Grading the Great Experiment Today

Posted on January 5, 2024 by Professor Taboo

Here comes the historian in me so watch out! You have been warned. 😉

I have a deep indignation for modern Originalists. That is, Constitutional Originalists. Thomas Jefferson once said:

“The question Whether one generation of men has a right to bind another, seems never to have been started either on this or our side of the water… (But) between society and society, or generation and generation there is no municipal obligation, no umpire but the law of nature. We seem not to have perceived that, by the law of nature, one generation is to another as one independent nation to another…

On similar ground it may be proved that no society can make a perpetual constitution, or even a perpetual law. The earth belongs always to the living generation…

Every constitution, then, and every law, naturally expires at the end of 19. years. If it be enforced longer, it is an act of force and not of right.”
— Thomas Jefferson, Letter to James Madison, 1789

And a renown early 19th-century French aristocrat, diplomat, sociologist, political scientist, political philosopher, and historian named Alexis de Tocqueville, who had influence upon our Founding Fathers, wrote:

“The greatness of America lies not in being more enlightened than any other nation, but rather in her ability to repair her faults.”
— Alexis de Tocqueville, “Democracy in america,”1835

How, in any possible way, does Tocqueville misunderstand the founding of our 18th-century infant country and its Constitutional precepts and foundations? Does his point-of-view solicit any form of stagnation or Originalism? Those are rhetorical questions; of course he firmly grasps what America’s ongoing “experiment” was and is supposed to be each decade. It was absolutely designed to be a work in progress. It was never meant to be a final “perfect” nation, at any time, where no further repairs, fixes, or amendments are no longer required. No, a real democracy must evolve with the times. Period.

At least half of Americans, that’s a minimum of 170.5-million Americans, do not understand what democracy is or what it looks like. They’d rather be lazy and automatons, being told what to do and what to believe. This is colossally disturbing! I can’t emphasize this enough. Therefore, let me share this fantastic symposium on CSPAN that took place this past Nov. 2023. The panelists are SO spot-on about the naïve half of Americans today:

If you are unable to watch this great symposium in your country, try this link below:

https://www.c-span.org/video/?531605-3/2023-george-washington-symposium-founders

Yes, it is an hour and a half long, but believe me when I say this, it is so very worth the time! Do you really and truly know what an imperfect, but improving democracy looks like and how it is supposed to operate—that is, a “government of the people” operates “for the people, by the people…“?

“*E Pluribus Unum,” are we there or have we lost it?*

Most, or too many Americans today, honestly do not know or certainly couldn’t explain democracy in detail, especially from a national standpoint. They most typically explain “democracy” from their own personal interests and individual and/or familial beliefs. But that narrow perspective is wrong. It does not reflect what our six Core Founding Fathers designed, drafted, and then ratified into law throughout our Charters of Freedom.

A Gilded Age cartoon depicting monopolists intensely watching the activities of the United States Congress. This cartoon depicts the elites as bloated giants, resembling large money bags, almost suggesting that they run Congress through financial means. Wikimedia

This present condition in American culture begs several questions.

Why and how has this happened after only a 248-year “experiment”? Are we teaching our tech-savvy, tech-obsessed youth the core fundamentals of a Constitutional democracy? Why are so few of our youth and young adults have ambitions to be public servants via government, military personnel, or election officials? What are the causes of this void in America’s youth? Is it economic opportunities and greater wealth in and from the private sectors? If so, how does that change in the 21st-century? What are the current American values and/or what should they be?

I’m curious to read your feedback and comments to these questions below.

Live Well – Love Much – Laugh Often – Learn Always

14 More States Step Up!

Posted on January 3, 2024 by Professor Taboo

More great news for the 2024 Presidential ballots across the nation! What states are the lawsuits pending against Trump? Well, I for one was shocked by one state, my home state of Texas being included in the list. But I can guarantee everyone that the radical MAGAt Republicans in Austin and our heavily ultra-Conservative state Supreme Court justices will take less than 10-minutes to throw-out the lawsuit.

According to Lawfare, there are 14 more states reviewing cases to disqualify Trump from the 2024 Presidential ballot. Who are they? Here is the current list: Arizona, Alaska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, South Carolina, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

Now of course there are a few of these 14 other states besides Texas that won’t even seriously consider banning the Orange Orangutan from the 2024 ballot because they are strong, well-established, conservative Republican states with Red-majorities in too many key offices and court positions.

*The U.S. Supreme Court, Washington D.C. will at some point make a decision as to Trump’s appeals*

Some states have already dismissed on appeals or by the plaintiffs as these cases are ongoing as I write. Meanwhile, lets enjoy this growing trend in all these states and hope that they continue and perhaps one-third or half of them (and more later?) step up and SAVE this country and true democracy—run by laws, not a man or necessarily “voters”—from this narcissistic autocrat and his cult members, shall we?

For further details go to: https://www.lawfaremedia.org/current-projects/the-trump-trials/section-3-litigation-tracker

Live Well – Love Much – Laugh Often – Learn Always

Colorado Steps Up!

Posted on December 20, 2023 by Professor Taboo

It’s fantastic news! Finally, some supreme court justices rightfully “interpreted” our U.S. Constitution and it didn’t require an Originalist’s point-of-view or their narrow, wealth-driven bias. It seems some of our state justices have higher qualified deciphering skills and more qualified to understand the historical context of our six 18th-century Core Founding Fathers than several of our federal supreme court justices do today.

Outstanding Colorado SC Justices!

*The Ralph L. Carr Colorado Judicial Center and Supreme Court of Colorado Building*

Because it’s all over national news you probably know what the great news is about. Yes, the Colorado Supreme Court voted 4 — 3 to bar Donald Trump from Colorado’s Election Ballot in 2024! 🥳👏

“In a stunning and unprecedented decision, the Colorado Supreme Court on Tuesday removed former President Donald Trump from the state’s 2024 ballot, ruling that he isn’t an eligible presidential candidate because of the 14th Amendment’s “insurrectionist ban.””
cnn politics — dec. 19,2023. link: https://www.cnn.com/2023/12/19/politics/trump-colorado-supreme-court-14th-amendment/index.html

*An 1868 political cartoon following the American Civil War* *that writer Heather Cox Richardson recollects was the true purpose of the 14th Amendment, Section 3. That Section does apply to Trump.*

In her usual upfront truthful reporting, Heather Cox Richardson, a renown history professor at Boston College and an independent author/educator, writes on this historic event:

“This evening, by a vote of 4–3, the Colorado Supreme Court decided that former president Donald Trump is disqualified from holding office and should be removed from the 2024 ballot in the state, citing Section 3 of the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. […]

Today the Colorado Supreme Court agreed that the events at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, constituted an “insurrection” and that Trump “engaged in” that insurrection through his personal actions, including his incitement of the crowd that breached the Capitol. But it disagreed that the 14th Amendment did not apply to the president.

“The sum of these parts is this,” the court wrote. “Trump is disqualified from holding the office of President under Section Three; because he is disqualified, it would be a wrongful act under the Election Code for the Secretary to list him as a candidate on the presidential primary ballot.””
— heather cox richardson, “letters from an american.” link: https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/p/december-19-2023

You can read Richardson’s entire letter here. It’s well worth it.

Unsurprisingly, Trump and his crackpot team of attorneys are appealing this ruling and will likely ask SCOTUS to intervene. They are using the defense of presidential immunity which also comes as no surprise. And Trump has also gone on the offensive in all his usual ways to pick public fights with anyone who does not endorse him unconditionally.

I don’t know about you, but I really hope this is the start of a domino-effect on the state-level by state supreme courts and Secretary of States following suit with Colorado. If the former insurrectionist tRump isn’t in prison or not yet sentenced by the Spring 2024, then hopefully enough swing states and Blue states will come to the same ruling for the same reasons as Colorado and make it near impossible for the Orange Orangutan to be re-elected into the White House.

Fingers crossed people! 🤞

Update 12-23-2023 — Listen to conservative attorney and CNN Legal Consultant George Conway’s interview with CNN’s Jake Tapper discuss the recent SCOTUS decision and rejection to hear Trump’s immunity plea. It is not bad news for us true American patriots and attorney Conway sees it as not good for Trump’s future. Here’s the link:

https://www.cnn.com/videos/politics/2023/12/23/conway-reax-trump-scotus-rejects-immunity-case-lead-vpx.cnn

Live Well – Love Much – Laugh Often – Learn Always

On My Footballing Blog

Posted on December 12, 2023 by Professor Taboo

I wanted to also share this blog-post here on my primary blog. I hope you will take a few minutes to check it out. Thank you.

Football Inspires Survival Then Victory

Herb Gardener Extraordinaire

Posted on November 29, 2023 by Professor Taboo

I have picked up a new hobby these last 4-6 months. I love my new hobby. It brings me much solace and therapeutic benefits given my circumstances.

Because I spend a lot of my days and evenings in the kitchen making healthy recipes and meals for my Early Alzheimer’s Mom, that on her own she would live off of strictly potato chips, cheeses, almonds, walnuts, and cheese cakes or Blue Bell ice cream exclusively, grazing on these items all morning, afternoon, evening, and into the wee-hours of 1:00am — 3:00am, without pause, so I do this in the kitchen.

How is my herb garden coming along you ask? Well, I’d say for my very first late-summer, early-autumn seeding, rooting, and transplanting, I think pretty damn good. I have some viewers and followers (Arkenatan of A Tale Unfolds) who have been doing this sort of gardening for years and decades, and compared to them I am certainly a rookie learning as I go. For the most part, I must say that I’m fairing pretty well. And according to Mom and sister, when I use some of my various herbs in recipes for them, they are impressed and sometimes rave how good a gourmet chef I’ve become. There is nothing like super fresh herbs straight from your own garden to kitchen and table! Want to see my own home-grown herbs? Of course you do. 😉

*Named from top left tier to right, middle tier L to R, and bottom tier L to R images below*. My pitchers of liquid seaweed in background.

*Bunching Evergreen Onions, had to block the glare with hand.*

*More Bunching Onions, because they need “spreading” once 3″ — 5″ tall.*

*Cilantro that we use in many recipes, especially our Pico de Gallo.*

*More Mint (Spearmint) for my hot teas and recipes like Loin of Lamb or on crackers, as seen below.*

*Common Oregano*, *or Oraganum vulgare. New sprouts on the left.*

Then not pictured from my garden, but otherwise in two pot containers, my Basil Prospera F1, also known as Genovese or Basil Valentino, as pictured here:

Back in late September I planted Rosemary seeds (Rosmarinus officinalis) which grows and thrives very well here in Central Texas. But surprisingly and to my slight dismay my one little sprout—out of 4 or 5 seed-pots—died earlier this week. Grrrrr, can’t win them all, huh? I’ll try again in the Spring 2024. They should do alright for then and rooting/growing in my pots for the full sun summer.

Two of many recipes I’ve used these home-grown herbs for are my fresh Basil Pesto, Mediterranean Veggie or Margarita pizzas, or this one below, Creamy Chicken Pesto Penne Pasta with fresh spinach and sundried tomatoes:

*Creamy Chicken Pesto Penne Pasta with spinach & sundried tomatoes.*

Or this smash hit today, Rosemary & Olive oil crackers with my fresh Sweet Mint leaves, Rat Trap Cheddar or Danish Bleu Cheese (from Denmark), topped with cherry tomato halves. Compliment this appetizer with a glass of—my favorite red—like Mendoza Valley (Argentina) Malbec or a bold Cabernet Sauvignon to explode the flavors and fragrance in your mouth and nose, image below:

*My very fresh Sweet Mint cuttings, cherry tomato halves in container. Mom in the background in her usual spot on the couch enjoying her snack immensely!*

These last several months growing my herbs from seed have been wonderfully satisfying and a bit of therapy for my otherwise full-time/overtime Caretaking of Mom. I’d say it is coming along nicely, wouldn’t you? 🌱🌿

Live Well – Love Much – Laugh Often – Learn Always – Garden Lots