Judge Cannon doing her job

July 15th, 2024

Here we go, Trump getting his payback after appointing the most unqualified judge ever to the federal bench.

The “documents” case is dismissed. Surprise… surprise…

From Robert Reich, How to prevent America and the world from falling into Fascism:

“Some of us have families and live in communities that agree with us about the profound danger of another Trump presidency. But some of you have close relatives — a parent, child, sibling, even a spouse — who supports Trump. You feel dismayed by what has happened to them.

“Others of you live in a town or city where there are many Trump supporters, or in a red state, or in a neighborhood where you see lots of Trump lawn signs and bumper stickers. You feel isolated and fearful.

Some of you are confused about whether Biden is the strongest candidate to take on Trump, and you’re worried about what Biden and the Democrats will decide.

“I can’t sugarcoat this. It is dismaying, frightening, and worrying. We have already endured four years of Trump, and another term could tip America and the world into full-throated fascism. Trump has become even more unhinged and vindictive, and more knowledgeable about how to get horrendous things done.

“Here are 11 suggestions for what you can do in the 118 days before Election Day:

1. Try not to allow issues such as whether Biden should resign, or his degree of responsibility for Gaza, to get in the way of your determination not to let Trump back into the White House. Regardless of our differences over these issues, they pale compared to the threat Trump poses.

2. For the same reason, please don’t decide to leave the top of the ticket blank or to vote for a third party or not to vote at all. All make it easier for Trump to win. Instead, make sure you and everyone you know and trust is registered to vote, and votes for Joe Biden or whomever is the Democratic candidate for president.

3. Don’t become so upset with politics that you drop out, stop reading the news, or give up on activism. The stakes are just too high. Even if you cannot take much time out of your normal life, you need to help organize, mobilize, and energize others.

4. Focus your time and energies on convincing people who still have open minds, to oppose Trump. Mobilize those who don’t normally vote, to vote. Organize get-out-the-vote efforts in your community. Get young people involved.

5. Counter lies with truth. When you hear someone repeating a Trump Republican lie, correct it.

6. Do not tolerate bigotry and hate. Call it out. Stand up to it. Denounce it. Demand that others denounce it, too.

7. Do not resort to violence, name-calling, bullying, or any of the other tactics that Trump followers may be using.

8. Be compassionate toward hardcore followers of Trump, but be firm in your opposition. Understand why someone may decide to support Trump, but don’t waste time and energy trying to convert them.

9. Don’t waste your time and energy commiserating with people who already agree with you, or criticizing Democrats for failing to communicate more effectively. None of this will get you anything except an upset stomach.

10. Demonstrate, but don’t confuse demonstrating with political action. You may find it gratifying to stand on a corner in Berkeley with a sign asking drivers to “honk if you hate fascism” that elicit lots of honks, but it’s as politically effectual as taking a warm shower.

11. Finally, don’t let any sensationalized news of the day divert your eyes from the goal: protecting American democracy during one of the greatest stress tests it has had to endure, fueled by one of the worst demagogues in American history.

“I cannot overstate how critical the outcome of the next 118 days will be to everything you and I want for America and the world.

Be well and be strong.”

++++++++++++++++++++++

Thanks to Robert Reich for some specifics — deep breathe and carry on.

Yesterday there were two meetings for public comments on the scope of the Environmental Impact Statement for the “Mankato-Mississippi River” transmission project, a/k/a “Wilmarth-North Rochester-Tremval.” First meeting was in Mankato, second in Waterville (the road to the school was no longer flooded).

Comments on scope of EIS are due August 1. Send to:

Here’s the powerpoint presented at the meeting:

I’ve reposted the full application here:

FYI, the Wilmarth – Mississippi Application!

The NoCapX 2020 and Prehn Family comments filed in April point out issues they’d best investigate:

The thing that struck me most about this application is that one of the routes proposed was to go right over the CenterPoint natural gas dome! There was nothing about it. Not a word! And CenterPoint did not know, at least those at the pumping station and water treatment plant on Hwy. 13! We learned that during a tour of the area, rough mapping the wells and monitoring stations:

And today — oh, better get packed and over to the first meeting:

Be there or be square!!

Project 2025, the plan to foist authoritarian “Christian” nationalism on the United States. Just NO!

I’d downloaded this, and got lost in the “catch-up” and didn’t post it. GGGACK! This is a must read. It’s long, it’s horrifying, but after this U.S. Supreme Court “Trump v. U.S.” immunity decision, linked HERE, there’s all the more reason to fight like hell to assure it doesn’t go forward.

Here’s Pres. Biden’s speech yesterday about the Supreme Court decision:

The name of the case clearly states what’s going on here:

TRUMP v. UNITED STATES

Bottom line, immunity for “official acts,” but the definition of “official acts” is up for grabs, and it’s been sent back for that definition.

I think this NPR headline states it well:

Supreme Court says Trump has absolute immunity for core acts only

ONLY!

However, sending it back means that there will be no final outcome before the election.

So on that happy note… sigh… it’s kinda hard not to puke reading these opinions..