In today’s news and poll of the day - part 2

Letters to the Editors at the Washington Post..

“According to the Jan. 8 front-page article “Court majority has doubts on vaccine rules for businesses,” one of the lawyers opposed to the Biden administration’s vaccination-or-testing requirements argued by telephone because he tested positive for the coronavirus; Justice Sonia Sotomayor, who has diabetes, participated remotely; and seven of the eight justices present in the courtroom wore masks. If this were not ironic enough, consider that the public is prohibited from attending Supreme Court sessions because of the court’s coronavirus protocol established out of “concern for the health and safety of the public and Supreme Court employees.” And the court ruled Thursday against the Biden administration’s requirements for businesses even as coronavirus cases are at an all-time high in the United States.”

Abby Raphael, Arlington

“In another first-rate column concerning the Supreme Court, Ruth Marcus explained why “wearing a mask is the decent thing to do” because it protects not only wearers but also those around them. Justice Neil M. Gorsuch “chose poorly” by not wearing a mask, ostensibly because, as a libertarian, “he doesn’t like being told what to do.”

Ms. Marcus quoted Justice Gorsuch asking, in connection with vaccine mandates for hospital and nursing staff, “Could [the government] also implement regulations about exercise regimes, sleep habits, medicines and supplements that must be ingested by hospital employees in the name of health and safety?”
It is astonishing that a Supreme Court justice would not recognize such a false analogy. Regulations involving exercise regimes, sleep habits, medicines or supplements would affect only those who follow them. They would be analogous to laws requiring seat belts and motorcycle helmets, which protect only the wearers. A mask mandate involves a public good — protection from disease — that benefits all members of society, including, albeit to a lesser extent, those who disregard it. Well-educated libertarians should recognize that such a mandate is analogous to a law that prohibits texting while driving, which also protects other drivers and pedestrians.

As Mr. Gorsuch’s conduct makes clear, a public good cannot be adequately provided by simply asking individuals to do what is needed.”

Stephen Silberman, Arlington

“I was struck by the juxtaposition of columns by Sergio Peçanha [“Pope Francis, your comments on choosing pets over children don’t add up”] and Ruth Marcus [“Where was Gorsuch’s mask?”] and a letter from Robert E. Honig [“The value of social bonds”] in the Jan. 10 edition of The Post that all touched on the subject of freedom and community, because our nation and the world are being torn apart by these issues.

I take issue with Mr. Peçanha’s statement that “exercising free will is not equal to being selfish.” When your free-will choices impact other people or endanger other people, that is the definition of selfish. Not wearing a mask and not getting the vaccine endanger those around you. You’re free to make those choices in your own private space, but not in public. As Mr. Honig pointed out, our social bonds are what make us a united community, but if we think only of our “freedom” to make selfish choices, then our “community” will consist only of self-absorbed, immature individuals with no consideration for anything or anyone but themselves. That seems to me like a very cheap version of freedom. “

Molly Sprouse, Henrico, Va.

“Unlike Sergio Peçanha, I was not born a Catholic, but I am grateful that he spoke out against the comments made by Pope Francis regarding those of us who elect not to have children and the disturbing bridge of guilt that was then built to shame pet-parenting.

My wife and I were married later in life and made a difficult decision, largely based on our age, not to have children. Though I would have embraced being a father, I often consider the world today that we are leaving for future generations and the challenges that elderly parenting would have presented for my wife and me and for our children. I have no regrets. In our lifetimes, we have collectively raised 10 adorable canines, each with its own unique personality. All of these, save one, were rescued from abandonment, euthanasia or abuse. We have been fulfilled by their unconditional love and companionship. We regard them as part of our family.

This is an institution that has largely turned a blind eye to years of child abuse and molestation within its own ministry, so I’m not sure I understand what license it feels it has to pass judgment on those of us who rescue and raise pets, much less on those who weigh concerns about the dangers and potential consequences associated with raising children in today’s world. “

Steven Graul, Reston

So this guy Rick Hasen started I guess a political new letter which Marc Elias made a comment about since it had to do with the voting bill and a window to work with the Republicans.

Hasen’s feelings are hurt but he responded.  And his response was “if you listen to how McConnell talked about that issue last January.”.  The idea that one can believe anything McConnell is pretty funny.  And of course the responses pointed it out to this guy.




But this is by far my favorite response since I constantly use it when talking about the Republicans…

I swear Kevin McCarthy has got to be one of the dumbest idiots around.

He won’t talk to the 1/6 Committee because he claims he has nothing of interest to tell the committee.  But yet here he is in a video dated 1/12/2021 where he thinks trump has some responsibility about happened and that trump told him that he has some responsibility.  Then he goes on saying there should be a bipartisan committee well you can listen to that part.

Did he not think that someone would be taping this call?

Are you kidding me?

Marc Elias’s law firm is handling most if not all the lawsuits various groups have filed in red states against the obstructionist voting laws.

So what Brannon is saying that if it wasn’t for Elias’s law firm there would be nothing to stop the cheating the Republicans need to win.

Kavanaugh can be put on notice by conservatives but the real problem IMO is Kavanaugh was less then forthcoming on who paid off his mortgage and credit card debt.  Which could leave him open to being blackmailed by whoever paid that debt.

And in the written questions before he was confirmed the Democrats did specifically ask the question and he replied with a bunch of word salad.

Unbelievable…