The main issue I have with the Democrat primary is that the candidate that I prefer is probably not the best candidate to beat Donald Trump, and I think removing Trump from office is the prime objective. Yet, the candidate that I prefer has a better chance of beating Trump than other candidates. Worse, I do not think Sanders is one of the candidates with the best chance of beating Trump. Still, the big question is whether all Democrats will unite behind whoever is the candidate. While Clinton did not campaign well enough to win in 2016, she was also hurt by Sanders supporters who refused to vote for her and that cannot happen this time or Trump wins re-election.
“The word humility actually comes from the Latin word for earth or soil, humus—which sounds a lot like but should not be confused with the simple but delicious Middle Eastern chickpea dip, hummus. Humility literally brings us back down to earth, sometimes with a thud.”
— The Book of Joy: Lasting Happiness in a Changing World by Dalai Lama, Desmond Tutu, et al. a.co/gE8QWvZ
Not surprised by Maria Sharapova’s retirement. Her injuries significantly cut into the amount of time she played competitive tennis, and no matter the amount of practice it is not the same as live matches. Top athletes maintain and excel their ability in competition and not just practice. Serena Williams' tournament success has been similarly impacted. It is practically impossible to win grand slam tournaments without playing in a good amount other tournaments.
Ash Wednesday begins the Christian liturgical season of Lent, but it is also a statement of a profound truth. We are all born human and we will all end as humus. There is only one race, the human race, even when the humans of the world do not accept this truth. You are dust and to dust you shall return.
I don’t understand how to enable replies/webmentions on my micro.blog.
Beware, the Ferengi are still cooking up financial engineering ideas.
I didn’t know that the row of icons that appear above the Google Search box on Android is called the hotseat. Not sure I am thrilled with the idea of the icons that appear there changing as what I have pinned on this hotseat are the apps I most use.
Russia’s influence campaign is driven by a desire to “watch us tear ourselves apart,” a senior FBI official said Monday, comments that come after details of a classified briefing to lawmakers became public in news reports, including a claim by the intelligence community’s top election security official that Moscow is interfering with the goal of helping President Donald Trump.
Surely Russia learned how easy it has become to do this from our actions post 9-11. I think part of the problem is including that lede “with the goal of helping President Donald Trump.” Perhaps that is true, but the true goal is decreasing United States' standing in the world and elevating Putin’s Russia, and that alone should be concerning to Trump and his supporters as much as everyone else. Republican refusal to do anything is pure negligence.
The sunshine we have had this weekend pairs well with the first spring training games. #Cubs
Spring is here, go Cubs go!
Finished reading: Dear Church: A Love Letter from a Black Preacher to the Whitest Denomination in the US by Lenny Duncan 📚
I think we are hopelessly, intentionally fractured, with factions obsessed with getting their way. Consequently, there is no agreement about what’s most important. Republicans are obsessed with keeping the guy with the R next to his name in the White House even if they don’t like him. In their mind any Democrat will do more damage than Trump and anyone raising concerns about Trump are just partisan.
Democrats are NOT united on the priority to remove Trump, rather there appears to be a faction that seems to say, “if extreme is the new norm then we have to nominate the most extreme person to win.” It appears most Democrats have lost regard for moderates and independents. It’s as if they learned the wrong lessons from 2016.
We really need a viable third party candidate; if only the current system wasn’t rigged against that happening. Neither party seems really invested in the Constitution, and if you don’t recognize Trump as a threat to the Constitution then you conclude he is no different than any other candidate.
Eye opening (or at least it should be!):
We have an entire generation of Americans who have grown to adulthood since 9-11 and in those two decades they have never known a single moment when America was not at war. Three thousand Americans died on 9-11, and for that we have embarked on 20 years of revenge. 20 years. Tens, hundreds, of thousands dead as a result. We are trillions of dollars in debt.
Oh, and the the whole article ought to be eye opening. One cannot claim themselves a patriot and not know of the documents and their purpose that founded the United States. Waving a flag doesn’t matter, nor does supporting the military, nor standing during the national anthem, nor does reciting the pledge of allegiance if you know nothing about the Republic for which it stands!
The common denominator of the right and left is anger, and the problem is, that is no way to lead. What we need in the United States is wise leadership.
Talk about free political advertising.
The Cancer Industry: Hype vs. Reality
It’s all unsettling. I am a bit suspicious of the cancer medical industry, and I do think greed is a factor behind some decisions. Consequently it is very important to be your own advocate.
One thing we have learned from the Trump presidency is that there aren’t many true conservatives and they don’t have any real power, just ideology. If the Executive Branch blatantly ignores the constitution through contempt of the judicial branch, do conservatives think that rises to the level of impeachment and removal? If they are true to “conserving” the Constitution they ought to otherwise what do they stand for, really? Trump has already shown he thinks Congress has no authority over him.
The response to Barr’s refusal to uphold and the Constitution is the House voting on articles of impeachment and a Senate trial.
Time to check in on Houghton. Perhaps watch a little broom ball.