Category: Current Events

DISCLOSE Act, dark money in our elections

DISCLOSE Act, dark money in our elections

Posted on by Jack

Today I received an email asking me to support the Disclose act to get dark money out of politics by requiring disclosure of who is contributing. There are been many versions over recent years and none have made it into law. This bill seems like a good idea to me but I would like to hear more since as they say the devil is in the details.

The current version is S.512 which was sponsored by Senator Whitehead almost a year ago (Feb 16 2023) and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration. According to https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/senate-bill/512 there has been no action since then.
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Renegade: Defending Democracy and Liberty in Our Divided Country by Adam Kinzinger

Renegade: Defending Democracy and Liberty in Our Divided Country by Adam Kinzinger

Posted on by Jack

After the shock of the January 6, 2021 insurrection (https://www.jackreidy.com/blog/2021/07/02/insurrection-based-on-a-lie/ and https://www.jackreidy.com/blog/2021/12/06/a-national-disgrace-or-6/), I followed the news about it closely. I was very impressed by the 2 Republicans who sacrificed their positions in the Republican party and ultimately their seats in Congress to serve on the committee investigating this.
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Presidential Pardons

Presidential Pardons

Posted on by Jack

As mentioned previously, I get a daily email from Just Security.

Yesterday’s email mentioned an interesting article on presidential pardons. This power has been abused by numerous Presidents and Donald Trump could use it to pardon himself if re-elected and has also mentioned pardon numerous criminals including those who are in jail after being convicted of crimes in the January 6 insurrection.

The authors discuss the role of Congress in curbing abuse of the presidential pardon and increasing transparency. I hope you find “Congress Can Curb Abuse of the Presidential Pardon Power” as interesting as I did.

Just Security, National Security, and a second Trump Presidency

Just Security, National Security, and a second Trump Presidency

Posted on by Jack

I have been a follower of the Just Security website https://www.justsecurity.org/ for several years. I get their daily email highlighting what is published that day and read articles that I look interesting to me.

As a citizen I have been concerned with many of Donald Trump stated goals if he wins a second term. As a former civil servant (30 years at CDC) I have been disturbed by his plans to politicize the federal civil service.

Yesterday there was an article called Trump’s Stated Goals for the U.S. Intelligence Community: Assessing the Impact – https://www.justsecurity.org/90714/trumps-stated-goals-for-the-u-s-intelligence-community-assessing-the-impact/

It starts like this:

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Republican Senators are blocking aid to Ukraine.

Republican Senators are blocking aid to Ukraine.

Posted on by Jack

This may be the intent of some who don’t think we should be supporting Ukraine. But others are just holding the aid hostage to try to get what they want in immigration policy. This latter group want to hold up aid which is needed to stop Putin’s expansion into Ukraine (https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-67649497).

I think this is a big mistake. The aid is needed now to resist the invasion. Perhaps more so, since European Union is aid is being blocked by Victor Orban (https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-67724357).
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Republicans take a chance on Trump

Republicans take a chance on Trump

Posted on by Jack

It seems the Republican party will take a chance on former President Donald Trump. The insurrectionist and former President is way ahead in the primary and is considered the likely nominee. So far state judges have ruled against attempts to exclude him from the primary ballot but at least some of those decisions are being appealed
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Was Nixon right ?

Was Nixon right ?

Posted on by Jack

During the David Frost interviews former president Richard Nixon said: “Well, when the president does it, that means that it is not illegal”.

Is that really that different from former president Trump’s claim of immunity ?

Was Nixon right then ? Is Trump right now ?

The 2 former Presidents make very similar claims but this has never been decided by a court since the issue has never arisen before. I suspect it will be decided by the Supreme Court either right away or after a delay in the appeals court.

House Republicans fail again

House Republicans fail again

Posted on by Jack

House Republicans continue to fail. They failed to pass a budget to allow the government to continue to operate this fiscal year. So they passed a continuing resolution to allow it to stay open to November 17. Now that we are rapidly approaching that date and they have again failed to govern or pass a budget or agree to another continuing resolution. They did the only thing they could agree on – adjourn for a long weekend.

Why the working class changed parties

Why the working class changed parties

Posted on by Jack

I have long been puzzled by many of the working class who support Republicans who seem to the working against their interests (lower taxes for the rich, for example). Democrats seem to be doing much more to help the working class and yet they seem to be losing support in this group.

Peter Coy has written a very interesting column today, based on a National Bureau of Economic Research paper , that seems to explain this at least in part.

It is an interesting article a well-worth your time.

Your Move Judge Tanya Chutkan

Your Move Judge Tanya Chutkan

Posted on by Jack

Judge Chutkan placed a limited gag order on defendant Donald Trump to stop him from launching a “pretrial smear campaign” while respecting his rights to pursue his presidential campaign. Since the defendant appealed the order, she put it on hold to allow the defense to appeal her ruling.

I do not believe it was Judge Chutkan’s intent to give Donald Trump time to conduct his smear campaign, yet that was precisely the result.

It seems to me that Judge Chutkan should reverse her decision on the hold and reimpose the gag order before the defendant is allowed to do more damage.

Senator Menendez time to go

Senator Menendez time to go

Posted on by Jack

Senator Menendez should resign.

I have written about him three times. Perhaps it is time to think about giving him is own tag
Another reason for Senator Menendez to resign.
Will Senator Menendez resign ?
Update on Senator Menendez: national security.

He has given up his chairmanship of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. But he still sits on the committee.

John Fetterman, the first Senator to call for Senator Menendez to resign reminds us:

Senator Menendez is entitled to the presumption of innocence under our system, but he is not entitled to continue to wield influence over national policy, especially given the serious and specific nature of the allegations.

It is the right thing to do.

Republican clown show continues

Republican clown show continues

Posted on by Jack

It has now been 3 weeks, Congress cannot work. Yes. the Senate can pass important bills. But without the other half of Congress that would be meaningless. The House of Representatives is needed for Congress to work.

Yet the Republican majority fails to appoint a Speaker who would be able to either introduce new bills or allow a vote on Senate bills. This has gone of for 2 weeks and may not get better any time soon. The latest failure is today

Perhaps one day we will actually have a fully functional government but does that require voting most Republicans out?

Full Salary

Full Salary

Posted on by Jack

In my discussion of The Appeasement Caucus a week ago I looked at an amendment to the bill House Republicans proposed to fund the government for the current fiscal year. One which passed would halve reduced the salary of Lloyd James Austin III (The Secretary of Defense) to $1, The amendment is below.

H.Amdt.371 — 118th Congress (2023-2024)
Description: An amendment numbered 164 printed in Part A of House Report 118-216 to reduce the salary of Lloyd James Austin III to $1.
Sponsor: Greene, Marjorie Taylor [Rep.-R-GA-14] (Offered 09/27/2023)
Latest Action: 09/27/23 On agreeing to the Greene (GA) amendment (A020) Agreed to by voice vote. (All Actions)

I’ve noticed he is doing quite a bit on the latest disaster in Israel-Gaza. I’m glad he is making his full salary.

Another reason for Senator Menendez to resign

Another reason for Senator Menendez to resign

Posted on by Jack

Senator Menendez has already given reasons for many to think he should resign. Now he gives us another.

I have written about him twice:

Will Senator Menendez resign ?
Update on Senator Menendez: national security.

He has given up his chairmanship of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. But now that an additional charge of failing to register under the Foreign Agents Registration Act is filed, the case is even stronger for his resignation from Senate.

John Fetterman, the first Senator to call for Senator Menendez to resign reminds us:

Senator Menendez is entitled to the presumption of innocence under our system, but he is not entitled to continue to wield influence over national policy, especially given the serious and specific nature of the allegations.

It is the right thing to do.

Rapid Growth of The Appeasement Caucus

Rapid Growth of The Appeasement Caucus

Posted on by Jack

There seems to be rapid growth of opposition to Ukraine aid among House Republicans. In my earlier post I called these folks The Appeasement Caucus so I’ll just stick with that name. I am not aware if they officially formed a caucus with that name or some other name.

As I recall, last year there were a relatively small number of House Republicans opposed to aid.
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