Perhaps Not Bushy-Tailed, But...
...Rested. Well Rested.
Despite staying up later than usual, I managed to sleep deeply and restoratively. Not all time spent in bed qualifies. Many of us have had the experience of laying awake, restless and anxious. Or, waking repeatedly, and not able to quickly return to sleep.
Either situation can lead to exhaustion, headache, and a crying need for “Just ONE more hour!” of sleep.
Well, not last night. I woke aching (I’ll be seeing my rheumatologist later today) and in need of coffee, with a sore shoulder (the one I broke last summer), but functional. And, lucid. So that’s progress.
Like the latest space launch from India - it was only a test, but it worked. India has MANY very competent engineers, and it’s evident that their space program is the better for it (unlike OTHER countries, including the Official Space Program of our own).
I take no pleasure in noting NASA’s slump from their glory days - I have a friend who works there, whom I know through amateur radio connections. The agency’s problems are artifacts of government interference in the agency core mission:
Programs/locations/hiring - all are HEAVILY influenced by spineless legislators/Executive attention to public perception. Where the money flows is related to “whose Congressional district needs a financial boost”.
When there are less-than-stellar outcomes, whether a promising project doesn’t pan out, or a rocket (manned or not) blows up, there are Congressional hearings, heads on the chopping block, and a stranglehold on funding that can only be released by a public, penitential dance by the NASA leadership. Contrast that with Musk’s acceptance of the trial & error nature of HIS space program, coupled with his workers’ knowledge that they will be able to “work the problem” as Gene Kranz, the flight director during the Apollo 13 crisis, once ordered.
Leadership is critical. Probably the most essential personal quality of a great leader is fearlessness - that person needs to know that, should they speak out, they may be fired - and, speak out anyway. That quality is completely lacking in today’s federal agency and department heads.
“NASA Director: This could be the worst disaster NASA's ever experienced.
Gene Kranz: With all due respect, sir, I believe this is gonna be our finest hour.”
I have a confession to make - I am guilty of Schadenfreude - that delight that arises in your heart to see/hear/read of the misfortune of others.
This is what caused it (from the NY Post).
“The anti-Israel protester who allegedly threatened straphangers by demanding that “Zionists” raise their hands on a packed Manhattan subway car cowered behind supporters as he faced a judge Monday.
Anas Saleh, 24, ducked behind umbrellas and scarves — and even scuffled with a Post photographer — as he tried to leave Manhattan Criminal Court without showing his face, flanked by more than a dozen supporters.”
Don’t get TOO excited - the Leftist court system did its usual end-run around Actual Law:
“Saleh, dressed in a black sweatshirt and a blue surgical mask, didn’t speak during the hearing, where he was released on his own recognizance on a misdemeanor charge of coercion in the third-degree, which is not a bail-eligible offense.”
Rules are for the Little People!
BTW, here is a picture of Saleh (below).
He “is believed to have worked as a research tech at Weill Cornell Medicine’s Rhee Lab” - do keep that in mind. You MAY want to drop a line to their corporate offices, or - this is FUN! Their information, from their website, is below:
“We strive to create a safe, supportive, and vibrant environment where people from diverse backgrounds and perspectives are equally valued and able to come together around a shared commitment to human health and socioeconomic well being through science.”
Weill Cornell Medicine Rhee Lab
413 E 69th St.
New York, NY 10021
DO drop them a line (snail mail preferred - calls can be ignored, email doesn’t indicate a serious level of passion, but hard copies do - AND, are long lasting and subpoenable. If that lady is smart, she’ll get a lawyer and sue the &^%$#@#$% out of Saleh, and also the Weill Cornell place, should they be found to have tolerated his bigotry, contrary to their HR policy.
Don’t forget - Rhee Lab is a part of Cornell University. Pressure applied there might be helpful, should you have any influence.
Office of External Affairs
1300 York Avenue, Box 314
New York, NY 10065
Phone: (646) 962-9476
Any public institution, particularly those that need/request money from the public, cannot afford the bad publicity. Would that be what you might call a Low Blow?
Yep. Totally deserved, BTW. I don’t make the Rules for Radicals, I just follow them.
On to the Trump Immunity decision!
That was the standard for the entire time the USA has existed. And, it recognizes that a person using reasonable discretion in the course of their job, SHOULD be immune from vindictive prosecution. Even if the acts were, in retrospect, not the best. Or, led to a bad outcome.
The Court was VERY clear that this immunity did NOT cover UN-official acts. Like, Oh, I don’t know, maybe using that office to coerce money for PERSONAL benefit?
I kid, I kid.
No one could be imprudent enough (or DUMB enough) to do THAT!
On record. With email, text, and paper trail.
Nah.
I’m SURE that would NEVER happen.
I may ask my daughter to cross-stitch this (she calls it her stabby-needle hobby).
Now, as far as recent court decisions. There has always been some give-and-take on the Court. Justices will concede minor points, in hopes that their POV will prevail on the full decision. There are cajoling efforts, that work to sway those Justices who value the social approval of others more than actually basing their opinions on the Actual Constitution.
Women, and socially awkward men, are the main targets of this appeal to Group-Think. They are needy for the Social Cohesiveness that results in going along with the crowd. Few can endure being socially isolated and ‘not one of the group’.
Thomas is one who can, and has. However, he actually votes quite often with the majority, as this site points out.
Sotomayor was, in 2021, the most frequent dissenter. So, it would seem that dissent is only a bad thing when Non-Leftists do it.
In general, the Court seems to be restraining themselves from sweeping decisions that will up-end established norms. Even the Trump decision was decided on very narrow grounds, and quite limited in its application.
The Chevron decision was a greater threat to the Deep State; it means that the agencies cannot exceed their legislated authority to act. That would rein in both Trump or Biden/candidate to be named later. Any effect it might have would depend on having a solid majority in one party that could expand the Rule of the State.
So, a decided win, both against the Creeping Overreach of the State, and the Sneaky Impositions of the Deep/Nanny State. As far as I can see, evenhanded.
That evenhanded approach is precisely what The Left does NOT want. They want to be able to move things in their desired direction by placing their thumbs on the scale. Fairness and impartiality are anathema to them.
What is even more important is what the Court did NOT rule on, by not taking up any appeals to stop the Trump prosecution, or overturn an evident disregard for any civilized standard of justice.
Why?
It’s like poker - you never show your hand first. You make the OTHER guy commit.
Poker I know. Daddy had been a hell of a gambler (excellent at poker, sucked bigly at the track).
My guess is that, should the court sentence Trump to a term of imprisonment, they will - finally - take up the question of his unfair trial. They have not done so yet, as, should they rule, it will be used as an excuse for both street “peaceful protests” AND to whip their adherents into a frenzy of “Get Trump”. So, for that reason, they are avoiding making the decision until the last possible moment, thereby forcing The Left to either:
Follow through with imprisonment of Trump, thereby goading formerly on-the-fence voters to side with Trump, or,
Giving up, and allowing him to claim victory.
The result? The Court would have placed themselves in the crosshairs of a political fight. For years, successive Courts have carefully stayed out of political decisions. When they absolutely HAD to rule, they always did so on VERY narrow grounds. They work hard to avoid injecting themselves into partisan politics in their decisions (with the possible exception of the most recent Justice - Ketanji Jackson - who follows the younger set’s insistence on making EVERYTHING about Leftist politics).
I don’t expect the Court to act, if that would force them to favor on side or another. Only if they could find a very narrow procedural, not Constitutional reason to act, will it happen.
One reason the Left is so afraid of a Trump win is the prospect of him nominating more Supreme Court justices.