Some time back, we had a discussion about whether one has a moral obligation to think rationally about public affairs as opposed to consulting one’s feelings.

Given that, Newsom will *appear* much more palatable than Trump. However, as I said, Newsom vs DeSantis could be a close call for them.

I fully expect a video in the near future of Ignatius’ “mental gymnastics” under the heading of a new and unusual sport.

Mob slaughters Emperor Maurice and Family and (Pope) Gregory applauds

“He had defeated the advance by the Avars, but his government was short of money, and he angered his soldiers by reducing their pay and obliging them to pay for their own arms and clothing. Maurice’s frugality also angered his civilian subjects. They had no use for the asceticism in Maurice that they admired in Jesus Christ.”

http://www.fsmitha.com/h3/islam04.htm

Sounds like problems with personality, not issues. To put it another way, would they vote for the current crapshow to avoid having to listen to Trump?

Could one differentiate “revenge” from doing something useful about the weaponized organs of government? Have to start at the top….

Trump would likely take an unseemly pleasure in firing Garland (add half a dozen more names we’d recognize) before lunch. Does that disqualify the actions? Many of the rest of us might use up our liquor ration ahead of time. And that would be for the enjoyment of the spectacle. Later on, we can think about the various improvements to follow.

As to following the money. I was in the life insurance business up until about 2016. For the last ten years or thereabouts, several companies with which I had contracts wanted me to take a quick class on spotting money laundering and reporting it. Had to retake annually. And I wasn’t a banker or financial advisor or tax accountant or any of that sort of thing.

Among other things, transfers between companies with no noticeable business advantage were suspect. Ignoring early withdrawal penalties…. Transactions of $10k or more were automatically flagged…for somebody to look at. Various other items were to be looked for or reported. Point is, lots of people with Duty To Report almost certainly saw Biden money going past. Did they raise a red flag? Then what?

Newsom looks like the party’s best bet, since there’s unlikely to be enough time for someone less known to gain traction. If having the media on the Democrats’ side is worth 5-10% at the polls, he could end up in the White House. A third party centrist candidate could complicate things for both parties, most likely taking more votes from Trump. I do wonder though: if people who know California is a failed state don’t automatically vote for the Republican, does that give Newsom an opening?
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Official Washington still believes that the country’s problems can be solved by more legislation, more programs, and more spending — the throwing money at problems approach that was much ridiculed in the 70s and 80s. It’s only natural. Government is their business and they want it to grow. They also can’t admit that the country was actually better off under Trump, who didn’t have a Congress that would really go along with his ideas, than under Biden (or Obama or Bush). But do they really believe that Biden’s “accomplishments” amount to very much, or are they just grateful that he got Trump out of the White House?
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I suppose a Trump win is very unlikely, but that Biden could beat him in 2020 has left a lot of us dazed and wondering what the hell is wrong with the country.

If I am not mistaken, would be Emperor Biden might do well to remember that it was not being paid or paid enough which was one of the major motivating factors prompting some of Rome’s legions to revolt.

* See https://townhall.com/tipsheet/saraharnold/2023/09/14/biden-will-veto-military-pay-raise-n2628448