafficking and treating migrants like “human cargo” to score political points,  TEXAS TRIBUNE, Sept. 15, 2022.

 

Florida Governor Ronald DeSantis has publicly taken responsibility for sending airplane flights full of people to Martha's Vineyard.  The Florida Legislature has appropriated $12 Million to fund such things.  See Stephen Neukam, Fight over border security escalates after governors send migrants to Kamala Harris’ home, Martha’s Vineyard / The latest moves by Gov. Greg Abbott and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis this week have triggered outrage among immigration rights’ groups and Democrats who have accused the Republicans of engaging in human trafficking and treating migrants like “human cargo” to score political points,  TEXAS TRIBUNE, Sept. 15, 2022.

Just like a politician.  They only do anything when somebody else pays for it.

Come to think of it, aren't these really campaign expenditures paid for by taxpayers?  Strange as well that these two governors have the same amount of money to play with.  Do you think they will contribute any of their own money or any of their campaign's money?

As if the money wasn't a big enough issue, then there's the human trafficking thing.  Let's start by following the money, see where it leads, and keep our options open.

Please read the disclaimer.  ©2022 Dennis J. Wall.  All rights reserved.

IT'S UN-AMERICAN. IT WILL ALWAYS BE UN-AMERICAN.

 

82nd Airborne (Chris Seward/Associated Press)

Labelling a whole group of persons "rapists" and "criminals."

Ripping small children from the arms of their mothers and fathers.

This is not any kind of "normal."  It was and is Un-American.

Converting the U.S. Department of Justice into an organization to harass people you don't like.

Ordering underlings to invent "special counsels" to write a report for propaganda media without any desire for evidence.

This is not "normal."  It's Un-American.  It will always be Un-American.

Please read the disclaimer.  ©2022 Dennis J. Wall.  All rights reserved.

"You Say It's Your Birthday"*

 

"You Say It's Your Birthday"*

by

Dennis Wall

A Villanelle in Honor of the Beatles, Birthdays, and (Writer's) Block.

Saturday, September 10, 2022

*Reflecting the suggestions of the Writer's Block Group Zoom,

 Monday, September 12, 2022

 

It's Birthday Week in my life

I heard the song of joy

Saw the slice from a cake knife.

 

Good songs sung from a  cake knife

My child's a girl, not boy.

It's birthday week in my life.

 

Oft I saw the birthday life

I miss the sound of joy,

Saw the slice from a cake knife.

 

Harming none, it fed, that knife.

When mind recalls the joy

It's birthday week in my life.

 

Then we celebrated life

Every girl and boy

Saw the slice from a cake knife.

 

Make time in American life

Important in days of strife

Birthday week lived to  enjoy

Saw the slice from a cake knife.

©2022 Dennis J. Wall  All rights reserved.

-30- The End.

By What Right Challenges Their Right to Hold Office. Ever.

(The famous photograph of Abraham Lincoln where the glass broke along the line a bullet would soon travel)

New Mexico and its citizens and its State Courts have all shown the way to challenge the right of insurrectionists to hold -- and run for -- office:  Ask courts to declare by what right those people hold -- or seek -- office under the Fourteenth Amendment, Section 3 of the United States Constitution.  (In courts, to ask "by what right" usually means quo warranto or something similar.)

As you may already know, Section 3 of the Fourteenth Amendment was written to bar people engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the United States to ever hold office.  Then, it meant former Confederates.

Now, it means office holders (and office seekers) even though they did not engage in violence so long as the proof in court shows that they did engage in insurrection, as in the case of Download State of New Mexico ex rel. White v. Griffin Findings of Fact Conclusions of Law and Judgment filed Sept. 6 2022 (N.M. Dist. Ct. 1st Dist. Santa Fe County No. D-101-CV-2022-00473).

Please read the disclaimer.  ©2022 Dennis J. Wall.  All rights reserved. 

'The Constitution represents popular opinion.'

(Sun Sentinel Handout)

In Download State of New Mexico ex rel. White v. Griffin Findings of Fact Conclusions of Law and Judgment filed Sept. 6 2022 (N.M. Dist. Ct. 1st Dist. Santa Fe County No. D-101-CV-2022-00473), New Mexico District Judge Francis Mathew ruled that because the defendant violated the Fourteenth Amendment, Section 3,  "effective January 6, 2021" the defendant is no longer entitled to hold public office and shall not hold state or federal office in the future.

"Mr. Griffin disregards that the Constitution itself  reflects the will of the people and is 'the supreme Law of the Land.'"  Id., ¶ 67, p. 44.

The Judge who wrote this opinion graduated from Notre Dame the year after I did.  He went on to the University of Notre Dame Law School.  Back in the day, he would have been called "a Double Domer."

Today, he is rightfully called Your Honor.

 Please read the disclaimer.  ©2022 Dennis J. Wall.  All rights reserved.

"The Court denied their request to be friends of court."

(Peter Ringenberg / University of Notre Dame)

On August 30, 2022, seven "former federal prosecutors and state and federal governmental officials who served in Republican administrations," including former Massachusetts and New Jersey Governors William F. Weld and Christine Todd Whitman, filed their motion to appear as friends of the court and brief the unique issues in that case:  Download Trump v. United States Doc. No. 41 Motion to File Amicus Brief filed August 30 2022 (S.D. Fla. No. 9.22-cv-81294-AMC).

As required, they contacted both parties before they filed their motion:  "Defendant consents to the Motion and Plaintiff opposes the Motion."

On September 6, 2022 in an unwritten order the Court denied their request to appear as friends of the court.

Please read the disclaimer.  ©2022 Dennis J. Wall.  All rights reserved.

JOURNALISTS HAVE AN ETHICAL DUTY TO REPORT SOLUTIONS, TOO.

 

(FreePhotos)

COVID precautions seem to have ended for the most part.  COVID has not ended.  COVID precautions seem to have ended.

It is as if declaring an end to COVID precautions means the same thing to many people as ending COVID. 

Ending protections against COVID means ending protections for the most vulnerable, not just the healthiest alone, not just for the people who are the most resistant to COVID but also for the people who are the least resistant to COVID.  The best example is probably wearing face masks.

The majority of the population has found wearing masks too inconvenient to continue.  The majority does not include the people most vulnerable to COVID.   And so the COVID spreads.

And so the elderly in particular, but also the very young along with everyone else whose immune systems are vulnerable to COVID because, say, they are undergoing cancer treatments, continue to die at much greater rates when they do contract COVID.  Did I mention that some 77% of COVID deaths so far in 2022 are people over the age of 65?

Journalists have reported these events and these statistics.  If journalists report a problem, their reporting is incomplete if they do not report that a solution or solutions also exist, are also facts, are also in fact part of the story.  Reporting only the problem is not enough.

"It is usually going to be cathartic for me to think about the possible positive ripple effect for another human being in that room who possibly might be immunocompromised."  Dr. Erica Birkley, Assistant Professor at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, quoted in Eric Berger, Coronavirus / As Americans Ditch Covid Measures, Pandemic Worsens for the Vulnerable,  THE GUARDIAN Tues., Aug. 30, 2022.  Doctor Birkley was talking about wearing a mask.  The reporter, Eric Berger, wrote about the problem caused by most people not wearing a mask, and he also reported a solution to that problem offered by Dr. Birkley.

It's not hard for journalists to do:  When you report on a problem, reporting on the solution or solutions is an essential part of the story.

Please read the disclaimer.  ©2022 Dennis J. Wall.  All rights reserved.