Thoughts for the Day, March 13, 2025: I would like to write about fun stuff, but...

Is this the day?

Every day I wake up wondering if this is the day.

• Is this the day I can write about something other than the Trump/Musk presidency?

• Is this the day I can write about how Michigan’s roads are the bad and getting worse?

• Is this day I can write about how the governor and the legislature have not done anything to address the lack of transparency in our state government?

• Is this the day, I can talk about my excitement about the upcoming Tiger season and the playoff runs of the Pistons and the Red Wings?

• Is this the day I can talk about the success of the MSU and U of M men’s and women’s basketball teams?

• Is this the day I can talk about the challenges of maintaining a body that doesn’t want to cooperate, but I continue to push it like it was 20 years younger?

• Is this the day I can talk about how beautiful Petoskey is and how much enjoyment I get driving down Crooked Tree Drive and looking out over Little Traverse Bay? Or looking at the cows out one window and the deer out another window?

These are the things I want to write about. These are the Thoughts of the Day that I look forward to writing about when I go to bed each night.

Unfortunately, I start each day like I have for the last sixty years by reading the latest news. When I get around to writing my blog, the news of the Musk/Trump presidency takes on greater importance and they jump to the head of the line of what I am going to write about.

Prior to January 20, 2025, I was able to fit some of the above things into the blog, but since January 20, they rarely make the cut.

I never feared for our democracy until November 6, 2024. Between November 6, 2024, and January 19, 2025, I kept thinking that my fear was more “anticipation anxiety” than reality. On January 20, 2025, my fear for our democracy became a reality. A reality that I will not be silent about.

I write not because I despise Trump, I write because I love this country.

• I want my grandchildren and their children to grow up in a country as great as the one I grew up in.

• I want them to have the same opportunities I have had.

• I want them to be able to speak their minds or peacefully protest when they feel it is necessary, without having to look over their shoulders or worry about the government taking them out of their homes because they said something the president did not like, or they offended someone the president favored.

• I want them to be able to trust the government our founding fathers established. A government with three equal branches of government. A government that had controls and guardrails that prevented one branch from gaining too much power.

I look forward to the days I wake up and can write about fun and enjoyable Thoughts for the Day

********************************************************************************************************

Speak up and Speak Out

It is clear to me that Trump’s fear tactics are working. He is using government funding to control the behavior of CEOs, university presidents, and Republican members of congress. He has created an environment where public disagreement with his views is subject to financial punishment and retribution.

Some CEOs and some universities are standing up to him, but most are not. Most are taking the path of least resistance to protect their company or university from financial wrath or worse. They remain silent to stay out of Trump’s crosshairs. Their silence is a victory for the Trump/Musk presidency.

I don’t represent a company, and I don’t represent a university. I represent myself and I will not remain silent.

Please call your members of Congress today. The U.S. Capitol switchboard is 202-224-3121. Tell the operator where you’re from and the operator will connect you to your representatives and senators. I tested this out today. It is very simple. They will ask for the congress member you want to contact. They will then switch you to that office

**************************************************************************************************

Bring back the 60’s: Save Free Speech

Excerpts from Robert Reich’s blog today. Reich is an American professor, author, lawyer, and political commentator. He worked in the administrations of presidents Ford and Carter and served as Secretary of Labor from 1993 to 1997 in the cabinet of Clinton. He was also a member of President Obama’s economic transition advisory board.

…let’s be clear: Peaceful protests against Benjamin Netanyahu’s policies in Gaza are not the same as antisemitism. (As I’ve said repeatedly in this letter, I’m Jewish, I am not antisemitic, and I am disgusted and appalled by what Netanyahu has done to Palestinians in Gaza.) Nor does a peaceful protest turn someone into a national security threat.

And let’s be clear about another thing: The Trump regime is using antisemitism as an excuse for cracking down on free speech on university campuses….The real reason Trump and the Republican Party are cracking down on universities is their belief that universities are dominated by the left.

Yet whether you like or dislike what’s said at universities, free speech is at the core of our democracy, and protecting it should be one of the core missions of universities. Which is why America needs a new Free Speech Movement, similar to the one that broke out on college campuses 61 years ago.

If I (Reich) were a young university student again (wouldn’t that be nice?), I’d do whatever I could to reignite the flame of the Free Speech Movement. It’s needed today as much if not more than it was 61 years ago.

If I(Reich) were in charge of any of the 60 American universities that Trump has just threatened for allowing “illegal” protests, I’d join together with the heads of the others and sue the Trump regime for violating the First Amendment rights of those universities and their students.

Why isn’t this happening now?

**********************************************************************************************************

Free speech is no longer free

Excerpts from The Contrarian’s Jen Rubin:

The ACLU put out a blistering statement in response to Khalil’s detention. “This arrest is unprecedented, illegal, and un-American. The federal government is claiming the authority to deport people with deep ties to the U.S. and revoke their green cards for advocating positions that the government opposes,” the ACLU said in a written statement. “To be clear: The First Amendment protects everyone in the U.S. The government’s actions are obviously intended to intimidate and chill speech on one side of a public debate.”

The First Amendment is also at issue in Trump’s efforts to exact revenge against law firms he dislikes. After targeting Covington & Burlington for its representation of Jack Smith, he went after Perkins & Coie for representing Hillary Clinton. But the latter was not in the mood to lay low or accept an attack on it or its clients.

Instead, Perkins & Coie hired a high-powered establishment law firm, Williams & Connolly, to sue the Justice Department, FCC, OMB, Office of Personnel Management, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, and members of the Trump regime including Attorney General Pam Bondi, OMB director Russell Vought and DNI Tulis Gabbard. The suit challenged the executive order terminating contracts with the government, revoking all the firm attorneys’ security clearances, and barring its lawyers from federal buildings.

U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell on Wednesday granted Perkins’s request for a temporary restraining order enjoining key sections of the executive order. She noted, “This kind of a clear retaliation chills First Amendment.” Admonishing the government for “viewpoint discrimination” and lack of due process, she added, “I am sure that many in the legal profession are watching in horror at what Perkins Coie is going through here.” This is my Quote of the Day.

******************************************************************************************************

Some Good News about Thoughts for the Day

My last five blogs have averaged over 300 views per day. This does not include my blog from February 25, that had over 400 views. This is a significant improvement over December and January views.

As of today, I have 155 subscribers on Substack, a significant improvement over my previous platform.

Thank you to all of you who take the time to read Thoughts for the Day.

Quote of the Day: “This kind of a clear retaliation chills First Amendment… I am sure that many in the legal profession are watching in horror at what Perkins Coie is going through here.” U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell in granting a temporary restraining order over Trump’s executive order against the law firm of Perkins and Howell

Orchid of the Day: Senator Elissa Slotkin. I listened to her town hall meeting tonight. She is a straight shooter who does not hesitate to answer tough questions with thoughtful and honest answers.

Onion of the Day: Tamela Peterson, the Oxford Center's owner and CEO, who was arraigned Tuesday in Troy's 52-4 District Court on second-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter charges, for the death of a 5-year-old who was receiving treatment in one of Oxford Center’s hyperbaric chambers when it exploded.

Lyrics of the Day: I know it's late. I know you're weary. I know your plans don't include me. Still here we are. Both of us lonely. Longing for shelter from all that we see. Why should we worry? No one will care girl. Look at the stars so far away.

If you think you know the answer, send me your answer in the comments section of the blog.

Answer to Lyrics of the Day for March 12, 2025: Suite: Judy Blue Eyes, Crosby Stills and Nash

Question of the Day: Will MSU or M win the men’s B1G basketball tournament?

Video of the Day: Move over Simon and Garfunkel. Move over Disturbed. This is the best version of this great song. Thank you to my daughter Katy for bringing this version to my attention.

(716) Pentatonix - The Sound of Silence (Official Video) - YouTube

Feel free to share my blog with others. To receive the blog in your email, please use the subscribe button or send an email to me at thomasdbiggs@gmail.com and I will start the process for you.