It’s raining iguanas. The cold spell affects them. They are falling off trees.

Iguanas are cold blooded reptiles. Their bodies go dormant when the weather gets too cold. Sluggish when the temperature drops below 50 degrees. Cold below 40 degrees. Cold stuns them and they drop to the ground.

Not dead. Always alive. Merely out of it till the weather becomes warm again.

I am not fond of iguanas. I am aware of no one who lives in the Keys who is. They are a destructive reptile. Eat landscaping. Devour expensive flowers.

Another habit is they enjoy defecating in pools. Not cheap to drain, replenish the water and bury the water in chemicals.

Iguanas are far from man’s best friend.

On the other hand, considered good food in certain countries. Many in Central and South America eat iguanas on a weekly basis. The taste is comparable to chickens.

The State of Florida finally decided this year that iguanas had become a problem. One that had to be dealt with. Too many. Easily reproductive.

The story is comparable to Florida’s Burmese python problem. The State decided too late there were too many. Florida admitted several years ago that the pythons could not be totally eradicated.

I view the iguana problem comparable. Already too many. The State has decided too late to do something. In the next few years, the State will admit it can only mange iguanas and not eradicate them.

COVID-19 has dramatically affected Key West’s tourism business. As it has throughout the country.

I have several concierge friends. One called yesterday to wish me a Merry Christmas. She had worked the day at her concierge post in the hotel. The same one she worked at last year.

She was discouraged. Her numbers discouraging. Where last Christmas day she took in $4,500, yesterday only $130.

I always say, “Harry Truman loved Key West and Key West loves Harry Truman.”

Truman made 11 trips to Key West when President. Total days 175. Key West was his vacation spot of choice.

The 33rd President of the United States died this day in 1972. He was 88 yeas old.

Key West will never forget one of our country’s greatest Presidents.

I attended a Catholic college. Took a 2 semester course on the New Testament. Since, I have always thought I knew well the New Testament.

Learned last night I was wrong.

We are all familiar with Isaiah’s sentence: “For unto us a child is born.” I thought that was it. Not. Only the introductory portion of a much longer sentence.

Isaiah 9:69. “For unto us a child is born; and the government will be upon his shoulder, and his name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

Certain of the appellations sound modern day. Titles some rulers give themselves, or their people give them.

Senator Rand Paul is a horse’s ass. Not sometime. All the time. He knows everything.

The Senator is well educated. A Duke University medical degree.

He always seems contrary.

He was recently interviewed on a Breitbart news show. His Breitbart appearance makes sense. Breitbart is also off base on most things.

The Senator made it clear he was anti-mask, social distancing and washing hands. He views such restrictions as “submissions.” Anti-Constitutional.

His position none are helpful in controlling coronavirus, vaccine is the only help.

He noted that incidents of the virus went up exponentially after the mandates were suggested/imposed. He noted people are dying in increasing numbers.

One comment was that clothe masks are useless. The N95 is the only one that works. The interviewer of course agreed with him. Thought a clothe face mask was no better that cutting up one’s underwear and wearing it as a face mask.

One of the Senator’s most striking statements was “They want you to submit to their will.”

Who is “they?”

The Key West Citizen’s Editorial page cartoons continue to get better. This morning’s gives evidence of how the world changes.

Two persons in the cartoon. Both wearing what appear to be t-shirts with writing on each. The first cartoon is labeled Pre-Covid. The wording: “HUGS NOT DRUGS.” The second labeled Present Day. The wording: “DRUGS NOT HUGS.”

How the world changes. In this instance in less than a year.

I read this morning that U.S. billionaires increased their wealth by $1 trillion since lockdowns.

I am curious whether they will pay any taxes for 2020.

Enjoy your day!

Yesterday was my 324th day of self-quarantine.

Christmas is not a time to be alone.

I began my evening early. Cocktails with Cathy in Seattle. We made a great combination. Me with my ribs and she with her back. Cathy indulged, I a small glass of wine.

We finished our Christmas Eve at 8:30 my time. I immediately went to bed and fell asleep. Woke at 11:30. Christmas a half hour away so decided to stay up.

Something was required to celebrate. Christmas cookies and tea. Cathy had mailed me a huge container of home made Christmas cookies.

I pigged out on them. About 10. Delicious, but filling.

TV sucked. Very few Christmas shows as such at midnight. Other than a mass from the Vatican, all regular reruns.

Returned to bed and sleep at 2. Woke at 5.

I have always enjoyed Christmas cookies. My former wife made them big time. Each one a delight!

She began baking December 1. Stored them in one of our refrigerators. Ended up with the whole refrigerator full.

My problem early on was I would grab a few each day as they were done. Then really pig out Christmas Eve.

The few turned into too many. Not healthy. Not comfortable.

I devised a plan that I followed for well over 30 years. I would select one day before Christmas and it became my cookie day. Somewhere around December 20. That day all day enjoyed my wife’s cookies. I would not touch one before that day nor one afterward. Not even Christmas eve and day.

My Christmas cookie collection is not what it was. Fortunately, Cathy blessed me with a big sized container. Lisa just called. She is on her way over with her cookies.  Guaranteed to be good. She makes them as her mother did.

One thing I could never understand. My wife made so many cookies because she had to deliver bags of them to her lady friends. They exchanged. She received in return from her friends bags of the same type cookies.

I thought the whole thing was an Italian custom. I did a little research last night. The practice of women exchanging cookies goes back to the 1800s. There were “cookie exchanges.” A large place/hall where women went and exchanged cookies with other women. The big exchange is now a home visit.

Today’s blog is somewhat like a Morning Stew.

A few news items that attracted my attention this morning.

Headline of one article: Trump’s Gift to the American People Chaos.

Trump yesterday issued a warning to Republicans who did not back his election fraud claims: “I will never forget!”

Cold this morning. Temperature will be going down today. Mid afternoon temperature will be 63 degrees.

There was a Christmas Eve concert last night at Notre Dame in Paris. Still very much damaged, though under repair. The musicians and choir wore hard hats.

We enjoy many Christmas traditions. They have evolved over the years. I am going to touch on Christmas trees and mistletoe.

Keep in mind that many of today’s traditions had their beginnings centuries ago and were part of pagan festivals. Yes, the Christmas tree and mistletoe are pagan derived.

The Christmas tree tradition began with the Romans. So many years back.

There was a Roman holiday known as Saturnalia It was around the same time that Christmas is celebrated today. Wild. Involved feasting, drinking, sex and exchanging gifts.

The Romans began hanging small ornaments on trees outside their homes. Each represented a god. Either Saturn or a family’s patron saint.

During the 16th century, the Romans began bringing Christmas trees into their homes. They decorated them with ornaments similar to those already described.

Credit for lights on a tree goes first to Martin Luther. He added lighted candles.

Understand that the decoration of the trees and moving them inside did not give the trees a Christian or good status. Jeremiah 10: 1-5. Recall the Christmas tree was born of a pagan event.

From candles to electric lights took place in 1882. Edward H. Johnson was Thomas Edison’s friend and partner in Edison’s Illumination Company. He hand worked 80 red, white and blue light bulbs and wound them around a Christmas tree.

It worked!

The next year electric Christmas tree lights were in most New York City homes!

The mistletoe. A lovely modern day Christmas experience. Anyone standing beneath a mistletoe receives a kiss from another.

The mistletoe is a symbol of fertility and life. In winter when all trees are bare, the mistletoe stays green. Continuing to happily grow on bare tree branches.

It is a parasitic plant. Grows only on trees. Not in the ground or in a pot. While growing on a branch, it sucks the nourishment out of the tree that it requires to live.

The mistletoe and romance of a sort go back to the Celtic Druids in first century AD. The mistletoe then and now is primarily grown on branches of willow, apple and oak trees.

The Druids were not interested in kissing. Their goal sex!

In wintertime, the men would chase the ladies around the trees bare of leaves. The only thing growing were mistletoes. It was a game. The men wanted to catch the ladies and the ladies wanted to be caught.

Recall because the mistletoe was a symbol of fertility and life. Under the mistletoe was a proper place to engage in frivolous sexual activity.

The mistletoe itself was considered to have an erotic quality. White berries grew from the bottom of a mistletoe. The whole berries represented testicles. Oozy white juice fell from the berries. Came to be referred to as “oak sperm.”

The sexual nature of the mistletoe was engrained in society. The act of cutting a mistletoe down was considered by the Celtic Druids as “symbolic castration.”

A quaint reflection today is that the custom of kissing beneath a mistletoe carries with it an echo of Pagan penis worship.

By 1784, the English were beginning to kiss beneath a mistletoe. Kissing can be found in the first book of “A Christmas Carol” published in 1843.

Kissing had become the game of the day.

The word mistletoe is derived from 2 Anglo-Saxon words. “Mistel” which means dung and “tan” which means a twig or stick. Together they translate into “poo on a stick.” Not very romantic.

Enjoy Christmas Day!

The food situation is bad. Gets worse by day.

One that can only be understood if it is you who is experiencing it.

The anti-hunger group Feeding America came out with a recent study: Fifty four million, of which 18 million are children, lack access to sufficient food. Primarily in poorer communities. Malnourishment flourishes.

The cause the deadly increase in coronavirus infections.

Between March and October 2020, there was a 60 percent increase in food bank users.

Four out of ten users of food banks were first timers.

Food banks are running out of sufficient food.

Thanksgiving week 5.6 million households struggled to put food on the table.

Food insecurity is slamming 2 groups the hardest. The Black and Latino communities and seniors and people with chronic diseases.

Food insecurity existed before the virus reached American shores. Coronavirus accelerated the problem. Today 37 million people, 11 million of them children, live in homes where insecurity exists.

Food scarcity today the highest in 4 States. Between 22 and 24 percent. Mississippi, Arkansas, Alabama and Louisiana. One in five residents in these states suffer food insecurity. Which means these families lack the money or resources necessary to put food on the table. One in four children face hunger.

Children are missing meals throughout the U.S. Lisa Davis is the Sr. Vice-President of No Kid Hungry. She recently said that where children miss meals “it affects their physical health, how they perform in school or don’t perform, their graduation rates, and even their lifetime earnings, so the cost of doing nothing is very high. I worry a lot we are looking at a lost generation of American kids.”

That last sentence scares me.

Widespread hunger across the U.S. will continue to grow. Reflecting the vulnerability already faced by huge segments of American society.

The vaccine solution is not immediate. Six months to one year away before a sufficient number of persons are vaccinated and an impact experienced.

Vaccinations have only recently commenced. Projected numbers of those that were to be inoculated by this date substantially lower than expected.

Doubt it should be a matter of concern. The vaccines are new and unanticipated problems arise which fortunately can and will be dealt with. We’ll get there, except it is going to take a bit longer than initially projected.

In the meantime, a workable system has to be devised to feed the increasing number of hungry persons and those soon to be hungry.

Enjoy Christmas Eve day!

The stimulus bill is on the President’s desk for signing. He does not like it. Wants the $600 per person payment to be raised to $2,000.

I doubt he is serious. He is merely playing to the crowd. Wants people to think what a good guy he is.

The stimulus bill 5,600 pages long. A lot of pages for a small stimulus package. Something not right. Consider also the stimulus bill is for only $900 billion.

Turns out a $1.4 trillion omnibus spending bill has been attached to the stimulus bill.

Joe Concha wrote a 12/22 Opinion piece for The Hill. An eye opener!

He refers to the combined bills as the “essence of a swamp…..pork relief.” He writes, it is “more than a $900 billion stimulus bill.”

Concha writes, “What could be expected from a “dysfunctional tone-deaf Congress: A pork-filled cluster filled with anything and everything that has nothing to do with the coronavirus pandemic or relief.”

The $600 per person one time payment comes into play. Christmas this week and many will not sit down to a table filled with holiday goodies. Families will suffer. Not enough money to keep them out of poverty.

The $1.4 trillion bothers me. A significant portion of the money will never see the hands of those intended to receive it. Along the way, many pocket a piece of the money. The named recipient never ends up with the whole package.

A good portion of the $1.4 trillion is set aside for entities nowhere near important as a hungry American citizen. Or, for any human being for that matter.

One portion provides assistance for Pakistan. Not less than $15 billion for “democracy” and not less than $10 billion for “gender progress.”

Note the “not less than.” Consider also what is more important. Food for Americans or gender progress for Pakistanis. What is this democracy thing that costs $15 billion plus?

This one is a beauty. Funds for a “Resource Study of the Springfield (Illinois) Race Riot.” The riot occurred in 1908.

Another beauty. Funds for a “Study of Policy Regarding the Successes or Reincarnation of the Dali Lama.” I have to believe the Dali Lama would rather the funds go to assist Americans in its time of need rather than writing a study about him.

This one does not require monies for a study. Common sense tells everyone what is right and wrong. The funds are to be spent for a commission tasked with educating “consumers about the dangers associated with using or storing portable fuel containers near an open flame.”

Forty million dollars for necessary expenses for the operation, maintenance and security of The Kennedy Center. The Kennedy center received $25 million in the first stimulus bill also.

A quirk. I am all for keeping The Kennedy Center in proper condition and protecting the property. However why allocate monies to the Center when it has been closed for a lengthy period and will continue to be closed in future months.

Due to the COVID pandemic, the Center closed its doors in May 2020. The time frame has been extended to April 25, 2021. The Center will only reopen when it is safe to do so. If matters are not under control by April, it will remain in shut down for a further extended period.

Then there is the pocket change. Assistance to Cambodia $86, Nepal $130 million, Burma $135 million, Ukraine $43 million, Sudan $700 million.

Money for the following could be delayed one year with no problem to anyone. The bill creates a Women’s History Museum and an American Latino Museum as part of the Smithsonian. One billion dollars.

Keep in mind money allocated for one purpose can be transferred to another. Borrowing from Peter to pay Paul, except here from one account to another. Consider the number of times Trump has done it in his 4 years.

Of course, the monies allocated under the omnibus portion of the bill did not have to be. Some of those monies should have been part of the stimulus portion of the bill.

Americans must first take care of themselves. This is not the same as Trump’s America First cry. It simply means if monies are needed to feed the children, that is where it should go. America’s usual generosity to other causes can wait a year.

Concha makes an interesting observation. The stimulus bill is supported by the American people by reason of its title alone: COVID Relief For Those Struggling Due To The Pandemic.

A fraud. No mention of the omnibus portion of the bill.

The $900 billion stimulus bill added every pet project possible by combing it with an omnibus spending bill.

The entire situation from start to finish a disgusting one.

Enjoy your day!

The year 2020 not easy. A difficult time.

Cleo Wade is a poet, best selling author, and artist.

She asked herself, “How do we reflect on a year like 2020? How do we even begin to wrap our heads around what we have lived through during this year that has not been like any other?”

Cleo’s response to her question: A long poem that in simple practical terms said it’s okay if your not okay.

The poem impressed me. No question, a reflection of 2020. I would like to share the entire poem with you. However, it is too long for that purpose. So I shall share a few sentences to provide a taste of her writing.

The entire poem was published in Vanity Fair 12/21/20.

Title: It Is Okay (a poem of validation for 2020).

“It is okay to leave this year behind / It is okay if you haven’t found a silver lining since February….. / It is okay if you didn’t become an expert chef and your banana bread never came out quite right / It is okay if you gained the weight you promised yourself you’d lose….. / It is okay to stop everything for five minutes, put on your favorite song, and dance with your family or by your damn self…..It is okay to rest / And it is okay if you are not okay at all / and what you really need to hear is….. / It will be okay / somehow, somehow, someday / It will be okay.”

My nurse friend Barbara in Oswego, N.Y. telephoned me today to say she was receiving her COVID-19 vaccine shot this morning. Moderna. She would be one of the first. An emergency room nurse. She also told me she had already been given her appointment for the second shot. January 19 at 11:30.

Such is organization.

Oswego has a population of 18,000. Key West 28,000. A small hospital in each community. Oswego’s coronavirus cases like Key West’s. Six or seven generally. The more serious cases shipped by Oswego to Syracuse. Key West’s to Miami.

Barbara deals with the virus patients on a daily basis. The vaccine became available yesterday.

Oswego is rural. Farm country. Fifty years behind the times. Its population steady. Does not have events as Key West does that can bring 50,000 in for a weekend or a season.

I share Barbara and Oswego with you for a particular reason.

In one of my doctor visits last week, I asked when the virus would be available in Key West. He said perhaps February or March. He further explained Key West was a small community and therein lie the reason.

Hell, Key West is a third bigger than Oswego. Why does Key West have to wait?

An interesting side story to Oswego.

Oswego sits on Lake Ontario. A 45 minute drive from Utica. Winter driving longer. The storms off the Lake make winter driving difficult.

It was in the early to mid 1980’s. I had not had much work in Oswego till then. I was much impressed with the office buildings and courtrooms. The outside of the buildings were Civil War era. Antiquated big time. Once inside, a different world. Everything modern and up to date. Even the bathrooms were magnificent!

There problem was a small case as environmental cases went those days. Don’t laugh. A mere $33 million. The EPA was chasing the County to pay for a landfill that had been misrepaired 30 years earlier and was know emitting all kinds of hazard substances into the water table, etc.

It was necessary to discuss money. The County Executive was called in. I told them the case would take 5 years to resolve and I thought I could get them out for 50 cents on the dollar. Like $15 million. Other responsible parties that I would sue would be made to pay the difference.

My fee next on the agenda. $5 million paid out over the 5 year period.

No one blinked an eye. I asked the County how it was going to pay the $15 million as well as my fee.

Recall, I earlier had mentioned how impressed I was with the  interior of the public buildings.

When I asked from whence the monies would come, the County Attorney walked me to a set of windows in his office which faced Lake Ontario. He said, “That’s how.”

The Lake 1/2 to 1 mile from the building I was in. On the lake shore stood 3 nuclear reactors. The County Attorney advised they paid for everything. The massive remodeling to the buildings, etc. Also, the rent cash flow from the reactors was so plentiful that no one paid real estate taxes.

Impressive.

The case resolved itself faster than anticipated. The County paid only $1.4 million. The companies I sued the rest. The case was over in 1.5 years because of the settlement. Rather than $5 million, my fee was $1.5 million.

Everyone was happy, except for the companies that had to pay the other $32 million.

Hopefully, the vaccine will be a world saving one.

We forget after a few years how many other vaccines have eliminated or cut back diseases dramatically. Smallpox, rabies, polio, and the flu.

Smallpox was a big time killer in Key West in much earlier days. Now eradicated throughout the world.

The flu still a problem. However, the number of cases dramatically reduced because of the flu vaccine.

The bully continues to screw around with government agencies. He has slowed the transition down dramatically. He threatens a 30 day reign of destruction. He is President till January 20 and will continue to have all the powers of a President.

CNN in a news report this morning described Trump as “vengeful, delusional.” CNN went on to add that Trump’s “wild anti-domestic instincts are being encouraged by fringe political opportunists.”

Woke in the middle of the night. Cold! Temperature had dropped to 64. The high today 73.

Th heat went on.

My blog talk radio show tonight. Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou. Nine my time. Join me if you can. I rant and rave for a half our. www.blogtalkradio.com/key-west-lou.

Enjoy your day!

Trump and some of his whacky medical followers suggested herd immunity as the way to solve the coronavirus problem. Waste no money seeking a vaccine. Do nothing. Eventually the population will all have been infected and those surviving will have anti-bodies to protect themselves from future infection.

Neither a humane nor intelligent way to resolve the COVID-19 problem.

I compare the present day herd immunity approach to one similar which Hoover followed when the Great Depression began to unfold in 1929. His thought was to let nature take its course. Some would be financially ruined. However the problem would cure itself in due course.

How wrong he was!

Hoover’s approach was a lassiz-faire one. Hands off. The problem would cure itself. The herd insanity.

Hoover feared direct aid to people in distress would cause them to lose the incentive to work. The  same argument Republicans have been making again for 20 years. Rumblings of which we have begun to hear with the $900 billion stimulus package in the process of being passed today.

Those saying if monies (a pittance at $600 or $1,200) is given to those in need, they will continue to expect it. The Republican attitude lets not teach them bad habits.

This is the cry some Republicans over the weekend have been uttering. A cry which makes me fearful another stimulus package next year will be difficult to pass.

Hoover had a further approach. Encouraging volunteerism. The rich  helping those without in their time of need.

In Trump’s first 2 years, I heard this so much from friends. Affluent ones. We’ll take care of our neighbors. Government assistance is not required.

I would then ask when was the last time they went to help a sick neighbor, brought food to a neighbor, contributed to needy causes $10,000 or $100,000. Each looked at me as if I was crazy. People talk a good game, but are not necessarily there when needed.

The two years leading up to the 1932 election saw the U.S. increasingly in dire straights. Hoover recognized his herd approach had failed. He had a few federal programs initiated. It was too little too late.

Hoover was an extremely intelligent man. In the 1920’s, Franklin Roosevelt said Hoover would make a great President. Hoover’s reputation as an economic genius arose from two experiences.

He headed a program to feed starving Europeans following World War I. A very successful program. Then moved on in 1921 to become Secretary of Commerce. A position he held till his successful run for the Presidency in 1928.

The U.S. was booming in 1928. Whether on the farm or in the city, people were making money.

The economy was turning false. However few recognized it.

Prior to 1929, the economic vitality of the U.S. was in agriculture. Suddenly agriculture began failing. Farmers could not sell what they grew. Ergo, farmers did not have the money to purchase manufactured goods. The factories had to lay off people because no one was buying their products. Many corporations went out of business.

A recession was inevitable. A nation cannot have both agriculture and manufacturing on the down sweep at the same time. Unemployed persons have no money to purchase anything.

In the 1928 election, Hoover ran on a platform of “A chicken in every pot and 2 cars in every garage.” By 1932 when he ran against Roosevelt, people were lucky to be able to buy an apple on a street corner. No one had money to buy one car, let alone two.

The stock market crashed in October 1929. Rich and poor alike wiped out financially. Some of big dollars, others of the small pittance they had been able to hoard.

Panic ensued. Banks failed. People had no money to pay off loans. The credit necessary to to move an economy was not available.

Up to one third of the economy was unemployed. More and more families homeless.

Home foreclosures were rampant through out the country. Farms and city. People were angry. Big time.

An example is what occurred in western Iowa. Those about to lose their homes and farms wanted the courts to delay mortgage foreclosure cases. Borrowers could not win a foreclosure case against a bank. Delay was the only way they could keep a roof over their heads and hold out till the economy turned around so they could pay.

Judges were only concerned with moving cases. The banks legally were entitled to win. Equity played no part in the decisions of the courts.

People in one Iowa area raided the court house. Dragged a judge out of his court room. Took him into the country. Threatened to lynch him. Fortunately, the threat did not turn into reality.

More such disturbances occurred. The National Guard had to be called out to restore order.

By the 1932 election, Hoover’s popularity was next to nothing. As previously indicated, there was no chicken in every pot. Forget 2 cars in every garage. There was not even one.

Roosevelt recognized what was needed to restore the economy and help the people. Gigantic federal assistance. Jobs, food on the table, etc. The government was the only entity that could guaranty them.

America needed American dollars to survive.

The concept of federal herd immunity went out the window.

Enjoy your day!

The 24th PNC sponsored golf tournament is being held this weekend in Orlando. Stars of yesterday and today playing with a member of their family. A son, daughter, brother, sister, father, etc.

Tiger Woods played with his 11 year old son Charlie. Charlie has been well trained by his Dad. The word impressive does not adequately describe him. The kid is outstanding!

Close to being as good as his father. Charlie struck the ball with confidence all day. His drives generally down the center. His putting excellent.

He made the first eagle of his life. Causing father and son to share a moment of jubilation.

The young man exhibited nothing but humility. He made no remarks. Did his job. Respectful at all times.

Tiger should be proud of the young man he has raising. Not just the golf. His overall demeanor.

If you get a chance this afternoon, find the PNC Tournament on TV. You have to see Charlie play!

By the way, he is not tall in structure. Short. Perhaps the right height for an 11 year old. With his tiny body, he hits the ball with power and precision.

The fruit dos not fall far from the tree.

As the Nation is now aware, there has been a delay in distribution of the Covid-19 vaccine. What began with a fool proof plan, fell before the week was out. States were complaining the follow up deliveries were not being received. Reason: The plan for delivery was somewhat remiss with what Trump and the General in charge Gustave Perna had said.

Like the true soldier he is, Perna went on national TV yesterday and made clear several times that the fault was his and his alone.

I don’t buy it. I suspect the General took a hit for the President.

General Perna is an authority how to move things around in a timely fashion. His primary responsibility for years. He could not have been responsible for the screw up. Rather, he was the good soldier taking the hit for his superior.

Only a Donald Rump would permit another to take blame for something for which he might have been responsible.

I graduated from law school 60 years ago. Never heard the word treason spoken in class. Conspiracy, yes.

Assume for the moment Trump and his associates are charged with treason or sedition. There would be an additional charge. Prosecutors as a practical matter generally throw in a “conspiracy” charge. Conspiracy to commit treason, conspiracy to commit sedition.

My knowledge re treason and sedition is extremely limited. Conspiracy not.

A charge of conspiracy requires what is called an overt act. To merely talk about blowing up the Empire State Building for example, is not a crime. The conversation is required plus further steps. Like buying the explosives, renting a truck, etc.

I took a brief glance at the federal treason statutes this morning. A treason charge under U.S. law requires 2 persons to testify in open court as to the overt acts. An outright confession in open court by the wrongdoer alone would suffice. So says the statute.

A reason for the brief dissertation thus far.

Trump and some of his associates keep making remarks that border on treason or sedition, or actually constitute them. The most recent example was the Oval Office meeting friday involving Trump, Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, Counsel Pat Cipollone, former General and National Intelligence Director Michael Flynn, Rudy Giuliani, and Sidney Powell a member of Trump’s “legal team.”

You have been reading the news. Flynn was lucky Trump pardoned him. Now less that a month later, he is spouting privately and publicly Trump should declare martial law to obtain possession of the voting machines, and for whatever further use federal troops might be.

Sidney Powell has been part of the legal team briefly. She was Flynn”s lawyer when he was pardoned. She is a conspiracy theorist. She see conspiracy under every rock and crevice. She wants the voting machines confiscated. She appears to support Flynn re his martial law call.

Others in the room friday were not supportive of either Flynn or Powell. The conversation turned into a “shouting match.” Powell wants to ” scorch the earth.” Flynn wants Trump to declare martial law.

Note also that the issue of Trump appointing Powell as Special Counsel to investigate the election arose.

Flynn and Powell were on one side, the rest in the room arguing against their positions. Understandably. The utterance were basic treason and sedition. Not a crime yet. Recall no overt act.

Trump was irritated. He appeared to like Powell being appointed Special Counsel. He said he needs the argument she would pursue on national television so the people would understand it.

Even Rudy Giuliani was against the Flynn/Powell approach. The first time I have seen Giuliani used his legal brain in the past several years.

The reason actually is if somehow the Oval Office argument resulted in overt acts, everyone in that room could be charged with conspiracy.

The meeting was further described as “deranged, ” its participants “yelling and screaming.”

We live not in exciting times. Rather, in a dangerous time. I cannot believe Trump would take the way out suggestions pushed by Flynn and Powell. Even he cannot be that stupid. He could end up with serious criminal charges brought against him. Do not forget, Trump will no longer be President January 20. No person, even Trump, would want to face treason and sedition charges. His get out of jail free card will be gone.

So much news to discuss this morning. I am going to briefly run through the balance of my notes.

Forty eight years ago, Joe Biden’s first wife and daughter were killed in an automobile accident. Biden and wife Jill visited their graves yesterday. The anniversary date of the accident. Trump’s supporters mocked the grave visit as a “photo op” and “rallying up deceased voters.”

They forget Trump’s visit to the front of St.John’s Episcopal Church during the BLM protests in Washington. Unwarranted. Could have developed into a matter of serious consequence. Trump’s visit was described as a “photo op.”

One valid. The other pure bullshit.

Some countries enforce coronavirus restrictions. A Cayman Islands happening a perfect example.

An 18 year old girl was visiting the Caymans. She was required to be quarantined for 14 days because she came from another country. I am not sure as to the boy friend. I suspect he was under no quarantine.

She broke quarantine to spend 7 hours watching the boy friend compete in a local jet ski race.

She and the boy friend were arrested. She for violating the quarantine and he for assisting her to so do.

The trial judge found them guilty. Their sentences a fine and community service.

The prosecutor appealed. He thought the punishments too lenient. Stronger ones were required as a deterrent to others.

The appellate court agreed. They are both now doing four months.

What makes me laugh is we can’t even enforce a wear your mask law in the U.S. My philosophy has always been throw violators in jail for a short period. More will then happily wear masks.

I do not want to hear that Key West is a vacation spot tourists want to visit. Businesses will be hurt if people are jailed. What are the Cayman Islands? Similar to Key West. A vacation spot attractive to tourists.

Trump yesterday “encouraged protests.” He wants his supporters out in D.C. on January 6 when the Electoral College votes.

Trump tweeted 96 times this past week. At no time did he mention the cyberattacks or Russia.

Syracuse beat Buffalo yesterday 107-96 in overtime. Syracuse was down 16 points with 14 minutes to go and rallied.

Enjoy your Sunday!

Lend Lease was a thought in Roosevelt’s mind in 1940. He was able to get it actualized in 1941 when it became law.

The U.S. was not yet at war. Hitler was rolling over Europe. The Allies needed items for war and food. They had no money.

Roosevelt came up with Lend Lease. Production took place in the U.S. Then shipped to Europe and where ever else needed as time went on.

The program ended with World War II in 1945.

Items shipped were free. If there was any thought of the Allies paying back, it never occurred.

Someone had to watch the money. Involved was $51.1 billion. In today’s dollars $575 billion.

A Congressional oversight committee was established. Harry Truman chaired it. He watched the money being spent as if it were his own. Not one penny of scandal while the billions were being spent.

Not the same today. I suspect billions are wasted or channeled into improper pockets during similar transactions.

Many believe Roosevelt selected Truman as his running mate in 1944 because of Truman’s stringent honesty and ability to hawk every dollar spent as if it were his own.

The topic is not Truman and Lend Lease this morning. Lend Lease merely a run up as to how things were done at a time when honesty was a given among most in government.

It is the first stimulus package and its Paycheck Protection Program (PPC) at issue. Money was “lent” to companies to assure employees would be kept working. If employees were kept on or called back, there ws no pay back provision. Free dollars involved. It was assumed at the time it became law that small businesses would benefit.

The vermin smelled the free money and came out of the woodwork.

Many companies applied for the monies, received them, and either laid people off or did not rehire them.

A total of $1.8 billion is involved. Nine hundred companies. The 900 took the bucks and in effect laid off 90,000 workers.

Scam time.

Sixty percent of the money was to go to pay employee salaries. Initially it was 75 percent. However lowered at some point.

Some examples.

Brady Linen Services in Las Vegas received $4.6 million. Unemployed were 800 employees. None hired back.

PBM LLC was approved for $10 million. Three hundred forty nine were laid off.

The  Buffalo law firm of Gross and Dolowy got $3 million. Employees laid off before and after 146.

The penalty for misusing the monies. Must be paid back at 1 percent interest. A million dollar loan at 1 percent. Sweet!

Criminal responsibility? The level of wrongdoing must reach the fraud level. What that is at this time, I don’t know. Doubt any criminal charges have brought.

Why, how did this happen? Simple. No longer are there any Harry Truman’s in the Senate. Or, the House for that matter. Statesmen and men of honor left years ago. Most politicians today are dishonest in one fashion or another.

Biden’s transition team was barred by the Pentagon this week. Admittance denied. Biden’s people were “stunned.” This all occurred without notice or warning.

Trump’s political hacks in the Pentagon said “maybe” meetings would occur after the holidays.

What is being hidden? Cybersecurity information? Where billions of Pentagon dollars went which cannot be accounted for?

Strange.

Trump is not going to have smooth sailing oncehe leaves the White House. He is going to find “oh, the web we make when first we seek to deceive” is going to hit him squarely in the face in a number of areas.

The end is near. Trump will be out on January 20. His “loyal” workers are trying to redeem themselves. Barr with his failure to find significant fraud and publicly announcing it. Now Pompeo himself. He openly admitted yesterday that Russia was the country that has the U.S. under cyberattack. He described Russia’s involvement as being “pretty clear.”

For several months, Trump has been bragging how delivery of the vaccine was covered. The U.S. Army was taking care of it. A specific General had been appointed. He and his men deep in experience.

So what is happening?

A Pfizer representative said this week, “We have millions more doses sitting in our warehouse but, as of now, we have not received any shipment instructions for additional doses.”

What happened? Again Trump assured the American people everything was worked out. Some entities that were to receive x number of doses are now initially complaining they have not received the number they were told to expect. Now additional numbers of vaccine are not being delivered per any schedule.

Why? Why? Why”

Three reasons come to mind.

First, the Army failed. Hard to believe. I cannot conceive of such a detailed plan having gone no further than step 1.

Or, is it Trump punishing the American people because he lost? Could be.

Finally, perhaps he wants to make Biden’s life more difficult when Biden takes over?

Thomas Paine’s name comes into play today. He published his first American Crisis this day in 1776. The opening line we all recall: “These are the times that try men’s souls.”

He wrote the American Crisis essays from 1776 to 1783. In 1776, he also wrote what most of us learned in grammar school. Common Sense.

His writings promoted revolution. Overthrow of existing governments. His writings helped inspire colonial patriots to declare independence from Great Britain.

Not one to let a revolution escape his attention, he was in France in the 1790’s and deeply involved in the French Revolution.

He was anti-Christian. He was not well liked as a result.

Paine died in 1809. Only 6 people attended his funeral. The low number attributed to his negative positions regarding Christianity.

Excuse how I am going to describe Paine. He was a fruitcake. A troublemaker. Yes, he knew the correct words to inspire men to  revolution. Nevertheless, he was way out. The U.S. looks upon him favorably because all we were taught was Common Sense and the American Revolution. If one digs deeper into his background, the real man becomes obvious.

Paine reminds me of today’s Steve Bannon. A man traveling the world seeking countries where revolution or overthrow of an existing government is possible.

Mel Fisher. American hero. Key West hero. Considered by many to be the greatest treasure hunter ever. He searched 15 years before finding the mother lode of the Spanish galleon Atocha in 1985.

He died this day in 1998 at the age of 76. People who knew the man speak fondly of him all the time. His name came up frequently in the Chart Room which was one of his favorite haunt.

Daughter Lisa worked at the Mel Fisher Museum for several years. She was Development Director.

Jean Thornton has even a closer relationship. She knew Fisher personally. Jean you will recall is Key West’s Golden Girl. She was diving with Fisher and came across gold and jewels. Her discovery so sufficient that she quit her school teaching job and never worked again.

I wrote yesterday negatively re Trump. I expected several pro-Trump anti-Louis comments this morning. Not one. Shocking. Only comments from those who apparently agreed with me.

Busy day yesterday medically. Blood screw up last time taken. Had to return to have a portion redone at the hospital. After leaving, I got a call to return. They failed to get blood for a third item.

I fell thursday. Going up the stairs. Third time in 2 weeks. I worry about fracturing a hip.

Anyhow, my head and left arm just below the elbow hit the wall hard. I’m on a blood thinner. My arm was bleeding bad, profusely, etc. Actually, I did not think it was that bad.

However, I could not stop the bleeding. Thought it would stop on its own. Bloodied a good shirt, 2 towels, a bed sheet, and I don’t know how many band aids.

Still bleeding yesterday. Did not want to go to the hospital emergency room. A long wait. Instead called my friend Susan Neill at Dr. McIvor’s office. Susan is a heart specialist.

She took care of me. In fact, wrapped my arm so tightly that I fear I may lose circulation in my lower arm and fingers. I have been opening and shutting my fingers last night and today.

Self-quarantine now in its 324th day. I had to see my primary care physician a couple of days ago. Told me I looked tense. I said I was not. We talked. He was right. This quarantine is subconsciously getting to me. It is imperative to one’s existence to have someone to talk with.

Enjoy your day!

Shocking! The news of the cyber attack on the U.S. The smartest, brightest nation in the world invaded by computer hacking.

It is said to be a “grave risk” to our government.

The methods used described as “tactics, techniques and procedures that have not yet been discovered.”

The finger heavily points to Russia. Makes sense. However keep in mind other nations may be playing the same game and have not been discovered yet. Like Iran, North Korea, China, Turkey, and Israel.

Trump involved to some degree? His deference to Putin clear. No question. He has yet to even discuss the cyber security attack publicly.

If Hillary were President, the cry by Trump’s followers would be “jail her!” Even, “kill her!”

Also coming into play would be “treason.” How many times has Trump accused various persons of treason? So many. What’s good for the goose is good for the gander. Trump may not be free from such accusation.

His deference to Putin for four years has been alarming. Putin has to be holding something over Trump’s head. Anything from sex film to helping Trump with his personal finances.

The first Cabinet meeting in months was called this week by Trump. Noticeable by their absence were the Secretary of Defense, Secretary of State, Department of Justice, Director of National Intelligence, and the CIA.

Does their absence say something?

We shall see.

Trump has many consistent patterns. One is he expects his appointees to dance to his tune. Do as he says. My way or the highway.

Jeffrey Rosen is Trump’s nominee to replace Bill Barr. Maybe not, however.

Trump earlier this week said Rosen would not be his nominee if he didn’t agree to special counsels being designated beforehand for an investigation of Hunter Biden and what he describes as baseless election fraud allegations by the Biden side and others.

Somewhere in the back of my mind, I suspect such might be illegal. A quid pro quo.

Coronavirus rampant. More cases and deaths each day.

Yesterday the worst yet for new cases. Over 200,00 new cases in one day. So far this month, 40,000 deaths.

Trump’s lack of action initially and even now misfeasance. It rises perhaps to a criminal level.

Even God’s chosen ones are in danger of the virus.

There is a home for elderly Sisters (nuns) in the suburbs of Milwaukee. Eight nuns died of Covid-19 last week. Four in one day.

The Sisters were tested. One hundred tested positive.

The virus began evidencing itself Thanksgiving day.

The FDA approved Moderna yesterday. It will especially help in smaller communities whose local hospitals do not have extreme freezing facilities. Another benefit is that only one shot of the vaccine is required.

The 21 Club in New York City is world known. A luncheon place for the rich and powerful. Expensive!

The 21 temporarily closed in March. Its owners announced this week that is its employees who were furloughed were now terminated. All 148 of them.

Sad. The 21 has been open for close to 100 years.

I was fortunate to have lunched there a few times. I was not among the rich and powerful. My clients were. I was their guest. And yes, we always were seated on the first floor.

The move continues to be to make Key West into a Naples. Elevate the community from its old vintage to a modern day existence.

More and more airlines are announcing they will be servicing Key West. The latest is Jet Blue. Direct flights from New York and Boston. The flights will begin February 11 and run through April.

When it is extremely cold up north, it is cold here. Key West cold. Today one of those days. High 68, low 65.

Enjoy your day!

Florida permitted pythons to keep growing number wise. Did not pay attention when their numbers were small. The problem now is out of control. It has been for a number of years. Florida admits the best it can do it manage their numbers rather than eradicate them.

Florida has attempted several means. None have worked.

Now, a new one. Pythons. Being trained like dogs are to locate drugs.

One dog has already been trained. His name Truman. A labrador. Trained to detect a python’s scent thereby alerting Truman’s handler.

Truman has had his first success. An 8.2 foot Burmese python.

Eleanor is in the process of being trained. A sniffing retriever in the making.

I have been following the python problem for more than 20 years. The dogs will not work either. Just too many pythons. Who by the way are very promiscuous. Ergo for every one killed, probably 2 new ones will be born.

Following is a story which is occurring too often in the U.S. in recent years. Police raiding a house only to discover it’s the wrong house.

The place Chicago. Last year. Police raided the wrong house, humiliated a naked woman, and kept a video of the event away from Anjanette’s lawyers and CBS 2 for a year.

Anjanette Young is a licensed social worker at a local hospital. She had just returned home from work. In the process of getting undressed. Completely bare when the following occurred.

She heard a loud pounding. No time to put on clothes. Police using a battery ram came through the door. Yelling “Police search warrant” and “Hands up, hands up, hands up.” Anjanette complied. Police would not let her put clothes on before being handcuffed.

Anjanette recalls the guns being big with lights and scopes.She asked what was going on, explained she lived alone, and the police had the wrong house. She feared for her life. Thought the police were going to shoot her. Anjanette black.

She told the police 43 times they had the wrong house. Police videos recorded the whole thing.

Anjanette shouting most of the time. A police sergeant told her not to “shout.” Her response, “I don’t have to shout? This is fucking ridiculous. You’ve got me in handcuffs, I’m naked, and you kick my house in. I keep telling you you’ve got the wrong place.”

An informant had given the police the wrong address. Illinois law requires a State’s Attorney and the judge to verify an address before a warrant is signed. It was not done in Anjanette’s case.

Turns out the house next door was the correct one.

There is a humor involved. Sort of like the gang who could not shoot straight. The guy next door could have easily been located. He was wearing an ankle monitor at the time.

The police would not let anyone see the video. Anjanette’s attorney and CBS 2 tried to get it via a Freedom of Information request which was denied. A judge denied the request, also. However on a second application, the request was granted and the video made available.

Anjanette’s civil suit is awaiting trial.

France protects its workers. Against management. The country goes to the extreme in making sure employees are treated properly.

The City of Paris is either covered by the federal law or has its own ordinance. A gender balance law. Same number of male and female employees are to be employed.

Paris fined a company for employing too many women as opposed to men. The fine $110,000.

There has been a concern for allergic reactions to the new vaccines. The first in the U.S. have occurred. Two in Alaska. Pfizer and BioNTech vaccines involved.

Within 10 minutes, the reactions happened. Not nice. Each had different reactions. Both violent. One hospitalized for 3 days. The other still hospitalized.

Neither had any allergies before.

With so many to be vaccinated, a certain number of adverse effects are to be expected. No solution to the virus is perfect. Let’s watch and see how many get allergic reactions in the future before getting excited.

Yesterday’s blog reported on Pompeo’s party the night before where 900 were invited and less than 70 showed up.

Pompeo had another party scheduled for last night. It was cancelled. Pompeo had tested positive for coronavirus.

How successful Biden’s Presidency will be is dependent on the Georgia Senate vote January 5. The Democrats need to win both seats in order to control the Senate.

Fulton county is one of or the largest county in Georgia. Biden carried it in November.

Georgia permits registration to vote right after election day. Not election day itself. However beginning the next day and through December 7 registration has been open.

During that time, there were 9,769 new registrations. They will be eligible to vote January 5.

A recent poll suggests the Republicans have a slight edge at this time. Like 51-49 percent.

Interestingly, as of last tuesday, 715,000 have early voted. A significant number. However 100,000 less than in the Presidential race.

A doctor visit yesterday. My primary today followed by blood work at the hospital.

A pain in the butt!

Enjoy your day!