respublica

Almost an all-nighter

With the Impeachment trial going on in the senate this week, we are paying slight attention to the actual speeches and more attention to the time. Our daughter works for the senate and as a senior staffer, she has to stay until the hearings adjourn for the day. Actually, yesterday, the first day of hearings, they did not adjourn til long after midnight.

I was texting with her late into the night as she waited in her senate office. I found it hard to sleep and kept looking at the clock. There came a point when I became more than a little anxious while thinking of her having to walk to the train and then ride the train home in the middle of the night. Or very early morning to be specific. Even in DC, the streets can be empty and dark at that time of day.

I told her I worry and she wrote back "I hear you. I'll be fine. It's nice to have a mom that worries. That still feels nice."

If you're a parent, would you not worry long distance no matter the age of your kids? In the end, I trust she got home fine, I haven't heard. Now today it all begins again.

Impeachment rules

While watching the senate ceremonies which began the impeachment trial I learned two things.

At the start of each trial day, Senate sergeant-at-arms will declare, “Here ye! Here ye! Here ye! All persons are commanded to keep silent, on pain of imprisonment.”

That struck me as humorous and certainly a command dating back many years. I'd guess this won't be something anyone is anxious to enforce.

Then there was this new bit of information.  When members of the senate are in impeachment mode, the senate technically does not exist. When they adjourn for the day they become the senate again until 12 the next day when impeachment hearings resume. We learned this rule after Dale wondered if the senate chaplain was at yesterday's first ceremonial day. We did not see him. But since the senate is not the senate while in impeachment, the senate chaplain is not a chaplain to a non-existent body that time.

 

About yesterday

If you paid any attention to the impeachment hearings yesterday you probably saw many repeats of Congressman Jim Jordan giving an emotional response to some of the things that went on. That brought about a memory from Katie's days as lead staffer on the House Oversight Committee during a hearing.

There she is "advising" Rep Jordan.  Heh.

News?

I'm at the point where I find myself not believing half of what I hear on cable news. It doesn't matter what channel it is, there is no news, just opinion. Some channels make me more aggravated than others, but now the local news seems much more appropriate and valuable for how we live.

Cable and Newspapers are now just like social media giving no time to actual discernment.

 

New laws in other places than Illinois

Illinois had its new laws published recently which take effect today, July 1. Missouri's new laws are on the books as well. Today new laws taking effect in DC, Maryland and Virginia have been in the news. Many state laws are dealing with similar things like alcohol, tobacco, driving distracted etc. But, as is often the case, the District of Columbia, Washington DC, takes things just bit further.

Starting today, DC will fine any business which gives out plastic straws. This is so important to those lawmakers that they created a video for the public on "How to Tell a Banned Plastic Straw from a Legal Alternative."  The video is on the link above if you don't know how to recognize plastic.

Unreal

Reporting?

Can any of our national political and cable journalists cover stories without prejudice these days? Not that I can see and today will be no different. They're all in a Twitter today.

#Mueller Report

What you might want to know about Bill Barr

Bill Barr, President Trump's new nominee for Attorney General,  will be questioned by members of the senate this week. As it happens, his daughter Meg mentioned in the story, works with our daughter in the senate. The write-up on Barr is interesting, something more than we normally get about people in DC.  A good way to get some information when listening to the news reports on the hearing.

American Gothic 2019 version

I don't want to get all political, but this really made me laugh because it's too perfect. The original photo of Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer during their response to the president's address last night has been all over the place, but it took just one guy on Twitter to have me realize what the image reminded me of.  

via @thefunnymuggle

 

Branding the Two Americas

It's a good thing the election is getting close because news outlets have reached the point of absurdity in attempting to define liberal and conservative Americans. Take this Simmons Research survey posted by Politico, "Do you eat Republican Cheese" with a sub-title reading, "The Two Americas, a snapshot in brands."

The point is to inform us on the differences in products purchased or eaten by republicans and democrats and thus our cultural/tribal thinking. I mean, this is seriously off the wall. I'm putting up the survey graphic, but you'd see it better if you clicked the story link. The cheese preference which heads up the story title isn't even real cheese in either case. The category isn't even cheese, but dairy. Liberals supposedly prefer Stoneyfield Yogurt while conservatives go with Kraft Velveeta.

Neither are really cheese and with this first brand I can see that the survey publisher and Politico are defining liberals as more sophisticated and educated and refined. Take the magazine preferences they show: Liberals- The Atlantic, Conservatives- Guns & Ammo. And, under Health and Beauty Product we see, Liberals-Burt's Bees Lipstick/Gloss and Conservatives-Right Guard Anti-Perspirant.  Under meat preferences, liberals-Aldells sausages, conservatives-Swanson canned meat.

Come on. Was this really necessary? It's embarrassingly bad and insulting. One more reason why journalism is viewed with some skepticism.  Most of us eat food we like without worrying about politics

click to enlarge or check out the actual story link

 

Elections

Driving around the Collinsville area I have been amazed by all the campaign signs, especially signs for judges. Seriously, how many people are running for judge positions? Lots it seems. Also I've seen plenty of Madison County Board candidates, state reps, etc. Lots and lots of signs, many yards and businesses have so many signs out front that who could ever take them all in.