Welcome to a discussion about the upcoming 5th Revolution in the US, which I’ve titled the “Revenge Revolution.” For more about the Revenge Revolution and the author, Entry #1.  Periodically I write a “sense check” to assess whether a revolution in the US is possible or whether the entire exercise is based on a statistical aberration — i.e., a roughly 50-year cycle between major upheavals in the US. Entry #430 was the most recent “sense check.”

ENTRY #457 BEGINS: Nothing like an oppressive heat wave in much of the country, record rainfall in some areas, forest fires in other areas and a well-publicized Congressional hearing with evidence overwhelmingly indicating the former president is guilty of multiple crimes to have politicians and voters pull their head out of their you-know-what.  And, if that weren’t enough, women of childbearing age are recognizing that they’ve lost a bunch of personal rights thanks to a bunch of old white guys, save one, in Washington.

Nevertheless, the saying, “hope springs eternal“ still seems true. While very early in the “hope” spring – the crocus are the only plants peeping up through the snow – the US made some progress this past week in addressing climate change.  Thanks to efforts by Chuck Schumer, Senate majority leader, the Democrats appear to have enough votes to pass a major bill addressing climate-change and some other issues. 

OK, so Schumer had to line the pockets of Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia – or was that Manson? — but the bill has life.  Of course, no Republican Senator has yet to acknowledge their constituents are suffering from record heat, record drought in some areas and record rainfall.  Mitch McConnell, (R, KY) apparently forgot he represents Kentucky, which has been hit with a series of disastrous weather events.  Mitch and the other Republican senators must be very slow learners.

Maybe the prospect of passage of the legislation addressing climate change will provide some cover for Republican senators who have been insisting that climate change is not an issue.  We know that Republican of all stripes have a problem with basic science.  Remember how difficult high-school chemistry and physics were?  Besides, you can’t expect a Republican senator to have confidence in science. I mean, how can you trust Newton, Einstein, Madam Currie et al?  All of them were liberals, ya’ know. 

While Republicans seem to have a hard time with basic science, some Republicans now seem to realize that their hero, Donald J Trump, is really a gangster.  Their hero made every effort to overthrow the government.  Many Republicans thought such a takeover was OK as long as a far-right Republican was in charge. 

But alas, the January 6 Committee is making supporting the Donald difficult for many rational Republicans.  Gee, what would happen if a Democrat acted the same way as Trump?  Guess allowing an overthrow is not such a good idea after all. 

Even some of Trump’s inner circle are beginning to change their minds.  What we the public don’t know is who among the coup plotters has talked.  We know about testimony from a number of people with direct access to Trump and or key aides, and even from some Trump family.

What comes next will be even more interesting. As the screws from various federal and state investigations begin to tighten on the coup plotters, how many more of Trump’s munchkins will come forth?  The coup plotters see that Steve Bannon has been convicted of two (2) counts of contempt of Congress and faces up to 24 months in the slammer.  Given his past behavior and behavior since the conviction, seems highly Bannon will break whatever terms for behavior are between trial and sentencing. Little Stevie could be spending even more time in the slammer.

Then there is Peter Navarro, another coup plotter. Navarro is next to go to trial for contempt of Congress.  Navarro’s case appears to be about as cut-and-dried as Bannon‘s.  Wonder if Navarro prefers an orange jumpsuit or one with black and white stripes?

Other members of the gang-that-couldn’t-shoot-straight may face more severe charges and consequences. When faced with the prospect of going to jail or protecting Trump becomes more apparent, who in the gang will squeal? My bet is Rudy Giuliani, if he’s not already done so, might be first in line.

The information from the January 6 hearing has caused some other high-profile defections from Trump.  Even Rupert Murdoch and Fox News have been avoiding Trump lately.  In what must have sent Trump into a tantrum that would make a 2-year-old proud, Fox broadcast 15-20 minutes of a speech by Mike Pence while ignoring a speech by Trump given about the same time.

How do the defections from Trump affect the midterms?  Who knows right now?  The 01/06 Committee has more hearings and more damaging evidence will be released to the public.  We know that a certain percentage of voters will support Trump forever.

But other voters are awakening from the Trump-induced coma. More voters on the right and left are beginning to realize the democracy only works when people can be aside political differences and find practical solutions to important issues.

One of those issues is the need to take serious steps immediately to address the causes of climate change.  The solutions to climate change are going to be painful but, like the sacrifices made in WWII, everyone in the population will be affected.  We are still early in the “hope spring” – remember the crocus are just peeking out of the snow – but there is hope. END ENTRY #457

Other Topics. Interested in more info about climate change, what’s required to electrify a fleet of cars/trucks, what it was like to work day-to-day with Lee Iacocca and an array of other topics? Visit another page of this website, https://usrevolution5.com/jrd-thought-comments/

Welcome to a discussion about the upcoming 5th Revolution in the US, which I’ve titled the “Revenge Revolution.” For more about the Revenge Revolution and the author, Entry #1.  Periodically I write a “sense check” to assess whether a revolution in the US is possible or whether the entire exercise is based on a statistical aberration — i.e., a roughly 50-year cycle between major upheavals in the US. Entry #430 was the most recent “sense check.”

BEGIN ENTRY #455: (June 2024) Breaking News: presidential candidates Trump and Biden agree to 100-yard dash using their walkers. The winner will be allocated all the electoral college votes from Florida in the 11/2024 election.

In the 2024 election, the two presidential candidates, if Trump and Biden, will be the oldest in US history at the end of their term. Biden is already older than Ronald Reagan, who was nearly 78 when he left office in January 1989.

It’s time for each party to nominate someone younger. By younger, I mean at least 25 years younger. The country needs nominees who are physically in excellent condition and no worries about mental acuity.

Yes, with age comes some degree of wisdom. And with age, generally comes some humility, #45 being an exception.

But it’s time to let some youngins back in the White House (and on Capitol Hill).  There are enough “old sages“ around to help the president address difficult political, intellectual and diplomatic issues. Sages are supposed to be advisers and spiritual leaders, not presidents. 

Younger blood in the WH should also help the country ramp up efforts to address climate change.  The older guys, i.e., Trump and Biden, don’t seem to understand the need to address climate change seriously.  Maybe they don’t care since they’ll be gone before 2050 when we need to get to a zero-carbon economy. 

One other critical criterion for future presidential nominees – no more businesspeople. The roles of business and government are often opposite.  The economy is a good example.  In an economic downturn, businesses usually cut expenditures. In an economic downturn, the federal government should do just the opposite and increase expenditures to avoid making the downturn worse.

In addition, many business executives seem to have forgotten that, in addition to shareholders, businesses have a responsibility to employees, their local community and the public.  Government doesn’t need to be anti-business. At the same time business doesn’t need to be anti-government. 

As Charles E. Wilson (aka “Engine Charlie), president of GM many years ago and Secretary of Defense under Eisenhower proclaimed, “What’s good for our country is good for General Motors and vice versa.“ Businesses today need to heed Engine Charlie’s advice and start acting responsibly toward the country and the environment.

Putting aside age, Democrats and Republicans need to nominate candidates without a lot of “baggage.” Most people who have worked and/or lived in New York are still shocked that Trump could be elected president.  Shocked not because he ran as a Republican but shocked that voters would overlook his long, well-documented public record of lying and cheating.

Biden‘s record in the Senate includes some head-slapping moments, most notably leading the hearings on the nomination of Clarence Thomas to the Supreme Court. What was Biden thinking?

No news that the country is clearly divided. While a couple of younger presidential candidates does not guarantee the country can start to come together, for certain divisions will intensify if either Trump or Biden is nominated.

As noted periodically in this blog, I believe the 5^th US Revolution, the Revenge Revolution, has started. If you need confirmation, just count the “major” mass shootings in the less than two months — Buffalo, NY; Uvalde, TX and Highland Park, IL.

In 2022 there are more firearms in the US than people. Many firearms are assault-style weapons. In the US an 18-year-old can’t buy a beer legally but can buy an AR-15, and lots of ammunition.  Ya’ can’t have a beer kid but you can kill as many people as you want.  How does that make sense? 

A good first step toward getting the country on a path of possibly coming back together would be to keep the codgers out of the nation’s capital, especially those codgers considering running for president.  And that advice is from someone who could fit the “codger” category. (END ENTRY #455)

Other Topics. Interested in more info about climate change, what’s required to electrify a fleet of cars/trucks, what it was like to work day-to-day with Lee Iacocca and an array of other topics? Visit another page of this website, https://usrevolution5.com/jrd-thought-comments/  

Welcome to a discussion about the upcoming 5th Revolution in the US, which I’ve titled the “Revenge Revolution.” For more about the Revenge Revolution and the author, Entry #1.  Periodically I write a “sense check” to assess whether a revolution in the US is possible or whether the entire exercise is based on a statistical aberration — i.e., a roughly 50-year cycle between major upheavals in the US. Entry #430 was the most recent “sense check.”

BEGIN ENTRY #453: The week of June 20, 2022 was full of significant news events from inside the Beltway – decisions from SCOTUS, the US Senate finally agreeing on minimal controls for firearm purchases, and testimony at the 01/06 Select Committee hearings from Republicans about events leading up to the assault on the Capitol. One event not covered was a press conference held by Trump.

On Thursday in Mara-a-Lago, Trump, proclaimed that the results from Westminster Kennel Club proved that he won the 2020 election.  Trump argued the final ruling of the judge at Westminster should be considered much like a ruling from SCOTUS – the final word on the matter. 

In a typical rambling speech, Trump claimed the winner of the Westminster Best-in-Show, a bloodhound named Trumpet, was named after him.  The former president noted how Trumpet’s characteristics that won him Best-in-Show paralleled Trump’s characteristics – regal appearance, athletic build, face a bit jowly, dedicated to working, and most of all superior to everyone else.

Because his alleged namesake Trumpet was #1 at Westminster, Trump stated he must have won the 2020 election. Trump’s claim of winning the 2020 election was enthusiastically supported by Trump’s lapdogs who were at Mara-a-Lago – Rudy Giuliani, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Jim Jordan and a few others.

Trump stated that since he now had been vindicated by the judge at Westminster, he was going to file a lawsuit to disband the 01/06 Select Committee and have members of that group charged with conspiracy.

When asked why the courts might allow such a case to go forward, Trump replied, “If the Supreme Court can issue such decisions as overturning Roe v. Wade, and making it legal to pack heat in Times Square, surely, they’ll support me in my efforts to rightfully claim I won the 2020 election. The hard-right members of SCOTUS owe me a favor.”

Aren’t you sorry you missed hearing Trump’s remarks?  OK, this was definitely tongue-in-cheek but not far from the truth.  The decisions by SCOTUS this week and one next week that is likely to gut the power of the Environmental Protection Agency look to be an inflection point for the next phase of the 5^th US Revolution. 

Unfortunately, the next phase, as noted in periodic entries over the years, will be one where armed camps face off.  The battlelines will not be as clear as the Civil War and the intensity of the fighting likely will be more gradual.  But it is going to be ugly. END ENTRY #453

Other Topics. Interested in more info about climate change, what’s required to electrify a fleet of cars/trucks, what it was like to work day-to-day with Lee Iacocca and an array of other topics? Visit another page of this website, https://usrevolution5.com/jrd-thought-comments/