A death penalty for Palestinians but not Israelis

That conclusion can be drawn from a law passed by the Israeli parliament last Monday.  The new law makes death by hanging the default sentence in Israeli military courts trying Palestinians who kill people in militant attacks.

Thousands of Palestinians are in Israeli prisons right now.  Trials would take place in military courts in areas under military occupation in Gaza and the West Bank.  The law could theoretically apply to Israelis, but hanging will only affect a murderer who acted to “negate the existence of the State of Israel.”  That wouldn’t apply to an Israeli who kills a Palestinian living in the West Bank.

I learned about this new law in an article by Aaron Boxerman and Johnatan Reiss, “Israel Passes Law to Allow Hanging of Palestinians Convicted of Attacks, New York Times, Mar. 31, 2026), p. 9.

Do I have this right?

While Putin is assisting the Iranians in targeting their missiles and drones against American bases, the Trump administration is also permitting Russia to sell more oil at higher prices while the Russians continue to battle democratic Ukraine.

That is insane.

Greenland revisited

Remember a few weeks ago when Trump was talking about seizing Greenland.  We made jokes about it.  People laughed about it.  

We have since learned that Denmark was preparing to oppose any takeover with military means.  Denmark was negotiating to get aid from other European allies.  

Denmark took Trump’s threats about Greenland very seriously.  I hate to say this, but I didn’t.  I should have.  We have a president who cannot be trusted.  His promises mean absolutely nothing.  Always remember that.  Nobody should be taken in.

No Kings Rally

We were watching some of the coverage of the No Kings rallies, and one of the shots was an aerial view of the Boston rally.  I thought there weren’t all that many people, and then the camera pulled back.  What I thought was the rally was just a small portion of the people.  Holy cow!

And the one of Minneapolis?  Did you ever see one of those ant swarms when thousands of then come pouring out.  From the air, it looked like a gigantic–and I mean gigantic–ant swarm.  And did you ever put your hand into one of those ant swarms?  Individually they aren’t very big, but those suckers can bite.

The demonstration in Jim Thorpe had approximately 250, not bad for Carbon County.  My sign, “Trump makes me nostalgic for Richard Nixon” received some approval.

My friend Bill sent me one that I will use at the next rally, however.  It will say “Flip us off if you voted for a pedophile.”  Perfect.

What's happening in Cuba...and No Kings

Finally the Times had a front page article today about people dying in Cuba because of the U.S. imposed blockade.  Why is my country doing this?  Who approved this?  What is the point?  We have gone so far down the road to authoritarianism that we are there.

Which is why I will be at the No Kings rally tomorrow, along with millions of other Americans.  We have got to turn this around.

My sign will say:  “Trump makes me nostalgic for Richard Nixon.”

Added comment:  In a meme from my friend Bill I saw the suggestion that if Trump adds his name to the dollar bill, you could take a Sharpie and cross it off.  They did that to the Epstein files.  It is called “redacting.”  

That Pete Hegseth is a fighter

Unfortunately, he is fighting the New York Times.  Last Friday a federal judge ordered the Pentagon to allow the press into Pentagon briefings.  Hegseth was angry at what he thought was critical coverage, so he had kicked out reporters from newspapers and tv stations he didn’t like.  He did admit Laura Loomer, the pillow guy, and some right-wing podcasters.  The judge told him he could not do that.  

He then decided to hold press briefings outside the main Pentagon building and all journalists seeking entrance to the Pentagon must have an escort. 

The New York Times is going back into court.  Now if only Hegseth could win the war with Iran.

Two Republican Presidents Speak

When people are dishonorable in private business, they injure only those with whom they deal or their own chances in the next world.  But when there is a lack of honor in government, the morals of the whole people are poisoned.

-Herbert Hoover

In world opinion and in world effectiveness, the United States is measured by the moral firmness of its public officials.

-Dwight D. Eisenhower