(Written Monday for Tuesday)
Here we go. Trump's impeachment trial starts today. It will take 67 of the 100 Senators to convict him. So far, there appear to be 55 possible such votes. That means at least 12 more Republicans would have to cross over to hold Trump accountable for the January 6th riot on the Capitol.
Trump's lawyers argue that what he said that day was protected by the First Amendment. But that amendment, which I cherish, does not protect speech meant to incite a mob to a violent assault on Congress with the intent of overthrowing the results of an election.
All signs point to an acquittal. Trump then will have literally gotten away with murder, given that at least one police officer was killed during the assault, and four other people died in the chaos.
How do you feel about a murderer freely walking among us? Given the low rate of murder convictions in this country, especially in inner city killings when the victims are usually black or brown people, there are many murderers walking already among us, so I guess you think it's fine.
Well I don't. And I need some serious escape.
***
(Later on Monday)
You know how far out of it you actually are when you finally discover Netflix after 170 million other people.
Over the past week, since I got access, Netflix has been feeding me a steady diet of romance movies, mostly involving teenagers, and the truth is I can't get enough of them. I have to say that they do a pretty good job at taking a shot at what love might be, at least when you're young.
One can easily quibble on technicalities -- the overuse of all kinds of symbols -- roads, trees, ponds, trains, food, churches, lockers, notes, texts, clothes and books, but the mixed messages between lovers sound familiar and the kisses seem real when they finally happen.
If you question why at my age I am attracted by such content, maybe the real question is: "Why not?"
(Later)
Lately Netflix has begun feeding me slightly more advanced romance movies -- the characters are in their 20s, and getting close to their 30s. OMG, I think I know what bingeing means. I started with one new movie a day, then one new one and one rerun, but today I've consumed three new ones and I think I'm not done yet.
Somebody remind me I am a super serious journalist interested mainly in super serious journalism things like the impeachment trial, with only a minor sidelight interest in romantic comedies for some odd sentimental reason.
(Later)
Maybe it's a phase. After all, I *am* retired with mucho time on my hands and yes, you could call this research, technically. Plus it would be understandable if I were lonely. This is a pandemic after all.
Actually, I don't think I like where this story is headed. Maybe I'll go check out another movie.
(Later)
Okay that makes four. I absolutely promise to return to sanity tomorrow. Maybe. (Yawn). I can't wait to find out how that impeachment thingy turns out.
***
The heds:
* AstraZeneca’s Vaccine Does Not Work Well Against Virus Variant in South Africa (NYT)
* Virus Variant First Found in Britain Now Spreading Rapidly in U.S. (NYT)
* Even with the new COVID-19 vaccines, reaching herd immunity in the U.S. much before the end of the summer will be very difficult, President Joe Biden said. To get to herd immunity, Dr. Anthony Fauci, Biden’s chief medical adviser on the coronavirus pandemic, said 75% of Americans need to be vaccinated. In his first network interview of his presidency, Biden told CBS's Norah O’Donnell that the big sticking point to reaching that benchmark was the lack of a sufficient supply of vaccines. [HuffPost]
* Hill security is on high alert for Trump's trial (CNN)
* Just 16% of Americans say democracy is working well or extremely well, a pessimism that spans the political spectrum. Nearly half of Americans, 45%, think democracy isn’t functioning properly, while another 38% say it’s working only somewhat well. (AP)
* The office of Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger confirmed to CNN on Monday that it has started an investigation into former President Donald Trump's attempts to overturn the state's election results, including a phone call the former President made to Raffensperger. (CNN)
* The Grandparents Have Gotten Their Covid-19 Vaccine. Is it Finally OK to Visit Them? (WSJ)
* Biden faces border challenge as migrant families arrive in greater numbers and large groups (WashPo)
* U.S. deploying B-1 bombers to Norway to send a message to Russia (CNN)
* The Biden administration is set to announce this week that it will reengage with the much-maligned U.N. Human Rights Council that former President Donald Trump withdrew from almost three years ago. The decision reverses another Trump-era move away from multilateral organizations and agreements. [AP]
* Our democracy faced a near-death experience. Here’s how to revive it.-- Opinion by Stacey Abrams (NYT)
* Justice Department files suggest Facebook, not Parler, was key venue for organizing U.S. Capitol attack (Boing Boing)
* From ancient Rome to modern Atlanta, the shape of cities has been defined by the technologies that allow commuters to get to work in about 30 minutes. (Bloomberg)
* An unleashed Jeff Bezos will seek to shift space venture Blue Origin into hyperdrive (Reuters)
* As impeachment trial nears, court documents cite Trump’s rage-fueling rhetoric (WashPo)
* Near Coasts, Rising Seas Could Also Push Up Long-Buried Toxic Contamination (KQED)
* Breaking With G.O.P., Top Conservative Lawyer Says Trump Can Stand Trial (NYT)
* Schumer, McConnell announce agreement on schedule, format for Trump trial (WashPo)
* City’s Outdoor Dining Solutions Slowly Advancing Beyond Rest Of Civilization (The Onion)
***
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