Issues he championed

Finally saw Solo, a Star Wars Story. Overall, it was enjoyable, but the violence and constant danger was wearying rather quickly. It also wasn’t as much fun as the first trilogy. I think this is the first Star Wars movie in which the Force is not mentioned or used. It is also the first not to have any of Luke Skywalker’s extended family.



Anthony Kennedy is retiring from the Supreme Court. Somehow the rule that there should be no vote for a justice in an election year doesn’t seem to apply. We’re angry, but not surprised, by the hypocrisy.

Nina Totenberg of NPR notes that many of the issues Kennedy championed – lesbian and gay rights (I don’t think he got to transgender rights), abortion rights, affirmative action in higher education, a moderate approach to gun rights, limits on presidential powers in the war on terror – are now in doubt.



The nasty guy and his minions are saying that the only way for parents seeking asylum can be quickly reunited with their children is to drop the asylum claim and agree to be deported. But if the parent pursues asylum she will remain in custody and separated from her children. That’s a process that can take months to years.

A judge has ordered all children to be reunited within 30 days, sooner for younger children. But the nasty guy has a habit of ignoring judges and the law – which he did to get us into this mess.

Besides, the nasty guy doesn’t want judges. At least not on the border. He actually said that. He wondered, “What other country has judges?” How about all of them not led by a dictator.



Since I don’t watch much TV I don’t see many political ads. When there’s a good one someone has to point it out to me. And Daily Kos did just that. This ad is for MJ Hegar, a woman running for Congress as a Democrat in Texas. You’ll need to buckle up to watch it.



The House Budget Committee has passed a budget for 2019 that calls for huge cuts to Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security. We knew this was coming since that huge tax theft bill was passed six months ago (the nasty guy held an event today to celebrate how awesome it is).

Passing out of committee doesn’t mean the House will pass it. However, the bill is constructed with “reconciliation instructions” that allow the Senate to pass it without facing a filibuster – which means even if the GOP loses in November the Senate could pass it in the lame-duck session.