A Modest Question

 

 "Can you impeach someone who is no longer in office?"

First, set aside that Trump has already been impeached by the House. Yes, technically, the question is - can he be convicted. 

My thoughts go to the Republicans and apparently at least one Democrat who will vote to acquit based on the logic that you can't impeach someone who is out of office. It would seem that as it stands there are reasonable though twisted legal arguments from both sides. The Constitution does not speak to this circumstance.

"Republican senators and some legal scholars have said that Trump's impeachment trial in the Senate cannot proceed now that he is once again a private citizen. But many scholars have said that Trump's return to private life poses no impediment to an impeachment trial." -Yahoo News

So, here is my question.

I believe we have these institutions we called courts. And I believe, some of them are courts of appeal. And one of them, the Supreme one, makes all of its rulings based on what they interpret the constitution to allow or not.

Why not ask first before tying up the Senate with a potentially non-event?

Before going through all the machinations of a trial and with this glaring loophole for those senators seeking to duck and cover. Why not ask the Supreme Court to rule on whether or not a former President can indeed be tried in the Senate for high crimes and misdemeanors committed while in office but now out of office.

This gives the Senate time to consider the Biden appointments. And, it means, if the court says yes, the big dodge will be removed from any cowardly senator who wants to vote none of the above. If they say no, then move on, the court has spoken. Let's get those vaccines in arms, fix the bridges and save the polar bears.

Really, why not just ask first?

Flashbacks

 

Last month, I mentioned to several friends (in bcc'd email) that I had a 40 year flashback to the last few days of 1980. I was making a landing on the Cape Hope at the Southern tip of Chile on 12/30/80, after spending the previous three weeks expedition touring Antarctica. At midnight the following night [12/31/80-1/1/81], we were somewhere over the Caribbean Sea on the way to Miami.

I asked if anyone else had year-end memories from 40 or 50 or 17 or any years ago. I received some very interesting responses, I offer a selection here.

"Fifty-three years ago this week, sharing a very cheap hotel room in cold, rainy Rome."

" . . . a day off, vegging out at the apartment very likely watching a bowl game."

"Five years ago, I was on a dinner cruise of Lake Como, Italy; before heading to a wedding the Switzerland."

"I spent 1944 New Year's evening looking forward my marriage the following day."

"In recent years, I have come to like nothing better than to mark the midnight hour with a glass of champagne - in bed!"

"40 years ago we were just back from bicycling across North America, Vancouver to Boston."

"New Year's Day 30 years ago, taking my first husband to rehab; New Year's Eve 19 years ago, welcoming my first son with my second husband."

"A little over 40 years ago we lived on the cable car line and met you."

"40 years ago, I was -8 years old, living in the Great Before."

"I'm typically asleep to ring in the new year."

"On NYE, I was 11 months into being a widow, and very surprised to find myself leaving the year of my husband's death with great reluctance."

"Forty-seven years ago, newly married and moving to Rapid City, South Dakota."

"Pregnant and . . . well just about covers it."

and I got a photo from a friend of her with her father in Central Park, New York on New Year's Eve 50 years ago.

and and no, that picture above is not from Antarctica, but it is of another long ago memory . . . 

Images of Me (3)

 

Let's call this the "up-north" January edition from a few Michigan winters ago. Me and my buddy Opus, before my cataract surgery and apparently after his shower. The red jacket is from a 1980 trip to Antarctica (picture of that adventure to follow).

This is the "down-south" January photo, also from several winters ago.

In Praise of Sloth

 

They told me to stay home - I can do that.

They said to have others deliver my food - that works.

No more movie theaters or concerts, binge only - no please not Netflix and my sofa.

No large gatherings - I wasn't really that fond of all those people anyway.

Work from home - what and avoid all that freeway time?

Zoom it - wait, I only have to dress from the waist up? [and put important book titles on the shelf behind me]

You see, I take easily to sloth. All those societal niceties and formalities are on hold, here's hoping some of them never come back. 

Online food ordering has gotten better and better. 

Smart restaurant websites are tweaked for all kinds of consumer friendly reasons. 

No plastic utensils - make that a checkbox.

Give reasonable options for the tip - 10% 15% 20%. Though in these times 20% is the right choice.

Grocery pickup and/or delivery; this may forever change how we shop. By the way, a delivery fee is understandable, but a pickup fee is not. And, if you are offering a note-leaving option for my order - read the damn note!

That being said - I take easily to sloth. I do not understand cabin fever, after all there are multiple commercial entities begging to bring me a wide variety of food and all the chocolate I need.

Some Post Holiday Thoughts

 

Not to flout the holiday season, I delayed this post for over a month but its been an interesting year all around and I've been reflecting on some long ago times with some old friends and distant memories. This lyric stanza from John Prine has crystalized my thoughts.

Your flag decal won't get you

Into Heaven any more.

They're already overcrowded

From you dirty little war.

Now Jesus don't like killin' 

No matter what the reason for,

And your flag decal won't get you

Into Heaven any more.

R.I.P. John Prine

Ann Arbor @ Curbside (December)

 

Five reviews with a double dip this month.

Pilar's Tamales (2261 West Liberty St. Ann Arbor) A new one for us and a menu that will need several more tries to get a full sampling of their alluring victuals. We recommend the Perfect Pair Special, chose one tamale and one pupusa from the great variety of each. [curbside pickup]

Cottage Inn (multiple locations) Although one of us is very fond of certain of their toasted sandwiches, we order two pizzas: a veggie with a pesto swirl and a double pepperoni for me. With four locations in Ann Arbor, one in Saline and another in Ypsilanti; Cottage Inn covers our area. Delivery can get backed up in these curbside & delivery days but they make a really good pie. [delivery]

Ann Arbor Farmer's Market (@Kerrytown) The winter months are tricky at the local Farmer's Market. Some food trucks appear or not. Of course, the vendors vary a bit based on weather and availability of product. We grabbed some soup fixin's and a lunch snack at one of the trucks. And maybe some raw honey, a loaf of fresh bread and some lovely looking chard for a homemade soup. [pickup]

Monahan's Seafood Market (in Kerrytown) Expect more appearances by Monahan's in our future. Round One: The various parchment wrapped fish options can be pre-ordered. We grabbed a pint of the really full-bodied clam chowder, we got there too late (this week) for the lobster chowder. Round Two: we picked up two parchment wrapped entries (Tilapia & Salmon) A+ for both. Warning with the busy holiday season they are now taking orders a day in advance for these items. Daily lunch service runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. if you are after the chowder or the ever tempting fish-and-chips plus many other prepared yummies. [pickup]

Aroma (221 W. Liberty) Aroma is a new Indian restaurant, one of three we will be trying over the next several weeks (or months). The menu is extensive with over 80 selections not including appetizers, drinks or desserts. We will definitely be trying Aroma again. One complaint, the "mild" level on the spices is not mild by any stretch of the taste buds. Its at least medium and if you are not a spice fan (we are) you should go with no spice at all. Still, a new taste treat, well worth a visit. [curbside pickup]

November Reviews