“Shoulda known better”

© Huffington Post/Huffpost 

“…new polling showed that nearly two-thirds of likely U.S. voters believe the lame-duck incumbent [president] is directly to blame for the deadly violence.” 
That leaves as many as 37 percent either believing he’s not to blame or, worse, having “no opinion.”
Here, diehard Trumpies impenetrable belief about Trump and the election.  (4:43 mins)

News blues…

Further reason to be optimistic about the withdrawal of people of integrity from the drug of Republicanism:
Former Secretary of State, General Colin Powell said of Republicans, “they should have known better” (5:44 mins)
More Republicans – likely seeing the writing on the wall for their political careers – trend in the direction of supporting Trump’s impeachment. 

***

The Lincoln Project

The President is a traitor and an ongoing threat to American democracy.
Republicans who disagree must be fundamentally dishonest, unserious, or anti-American.
Let’s state it in plain English: the President of the United States, after falsely declaring an election was stolen from him, sicced an armed, violent mob on the Capitol during a joint session with the Vice President present.
This was no Constitutional assembly. These terrorists were not petitioning for a redress of grievances.
This was an attempted coup d'état against the United States government, orchestrated by President Trump, and abetted by the Sedition Caucus.
We still have many more questions than answers about this assault on our democracy—who impeded the National Guard from entering the District, and why? What was Trump’s true intent? What were the ultimate goals of the insurrectionists seen with firearms, zip ties, and nooses?
It seems that the more we learn about January 6, 2021, the more shocking and appalling it becomes. We were just seconds, and just inches away, from a total decapitation of the Federal Government.
First, second, and third in the line of presidential succession—Vice President Pence, Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and President pro tempore Chuck Grassley—were all present, and were all targets of the terrorists.
We will learn much more in the days to come. But first, it is paramount for our national security, and to reaffirm the peaceful transfer of power, that we depose President Trump as soon as possible.
Reporting on Mike Pence’s thinking indicates the 25th Amendment will not be used—so impeachment for inciting an insurrection is the next best route.
As calls for removing Trump quickly spread through Washington, many Republicans—themselves largely in the Sedition Caucus—have rejected the idea for the sake of “unity.”
To them, I ask, what better way to unify the country than a bipartisan impeachment and removal of a treasonous demagogue? Rather—what is unifying about allowing crimes against our very Constitution to continue to go unpunished?
We cannot set a precedent in this country that a failed coup attempt is excusable conduct for the President.
Congress must act on the House’s impeachment articles expeditiously. Every minute the President remains in office is a minute too long for our Republic.
It’s time to remove Trump from the seat of our government. And it’s time for the Sedition Caucus to pay for crimes against our country.

Healthy planet, anyone?

A coalition of more than 50 countries has committed to protect almost a third of the planet by 2030 to halt the destruction of the natural world and slow extinctions of wildlife.
The High Ambition Coalition (HAC) for Nature and People, which includes the UK and countries from six continents, made the pledge to protect at least 30% of the planet’s land and oceans before the One Planet summit in Paris…. 

Meanwhile, back at the ranch…

The sun shines and it’s time to begin moving “stuff” to my new place.
I’ll not physically move there until this house is sold – at least another 60 days – but there’ll be less stuff cluttering the house when potential buyers view. At least that’s my thinking.

***

I’m more concerned than ever about my mother’s state of physical and mental well-being under tight lockdown at the Care Center. I’ve not seen her since she fell and broke her leg, 28 December. Lockdown presents little chance of seeing her.
Today, I intend to deliver a cell phone that will allow her to receive and listen to WhatsApp audio recordings. Only issue? She’ll need to figure out how to activate the files. That’s a challenge she didn’t rise to before her move to the Care Center. I hope her isolation from family stimulates her to attempt it again – and succeed this time.