Bill Owens

The chaos in the Capital with Mr. McCarthy loosing 14 votes, then being elected as speaker was an embarrassing way for the Republicans to start, and as the Wall Street Journal pointed out it will not give confidence even to their most avid supporters that Republicans can govern. In contrast, although the Democrats had a lot of boisterous voices on the left, it did not impede the selection of Speaker Pelosi on one ballot, and although it took approximately a year to coalesce, they did so and passed some significant legislation. This is true whether you agree or disagree with the content of that legislation. The adoption of House Rules is likely to be as messy as The Speaker’s election.

President Trump’s recent announcement that we should suspend or cancel the constitution or at least some aspects of it was a surprise, I think. I wonder if he understands the Bill of Rights might be gone as well. His base boss won’t like losing the 2nd Amendment.

I recently read for the first time about climate proof towns, which are apparently being developed throughout the United States. These are planned communities, and generally are the most weather resilient developments in the country. Some of the elements included are raising the ground level, placing all utilities underground and providing alternate sources of power including solar. Most importantly the developer considers the weather risks in the area.

It appears that Justice Alito was the source of a tip from the Hobby Lobby case decided several years ago. Apparently, a minister who was close to those advocating for the Hobby Lobby position has identified himself and the fact that Alito aligned with leaked the decision. It makes a great deal of sense since this decision along with the Roe decision came from the same right-wing philosophic base that Alito is Elijah who leaked the Roe decision.

Former congressman Bill Owens shares his thoughts on happenings in the world.

On the archeology front a discovery was made in Italy of bronze that were produced sometime around the 1st century BC in Tuscany. It has been hailed as an exceptional discovery of nearly two dozen of these statues found in thermal baths which apparently acted as a preservative for them. The ancients were pretty clever, what will they discover of us, plastic in the ocean.

Former congressman Bill Owens shares his thoughts on happenings in the world.

Recent news reports indicate that Justice Alito assured Senator Kennedy in 2005 that he was not a threat to Roe v. Wade. These recollections were contained in Senator’s Kennedy’s diary, and would likely be admitted in a court of law as a contemporaneous writing, which is an exception to the Hearsay Rule, and maybe be a business record. This is, of course, just another bit of evidence of how duplicitous Justice Alito, Kavanaugh and Gorsuch actually are.

Former Representative, Tom Davis, a moderate Republican who served seven terms in Congress from northern Virginia, was commenting on the failure of candidates to participate in debates and Town Hall Meetings, and he is quoted as saying, “People don’t feel that duty anymore” adding “When they say I went home and talked to my constituents, they are talking to their base.” Nothing could describe the actions of Representative Stefanik any more clearly as she does not represent a significant portion of her constituency, but also doesn’t want to hear from them.

Former congressman Bill Owens holds forth on issues in the news.