The day of the vote to convict or acquit Donald Trump over two articles of impeachment, I watched Alabama Senator Doug Jones deliver his reasons for conviction. As I sat watching Senator Doug Jones give his statement on why he will vote to convict Donald Trump, I felt emotionally moved. He articulated the courage of morals and country over president. He convincingly made the statement that there is only right versus wrong. And right should always prevail over wrong. He cited his upbringing in Alabama as one of the reasons why he must stand with truth and justice over lies and injustice. He stated that: “Doing right is not a courageous act. It is simply following your oath.” “Our country deserves better than this” president. As a trial lawyer like Mr. Jones, he laid out the case for why both articles of impeachment should result in a conviction vote. Just as we do in court rooms to juries, he stated that folks should not leave their common sense at home. In this impeachment … [Read more...] about Senator Doug Jones, a Fellow Trial Lawyer, Speaks Truth to Power
Republicans
White House Gangsta in Chief Needs to Leave
The federal government shutdown has now gone into two missing paychecks for workers without any resolution. It started as Trump’s demand that Mexico would pay for the wall. Then it advanced to American taxpayers would need to pay for the wall. Mexico likely laughed at the suggestion of their paying for it. And now it has snowballed into a hostage take over situation of over 800,000 federal government workers plus contract workers being furloughed until presumably American taxpayers pay for the wall. Trump has placed America at risk in food safety, air safety, health safety, economics, intelligence and basic human rights. While the focus at times has been on federal government workers in the DC, Maryland and Virginia area, federal employees work in all 50 states plus the District of Columbia. Large numbers of workers are located in Montana, Wyoming, New Mexico, South Dakota, West Virginian and Iowa –Trump Red states. There are government contractors who are not government employees who … [Read more...] about White House Gangsta in Chief Needs to Leave
The Extreme Hypocrisy of the Republican Party
The Republican party was once known as the party of Abraham Lincoln. Now it is known as the party of Donald Trump, a reality star, creator of the birther movement and race baiter in Chief. Time and time again, the Republican party has shown its hypocrisy in the Trump era by failing to speak out against racism and bigotry. The other day, Congress failed to censure Iowa Representative Steve King for saying “White nationalist, white supremacist, Western civilization—how did that become offensive?” To answer King’s statement, white supremacy was offensive to many persons as far back as Abraham Lincoln’s time. The House passed a resolution condemning white supremacy but failed to rebuke King. Every Republican House member should have requested a vote on censuring King, if not seeking his resignation. It is not enough just to fail to appoint him to committees. Steve King should have been asked to resign for his hideously racist comments. Time and time again, the Republican party fails to … [Read more...] about The Extreme Hypocrisy of the Republican Party
2018- A Year of Sex, Lies, Guns and Trump
Every new year, we look back towards the past year to see the good, bad and ugly. If 2018 can be boiled down to a theme—it would be sex, lies, guns and Trump. Trump fits into all three categories. Guns were rampant again this year with no end in sight in terms of gun control. On February 26, 2018, in Parkland, Florida, one of the safest towns in the U.S. , a school gun shooting occurred and 17 persons died including teachers and students. This time may have been different than previous gun shootings in that it galvanized students to hold the March for Our Lives on March 25, 2018. It once again raised the issue of gun control. Like in so many times and years before, no meaningful gun legislation occurred. On June 29, five journalists were shot and killed at the Annapolis Gazette in Annapolis, MD. Throughout the Trump administration, Donald Trump has shouted chants that the media is the enemy of the state. Our constitution’s first amendment is freedom of the press. Yet, the … [Read more...] about 2018- A Year of Sex, Lies, Guns and Trump
Gun Shootings Require Action From Lawmakers–Not Just Prayers
Two days after the midterm elections, I woke up to the news that another mass shooting occurred--this time in a supposedly safe suburban community outside of Los Angeles. A white man opened fire in a college bar and grill restaurant killing 12 persons, including a 29 year police veteran. On Saturday, November 3, I woke up to the news that a gun shooter killed two persons in a yoga class and wounded several others. My initial thought was we can’t even peacefully pray, meditate or practice yoga or dance in this country without the fear of being gunned down. It was just the previous week that I felt the pain of gun violence at a Pittsburgh synagogue killing seven Jewish persons. And yet, many of our powerful lawmakers act powerless in the face of tragedy. We need more than just thoughts and prayers in these tragedies from our lawmakers. Tragedy is what propelled Lucy McBath, a gun control advocate, to run for office. McBath appears headed to Congress from Georgia’s 6th district, once … [Read more...] about Gun Shootings Require Action From Lawmakers–Not Just Prayers
Why Do Clinton and Trump Hate Following Rules?
As many people have already discovered, this election year is like no other in recent history---perhaps ever. Both candidates seemingly hate to follow and play by the rules. I must admit that Donald Trump’s unorthodox rule hating methods make Hillary Clinton’s rule mishaps look like child’s play. As a child growing up, my brother and I played just about every board game imaginable. That’s how I developed a love of games and learning. In Scrapple, we could not make up words and expect to win. This presidential election for the highest office in the U.S. has shown that practically no rules exist anymore and words don’t matter. Donald Trump appears to be making everything up as he goes along. Every Republican presidential candidate since Richard Nixon has released their tax returns. Democrats from Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Harry Truman, Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, Barack Obama and Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton released their tax returns. Yet, Trump refuses to … [Read more...] about Why Do Clinton and Trump Hate Following Rules?