2022 May Have Been The Best Year of My Life

As I write this there are a little over 10 hours remaining in 2022 and would like to take a moment to reflect on the past 12 months.

For me, 2022 was my best year in many years. Dare I say perhaps the best year of my life.

I say this in great part because I spent the entire year back in the Boston-Cambridge-Somerville area after having moved thrice between 2018 and 2021. Simply put I am where I want to be.

I also say this because I am in my best employment situation in a decade. It is the first time in a long time where I have been in an environment people where rely on me and where my knowledge and judgment is respected and valued. Granted my position is relatively low on the totem pole but someone has to keep the totem pole sturdy. 

This year I came to accept my place in the world. Of course, this doesn't mean I like everything which goes on in my surroundings. There are battles that sometimes must be fought but I have learned to choose them wisely. I have also learned to adapt when circumstances are less than ideal and kept any adverse impact to a minimum.

Some of this comes with age. Back in September, I turned 50. I spent my birthday at the home of Fanny guitarist June Millington and her longtime partner Ann Hackler in Western Massachusetts. Turning 50 was an important personal landmark and I wanted to spend that occasion with people and a place I will remember for the rest of my life. That I accomplished.

But for the most part I maintain a firm but polite distance as I have no desire to take up space of other people and be somewhere I am not wanted. While it is natural to desire companionship of some sort it is a two-way street. Alas, one cannot travel far down a dead-end road. As such I am content with my own company and counsel and enjoy the simple pleasure of walking from point A to B. I am at peace with who I am.

Naturally, I am fully aware my present state of affairs could change abruptly and likely for the worse. Nothing is guaranteed - my home, my job, my health or the health of members of my family. It is all the more reason to savor the present but prepare as best as one can for the worst if and when it should come. 

I also worry about our state of affairs. I'm sure I always will because where there are people there are problems. While COVID is a more manageable condition it nevertheless claimed the lives of nearly 375,000 Americans this year. Then there are concerns over the future of American democracy and the rising acceptance of anti-Semitism in this country. Sadly, these two things go hand in hand. 

While American voters denied Republicans a red wave in part over their insistence about overturning elections, we must remember a majority of Republicans led by defeated former President Trump insist on overturning elections. There are also a growing number of Americans of both right-wing and left-wing persuasion who while condemning anti-Semitism among their adversaries are willing to tolerate anti-Semitism among their own ranks. 

While I still have the freedom to raise my concerns in this forum, I do so with the understanding that few will care about what I have say on these subjects or much of anything else. I shall exercise my voice while I still have it but harbor no illusions that anything will come of it. The only solace I can take is that I will speak my peace on the record when I see fit whether or not anyone wants to hear it.

With that said, I must say that I admire President Biden. Whether he chooses to run for a second term or not, I suspect that after his presidency a great many people who might not be so fond of him today will look upon his time in office as part of the good old days.

All things considered, I will look upon 2022 with great fondness and satisfaction. With this outlook in mind, I hold out the hope and possibility that a year from today I will be able to look upon 2023 with even greater fondness and satisfaction.

Pope Benedict XVI, R.I.P.

Pope Benedict XVI passed away this morning after a lengthy illness. He was 95.

Benedict's death was imminent as Pope Francis stated earlier this week that his predecessor was "very sick".

Born Joseph Ratzinger in Germany, he became Pope in 2005 following the death of Pope John Paul II. To the surprise of many people, Benedict XVI abdicated the papacy in 2013 becoming the first Pope to step down in nearly 600 years.

I remember at the time my colleagues at work were speculating that Benedict had resigned due to scandal, but Benedict had never sought the papacy. Let us also keep in mind that Benedict became Pope when he was 78 and was 85 when he stepped down amid already declining health. (It is worth noting that Pope Francis is 86). After his resignation, Benedict was bestowed with the title Pope Emeritus but asked only to be addressed as Father Benedict. 

Of course, Benedict is a product of the Catholic Church and bears a certain degree of responsibility for the sex abuse scandal and is open to criticism in this area as well as where it concerns to teachings regarding the status of the LGBTQ community. But this is also true of Pope Francis and I suspect will be true of papal successors for generations to come. While not as beloved as either Pope John Paul II or Pope Francis, Pope Benedict XVI will have a legacy of humility. R.I.P.

The American Spectator Calls George Santos "A Hero"

As some of you may know, I was a regular contributor to The American Spectator from 2009 to 2016 essentially covering most of the Obama Administration. However, I parted company when the magazine's founder Bob Tyrrell, Jr. told me to stop criticizing Donald Trump. 

It was one of the easiest decisions I ever made. As a result of their slavish devotion to Trump and Trumpism, The American Spectator considers lying to be a moral virtue and has declared Republican Congressman-elect George Santos "a hero".

In an article titled, "Here's To You, George Santos!", Scott McKay defends Santos' actions. While acknowledging Santos told "significant lies" McKay rationalizes his behavior:

But is George Santos the scandal? Hardly.

Think of Santos as a performance artist. He’s like the NASCAR driver who, seeing a wreck in front of him as he comes out of a turn and enters the straightaway, follows the old advice: pick a line and drive through it.

Santos picked his line very well, knowing that if he did he would escape any media scrutiny at all. Say you’re a Wall Street whiz, that you’re gay and Jewish and that you come from Holocaust survivors, and that you’re a 9/11 victim, if only by proxy.

Say all of that and nobody in the mainstream media, not even in New York, will bother to challenge any of it.

          And even if they do, so what? None of those lies are fatal. We already know they aren’t. 

The only kind of artistry Santos has produced is bullshit. As the Republican Jewish Coalition aptly pointed out, "George Santos Lied." 

But as far as McKay is concerned this is perfectly fine. McKay writes, "George Santos read the room. He realized that Stupid Woke America values “diversity” over competence or merit, and so he fed Stupid Woke America what it wanted."

In other words, McKay thinks the voters of New York's 3rd Congressional District (who not so long ago regularly elected Republican Peter King to Congress) are Stupid Woke Americans who got what they deserved. Ditto for the Republican Jewish Coalition who hosted Santos at one of their events during the election campaign. 

McKay further rationalizes that Santos is no different than Gisele Fetterman, wife of Pennsylvania Senator-elect John Fetterman whom he describes as "another Brazilian grifter". Mind you, Fetterman has not been accused of lying about her biography much less made fraudulent statements about her finances. But it seems McKay thinks all Brazilians are grifters. Good to know that McKay sees fit to judge people by their national origin. 

If this is the sort of garbage The American Spectator sees fit to publish, then I am glad I stopped writing for them. 

Barbara Walters, R.I.P.

Longtime TV journalist Barbara Walters passed away on Friday. No cause of death has been released. She was 93.

Born in Brookline, Massachusetts, Walters began her career in TV in 1952 with WNBT TV in New York (now known as WNBC). A decade later, Walters became an on-air personality with NBC's Today Show eventually becoming co-host in 1974.

Walters would move to ABC in 1976 where she became the first woman to co-anchor the nightly news. However, her two-year tenure with Harry Reasoner was rocky. Her distinctive voice was the subject of satire on Saturday Night Live with Gilda Radner playing Barbara Wawa.

Things turned brighter in 1979 when she became co-host of 20/20 with Hugh Downs. Walter and Downs had previously worked together on The Today Show and held each other in high regard. In addition to co-hosting 20/20, Walters regularly interviewed world leaders, celebrities and athletes which usually aired on The Barbara Walters Special. Walters interviewed everyone from President Reagan, Fidel Castro, Richard Pryor, Michael Jackson and Katherine Hepburn. 

Millennials will probably best remember Walters with The View which she created in 1997 and remained with the show until her retirement in 2014. R.I.P.

Ian Tyson, R.I.P.

Canadian folk and country/western singer-songwriter Ian Tyson passed away on Thursday at the age of 89 following a myriad of health problems. 

Best known as one half of the folk duo Ian & Sylvia with his ex-wife Sylvia Tyson, his most notable song was "Four Strong Winds". Although written in New York City in 1961 with inspiration from Bob Dylan, the song was set in Alberta where Tyson would live most of his life. "Four Strong Winds" was most notably covered by fellow Canadian Neil Young. Other artists who have covered "Four Strong Winds" include Bob Dylan, Judy Collins, John Denver, Johnny Cash, Joan Baez, Harry Belafonte, Blue Rodeo and Sarah MacLachlan. 

During the early 1970's, Tyson hosted The Ian Tyson Show on CTV and toured as part of Ian & Sylvia until the couple divorced in 1975. After a five-year hiatus from music, Tyson came back to music concentrating his efforts on country and western music.

But "Four Strong Winds" would remain Tyson's greatest legacy becoming something of an unofficial Albertan and Canadian anthem. Here are Ian & Sylvia performing "Four Strong Winds" in a 1986 reunion special in which they are joined by Gordon Lightfoot, Emmylou Harris, Judy Collins and Murray McLauchlan. R.I.P.

Pele, R.I.P.

Pele, the greatest player soccer has ever known, passed away yesterday of colon cancer. He was 82.

Even if one is not a fan of soccer one is bound to know of Pele and his exploits. He is to soccer to Babe Ruth was to baseball, Wayne Gretzky was to hockey and Michael Jordan to basketball. Pele was and remains without peer.

Not only beloved in his native Brazil for winning three World Cup titles in three different decades, but he was responsible for popularizing soccer in Canada and the United States. 

Pele was one of those individuals for whom people clamored to be in his presence. During a visit to Boston in 1975 in an exhibition match at Boston University's Nickerson Field, a mob charged the field not out of hate but just to share the same patch of earth.

More than 40 years after he scored his last goal, Pele remains a revered figure. It was Andy Warhol, who after painting his portrait when he came to play for the New York Cosmos in 1977, proclaimed that Pele would be famous for 15 centuries. 

Of course, Pele is mortal like the rest of us and his time on Earth has come to its end. But the way he played the world's most popular sport will last centuries. No one could kick like Pele could. R.I.P.

The Republican Jewish Coalition Should Call Upon George Santos to Resign

By now you've likely heard about George Santos, the Republican Congressman-elect from New York's 3rd Congressional District. It appears Santos' entire life is a litany of lies - his education, employment history, his finances as well as claims that the 9/11 attacks led to the death of his mother. Santos also lied about being Jewish (he claims he said he is Jew-ish) and that his grandparents survived the Holocaust. 

Most Republicans have been silent concerning Santos' behavior. However, the Republican Jewish Coalition has been an exception to that rule and earlier this week its Executive Director Matt Brooks issued a statement regarding Santos' deception noting that he would not be welcome at any RJC event. 

Many eons ago I was a member of the RJC. I still get their newsletters and today they further elaborated on Santos in an article titled, "George Santos Lied". I was struck by the following:

The serious allegations against Santos should be fully investigated; his breach of trust with the voters and the people who supported his campaign is inexcusable. The RJC offices have received messages from understandably outraged members who want George Santos to be denied his seat in the Congress. However, the Constitution does not permit this.

 

According to a 1969 Supreme Court decision, the Speaker of the House cannot exclude a duly elected candidate for Congress from being sworn in. The electoral rights of the voters and the states take precedence over the right of Congress to determine the fitness of its members, until the candidate is sworn in. Then Congress may take steps, including an Ethics Committee investigation, right up to an affirmative vote of 2/3 of the House to expel the member. 

The chances of a Republican Congress expelling Santos are nil and the RJC knows this all too well. There is one remedy to this situation that is available of which they are surely aware - call upon Santos to resign.

But they will not do so because Republicans have a single digit majority as it is and Kevin McCarthy is worried about being elected Speaker next week. If a special election were to be held then there is a good chance Democrats could pick it up as this district (which covers parts of Queens and Long Island) has gone back and forth between Democrats and Republicans over the past half century. 

No doubt some Republicans, if pressed, will argue that Santos has said he won't seek re-election in 2024. Given Santos' propensity for lying I would be disinclined to take him at his word. 

The Republican Jewish Coalition has said more than most Republicans where it concerns Santos. But they ought to go further and demand his resignation.

Three Thoughts on Netanyahu's Third Stint as Israeli PM

Benjamin Netanyahu was already Israel's longest serving Prime Minister having served from 1996 to 1999 and again from 2009 until last year when he was defeated at the polls.

But after the collapse of coalition of Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid which had been brokered with Mansour Abbas came Israel's fifth election since 2019. After less than two months Netanyahu cobbled together a coalition of mostly right-wing, religious parties. Here are three thoughts on his return.

First, I do share concerns that the new government will be decidedly anti-LGBTQ and implement measures eroding the rights of Israel's LGBTQ community. One of Bibi's new coalition partners is Avi Moaz of Noam who wants to, among other things, abolish Jerusalem's Pride Parade. For his part, Netanyahu has rebuked that vow as well as that of Religious Zionist MK Orit Struck who claimed the new government would allow doctors and health care workers to discriminate against LGBTQ community members seeking services. 

Nevertheless, Netanyahu needs these people to stay in office and might not have much choice but to go along with their agenda whatever his disagreements. But should that come to pass, so-called progressives eager to criticize Israel probably won't be so eager to tackle anti-LGBTQ sentiment in Gaza and The West Bank. Suffice it to say there won't be any Pride parades in Gaza City and Ramallah anytime soon.

Second, there is the strong possibility the new government will neuter Israel's Supreme Court by declaring the Knesset isn't bound by its rulings. Up until now, no one could serve in a ministerial post if they had been convicted of a crime. But a new law just passed allows people with criminal records to serve as government ministers. Surprise!!! Surprise!!! Surprise!!! One of Netanyahu's new ministers is Arye Dery of Shas who has a lengthy criminal record. Will the Supreme Court rule he cannot serve as a minister and risk the new government's wrath? Or will the Supreme Court acquiesce to the new law and relinquish its judicial independence thereby beginning the descent into authoritarianism? Unlike the anti-LGBTQ measures, Netanyahu has a vested interest in seeing the Supreme Court lose its independence amid his ongoing trial of bribery, corruption and fraud.

Finally, on the flip side, entering into this coalition does pose risks for Netanyahu. His new Police Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has a history of brandishing his gun. To this point, Ben-Gvir has directed his ire at Palestinians. That is to be expected of a man who idolized Baruch Goldstein. But suppose Ben-Gvir doesn't get his way in government? Will he point his gun at Netanyahu?

It should be emphasized that Israel has had five elections in three and a half years. There's always the chance the new Israeli government won't last any longer than the previous one. 

Dictators Aren't Cool or How El Salvador Became The World's Largest Prison

El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele has fashioned himself the "world's coolest dictator."

There is nothing cool about dictators. They're just cruel. 

Under Bukele's rule, El Salvador has become noted for two things - adopting Bitcoin as its national currency and earning the distinction of having the highest prison population rate in the world. 

Bukele's regime is ostensibly cracking down on MS-13. In reality, the 41-year old Bukele tolerates MS-13 and uses it as a pretense to arbitrarily detain ordinary citizens. An estimated 60,000 ordinary citizens have been detained. Some are arrested because it is claimed they are "looking suspicious" or "acting nervous."

One of these ordinary citizens is Walber Rodriguez who was arrested last May and is being held without trial accused of being a member of MS-13 even though he has not been specifically accused of engaging in any activity:

Once it became clear that Walber had been caught up in the crackdown, the Rodriguez family's hope for a quick release evaporated. 

By this point, they had discovered that they were not alone. All around them in Sisiguayo and the surrounding Bajo Lempa valley, people were arrested with no satisfactory explanation. The sons of two cousins who lived in a nearby community, Mario and Pablo, were among the first to be taken; their boys were handcuffed while drinking beers after a soccer game. Another neighbor was arrested even though he'd obtained and was carrying around his spotless police record, believing, wrongly, that such a thing would matter to police. He was detained holding his one-year-old in his arms.

The Biden Administration takes a dim view of Bukele and has sanctioned members of his inner circle. But Bukele himself isn't likely going anywhere anytime soon as he has an approval rating of nearly 88% and is seeking re-election in 2024. Mind you, given Bukele's authoritarian advance it would be fair to say the high approval rating doesn't represent the authentic views of the Salvadoran people. Who wants to disapprove of a leader if it means being arrested to be falsely branded a terrorist?

Not surprisingly, Bukele's authoritarianism has earned him a fan in Tucker Carlson who interviewed him last month.

Republican Cruelty Towards Migrants Comes in All Seasons

For months now, Texas Governor Greg Abbott has been sending migrants who come into the United States to jurisdictions controlled by Democrats including Washington, D.C. in front of Vice-President Kamala Harris's official residence.

This happened again on Christmas Eve. Aside from dumping people like they were trash on the eve of Christ's birth, they also dumped them in sub-zero temperatures many wearing only t-shirts. So much for peace and goodwill to all men. 

Sadly, I'm not surprised Abbott would see fit to do this to people. After all, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis had no trouble concocting fake documents from Massachusetts to lure migrants in Boston only to dump them in Martha's Vineyard back in September. Republican politicians and the constituents derive pleasure in the suffering of others.

Thankfully there are residents and community organizations prepared to step into the breach and help those in need. 

Nevertheless, it does not change the fact that Republicans look upon migrants as subhuman and unworthy of any dignity. Republican cruelty to migrants (among many others) comes in all seasons.

Looking Back at Fanny's Debut Album

Those of you familiar with this page will be familiar with my affection for the 1970's all-female rock band Fanny and how they have enriched my life, particularly lead guitarist June Millington. 

Today, I would like say a few words about Fanny's eponymous debut album released 52 years ago this month in December 1970. This, of course, marked the first time an all-female rock 'n roll band playing their own instruments would release an album on a major label. That alone makes Fanny rock 'n roll pioneers.

But what of Fanny itself? Did Richard Perry bring out the spark and thunderbolts which prompted his secretary Norma Goldstein Kemper (no relation) to tell him he needed to sign these women she had seen at an open mic night at The Troubadour in Hollywood?

There would be significant changes for the band between the triumph at the Troubadour and making rock 'n roll history. The group had gone from being called Wild Honey to being rechristened Fanny. Lead guitarist Addie Lee departed and June Millington went from rhythm to lead guitar and several keyboard players were auditioned before tapping Nickey Barclay to join. Brie Howard-Darling would briefly make Fanny five before Reprise brought it back down to four. Of course, Darling would formally join Fanny for Rock 'n Roll Survivors. But that is another story for another day. 

As I noted shortly before Canada Day, it was Canadian rock 'n roll fans who got the first taste of Fanny when Reprise Records "mistakenly" released the wrong set of masters. Although several of the songs would be part of Fanny's proper debut the track listing released north of the border is significantly different for which I have dubbed it "Fanny's Secret Canadian Album".

Fanny opens with drummer Alice de Buhr counting off into the June and Jean Millington composition "Come and Hold Me" which appears in the middle of side two of Fanny's Secret Canadian album. "Come and Hold Me" had started out as "I Find Myself", the demo of which appears on the 2002 Fanny compilation album First Time in a Long Time: The Reprise Recordings. I must confess I prefer to "I Find Myself" because it has such a strong Byrds feel to it, but "Come and Hold Me" is a good song in its own right.

"Come and Hold Me" is followed by "I Just Realized" which is one of only two songs in the Fanny canon composed by June Millington and Nickey Barclay. An up tempo rocker with strong harmonies this could have been the beginning of a beautiful songwriting partnership but as has been well documented the two were at odds with each other and a creative resolution could not be found. 

The Millington sisters return with "Candlelighter Man". Also an up tempo song with strong harmonies complimented by Barclay on keyboards. From there we hear "Conversation With a Cop", the first of five Barclay solo compositions on Fanny. "Conversation With a Cop" is a story about a woman out late at night for walk with her dog who is confronted by a suspicious police officer. Given the tragic encounters many Americans, particular people of color, have had with police in recent years this song takes on a more significant meaning.

Side one of Fanny concludes with a cover of the Cream classic "Badge". Co-written by Eric Clapton and George Harrison, the highlight of Fanny's rendition is June Millington's guitar solo which proves she is worthy of the company of both Clapton and Harrison. Needless their live version of "Badge" on French TV is even better. 

Side two of Fanny begins with three consecutive Barclay solo compositions - "Changing Horses", "Bitter Wine" and "Take a Message to The Captain". "Changing Horses" begins with a minute long piano solo by Barclay in which she talks in a stream of consciousness manner before de Buhr interjects, "It's alright, mama!!!" This is by followed the hardest driving two minutes and 48 seconds of the album. This should have been a hit single!!! Begin from "It's alright mama!!!" and then go from zero to sixty!!!

If there is a Fanny recording I want to hear live it is "Changing Horses". Knowing how good Fanny was live, I can only begin to imagine how audiences would have reacted. I can only hope June or Alice have a live recording of "Changing Horses" somewhere amid their archives.

Outside of "A Little While Later" (which closes Fanny's second album Charity Ball), "Bitter Wine" is Barclay's most emotionally vulnerable song. From the harmonies which open the song to lyrics likes Seems I hear my prayer/Falling on empty air/Bitter wine/The taste of things that cannot be this song is full of foreboding desperation. 

It is well known that Barclay did not want to join an all-girl band and in one of her rare interviews said, "I hated just about every hour of being in Fanny though....some of the actual minutes weren’t too bad." "Take a Message to The Captain" can certainly be read as expressing Barclay's ambivalence about being in Fanny with lyrics such as Yes, I’ll join you at your table/Though I cannot stay for long/I had thought I would be able/But I can see now I was wrong. It is worth noting that "Take a Message to The Captain" also appears on Fanny's Secret Canadian album.

We are then treated to Fanny's cover of "It Takes a Lot of Good Lovin'". Co-written by Al Bell and Booker T. Jones of Booker T. & The MGs, it was originally recorded for Stax Records by Judy Clay in 1967 as "It Takes a Lot of Good Love". Even more notably it was produced by Isaac Hayes. Jean Millington's vocal and the arrangement stays mostly faithful to the original with the notable exception of a Barclay solo on the Hammond B-3 in lieu of a flute and horn section.

"Shade Me" is the fifth and final Barclay solo composition on Fanny and it begins with an absolutely tasty bass part by Jean Millington before Barclay gets into the driver's seat on her piano. Fanny closes with "Seven Roads" which has the distinction of being de Buhr's first writing credit having collaborated with the Millington sisters. While Barclay was not involved in the composition of "Seven Roads" it opens with a hellacious Hammond B-3 organ solo before June's guitar steps into the picture. While "Seven Roads" did appear on Fanny's Secret Album, Jean's vocals are slightly different on Fanny but no less on point. While there may have been spots where Richard Perry watered Fanny down more than the band would have liked, "Seven Roads" ends Fanny on a strong note and leaves the listener wanting more.

And I certainly plan to write more about Fanny in 2023 with the 50th anniversary of the release of Fanny's fourth album Mother's Pride in February. Mother's Pride would be Fanny's final album recorded for Reprise and the final Fanny album with the classic lineup of June Millington, Jean Millington, Nickey Barclay and Alice de Buhr. 

The Wingspan of Wings of Desire is Too Wide For Most

 

On Thursday evening, I went to The Brattle to see the 1987 film Wings of Desire directed by Wim Wenders.

When I bought my popcorn I briefly spoke with the young lady behind the counter who asked me if I had seen the film before and indicated I saw it a few years back. She asked me where I had seen it. "Here," I replied. I then explained the main reason I went to see Wings of Desire was the presence of Peter Falk (more on him shortly) before adding that Wenders' 1984 film Paris, Texas was among my very favorite films ever and, yes, I had seen it at The Brattle "a few months ago." As it turned out, it has been a little over a year since I saw Paris, Texas at The Brattle. Memories do indeed drift. 

Aside from Falk, I remember very little about Wings of Desire. Mind you it's been 7 years since I last saw the film and lot of memories have fallen by the wayside. What I remember mainly is that Falk was essentially playing himself as an actor on a film being shot in Berlin. Falk refers to himself as Peter while those alongside him call him "Columbo" or "Lieutenant". Wings of Desire was released two years before Columbo was revived on ABC. Had Falk taken the approach to Columbo that he took with Wings of Desire the reboot would have been a far more worthy companion to the original series of the 1970's.

While Falk plays a critical role in Wings of Desire, its protagonist is played by Bruno Ganz. He plays Damiel, an angel who is tired of knowing the innermost thoughts of everyone and wishes to attain or perhaps to return to mortality. This desire is augmented when he views a beautiful trapeze artist played by Solveig Dommartin in her film debut. 

At the conclusion of the film, I overheard several people who were less than impressed with the film. One woman said she was grateful to have fallen asleep during the movie while a group of several others discussed how bored they were by the subject matter. I suspect that American audiences are easily bored by movies without violence in them. Alas the wingspan of Wings of Desire is too much for most.

There is a great deal to digest in Wings of Desire as much of the dialogue is spoken in inner monologue often delivered in a stream of consciousness which can overwhelm the senses. Imagine knowing the thoughts of every person sitting on the Red Line from Cambridge into Boston. To have a full appreciation of Wings of Desire requires repeated viewings though I doubt most people would be prepared to watch it more than once. 

Yet it is a visually compelling movie although with much of it shot in black and white it does look bleak and depressing which is all the more reason people might be disinclined to give it another look. What struck me was how the movie looked even older than it actually is. Part of it is because the movie within a movie was set in a Nazi concentration camp. Just the same, the movie was released 35 years ago and for most people this is an old movie. 

To put this into perspective, the Berlin Wall is frequently seen throughout the film. We now have an entire generation of Germans who never knew Germany was divided by West and East. The Berlin Wall has been torn down longer than it stood.

To further reinforce the idea Wings of Desire is an old movie is the cold fact that all of the principle actors involved in the film - Ganz, Falk, Otto Sander, Curt Bois and Donnmartin have all passed away. Donnmartin was only 45 when she died of a heart attack in 2007 passing away before Ganz, Falk and Sander. 

As I was watching the movie I thought how my Dad would think all of this to be pretentious though given his fondness for Columbo would appreciate Peter Falk's presence but would want more of it. I was also thinking more mundane things much like the random unnamed characters in the movie. 

Specifically, I was (and still am) thinking about the weather. It is raining as I write this dispatch. At the moment, the rain is gentle and will ease me to sleep. But come tomorrow morning and heavy winds and flooding are expected which could be particularly bad in the Seaport District where I work. With tomorrow being two days before Christmas, I hope the firm has the good sense to tell us we do not have to report to work. But I am not counting on it. In which case, I'll just have to make due. It's all part of being mortal.

With Correa Signing With The Mets, Crawford Remains The Giants' SS After All

When word came out a week ago that Carlos Correa had signed a 13-year deal with the San Francisco Giants, I quipped, "I would be very surprised if Correa is still a Giant come 2035 never mind 2025."

Well, never mind 2023.

The Giants backed out of the deal when Correa failed a physical. Correa then turned around (with Scott Boras) and signed with the New York Mets for $315 million over 12 years. Again, I don't see Correa in a Mets uniform in the 2030s. But with Correa moving to third base, a lineup with him, Francisco Lindor and Pete Alonso looks very, very good for at least a few years. 

All of which means Brandon Crawford will remain the San Francisco Giants starting shortstop for a 13th straight season. 

But it also means the Giants will get bad press because they failed to sign Aaron Judge and now Correa slipped from their grasp.

Still, the Giants did pick up former Seattle Mariners outfielder Mitch Haniger and signed two quality starting pitchers in Sean Manaea and Ross Stripling which makes up for the departure of Carlos Rodon to the New York Yankees. 

The Giants could find out that that signing three really good players is better than putting all their eggs in one basket while Correa could be their next Bobby Bonilla. 

Well, I'm Glad President Biden Told Someone The Iran Nuclear Deal is Dead

A video has surfaced of President Biden telling a woman at an election rally on November 4th in Oceanside, California near San Diego that the Iran nuclear deal "is dead, but we're not gonna announce it."

Well, I'm glad President Biden told someone. 

Back in September, shortly after the Iranian uprisings began, National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan had indicated the Biden Administration would continue to pursue re-entry into the Iran nuclear deal. My reaction was that the Biden Administration should halt negotiations.  

Now I don't know if this means the Biden Administration is still talking to the Iranian regime either directly or through back channels via Switzerland. They might very well be. But given the roughshod manner the Iranian regime is treating protesters and its support for Russia against Ukraine re-entering a nuclear deal with Iran would be, as the kids like to say, a bad look for the Biden Administration.

In this respect, Biden differs from former President Obama who wanted an agreement with Iran come hell or high water. Biden takes a far more realistic view of Iran. He might not want to announce it in a formal setting, but what he has said on the subject is sufficient - for now. I just hope he doesn't backpedal. 

Franco Harris, R.I.P.

Longtime Pittsburgh Steelers running back Franco Harris died suddenly yesterday. No cause of death has been released. Harris had no apparent health issues as he made regular public appearances in the Pittsburgh area. Only hours before his passing Harris conducted a radio interview with Christopher "Mad Dog" Russo. Harris was 72. 

What makes Harris' passing all the more sadder is that the Steelers were going to retire his number this Saturday. In what should have been a jubilant celebration will now turn into an enormous memorial service. 

Born to African-American father and an Italian mother, Harris earned four Super Bowl rings with the Steelers during the 1970's and was among the greatest running backs to ever play the game. Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1990, Harris is best remembered for the "Immaculate Reception" which occurred in a playoff game against the Oakland Raiders on December 23, 1972 - 50 years ago Friday.

Down 7-6 to the Raiders with only a minute in the game, Terry Bradshaw threw a desperation pass to Frenchy Faqua. But the pass deflected off Raiders safety Jack Tatum and into the hands of Harris at his shoestrings before taking off for a 60-yard touchdown to win the game. 

In a city which has produced sports legends like Roberto Clemente, Willie Stargell, Terry Bradshaw and Mario Lemieux, Franco Harris might have been the most beloved of them all. How many people get their own Italian Army? Much less an African-American, Irish and Israeli brigade. R.I.P.

U.S. COVID Cases Officially Top 100 Million

The United States has officially topped 100 million COVID-19 cases. According to Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, there have been 100,003,814 COVID cases resulting in 1,088,236 deaths representing a mortality rate of 1.1%. 

We have more than twice as many cases as India which is currently approaching 45 million cases (44,677,422). There have been more than 45 million COVID cases in the U.S. alone since the start of 2022. In May 2021, I thought there was a chance India could supplant the United States in terms of most COVID cases. Alas we are in class all our own.

Of course, I am well aware that we have significantly more than 100 million COVID cases. It could be as many as half of all American adults. 

The best we can do is manage COVID just like we manage everything else which might not be saying much. As of December 18th, COVID hospitalizations are nearing 35,000 (34,287) according to Our World in Data. Chances are we won't climb over 100,000 hospitalizations much less the 150,000 which was reached at the beginning of this year. Though I wonder how many Americans will heed recommendations to wear masks indoors amid COVID, the flu and RSV (a.k.a. the tripledemic). We seem very determined to learn the hard way assuming we are determined to learn at all.

In spite of ourselves, we do have vaccines and therapeutics at our disposal which have slowed hospitalizations and deaths. If we've got it then let's use it.

Boebert vs. MTG: Better They Harm Each Other Than Harm Us

Republican Congresswomen Lauren Boebert and Marjorie Taylor Greene have both made many incendiary statements and in so doing have made a great many enemies while in public office.

Now they have publicly turned their ire on each other. The source of their disagreement is Kevin McCarthy. Greene supports his bid for House Speaker and Boebert does not. 

On Monday, Boebert told Charlie Kirk, “I don’t believe in this. Just like I don’t believe in Russian space lasers, Jewish space lasers, all of this.” in a shot at Greene's Facebook posts before she was elected to Congress in which she blamed Jews for starting forest fires in California with lasers from out of space. 

Now evidently Boebert was not too happy with Greene attending a white supremacist featuring defeated, former President Trump's future dinner companion Nick Fuentes and got into a shouting match with Greene back in April. Mind you, nearly a year ago, Boebert confronted a group of Orthodox rabbis visiting Capitol Hill and asked them if they were doing "reconnaissance".

For her part, Greene took to Twitter later that day:

I’ve supported and donated to Lauren Boebert. President Trump has supported and donated to Lauren Boebert. Kevin McCarthy has supported and donated to Lauren Boebert. She just barely came through by 500 votes.

For bad measure, Greene actually accused Boebert of behaving "childishly" and engaging in "high school drama." Boebert is certainly a childish drama queen but this is from a woman who only yesterday claimed Walmart was "perverted" and "grooming" children for selling sex toys.

But fine with me. Let them fight. Better they harm each other than harm us. 

Of course, the voters bear some responsibility for the harm that has been done. After all these voters have seen fit to freely chose to elect these fools instead of responsible citizens.

The fact is they will be in Congress for at least the next two years. Will they continue to fight each other resulting in a major schism in the MAGAverse? Or, in a couple of months of time, will they once again stand shoulder to shoulder during President Biden's State of the Union address to see which one will be first to heckle the President while he speaks of his deceased son.

Tom Browning, R.I.P.

Former MLB pitcher Tom Browning, who pitched nearly his entire major league career with the Cincinnati Reds, was found dead in his home in Kentucky this afternoon. No foul play is suspected. He was 62. 

Browning's death comes less than a week after he pled guilty to operating a vehicle while impaired back in August for which he was sentenced to 180 days in jail although all but three days of that sentence had been suspended. 

A 9th round draft pick of the Reds in 1982, Browning reached the majors late in the 1984 season. Browning finished runner up in NL Rookie of the Year balloting in 1985 as he became the first rookie to win 20 games in a season since Bob Grim pulled it off for the New York Yankees in 1954 (more on that in a moment). In a normal year it would have been good enough to win Rookie of the Year honors, but Vince Coleman stole 110 bases for the NL champion St. Louis Cardinals. No other major league player has come close to stealing 100 bases. 

Browning is best known for tossing a perfect game against the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1988. On a personal note, I remember Browning's perfect game because he did it on my birthday (September 16th). It was the first perfect game in the NL since Sandy Koufax tossed a perfect game against the Chicago Cubs 23 years earlier in September 1965. 

Two years later, Browning earned a World Series ring with the Reds and was the winning pitcher in Game 3 en route to a sweep of the Oakland A's. Browning would earn his only NL All-Star berth in 1991. Between 1985 and 1991, Browning won in double digits each season before he lost his effectiveness. In 1993, during a trip to Wrigley Field, Browning snuck out of the ballpark, crossed the street and watched the game with fans across the street. 

Browning finished his career in 1995 with a very brief stint with the Kansas City Royals. In 302 big league appearances, Browning went 123-90 with a 3.94 ERA and exactly 1,000 strikeouts. 

Back to Browning's rookie season. As mentioned earlier, Browning was the first rookie to win 20 games in a season in over three decades. Not only that but he was the first southpaw to do so since Gene Bearden won 20 games with the Cleveland Indians in 1948 and the first NL pitcher to reach that figure since Larry Jansen won 21 games with the New York Giants in 1947. Just as no other MLB player has stolen 100 bases in a season since Vince Coleman, no rookie MLB pitcher has won 20 games in a season since Tom Browning. It is very possible that Browning's rookie record might stand as long as Coleman's record. 

I leave you with Browning's night of perfection. R.I.P.

Four Points on Pence's Argument DOJ Shouldn't Indict Trump for January 6th

As I'm sure you know by now, the January 6th Committee today made four criminal referrals to the U.S. Department of Justice regarding the conduct of defeated, former President Donald Trump prior to and during the attack on the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. 

To be precise, the January 6th Committee recommended DOJ charge Trump with inciting, aid and abetting or giving comfort to an insurrection, obstruction, conspiracy to make false statements and conspiracy to defraud the United States.

Prior to the unveiling of the criminal referrals, former Vice-President Mike Pence appeared on Fox News and said DOJ ought not to indict Trump for his role the events of January 6th:

But when it comes to the Justice Department's decision about, about, about, bringing charges in the future, I, I would hope that they would not bring charges against the former president. I, I don't – look, I, as I wrote in my book – I think the president's actions and words on January 6th were reckless, but I don't know that it's criminal to take bad advice from lawyers.

Pence added that any indictment of Trump would be "terribly divisive for the country."

To this, I have four points to raise.

First, to say that it is "divisive" to indict Trump is a political argument, not a legal one. If DOJ cannot indict someone because it would be divisive then no elected official is subject to the law as such an indictment is bound to offend someone. Pence is essentially arguing we are a nation of men and not a nation of laws and that Trump is basically above the law.

Second, Pence claims it isn't illegal to take bad advice from lawyers. But it is illegal to take unlawful advice from lawyers. Indeed, Sidney Powell, Lin Wood and Rudy Giuliani have all been sanctioned for their conduct in advising Trump. It is also well worth remembering, as emphasized in today's closing January 6th hearing, that most people advising Trump including members of his family urged him to concede the election. Trump disregarded their advice in favor of that of Powell, Wood and Giuliani and is responsible for the consequences of that decision. 

Third, Pence's argument is self-serving. After all, he has presidential ambitions of his own and cannot win the GOP nomination without the blessing of Trump supporters. So he's going to tell Trump supporters he doesn't think Trump should be indicted. The only problem is a great many Trump supporters still want to hang him for not going along with Trump's scheme. And why did Pence not go along with Trump's scheme? Because it was unlawful.

Finally, Pence ultimately wants to get back into Trump's good graces and maybe even be his running mate again. It is more likely than not that Trump will be the Republican nominee and Pence has no future in the Republican Party unless he gives Trump his support in exchange for his forgiveness. But even if Pence does support Trump's 2024 bid, Trump has made it clear he doesn't want to be Pence's friend anymore.

For all of these reasons, Mike Pence has yet again demonstrated himself to be a quisling without dignity. 

Why Are Some Jewish Organizations Pretending Ilhan Omar Isn't Anti-Semitic?

This past week several left-wing Jewish organizations saw fit to come to the defense of Minnesota Democratic Congresswoman Ilhan Omar over plans by presumptive incoming Speaker Kevin McCarthy to strip Omar of her committee assignments over her anti-Semitic views. 

Before I get into the substance or lack thereof of their defense of Omar, I have argued that McCarthy's plan is flawed because he only targets Omar when there have been other members of Congress who have expressed anti-Semitic sentiments on both sides of the aisle be it Rashida Tlaib or Marjorie Taylor-Greene. In the case of the latter, McCarthy intends to restore Greene's committee assignments which render his concerns of anti-Semitism as disingenuous. I also suspect that targeting Omar will augment her influence as Greene's influence was augmented when Democrats stripped her of committee assignments.

While these Jewish organizations (among them J Street, the New Israel Fund and Americans for Peace Now) rightly take McCarthy to task for ignoring anti-Semitism in their own ranks, these aforementioned groups are guilty of the same when it comes to Omar. These groups stated:

As Jewish American organizations, we oppose House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy’s pledge to strip Representative Ilhan Omar of her House Foreign Affairs Committee seat based on false accusations that she is antisemitic or anti-Israel.

False accusations?

Omar has, among other things, questioned the loyalty of American Jews, championed the BDS Movement (while opposing sanctions against Turkey and Russia) and compared Israel to Nazi Germany. If these aren't acts of anti-Semitism or anti-Israel sentiment then what is?

Mind you, Omar is perfectly happy to attend the World Cup in Qatar and brush off questions on its human rights record.

What this tells me is that these specific Jewish organizations are only concerned about anti-Semitism when it comes from right-wing sources but turn a blind eye to it among their own. In this respect, they are just as bad as right-wing Jewish figures and organizations who decry left-wing anti-Semitism but defend and make excuses for defeated, former President Trump despite supping with Holocaust deniers (i.e. Zionist Organization of America President Morton Klein and Torah Umesorah). But it is worse than that because by pretending Ilhan Omar isn't anti-Semitic and anti-Israel they help to legitimize and mainstream anti-Semitism. 

In the case of left-wing Jewish organizations is it as simple as partisan politics? Or is it also a question of identity politics and intersectionalism? Do these organizations not wish to condemn Omar for fear of being accused of racism and Islamophobia? If this is the case then what we have is a simple case of cowardice and outright lies because there are no false accusations when it comes to Ilhan Omar on the question of anti-Semitism. Alas, we have a critical mass of Jewish organizations who would rather Jews be murdered than confront anti-Semitism looking at them in the eye. Shame on them.

Dino Danelli, R.I.P.

Dino Danelli, drummer for the 1960's rock group The Young Rascals and later The Rascals, passed away on Thursday at the age of 78. Danelli's passing was announced by Rascals guitarist Gene Cornish though no cause of death was announced.

Danelli began his musical career as a jazz drummer working with Lionel Hampton while only in his teens before switching to rock 'n roll and forming The Young Rascals with Cornish, Felix Cavaliere and Eddie Brigati. The Young Rascals/The Rascals would have a string of hits between 1966 and 1968 such as "Groovin'", "I've Been Lonely Too Long" and "How Can I Be Sure".

In 1972, Danelli and Cornish would leave The Rascals to form Bulldog recording two albums. Danelli would later collaborate with Mountain's Leslie West and Little Steven Van Zandt. In 2012, Van Zandt would engineer a reunion of The Rascals into a Broadway production called "Once Upon a Dream".

Danelli has been sorely overlooked in the pantheon of rock drummers. His exuberant style undoubtedly had an influence on Carmine Appice of Vanilla Fudge and Led Zeppelin's John Bonham as demonstrated by what he did behind the kit on The Ed Sullivan Show in February 1967 when The Young Rascals performed their rendition of Smokey Robinson and The Miracles' "Mickey's Monkey". R.I.P.

Trump, NFTs & Half Baked Alaska

Some of defeated, former President Trump's most ardent supporters have been dismayed by his "major announcement" on Thursday of NFTs for $99 a pop including some who stormed the Capitol on January 6, 2021. 

Tim Gionet, a.k.a. Baked Alaska, who could face six months in jail on misdemeanor charges commented, "I can't believe I'm going to jail for a NFT salesman." Then again Gionet is now putting his faith into Kanye West exchanging one con man for another. This strikes me as half-baked.

However the NFTs sold out by Friday afternoon more than doubling in value earning Trump around $1.7 million. Trump knows that he can part fools from their money and fool them into giving him their vote. As long as he can do this then Trump has a chance to return to the White House. Because you can fool some of the people all of the time.

Correa Reportedly Signs Gigantic Contract with San Francisco

Carlos Correa reportedly signed a 13-year, $350 million contract with the San Francisco Giants. 

The 28-year old native of Puerto Rico spent the bulk of his career with the Houston Astros where he won AL Rookie of the Year in 2015 and obtained a World Series ring in 2017 although this comes with an asterik. The two time AL All-Star and one time Gold Glove winner at shortstop signed a 3-year, $105 million contract with the Minnesota Twins prior to the 2022 season. Correa, however, opted out of the remaining two years of his deal back in October seeking a longer term deal.

Unlike his deal with the Twins, there is no opt out in this contract and a full no trade clause. I would be very surprised if Correa is still a Giant come 2035 never mind 2025. There's simply too much that can go wrong. I also don't think the stats match up with the hype. Correa's numbers are good, but not among the all-time greats. He enters 2023 with 933 hits for a lifetime batting average of .279 with 155 HR and 553 RBI over 8 seasons. But he has only hit over .300 once, never hit 30 HR in a season nor driven in 100 runs. Yet Correa has earned the fourth highest free agent contract in history. It isn't to say he couldn't have a couple of good years with the Giants but I'm sure the they would have rather spent this money on Aaron Judge who opted to stay in a Yankees uniform.

But they have spent it on Correa and now must decide what to do with popular veteran Brandon Crawford who has played his entire 12-year big league career with the Giants all at shortstop earning two World Series rings. Will Crawford move to third base? Or will the Giants trade him perhaps to the Twins or to the Boston Red Sox to try to fill the void of Xander Bogaerts?

Carlos Correa has signed a gigantic contract with San Francisco. The question now is whether this contract will become a gigantic pain.

Sandy Hook @ 10: Most Republicans Prefer Dead Children Over Gun Control

Ten years ago today, 26 people were murdered at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. 

Of the 26 people who were killed that day, 20 of them were children between the ages of 6 and 7. 

Had they lived a normal life these kids would be finishing high school and preparing for college. Instead their lives were extinguished in an instant in a deliberate and wanton fashion. 

The suffering of their parents was exacerbated by those who subscribed to conspiracy theories claiming their children weren't killed.

In the 10 years which have passed, the scenes at Sandy Hook played out over and over again at grocery stores and shopping malls, clubs and concert venues, Fourth of July parades and houses of worship, colleges, high schools and other elementary schools. 

It was only after the shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas this past May which killed 21 people including 19 students did Congress pass the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act. Alas most Republicans opposed the measure thus demonstrated yet again they would rather have dead children than even the most modest of limitations on gun ownership. 

Now it's true gun control legislation won't prevent all such occurrences and it might not have prevented what happened at Sandy Hook given the guns in question were legally owned by the perpetrator's mother. But that is not reason enough to do nothing about it. The reality is that this kind of violence simply does not happen with the same frequency in other developed nations such as in the G-7 (Canada, U.K., France, Germany, Japan and Italy) as it does in the United States. It is within our power to reduce gun violence and too many among us simply do not want to do so.

Curt Simmons, R.I.P.

Former big league pitcher Curt Simmons, who pitched primarily with the Philadelphia Phillies and St. Louis Cardinals, passed away this morning. No cause of death has been released. Simmons was 93. 

Born and raised in Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania, Simmons was a high school pitching prodigy and had there been a draft back in 1947 the southpaw undoubtedly would have been the number one pick in the country. Simmons would sign with the Phillies after having struck out 11 Phillies in an exhibition game against his high school team and would make his big league debut with the club by the end of the season.

His breakout season came in 1950 as a member of the Whiz Kids going 17-8 with a 3.40 ERA. He likely would have won 20 games had he not been drafted into the Army that September shortly after the Korean War commenced. While the Phillies managed to win the NL pennant they were swept in the World Series by the mighty New York Yankees. While Simmons' presence might not have prevented a Yankee World Series triumph it might have stopped the sweep. It is worth noting that Simmons was the last surviving member of the Whiz Kids.

Simmons would miss the entire 1951 season due to military service, but would return in 1952. Between 1952 and 1957, Simmons would reach double digits in wins five times forming an effective one two punch with staff ace Robin Roberts. His effectiveness would decline in 1958 and he would miss nearly the entire 1959 season due to shoulder and elbow injuries.

After struggling on the mound, the Phillies would release Simmons in May 1960. Days later he was picked up by the St. Louis Cardinals where he would pitch for parts of seven seasons. In 1964, Simmons won a career high 18 games on a Redbirds team which swooped in to wrest the NL pennant from a Phillies team which had unceremoniously dumped him four years earlier and could have used him in the stretch drive. Simmons would go on to earn his lone World Series ring.

Simmons' effectiveness would decline after the 1964 season. By the middle of the 1966 season, Simmons would be in a Chicago Cubs uniform before ending his pitching career with the California Angels the following year. In a 20-year big league career, Simmons went 193-183 with a 3.54 ERA in 569 appearances (462 of them starts) striking out 1697 batters in 3348.1 innings pitched. 

While not a Hall of Famer, Simmons enjoyed a long, solid career and was well remembered by both Phillies and Cardinals fans. R.I.P.

Stuart Margolin, R.I.P.

Character actor Stuart Margolin, best known for his portrayal of Evelyn "Angel" Martin on The Rockford Files, passed away yesterday of natural causes. He was 82. 

Margolin's career in TV spanned nearly six decades with credits in shows such as Burke's Law, The Fugitive, The Alfred Hitchcock Hour, The Monkees, Bewitched, That Girl, My World and Welcome to It, The Partridge Family, Cannon, M*A*S*H, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Rhoda, Gunsmoke, Magnum P.I., Hill Street Blues, The Tracey Ullman Show, Matlock, 30 Rock, NCIS and The X-Files. 

Margolin was a semi-regular on Love, American Style when he came to the attention of James Garner who cast him as his sidekick on the short-lived TV series Nichols. While this show did not succeed, The Rockford Files certainly did and one of the reasons for its success was the presence of Margolin as Angel. With a friend like Angel who needed enemies? Yet for all his sleaziness and willingness to sell Rockford down the river, Margolin played him with a sense of charm and dignity which would earn him two Emmy Awards. After The Rockford Files went off the air, Margolin collaborated with Garner in the short-lived revival of Bret Maverick. 

Margolin also directed several episodes of The Rockford Files as well as Wonder Woman, The Love Boat, Hart to Hart, Northern Exposure, Quantum Leap, Touched by an Angel as well as several Canadian TV shows like Danger Bay, North of 60, Jake and The Kid and DaVinci's Inquest. 

Occasionally, Margolin appeared on the big screen in films like Kelly's Heroes, Days of Heaven and Death Wish with Charles Bronson. In Death Wish, Margolin plays Aimes Jainchill, a gun loving land developer who gives Paul Kersey his first gun. He could have played Jainchill as a caricature but gave him some depth and dimension. 

I leave you with what Margolin did best - throw Jim Rockford under the bus. R.I.P.

MTG Can Uphold The Constitution or Lead an Insurrection, She Can't Do Both

Like every member of Congress, Marjorie Taylor Greene swears an oath to uphold the United States Constitution and she will do so again when the 118th Congress is sworn in on January 3rd. 

But her oath will be meaningless. As you probably know by now while addressing Young Republicans in New York City over the weekend, Greene said regarding January 6th, “I want to tell you something, if Steve Bannon and I had organized that, we would have won. Not to mention, we would’ve been armed.”

For her part, Greene claimed she was being sarcastic. Well, somehow I doubt New York Young Republican President Gavin Wax was being sarcastic when he declared, “We want to cross the Rubicon. We want total war. We must be prepared to do battle in every arena. In the media. In the courtroom. At the ballot box. And in the streets."

If Marjorie Taylor Greene believes she can overthrow the United States government she is more than welcome to try. But if she does she cannot be a member of Congress. Because you cannot take an oath to uphold the Constitution and then lead an armed mob to terminate it, to borrow a word from defeated, former President Trump.

Marjorie Taylor Greene can uphold the Constitution or lead an insurrection, but she cannot do both.

Trump Questions The Loyalty of American Jews - Again

Fresh off his dinner with Kanye West and his Holocaust denying pal Nick Fuentes, defeated former President Donald Trump saw fit to question the loyalty of American Jews yet again. On his inaptly named social media platform Truth Social, Trump claimed:

How quickly Jewish Leaders forgot that I was the best, by far, President for Israel. They should be ashamed of themselves. This lack of loyalty to their greatest friends and allies is why large numbers in Congress, and so many others, have stopped giving support to Israel.

Less than two months ago, Trump also took to Truth Social to claim, "U.S. Jews have to get their act together and appreciate what they have in Israel - Before it is too late!"

As I argued at the time, Trump wasn't complaining about Jews not appreciating Israel, but rather Jews not appreciating him because it is always about him. The only difference now is that Trump openly sups with Holocaust deniers. The fact that Trump said this yet again demonstrates that he seeks to bolster his support among anti-Semites. As such we can expect more of it. And if there is more to come it will invariably lead to more Jews being murdered in America for being Jews.

Some Thoughts on Brittney Griner's Ordeal & Release

Although the ordeal of WNBA player Brittney Griner's near year long captivity in Russia has been the spark of considerable public discourse, I have not commented on the situation. It isn't that the situation wasn't worthy of my attention. Rather I wanted to give it proper attention. Now that she has been freed from captivity I offer these thoughts.

For starters, I am glad that Brittney Griner is free. I don't think she should have ever been detained in the first place. The drug charges and her "confession" all seem rather dubious to me. I suspect that she was targeted mainly due to her sexual orientation. One need only look at the new anti-LGBTQ law Putin just signed into law. The Russian regime knows full well that a significant segment of the American public is anti-LGBTQ and not particularly hospitable to African-Americans. Conservatives fell all over themselves decrying Griner. 

There was a time that if an American or a group of Americans were held in captivity that we would rejoice in their release. The release of the American hostages held in Iran for over a year immediately comes to mind. But that America is gone and unlikely to return.

I remember the three Americans who were hiking in Kurdish controlled Iraq in 2009 only to accidentally wander into Iran and were held in captivity for two years. While writing for The American Spectator, I advocated for their release although the reader feedback I got for my advocacy was less than sympathetic while other American Spectator contributors focused on the political views of the hikers. As I wrote back in September 2011:

This morning, Ross Kaminsky noted how seeped Bauer is in moral equivalence when he called for “the freedom of other political prisoners and other unjustly imprisoned people in America and Iran.” Indeed, I don’t recall anyone in this country dying in captivity for writing a blog.

Needless to say, I don’t share the political views of Bauer and company nor would I be inclined to spend my leisure time hiking in Iraqi Kurdistan. A day trip to Walden Pond will do just fine. Yet that is beside the point. Whether we like it or not and whether they like it or not, Bauer and Fattal are Americans. And if an American citizen is held hostage in a foreign country we don’t ask how they voted in the last election or if they are a contributor to The Nation. It didn’t stop the Reagan Administration from working to free Reverend Benjamin Weir from captivity in Lebanon even though he was a fierce critic of Reagan’s foreign policy.

The same applies to Brittney Griner's political views. I don't agree with her stance on the Star Spangled Banner being played before sporting events just as I don't with San Francisco Giants manager Gabe Kapler's stance. As with Kapler, I believe Griner is aiming at the wrong target. Yet as with the American hikers held hostage in Iran, it is besides the point. That I might disagree with Brittney Griner does not warrant her being held in captivity in another country and coerced by, for lack of a better term, its justice system. I wouldn't wish that upon anyone. Unfortunately, this is precisely what a significant number of Americans wished upon Brittney Griner and they derive pleasure in their inhumanity.

Now one can reasonably argue whether Griner ought to have been exchanged for a Russian arms dealer. However, I am disinclined to take the ramblings of former Vice-President Mike Pence on the subject with any degree of seriousness nor do I think would the parents of Otto Warmbier. 

Unlike Otto Warmbier, Brittney Griner is alive and back home. No doubt she will have to face with this ordeal for the rest of her life and the sarcasm of those at Fox News snickering if she will now stand for the national anthem won't help matters. While the past cannot be undone, we can only hope that Brittney Griner can take solace in the comfort of her wife, her family and seek out any professional that help she needs to cope with a burden most of us cannot conceive much less experience.

Romney Won't Support Trump in 2024; But Will That Matter?

Yesterday during a Washington Post forum on climate change, Utah Republican Senator and 2012 GOP presidential nominee said he will not support Donald Trump if he is the Republican nominee for the White House in 2024. 

"Absolutely not," said Romney. Noting that he twice voted to impeach the defeated, former President, Romney added, "It’s not just because he loses. It’s also he’s simply not a person who ought to have the reins of the government of the United States."

Naturally, I'm glad Romney said it. But my gladness is tempered by two things. First, Romney will be an exception to the rule. 

I'm aware that Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell wouldn't commit to backing Trump in 2024 earlier this week. But who knows about next week? After all, less than six weeks after the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol, McConnell was prepared to let bygones be bygones. Whatever reservations McConnell and other Republican Senators and Congressmen might have about Trump, if he wins the nomination they will get behind him despite his two impeachments, inciting an insurrection, having dinner with a Holocaust denier and wanting to terminate the Constitution. 

As for Romney, let us keep in mind that it is unclear if he will seek re-election in 2024. If Republicans in Wyoming were prepared to toss Liz Cheney to the curb, Republicans in Utah will do the same with Romney. Should Romney elect not to run in 2024, his words against Trump will carry far less weight.