So much to share this morning. Calls for a Morning Stew.
Welcome to Morning Stew #24.
At a Trump rally in Tupelo, Mississippi last night, the President described impeachment as an “attack on democracy.” Impeachment is not the attack. The attack is the President himself.
At the same rally, Trump discussed Beto O’Rourke. O’Rourke announced yesterday he was withdrawing from the race for the Democratic nomination. Trump said Beto “quit like a dog.” Plus it is reported the President used words that could not be printed.
A class act, our President!
Dresden was and still is a major German city. The Allies bombed the hell out of it during World War II.
Dresden as with all other German communities, quickly adapted following World War II to a way of life similar to that of most Allied communities. Nazism was totally and absolutely rejected.
Things have changed.
Dresden has a “Nazi emergency.” “Nazinotstand” the term. Means Dresden has “a serious problem…..open democratic society is threatened.”
A neo-Nazi mayor has been elected. Does not mean Dresden has become a Nazi bastion. The City Council voted in favor wednesday night 39-29 in support of a resolution reflecting and showing their dismay for the neo-Nazi mayor and the wave of neo-Nazism which is creeping over Dresden.
The resolution is intended to show the City Council’s position in opposition to neo-Nazism and their opposition to the growth of anti-Islamism in the Dresden. The resolution reflected the City Council’s commitment to fostering “a free, liberal, democratic society that protects minorities and resolutely opposes Nazis.”
Anti-Islamism is on the rise. Sometime in October, demonstrations began. Weekly, every monday night. Described as” an anti-Islam Pegida movement.” Pegida stands for “Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamisation of the West.” Islamophobia at its worst.
Most of the world is moving to the right. Not a healthy situation.
Tomorrow (Sunday) is National Sandwich Day.
Last year many of the chains gave out free sandwiches. This will not be the case this year. Most are advising customers how to sign up for apps. that will assist in ordering.
Subway is doing something . I think a buy one, get one free deal. McDonald’s is giving out coupons directing customers to go to McDonald’s apps and take advantage of any benefits available therfein. McDonald’s is returning to Happy Meals in a limited fashion also. Described as retro Happy Toys from 1988.
All confusing this year. Last year was much easier when most of the chains invited a person in for a freebie.
Syracuse/Boston College at noon. Boston College a 3 point favorite. Hope Syracuse wins. I am screwed once again. The game is being carried on ACCN. ACCN and Comcast have not made their dollar deal yet for Syracuse games. Ergo, we Syracuse fans are left out in the cold.
On this day in 1948, Harry Truman defeated Thomas Dewey for the U.S. Presidency.
Much amusement involved in the result.
Dewey was predicted winner by political analysts and polls. Truman was going to get buried. The Chicago Daily Tribune went to press early election night putting newspapers on the street bearing the headline: Dewey Defeats Truman. H. V. Kaltenborn was the radio man of the day. No TV back then. A much respected radio commentator. He had a very distinguishable voice. Before the results were all in, he went on national radio and announced Dewey the victor.
Truman got them all!
Truman the farm boy who became President. No college education. However a man of honesty and integrity as the nation knew.
After his victory, Truman announced he was going to Key West on vacation.
My life was fortunate to cross paths 3 times with Truman. The most memorable occurred my last year of law school at Syracuse.
Truman was coming to visit the University. Two days. Don’t be shocked. Syracuse was known as a Democratic bastion at the time. The visit was several years after Truman finally left office.
A private luncheon with Truman was scheduled for the purportedly “twelve outstanding students on campus”. As luck would have it, I was selected to represent the law school.
Even better, seating for the 12 plus the former President was at 2 round tables. Six at one, 7 at the other.
Seating was at the discretion of the University. My name card was immediately to the right of Truman. I got to sit next to him for a good 2 hours.
Most of Truman’s comments had to do with the 1948 election. He had a copy of the Chicago newspaper which he had exhibited to us. He also had a recording of Kaltenborn’s words that Truman had lost. He talked about both with a chuckle in his voice. He got ’em!
On November 1, 1950, an attempt was made on Truman’s life. The President and his wife were living in Blair House at the time. The White House was being remodeled.
Around 2 in the afternoon, 2 Puerto Ricans who supported Puerto Rico independence ran up the front steps and reached the front door of Blair House. Shooting along the way.
One assassin was killed as was 1 Secret Service officer.
Mr. and Mrs. Truman were upstairs and never in danger.
The assassins’ acts did not make sense. Truman was openly for Puerto Rican autonomy.
The surviving assassin was tried, convicted, and sentenced to death. Truman commuted his sentence to life imprisonment.
Trump has become a Florida resident. Cut the ropes that bound him to New York.
No one seems unhappy. The Mayor and Governor in effect said good riddance to bad rubbish.
I can understand Trump wanting to leave. He has been for many years unpopular in New York. The City only gave him 10 percent of the Presidential vote. Additionally, he has never been accepted by the elite, socially, or those in politrics on a personal basis. His reputation and personality make such understandable.
Even as President, he has not been assimilated by New York City’s bigwigs.
Can you imagine, not wanting the President of the U.S. as a friend!
There will be no unhappiness in Mudville that Trump has opted to become a resident of Florida. His residence Mar-a-Lago.
I do not see any social benefit to Trump living full time in Mar-a-Lago. Palm Beach is a seasonal community. A warm weather venue. Otherwise, the homes are empty. Who will he socialize with?
Many retire for tax reasons to Florida. With his income coming from many areas and sources, it will not be easy for a good portion of his income to go tax free.
The Sistine Chapel. Beauty beyond description. As if the hand of God painted the ceiling rather than Michelangelo.
The Sistine Chapel with its newly painted ceiling was opened to the public on November 1, 1512.
Thirty five years ago, I was fortunate to visit the Sistine Chapel. My then wife, children and my parents with me. I was in awe!
The Sistine Chapel was crowded. Shoulder to shoulder, body to body. Heads tipped up.
Michelangelo’s ceiling frescoes took several years to complete. The most famous The Creation of Adam. The arms of God and Adam stretched toward each other almost touching.
God is in His Heaven in the ceiling as conceived and painted by Michelangelo.
At one point, my father and I were standing in the middle of the Chapel. My father look at me and told me, did not ask, “What’s the big deal?” I smiled. I had no response.
I could not blame Dad. It was hot with all those bodies crushed together, painful for the neck, tiring to be on one’s feet since it took forever to reach the Chapel through a long narrow crowded hallway.
Many years ago, I wrote an article for KONK Life spelling out how prisoners were entitled to the very best medical care. Some what difficult to understand when you realize how many persons in the U.S. cannot afford health care. Yet we provide it free to those who have broken the law.
The scenario is the result of the U.S. Supreme Court case Estelle v. Gamble decided in the 1960’s.
The situation comes to mind this morning because of Steven Hayes. He is serving 6 life sentences in a Pennsylvania jail. Sentenced because of his part in the murder of Hawke-Petit and her 2 daughters. He and an accomplice perpetrated a home invasion and brutally killed the three. First with beatings. Then dousing with gasoline. Finally setting the whole house on fire.
Hayes has been receiving hormone therapy in prison as part of a gender transition. He says he is in reality a female.
A Pennsylvania statute limits medications per inmate to $600 a month. It prohibits/refuses to pay for any surgery related to gender modification.
I am not aware whether the statute not allowing any payment for gender modification has been tested in a federal court. I would assume the Estelle decision would override it.
The reason behind the Estelle decision is that prisons/the state is required to provide the “very best medical care.” Translated means a right to adequate medical care. Failure to so provide constitutes a violation of the “cruel and unusual punishment” clause of the 8th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
The filming of the Rose Tattoo began this day in 1954 at a house on Duncan Street. Two doors from Tennessee Williams’ home. Tennessee Williams wrote the play which was the basis for the movie.
Change the clock again. Do not forget to turn your clock back one hour tonight before going to bed.
Enjoy your day!
