Fallout!

Rioters clash with police 
as they try to enter the Capitol on Jan. 6.
(c) Pacific Press via Getty Images.

News blues…

In the face of a global pandemic that has killed close to 87 million people, Dr Fauci reviews the challenges to deliver vaccine in the US, the world's hardest hit nation.  (8:00 mins).

The US is also in political turmoil.
Five are dead and at least 50 security officers confirmed injured in the attempted insurrection. Some Republicans continue their denial of root causes. Nevertheless, heads are beginning to roll.

The egregious denialists:

• “GOP congressman blames 'ANTIFA fascists in backwards MAGA hats' after Trump supporters storm the Capitol” 

Republican Congressman Mo Brooks of Alabama falsely claimed that supporters of President Donald Trump who stormed the Capitol building on Wednesday were actually left-wing protesters… ANTIFA fascists in backwards MAGA hats.

• And, Texas AG promotes the theory that Capitol violence was false flag staged by 'bus load of Antifa thugs' 

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton promoted a tweet from far-right Investors Business Daily writer Paul Sperry, claiming that a "former FBI agent" has confirmed the violent attack on the U.S. Capitol by Trump supporters was a "false flag" engineered by a "bus load of Antifa thugs."

• Yet more “false flag” blaming of Antifa and progressive groups.  (20:00 mins)
• Meanwhile, Capitol police chief resigns 
• Trump cabinet members and staff resign  ... and the fallout continues with further resignations in the White House  (7:20 mins)
• Manufacturers Call on Armed Thugs to Cease Violence at Capitol  
• Some of America's top businesspeople are threatening to cut off funding to those who egged on the insurrection. 

***

After their post-election slump, a re-energized Lincoln Project:

Yesterday’s insurrection was horrifying—but not surprising.
Our seat of government—our shared halls of democracy—was invaded, occupied, and vandalized for the first time since the War of 1812.
For a moment, American democracy fell to an insurrection incited by the President of the United States.
Worst of all—this was predictable. What we witnessed yesterday was abhorrent, but it should have surprised nobody who has paid attention to the last few years, or months, or days.
This did not occur in a vacuum. Violent insurrections don’t appear out of thin air.
Every Trump Republican is culpable—but none more so than the seditionists (six in the Senate, over 100 in the House) who, even after the Capitol was invaded and then secured, continued to attempt to disenfranchise millions of Americans by opposing the counting of legitimate Electoral College votes.

The Senate Sedition Caucus: 

Ted Cruz (TX) 

Josh Hawley (MO) 

Cindy Hyde-Smith (MS) 

John Kennedy (LA) 

Roger Marshall (KS) 

Tommy Tuberville (AL) 

We have sounded the alarms over the dangers of Trump’s demagoguery and populism for years.
We knew that every time one of his lies was parroted by a sycophantic enabler, the base of delusion and deceit grew.
Yesterday was the completely inevitable outcome of this demagoguery and deceit.
For some, yesterday was a wake-up call—that there is a price to pay for toying with, and undermining, the U.S. Constitution.
For us—it was an affirmation of everything we stand for.
Trump Republicans must pay a price.
Seditionists must pay a price.
Enemies of our country, foreign and domestic, must pay a price.
We won’t back down. 

***

Now This | Sen. Elizabeth Warren: Trump is a 'Lying Coward'  (4:40 mins)

Healthy planet, anyone?

The impact of the coronavirus on nature 

Meanwhile, back at the ranch…

It’s tough trying to maintain someone else’s property and preparing it for sale. There have been no views of the property in 2.5 months – not too surprising. This is, after all, the “festive season” during which potential properties purchasers don’t buy. Moreover, the pandemic depresses the economy and potential buyers watch their budgets.
For a short while, I fancied myself “pool gal” – as it appeared I’d solved the ongoing issue of the swimming pool filter’s apparent malfunctions.
The filtering systems appeared to work well for several days. I collected fallen leaves and debris from the water as well as removed handfuls of frog eggs. I cleared the filter baskets and discharged dirty water. Nevertheless, alas, while the pump sounds like its doing it’s filtering, water is not circulating through the filter.
I’m stumped.
I will not request a consult from the “pool guy” – I hired. After all, it took 3 months for him to show up last time and, when he did, he was dismissive, rude, and overcharged. Yet, based on experiences to date, I quaver at having to find someone else to carry out the needed work.
There’s also the basic stupidity I display with some of these maintenance chores. For example, after the CCTV system stopped working (it coincided with Eskom’s visit to butcher tall trees in the garden) I hired a security system consultant to figure out why the system wasn’t working. He did. The electrical plug wasn’t correctly inserted into the outlet. 
Such missteps convince me that my “lifestyle” choices are correct: dwell in a small, low maintenance home (in California I live – or lived – in a houseboat) and concentrate on living in the moment. For example, discover the lifestyles of bugs, birds, and birds. In other words, as far as possible, enjoy life’s free moments free of the burdens of maintenance.