So, Joe Biden Had a Bad Day

 By Mildred Robertson

Okay. President Joe Biden looked a little shaky during the June 27 debate. Was it disappointing for those who support a strong, democratic government?  Absolutely!

But does it mean that we must accept the leadership of a convicted rapist and felon who promoted an insurrection against the federal government? Absolutely not!

As we examine the optics of this debate, it is clear that President Biden was not having a good day. It also was clear that the format smoothed Trump's rough edges so we did not see the wild-eyed lunatic that normally shows up at rallies, speeches, and on Trump Social Media. But the lies were still there.

For instance, Trump’s rhetoric on abortion was patently absurd, and filled with lies. Clearly, doctors are not aborting babies at nine months and up to days after birth. That would be called murder. He denied having had relations with Stormy Daniels, which a jury of his peers found to be false.  While his affair is of no one’s concern but his and Melania’s, the FACT that he paid hush money to keep that knowledge away from voters during the 2020 election is everybody’s business.

As voters mull over the pros and cons of each candidate, I hope they bear in mind that Joe Biden has done a lot to bring America out of the ditch into which Trump drove us.

• He took meaningful steps to clean up the COVID mess left by his predecessor.  
• He drove down prescription drug costs.
• He actually PASSED an infrastructure bill.
• He signed an executive order to allow citizenship for spouses of Dreamers.
• He stood up to Putin’s aggression and provided support for Ukraine despite rabid Republican opposition.
• He has attempted to moderate the conflict in the Middle East, though challenges still exist. They would exist for any president. Atrocities on both sides make it difficult to throw one's support totally to one side or the other.
• He proposed meaningful border legislation that was killed by Trump and his sycophants.
• While gas and food prices are high, America still leads the world in terms of financial stability. Economic indicators are moving in a positive direction even as corporate greed pushes prices as high as the market will allow. (That’s known as capitalism.)
• He supports a woman’s right to choose.

While Joe Biden promises to spend the next four years working to continue to improve the plight of Americans, from young people seeking relief from student debt to those seeking to buy new homes, his opposition is still stuck in the past, whining about a win in 2020 that was outside his reach. 

Trump LOST that race, yet he still wants to canonize the rebels who stormed the Capitol, urinated in its hallowed halls, and threatened to hang Mike Pence. He yearns to be a dictator, if only for one day, (wink-wink). He promises tax cuts to the wealthy and continues to denigrate Black Americans by claiming that he will win their votes because of his mugshot. His promise to them…the return of “black” jobs…whatever that means.

So am I somewhat disheartened, yes, but not in despair.  I believe the majority of American voters are astute enough to know that a 2^nd Trump presidency would be catastrophic. It would isolate us from world leadership and launch our democracy on a path to destruction.

We have begun the hard job of recovery from the four years we suffered under Trump’s leadership. I do not believe our democracy could bear the burden of four more years of that corrupt administration. So when you enter the voting booth, think about whether this country’s foundational democracy is important to you. If it is, you must VOTE BLUE.

THE SUPREME COURT PROBABLY WON’T SAVE US

 By Mildred Robertson

The Supreme Court is rushing toward its final days in this term, with much left to be decided.  With little more than a week to go, several high-profile cases remain to be heard, including cases that could reshape our nation’s laws ranging from gun control and abortion rights to social media issues. The Court actually upheld a law that bars domestic abusers from possessing firearms…a rare victory for gun control advocates, but short-lived, as the Court also ruled that a bump stock does not make an AR a machine gun, even though it can discharge as many rounds as one.

A Court that boasts a 6-3 conservative majority has yet to issue rulings on the abortion pill and some gun rights issues. Of course, the most high-profile case coming before them is the Donald Trump immunity case, where Trump argues that former presidents are immune from prosecution for official acts they took in office. They also are considering the indictment he faces on charges of election interference. He argues that the previous rule held that former presidents can’t be sued in civil cases for what they did in office. But the Court has yet to weigh in on criminal immunity. He hopes that the Court will give him a get-out-of-jail-free card. By taking on this case, the Court gave Trump a win by making it next to impossible for the case to be brought against him before the election, even if they ruled that he is not immune from prosecution.  

The Court has yet to decide on whether hundreds of insurrectionists who violently attacked the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, should be prosecuted and jailed for obstruction charges related to their attempt to stop the certification of Joe Biden as the duly elected President in the 2020 election. That is a charge also faced by Trump for obstructing an official proceeding. The Court’s decision could invalidate more than 330 January 6 prosecutions…including Trump’s.

An example of the type of accused insurrectionist who might be cleared is Joseph Fischer who texted his boss before the January 6^th insurrection to tell him that he might need to post bail.  He allegedly warned that the protest at the US Capitol “might get violent.” It is also alleged that he said, “they should storm the capital and drag all the democrats [sic] into the street and have a mob trial.”

According to the Justice Department, it was Fischer who allegedly yelled “charge,” on the day of the insurrection before running and crashing into a line of police inside the Capitol. Video footage cited by the Justice Department shows at least one officer on the ground following Fischer’s assault, after which he was forcibly removed. The FBI identified Fischer based on a Facebook post that he posted showing him inside the Capitol on January 6.

Fischer has yet to be tried because the criminal proceeding has been tied up in appeals after a Trump-appointed trial judge ruled that one of the criminal laws with which he is charged must be narrowly interrupted.  The case, Fischer v. United States, is now being reviewed by the Supreme Court. The statute says that anyone who obstructs, influences, or impedes any official proceeding or attempts to do so commits a serious federal crime and can be imprisoned for up to 20 years.  The Justice Department has charged approximately 330 January 6 defendants with violating this statute during the insurrection.  Among the accused…Donald J. Trump.

While the Court considers issues such as abortion rights, guns, homelessness, and environmental issues, scandal looms over two of the Court's conservative majority members. Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito was caught on tape stating that he questioned whether a compromise between the left and the right is possible. According to audio posted by liberal filmmaker Lauren Windsor, Alito said “One side or the other is going to win…there are differences on fundamental things that really can’t be compromised.” This leads us to wonder whether Justice Alito can make an unbiased decision in any controversial case. This issue is magnified when you see Alito entangled in a community controversy over flying the American flag upside down above at least two of his residences. Flying the flag in that manner is both disrespectful and an indication of allegiance to the insurrectionists.

Then, there’s Clarence Thomas who has received financial perks from billionaire Harlan Crow that he failed to declare publicly. Now, he acknowledges he should have disclosed the free trips. He amended his financial disclosure for 2019 stating that he “inadvertently omitted” the trips on previous reports.

While the Court labors under a cloud of suspicion regarding its integrity and which cases it took up and why; America’s future hangs in the balance. This nation stands on the precipice of disaster if the Supreme Court does not show the same kind of strength and integrity we have witnessed across this nation, as state courts held rioters, insurrectionists, rebels, and even would-be kings responsible for their actions.

It is my prayer that the Court holds the line and protects democracy. If it does not…YOU are the last line of defense.

You must vote for this country’s future. You must support the candidates who put country before party, who put citizens above businesses, and who put freedom and justice above anarchy.

It is up to you…because NO ONE IS COMING TO SAVE US.

Men of Southeast Raleigh Fight for Community's Legacy

 By Mildred Robertson

It was a simple event held at the John Chavis Memorial Park Community Center in Southeast Raleigh. Chavis, which has a rich legacy of service to African Americans in Southeast Raleigh, was a fitting location as brothers of "The Men of Southeast Raleigh" escorted senior mothers being honored by the Chavis Seniors in a Mother’s Day Tribute organized by Joani Craven and Sarah McNeil. The group of active seniors meets every Thursday for crafts, games, and fellowship. The men served as escorts for the three seniors recognized at the event.

Anthony Pope, coordinator of "The Men of Southeast Raleigh" says the group was pleased to be invited to participate in the event by long-time friend Joani Craven. He even recognizes Craven as the one who inspired him to organize the group. “Joani and I grew up together and have lived in the same community all our lives,” he says. It was when he retired in 2021 that she pressed him to start the organization, which began with just 3 men. By the time they held their first meeting, the enrollment had expanded to 20 men. Their current membership includes about 70 individuals most of whom are highly engaged in projects supporting Southeast Raleigh.

Members were primarily born and raised in Southeast Raleigh. “We practically grew up together, lived in the same communities, and went to the same schools,” says Anthony. So, the members are invested in the vitality of this community. His fond memories of growing up in Southeast Raleigh were the catalyst for taking on the task of maintaining his beloved community’s legacy. “As I think back to when we grew up, the community embraced us.  Everybody's parents were our parents,” says Pope.

The goal of the organization is to gather men from the community who exude courage, confidence, and class and who are committed to preserving the legacy and history of Southeast Raleigh. The group is involved in activities both social and political that affect the Southeast Raleigh community.

One of the main issues that trouble Pope is the gentrification that is swallowing up property in the area. He tells his own story of how gentrification impacted his ancestral home. His mother owned a home in Southeast Raleigh since the late 80s. When he took over the property in 2011, he gutted and refitted it, doing most of the work himself, with help from friends. Property taxes on that home at that time were approximately $450-$500 per year.   But with all the new construction in his neighborhood, even without any further renovations or improvements his home property taxes skyrocketed to $4,092.  From the time his mother purchased the home in 1986 to the present, the value of the home had soared to $538,000. That jump in valuation is based on the new construction of townhomes that have sprung up in his neighborhood priced at $1.4 million, none of which have been sold. The homes are priced outside the reach of the moderate-income homebuyers who historically populated the area. They also over-inflate the land value of long-time homeowners in the area, resulting in exorbitant property taxes.

That is the plight of Southeast Raleigh. “Our community is disappearing because people can't pay their taxes, particularly the elderly. They don’t know you can ask for a waiver,” says Pope. 

To support homeowners in the areas, the Men of Southeast Raleigh have begun to hold sessions to teach people how to appeal their property valuations. The first session, which attracted about 30 people was held on April 15 at historic Martin Street Baptist Church which sits in the heart of Southeast Raleigh. A second meeting held on April 29 attracted approximately 100 people interested in lowering their property taxes.

The group is trying to inform as many people as possible about ways to get tax relief. “These properties have land that is more valuable than the houses that sit on them. I plan to plead my case on my property taxes and want to help other people do the same,” says Pope. He says that families who have lived in Southeast Raleigh for years are being priced out of the market by exploding property taxes that put their homeownership in jeopardy. That’s why his group’s efforts aim to help save families' homes by showing them how to reduce the property tax burden.  Pope says that the more people raise the issue, the more the city will be forced to examine it.

If you want to learn more about “The Men of Southeast Raleigh,” or wish to join the group visit the website at https://www.menofsoutheastraleigh.com/ or contact Pope at popea19783@gmail.com.

William Barr's Presidential Choice: Chaos and Horror, or Liberalism

 By: Mildred Robertson

The New York Post recently reported that former Attorney General Bill Barr characterized the Trump presidency as a horror show filled with chaos.  He adds, however, that he still will support Trump over Biden in the 2024 election. He reasons that “the real threat to democracy is the progressive movement and the Biden administration.”  

This is the most illogical statement I have ever heard from someone who is supposedly learned. Barr is saying the "chaos and horror" of a Trump presidency is superior to one that has improved the country, built roads and bridges, improved unemployment, strengthened healthcare, and aided in reducing student debt.

Come on now. This is partisanship gone awry. 

While Barr openly criticizes Trump for his handling of the documents case, noting that Trump puts his ego above his presidential duties and describes January 6th as a travesty, he still rails against the liberalism that accompanies a Biden presidency. He chooses chaos and horror over liberalism.

 What!

Barr is only one of many former Trump high-ranking administration officials who criticize the twice impeached, criminally charged, civilly convicted ex-president. His former administrators characterize him as an impulsive leader who disregards advice and lacks adult sensibilities. That includes former Defense Secretary James Mattis, former Navy Secretary Richard Spencer, former White House National Security Adviser John Bolton, former White House National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster, former Homeland Security Adviser Tom Bossert, and the list goes on and on.

But unlike Barr, many of Trump’s former administrative officers say they cannot back him for a second term. Chief among them is former Vice President Mike Pence. During a Fox interview on March 15, 2024, Pence said he would not support Trump during the upcoming election. Pence stated that as he sought the 2024 presidential election, “I made it clear that there were profound differences between me and President Trump on a range of issues.” Pence said that Trump’s agenda is at odds with the conservative agenda he supports, and by which they supposedly governed during their tenure in office.

In light of the exodus of high-ranking officials from Trump’s camp, it is even more puzzling that Barr would endorse Trump in the 2024 presidential election. An article in the New Republic authored by Hafiz Rashid Barr quoted Barr as saying in June 2023, “Should we be putting someone like this forward as the leader of the country, leader of the free world?”

The answer to that question in 2023 was NO!  It is still “no” now.

We cannot let partisan polarization as exhibited by Barr and others like him destroy our democracy. It is unfathomable that a political leader could recognize the destructiveness of a candidate yet continue to support that candidate based on party loyalty.

When you balance America’s future with a choice between horrific chaos and progressive liberalism, the choice is clear. Whether you are Republican, Democrat, or Independent, horrific chaos should never be the choice.

A Third-Party Vote is a Vote for Trump

 By Mildred Robertson

America is faced with a major threat during the 2024 Presidential Election. Third-party candidates may throw the country into a quagmire as they muddy political waters.  If these candidates attract enough votes in the general election their candidacies could ensure that neither major party candidate can win in the Electoral College. That would throw the election into the House of Representatives, where the Republican legislators will most assuredly elect former President Donald J. Trump.

Anti-vaccine activist Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. seems to be the largest threat because he has gained ballot access in Utah and is poised to qualify in six more states, including three battleground states.  It is highly unlikely that he or any third-party candidate could secure the presidency, but they could have a significant impact on the election outcome by diverting support from candidates Donald Trump (Rep.) and President Biden, (Dem.)

In early March Kennedy Jr.’s campaign announced that it collected enough signatures to put him on the ballot in Nevada. He recently qualified for the Utah ballot and the American Values super PAC supporting his candidacy also claims to have the signatures to secure his spot on the ballots in Arizona, Georgia, and South Carolina.  According to a November Siena College poll of voters in six battleground states (Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin), slightly more Democrats than Republicans (18% versus 16%) would back Kennedy Jr., indicating he could draw more votes from Biden than Trump.

The other two third-party candidates seeking the presidency are progressive Cornel West and Green Party’s Jill Stein. Stein is blamed for siphoning votes from Hillary Clinton in 2016 in Florida and was on the ballot in Wisconsin and Michigan which led to Hillary’s ultimate defeat in the Electoral College. (Note that Clinton actually won the popular vote by 2.9 million.)

It is presumed that without Kennedy Jr., West, and Stein on the ballot, Biden could beat Trump by four points. However, these third-party candidates change that math. The Quinnipiac poll and the December Reuters/Ipsos survey found Trump’s lead over Biden widens to five when Kennedy Jr. is on the ballot. A January Harvard CAPS-Harris poll found Trump would expand his lead over Biden from six to eight points with Kennedy Jr. on the ballot.

Clearly, these polls are changing daily as more voters tune in to the election and begin to make their decisions about who they will choose to lead this nation. Currently, Biden and Trump are in a statistical dead heat. One of the two will be elected president on Tuesday, November 5, 2024.

So as voters plan how they will vote and for whom, it is important to weigh the value of a third-party vote. If a candidate from neither major party appeals to you just know that making a third-party choice is still a choice for one of the two of them. It is unlikely…almost impossible for a third-party candidate to win. But it is almost certain that a third-party vote is a vote for Trump. Look back to 2016. The evidence is clear.

If you are just looking for an alternative with your third-party vote, you won’t get one. You will just get Trump.

Don’t waste your vote.

Mitch McConnell Legacy - Kissing the Ring

by Mildred Robertson

On Wednesday Mitch McConnell bowed the knee to Donald Trump by endorsing him as the presumptive Republican presidential nominee in the 2024 Presidential election. Though not surprising, his endorsement is disappointing as he chose to fire his final volley as the Senate Majority Leader by kissing the proverbial ring of this twice-impeached, criminally indicted former president. Trump has faced 91 charges across 4 criminal cases, two of which have found him liable for wrongdoing.

Back in February of 2023, McConnell stated that Trump was morally and practically responsible for the January 6th insurrection to stymie the peaceful transfer of power. Wednesday he nonetheless added his name to a growing list of established Republicans who have thrown their lot in with this criminally indicted would-be dictator who promises vengeance and retribution against his adversaries if he is re-elected.

Viewed Machiavellian in his leadership style, McConnell is known as a shrewd Senate Majority Leader who left his mark on key congressional legislation and reshaped the federal judiciary. The Kentucky Republican announced this week he will step down from Senate Leadership. Inexplicably in the same breath, McConnell endorsed Trump as the presumptive nominee though he was one of the few Republicans who chastised Trump following the insurrection.

Trump is at the center of at least four separate criminal cases into matters related to his business and political careers at both the state and federal levels. He has been found liable of sexual assault and defamation in the E. Jean Carroll trial, and owes a whopping $355 million, plus interest, in a New York case for lying for years about his wealth on financial statements used to secure loans and make deals. He still faces racketeering charges in the election interference case in Georgia.

None of this, however, seems able to stand in the way of McConnell's rabid support of a Republican Party that has clearly lost its way. It is amazing to me that he will sacrifice his Party to this nominee who holds no clear values, Republican, conservative, or otherwise. That McConnell chooses to place party above country, one wonders how the country will remember him. 

He was a Republican warrior against all things liberal and progressive. He held Congress hostage by refusing to bring key legislative issues to a vote.  His leadership denied Barack Obama the right to select a Supreme Court Justice and stole Joe Biden's opportunity to do so. His tactics have resulted in the overturning of Roe v. Wade and the legislative attack on affirmative action. 

Many of us would never look back fondly on McConnell's tenure. However, now with this move history will likely join us in our disappointment. History will remember him as a man who wielded his power like a sword, yet when it was time to really go to battle, he simply took the knee and kissed the ring.  

Supreme Court Will Hear Trump Immunity Case

By Mildred Robertson

What is the Supreme Court Thinking!  April 22, 2024, the U.S. Supreme Court will take up a case to determine whether or if a president or ex-president has an absolute immunity claim when carrying out official duties. 

It is my hope that it is about the rule of law. I hope it is about justice. I hope it is about preserving American Democracy.  It is my hope that the Court will hold that Donald Trump is not above the law. 

The Court will address several issues in the case. One key question is whether Donald Trump has absolute immunity in his attempt to overthrow the legally elected Chief Executive of the United States of America. Trump is accused of federal election interference when he fomented an insurrection among his followers based on false claims of election tampering in several key states during the 2020 election. Another key question is whether Trump's actions related to the insurrection were an official act as president. By taking up this case the Court may stymie any attempt to litigate this issue before the November 2024 election.  

This is not a case that should be used to determine the bounds of presidential power. It is Trump's assertion that events associated with January 6th were part of his official duties as president. Fomenting insurrection is clearly a criminal offense, even if carried out from the Oval Office. But clearly, Trump has a lack of respect for the rule of law. He believes that as a president or ex-president, he is entitled to absolute power on all levels. As he is confronted with numerous instances of civil and criminal prosecutions against him, he continues to call for retribution against those seeking justice.  Prosecutors, judges, and witnesses all have been targeted by Trump loyalists who buy into the concept that theirs is a holy and justifiable quest to punish any who attempt to hold Trump accountable for criminal acts.

By taking up this case, the Supreme Court has raised the possibility of denying the American people the opportunity to have clarity on this issue before the 2024 Presidential election. Many Americans say they will not vote for Trump if he is found guilty in a criminal case. The effect of the Supreme Court's decision to take up this case may well give DeFacto immunity to Trump by dragging out the issue until it is too late (as late as the end of June) for Special Counsel Jack Smith to prosecute this case before the election. 

This is not a difficult case. Trump's assertion that a president must have absolute immunity during and after his presidency is absurd on its face. He is literally asking for a get-out-of-jail-free card. He has said that he could shoot someone on 5th Avenue and get away with it. He believes he can send in Seal Team Six to assassinate an opponent and not be held responsible. He believes he can take liberties with the bodies of women without retribution. He believes that he should be above the law. 

Not only is it easy to determine that the presidential immunity argument Trump is attempting to use is not legally sound, but the Court could also have addressed this issue by taking it up when asked by Jack Smith early on. 

It makes one wonder what the Court's intent is. 

It is my hope that they are thinking about the rule of law. I hope they will consider what is just. I hope they will preserve American democracy.  I hope that the Court will find that Donald Trump is not above the law. 

No man or woman in America is.