GOVERNING ... DIFFERENCES RESPECTED IN 2025?

Our United States are challenged to be governed in the best interests of ALL of our citizens ... appreciating ... respecting ...

... our cultural, racial, gender, sexual, religious, political, other differences, 

... the many average persons with considerably less finances than the most wealthy, 

... every person. 

2024 Election Result Facts

Donald J. Trump received less than 50% of the popular vote, slightly more than he won in 2016, but not a majority and certainly not a mandate for him to  overturn our government, or violate our constitution.  He did win the electoral college majority of the votes in both of his Presidential elections. -- 2016, 2024.   

Kamala Harris, current Vice President, the opposing candidate conceded.

The current President, Joe Biden,  pledged a smooth transition of powers.   There seems to  have been a bit of a slow process start for the incoming administration to initiate nominees security checks for their Senate consideration of appointment to the significantly highest U.S. government positions.  This Politico link reports "Some Trump Cabinet picks may have trouble getting clearances.  Trump can grant them anyway ... even those whose FBI background checks don't pass muster."

President Trump's and Vice President J. D. Vance's election will officially be certified by December 13, 2024 with the 47th President's swearing in ceremony January 20, 2025.   

Previous Election Remembered

U. S. citizens will never forget what occurred January 6, 2021, when Trump lost the 2020 election, then the Capitol assault in an unsuccessful attempt to prevent the certification.      Lying about the legitimacy of that 46th Presidential vote, has been alleged to have instigated supporters' violence with instigators deserving of accountability.   Hundreds of rioters on that day have had their cases adjudicated and almost 500 are reported to have been incarcerated.  ABC News link reports "Trump promises pardon for Jan 6 rioters on his first day...also told "Meet the Press the Jan. 6 committee members should be jailed."

"Supreme Court Grants Trump Broad Immunity for Official Acts, Placing Presidents Above the Law" as reported by this link:  American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).

Special Prosecutor, Jack Smith's legal case against Trump  "...dismissed "without prejudice", meaning charges could be refiled after Trump finishes his second term as president.  In his request to drop the election case, Smith wrote: "This outcome is not based on the merits or strength of the case against the defendant." Trump had pleaded not guilty in both cases." as this BBC link reports.

This Reuters link reports Jack Smith intends to step down from office before Trump becomes President according to the New York Times.

Voting results in 2024 for the Legislative Branch of government have given the President-elect's political party, the Republicans, a majority in the Senate and the House of Representatives. 

Seems voters denied our democratic republic's promise and freedoms with this 2024 election.   They possibly failed to  fully appreciate President Biden bringing calm and sanity to more of everyday life.   Perhaps with the steps to control and reduce inflation they didn't note this country's overall economic gains, considered best in the world for that unusual time that avoided a U.S. recession or even depression. 

The 46th Presidency of Joseph Biden's and Vice President Kamala Harris' four years leadership shepherded U.S. recovery from the unique circumstances of a global pandemic initially dismissed and minimized by the previous 45th President Trump until he acted much later, but that delay may have lead to the death of multitudes of U.S. citizens some have said.  

Another honest election in 2028 with viable candidates could have a positive effect toward more strongly supporting our democratic republic constitutional government which more informed voters by then can begin to reinforce in the 2022 mid-term election.   

What are some actions I and others can continue to take in the time ahead to best protect and ensure rights and freedoms for ALL of our citizens ...

.... support only those candidates who would preserve our rights and freedoms, swear allegiance to our constitution above any leader, defend our democracy to sustain our republic, and act only to do so,

.... support any of the coming 47th administration's actions that truly primarily benefit ordinary citizens as the wealthy are doing fine, 

.... always seek verifiable facts and truth from the source(s) of our news,

... use critical thinking to select only those in the Fourth Estate's honest press dedicated to verifiable truth and facts to believe, not that from social media, or conspiracy theories often riddled with propaganda including foreign government distortions and lies as is known to be occurring in our national elections, 

... carefully fact check this administration's words as past behavior indicates a great proclivity for stating inaccurate information, even about the obvious that is heard as well as seen by individuals' own eyes,

... trust what my eyes see, verify, not what others may describe to the contrary, 

... continue to believe words matter in reflecting the values, morals and beliefs of a person only if their actions reveal they live them; beware of hypocrites,

... practice civility, tolerance, respect, and love -- not hate and vindictiveness, especially in an autocratic leader's words and actions directed toward those who have different views,

... to be patient in order to survive what may well be chaos deliberately created by the new leader as occurred in the previous 45th administration, 

... keep the peace,

... stay positive in thought and spirit,

... focus on family, friends, and taking good care of our health, 

... seek humor in life to keep our sanity if these coming years are like 2016-2020.

I'm sure you have thoughts and suggestions of your own better than mine you could add.   

NIGHTMARE in November 2024 . . . . . .

I awoke the other morning with memories of a frightening nightmare filling my thoughts.  A familiar man's voice was uttering crude racist and belittling misogynistic words constantly ricocheting in my ears.  In my nightmare, my eyes swept my surroundings filled with the blurred faces of people whose hands pressed against their ears in a fruitless attempt to block the blaring sound and noise as I was trying to do.

Nearby I could see a slightly larger crowd including children, laughing, waving their arms encouraging this obnoxious man to keep shouting his obscenities.  "You love me, don't you!", he said to them.  Their unified voices responded, "Oh, yes!" 

"See, I can do and say anything I want", he said to his nearby cohorts who gave him smug smiles of approval they knew his ego expected, demanded.

I returned to the reality of the day -- our 2024 U.S. Presidential election results with the 45th ex-President to become the 47th President has had my mind reeling with questions about this nightmarish outcome.

We were just finishing a four-year respite with a welcomed degree of calm and sanity after the overwhelming daily chaos and noise from the 45th U.S. President.  That President has been thought by many to have given coded language's "dog whistles" to some fascist-like groups which seem to have interpreted his words as sympathetic to them.   Some of his own other words and actions have led many to see certain of his own ideas and behavior among those seduced by such a fascist ideology.  

During the years following the end of 45's 2016 term of office he successfully mustered enough voter support to receive a winning, over 50% of the popular vote for the first time, in the recent 2024 election. as well as winning the Electoral College votes.

Almost 50% of other voters, including me, were bewildered to appreciate his supporting voters intent when they embraced the apparent fascism our recently elected 47th U.S.President seemed to be promising.  They elected a man who many believe has demonstrated his racism, intolerance, and misogynism along with other undesirable moral, ethical and business practices reportedly throughout most of his life.

Did they not listen to his words or note his actions when he previously was President and when he campaigns?

Did his supporters not recognize the constitutional importance of maintaining the separation of church and state our constitution demands which he seems not to protect?

Did they not respect the right of women to control decisions about the health of their own bodies which he seems not to do?

Did they not believe he would act as he said he would which could undermine or weaken some of our constitution? 

Did they not believe he would obliterate a balanced rule of law and justice despite accusations of his own violations for which he is now not likely to be held accountable if warranted, as a consequence of action by his earlier SCOTUS appointments?

Did they not believe he would be intolerant of anyone whose thinking was different from his own as some allege he has demonstrated in the past?

Do his supporters actually believe in and trust a person who makes up facts, denies and distorts truth, prevaricates incessantly based on documentation of his words?

Did they not believe he would revert to instigating violence to achieve his end as many believe he did culminating in what some consider an insurrection on January 6, 2021?

Did he really mean there would be no more elections after his second 4 years if voters elected him, and why would that be true since our constitution specifies there will be every four years -- or is this just one more of his lies?  

Did voters not consider the meaning when he has reportedly demonstrated he expects everybody to have a primary allegiance to him over all else and is believed by many to have previously responded unfavorably to those who won't make such a commitment since everyone's oath, including him, is to the constitution -- not to a person or a political party?

Did they not know what it would mean in human terms when he said he would be a dictator the first day of his presidency?

Did they not understand what he is saying about women's right's when he said he would protect women whether they liked it or not?

Did they not recognize any fascist views he is expressing?

Did they not realize the dangers a fascist leader poses to everybody's freedoms, even lives, including their own?

Despite the lessons of history with fascist leaders as most recently occurred with another country's  invasion of Ukraine, or before that, WWII fought to preserve many country's independence, freedoms, including our own, save lives for which many sons, fathers, brothers, sisters, mothers, daughters died, also freeing those captive, still living, who had not been tolerated -- do they not know what fascism is? 

Definition:                                                                                                                                           "Fascism is a far-right, authoritarian, ultranationalist political ideology and movement, characterized by a dictatorial leader, centralized autocracy, militarism, forcible suppression of opposition", ... as defined in Wikipedia.

I am left to consider the state of my beloved U.S.A. with this election painfully revealing there are far more of my fellow citizens in whom I am so disappointed, saddened, but alarmed, than I thought lived in our proud country which holds high ideals for the individual citizen.

A thought-provoking lead-in to a recent Guardian opinion article resonates with me now.  I believe this is a great country already, but the problem lies with the people, so I have slightly altered the wording:   

"Our mistake was to believe we lived in a" ...  country with more 'better people' ... "than we do".

IS FREE PRESS STIFLING BEGINNING ?

Is the Fourth Estate -- a press independent of government dictates -- a necessary vital check on truth and honesty in our form of government we expect our Presidential candidates to observe? 

Why aren't the Washington Post and Los Angeles Times Newspapers endorsing a Presidential candidate in this critical election year with the very state of our nation's democratic republic, constitution at stake?

Why would the practice of recommending candidates this election year suddenly be discontinued?

Do the billionaire owners of these two newspapers not respect editorial management's decision freedom? 

Are the billionaires aligning themselves defacto with one of the candidates?

Are we already seeing the beginning of the stifling of the free press? 

Isn't elimination of the press one of the goals of countries with dictators, autocratic leaders, despots who determine what constitutes news "facts" citizens receive?

Aren't these "facts" put forth as truth often actually lies from such leaders?  

Have we already been primed by one former President and candidate to accept lies as truth?  

Would we want such a leader to be the President of our country?  

Honor a Man Denying Truth or Honor Our Democratic Republic .....

 

Vice  Presidential candidates Gov.Tim Walz and Sen. JD Vance revealed the core issue American voters need to consider I observed after viewing their refreshingly civil debate.

Unlike former Vice President Pence who refused to certify the 2020 election based on Trump citing the election was stollen which was untrue, Vance declined to say Trump lost the 2020 election.   

"Representative Ted Lieu, an impeachment manager in the second impeachment case against Mr. Trump, said that JD Vance’s comments on the transfer of power after 2020 election were disqualifying."  Read the Guardian article by clicking the link.   

What could happen after our 2024 election if Trump loses again and decides to repeat what lead to the January 6th debacle ..... insurrection? 

American voters have a 2024 election choice : "Who's gonna honor that democracy and who's gonna honor Donald Trump?" questioned Vice Presidential candidate Walz.   

"Survival Is Not Enough" for Elders

Fellow elderblogger, Kalilly, who writes at: https://www.kalilily.net/ has launched with several colleagues a petition to urge the Congressional Task Forces on Aging to devise and recommend funding for a plan to provide subsidies that enable remodeling of old outdated facilities and the constructions of new models of affordable senior housing that meet the needs of older adults for safety, comfort, and personal connections she notes.

"Survival is not Enough"  "The crisis in affordable and humane housing for seniors is rapidly increasing. According to Bloomberg, “By 2034, the Census Bureau projects that the US will be home to more people over 65 than people under 18. Finding safe and affordable housing for this fast-growing segment of the population is becoming an urgent task, as the number of 65-and-over residents who are considered cost-burdened reached record highs in 2021, while federal housing subsidies only reached 36.5% of older households who were eligible.”

This certainly seems a pertinent issue with our aging population experiencing homelessness for so many as this nation has.    You are invited to read, sign the petition if you find it to be of interest at https://www.change.org/ImproveSeniorHousing and share with others as well.

2024 ELECTION THOT

 

2024  ELECTION THOT

Food for thought .....  

Patiently waiting for the wheels of justice to roll forward for January 6th accountability about which I've previously written.

Question as voters consider where to cast their 2024 ballot ----

If 45 becomes President, he acts chaotically as he has demonstrated he does .....  his supporters determine they made a mistake ..... but he won't leave office ..... what then?

Citizen voters won’t be able to get him out, legally if he makes all the constitution and court system changes he has said he will make in the process of establishing his dictatorship -- there will be no election as he will have prevented that.  Or, any election, if there is one, will likely be rigged much as he demonstrated attempting to do after  2020.  

At  least if another  political party's candidate has been elected we can legally remove them from office by various peaceful means —  impeachment, or at the latest, with an election at the end of their 4 year term.      

CHRISTMAS, OTHER HOLIDAYS, & NEW YEAR 2 0 2 4

          

                 M  E  R  R  Y     H O  L  I  D  A   Y  S   !     

                                      

       H  A  P  P   Y     N   E   W    Y  E  A  R     2 0 2 4   

         Tony Bennett sings "I'll Be Home For Christmas" 

 90th birthday video of live appearance on NBC- TV Today                                          (promotes a special later that night but not this year)

              

All is well as can be with me.    I keep moving closer to that ninth decade with very few of my long time friends left on this planet to accompany me while I'm here.  I continue my "rightsizing" activities at a snails pace which contributes to why I haven't resumed writing here.  

Perhaps in the significant year to come I will be unable to resist returning here to write espousing my views on whatever topics capture my attention.   

Meanwhile, I continue to enjoy my family and indulging  myself in the ordinary necessities and self-entertaining activities of daily living which give our lives meaning.  

Wishing for peace everywhere with good health, prosperity, a life filled with happiness and  only the best for each of you in this momentous year to come!  

The Secret of Christmas 

       by George Perris, multi-lingual Greek singer

It's A Most Wonderful Time of the Year

    by George Perris, International Singer

NEW YEAR 2023 WISHES --

 H A P P Y   N E W   Y E A R !      2  0  2  3

    W I S H I N G   Y O U .....

          P E A C E,

             J O Y, 

                G O O D   H E A L T H,

                       P R O S P E R I T Y.

ABBA sings Happy New Year

THE TENORS -- Auld Lang Syne  from "Christmas Together" album "... shot on location in Newfoundland and Labrador with generous support of Parks Canada".

2022 HOLIDAYS -- CHRISTMAS -- NEW YEAR'S EVE

                     2  0  2  2

M E R R Y   C H R I S T M A S !

     H A P P Y    H A N U K K A H !

        J O Y   A L L   S E A S O N A L   H O L I D A Y S !

The Christmas Song 

Sung by pitch perfect Mel Torme'  -- a song co-written with Robert Wells on a hot Southern California afternoon. 

What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?

    Sung by Diana Krall superb jazz vocalist.

ACCOUNTABILITY FOR JANUARY 6th -- FINAL REPORT

 REPUBLIC -- "If you can keep it."  [Democracy]

U.S. Select House Committee on Jan. 6th Hearings

                         Accountability

      Dept. of Justice Special Counsel Jack Smith

          

Update:

Business Meeting 12/19/2022 -- Monday 

1 P.M. ET -- 10 A.M. PT

390 Cannon House Office Building,  Washington DC 20515

Televised live on the Committee's site, PBS and other channels as mentioned in this L.A. Times newspaper article along with discussion about what to expect, what has occurred and other political commentary HERE 

The final Committee report release expected soon may be discussed.

Past Committee Business Meetings 

Reports Recommending House of Representatives Cite Select Named Individuals for Criminal Contempt of Congress

QUESTION:  Will the Committee's final report rightfully include findings about ALL involved in the January 6th seditious activities?

My continuing "catch-up" break from blogging continues.