KEY WEST LOU / LONG OVERDUE…..WAYNE LA PIERRE GOES DOWN THE TUBES
Long overdue! Longtime head of the National Rifle Association Wayne La Pierre resigned his leadership of the NRA yesterday. Days before the start of a New York civil trial that will scrutinize his leadership.
Whatever the reason for his resignation, it’s good! Great! Terrific! Unfortunate it did not occur years ago. The deaths of all the children and adults by guns weighs on his shoulders.
The weather finally broke. Hit 77 degrees yesterday. Unexpected. Hopefully the past 3 weeks have been our cold spell. Unless it is a long cold winter (unusual), a short 3-4 weeks of cold weather constitutes Key West’s winter.
The proposed Constitutional abortion amendment has reached the necessary number of signatures to put it on the ballot. The Florida Division of Elections has verified 910,946 petition signatures. Nearly 20,000 more than the required 891,523.
The U.S. Supreme Court has “awakened a sleeping giant” with its anti Roe v. Wade decision. People are coming out of the woodwork to restore abortion rights. This would not have occurred without the terrible Dobb’s decision.
Today is January 6. The day in 2021 when the insurrection on the Capitol occurred. Its ramifications not yet over. Not even close to being over. People remaining to be prosecuted include planners, perpetrators and others who supported the attack. Top people involved, like Donald Trump himself, have not yet been made to pay.
Why do Democrats keep knocking Biden? Do they want a Hitler type government? Overall, Biden is doing a great job. No one is perfect. Look at the December numbers for new jobs: 216,000. The unemployment rate continues to be low. Presently 3.7 percent.
Additionally, inflation is dipping. Gas prices in retreat. The national average for one gallon of gas yesterday was $3.09. It was below $3.00 at least twice in December.
Whatever Biden is doing is slow, but effective. He is not a bullshit artist like Trump who has a pattern of promising, most of which are never realized.
Today’s podcast some 7 years old. A fitting title Harry Truman and Key West.
Key West in the 1970’s! Nothing better. Two short films about those years will be shown at the Tropic Cinema in the next few days. I’m not sure and cannot figure out from the internet their names and what days the films will be shown. I suspect monday and tuesday. Will let you know when I know.
A European supermarket chain has stepped up to protect consumers’ interests. Carrefour, one of France’s biggest supermarket chains, will stop selling Pepsi Cola products because they have become too expensive. A clash between a major retailer and supplier over prices. Wow!
Carrefour’s stores are displaying a note along side Pepsi, Lay’s Chips, Quaker Cereals and Lipton Teas, as well as some other products, saying: “We are no longer selling this brand due to unacceptable price increases. We apologize for any inconvenience caused.”
Purgatory. A product of the medieval Latin Church beginning in the 12th century. Religious leaders at the time decided most people had sinned, though not sufficient to send them to Hell. A place was required where such persons could be “purified” before entering Heaven.
There is no mention of Purgatory in the Bible.
Thursday was a fun night at the new Bob’s on Margaret Restaurant. Jean, Joe and Louis had a good time as evidenced by a photo taken of us at the bar.
The battle is on! The election battle for the Presidency of the United States.
President Biden yesterday gave his first major general election speech. His attack on Trump a furious and stark one. The gloves are off. He made it clear that Trump’s reelection was a gigantic threat to American democracy.
Biden nailed Trump head on re January 6 three years ago. Properly blamed Trump and his supporters for the attack.
Biden stated: “Democracy is on the ballot. Your freedom is on the ballot.” He called Trump a “loser…..a person willing to sacrifice democracy to put himself in power.”
Go, Mr. President! Keep it up. America’s future, our future, lies in your hands.
The U.S. Supreme Court has decided to take up the Colorado Trump disqualification case invoking the 14th Amendment. Oral argument has been scheduled for February 8. Such represents an “immediate review” of the issue.
Though better than nothing, I am uncomfortable. This Supreme Court is not one that operates by the book. Too political, I fear.
We shall see if the trend continues on an issue vital to the well being of our Nation.
Last night was Brady’s Irish Pub for me. Carola and the pierogi friday special.
Carola gave me a package of Irish chocolates. Love the woman!
Met an Ohio couple that have lived in Key West 3 years. Unfortunately, their names escape me. Old age! Anyhow, we had a lengthy conversation. Both are working at the same jobs in Key West that they did in Ohio. The husband is a school bus mechanic, the wife a school bus driver. They love Key West and their new life here!
Enjoy your day!
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Today’s column is discouraging. It is always disappointing when intelligent me cannot see the forest for the trees.
Wayne Lapierre may not be the most articulate and charismatic leader that we could have hired, but he has steadfastly defended our civil rights. You talk of authoritarian government, but fail to see it burgeoning around you. One of the first steps that an authoritarian government does is to disarm the citizenry. While you blame him for every angry person who has killed others, or worse used a gun as the easiest way to commit suicide, the millions of NRA members see him as a savior of our democracy.
As authoritarian governments go, we now have a dictator who rules by Presidential fiat. The courts rule his college loan cancellation unconstitutional, yet he persists. The administration is prosecuting the President’s strongest opponent. His party is canceling primary elections to deny us a choice of a younger more vibrant leader. Now, his supporters are trying to remove his opponent from the ballot. We are looking at a 60’s Russian or Chinese election whereby the dictator will be overwhelmingly re-elected in a race with only one contestant. We are living with the authoritarian dictator that you fear, and yet you keep reading the propaganda. Step back and look at the whole picture. As Joe Biden says, democracy is on the ballot this year, unless Joe’s minions can eliminate all of his competitors.