Friday, March 01, 2024
The Public Disagrees With The Alabama Supreme Court
The chart above reflects the results of the Economist / YouGov Poll -- done between February 25th and 27th of a nationwide sample of 1,688 adults (including 1,498 registered voters), with a 3.2 point margin of error.
About 215,000 Workers Filed For Unemployment Last Week
The Labor Department released its weekly unemployment report on Thursday. It showed that about 215,000 workers filed for unemployment benefits in the week ending on February 24th. Here is the official Labor Department statement:
In the week ending February 24, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 215,000, an increase of 13,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 1,000 from 201,000 to 202,000. The 4-week moving average was 212,500, a decrease of 3,000 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 250 from 215,250 to 215,500.
Biased Court Makes A Political Move To Help Trump & GOP
For most of our nation's history, the Supreme Court has acted to make sure that the Constitution is upheld, and it has done so in a political-neutral way. Unfortunately, that no longer seems to be true. The current Court is a very political one. Instead of making sure actions and laws are consistent with the Constitution, they are interpreting the Constitution to fit the agenda of right-wing Republicans.
This week they made the rather shocking decision to hear Donald Trump's claim of absolute immunity. Most had thought the Court wouldn't take this case. It seems obvious that a finding of presidential immunity would put the president above the law. That would be unimaginable in a nation built on the idea of equality under Constitutional law. One of our most sacred beliefs is that no one is above the law.
Putting the president above the law would be tantamount to giving him/her dictatorial power (since he/she could not be charged with a crime - no matter how egregious an action taken). He/she could imprison, or even kill, political opponents, take action to censor or ban the media, sell access to the White House and decisions made by the president, etc.
I don't think the court's right-wingers would go that far. Giving a president immunity from the law would also apply to Democratic presidents - and they certainly don't want to allow that!
So, why did they decide to hear the case - a case they are extremely unlikely to uphold. It was purely a political decision - not a constitutional one. It was to give Donald Trump and the Republican Party a delay of the trials Trump faces.
They won't hear the case until late in April, and won't announce a decision until probably late in June. The federal trials cannot go forward until their decision is announced, and a late June announcement would mean the trials probably couldn't be held before the November elections.
That is what Trump and the Republicans wanted. If they could delay the trials until after the election, and then Trump win that election, the cases would probably go away. A Trump Justice Department could simply drop the charges. Or Trump could pardon himself (since the Constitution gives the president pardon power, but doesn't say he can't use it on himself).
This was a political move by the most political Supreme Court in U.S. history!
Thursday, February 29, 2024
Most Oppose The "Embryos Are Children" Court Decision
Uncommitted Vote In Michigan Is OK - But It Won't Be In Nov.
Michigan held its Democratic primary on Tuesday. The outcome was good for President Biden. He got about 81% of the vote and all (or nearly all) of the available delegates. It puts him one step closer to getting the nomination.
About 13% of the primary voters (mostly young voters and Muslims) voted uncommitted. They did that as a protest because they are unhappy with how President Biden is handling the war in Gaza. They want the present to force a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.
I have no problem with those who voted for uncommitted. They have the right to protest and the right to vote as they please. And they are right that cease-fire is badly needed in Gaza. Thousands of innocent Gaza residents have been killed (many of them children), and more are dying every day. They also aren't getting the food, shelter, and medical care they need.
But they are wrong if they think President Biden could force a cease-fire. All he can do is try to pressure both sides to come to an agreement about a cease-fire. He is doing that, but so far, both sides are refusing to agree. Currently, Biden is trying to arrange a temporary cease-fire (in the hope it could develop into a permanent one) and the release of hostages. He is also pressuring Israel to allow more aid to the residents of Gaza. And he has said a two-state solution is needed and Jewish West Bank settlements are illegal.
At least some of the uncommitted voters are saying if President Biden doesn't do what they want (force a cease-fire), they will also refuse to vote for him in November. It is there right to vote as they please or not vote at all -- but that would be a huge mistake.
Michigan is a state that Biden won by a small margin, and withholding their votes could give Donald Trump the edge he needs to carry the state in November. It could also give him the electoral college majority (like in 2016).
That would be disastrous for the people of Gaza. Trump is a Muslin-hater (and even tried to deny Muslims entry into the U.S. during his first term). He is also a big fan of Netanyahu. Trump would fully support Netanyahu's genocidal war on Gaza. Trump also supports the West Bank settlements and does not support a two-state solution.
Another term for Trump would be terrible for the Palestinians of Gaza (and the West Bank). If the uncommitted voters were really trying to help the residents of Gaza, then refusing to vote in November would be a very stupid move!
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