Trial by Gossip

   A lie can go around the world before truth can cross the street. -- Pug Mahoney

   No, Mark Twain did not say that. Nor did he say the other version widely attributed to him. But it doesn't matter. What does matter is that politicians often lie, and it's up to the news media to expose them.
   Time was, people spread gossip over back fences or in taverns, where they met and talked only with those who agreed with them. That's still true, but now gossip has gone electronic, so it spreads even faster than early radio commentators could only dream about.
   These days, the spread of gossip and rumor, often false and malicious, is a basic format for some TV network commentators. Moreover, unlike comedians, they won't say that the stories they tell are just that -- stories, intended to prompt laughter. Instead, they insist the stories are true, and they attack anyone who exposes the lie.
   The difference between a lie and a tall story told by a comedian is intent. A comedian wants to provoke laughter. Sadly, the intent of some TV and internet writers is to provoke an overthrow of the federal government, even if it takes violence to do it.
   And by definition, urging the violent overthrow of government is treason.

Ignorance is Bliss

    Republican members of Congress are ignoring the House committee hearings on the Jan. 6 incidents, claiming they are too busy. The Fox "news" network is devoting much of its time to covering other stories, and its commentators are assailing Joe Biden's efforts to deal with current problems in America.
   Granted, some of the other cable channels are more sympathetic to the Biden administration, and find as much fault as they can with GOP claims that insist the Jan. 6 incidents were peaceful, while other protest demonstrations by civil rights people last year were not.
   But this is not last year. This is now, and civil rights protestors did not smash their way into the Capitol, threatening the lives of the vice president and the speaker of the House. Refusing to watch video of the Jan. 6 attacks does not make it go away, and spreading lies about what happened that day is more than counter-productive, it is dangerous to the American way of life.

Great Plague Returns

    Historians know about a disease that struck the known world in ancient times, and only those who stayed home and avoided contact with deniers survived.
   At the time, it was called divine intervention, but realists suggest that while quarantine may have been a result of divine guidance, people would not have otherwise survived. Those who continued full contact with others quickly spread the disease.
   Whether the current worldwide plague is punishment for human behavior is an argument for theologians to debate. Others, including medical personnel, are more concerned with healing and prevention than with arguing over divine punishment as the cause. Many scholars say this is why people were given intelligence.
   Others, however, insist the disease does not exist. They can be described as having what can be called the pharaoh syndrome -- king of denial.

Ignoring Truth

    Evening news commentators on the cable channels spent most of their time yesterday covering the testimony of Capitol police officers describing their experiences of Jan. 6. The Fox channel, however, spoke about the failure of the Biden administration to do anything about the corona virus infections, and said little or nothing about the testimony and the attitudes of the demonstrators.
   Ignoring truth doesn't make it go away.

Sore Losers Deny Reality

   Choice cannot always change reality.
   Many devoted followers of Donald Trump refuse to accept the reality of a lost election, thus following their leader. But this choice contradicts the vote results in many states, all of which were certified as accurate by court rulings in some 60 jurisdictions.
   Meanwhile, their super-salesman leader uses this belief to raise money for himself under the guise of a continuing presidential campaign. It's not clear, however, whether these donations really do go to a political effort, or are lining the pockets of the contender.
   Soon enough, investigative reporters will dig up evidence of where the money is, adding to the task prosecutors face as they proceed with numerous court allegations of wrongdoing.
   And despite all the reports of questionable activities by the self-proclaimed "winner" of the last presidential election, thousands of believers flock to campaign rallies and contribute to their leader.
  Will it end when a court rules that his activities are illegal?
   Stay tuned.

Shock Wave

    The number of covid infections has doubled and in some areas tripled in recent days. Still, many refuse to get a proven vaccine, and many Republican members of Congress will not say whether they have been vaccinated.
   In this case, refusal to answer the question can be taken as an admission they have indeed been inoculated but are afraid to say so in fear of offending their ultra-conservative constituents and thereby lose votes.
   Which is more important, winning an election or staying alive? Apparently, politics defeats health.
   Only a day after endorsing covid vaccination, talk show host Sean Hannity reversed himself -- again -- and resumed his attack on the new covid vaccine.
   Why? Reaction from viewers was so virulent that he changed his position -- again -- as a way of keeping his audience.
   Therefore, to many in the ultra-right, politics is more important than good health. They insist that each person has the right to refuse inoculation or to wear a mask, despite the rising wave of sickness and death.
   Some, however, have indeed changed their minds, but only after they have lost a loved one to the virus or have survived it themselves. Sometimes only barely.

Dream World vs Video

    When will the devoted followers of the ex-president acknowledge that he has an illness and needs treatment for a return to reality?
   In recorded interviews, he is saying the events of Jan. 6 were a peaceful demonstration by a loving crowd that was welcomed by police and escorted by them into the Capitol building.
   The audio recordings are played on television as video shows the violence of the invasion and brutality toward security guards.
   All this as authors of a new book on the events are interviewed on talk shows. They are both long-time reporters for the Washington Post. As for those who will insist the journalists are lying, the standard response tells the objectors to file a lawsuit alleging libel. But if it's true, it's not libel. That legal principle was established in America some 250 years ago.
   

Reality Check

   Ultra-right wing conservatives have now acknowledged that a nationwide virus infestation is real and it's time for everyone to wear a mask and/or get vaccinated. However, they still insist it's a matter of choice.
   Perhaps the most notable of the attitude change is that of Fox news commentator Sean Hannity, whose revised comments urging vaccination made the broadcasts of other commentary programs. Republican political leaders have also joined the call for universal vaccination.
   The change comes as the infection and fatality rates in America soar, to a level double what it was a month ago.
   As our own commentator Pug Mahoney would say, if you want to tell someone something, you have to get their attention first.

Mask Charade

    Refusal to wear a mask during a pandemic is a denial that a virus exists and a rebellion against what refusers believe is wrongful propaganda spread by the fake news media.
   They choose to put their trust in the few politicians who reiterate their ideas despite a rising death toll, not only in America but around the world.
   Dozens of experts in medicine and disease warn that unless people resume wearing masks in whatever group they attend, the sickness will continue to spread as variants proliferate.
   But despite all evidence to the contrary, a rising number of disbelievers call the mask suggestion a charade and not worth listening to.
   Perhaps when the disease strikes home -- literally -- then they will wear a mask. Sadly, by then it may be too late.

Sore Losers, English Style

    Sports fans in England are so unhappy that their team lost to Italy in the Euro2020 final recently that they want a replay, otherwise they will leave the European Football Association.
   They got a senior British government official to say the English team was "not representative of our green and pleasant land," but included sons of "black African pickaninnies (cq) with watermelon smiles and Muslim mothers," according to a report in the Irish Times. The writer quoted a letter by David George Hamilton Frost, chief Brexit negotiator for the UK. (Not the same David Paradine Frost of TV fame.)
   In addition, Frost's letter pointed out that "four of the current England side are of Irish background ... a country which has never been other than a source of deep and ongoing distress to England for over 800 years."
   Frost added, "We believe we should be allowed to field a team of proper Englishmen for a real Euro 2020 final and not as happened in Wembley on July 11th."

President Jailed

   The former president of South Africa, Jacob Zuma, has been jailed for refusing to answer questions about corruption in his administration. Zuma "repeatedly attacked the courts and even predicted a popular uprising against judges," according to a CBS News report.
   Now there is the question whether something similar could happen in the U.S.
   Prosecutors are gathering evidence with great care and will soon file charges against the American ex-president, probably after they get Allan Weisselberg, the now arrested former chief financial officer for Donald Trump, to flip and testify against the ex-president.
   Trump has already indicated he will abandon Weisselberg and not come to his defense. It's also possible that even Trump's children will be arrested, and he will abandon them also.
  The problem prosecutors in New York face is the massive public support for the ex-president, which would lead to violence, as it has in South Africa.

Strange Love

    "Politicians ... have neither the time, the training, nor the inclination for strategic thought." -- Gen. Jack D. Ripper, played by Sterling Hayden in the movie "Dr. Strangelove."

   "Who ya gonna believe, me or your own eyes?" -- Groucho Marx.

   The January 6 gathering in Washington was peaceful and filled with loving demonstrations of the federal government, according to an announcement by Donald Trump.
   Say what?
   If that's what peaceful love looks like, one wonders about the appearance of anger, hatred, threats and violence. That comment would also mean the hours of video taken by the demonstrators themselves and spread by them on the internet, as well as shown live on TV networks -- including the Trump-sympathetic Fox network -- were all manufactured in advance by hateful foes of the man who insists he is a two-term president.
   But you can't believe what you see on TV, they maintain, unless it's one of their own operations. All others are fake, including NPR, the BBC, France24 and DW (the German international network), both of which broadcast in English; as well as ABC, NBC, CBS, CNN, CNBC and all the local channels nationwide, plus print media such as the Associated Press, the New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune, Boston Herald, Miami Herald. Also, there are the many independent magazines as well as all the news operations distributing information via the internet.
   According to this position, they all lie. The only ones worth reading or listening to are affiliated with the Trump organization, or Trump himself. Who, by the ways was banned from the major internet comment carriers for consistently mouthing stuff that is not only untrue, but also sparks violence.
   Trump sued the tech firms Twitter, Facebook and Google, accusing them of "illegal, unconstitutional censorship" because they blocked him from using their sites to spread lies and encourage violence.
   Observers note that forcing a media operator to publish anything would violate the First Amendment guarantee of a free and independent press. Unless that's what the ex-president wants -- full control of all information channels.
   It has worked in other countries. Why not here?

Afghanistanism

   Afghanistanism is the practice of commenting at great length about the problems in faraway places while ignoring issues in the home country.

   The term was first used in the London press in the 19th Century when the British military could not control Afghanistan as a way of keeping Russia out of India. In the 2oth Century, the Soviet military could not control the country. Now, in the 21st Century, the American military is pulling out of Afghanistan after being unable to bring peace to the country.

   Three of the most powerful nations in the world were unable to control what Afghans do.

   It's time the U.S government focused on resolved problems in America.

Hypocrisy

    Hypocrisy is rampant in American politics. No surprise, but the current degree of hypocrisy is memorable. There has always been a lot of political nonsense in America, and the major news media have been covering new developments in the continuing probe of the Jan. 6 episode at the nation's capital, including the invasion of the Capitol building.
   Many citizens, however, have heard enough, and have lost interest. Others don't believe the news reports, even as new video comes out showing the insurrection. That's a big problem for the nation and for journalists reporting on the issue.
   However, it's important to remember the issue is indeed more visible because of television coverage and internet commentary. Gone are the days when the only news coverage available to the general public was the print media -- newspapers and magazines. Now, anyone with access to a computer can publish ideas and comments worldwide and get instant response.
   The problem is there are no editors to monitor the truth of what any individual posts. As someone once said, a lie can go around the world before truth can cross the street.
   The alternative, however, of having internet providers edit and approve comments before posting is not feasible, and is itself subject to abuse, just as uncontrolled postings can be abusive.
   Free speech is important, but there are legitimate limits, such as libel and lying.
   Be careful what you wish for. You may get it.
   Meanwhile, the importance of instantaneous coverage of violent misbehavior, including cruelty by police officers, remains paramount.

Presidential Predictions

   If you say something often enough, loud enough, long enough and to enough people ready to believe whatever you say without question, eventually you will build a political power base that will be difficult for truth tellers to topple.
   That's what has happened in America over the past few years, as Donald Trump began his campaign to take over the government. There is no question that he succeeded, briefly at least, winning one term as president by manipulating the Electoral College vote despite losing the popular vote in 2012.
   Four years later, he lost on both counts but refused to accept the results, and continues to spout the Big Lie that the election was stolen through massive and widespread fraud.
   His complaints were rejected by some 60 county, state and federal court rulings, including two unanimous decisions by the U.S. Supreme Court, with three members appointed by Trump himself.
   Now we are engaged in a great civil discourse, testing whether this nation can survive under its 230-year-old Constitutional set of rules for government behavior.
   This writer raised the question in December, just a few weeks after Election Day, that Trump would not accept the results of the election and the court decisions, and might encourage his followers to take some form of action to prevent the inauguration of his duly elected successor.
   I was right.
   On January 6, he encouraged his followers to march on the Capitol to stop the formal acceptance of the vote count by Congress, which would then certify Joe Biden as the new president.
   He failed.
   But failure was not an acceptable outcome, so he maintained his denial and did not attend the inauguration of his successor. Instead, he attended a rally of his supporters and continues to encourage his supporters to expand their belief that the election was stolen from him.
   In many states, popular support remains so strong that other elected officials don't oppose him in fear they will lose their positions.
   This is a prime symptom of demagoguery.
   The danger of a demagogue taking power is clear. America has escaped that danger several times in the past, and now the symptoms have returned with a greater likelihood that the disease will sicken the nation's political health to a critical level.
   This writer once posed the comment that if we survived Richard Nixon, we can survive anything. Now I'm not so sure.

Update

 Free Speech and Anger
26 June 2021

   The Supreme Court supported a teenage girl's right to post her opinions on Facebook, even if she resorts to profanity in doing it.
   A local school board suspended her from cheerleading activities because of her posting, which was done at her home on a weekend, and no school facilities were involved.
   SCOTUS ruled 8-1 that the school board was wrong in suspending her for doing something in her own home on her own time. The girl acknowledged that she was angry about losing her effort to get on the cheerleading team, and she vented her anger with profanity, using the F-word four times in a single posting.
   The court noted that while the school can regulate activities and comments made on school time and in school facilities, it cannot expand the regulation to cover what a student does off campus, on her own time and in her own home.
   One wonders whether the school board would have taken similar action if a boy had posted angry profanities over losing a spot on the football team.
   Three cheers for free speech.

He's Back
30 June 2021

   Ex-president Donald Trump is still speaking at rallies of supporters, talking about a possible return to office. Followers remain adamant that the election was "stolen," despite some 50 court rulings -- including two at the Supreme Court (which has three of his nominees) -- that there is no evidence to support the allegations.
   Danger: The Jan. 6 insurrection may be repeated.

Indicted
1 July 2021

   As expected, the Trump Organization and its chief financial officer were indicted today on multiple charges, including tax fraud. The ex-president himself was not named in the indictment. There is speculation that authorities are using the indictment of other officials of the company partly as leverage to get the CFO -- Allen Weisselberg -- to testify against Donald Trump in return for a lesser sentence.
   Trump himself called the move by prosecutors "a witch hunt."

Frivolity
8 July 2021

   The ex-president sued Facebook, Twitter and Google in a demand that they restore his accounts, which were dropped because of falsehoods and comments that escalated the potential for violence. In the lawsuit, Donald Trump claimed the bans were unconstitutional censorship of his right to free speech.
   Observers noted that the claims were likely a publicity stunt to raise money for the ex-president. And before Trump was done speaking at his golf course about his plans, the National Republican Congressional Committee and the National Republican Senatorial Committee sent text messages asking for contributions, according to a New York Times report. Soon after, Trump's political action committee also sent its solicitation, the Times said.
   News media have long been protected from government censorship by the First Amendment to the Constitution, and are free to publish -- or not publish -- information about anything or anyone, as long as it is not libelous. The Trump lawsuit claims the tech firms are, in a way, government firms because of a federal law protecting them and therefore the First Amendment does not apply.
   Earlier, Trump failed in his attempt to set up his own web site, so he is now demanding that he get back on the commercial services. Meanwhile, there is the danger that if this demand is successful, similar demands would be made to print and broadcast media, insisting that they publish unedited commentary by government officials. This would mean government control of the press, a clear violation of the First Amendment.
   Unless the Constitution be suspended.