Come Heller high water …
- For a little perspective, imagine this news report: “A Justice Department investigation today listed 10 ways in which President Lincoln likely obstructed an investigation into Confederacy interference on Lincoln’s behalf in his 1860 election win. The report revealed that Mr. Lincoln’s reaction to the appointment of special prosecutor Robert Mueller to lead the investigation was ‘This is the end of my presidency, I’m fucked.’ To date, the investigation has indicted 34 people
and three Confederacy businesses on charges ranging from stealing documents to conspiracy and financial crimes. Those indictments have led to seven guilty pleas and four people sentenced to prison. Lincoln hailed the news that there wasn’t enough evidence to prove he criminally conspired with the Confederacy but that he and his campaign had numerous ties to and were certainly eager to benefit from Confederacy meddling as ‘complete and total exoneration.’” - My point: Any other era, any other president, Trump would be impeached by the House and convicted by the Senate. The reaction today? “Hey, Game of Thrones is back!” We are a strange, strange nation.
- Someone said to me, “The investigation took two years! That’s awful!” Really? The Starr investigation into Whitewater (a Clinton land deal) took 1,693 days and resulted in Clinton’s impeachment, not on anything to do with Whitewater but for lying about a dalliance with Monica Lewinsky. The Mueller investigation lasted 674 days.
- I spent the last week in Napa Valley, California, and I am here to report that they have this thing out there they call “the sun.” It’s this big, orange ball that hangs in the sky where the clouds should be, and it radiates this stuff called “heat.” I asked the locals and they said it’s a common occurrence, if you can believe it. Californians appear to enjoy it. Maybe Michigan should give it a try.
- Napa Valley was lovely, of course. But it wasn’t any lovelier than Michigan’s wine region in Grand Traverse and Leelanau counties. In fact, I would contend that ours are prettier because of the lakes.
- Oddest thing I saw in Napa: a winery with a full-size Italian castle (Castello di Amorosa, in Calistoga), complete with turrets, a drawbridge, a moat and a torture chamber. The owner always wanted to build a castle and own a winery. So, he did. I always think it’s cool when someone actually pursues and reaches a dream. So few of us do.
- Every time I fly I wonder why airlines don’t board the back of the plane first. Wouldn’t that make more sense? I know the first-class people like to board first, but is it any fun for them to wait longer for the plane to take off because of the stupidly inefficient boarding process? Or do they enjoy watching the coach people file glumly back to the no-knee-room zone while they sip on Chardonnay? And is coach the new steerage?
- Every year, I wonder what the rest of the world thinks of our Easter Bunny? Do they think, as they should, “What the heck does a giant rabbit have to do with the resurrection of Jesus Christ, and, in any event, why would a rabbit deliver eggs?” It’s no wonder half the world thinks we’re nuts.
- I’m not Catholic but I think the criticism of the money flowing in to restore Notre Dame is unfair. Yes, it’d be nice if people cared that much for their fellow man, too. But places like Notre Dame matter. Giving isn’t a zero-sum game.
- I can’t take Time magazine’s 100 most influential list seriously when it includes so many actors and sports stars. (The Rock? Really? Since when is the ability to flex your pecs “influence”? Jealousy? Perhaps. Why do you ask?) Also, shouldn’t they split it into good and bad influences? I saw more than a few people who are terrible human beings.
- Why am I sort of ashamed that I ponied up for HBO so I could watch the conclusion of “Game of Thrones”? I can’t help it. I want to know who wins. My bet is on Arya Stark because she’s tough and smart. My other bet is the White Walkers win. A non-happy ending would be very much in keeping with George R. R. Martin’s style.
- Bob Dylan stopped a concert recently and scolded the audience for using cell phones, saying “Take pictures or don’t take pictures, we can either play or we can pose, OK?” I wish more performers would take that stand.
- Whenever I watch a Tigers game on TV and they show people sitting inside Comerica Park’s bars, I think, “What are you doing in there, the game’s outside!” Why bother going if you’re going to drink and watch the game inside on TV. I will never understand human beings.
- “Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated.” – Confucius.
Happy Easter.
Image credit: DonkeyHotey, via Flickr
The Mueller report exposed the fibber in chief and those whose he surrounded himself with as unscrupulous individuals.
Just wait until the SDNY is done, the mushroom headed one and his minions will be off to the clink for a very long time.
Yeah, well, I’ve heard that one before – with the Mueller report. Face it, he’s going to get off scot-free. Since a president can supposedly not be charged in office except by Congress, he won’t be charged in SDNY until after he’s out of office. And then people will say, aw, just leave him alone, what’s it matter anymore. You watch.
The concept where something may not prove to be against the law but is still wrong is called ethics. Apparently that word is not in Trump’s dictionary.
Another great column, Andy!
Thanks, Barbara. They’d rediscover the word if a Democrat did it.
But Andy, the Trump fans would be thrilled if the Confederacy could had interfered on Trump’s behalf. You should know that by now. Many of them still wave the Confederate flag and they are the ones crying the most when statues are removed. Plus, let’s not forget Charlottesville. There was no shortage of MAGA hats there.
Very true. And as usual, Democrats are letting Republicans control the narrative post-report and can’t articulate a clear direction now that we all know what a scoundrel and enemy of the nation that Trump really is.
I agree with you on the Lincoln statements and can never understand why anyone would support Trump and his way of running our government. The only reason I can figure out are people are so hung up on getting entertained it’s like a bad TV series you watch unfold every day. Expect this is real life and Trump does affect real people in a very bad way. My hope and I think it will happen is by Nov 2020 people will be tried of this Reality TV president . And his show that Trump calls being a president will be canceled for the good of of the country.
Hate to say this but he will be elected again. Money talks and big business loves him. Getting rid of all environmental laws and passing all the cost of cleanup on the taxpayer hasn’t sunk in to the voting public yet. If the Dems put in someone so far to the left they don’t have a chance of winning. Maybe if he wins again he will screw this country up so bad that the kool aid drinkers will finally come to their senses. That’s the only way they will see the light and you can’t tell them differently.
It is shocking to see so many Democrats, so filled with vile hatred. You spew this venom on Easter Sunday?
May Jesus Christ bless you all.
Says the hypocrite who defended the vile hateful racist who killed Heather Hayes in Charlottesville. If you really believe in Heaven, you might want to start getting yourself on the right side of Jesus. He supposedly loved all, even those who followed Islam and had dark skin. He wouldn’t turn away people in need at the border. And, he certainly wouldn’t rip their children away from them. Take a good hard look at yourself hypocrite.
Happy Easter Abner!
I chime in often, usually to express my dismay to what trump has done to our great country and the republican party to which I was devoted to for over fifty years.
I supported Kasich in the GOP election, but when trump got the nod, I bowed out.
I am now an independent but I lean more to the democratic side due to the nonsense spewed by the tea party, the far right, and our current president.
Not everyone who dislikes the fibber in chief is a democrat, I am proof of that.
I’m just confused as to why the confederacy would want to support Lincoln (in this hypothetical). Lincoln was dedicated to preserving the union.
Outstanding column today, Andrew!
We are all anxious hoping you can figure out that big orange ball thing that gives off heat…sounds nice!
Christmas is magical, but Easter is too!
From darkness to light, they are both about life,
For the poor and the wealthy, and all others too,
The sun (Son) shines on all–
Happy Easter to you!
Bunnies and eggs are Pagan holdovers co-opted by Christians (Spring Solstice)
Same as many Christmas traditions. (Winter Solstice)
All politics aside……we boarded the plane in Mazatlan, Mexico from both ends, simultaneously. Talk about efficient.
1. Great Confederate analogy, Andrew.
2. The Mueller Report confirms that the president is, at best, a baloney-slinging dangerous rattlesnake. (Talk about your mixed metaphors!!) How about if I write Trump is a gonif and a momser? There probably are thousands of Americans who would be better presidents than Trump.
3. Trump’s supporters are credulous schnooks, taken in by his horsefrokkey. Please, schnooks, think for yourselves, wake up!
Andrew, I am glad that you are not a history teacher. You definitely do not know it.
The south in no way, shape and form would have any dealings with President Lincoln.
Did know President Lincoln know people from the south? Yes he did.
before the south tried to leave the United States President Lincoln had meetings with Senators and others from the south.
In your narrow minded world you and the rest of the democrats would have had President Lincoln up for all sorts of investigations and spurious charges. Probably long enough for the south to be in such a position to make fighting the south very unwise.
The south did not want President Lincoln to win the 1860 election. They wanted the democratic party candidate to win. That person cannot be considered as bad as hilliary clinton. But he was a democrat like those who wanted to keep slavery an ongoing business in the south.
The south said they would separate from the Union if Mr. Lincoln won the office of presidency.
When President Lincoln the south we know did leave the Union.
The south kept their word to leave the Union, unlike a lot of the liberal elites (those in hollywood and other places) who vowed to leave the United States if President Trump won.
A couple of points to bring up of all those who were charged/convicted of lying and other crimes, none of those charges had nothing to do with the specious collusion/obstruction charges.
Most of those events occurred before they came on the Trump band wagon.
Point of interest: You can be charged for lying to prosecutors for by talking to them without a lawyer present. If during your statement phase of the interrogation you do not use the same
exact words during a second interrogation and somehow you either omit or add some words then you will be charged for lying to the investigators, whether you are under oath or not.
Funny that nadler creature demanding that the full report be released to the public without redactions is the same nadler who at the end of the slick willy clinton investigation went on record to state that such reports should not be allowed to be seen by the public.
Jim, you do crazy better than most, I’ll give you that.
To jbcsfl,
You described me 99%. I have been a Republican since I first began voting in the early ‘60’s. The last election was a great challenge for me as I felt deeply obligated to vote but there were no acceptable choices. The best I could do was vote against the worst choice, which was Trump. I consider myself first an individual committed to Christian values. Today I identify as an independent, still looking for a candidate with moral and ethical values. I am not filled with hatred toward anyone, even Trump, I am filled with love for my Christian values and looking for candidates who possess the same wisdom. I can’t for the life of me understand how anyone who considers themselves a practicing Christian can identify with today’s Republican.
I have often wondered that about airlines, also. Why board the front of the plane, have them blocking the aisles trying to get their carry-ons in the overhead, while the back of the plane is waaiittiinngg to get through. We flew Allegiant this year for the first time, and they checked boarding passes and directed passengers to either the front or back to board.
Trump exhausts us. None of what he says actually is true, but most of it might conceivably be true, in a far-fetched sense. It is extremely hard to combat every single word out of his mouth, every day, year-in, year-out.
He fibs, prevaricates, lies, outrages every single day. The truth bores him. And, it is extremely hard to refute him every single day. We are worn out.
We deserve much better. We deserve a much better president.