Terry H. Schwadron
March 23, 2024
The overnight headlines once again made the otherwise sunny day feel as if it was filled with thunderclouds bristling with lightning strikes against good will or reason. However angering the headlines, most were as unexpected as finding the price of eggs at the supermarket too high for personal taste.
Then the news day increasingly got worse to be capped by a claimed terrorist attack in Moscow killing dozens and wounding anther 150 — a horrible incident in which some in Russian leadership wanted to find reason to pin on Ukraine rather than fighters for The Islamic State, which took responsibility that they’ve never left the stage.
It was a day filled with crankiness at human choices:
–The Security Council at the United Nations quickly dismissed a U.S. resolution seeking endorsement of a Middle East permanent ceasefire in return for Hamas release of Israeli and other nationals as hostages. No ceasefire takes place unless the opposing sides decide it, but just to get the U.S. to the point of backing a generic call for ceasefire has been painful. For China and Russia to veto the action angrily underscores that solving the problems between Israel and Gaza are much less important than international blame and scorn.
–Overnight we were treated anew by Donald Trump ranting about his persecution over requirements to post a bond — a huge bond — to appeal a court ruling for huge fraud. In appealing for someone, even international foes, to bail him out financially, Trump asks for unequal. special treatment under the law, bypasses sale or mortgage of properties, or declaring bankruptcy. But in the same bleat, he says he has five hundred million bucks in cash. He just doesn’t want to pony up. But he will insult me if I don’t vote him, someone found guilty of massive fraud, to manage the national cash register,
–Making matters more confusing, stockholders for Digital World Acquisition Corporation irritatingly voted on the same day to merge with the very same Trump Media & Technology Group that is publishing the cash-poor Trump Social that gives Trump his ranting platform — even though it is barely earning operating monies. The deal just smells of politics, not business logic. The move gives him the lion’s share of an opening on the stock market that adds a whoppingly overvalued $3.5 billion to his paper holdings — but he still cannot or will not pay his required court bond by Monday.
–Yesterday morning brought news of more widespread attacks in a defense-strapped Ukraine, with a lot of damage and power outages, including for a friend living in the usually calmer western part of the country, now dealing with family in ruined housing and unable once again to send a child to school or to do her work. Maintaining a personal relationship with someone in a war zone is a guarantee of continuing bad news — mostly because our own Republican leadership refuses to pass necessary weapons aid over political pique.
–Indeed, in Washington, even reaching a bipartisan agreement about spending was no guarantee that the government could remain open over the weekend. Instead, the constant political elbowing (more House Republicans opposed it than supported it) threatened delays that could force problems from policing the border to maintaining health programs — and now promises a vote on ousting Rep. Mike Johnson as Speaker because he is not extreme enough a right-winger. It took the Senate until 2 a.m. to ratify the deal. What possibly could make me want to trust these people, never mind to vote for these people?
Meanwhile, we’re worried about trans people using biologically correct bathrooms, or blocking diversity thinking in Alabama and other Republican-led states, prompting overworked cops to spend time arresting and deporting random migrants while we claim that crime is increasing, and generally resisting concerns about climate, food, shelter and prices. Where indeed is the governmental beef?
It’s enough to make one go back to bed or to consider it all part of March Madness.
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TerryHSchwadron 