Well the Cat is back! Although he posted two pieces today, he has to remember to pace himself lest he end up in trouble again. As he said, he is still in some pain and no doubt a little tired from lying around in a hospital bed. TC has medical appointments and eye surgery coming up, so while I will back off a little now, I will be back. Today was a relaxing day for me, such is not the case for the rest of the week. I ate all that good cheese/herb and garlic fococcia so now I don't have any for supper . . . but oh it was sooooooooo good! I have to go out tomorrow so I'll be at Cob's Bakery to get some more. I may not keep my friends but I'll have a happy tummy!
Short Takes
The Hill — Legislation introduced in the House on Monday would prevent President Trump from receiving federally subsidized flood insurance amid warnings that the effects of climate change could cause parts of his Mar-a-Lago resort and other south Florida properties to be underwater in coming years.
Rep. Earl Blumenauer’s (D-Ore.) bill – titled the Prohibiting Aid for Recipients Ignoring Science (PARIS) Act – would ensure properties owned by a president or family members can’t have access to subsidized insurance from the National Flood Insurance Program.
An analysis by Coastal Risk Consulting found that the Mar-a-Lago grounds in Palm Beach, Fla., could be under at least a foot of water for 210 days a year because of tidal flooding.
To quote Jackie Gleason, "How sweet it is!" Love the acronym —PARIS! Oregon leads the way?! While I applaud this, it will go nowhere with a Republican Congress.
CBC — Canada's longest-serving chief justice of the Supreme Court will retire from the bench on Dec. 15, 2017.
In a statement sent to reporters Monday, Beverley McLachlin said she would leave the court after serving for 28 years, including 17 years as the presiding judge.
The 73-year-old jurist was appointed by former prime minister Brian Mulroney in 1989. She became the first woman to hold the top job on the country's highest court after she was elevated to chief justice by former prime minister Jean Chrétien in 2000.
"It has been a great privilege to serve as a justice of the court, and later its chief justice, for so many years. I have had the good fortune of working with several generations of Canada's finest judges and best lawyers. I have enjoyed the work and the people I have worked with enormously," McLachlin said. …
Moreover, McLachlin, the daughter of prairie farmers, encouraged the court's nine justices to come to a consensus, which resulted in a rate of unanimity substantially higher than that of the U.S. Supreme Court.
Mulroney said Monday his appointee has "performed so well under difficult circumstances," and dismissed criticism from some Conservatives that she has been too activistic in her approach. "She was just doing what the constitutional amendment of 1982 told her to do," he said, speaking of the introduction of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
"I think her greatest achievement probably wasn't a particular case, rather it was that she provided such strong leadership, in a collegial and widely admired fashion across Canada by lawyers, judges and many politicians," he said in an interview Monday on CBC News Network's Power & Politics, adding McLachlin has played a strong leadership role in the "evolution of Canada."
A sad day for the country, but I am sure a good day for McLachlin. I mention this because the Supreme Court of Canada performs quite well, especially when contrasted to SCOTUS. McLachlin was appointed by a Conservative Prime Minister, Brian Mulroney, and elevated to Chief Justice by a Liberal Prime Minister, Jean Chrétien.
The Hill — Rep. Brad Sherman (D-Calif.) unveiled a proposed article of impeachment Monday against President Trump for allegedly obstructing justice in a federal investigation.
The legislative text argues that Trump’s alleged attempts to pressure since-fired FBI Director James Comey to drop the agency’s investigation into former White House national security adviser Michael Flynn amounts to obstruction of justice.
“In all of this, Donald John Trump has acted in a manner contrary to his trust as President and subversive of constitutional government, to the great prejudice of the cause of law and justice and to the manifest injury of the people of the United States,” the proposed article of impeachment states. …
“As the investigations move forward, additional evidence supporting additional Articles of Impeachment may emerge. However, as to Obstruction of Justice … the evidence we have is sufficient to move forward now. And the national interest requires that we do so,” Sherman wrote.
It should be noted that the Democratic leadership thinks it is premature. In a related article, The Hill notes
"We’re still very early in the investigative process.”
Rep. Linda Sánchez (Calif.), vice chairman of the House Democratic Caucus, said Schiff’s view reflects the “overwhelming sentiment” among the Democrats.
“A majority of the Caucus is of the belief that we ought to allow the investigation to continue to its logical conclusion before making any determination,” she told reporters in the Capitol.
From a Reuters piece concerning Preet Bhahara, the fired US Attorney for the Southern District of New York,
Bharara stopped short of saying whether he thought Trump had obstructed justice in his conversations and subsequent firing of Comey.
However, he said he thought there was "absolutely evidence to begin a case" into the matter.
Some caution is warranted. The ducks need to be properly lined up so as not to interfere with any investigation. One thing though, the Democrats have to be united in their actions or suffer the "slings and arrows of outrageous fortune" as Shakespeare would say.
YouTube — Comey's Testimony – Last Week Tonight with John Oliver
I have removed the original video and replaced it with this shorter version. This part is contained in the original. John Oliver offers his take on Comey's testimony with his usual humour.
My Universe
This is especially for Nameless who has trouble getting his puddy into the carrier.
10 Responses to “Squatch’s Open Thread 12 June 2017”
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While impeaching Trump is the ultimate goal, I have to agree with the Democratic leadership that rushing into it is a mistake. With something this important you want all the proverbial "T" crossed and the "i" doted. Hell, it might be better to let Trump be impeached on the Emoluments Clause of the Constitution along with the obstruction of justice issue with Comey. In fact there is something to be said that Democrats should let Trump stink up Washington so much that it is the Republicans who are forced draw up articles of impeachment.
Welcome back Beach.
I'm sure your friendships are such that a piece of garlic foccacia bread won't send them running, Lynn. You're friends may have trouble looking you in the eye long, that's all. 😀
Thanks for posting again. I see TomCat not only has climbed back into the saddle but has gone galloping after Republicans/Drumpf administration despite all our warnings not to do so in the aftermath of surgery and pancreatitis, which is quite understandable, but … It's good to hear you're keeping an eye on things and prepared to take over whenever he needs to drop out for his medical appointments. Thank you so much.
TH: This PARIS bill Earl Blumenauer has crafted sounds very tongue-in-cheek, something Andy would come up with, and will indeed not get anywhere, but the idea that Drumpf would claim government support if Mar-a-lago does get flooded before he's impeached, isn't far fetched at all, nor that any other of the privileged who gain most from stepping out of the Paris Agreement would do the same.
CBC: I'm sure Beverley McLachlin will be missed as chief justice of Canada's Supreme Court as she did a terrific job.I hope she will enjoy a long retirement out of the spotlights. Neither she nor the Canadian people have to be fearful that the Supreme Court will become crippled by political partiality like SCOTUS, but her way of bringing together her colleagues to unite in so many cases will surely be missed.
TH: It's understandable that some Democrats want to impeach Drumpf before he does more harm to America, and the rest of the world, but if they go in too soon and show themselves so divided, it'll only serve to unite the (also) very divided Republicans and as they hold Congress, trying for impeachment now will be counter productive and in fact disastrous to Democrats everywhere. But a little bullying of the biggest bully of them all by showing Democrats are preparing for impeachment and not sitting back and letting it all happen, is a good thing, but they have to be very careful how they publicly play out any discord over it.
John Oliver: Darn, this video wasn't available to me.
MU: I'm sure this video has given jolts of recognition to most who have needed taken their felines to the vet, Lynn. With one cat it was so bad I had to go to my doctor immediately to get a tetanus shot. All from pure fright of a cat, which had started out life semi-feral, and needed to go in a carrier for the first time in his life.
You'll keep your friends if they have any sense! They'll go and get some of that garlicky stuff for themselves!
And thanks for the rest!
And go carefully; Tom Cat! We want to see you back feeling much better …
Lona, I had the same problem with the Oliver link here
– try John Oliver – Comey's Testimony (short version) on https://youtu.be/YLvhAtGyDtM
&/or https://youtu.be/dH73KeWzW5I
Thanks, Evelyn. I could see the short "Comey" video, but the long one was no longer available. But YouTube started Brexit II after the Comey one and that was a hoot too, with one of the best puns I've heard in a long time almost at the end.
TH: While this is noteworthy, I don't see it going anywhere. Unfortunately.
CBC: I wish Ms. McLachlin well for her future in retirement.
YT: Well said, John. Ryan making excuses, and dt looking po'ed. Hope he does testify. His proposed 'firing' of Mueller is unbelievable!
http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/337503-trump-allies-attacks-against-special-counsel-could-backfire
John Oliver's take on Comey's testimony
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YLvhAtGyDtM
MU: omg, this is hilarious! Having had cats my whole life, I can certainly relate to this. At one point, with one cat in particular, a few years ago, I had to get heavy gloves on, to try and get her into the crate for her trip to the vets. Did not go well at all, ended up BUYING a bigger crate, got her into it, but had difficulty in getting crate into my car. Her claws were vicious, and she was not a happy camper. I left her to the techs to get her out, and put back in after her checkup. btw…she was very upset w/me, and wouldn't come to be petted for a couple days either.
The fococcia sounds delicious.
Thanks, Lynn for posting.
Trump – Quote from The Peoples' Email Network email this morning: "We'd just like to briefly address those who write us and say we should not go after Trump because then we'd just get the also very bad Pence in his place.
"This is the litmus test of our time. This is the ultimate test of integrity. Those Republicans who are so in bed with Trump as to still be defending him now will be discredited for all eternity.
"So too will be anybody on the progressive side who says let Trump slide because Pence would not be an improvement.
"Whether or not Pence is better CANNOT be a consideration. This would just be another partisan political calculation, in principle exactly the same as the one being made by irredeemably corrupt Republicans."
Normally, I am in favor of compromise, because if elections don't get one, nothing can be accomplished. But I agree with the hard line on this point. (And also with the other point they make, that Pence is so implicated that it isn't Pence we will get.)
Simon – Simon needs James Herriot (All Creatures). "With all his faults, by God, Herriot can wrap a cat."
Enjoy your garlic.
Ealr is my Rep!!
We need McLachlin here!
Impeach tyhe bastard, but please don't embed videos that autostart. They are a terrible resourse hog.
Pooped hugs!