One of the Articles of Impeachment against Richard Nixon charged that he misused federal agencies to harass his “enemies.” One of the agencies mentioned was the I.R.S.
Now we find out that Trump also tried to use the I.R.S. to audit his political enemies. Evidently the I.R.S. refused, as it had done during the Nixon administration.
Of course, after an attempt to overthrow a free and fair election, misusing the I.R.S. seems almost trivial.
In 1215 a group of barons in England forced King John to sign the Magna Carta. That document recognizes the doctrine of habeas corpus. It says that you cannot be detained by the government without being charged with a crime. It prevents the government of England from arresting you and then holding you behind bars indefinitely. Habeas corpus is also enshrined in the United States Constitution.
Late last month the U.S. government freed Saifullah Paracha from Guantanamo. Mr. Paracha was 75. He was captured in July 2003 in Thailand in a “sting” operation. He was originally held in Afghanistan, then moved to Guantanamo after 14 months. He maintained his innocence throughout his incarceration.
He was never changed with a crime.
See Carol Rosenberg, "Guantanamo's Oldest Prisoner, Never Charged, Is Released and Returns to Pakistan, New York Times (Oct. 30, 2022), p. 27.
Forests now cover 45% of Nepal. Local communities are responsible for forests that citizens plant and help to protect. Between 1992 and 2016 the tree cover in Nepal doubled. Nepal is getting aid from developed nations for the tree planting program, but the Nepalese population is making the program work. Rainfall has increased, wildlife has increased, and the army of Nepal helps to protect the forests and the wildlife. What an amazing country.
See Karan Deep Singh and Bhadra Sharma, “Strategy for Reforestation, Starting From the Ground Up,” New York Times, (11 Nov. 2022), p. A8.
I heard today that exit polls found that while white people as a group gave a majority of their votes to Republican candidates, white people under 30 tilted to the Democrats. I don’t like their music and their tattoos and their gender reveal parties and their constant preoccupation with their phones, but I do like the way they vote. Thanks. You are wonderful.
The anti-Semite and Jan. 6 insurrectionist Mastriano lost big to Shapiro in the PA Governor’s race. Fetterman beat the bogus pill pusher Oz for the U.S. Senate. Susan Wild defeated her opponent who closed down a manufacturing plant in Lansford and moved the operation to China.. The bond issue for farmland preservation passed in Carbon with 81% of the vote.
On the other hand, Reeps now control the House and likely will control the Senate. That’s a bitter pill. No good will come of that.
My Susan Wild shirt–in the wash. Fetterman hat–hung on the chair. Shapiro button–on the dresser. Today I was non-partisan, working the polls at the Towamensing Firehouse, telling people about the badly named “Carbon County Water Quality, Working Farms, and Wildlife Habitat Referendum” on our ballot.
Linda worked the early morning shift; I was there mid-day, came home for lunch and a nap, and was back at it until evening. I stressed how six farms had applied for the farmland preservation program in Carbon, but the County didn’t even have the funds to accept one.
I also explained that the question was on the back page of the ballot; many people didn’t know it was there. I got positive responses from a guy with a MAGA hat, from Republicans, from Democrats, from new residents, and from old-timers. In a few cases I had to explain how the farmland preservation program worked, and I stressed that our farm had been preserved. It was fun to push a measure that had no organized opposition.
I’ll bet that Linda and I were responsible for at least 100 yes votes. Unfortunately, the supporters were able to place workers at relatively few polling locations. I am hoping for positive results.
