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A new day

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My family of origin would spend Christmas one year at home in Maine and the next year with my grandparents who lived in the Carolinas. On our journey home from those visits, we invariably spent a day in Washington, DC. One or more Smithsonian museums was always part of the stopover. As time permitted and competing interests desired, we went to other sites. One year in the mid-1960s (I do not remember the exact year), we visited the U.S. Capitol. There were no entry tickets, security checkpoints or mandatory tours. We simply wandered around the building on our own. I vividly remember that at one point we found ourselves unable to go forward. A guard blocked the entrance to what in retrospect was probably the Senate floor. An intrepid pre-teen, I told my family to follow me and led them to an elevator that took us to the next floor. Only when I exited the elevator did I notice asmall sign by the elevator’s entrance that read “Senators Only.” A new day has dawned. No longer are such a
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What to do about Donald Trump - part 2

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What legal actions, if any, should the government take with respect to President Donald Trump? As Rep. Liz Cheney (R, WY) later said, “There’s no question the president formed the mob. The president incited the mob. The president addressed the mob. He lit the flame.” Impeachment. Although Congress cannot move with sufficient speed to impeach and convict President Trump before he leaves office on January 20. Congress should impeach and convict Trump. That will disqualify him from holding federal office in the future, making official what his actions have already made unofficial. Indictment and Trial. Legal action against President Trump is pending in more than one non-federal jurisdiction. These actions should proceed. If the President pardons himself, the pardon covers only federal offenses, not state offenses. Given currently available public information, the federal government should not pursue charges against Trump. Federal investigation(s) will send a mixed signal (is the inves
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What to do about Donald Trump - part 1

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President Donald Trump invited supporters to gather in Washington on January 6, 2021, prior to Congress counting the Electoral College’s votes. Trump encouraged the crowd to walk to Capitol Hill where they should protest because the election results were “an egregious assault” on American democracy. He said, in part, “We are going to cheer on our brave senators and congressmen and women and we are probably not going to be cheering so much for some of them – because you will never take back our country with weakness.” Trump’s son, Donald Jr. (“We’re coming for you”), and Trump’s personal lawyer, Rudy Giuliani (“trial by combat”), who both spoke before the President did, were more explicit in suggesting violence. How should the preponderance of US citizens who found the actions of the mob that invaded Capitol Hill and temporarily disrupted the certifying of the Electoral College results shocking, abhorrent and reprehensible? First, outrage, excessive passion and exaggeration are un
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Predictions for 2021

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Last year, I made several predictions for 2020. My 2020 predictions were my most accurate in the twelve years that I’ve been making predictions. Critically, I failed to foresee the “black swan” Covid-19 pandemic. Below, red annotations report the accuracy of each prediction. The Senate will fail to convict Trump; he will finish his first term in office. Accurate. The presidential election will be hard fought. Trump’s base will remain loyal. The Democrats, at this time, lack a charismatic candidate who can easily defeat Trump. The race will turn on a handful of battleground states including Ohio, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Florida. The outcome of the election will hinge on events that occur between now and November. Accurate. Democrats will hold on to a majority in the U.S. House of Representatives; Republicans will continue to control the Senate in 2021. Accurate with respect to the House. The composition of the Senate was not determined by the end of 2020. The stock market’s decade l
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A Christmas message during a pandemic

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 Today I want to tell two stories. Both are true. Both speak of the hope and life-giving love that are the essence of Advent and Christmas. The first is a war story, not of the war against the COVID-19 virus but World War II. Captain Edward Beach, U.S. Navy, was a genuine hero. He commanded the first submarine to circumnavigate the globe while submerged and authored the best-selling Run Silent, Run Deep , [1] During World War II, submarines in which he was serving damaged or sank 45 enemy ships. The war’s conclusion found Captain Beach in command of the USS PIPER, underway in the East China Sea. There, just as they were entering Japanese waters, he received this message from his wife: Daughter was born August 10th X Both well X Congratulations. [2] In his words, “The war had come to an end, and life, for some of us, was beginning.” [3] “The war had come to an end, and life, for some of us, was beginning.” That captures Christianity’s essence. In the midst of this pandemic that
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A sermon without words?

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  A medieval monk announced he would preach the next Sunday evening on "The Love of God." As the shadows fell and the light ceased to come in through the cathedral windows, the congregation gathered. In the semi-darkness, the monk lit a candle and carried it to the crucifix. First, he illumined the crown of thorns, next, the two wounded hands, then the marks of the spear wound. In the hush that fell, he blew out the candle and left the chancel. [1] I don’t know if that is a true story. I do know I find the story, set in the context of traditional Christian theology, a powerful description of God's love. Each Advent, we remember John the Baptist preparing the way for Jesus, John firmly insisting that he is not the long-awaited Messiah. [2]  We hear Isaiah’s proclamation that God has called the Messiah to give justice to the oppressed, heal the brokenhearted, set prisoners free and comfort the bereaved. [3] And on Christmas Day, we joyfully celebrate Jesus’ birth, confid
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Musings about establishing a Leadership PAC

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Recent news media articles report that President Trump’s leadership political action committee (PAC) has raised more than $170 million. The PAC reportedly raised the money following his defeat in his bid for a second term as President. I’m thinking of establishing my own leadership PAC. Apparently, the only real limitation on how a leadership PAC can spend its money is a $5000 cap on a contribution to each political campaign. Money in a leadership PAC can legally fund an individual’s personal expenditures without limitation – at least if news media reports are correct. You like me, don’t you? You think that I, like Donald Trump, deserve to live a luxurious lifestyle paid for by someone else, don’t you? Wouldn’t you contribute generously to my leadership PAC even if contributions aren’t deductible on your taxes? Generous support for my leadership PAC may also help me, like Trump, enjoy a lavish lifestyle while concurrently managing my personal finances in a way that allows me to leg
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