Fanny's Secret Canadian Album

Fanny shall always have their place in rock 'n roll history as the first all-female band to release an album on a major label when Reprise unveiled their eponymous debut album in December 1970.

But it would be Canadian rock n' roll fans who would get the first opportunity to hear Fanny on vinyl, cassettes and 8-track tapes. However, the Canadian edition of Fanny was significantly different from what American fans would put on their turntables and tape decks.

For reasons which have never been explained, Reprise somehow pressed the wrong master tapes. As Fanny's lead guitarist June Millington wrote in her 2015 memoir Land of a Thousand Bridges: An Island Girl in a Rock 'n Roll World:

Just when Wild Honey became Fanny is lost in the mists, but we'd already recorded for many hours, days and months and in fact an initial album was "mistakenly" released in Canada. It had the results of demos with Donna Pence and Wendy (Haas-Mull) with much early experimentation in the endless try-out period, plus our first versions of songs recorded with Nicky (Barclay). Did we know about that release? Maybe not; so much of the business was taken care of by the "the office" (Blue Peacock), and we didn't pay attention unless specifically asked to.

This is why I characterize this release as Fanny's Secret Canadian Album. Whether or not the members of Fanny were aware that a different version of their debut album was released north of the border, as someone who was born and raised in Canada, I would like to think that perhaps someone in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan or Medicine Hat, Alberta still has an original copy of this "mistake." So in honor of Canada Day (which takes place on July 1st) here is my take on Fanny's Secret Canadian Album. 

The Canadian version of Fanny opens with two tracks which don't see the light of day in the United States until their 1971 sophomore effort Charity Ball - "Charity Ball" and "Place in The Country". The U.S. version of "Charity Ball" would become the first of Fanny's two songs which reached the Billboard Top 40 chart. While the U.S. version of "Charity Ball" features an intense vocal from Nickey Barclay and a riveting guitar solo from June Millington, the Canadian version has a more jingle-jangle tone to it. While pleasant enough when compared with the American version it comes off as a work in progress.

The Canadian version of "Place in The Country" has a slower, bluesy tempo. While I prefer the faster, harder driving version which was released on Charity Ball (to say nothing of the band's live rendition on the West German TV show Beat Club), this first version of "Place in The Country" has a great deal going for it.

There are five songs on Fanny's Secret Canadian Album which would not see the light of day in the U.S. until the release of the Rhino compilation album Fanny - First Time in a Long Time: The Reprise Recordings in 2002 - "Changes", "One Step at a Time", "Nowhere to Run", "Lady's Choice" and "New Day". "Changes" and "One Step at a Time" are the third and fourth songs on the Canadian edition of Fanny. 

Penned by June Millington, "Changes" is a pensive rocker augmented by a strong keyboard part. Given the excerpt from June's book one wonders if Donna Pence or Wendy Haas-Mull were behind the keyboards for this recording. 

"One Step at a Time" was written by Nick Ashford and Valerie Simpson along with Josephine Armstead and was originally recorded by Maxine Brown in 1965. Fanny's version of "One Step at a Time" should have been their breakout hit. "One Step a Time" begins with the closest thing to a drum solo Alice de Buhr ever did with Fanny followed by a tasty bass from Jean Millington. The Millington sisters follow the dual vocals done on the Maxine Brown record but do so with much more power and authority punctuated by June Millington guitar solo during the bridge. Fanny should have been pushed to the moon and I think "One Step at a Time" could have been the song which launched them there.

It isn't until the fifth song of the Canadian version of Fanny that you get a song which appeared on the U.S. release - Nickey Barclay's "Conversation With a Cop". This is followed by a cover of the Holland-Dozier-Holland "Nowhere to Run" made famous by Martha & The Vandellas. I suspect that "Nowhere to Run" was played many a time by the Millington sisters and de Buhr during their days as The Svelts and later as Wild Honey. Aside from a different vocal take from Jean Millington, the Canadian version of "Seven Roads" is nearly identical to the U.S. version. Barclay's "Take a Message to the Captain" and the Millington sisters' "Come and Hold Me" is the same as on the American release.

Fanny's Secret Canadian Album concludes with "Lady's Choice" and "New Day" both of which were composed by the Millington sisters. "Lady's Choice" could be viewed as an early feminist anthem with lyrics like, "Don't try to rule me/Don't try to fool me/Do what you want me to do/But it's still my choice". In view of last week's Supreme Court ruling overturning Roe v. Wade, the more things change the more they stay the same.  

"New Day" is a more free flowing, introspective piece accentuated by a brief harmonica solo. Who played that harmonica solo? Was it a Fanny member? Could it be possibly have been producer Richard Perry? It would prove to be the only time a harmonica was ever played on a Fanny record and Canadian fans were afforded that treat.

I have included a link at the top of this article so Fanny fans can appreciate the Secret Canadian Album in its entirety. Fanny will always find their place in the country, whatever that country might be.

Republicans Have Already Chosen Trump Over The Constitution

In a speech at the Reagan Library yesterday, Congresswoman and January 6th Committee Vice-Chair Liz Cheney declared:

But the reality that we face today, as Republicans, as we think about the choice in front of us, we have to choose. Because Republicans cannot both be loyal to Donald Trump and loyal to the constitution.

While I share Cheney's sentiments, Republicans chose Trump over The Constitution long ago. When polled, 7 out of 10 Republicans believe Trump won the 2020 election. So long as that many Republicans hold such beliefs then that horse left the barn and isn't coming back.

Now let's say Trump decides not to run after all or ends up losing to Florida Governor Ron DeSantis in the 2024 GOP primary. It's not like DeSantis has acknowledged Joe Biden is the President of the United States. As for the January 6th Committee, DeSantis has publicly asked, "Why are they beating this dead horse?" DeSantis doesn't want to hear any more about an attempted coup than Trump does. If the GOP nominates DeSantis or anyone else other than Trump in 2024 that candidate will not repudiate him much less his conspiracy theories.

I know Cheney got a standing ovation in the Reagan Library, but she won't likely get one from the voters in Wyoming in the Republican primary. As for Ronald Reagan, he has been dead for almost 20 years and most Republicans have consigned him to the ash heap of history. If Reagan had come back to life he would have struggled to recognize a political party and a conservative movement that not only attacks other Republicans but cheers on Russian aggression.

Liz Cheney made a great time for choosing speech. The only problem is that she made it six years too late - at least where Republicans are concerned. Her remarks could in the long run resonate with independent voters who might see fit to re-elect Joe Biden. But so long as Republicans view Cheney as aiding Biden and Democrats at large then they will ignore what she says as their minds were already made up.

I Still Say To Hell With Ben & Jerry's

It turns out that Ben & Jerry's will be sold in East Jerusalem and in the West Bank after all. 

After a nearly year long saga, Ben & Jerry's parent company Unilever has agreed to sell its holdings in Israel and the West Bank to Avi Zinger, the man who has long distributed Ben and Jerry's in Israel. Ben and Jerry's abruptly ceased doing business with last summer because it was "inconsistent with their values." Evidently doing business in authoritarian states like Hungary and Thailand is just fine and dandy.

Although Zinger can only use the Ben and Jerry's name in Hebrew and Arabic, Ben and Jerry's voiced its opposition to the move reiterating that selling in East Jerusalem and the West Bank is inconsistent with their values. Keep in mind that Ben and Jerry's originally wanted to boycott all of Israel and Unilever nixed that. Why they couldn't have nixed the boycott in its entirety is beyond me. 

Notwithstanding these developments, my position towards Ben and Jerry's hasn't changed one iota. To hell with them and any company which singles out Israel for derision while giving a pass to other countries and flat ignoring the abuses of the Palestinian Authority and Hamas. Regardless of the fact that Ben and Jerry's was founded by Jews, theirs is an anti-Semitic act.

4 Observations of Cassidy Hutchinson's Testimony to The January 6th Committee

When the week started no one was expecting the January 6th Committee to make the news, but it did today with the testimony of Cassidy Hutchinson, a one time senior aide to former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows. Here are 4 observations of her testimony.

1. Defeated Former President Trump is as Bad As You Think He is....And Worse

Over the years, Trump has been described as "a spoiled toddler". When Mike Pence refused to go along with his scheme to block certification of the 2020 election, Trump told him, "I don't want to be your friend," as if he were in kindergarten. And now thanks to Hutchinson we now know that he throws ketchup at the wall when things don't go his way.

But it is much worse than that. We also now know that Trump not only knew his supporters were armed but that he didn't care they were armed because, "They're not here to hurt me." However, the same could not be said for Pence and Nancy Pelosi and Trump was fine with it. 

It also turns out that Trump really did want to go down to the Capitol with the insurrectionists but the Secret Service said no. But Trump doesn't like the word no and when he heard it, he tried to physically accost a Secret Service agent and wrest the steering wheel of the presidential limo from him. Hutchinson stated under oath that Trump said, "I'm the 'effing President, take me up to the Capitol now!"

In light of this testimony, how can any Republican be prepared to support Trump for another White House bid or any elected office?

2. Republicans and Conservatives Will Continue to Rationalize & Justify Trump's Behavior

But of course Republicans and conservatives will continue to support Trump's re-election bid. Fox News anchor Martha MacCallum excused Trump's temper tantrums claiming that throwing his lunch was "not wholly out of character."  Standards among conservatives have been sufficiently lowered that someone who is in the habit of throwing things in anger is perfectly acceptable behavior from a U.S. President. At least Democrats gave some pause after revelations of Minnesota Senator and 2020 presidential candidate Amy Klobuchar's temper and her habit of throwing objects at her staff came to light. 

It is worth noting that MacCallum did not attempt to excuse Trump not caring his supporters were armed, physically accosting a Secret Service and attempting to take control of the presidential limo in order to oversee a coup. But I am sure others will find a way to do so. Paging Tucker Carlson.

3. Republicans and Conservatives Will Vilify Cassidy Hutchinson, But Not Under Oath

After today, Cassidy Hutchinson's life will never be the same. Whatever political ambitions within the Republican Party are gone. This is the least of her problems. She will likely have to live under armed guard for years to come possibly for the rest of her natural life. The source of this danger will come from Republicans and conservatives who will besmirch her and motivate Trump supporters to threaten grievous harm against her. What else can one expect from a group of people who worship Kyle Rittenhouse as a hero?

There will also invariably be Republican politicians and conservative media figures who will dispute Hutchinson's testimony, call her a liar and demand she be prosecuted for perjury. But not one of them is going to testify under oath to that effect. Those who will see fit to condemn Hutchinson have spent the past 18 months or so claiming Trump won the 2020 election, all they know how to do is lie in front of the camera. The question remains is if Hutchinson's testimony will motivate others to tell the truth.

4. How Many More Surprise Hearings Will The January 6th Committee Convene?

Before yesterday, the January 6th Committee wasn't expected to convene again until after Fourth of July weekend. The answer to that is how many people are willing to come forward and come forward with credible testimony? If it is a lot then it could be a question of the January 6th Committee managing the process. In which case, they might have to extend hearings. You can only surprise people so often, but in a fluid situation such as this where the stakes are so high they can always say there's more to come. At least until the midterms that is.

An Atlanta Subway Employee Killed For Putting Too Much Mayo on a Sandwich

Last night, a Subway employee in Atlanta was shot and killed while another employee is in critical condition. 

The "man" shot the two women because there was too much mayonnaise on his sandwich. The assailant is in custody, but has not been identified other than he is 36. 

Because there was an excess of a condiment on a sandwich, a 26-year old woman named Brittany Macon is dead and another woman is clinging to life. The latter woman's 5-year old son had to bear witness to this horror and will probably carry these scars for the rest of his life. 

This story stands out to me for two reasons. First, because a woman was slain for the most trivial of reasons. Second, because this took place in Atlanta. Mind you this isn't the first time someone has been murdered in Atlanta for a trivial reason. Just last March, a woman lost her life over a bowling ball.

But here is someone who just started a job within the past month only to lose her life because of it. Who is going to want to work in the kind of environment where making a sandwich becomes a matter of life and death?

It is also a reminder of just how violent Atlanta is. Of course, violence can occur anywhere. A young man was very badly beaten here in Boston a few days ago right outside South Station. But things are a far more lethal in Atlanta. In Boston, there have been 13 homicides thus far in 2022. In Atlanta, there have been 82. Atlanta is a larger city but it isn't six times larger than Boston. Yet Atlanta has more than six times as many murders as Boston. 

The one homicide in Atlanta which remains on my mind is the slaughter of Katherine Janness and her dog inside the main entrance of Piedmont Park last July - only two blocks from where I lived. Atlanta Police are no closer to a suspect, much less a motive now than they were nearly a year ago. As much as I enjoyed my Atlanta apartment, I was far less comfortable outside of it. When it is all said and done, I'm far more at ease up here.

Still who can say that someone in Boston, Cambridge or Somerville won't get upset about their dinner and be prepared to kill for it? Who can also say that I one day might end up in the wrong place at the wrong time? But for the Grace of G-d....

Colorado Avalanche Deny Tampa Bay Lightning a 3rd Straight Stanley Cup

Last night, the Colorado Avalanche bested the Tampa Bay Lightning 2-1 in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup to win their first championship since 2001. In so doing, the Avalanche denied the Lightning a third straight Stanley Cup title. 

It represents the Avalanche's third Stanley Cup in franchise history. The common denominator for all three championships is Joe Sakic whose roots with the team go back to its days when they were known as the Quebec Nordiques. Sakic led the team to its first two titles as a player in 1996 and 2001 and now serves as the team's general manager a role he has held since 2014. The Avalanche did have some lean years, but Sakic stayed steady and the team kept their faith in him and last night it paid off and with a young team it could pay off for many years to come.

Still, next year will mark 30 years since a Canadian team last won the Stanley Cup. I would like to see Stanley Cup come home next year. It has been in exile long enough.

U.S. Has Officially Surpassed 87 Million COVID Cases

The United States has officially surpassed 87 million COVID-19 cases. According to Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, there have been 87,078,601 cases resulting in 1,016,196 deaths representing a mortality rate of 1.2%. 

Of course, the case rates are probably substantially higher. It was recently estimated that the number of COVID cases in New York City in late April and early May is 30 times than what was actually recorded. 

But the good news remains that hospitalizations have not risen proportionately. According to Our World in Data, as of 72 hours ago, there are 27,589 Americans hospitalized because of COVID. If COVID cases are underreported this could mean that one is less likely to be hospitalized because of it and that our mortality rate might be below 1%. 

Things, of course, could always change for the worse. At the moment, we seem to be in a holding pattern with a large number of cases, but relatively few hospitalizations and a far slower death rate. For better or for worse, COVID is in the rearview mirror for most Americans. But COVID can always gain on us.

Cancelling Oslo's Pride Parade After Islamist Terrorist Attack Was a Mistake

On Friday, two people were killed and 21 others injured at multiple locations in Oslo's LGBTQ district in an Islamist terrorist attack.

Organizers in the LGBTQ community, at the behest of Norwegian authorities, responded by cancelling Oslo's Pride Parade and all other Pride events. 

This is a mistake in my view because it gives the Islamist terrorist and those who support his views what they want while rewarding violent behavior. The whole objective of terrorism (Islamist or otherwise) is to disrupt civil society and intimidate it into submission. 

The good news in all of this is that several thousand members of Oslo's LGBTQ community shared this same sentiment and held an impromptu parade anyway. This was the best way to honor those who died and were injured just for being who they are.

Cristian Javier & 2 Astros Relievers Combine on No-Hitter vs. Yankees

Houston Astros starter Cristian Javier along with relievers Hector Neris and closer Ryan Pressly threw a combined no-hitter besting the New York Yankees 3-0 at Yankee Stadium. Javier tossed 7 innings striking out 13 batters while Neris and Pressly pitched an inning apiece.

If Yogi Berra were still among us he would say, "This is a case of deja vu all over again." The last time the Yankees were on the wrong end of a no-hitter was when Roy Oswalt and five Astros relievers pulled off the same feat at the original Yankee Stadium 19 years ago this month. Back then the Astros were a NL team. It is the 14th no-hitter in Astros franchise history and first since Justin Verlander tossed his third career no-hitter against the Toronto Blue Jays in September 2019. 

Today's no-no is the third of the 2022 MLB season. In April, Tylor Megill and four relievers combined for only the second no-hitter in New York Mets franchise history (the Mets and Astros both came into being in 1962). Last month, Los Angeles Angels pitcher Reid Detmers no-hit the Tampa Bay Rays. Detmers was demoted to Triple-A on Thursday. Of course, much has happened to the Angels. The night Detmers tossed his no-hitter, the Angels were 21-11 and leading the AL West by a game. Since then, the Angels have gone 13-28 and are now 11.5 games back of (who else?) the Astros. No doubt the Angels and everyone else in the AL West wishes a similar reversal of fortune for Houston.

A GOP Push For a National Abortion Ban Could Help Democrats in Midterms

I have one further thought to add to my commentary on yesterday's decision by the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade. 

Among my five observations were that this decision is going to embolden conservatives. One way I did not mention how it would embolden them is former Vice-President Mike Pence's proposal for a national abortion ban.

Depending how vigorously Republicans campaign for a national abortion ban it could have the effect of not only mobilizing Democratic voters but keeping independent voters in the Democratic column as nearly 60% of Americans favor leaving Roe in place. If Republicans are perceived not being merely content to overturn Roe and wish to ban abortion altogether, I suspect it will be a bridge too far for a great many voters - particularly suburban female voters. 

Of course, the odds are still in the GOP's favor come November. But I could easily see a scenario in which Republicans win control of the House but Democrats retain control of the Senate and thus have sway to confirm justices who find the reversal of Roe to be abhorrent. Equally as important, any effort to ban abortion on a national level by legislative means would be dead on arrival.

Five Observations on The Supreme Court Overturning Roe v. Wade

June 24, 2022 will go down as a significant day in American history as it will be remembered as the day the United States Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade rendering women as second class citizens who can now be compelled by the state to give birth against their will.

Let me share five observations of this decision.

1. What Would Things Be Like if The Draft Decision Hadn't Been Leaked?

We knew this was coming based on the leak of the draft decision last month. While there was some hope the decision would be watered down the writing was on the wall. While the anger at this decision is palatable I can only begin to imagine what the reaction would have been today had the leak not occurred.

2. Conservatives Have Been Emboldened

Most conservatives have been waiting for this day for nearly 50 years. Now that it has arrived they are not going stop here. Not by a long shot. Clarence Thomas added fuel to fire when he said the Court "should reconsider" contraceptives, same-sex relationships and same-sex marriages. Sounds to me like Thomas has rendered a ruling in search of a case and Barrett, Gorsuch, Kavanaugh and Alito are going to go along with him.

3. Conservatives are Pro-Unborn, Not Pro-Life

Former Vice-President Mike Pence praised the ruling stating, "It is incumbent on all who cherish the sanctity of life to resolve that we will take the defense of the unborn and the support for women in crisis pregnancy centers to every state in America."

Just don't expect Pence to jump to the defense of the born and support public funding for child care or health care much less protect children from being shot to death in the schoolyard. 

If conservatives truly supported the sanctity of life then they would defend persons from cradle to grave. Instead they choose to support persons who do not exist. 

4. Court Packing is Dead on Arrival

Progressive activists like Beau of the Fifth Column argue the only way to address the overturning of Roe v. Wade is to expand the Supreme Court. So too has Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren.

A simple act of Congress can change the size of the Court although its current composition of 9 justices has remained intact for over 50 years.

Democrats might now be compelled to formally introduce legislation, but I suspect it will be dead on arrival courtesy of Joe Manchin of West Virginia who has long opposed expanding the Court. 

5. Will Overturning Roe v. Wade Save Democrats in the Midterms?

As I argued last month, "(W)ith the prospect of women losing the right to control their own bodies, the motivation to vote Democrat becomes very, very personal."

If this doesn't mobilize Democrats to turn out and vote not to mention independents who disagree with the Court's decision then I'm not sure what will. 

Then again, most Americans might care no more about preserving Roe v. Wade than they are about ensuring the peaceful transfer of power. 

Conclusion

If it took almost 50 years to reverse Roe v. Wade then will it take nearly another 50 years to restore reproductive freedoms for American women?

Somehow I don't think we'll have the patience for it. In the interim, reproductive freedoms for women will be a patchwork. If a woman of college age living in Massachusetts gets a scholarship to attend a university in Georgia then she may have second thoughts at the prospect of having her rights diminish by virtue of traveling to another state.

As Bette Davis said, "We're in for a long, bumpy ride."

How Can Rusty Bowers Vote for Trump After What He's Done To Him, His Family & to American Democracy?

On Tuesday, Arizona's Republican Speaker of the House Rusty Bowers testified before the January 6th Committee. During his testimony, Bowers described what Trump and his acolytes have done to him and his family including his terminally ill daughter because he refused to go along with Trump's scheme to overturn the election.

And yet Bowers has no qualms about supporting another Trump bid for the White House telling The Associated Press:

If he is the nominee, if he was up against Biden, I’d vote for him again. Simply because what he did the first time, before COVID, was so good for the country. In my view it was great.

And what of the events that Trump set into motion after losing the 2020 election culminating on January 6, 2021? How has this been good for the country?

It is one thing for Bowers not to vote for Joe Biden or any other Democrat. It is quite another for Bowers to cast a ballot for Trump. After all, it is Trump who has claimed that Bowers told him the election was rigged - a claim Bowers denies categorically and without reservation.

If Bowers is prepared to vote yet again for a man who has borne false witness against him and made his life and family's life a living hell then what would it take for Bowers to not vote for Trump? Would Trump shooting someone on 5th Avenue do it?

If Bowers is prepared to vote for Trump then what about Brad Raffensperger and Gabriel Sterling or any other Republican who has testified before the January 6th Committee?

If I was Liz Cheney I would be very worried. It was Cheney who on the anniversary of the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol said that Trump was "clearly unfit for future office" and agreed that if he were to be elected President in 2024 it could be the end of American democracy. 

Donald Trump should never be permitted to run for public office ever again. But if the people who have testified before the January 6th Committee detailing Trump's disregard for the law and the U.S. Constitution are still prepared to permit him to once again have access to our nuclear codes then it will render their testimony meaningless. 

It will do so because they will have aided and abetted his objective of returning to power and reinforce his lawless and unconstitutional behavior. Should this come to pass the Rusty Bowers of the world will be every bit as guilty of destroying our democracy as those who stormed the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021.

Boston City Councilor Kendra Lara Claims "Zionists" Shaking Down Federal Court

Boston City Councilor Kendra Lara, who represents my old neighborhood in Jamaica Plain, made headlines when she tweeted, "ya’ll are letting the Zionists SHAKE YOU DOWN. phew!"

Lara later told the Boston Globe the tweet was in reference to a ruling by the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals upholding an Arkansas law forbidding state contractors to boycott Israel in response to the BDS Movement. For her part, Lara claimed the ruling was "conflating anti-Zionism with antisemitism". 

Ah yes, so non-Jews now get to tell Jews what is and isn't anti-Semitism. From my experience if you say Zionist then you mean Jews.

Still, the criticism of Lara's tweet was sufficient for her to eventually delete it albeit after 7 hours. While Lara indicated she "should've known better" she also claimed to have been mentored by "two Jewish mentors" who were "anti-Zionist and Pro-Palestine". A non-apology apology if there ever was one.

At a time, when the pro-BDS movement is in full support of The Mapping Project identifying the locations of Jewish individuals and organizations in the Boston area so that they can be disrupted and dismantled, Lara's comments are especially contemptible and promote hatred against Jews. 

I hope Lara will have the good sense to resign. But someone who engages in anti-Semitism doesn't have good sense in the first place. I can only hope the voters in Jamaica Plain will elect a city councilor who does not hold such bigotry.

Those Georgia Election Workers Should Sue Trump & Giuliani for Slander

I managed to watch a portion of the fourth day of the January 6th Committee hearings this afternoon. 

What drew me to this particular section of the hearings was the focus on the efforts of defeated former President Trump and his acolytes to intimidate state election officials into changing the outcome of the 2020 election particularly in Georgia. 

Of course, at the time, I was living in Atlanta and this was the center of conversation along with the special Senate elections which took place the day before the January 6th attacks. Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger and his deputy Gabriel Sterling testified before the committee this afternoon. I remember his "sterling rebuke" of President Trump in December 2020 as local election workers were being threatened as they were carrying out their duties. I also remember Trump's hour plus long phone call with Raffensperger in January 2021 some of which was played during his testimony. Despite Trump's bellicosity and bullying, Raffensperger stood firm and recently won the Republican primary for his re-election bid. 

Yet the people whose testimony resonated most deeply was that of former Georgia election workers "Shaye" Moss as well as the videotaped deposition of her mother Ruby Freeman. The two were directly maligned by defeated former President Trump and his then attorney (and former New York Mayor) Rudy Giuliani. Trump repeatedly called Freeman "a professional vote scammer" during his call with Raffensperger while Giuliani claimed Freeman and Moss passed USB drives "as if they're vials of heroin and cocaine" invoking racial tropes for good measure. In point of fact, Freeman handed Moss a ginger mint. 

Trump and Giuliani's likes resulted in physical harassment against the family including Moss' elderly grandmother by Trump supporters forcing Freeman to leave her home for two months on the advice of the FBI. During her testimony this afternoon, Moss told the January 6th Committee:

It's turned my life upside down. I no longer give out my business card. I don't transfer calls. I don't want anyone knowing my name. I don't want to go anywhere with my mom because she might yell my name out over the grocery aisle or something. I don't go to the grocery store at all. I haven't been anywhere at all. I've gained about 60 pounds. I just don't do anything anymore. I don't want to go anywhere. I second guess everything that I do. It has affected my life in a major way. In every way, all because of lies. Me doing my job. Same thing I've been doing forever.

In her videotaped deposition, Freeman stated:

Do you know how it feels to have the president of the United States to target you? The president of the United States is supposed to represent every American. Not to target one. He targeted me. A proud American citizen who stood up to help Fulton County run an election in the middle of a pandemic.

The defeated former President of the United States and former Mayor of New York City saw fit to lie about two private citizens, damaged their reputations and made their lives a living hell. As such, I believe Freeman and Moss ought to sue Trump, Giuliani and anyone else involved in smearing them for slander. Trump and Giuliani put them through hell even though they both know they did nothing wrong much less broke any law. 

Seeing Trump and Giuliani being compelled to compensate Freeman and Moss for their pain and suffering would be nearly as satisfying as seeing them go to jail.

Pence Would Like Us To Believe Biden Lies More Than Trump

Former VP Mike Pence would like us to believe that President Biden lies more than defeated former President Trump. Consider his response to former White House National Economic Council Director Larry Kudlow during an appearance on the Fox Business Channel:

Kudlow: Have you ever seen a president who refuses to accept blame, and I want to add to that, commits so many falsehoods? I'm being very polite here, calling it falsehoods – falsehoods, you know, on any given day. He's out there saying stuff that just ain't true. Have you ever seen anything like that?

Pence: Never in my lifetime.

Yes, I know Pence wants to run for President and has to go after President Biden. But who the hell does Pence (and for that matter Kudlow) think they are fooling? Well, there are Fox Business and Fox News Channel viewers and there are a lot of them and that is his target audience. And many in that audience will believe him.

Yet considering the person he served under from January 20, 2017 to January 20, 2021, it is hard for most reasonable people to take Pence with any degree of seriousness. Indeed, it was defeated former President Trump's lies which nearly got Pence killed on January 6, 2021.

Of course, Pence knows this full well yet insists on insulting our collective intelligence aided and abetted by fellow Trump apparatchiks. It is this sort of behavior which makes me reject any claim that Pence was a hero on January 6th much less any other day of the year.

Israel Headed for 5th Election Since 2019; Lapid to Succeed Bennett as PM

One week from today, Israel's Knesset is expected to dissolve thereby ending the year long left-right coalition government between Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and Foreign Minister Yair Lapid. 

Should this come to pass, Lapid will succeed Bennett as Prime Minister until new elections are held. The election date is expected to be set for October 25th. This will mark Israel's fifth election since April 2019.

The election of April 2019 marked the first election in Israeli history to fail to see the formation of a coalition government. This would happen yet again in September 2019. Elections in March 2020 would see a coalition government between Benjamin Netanyahu and Benny Gantz. The plan was for Netanyahu and Gantz to split the premiership as Shimon Peres and Yitzhak Shamir did during the 1980's. However, Netanyahu would renege on the agreement at the end of 2020. 

Israel's most recent elections were held in March 2021 which resulted in the coalition between Bennett and Lapid and ended Netanyahu's dozen year tenure in the premiership. What made this coalition unique was the inclusion of Mansour Abbas' Ra'am Party marking the first time an Arab political party had been part of Israel's governing coalition.

However, the government will collapse because the Knesset failed to agree on extending the legal status o West Bank settlers. Parties supporting the settlers voted against the measure at the behest of Netanyahu who has been maneuvering his way back to the Prime Minister's official residence at Beit Aghion. Netanyahu was particularly successful in getting members of Bennett's own Yamina Party to turn against the coalition beginning with the resignation of government whip Idit Silman back in April.

Frankly, I'm surprised this government lasted as long as it did. When the Bennett-Lapid government formed a year ago, I made this observation:

I can't see a coalition of secularists, settlers and Islamists lasting four months much less four years. It would therefore not shock me if before the end of 2021 that Israelis will go to the polls for the second time this year and the fifth time since 2019. All of which would give Netanyahu a chance to become Prime Minister for a third time. 

OK, so the government lasted six months longer than I thought it would. Nevertheless, the alliance was doomed to failure. There would be a weak link and, as it turned out, it was the settlers and Bibi knew it all to well.

Mind you this doesn't guarantee Bibi will become Prime Minister for the third time. Even if Likud wins the most seats who is going want to form a power sharing agreement with him given what he did to Gantz in December 2020? And what of his ongoing corruption trial?

Even though Lapid is ostensibly only a caretaker Prime Minister, Israeli voters might like him in that role and prefer him over the return of Netanyahu. Lapid is due to take an important place on the international stage when President Biden visits Israel next month.  

If the election itself is to take place in October as planned it will likely take several months to form a new coalition which gives Lapid more time to establish himself. And perhaps no coalition is formed at all and a yet another election comes to pass. Again all this is to Lapid's favor.

Benjamin Netanyahu might be a happy man. But he might not be so happy by the end of 2022.

Casting The Shining in a Different Light

 

On Saturday evening, I took in a screening of The Shining at The Brattle Theatre in Cambridge. 

I first saw The Shining 40 years ago on television and its images have stayed with me ever since. To the best of my recollection, the last time I saw The Shining was in 2005 at the Coolidge Corner Theatre in Brookline - the 25th anniversary of its release.

What I remember about that particular screening was the reaction of the audience which treated it as more of a black comedy than a horror film. Almost every line uttered and every facial expression displayed by Jack Nicholson drew laughter. Tonight, however, you could have heard a pin drop. 

Perhaps the passage of time has played a role in the reaction. In 2005, Nicholson was still an active actor a year away from appearing The Departed which would win the Academy Award for Best Picture. In 2022, Nicholson is a dozen years removed from his last acting role. Indeed, I noticed a rather young audience. It is entirely possible those who attended the movie have never seen Jack Nicholson on the big screen and no nothing of his schtick. By contrast, when I went to see the 50th anniversary screening of Easy Rider at Radio City Music Hall in New York in September 2019, the moment Nicholson appeared on the screen there was a different energy in the audience. However, as I recall, that particular audience was older than the one on hand tonight. Another possibility is that modern audiences don't see the humor in a man torturing his wife and child.

Normally when I attend a classic movie there is applause at the conclusion of the movie. There was none of that at all. It could also be the case that a younger audience's idea of a horror movie is a slasher film. Most of the violence in The Shining is psychological one with notable exception. 

All I can say is that the performances in The Shining were extraordinary. It is certainly among Nicholson's five most memorable performances of his illustrious career. Shelley Duvall dug deep for her performance. Nicholson and director Stanley Kubrick's treatment of Duvall may have contributed to her later troubles with her mental health. 

Then there was child actor Danny Lloyd who arguably outshone them both. He did not play cute at all. There was foreboding seriousness in his performance which augmented the horror of the Overlook Hotel. Aside from a brief appearance as a young G. Gordon Liddy in the TV movie Will, Lloyd would never act again until a cameo in the 2019 sequel Doctor Sleep. For his part, Lloyd has said that Kubrick did not subject him to any cruelty and concealed the horrific nature of the film from him. It is interesting that Nicholson, Duvall and Lloyd are still alive but no longer involved with acting. 

I would be remiss if I didn't mention Scatman Crothers who played a toned down version of himself which added to the gravity of the movie. The brief but deep bond he forges onscreen with Lloyd is crucial to the story. Then there is the outdoor scenery of American West as well as the set of the Overland Hotel in the U.K. underscored by Kubrick's cinematic perfection.

Given the differences in reactions I've seen to the film it will be interesting to see how audiences react during the 50th anniversary of The Shining in 2030.

At 80, We Still Need Paul McCartney

Will you still need me, will you still feed when I'm sixty-four?

Where it concerns Paul McCartney the answer is an emphatic yes as the former Beatle celebrates his 80th birthday today.

It was only 10 days ago that I attended his second of two sold out shows at Fenway Park where he enthralled multiple generations of concert goers during a three hour concert. He ended the Got Back tour with a show at MetLife Staidum on Thursday night which featured special appearances by Garden State natives Jon Bon Jovi and Bruce Springsteen wishing Macca a happy birthday.

In a time where we've come out of a pandemic which has claimed the lives of over 1 million Americans and counting (and more than 6 million people worldwide) coupled the fragility of American democracy and its global implications along with Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Paul McCartney is among the few people who can motivate nearly all Americans to come together in harmony. He has done so with a spirit of good will and a treasure trove of music which guarantees a splendid time for all.

Nothing lasts forever. There will come a time when the curtain will go up and there will be no more shows. It's all the more reason to appreciate a man who has given the world so much joy. With that all I will say is today is your birthday, Paul McCartney.

Warriors Win 4th NBA Title Since 2015 Besting Celtics in Six

There will be no parade in Boston this time.

The Boston Celtics, vying for their first NBA Title since 2008, fell to the Golden State Warriors 103-90 in Game 6 of the NBA Finals. The Celtics did lead the series 2-1, but then lost three straight game to the Warriors. 

It was the Warriors' fourth NBA Title since 2015. Golden State appeared in five consecutive NBA Finals between 2015 and 2019 winning thrice defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2015, 2017 and 2018. They did lose to the Cavaliers in 2016 and to the Toronto Raptors in 2019. 

While it is a disappointing outcome, the Celtics did lose to the best team basketball has seen since the Chicago Bulls of the 1990's. Fittingly, the Warriors head coach is Steve Kerr who was a member of those Bulls teams led by Michael Jordan. 

Now Boston fans can give their undivided attention to the Red Sox and discover they are pretty damn good after all.

Dr. Fauci is Among The 86 Million Cases of COVID-19 in America

COVID-19 cases in the United States have topped 86 million. According to Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, there have been 86,057,599 cases of COVID-19 resulting in 1,013,029 deaths representing a mortality rate of 1.2%. 

Among the 86 million cases is one Dr. Anthony Fauci whose diagnosis was revealed yesterday. Dr. Fauci's diagnosis did not stop him from testifying in front of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee today albeit by remote video where he had to endure the grandstanding of Rand Paul. Fauci and other witnesses testified to obtain more funding for the public health response to COVID. Predictably, Democrats were supportive while Republicans either outright opposed any additional funding or at the very minimum were less than eager to lend support.

COVID-19 was the third leading cause of death in the United States last year after cancer and heart disease and has claimed nearly 200,000 more American lives so far this year. The pandemic stage might have receded but COVID-19 will be a public health matter for the foreseeable future no matter how much Republicans want to wish it away or call it a hoax.

AOC Isn't a Reliable Barometer of Democratic Support for President Biden

New York Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez made headlines over the weekend when during an interview with CNN's Dana Bash she would not commit to supporting President Biden for a second term. 

After Bash repeatedly pressed AOC on the matter all she would say that she will "take a look it" after the mid-terms. CNN's Chris Cillizza wrote:

What Biden could use right now then is a little thing called party unity. Except he's not getting that either. AOC is perhaps the most high profile progressive in the country and her public wavering speaks to a broader discontent with liberals for Biden and how he has conducted his presidency. (AOC endorsed Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders in the 2020 presidential primary fight.)

AOC's response to Bash will further fuel discussions about Biden's weakened political position and raise further questions about whether he will -- or should -- run again in 2024. And that's a losing conversation for Biden as he tries to hit the reset button on his presidency.

Nonsense.

I would be worried if someone like South Carolina Democratic Congressman Jim Clyburn had expressed such hesitancy.  After all, it was his endorsement which brought Biden back from the dead.

But AOC has never been a Biden fan. In April 2019, AOC indicated the prospect of a Biden White House bid "does not particularly animate me." When asked about the prospect of a Biden presidency in a New York Magazine profile of AOC published in January 2020, AOC made a point of stating, “Oh God. In any other country, Joe Biden and I would not be in the same party, but in America, we are.” I believe there is some truth to that statement. In Canada, Biden would probably be a Liberal while AOC would be part of the NDP or perhaps the Green Party. 

It is true that AOC did end up supporting Biden in the 2020 election, but it was a rather tepid endorsement. When she urged progressives to vote for Biden in October 2020, AOC made a point of noting it was "a tactical vote" adding, "This isn't always about support for the candidate." AOC endorsed Biden with the back of her hand.

Let us also consider that AOC was among the few Democrats who opposed President Biden's infrastructure bill. In view of these facts, we must conclude that AOC isn't a reliable barometer of Democratic support for President Biden and her refusal to endorse him in 2024 should come as a shock to no one.

This isn't to say President Biden doesn't have his work cut out for him amid high gas prices and inflation. But these are challenges facing every other industrialized country whatever their current political stripe. 

Should Biden be re-elected in 2024 we can look back at AOC's comments and remark on their insignificance. 

Boston's Mapping Project Demonstrates BDS is Inherently Anti-Semitic

Anti-Semitism has reared its ugly head in Boston with the emergence of a website called The Mapping Project.

This website tracks the physical locations of Jewish organizations including the home addresses of individuals involved said organizations including synagogues, Jewish schools and businesses owned by Jews and their relationships to governmental, academic and other community organizations. According to The Mapping Project:

Our goal in pursuing this collective mapping was to reveal the local entities and networks that enact devastation, so we can dismantle them. Every entity has an address, every network can be disrupted.

The Mapping Project also claims:

Boston's Zionist leaders and powerhouse NGOs, which buy legitimacy and support from universities, use their influence to enable a range of oppressive agendas: supporting the Israeli army and Israeli settlements in Palestine; criminalizing Palestine liberation activists on college campuses; funding US police departments and cop unions; extracting wealth from colonized Puerto Rico; and advancing the privatization of US public schools.

So how exactly does The Mapping Project intend to disrupt and dismantle these "local entities and networks" organized by "Boston's Zionist leaders"? The Mapping Project does not say but one cannot rule out the possibility of violence. Tellingly, The Mapping Project also has the support of the local chapter of the BDS (Boycott, Sanctions & Divestment) Movement which seeks to dismantle Israel by demanding the return of all Arab lands and the return of Palestinian refugees and their descendants.

The Mapping Project has drawn condemnation from several members of Massachusetts' congressional delegation including Senators Ed Markey and Elizabeth Warren as well as Representatives Jake Auchincloss, Seth Moulton and, surprisingly, Ayanna Pressley who told Marc Rod of The Jewish Insider, “It is not acceptable to target or make vulnerable Jewish institutions or organizations, full stop.”

Pressley has been notably critical of Israel voting against funding for the Iron Dome last September along with her fellow Squad members. However, it is worth noting that Pressley was notably absent when Rashida Tlaib, Ilhan Omar and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez introduced a resolution demanding the U.S. recognize the creation of Israel as "Naqba" (or catastrophe) last month. Is Pressley distancing herself from fellow Squad members where it concerns Israel? The jury is still out. Pressley attributed this and the stabbing of a rabbi in Brighton last year to "organized white supremacy". While white supremacy is a menace it is not white supremacists who are responsible for these particular acts of anti-Semitism. Nevertheless, her statement is a step in the right direction.

The Mapping Project and BDS' support of it demonstrates that BDS is inherently anti-Semitic. The Mapping Project is targeting Jewish individuals and organizations and see fit to blame them for the "colonization of Palestine" and other "harms" for which they bear no responsibility be it "policing, US imperialism, and displacement/ethnic cleansing".

For BDS, Jews and Israel are inexorably connected. Just as they wish to dismantle the State of Israel they also wish to dismantle the Jewish community in the diaspora by any means necessary.

 

Mike Pence is No Hero

In an article in The Atlantic earlier this week, Jonathan V. Last of The Bulwark proclaimed former Vice-President Mike Pence a hero for certifying the 2020 election:

Here is another idea the committee might consider: Take a moment to praise Mike Pence. Congress can name a building in his honor. The House and Senate could propose nonpartisan resolutions recognizing Pence for his service to democracy. And then Joe Biden could give Pence the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Because while Pence may not be the hero you or I might have wanted, he was the hero America needed.

Why? Because he carried out his duties as set out in the U.S. Constitution? 

Needless to say both Jack Holmes of Esquire and Ed Kilgore of New York Magazine were less than impressed with Last's line of reasoning.  Let's start with Holmes:

Congress should formally acknowledge that Mike Pence is The Batman. And why must they put some respect on his name? Because he repeatedly did the absolute bare minimum we expect from anyone who holds elected office in this country—namely, that when they lose an election, they fucking leave.

Kilgore is more diplomatic, but is no less skeptical:

I’ll say it again: Thanks, Mike. I’m glad that, like most Americans, you managed to do your job without (on at least one fateful day) undermining its very purpose. We’re the better for it. But you don’t get a medal for refusing to lead a coup d’etat, and I hope you’ll have a few thousand more second thoughts about the president you served so fervently before applying for the same job yourself. 

With that said, Last is not the first person who has called Pence a hero for his role on January 6th. Indeed, just after the New Year, no less than January 6th Committee member Jamie Raskin not only proclaimed Pence a hero, but for good measure deemed him "a constitutional patriot." 

When Raskin made that claim, I felt compelled to disagree:

While I admire Rankin greatly, I must disagree with his assessment. Being a hero is when one goes above and beyond the call of duty. Pence did what he was supposed to do and he did so reluctantly. He was prepared to go along with Trump's shenanigans until former Vice-President Dan Quayle told him to knock it off. Pence is no hero let alone a constitutional patriot.

Yes, it's true there were thousands of people outside The Capitol prepared to hang Pence. Certifying the vote still doesn't make him a hero. Pence would be heroic if he told Trump supporters they were wrong and that Biden won the election. 

Instead, Pence panders to them by questioning the very purpose of the January 6th Committee claiming, "They want to use that one day to try and demean the character and intentions of 74 million Americans who believed we could be strong again and prosperous again, and supported our administration in 2016 and 2020.”

Indeed, as Holmes points out, Pence himself claimed in an article in The Daily Signal that the 2020 election was "marked by significant voting irregularities and numerous instances of officials setting aside state election law." The op-ed was titled "Election Integrity is a National Imperative" and was written nearly two months after Trump supporters wanted to hang Mike Pence. 

Of course, in February 2022, Pence would publicly rebuke Trump's election fraud claims. Yet I had questions of my own:

1. Why did it take 13 months for Pence to make a statement this forceful?

2. Was this statement a one-off remark or will Pence continue to be critical of Trump where it concerns the 2020 election?

3. If it is the latter is this an opening salvo for a quixotic bid for the White House?

4. If it is the latter then will Pence support the work of the January 6th Committee?

5. Or will Pence walk back his statement after he is taunted by Tucker Carlson?

OK, Pence hasn't pulled a Ted Cruz and prostrated himself before Carlson. But it's pretty clear he has political ambitions of his own and hasn't exactly extended an olive branch to the January 6th Committee. While Pence did say there was no room in the Republican Party "for apologists for Putin" after Russia invaded Ukraine, the fact he served under a President who believed Putin over his own intelligence community gives Pence's statement little weight.

Last does make the case that honoring Pence might bring a sliver of Republican voters who know Trump lost the 2020 election into the Democratic column. While the sight of President Biden placing the Presidential Medal of Freedom around Pence's neck will undoubtedly provoke another temper tantrum from Trump the gesture would also likely have the effect of alienating as many Democratic voters who believe Biden has fallen short on his domestic agenda. One must also pose the question whether Pence wants to be viewed as closer to Biden than to Trump.

Heroism should be bestowed upon those who go above and beyond what is expected and do so without regard to one's personal safety or political expedience. By these standards, former Vice-President Mike Pence is no hero.

Angels Snap 14 Game Losing Streak; Nevin Nabs 1st Managerial Win After Maddon's Firing

On Thursday night, the Los Angeles Angels defeated the Boston Red Sox 5-2 snapping a franchise record 14-game losing streak. 

The season began on a most promising note with the Halos atop the AL West from April 27th through May 10th. On May 13th, the club was tied with the Houston Astros for the lead in the division with a 24-13 record. Prior to last night, their most recent win was on May 24th when they beat the Texas Rangers 5-3.

It would prove to be Joe Maddon's last victory as Angels skipper as he was let go after the losing streak had hit 12 games. Despite leading the Tampa Bay Rays to an AL pennant in 2008 and the Chicago Cubs to their first World Series title in 108 years in 2016, Maddon's magic did not spread to Anaheim in an organization where he spent over three decades and had been the team's interim manager in both 1996 and 1999. In just under 2 1/2 seasons, Maddon went 130-148 in the Angels' dugout. The move to fire Maddon does not surprise me. Indeed, I mused about this possibility after the Philadelphia Phillies parted ways with Joe Girardi earlier this month. 

As for Phil Nevin, he has long been considered a managerial prospect. After a 12-year big league career, Nevin managed in the Detroit Tigers and Arizona Diamondbacks systems before becoming the third base coach for the San Francisco Giants in 2017. He would spend four seasons in the same role with the New York Yankees before joining the Angels prior to the start of this season. 

Nevin has a very tall order namely to stop the bleeding for a club that went from leading to the division to now being 9 games back of the Astros and scarcely just ahead of the Texas Rangers and Seattle Mariners in the AL West. If Nevin can somehow get the Angels into the post-season then he will be named AL Manager of the Year. 

U.S. COVID Cases Have Surpassed 85 Million as Life is Becoming Normal

On Tuesday, COVID cases in the United States surpassed 85 million. According to Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, there have been 85,329,656 cases resulting in the deaths of 1,010,805 Americans representing a mortality rate of 1.2%. 

After taking 10 days to get from 83 to 84 million cases, it took 8 days to get from 84 million to 85 million cases. Two Omicron variants BA.4 and BA.5 have started to make their way through the country and could soon become the predominant variants. The Biden Administration has been unable to get additional funding allocated for testing so it is now allocating resources to vaccines and therapeutics. Hospitalizations continue to rise but it remains below 25,000 according to Our World in Data. 

In my day to day living, more and more people have stopped wearing masks on the MBTA in the weeks since it has become voluntary and more and more people are in the office. To be candid, this is about the only place where I wear a mask consistently. I must confess I was unmasked during last night's Paul McCartney concert at Fenway Park. 

There are occasional reminders of COVID, but life for better or for worse is back to normal.

6 Observations of The January 6th Committee's 1st Nationally Televised Hearing

Back on January 6, 2022, the anniversary of the attempted coup on the U.S. Capitol, I made this observation:

Time is running out for the January 6th Committee because at this time a year from now we could have Republicans controlling both Houses of Congress. If this is the case then January 6, 2023 could turn from a solemn day to one of sordid delight. 

Time is at hand for American democracy. The January 6th Committee must shine a light on the darkness which motivated President Trump and his minions from preventing the peaceful transfer of power and the violence they encouraged and fomented with nationally televised hearings. It may not result in Trump and his minions being held accountable for their actions. After all, the Supreme Court may accede to Trump's request to block the January 6th Committee from accessing his records. But it might give voters, particularly those with independent views, pause from giving Republicans back the reigns of power. If voters do give Republicans the reigns of power then they will never willingly relinquish it even if the electorate declares they have overstayed their welcome.

Now that the first night of hearings have concluded here are six further observations.

1. January 6th Committee Chairman Bennie Thompson and Vice-Chair Liz Cheney

If one were to look at the voting records of the co-chairs of this committee there is going to be a lot more disagreement than agreement. But tonight the two were in simpatico. If one were watching them for the first time you wouldn't know that Thompson is a Democrat and Cheney is a Republican. They are playing it down the middle with Thompson giving the big picture with Cheney laying out the conspiracy set into motion by defeated, former President Trump to overturn the election and prevent the peaceful transfer of power. 

2. Former Attorney General Bill Barr Calls Bullshit on Trump's Election Fraud Claims

The former Attorney General, who gave Trump full cover in the Mueller Report, unequivocally said the defeated former President's claims were "bullshit" during his videotaped deposition. If only Barr had been so candid 18 months ago. Of course, the same can be said of many White House officials whose testimony we will hear in the coming weeks. At least it is on the record now. 

3. Ivanka Trump Accepts Bill Barr's Assessment

The January 6th Committee briefly showed the deposition of the defeated former President's eldest daughter and former White House staff member. Regarding Barr's assessment, Ivanka Trump stated,  “It affected my perspective. I respect Attorney General Bill Barr. So I accepted what he was saying.”

And what of her respect for her father? Well, when you've lost Ivanka.

4. Defeated Former President Trump Says Mike Pence "Deserves" To Be Hung

When the defeated former President learned that the insurrectionists were chanting "Hang Mike Pence!!!", Trump said of the man who had served him loyally, "Maybe our supporters have the right idea." Trump then added that Pence "deserves" such a fate. 

I'd like to think that such a remark would jolt people out of complacency. But let's remember we are in a country where a critical mass has managed to shrug off the deaths of over a million people to a deadly disease. 

With that said, I would like to think it would be sufficient to stop us from electing such a man to be President of the United States - again.

5. There Are a Lot of Americans Who Would Kill for Donald Trump

The late Supreme Court justice Felix Frankfurter stated in 1958, "The responsibility of those who exercise power in a democratic government is not to reflect inflamed public feeling but to help form its understanding."

Needless to say, defeated former President Trump does not share this view and as a result tens of thousands of Americans descended upon Washington, D.C. prepared to commit mayhem because they believe Donald Trump wanted them too. 

The raw video footage of the attack shot by documentary filmmaker Nick Quested shows people with no regard for the facts when things don't go their way, no regard for law enforcement they claim to love and no regard for life. Some of these people were part of the Proud Boys and others were part of the Oath Keepers. But many more were just people who believed what Donald Trump said was the gospel truth.

Less than 20 years after this country was attacked by al Qaeda how the hell did we come to this country being attacked by our own?

6. The Testimony of Capitol Police Officer Caroline Edwards

The look on her face says it all. This is a woman who has been through hell. Not only will she relive it for the rest of her life due to the brain damage she sustained, but she relived the violence that was visited upon her in front of the whole world. When someone says they were "slipping in people's blood" one might think of a battle out of WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistan or Iraq, but not Capitol Hill. Nevertheless, Officer Edwards described it as "a war scene". Based on the video, it is hard to describe it as anything else. 

Conclusion

In view of these observations, the question is whether this will galvanize people away from electing a Republican Congress this fall, let alone return Donald Trump to the Oval Office come 2024. Because the GOP has made it clear they only believe in democracy when they win elections.

Should a Republican Congress come to pass despite what the January 6th Committee has unveiled then the January 6th Committee will not only be shuttered, but its members will go from being investigators to being investigated. 

Should a Republican Congress come to pass despite what the January 6th Committee has unveiled then it will demonstrate that Americans don't really care about democracy anymore. In which case, we shall pay a steep price for our lack of care.

Got Back With Paul McCartney, Got Back To Fenway Park & One Was Much Better

 

For the first time in nearly four years, I returned to Fenway Park. The occasion was not a Red Sox game, but rather to see Paul McCartney in concert for the second of two shows in Boston for his Got Back Tour.

This is the fifth time I've seen McCartney live. I first saw him at the Boston Garden in 2005 before seeing him at Fenway in 2009, 2013, 2016 and again tonight.

As with all his other performances, I enjoyed being in McCartney's presence. The same cannot be said of Fenway Park. 

First, the negative stuff. I made the mistake of taking my Whole Foods bag with me. This was a no no. I had to go across the street and drop off my bag at a locker truck. It only cost me $10, but it was one more thing for me to worry about. When I got back to Fenway I had to take everything out of my pockets and hold it which would have so much easier to do with a bag. 

I also think it is a prerequisite for Fenway Park staff to be as rude and obnoxious as possible. The security staff were rude and rushed everyone. On top of that, two staff people made a point of preventing me from going to the bathroom even though other people were going in. 

I must also say that I am no longer comfortable around that many people. Mind you, I probably went to almost 100 Red Sox games at Fenway and have seen McCartney in concert thrice before. Whether it be the pandemic or the Boston Marathon attacks or just plain age, it is an environment in which I am no longer comfortable. Frankly, if not for Paul McCartney I would not have gone back at all. I am far more comfortable in a medium sized theatre like the Shubert where I saw Don McLean in concert only five days ago. 

Because of the problems I encountered, I did not get to my seat until his third song of the night "Letting Go" (from Wings' underrated Venus and Mars album) although I heard "Can't Buy Me Love" and "Junior's Farm" just fine. The one saving grace is that my row had only one seat so I had a little bit of space absent a bit of drunken dancing and some people passing a joint around. I'm not against smoking marijuana. I just don't like the smell.

With that let me turn to the positive stuff. Paul McCartney is going turn 80 in 10 days from now and he put on a three hour show without a break and did so last night. The man has a remarkable constitution. 

His music transcends generations. There were young women screaming and crying like it was 1964. There was one young woman in particular was sitting to my right in the next row. She was very likely half my age possibly younger and she was alone. Perhaps that is what she wanted, but she could have had company if she wanted - male or female.

What I noticed was how she sang the lyrics as if they were second nature to her whether it be a Beatles song like "Getting Better" or "Helter Skelter" or Wings songs such as "Let 'Em In" and "1985". She certainly was of her generation in one respect. I also noticed her on FaceTime with family and friends sharing her McCartney experience in the moment. 

Certain aspects of the show were different from previous McCartney concerts I've seen. He talked a lot more in between songs in particular focusing on his early days in Liverpool as well as the time he saw Jimi Hendrix played Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band out of tune and Hendrix had to ask Eric Clapton to help him tune his guitar. His trademark humor shown through when he talked about when he played the hits everyone's phones lit up like there was a new galaxy. But when he played the new songs all he could see was a black hole. McCartney said he didn't care because he was going to play the new songs anyway.

In previous shows, during the encore, Macca and the band would come out carrying U.S. and U.K. flags. This time around there was a Ukrainian flag as well. The encore also featured John Lennon's vocals (isolated courtesy of Peter Jackson) on "I've Got a Feeling" from the rooftop concert at Apple Studios. It's the closest Lennon and McCartney have been on stage together since, well, the rooftop concert. 

Will this be the final time I ever see Paul McCartney perform? How many more years can he give? Aside from his music, I think there is such an emotional reaction to McCartney because when he's gone we will not see his like again. In the final analysis, I'm glad I got Paul McCartney back in my life. Fenway Park, I can take or leave. I have no plans to return to Fenway Park....except if Paul McCartney should ever get back.