Taking a pause
When the Wuhan coronavirus and chemotherapy meet (in my body)
The Friday Letter / No. 476
Hello cherished readers:
I am taking a break this week from The Friday Letter while I continue to recover from what may have been a bad medical decision on my part, starting chemotherapy three days after getting a (never again!) Wuhan coronavirus booster shot. It knocked me to the ground, and I spend five days in the hospital. I am traveling this week and will be back in the saddle next week.
We have much work to do this year, all of us, starting with making some much needed changes in the Congress and state legislatures – removing both Republicans like U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski and Democrat leftists as well. Looking ahead to 2024, we must figure how to strengthen conservative ranks in the U.S. Senate, starting with the removal of Mitt Romney (currently of Utah).
I was deeply disappointed in what President Trump said about Gov. Ron DeSantis, calling him boring and not very bright. (DeSantis graduated from law school and is, or was, a lieutenant commander in the Navy Reserve JAG Corps.) What irks Trump is that the Florida governor hasn't taken himself out of the presidential race. Too bad; that's his right. Just ask JFK or Ronald Reagan. They both picked vanquished rivals for their runningmates and won.
Trump needs DeSantis, probably as his running mate. As we have carped on since Trump's entry on the national political stage, someone – anyone – needs to find his ear and read him the Riot Act. That person – Don Jr., Eric, Melania, Ivanka, someone – could start by telling him to grow up and stop acting like a middle school bully.
First, thanks to Chuck Combs and Fred Rubey for sending along some great material for this week. We start with a story about a stupid state representative in Texas, but then wrap it up with a wonderful video from Super Bowl XXXIX in 2005.
Stupid is as stupid does
In Texas, State Representative Terry Meza (D-Irving) has introduced HB196. Her bill would repeal the state's “Castle Doctrine.” This doctrine allows a homeowner to use deadly force against an armed intruder who breaks into his home.
Here is what she has to say:
“I'm not saying that stealing is okay. All I'm saying is that it doesn't warrant a death penalty. Thieves only carry weapons for self-protection and to provide the householder an incentive to cooperate. They just want to get their loot and get away. When the resident tries to resist is when people get hurt. If only one side is armed fewer people will be killed.”
Meza was quick to reassure that her bill would not totally prevent homeowners from defending themselves.
Under her new law, “… the homeowner's obligation is to flee the home at the first sign of intrusion. If fleeing is not possible, he must cooperate with the intruder. But if violence breaks out it is the homeowner's responsibility to make sure no one gets hurt. The best way to achieve this is to use the minimum non-lethal force possible because intruders will be able to sue for any injuries they receive at the hands of the homeowner.
“In most instances the thief needs the money more than the homeowner does," Meza reasoned. "The homeowner's insurance reimburse his losses. On balance, the transfer of property is likely to lead to a more equitable distribution of wealth. If my bill can help make this transfer a peaceful one so much the better.”
We have a poor prediction record at best, but we'll go out on a limb here and predict that this bill has as much chance of passing as voter ID in California.
We end on a more cheerful note: Please Click Here