Thoughts for the Day, December 19, 2024: I am going to put them in the Onion of the Day Hall of Fame
FUBAR continues
Per the Detroit News, the Michigan House adjourned Thursday until the end of the year following a days-long boycott of session by Republicans and one Democrat that ended with an hour-long — and fruitless — effort to round up missing members to establish the quorum needed to pass legislation.
The adjournment essentially brings to an end two years of Democratic control in the Michigan House and kills dozens of bills that were waiting for second chamber approvals, including an expansion of the state's public records law to include the governor and lawmakers for the first time in state history.
Republicans will take the gavel in January with a 58-52 majority.
"Everything that was on the agenda today in the House is dead," House Speaker Pro Tem Laurie Pohutsky, D-Livonia, said after session. "And the 55 members that did not attend should feel free to own it."
After days of boycott and chaos, House Speaker Joe Tate, D-Detroit, closed the House attendance board just after 2 p.m. Thursday, confirmed the House lacked a quorum of 56 members and adjourned until 1:30 p.m. Dec. 31 — effectively ending session for the rest of the year. An hour earlier, Tate had issued a rare "call of the House," a mandate requiring the House sergeants to bar the doors to the chamber and retrieve any absent members.
As a result of this nonsense, Michigan will remain the worst state of the union when it comes to transparency for the state legislature and the governor’s office. Whitmer had two years with a Democrat controlled legislature to make it happen, but she didn’t. So much for campaign promises. If she cannot make things happen when she holds all the cards, either she is a terrible leader or she didn’t want to make it happen in the first place. Another Onion of the Day for the bunch of them.
***********************************************************************************
About Face!!!
For four years Trump admonished Republican congressman for raising the debt ceiling. Anyone voting for it, he threatened with a primary challenge. It was a major reason for the downfall of former Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy. Yet on Wednesday, Trump called for raising the debt ceiling, insisting that Republicans must increase it as part of the spending package so the borrowing limit would go up while President Biden was still in the White House. Trump does not want to raise it on his watch.
At the same time, he admonished Speaker Johnson for agreeing on a bi-partisan spending bill to keep the government open until March 2025 after Trump is sworn in to office.
The previously announced spending bill is now at risk as Trump/Musk railed against the compromise. Johnson is now in the same position as McCarthy. Governing is not an option available to Johnson. Trump/Musk has already threatened primary challenges to anyone voting for the spending bill.
Earlier in the year Trump did the same on the immigration compromise. He told Speaker Johnson to kill the bill after nearly a year of forging a bi-partisan compromise. After Johnson killed the compromise, Trump spent his entire campaign badmouthing Biden and Harris for not doing anything about the border.
Trump is an egomaniac, who will do and say anything to make himself look good. Fifty one percent of Americans are OK with it.
*************************************************************************************
The courts are going to be busy under the Trump presidency
An excerpt from Heather Cox Richardson’s Letters from an American: Last night, Trump also filed a civil lawsuit against pollster J. Ann Selzer, her polling company, the Des Moines Register, and its parent company Gannett over Selzer’s November 2 poll showing Harris in the lead for the election. Calling it “brazen election interference,” the suit alleges that the poll violated the Iowa Consumer Fraud Act. Robert Corn-Revere, chief counsel for the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, told Brian Stelter, Katelyn Polantz, Hadas Gold, and Paula Reid of CNN: “This absurd lawsuit is a direct assault on the First Amendment. Newspapers and polling firms are not engaged in ‘deceptive practices’ just because they publish stories and poll results President-elect Donald Trump doesn’t like. Getting a poll wrong is not election interference or fraud.”
Conservative former representative Joe Walsh (R-IL) wrote: “Trump is suing a pollster and calling for an investigation of [Liz Cheney]. Don’t you dare tell me he’s not an authoritarian. And don’t you dare look the other way. Donald Trump is un-American. The resistance to him from Americans must be steadfast & fierce.” This is my Quote of the Day
*************************************************************************************
A tough loss
The Michigan men’s basketball team lost last night to undefeated Oklahoma 87-86. Michigan held a three-point lead with 20 seconds to go, but Oklahoma hit a three-point shot when the shooter was fouled. He made the free throw to give the Sooners the lead. Michigan was unable to convert before time ran out.
Michigan’s three losses have been by a total of five points. They could easily be undefeated. Last night’s game was encouraging and is something to build on for the future. Michigan did a much better job in keeping Oklahoma from getting offensive rebounds. Michigan only had 10 turnovers, which is a significant improvement.
The problem last night was their three-point shooting. For the game Michigan only made 4 of 28 three-point shots, while the Sooners hit on 12 of 25 three-point shots. Thus, the Sooners scored 24 more points behind the arc.
If Michigan continues to improve by cutting down on turnovers and controlling the glass, this team’s ceiling is unlimited. They have the talent and depth to make a long run in March and April.
************************************************************************************
Let’s talk some football
The Lions take on the Bears at Chicago’s Soldier Field, which is always a tough place to play because of the winds coming off Lake Michigan. Although the Lions are beat up, they will prevail because their offense will control the game. For the Lions, the offense is going to have to control the game, control the clock and score points, because the defense will struggle to keep the Bears from scoring when the Bears have the ball.
The expanded college football playoffs begin this weekend. On Friday Indiana visits state rival Notre Dame. On Saturday. SMU visits Penn State, Tennessee visits The Ohio State, and Clemson visits Texas.
Notre Dame, Penn State, Ohio State and Texas will advance to the quarterfinals. With Ohio State’s victory, the heat will be off head coach Ryan Day for a few days. For Day, it will take a National Championship to turn down the temperature on him from the rabid Buckeye fans who want his head on a chopping block after four straight losses to Michigan.
*************************************************************************************
Quote of the Day: See above from former congressman Joe Walsh
Orchid of the Day: The Red Wings, it has been a while, but the Wings have won two games in a row with their 6-4 victory over the Flyers last night.
Onion of the Day: The state legislature one more time. I am thinking about giving them an honorary Onion of the Day. They will be a first ballot selection for my Onion of the Day Hall of Fame.
Question of the Day: Will the government shut down at 12:01 AM on Saturday? I will be shocked if an agreement is reached, especially considering Trump wants them to increase the debt ceiling.
Video of the Day: Javy Baez has an incredible baseball IQ. It is a shame he has not been able to perform for the Tigers to the level he can perform. When healthy he can win games with his glove, his arm, his quick tags, his bat, and his baserunning. His instincts on the basepath are second to none. Enjoy.
https://www.facebook.com/share/r/18xysq6Zsg/
Feel free to share my blog with others. To receive the blog in your email, please use the subscribe/sign-up button or send an email to me at thomasdbiggs@gmail.com and I will start the process for you.