There have been protests in Portland, Oregon recently. Never ending ones. Not that bad, however.  People letting steam off.

Things got bad last night. Very bad.

As he had threatened, Trump sent in federal troops. Not exactly sure in every instance who they were. They can be described as “unidentified.” Uniforms non-descript black or green military fatigues. Neither names nor insignias identified. Black unmarked cars used.

There were some that were identifiable from 2 specific agencies. The U.S. Marshall and the Department of Homeland and Security. They might be described as non-consequential when compared to the others set forth.

A few protesters were taken into custody. I believe all released. Makes sense. No judge would hold them. Probable cause was not involved.

The 2 groups not identifiable I suspect were members of ICE and Border Patrol Military.

Why the blog title? Why do I ask the question whether Portland represents the beginning of the end for the U.S.?

Trump’s numbers are way down. The pandemic is killing him. The economy getting worse by the day. Trump’s reelection on November 3 in serious doubt. Many know it. Trump has to recognize it.

Trump will not accept defeat. Not part of his nature. I visualize one of two things occurring.

First, Trump will not run. He is not the type to publicly accept defeat. He will find some reason to gracefully withdraw.

The other is Trump will lose, but refuse to leave the White House. He will claim the election was rigged.

If he does remain in the White House, who will remove him? Will the U.S. Army do it? I doubt so. He is their commander in chief. National Guard units? No way.

Some describe ICE and the Border Patrol Military as Trump’s personal army.

I have been saying since soon after Trump was elected that ICE was being turned into Trump’s Gestapo. Their numbers and training have increased. They always seem to be where Trump has need to show force.

The Border Patrol Military are newer than ICE. Technically affiliated with the Border Patrol. They receive special forces training and are available to Trump as he desires.

Trump would illegally remain in power defended by ICE and Border Patrol Military.

The “secret” military units were shooting bullets considered less than lethal. However one of the protesters was hit in the head. His skull and other facial bones fractured. His face was rebuilt in surgery.

Others “arrested” were swept away in black unmarked cars.

Protesters were repeatedly tear gassed.

Trump said there were 2 reasons why he sent the forces in.

One, allegedly to quell violence. Problem is there was no violence till Trump’s troops arrived. Then matters escalated.

The other reason “technical justification”. Federal agents from any source were there to enforce federal laws. Specifically, “assaults on federal agents or danger to federal property.”

Trump described the protesters as “violent anarchists.” He “cheered” the tactics being used.

Everyone from the local Congressman, Mayor and Police Chief have complained Trumps actions illegal and to get out of town.

I believe Trump’s actions illegal, also. He is not the law. He is President. He has never recognized the distinction.

I worry November 3 might be too far away. Too late.

Don’t ask me what to do. I don’t know at this stage.

An American hero has passed on. John Lewis. I have a feeling his services will be similar to those befitting a President.

Lewis was a civil rights leader. He stood next to Martin Luther King Jr. Born to sharecropper parents, he was one of ten children.

He became involved in the civil rights movement in the 1960’s. Helped organize the March on Washington where Martin Luther King Jr. gave his “I Have A Dream” speech.

Lewis stood tall for what he believed. He was in the front line in Selma on Bloody Sunday marching across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in 1965. He was beaten so badly he suffered a fractured skull.

For the past 33 years, Trump has been a U.S. Congressman.

Lewis 80 when he died. His death not easy. Cause pancreatic cancer.

May he rest in peace.

It was on this date in 64 AD that Rome burned. Many believe Nero started the fire. He wanted to rebuild parts of Rome.

Historians do not accept the theory that Nero burned Rome.

He was not in Rome at the time. Thirty five miles away in his country villa. Incorrect history tells us Nero played the fiddle while Rome burned. He could not have. The fiddle had not been invented yet.

Nero did put the fire to good use, however. He blamed the Christians. Fed them to the lions and crucified them.

An interesting question. Suppose the schools do not reopen. Will school taxes be refunded?

Annie occasionally comments to my blog. Her comment yesterday had to do with school reopenings.

Annie advised a reporter asked Press Secretary Kelly Anne Conway if the Trumps would be sending Barron to school if schools reopened. Conway refused to answer.

I cannot envision Melania sending Barron off to school in the next few months.

My night out this evening! Cocktails at 7 with Cathy in Seattle via Skype.

Enjoy your day!

I’m mad as hell, and I’m not going to take it anymore. A great line from a great movie.

Network the film. Hit the screen 1976. Won 4 Academy Awards. Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Actress and something else. Starred William Holden, Faye Dunaway, and Peter Finch.

Finch played a TV news broadcaster who turned into some radical nut in  a news show where he yelled and screamed. His words whatever turned him on at the moment.

He claimed he was inspired by the Almighty. God woke him from his sleep and instructed him to be His spokesperson.

America went crazy for him.

He did the mad as hell monologue every night. Told his viewers to go to window and shout out: “I’m mad as hell, and I’m not going to take it anymore.”

And they did! Picture for example New York apartment building windows open, with people yelling “I’m mad as hell, etc.”

Finch’s character felt the nation was going to hell. Things were bad. Something had to be done. He took being God’s messenger seriously.

Another line in the movie: “I don’t have to tell you things are bad. Everybody knows things are bad.”

We could use the Finch character today. People know things are bad, fools are running the show, and people are suffering.

Donald must be having a field day. Putin did something bad again and Trump has the opportunity once more to let the world know Putin is his friend.

It was reported yesterday that Russia has been hacking U.S., U.K., and Canadian coronavirus vaccine trials.

I await Trump’s response. Probably, “He’s my friend!”

A strange connection the 2 have. I continue to believe it has to do with money and sex. Truth has a way of surfacing. It will all come out in the end.

It was only 2 weeks ago that we were told Russia was paying Afghanistans to shoot and kill American soldiers in Afghanistan. Trump has been silent so far on that issue.

If someone hits you and you fail to hit back with even greater force, your enemy/assailant is going to keep hitting you.

Secretary of Education DeVos is Trump’s lap dog with regard to reopening the schools. Her approach to Trump similar to that of Florida Governor DeSantis. Her recent TV appearances a disgrace. I doubt she is even as smart as the President.

Two incompetents. The reason we are in trouble. Our President and his appointments leave much to be desired.

Trump and DeVos insist schools must be “fully operational” this Fall.

Intentionally exposing America’s children to coronavirus incomprehensible.

Randi Weingarten is President of the American Federation of Teachers. She said, “It’s as if Trump and DeVos want to create chaos and want to jeopardize reopening…..There’s no other reason why they could be this reckless, this callous, this cruel.”

“Callous, reckless, and cruel” fit!

Mary Trump is the President’s niece. Her book about Uncle Donald and the family was published tuesday: “Too Much and Never Enough: How My Family Created the World’s Most Dangerous Man.”

Many interesting comments and observations in the book. Much better than John Bolton’s which is thought to be good.

Mary’s observation about cousin Ivanka interesting: “She doesn’t do anything.”

Italy suffered big time before it got coronavirus under control.

A report from one of Italy’s top medical authorities interesting as far as high blood pressure is concerned. The report claimed 75 percent of all people who died from coronavirus in Italy had high blood pressure.

Key West and Monroe County are not doing enough to combat the virus. The two try to please everyone. Primarily bushiness and the public.

Sometimes it cannot be done.

A new announcement from Monroe County. Beginning July 24 and running through August 19, new changes have been adopted re restaurant hours, bar hours, and alcohol package sales.

Restaurants and bars will be closed from 11 pm to 5 am. Alcohol package sales will be prohibited from 11 pm to 7 am.

I have 2 complaints. Not enough being accomplished.

Close the restaurants and bars 24 hours a day till Covid-19 is behind us.

Second and perhaps most important, barricade U.S. 1 again. Southern Florida’s mainland is rampant with the virus. Miami-Dade and Broward the 2 most infected counties in all of the U.S. Quite a distinction!

Key West will be open during times mainland ones are not. Mainland residents will still want to party. Key West will be their destination every weekend.

We don’t need their germs!

While I think of it, close the hotels.

Anything that would attract visitors should be closed down!

More information re William Hackley’s baby: “Baby well except for some sores in the throat which are nearly well…..Paid William Pickney for the goat that was brought from Havana $12.50.”

Twelve dollars fifty cents a lot of money in 1855. In addition to which the goat failed to produce much milk.

Enjoy your day!

I was researching some of Shakespeare works yesterday looking for a particular item which I never found. However, I did come across a particular word Shakespeare mentioned several times in The Merry Wives of Windsor. “Cuckold.”

Cuckold led to “henpecked.” Henpecked to the eternal question as to which came first: The chicken or the egg?

Lets begin with Shakespeare. Then back in time 10,000 years to something like a chicken. From whence we shall return to answer the eternal question.

Cuckold was a word familiar to the chicken farmers of Shakespeare’s day. When the rooster or cock grew old, the farmers would bring in a younger cock to service the hens. The older cocks were then referred to as cuckolds.

The farmers would cut off a cuckold’s spurs so it could not injure the younger cocks should they fight.

Henpecked is another word that comes down to us from the farmers of Shakespeare’s time. Henpecked meant a man who was dominated by his wife. Still does.

When a cock attempted to mount a hen, the hen pecked at the cock, thus driving him away. Unable to mate with the hen, the cock was said to have been henpecked.

Chickens were native to Asia. Specifically, the jungles of southeast Asia. They were domesticated. Today, valued as one of the most domesticated animals in the world.

Going back 10,000 years ago, chickens were not valued as food. Cockfighting was their forte in Asia and China.

With that background, the question arises as to which came first: The chicken or the egg?

Difficult to answer. As some things are.

Recall Luna Lovegood, the dreamy yet dotty witch from Harry Potter. Lovegood was asked about the riddle, “A circle has no beginning.”

It is impossible to identify the first case of a circular cause or consequence.

A circle has neither beginning nor end.

Determining whether the chicken or egg came first similar in difficulty.

However, the answer has been arrived at.

Long ago, a “chicken like bird” was close in many respects to a “chicken,” but not a chicken yet. That “first almost chicken” has became known as a “proto-chicken.”

A proto-chicken laid an egg. The “proto-rooster” fertilized it.

One of the fertilizations resulted in a freak of nature. The genes from the ma and pa “almost chickens” fused. They combined in a new way. Created a mutation that accidentally made the baby different from its parents.

The mutation was not noticed initially. Took one hundred years for the difference to be noted. The egg difference sufficient after a century for the noticeability to become the official progenitor of a new species. The “chicken.”

The simplified answer to the eternal question: Two birds that weren’t really chickens created a chicken egg. Ergo, the egg came first following which it hatched a chicken.

Coronavirus is affecting many persons and businesses economically.

Businesswise, the hospitals are taking a beating. Surprisingly since they are full of coronavirus patients. Most of whom however never had or have lost their medical insurance.

Rural hospitals are taking the biggest beating. It is expected the big city ones will follow.

The rural hospitals have and are continuing to go under for 3 reasons. They have been forced to cancel elective procedures which are the most profitable for a hospital. Delay in reimbursement killing them. Finally and perhaps difficult to believe, dwindling patient volumes.

Thus far this year, 42 hospitals have closed. Twenty nine of which have already filed for bankruptcy.

Recall Benghazi? The very people outraged for 8 years because of 4 dead people in Benghazi are now telling us that 100,000 plus deaths due to Trump’s negligence is acceptable.

Jimmy Carter is 92. The former President still active. His way of life the past several years helping to build homes for Habitat for Humanity. Wife Rosalyn working by his side.

Last week, Carter was working in constructing a new home in Edmonton, Canada. He passed out. Dehydrated. Rushed to a hospital where he spent a few days. All is well now.

Carter has been out of office more than 30 years. Still active in helping others.

As I mentioned in yesterday’s blog, he is America’s best post-President.

Keep going, President Carter!

Came across a Tumblr comment this morning that must be one of the circumstances to be considered in arriving at a determination as to whether reopen schools: “A parent knowingly dropped off their Covid positive child at day care because they had to work.”

Someone responded: “If you all don’t think this will be the case when schools open, you’re smoking crack rock.”

The Keys and Monroe County Commission should stop screwing around! Put the barricades back up at the entrance to U.S. 1 to the Florida Keys.

We don’t want Miami-Dade and Broward Counties’ Covid-19 bug out of control here!

An interesting comment in this morning’s Key West Citizen Citizens’ Voice: “Temporary inconveniences placed on personal freedoms to save lives and eradicate a disease is temporary at best. Death, on the other hand, is eternal.”

Could not have been said better!

Enjoy your day!

Ah, the ancient proverb: “For Want of a Nail.” The first line: “For want of a nail the shoe was lost.” The proverb ending: “For want of a battle the kingdom was lost. And all for the want of a horseshoe nail.”

The Justice Building Blog 7/13/2020  published a variation that encompasses coronavirus, Florida, and Florida’s Governor DeSantis.

I bastardized the title. Named it “For Want of a Mask.”

“For want of a mask a person got sick. / For want of a mask his family got sick. / For want of a mask his family infected five other families. / For want of a mask that neighborhood infected a city. / For want of a mask that city infected a region. / For want of a mask that region infected Florida. / For want of a mask Florida infected the nation. / For want of a mask the nation infected the world. / And all for the want of a governor that will not ask people to wear masks in public. / What a complete brainless asshole he is.”

Finally, Key West has seen the light of day. The City Commission is deaf to all who presently do not think as they do re the virus. Public health being more important than the economy.

Key West has mandated the wearing of masks, except when at home or driving. Penalties apply for failure to abide. Jailing possible.

Monday 22 citations were issued. Surprisingly more to locals than visitors. Two were issued to visitors. The balance to employees working at different local businesses.

Florida’s numbers continue to sky rocket. Yesterday alone, 9,194 new cases. Deaths 4,409.

Trump is an expert about everything. Knows more about coronavirus than the doctors and scientists.

First, U.S. numbers.

Tuesday found 62,000 new infections nationwide. Total U.S. infections to date 3.41 million.

Florida, Arizona and Texas surging. Arizona and Texas running out of everything necessary for handling Covid-19. Both states are obtaining mobile morgues (refrigerated trucks) to handle the overload of dead.

Hospitals normally report coronavirus data to the CDC. The White House has ordered hospitals to cease such activity. Henceforth such data is to be sent directly to HHS. Such a clear reflection that the process has been politicized. Politicized at a time when the U.S. is in the midst of a most serious epidemic.

Why? Trump dos not like what the CDC is telling the American people. Trump cannot handle those who speak truth to power in these times. He will manipulate and interpret the numbers to suit his personal needs.

For some reason, former President Jimmy Carter and the energy crisis during his time in office has been on my mind in recent days. Not sure why. However let me share the facts with you.

Late 1976 and into 1977, our good friend even then Saudi Arabia, together with other OPEC nations, were on a money making binge. They manipulated the oil market to suit their personal greed. Forced oil prices to shoot upward.

Soon there was not enough oil available and what was available was very expensive.

Cars waited in long lines to get to a gas pump. Many times reaching the pump to discover no gasoline left. Insufficient natural gas was available to heat homes.

Carter went on television February 2, 1977 in a national broadcast to explain to the American people what had to be done to get through the crisis.

He came on TV sitting by a fire wearing a cardigan sweater. Stated respectfully, looked like Mr. Rogers.

His advise scared the nation. He suggested that thermostats be kept at 65 degrees by day and 55 by night. He also advised sweaters be worn.

There were no happy campers. When I heard his words, I thought he was joking. He was not.

We did what was necessary. Lowered the thermostats and wore sweaters.

Did not seem to help. Carter was back on TV on April 18, 1977: “We are now running out of gas and oil.”

Carter’s four years in the Presidency were difficult ones. Nothing ever went right. He is considered one of our worst Presidents. Not as bad as Trump, however. No one that bad till he came into office. History will record Trump as a total failure.

Carter will be recognized in another fashion as a great man. He is the best former President the U.S. has ever had. His achievements and endeavors post Presidency not equaled by any other President.

Some things never make sense. An NBA store that accepted custom ordering refused to sell Free Hong Kong jerseys. Yet the same store was selling Kill Cops and Burn Jews.

The store now claims its failure was an inadvertent error and is accepting orders.

MSNBC celebrated its 24th year on the air today. I love the show! My congratulations.

Yesterday, Trump was asked by a reporter about Black Americans killed by police. His response: “So are some white people.”

One of Trump’s new gambits is “white victimhood.”

The Hackley baby continues to have a hard time. All boils down to the baby’s mother not producing sufficient quantities of breast milk.

I paraphrase William’s entries in his diary of this day 1855.

Baby restless all night for want of food. Matilda up all night. Mrs. Sullivan with her. Baby much better this morning. Eruptions have come out all over her body. Wet clothes to her body and injections of cold water, no medicine. Kate (I assume Mrs. Sullivan) let her suck twice during the night. Waited for Dr. L. Ense.

I assume Mrs. Sullivan was a black or white woman who had a recent child and was capable of providing some milk to Baby.

Enjoy your day!

The 1918-19 flu pandemic extremely bad, without question. Profoundly traumatic. World wide, killed 50 million and infected one third of the world’s population.

The flu killed 675,000 in the U.S. alone.

Nineteen nineteen an especially bad year for the U.S. The country was still batting the pandemic, just fought a war, and was in deep recession.

Strikes commonplace.

The summer of 1919 was also known as the Red Summer where white mobs violently attacked black communities.

The black communities did not take the onslaught quietly. Many had fought for the U.S. in World War I. They fought back. They were tired of unequal citizenship.

In the years immediately following World War I, people were reluctant to speak about the flu epidemic. For whatever reason. The flu became “America’s forgotten pandemic.”

The medical profession was bothered. They thought medicine had reached the point that doctors could deal with any disease. The flu fooled them, however.

Mask wearing rules faced resistance. Many complained and resisted. Two forms of resistance. One refusing to wear a mask at all. The other smokers who poked a hole in the mask so they could smoke.

Schools and places of public commitment were closed, “no spitting” ordinances enforced, and wearing masks in public was mandatory.

There was a second wave. It was worse than the first. Lasted 3 months and was described as “especially cruel.”

Scientists attributed the second wave being worse because the virus had mutated late in the fall of 1918. The muted version was spread more easily because of wartime troop movements.

Today is Bastille Day in France. A major holiday. Also known as French National Day, Fete Nationale.

It was July 14, 1789. Known to the French as le quatorze juillet.

Bastille Day is the anniversary of the French people storming the general fortress Bastille. Infamous for holding political prisoners.

The French Revolution was already underway. The successful storming of the Bastille marked the turning point in the Revolution.

Many non French believe the storming of the Bastille was to release prisoners. Not so. In fact, there were only 7 held. The purpose was to capture the ammunition and gunpowder known to be stored in the prison.

This year’s fiscal budget off the wall. Expected to be $2.7 trillion. Never before has the government spent so much.

Reason therefore is attributed to Covid-19 spending. Described by some as spending “madness.”

Dana Milbank wrote in an Opinion piece in the Washington Post this weekend: “The one constant in Trump’s Presidency: Tomorrow will be worse.”

Safety of a people has always been the highest law. The primary responsibility of a leader. As far back as 106 BC, the Roman philosopher Marcus Tullius Cicero said, “The safety of the people shall be the highest law.”

Three Trump statements that have not stood the test of time.

“I will build a great, great wall on our southern border, and I will have Mexico pay for that wall. Mark my words.”

“I have a great relationship with Africa Americans, as you have possibly have heard. I just have got respect for them. And they like me. I like them.”

“I beat China all the time. All the time.”

Speaking of China, Trump has done everything possible to aggravate another great nation. The U.S. and China are 1 and 2 in power and greatness. No one sure who is first.

Trump has “pissed” on China every opportunity he has had. China is reaching the breaking point. A get off my back or don’t tread on me situation.

I have felt for the past 2-3 years that here could be a U.S./China conflict and I was not sure who would win. Better to keep them a friend rather than an enemy.

Republican Congressman Ted Yoho predicts a U.S./China clash in the next 3 months. The basis of his belief is that Trump keeps pushing China thereby creating a trend to war.

Some military experts believe China is conducting a cold war already. A cold war can turn hot quickly.

Some are of the opinion that a war could start by China testing the U.S. How? By ramming a U.S. vessel in the South China Sea.

A Monroe County/Key West update.

As of yesterday, 611 coronavirus cases in all of Monroe County. Forty five “new” as of yesterday.

Key West amended its emergency directives: Mask wearing mandatory everywhere, except for one’s own residence.

The Key West Citizen continues to perform well in providing daily entries from the diaries of William Hackley and May Johnson. Years apart, each never the less interesting.

Hackley’s July 13, 1855 entry concerns his newborn baby. No name shared yet. Referred to as “Baby.”

William’s wife Matilda not producing enough breast milk for Baby. Baby starving and apparently coming down with other things as a result.

William got 3 goats to supply milk. One he had shipped in from Cuba. All 3 failed.

William’s 7/13 entry reflective of pediatric care 1855: “Baby slept from 3 am to 7:30 am. About 9, Hatty ran down to tell me Baby had a spasm. Matilda said the babe stiffened herself and rolled up here eyes. Put her in a tepid bath, gave her about 6 drops of Godfrey’s Cordial and injected about one drop of Laudanum and 6 of Asafoetida which caused her to sleep from about 10 am to about 9 pm without being able to awaken her at chatty time, and she sucked a little, and being put to breast sucked well and worked fully and on going to sleep again woke herself at 4 apparently free of the disease, except that her mouth is sore apparently the thrush. We could hardly believe so small a quantity of Laudanum could narcotize a child.”

The next day was 7/14. William wrote that Baby was better.

May Johnson’s diary covers 1896. Two generations separate William and May.

On 7/14, May wrote, “Killed chicken, picked him.”

Reminded me of the grandmothers of my youth. If they had a live chicken, the chicken was grabbed by the head, held over the sink, and the head chopped off with a big bread knife in one swift stroke.

Thus far, the County has not asked the State to cancel mini-lobster season. A bad move! It should be done! The virus galore will be visiting Key West for 3 days later this month.

The failure of the County to do so will reflect its decisions being made in the best interests of the business community and not the health of the people generally.

Tonight, Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou. Join me for a real fun time. Listen to me rant and rave about what I think. Nine my time. www.blogtalkradio.com/key-west-lou.

Enjoy your day!

Major negatives occurred this past week under Trump. Should not be surprising. We have come to expect them. They go with the man.

Jon Meacham on Meet the Press yesterday described Trump and White House comments re Fauci as “Junior high school” and “childish.”

Many times during Trump’s time in office, the question has been asked, “Who will speak truth to power?” One is and has been Dr. Anthony Fauci. He has never deviated from truth nor said anything merely to accommodate Trump.

The move began last week to undermine Fauci. Simply because he speaks the truth and lies for no one, even the President of the United States.

The rift between the two goes back to April.

Note that Fauci is the nation’s top infectious disease expert.

Over the weekend, the White House released a “hit list” of sorts. A “hit list of questionable statements” by Fauci. Very similar to a campaign research document.

Donald, you cannot destroy Fauci. He is goodness personified. For roughly forty years. Under several Presidents.  A significant portion of the American public believe Fauci re coronavirus issues. A small minority, Trump.

A David/Goliath battle. With only Trump fighting. Fauci the little guy. He won’t even need a sling shot.

Secretary of Education DeVos is as inept and incompetent as the President. Trump appointed her because she and her family are well connected to the Republican Party and donate big time dollars.

DeVos was on TV over the weekend pushing Trump’s “plan” to reopen the schools. She did him little good. Her lack of knowledge re the issue was evident. She was unable to directly respond to questions.

FOX News’ Chris Wallace could not make her look good.

I came across an interesting comment on the internet this morning: Parents can gamble with returning to work, parents will not allow children to be used a guinea pigs.

The CDC has its opinion re reopening of schools: Reopening of schools is the “highest risk for coronavirus spread.”

Trump had scheduled a political rally in New Hampshire recently. It was cancelled by the White House. Reason given, the weather.

Turns out it was not a bad day weather wise. Some sprinkling rain early morning. Sunny the rest of the day.

The truth outed over the weekend. The Trump team could not get enough people lined up to attend. To hold the rally would have resulted in another Tulsa.

The wall, the wall, the wall! One of Trump’s keys to successful election in 2016. The same “wall” will represent one of his major failures in the November 2020 election.

A certain portion of the “new wall” is eroding in Arizona. Three miles in the Rio Grande Valley. Experts claim the wall will topple into the river if not fixed.

The three miles cost $42 million to build. Apparently too much money for the actual work to be done. Some describe the design for the 3 miles as a Lamborghini.

The work was done by Fisher Industries of North Dakota.

Trump up in arms. He claims 2 reasons for the wall’s defects. The first that the defects are intentional and were done to embarrass him. The other that the work should not have been done by a private contractor.

The Florida coronavirus numbers continue to sky rocket. Yesterday a record for new cases in a single day: 15,299. Test positivity rate a whopping 19.6 percent.

The virus is out of control in Florida.

I blame Trump and our idiot Governor De Santis who blindly follows him. To this day, De Santis refuses to mandate masks anywhere under any circumstances.

There was one non tragedy yesterday. A typical example of American determination and following the rules. New York City announced that yesterday it had zero deaths. Zip! None!

The first time since March.

I attribute New York’s success to a Governor who stumbled a bit at the beginning, but realized he was wrong and took the scientific road recommended. Andrew Cuomo.

Florida, Texas and Arizona are where New York was several months ago. Will they learn as Cuomo did? Or will they continue listening to their Pied Piper Donald Trump?

Enjoy your day!

I said this when Mueller’s report came out. I say it again. He failed!

He did not view his job properly. He was “Special Counsel,” not a mere FBI investigator. His responsibility gave him additional powers. He was not limited by FBI rules, regulations, and policies.

As a result, Trump walked. He is still in office. The label he was “impeached” means nothing if not convicted of violations that would have resulted in removal from office.

Bill Clinton the perfect example. America still loves him!

Mueller also conducted himself like a pompous ass. Recall he did not want to testify before a Congressional committee. If he did, he said he would only go so far. Not explain his responses. His position was everything that was to be known was written in his report. Read it! was his charge.

Mueller failed to spell out clearly the charges against Trump.

As a result of it all, Trump’s impeachment did not stick.

Yes, Mueller indicted several underlings. Meant nothing. Impeachment a big thing, especially the impeachment of a sitting President. Mueller should have gone for the jugular!

Now comes Robert Stone. Trump took care of his friend. Commuted his sentence. Flynn will probably receive a pardon or commutation.

Stone’s commutation a shame. Proves clearly that under Trump, justice is available to friends of the President. A benefit not available to the thousands of others sitting in jail for crimes smaller that those committed by Stone.

Some insignificant. What of those of color who have been sitting in jail for years for simple marijuana convictions?

Trump appears to have a desire to be a “war President.” Not just a coronavirus one, a shooting one.

He is threatening to invade Venezuela.

We have already had 20 years of insignificant wars in the Middle East and elsewhere. I thought we had learned our lesson.

Trump does not care about the Venezuelan people. Trump wants to take over Venezuela for the oil. Venezuela has the largest oil deposits in the world.

Russia and China want those oil deposits, also. Any Trump action against Venezuela would be met with serious opposition by Russia and China.

Several months ago, Trump had American troops on the Venezuelan border ready to go in. Russia immediately sent planes and troops to Venezuela. They were sitting on Venezuelan airfields waiting for the Americans to invade.

Trump chickened out.

News reports last week indicated Trump was provoking an India/China war.

Trump is back to being anti-China. His great “trade deal” never happened. Trump’s present aim is to cause China as much aggravation as possible.

Why doesn’t he have the same attitude against Russia?

Trump views himself as the “noble warrior.” Reminds me of the witch in Snow White. She used to look in the mirror and ask, “Mirror, mirror on the wall, whose the fairest of them all?”

The mirror today would respond: “Donald, you are!”

Trump rails against U.S. enemies. Those he perceives to be enemies. Such is why he views himself as the noble warrior.

He is anti anarchist, Marxists, immigrants, and now a new group. Americans!

One reason he is attacking a majority of his fellow citizens is that he is planting the seed of doubt as to the validity of the 2020 election should he lose. The far left Americans “who corrupted” the voting process will be to blame.

Trumps announcement early last week that the U.S. was withdrawing from WHO was pure stupidity! No one is perfect. Everyone makes mistakes. I am referring to WHO, not Trump. Trump makes too many mistakes.

We need WHO as much as WHO needs our dollars. The U.S. must continue to be a part of global organizations. Trump obviously thinks otherwise.

One of Biden’s first tasks upon election should be to have the U.S. rejoin the many global organizations the U.S. was a part of before the Trump wrecking ball hit.

Robert Unanue is CEO of Goya. A major producer of goods found on supermarket shelves. Especially supermarkets in poorer neighborhoods.

He recently came out publicly in support of Trump.

The backlash big time! Many organisations have called for a boycott of Goya goods.

Unanue is a major corporate leader. His company and he personally make big dollars. I have to believe Unanue’s annual salary is well above $1 million.

In addition to Unanue’s words of Trump support, Republican politicians are racing to his side because of his Trump support. Texas Senator Cruz is one of them.

Florida getting hit badly by coronavirus.

I blame first hand and up front Florida’s  Governor De Santis. Inept and incompetent. Trump’s lap dog. Follows Trump blindly.

The proof of the pudding is that Trump has several times recognized De Santis as the best Governor in America.

The number of Florida cases have exceeded 250,000.

In one day last week Florida experienced the highest number of new cases for any one day: 10,360. That same day, Florida experienced 95 new deaths.

De Santis wants our children to return to school. Parents and people in general have to be crazy to follow De Santis on this point based on his coronavirus track record to date.

Fantasy Fest has been cancelled.

The mini-lobster season occurs on the last Wednesday and Thursday of July each year. People come in in droves to dive for lobsters. I speak of visitors/tourists.

They bring the dreaded virus with them. Conveniently will infect Key Westers and non-Key Westers. Spread the virus without a care.

The Key West City Commission wisely cancelled Fantasy Fest. They do not have the power to cancel the mini-lobster season. Only De Santis has and he has refused.

A few more comments by those opposed to reopening schools. All directed against Trump, of course.

“He is mad people actually are for their kids, DAMN. Dude got Daddy issues big time.”

“Is this man ready to send his son to a public school in the Fall? I want a reporter to ask him this question.”

“It’s like he is actively trying to lose the next election.”

“Now we all know, this monster needs to be stopped.”

Enjoy your Sunday! Remember to wear your mask, social distance, and wash your hands.

Blog commutation today. Hospital tests. Return tomorrow.

Enjoy your day!

The U.S.Supreme Court came down with 2 important decisions yesterday re Trump’s tax returns. Both not good for him.

His returns and other financials will definitely become part of the Manhattan District Attorney’s case. The other case involves subpoenaed Trump tax returns by Congress. Probably will be enforceable. However not as certain as the Manhattan D.A.’s case.

The specifics of the cases not of concern here. The information is already well known via media announcements since yesterday morning.

A significant portion of my practice involved federal court cases. Especially the environmental ones.

The federal courts are overloaded. Too many cases. In every federal court I appeared. The scene always the same.

Part of trial work involves motions. Legal arguments. No clients, no jury. Only the judge and attorneys involved. A point of law to be resolved. Generally important to the case. A successful motion could mean immediate victory then and there.

Judges never broke for lunch. They continued to hear legal arguments through the lunch hour. Eating a sandwich and drinking a can of soda while so doing.

The federal courts then and now overloaded and not enough judges.

The paper work involved in trying a federal case is overwhelming. More for the attorneys involved, rather than the judges. Reams of required responses to relatively unimportant items. Required several days to prepare at the attorney end and time later by the judge’s clerk to review.

The system requires more judges. Problem is the politics of it all. Takes forever, sometimes years, for a nominee to be approved to any of the federal courts.

Ergo. federal cases take on a life of their own. The Manhattan D.A. one around 4 years so far. The Congressional one almost 2 years.

One of the first things taught in law school is Justice delayed is Justice denied. The present federal system has too much delay built into it. The Rules of Court must change.

The paper work must be cut back dramatically. Judges need 1-2 more law clerks each. The law clerks are former brilliant law students who research the law and often prepare rough drafts of the judge’s decision.

The entire system must be looked at and changes made. All to accelerate the process.

What galled me when I was practicing and galls me even to day when I am a retired observer is the wasted years before a decision is rendered. Legal cases sitting for several years to be reached resolve no one’s problems. The pain is now, the resolution should be now. Not 4-5 years hence.

My other concern involves the number of Supreme Court Justices. Every year there is clamor anew for an expansion of the Court. Not because of the time factor. Rather, politics.

Politics will never be fully removed from the process. It is the way it is.

In order to make it possible for Supreme Court cases to move faster, two things are required.

More clerks. For the reasons set forth hereinbefore.

Additionally, the Supreme Court rules themselves must be adjusted to meet the expediency of the times. The Manhattan D.A. decision favors the D.A. However, it must first go back to the trial court for review and application. More delay.

Whether Trump lied on his taxes and financials will not be public knowledge before the election. Not right. The people should know whether their President is a thief before they vote on him again.

My solution again two fold. Redo the court rules to accelerate the process and add 1-2 law clerks to each judge at each level to assist in moving cases faster.

Even a federal judge has the right to a leisurely lunch hour.

The other thing that bothers me is the excitement because Gorsuch and Kavanaugh voted with the Court’s liberal block in both cases.

Judges are human. The black robes do not make them any less people. They are driven by the same motivations and desires as any one else.

I suspect the two may have voted as they did to show the Nation they are not die hard far right Republicans who blindly support Trump. They are cleansing themselves.

See how many times they vote with the liberal block over the next year.

Can’t wait to read Trump’s niece’s book concerning Uncle Donald. Too Much and Never Enough.

She claims Trump paid someone to take the SAT exam for him. Would not surprise me. This past year has seen several parents arrested who arranged the same for their children. I am familiar with a former judge who had a friend take his LSAT exam for admittance to law school so he would be sure to pass and get in.

Trump continues to threaten to cut school funding if schools do not reopen. A tyrannical way to govern. My way or the highway.

Trump has screwed up how the country should be dealing with coronavirus. Look at the numbers! Now he wants to set our children up to die. Merely to get parents back to work. The economy, economy, economy!

Some additional comments I have come across in response to Trump’s cry to reopen the schools.

“I feel fine. I paid somebody to take my coronavirus test.”

“Mr. President, you are a complete buffoon.”

“Who is he going to blame when the kids start getting sick?”

“There is no way that I am going to sacrifice my precious kids to the deadly pandemic! Never!!!”

“He allowed the enemy to murder our men and women who give their lives for our country. You really believe the narcissist psychopath cares about our little ones?”

“The poster child for the face of evil. He’s a bully, full of fear.”

Beginning today, this blog will also appear every day in KONK Life E-Blast.

I am excited.

The picture KONK publisher Guy de Boer picked out of his photo morgue is of me some years ago in Greece. I am on Amorgos and sitting under a overhang at my favorite Amorgos restaurant. I went over late morning each day to do my blog. Ate lunch while there. Spent several hours writing and taking in the scenery.

The restaurant was nothing fancy. Nothing on Amorgos was. Interesting, however.

Greek men sing and dance all the time. Without the ladies.

Frequently about a dozen Greek fishermen would appear at the restaurant for lunch. Joined by the village priest. They sang as a group for a couple of hours.

Me, my blog, some good Greek food, and them! What more could I ask for?

Key West is getting back on the ball in fighting the virus. We were doing well. Then the political leaders succumbed to the cries of the businessmen and reopened our community.

The numbers have gone up.

The writing is on the wall.

As of today, all bar service and bar counters is closed to seating and consumption.

Good! Will dissuade the mainland folks from coming to Key West weekends to party. They bring their germs with them. We do not need them to infect us.

Governor De Santis has done a wonderful job. He has Florida totally screwed up with the virus. Understandable why. He sucks up to and follow Trump’s dictates. Trump says De Santis is the best governor in the U.S. No wonder.

U.S.1 should be closed again. All non-residents banned from entering the Keys. I believe our County and City officials want to do so. De Santis has the final say. So far, no.

May Johnson’s heart continues throbbing for boy friend Ernest who lives and works in Miami. Her suffering appears minimal only. Most evenings she is at La Brisa dancing with everyone.

For this day in 1896, May wrote in her diary: “1 year ago tonight I met my darling. Oh! Happy thought.” A few lines later, May reported: “Went to La Brisa. I danced all dances but two.”

No blog tomorrow. I will be spending the morning at the hospital taking tests. Not for coronavirus.

I am upset. This is day 120 of my self-quarantine. I have left the house only 2 times. Each for less than an hour. To see the doctor. Now I have to go to one of the worst places to be at this time.

Enjoy your day!

KONK Life yesterday ran a 1962 photo of Newt Munson and friends standing on Munson Island.

Munson Island?

Today, Little Palm Island.

The island sits in the Atlantic close to shore. Big Pine a few miles away.

In between the two names, the John Kennedy story PT-109 was filmed there.

John Spottswood at some point bought Munson Island from Newt Munson. He did not rename the island.

Spottswood was a distinguished citizen of Key West. Sheriff and State Senator. Real estate entrepreneur. Fathered a wonderful family who carry on his good name today as well as numerous Key West investments.

President Kennedy was visiting. He and Spottswood were driving around in a convertible. Word was a movie was to be made about Kennedy’s World War II exploits. PT-109. Spottswood mentioned to the Presidnet he had an island that was perfect for filming the story.

PT-109 was filmed on Munson Island. Starred Cliff Robertson as John Kennedy.

At some point in time, others purchased the island. Renamed it and built Little Palm Island, the famous resort and restaurant.

Many years later, Cliff Robertson returned to Key West. As National Chairman of an international fund raising drive for the Mel Fisher Museum.

I met Robertson that evening. He was on in his years. Still good looking. A warm, affable man.

His attire from another era. Everything perfect. Sport jacket, shirt, and slacks. Accompanied by an ascot and white bucks!

The ascot and white bucks in no way detracted from his appearance and charm.

Coronavirus all over the world. Especially the U.S. The bubonic plague threatening to break out of Mongolia. Keys mosquitoes having a field day. For the first time in years, dengue fever has returned. Key Largo up to 11 cases.

Reminds me of the inflictions God imposed on the Pharaoh through Moses.

The Keys are a relatively safe place to live. Even Key West which many who do not live here believe the town is wrought with crime and danger.

Every few years, a strange crime occurs. The recent is not a Keys happening. Rather, St. Petersburg.

A woman was jogging along a road. Discovered a human head 7 in the morning in a grassy area between the sidewalk and road. The head badly decomposed.

Ugh!

The matter is under investigation.

Can’t argue with numbers. The U.S. has 4.2 percent of the world’s population, 25.3 percent of coronavirus cases, and 24.4 percent of coronavirus deaths.

The U.S. has handled the virus problem with gross negligence and incompetence. The blame lying solely with Trump

Due to the virus, many are unemployed in the U.S. Financial hurt covers the nation. Not with everyone, however.

A recent study revealed that in the past year the total wealth of U.S. billionaires swelled by $565 billion.

There is a point to be made. Americans cannot depend on their leadership to look after them. At least not the present leadership.

I am inclined to agree with Trump’s niece who labels him a sociopath. His most recent move evidence of the condition. He wants the children of America back in school.

At a time when the coronavirus numbers are off the wall in many states.

Trump’s concern is not the education of the children. It involves showing what he perceives as his success in handling the virus and providing parents with the ability to return to work.

The man is insane! A generation of our children could be lost.

The choice should be solely parental. Not the federal, state or local governments’. Another 6-12 months of virtual education as opposed to bricks and mortar will not hurt. Life is more important.

I want to share some comments re Trump’s push to get the kids back in school. His position not a popular one.

“Sorry, but all my kids have bone spurs. They won’t be going to school unless those spurs are cured.”

“What an unusual combination: mental retardation, sociopathy, and narcissism.”

“Where are the pro-life people?”

“My children’s health is more important than their education. Being a mother we have to protect our babies.”

“This is like being tied up and gagged in the back seat of a car with a drunken driver at the wheel.”

“It seems like he wants to kill everybody…..now even kids.”

The blind cannot see. Some of those not blind, cannot see.

Even I as a lay person I understand placing a large number of people together without face masks and social distancing is going to result in a coronavirus spike 2-3 weeks thereafter.

Recall the Tulsa rally some 2 weeks ago.

Tulsa is experiencing that spike!

The total number of new cases for monday and tuesday this week were just short of 500.

What will the remainder of the week bring?

Coronavirus continues to affect businesses as well as humans.

United Airlines announced it will furlough nearly 36,000 employees.

Bed Bath & Beyond is closing 20 stores. Sales are down 50 percent.

Brooks Brothers one of my favorite stores. Dressed me and my son for years.

The Company 202 years old.

Filed for bankruptcy yesterday. Intends to close 51 of its 250 North American stores. Brooks will also halt production at its factories in North Carolina and New York in mid-August.

Trump continues to avoid disclosing his personal financial information. I am not referring to his tax returns. Later today, the U.S. Supreme Court will rule if he must and to what extent.

Certain federal employees must annually file a financial disclosure form as to their previous year’s financial activities. Trump has failed to do so. His excuse he has been busy with coronavirus and the report is too “complicated.”

He has filed the report in previous years.

Trump obtained a 45 day extension. The extension ran out one week ago. Trump has still failed to file. Says he will file “as soon as possible.”

Good luck!

Enjoy your day!