Yair Lapid Steps into Prime Minister Roll in Israel.

    Yair Lapid became prime minister of Israel yesterday, and although policies are not expected to change under him, the move is interesting. Most Americans were still getting familiar with out-going Prime Minister Naftali Bennett. Now, although Lapid was already one of the highest-ranking leaders in Israel, most Americans had never heard of him.

Now David Leavitt Cannot Fight Against Plea Bargaining

   David Leavitt did not expect to lose by so much. Oh, he was aware he probably would not be re-elected as Utah County attorney, but only getting 27 percent of the vote? No, he did not expect that.

   Leavitt made fame for fighting the practice of plea bargaining, which allows prosecutors to persuade people to accept a conviction (even though the arrestee knows he or she is not guilty) in exchange for a light sentencing. It avoids having a jury trial, even though jury trials are guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution.

    The voters, though believed Leavitt was being soft on crime by letting too many criminals go free.

Putin Seizes on Abortion Decision to Divide America

    The end of democracy in America. That's how some view the Supreme Court's decision on abortion. Putin's People also see it that way and are pushing that storyline. Russia was the first nation in the world to legalize abortion, but that is not why Putin is excited about the High Court's ruling.

   Division.

   Putin is seizing on the decision to further divide among. Slicing America, polarizing it, and inciting us to hate each other has always been a Soviet design, going way back to the early days of communism. To the Russians, the Court decision is but a gift. 

Those Who Face the Dangers of Immigration also Deserve Our Care

   With the bodies of 46 migrants who were brought in a tractor-trailor across the border into San Antonio, with 16 others being taken to hospitals, calls for more stringent efforts to stop migrants from coming to our country are being made. It simply isn't safe, they say.

   And, no, it isn't. But the better answer is not to deny them coming to America, but to help them. Many of them arrive and present themselves as refugees. That is legal. If you want to make it illegal, if you want the immigration courts to reject more of them, it will not stop them from coming. They seek an escape from the crime and conditions of the countries they come from. They will flee to the U.S. as long as their is a U.S.

   Efforts to help them arrive safely need to be made. There is no humanity in letting them die  -- no humanity. Whisk them here on trains. Do not feel it wrong to pay that bill. Consider all the money we spend to help hurricane victims. Those who face the dangers of coming to the U.S. also deserve our care.

Dismissing the Cases Against Immigrants Is Legal

    The Biden administration is quitely dismissing thousands of cases against immigrants. It is said that by 2024, as many as a million people could be pardoned. While news stories might be referring to these people as "illegal" immigrants, perhaps they are not. It is possible the cases are being dismissed because these immigrants are legal: They presented themselves at the border and explained they were in jeopardy in their home countries. The law allows for that. 

The Other Supreme Court Decision

    While knocking down Roe vs. Wade, the Supreme Court has made another ruling that is not receiving as much attention. The Court ruled that citizens have the right to carry concealed weapons. The decision came in response to a New York State law that would have imposed restrictions carrying guns outside the home.

   There is reason to be concerned with the number of citizens carrying weapons. When two people are having a dispute, an altercation that would otherwise be just words hurled at each other and fists crashing down on each other then becomes something that is settled with gunfire.

   And death.  

Court Ruling Divides America

   There haven't been this many protests since George Floyd. All across America, protesters are objecting to Roe vs. Wade. At the White House, President Biden called it "a sad day for the court and the country." Barack and Michelle Obama condemned the decision. The Women's National Basketball Association issued a statement saying the decision shows how out-of-touch the court is with the desires of the American people.

   On the flip side -- also all across the country -- there were rallies of support for the decision. Thirteen states have laws that will be triggered into effect, banning abortion. Church organizatons stood behind the ruling. And, if there were public officials who opposed the decision, so were there those praised it. 

   The decision further polarizes a nation already polarized. Both sides claim the moral high ground. Those against the decision say women should have the right over their reproductive organs. Those in favor of the decision say the lives of the unborn simply should not be taken.  

 

Congress's Actions Against Guns Falls Short of Being Significant

   After decades of other shootings failed to bring legislation to curb the shootings, the Uvalde shooting is bringing change. Millions of dollars for mental health, school safety, and intervention.

   But, as notable as the legislation is, it might end up not significantly curbing the shootings. No guns are being taken from those who threaten to kill. No federal age limit is set, despite many of the shooters being young. There is no ban on the use of assault weapons.

   Lookiing at what is being done, we can conclude the legislation is but a way to appease the public, just a way of saying, "Look, we're doing something."   

(Note: This blog was edited 6/24/22) 

   

Would This Work?

  Would this work: Let Israel have Israel as it's home country. Let them restrict immigration so they do not lose their power at the polls. But, as for the West Bank, let both the Israelis and the Arabs occupy it. Let them both vote . . . in elections for offices in the West Bank. But only Israelis will vote in national elections.

  Israel needs a homeland. It deserves to be allowed to protect it from being overrun by Muslims, who assuredly would overthrow it if they became the majority. On the flip side, the Arabs deserve to be allowed to live in the West Bank. They have a number of countries of which to call their homeland, but they should also be allowed to settle in the West Bank. 

Israel Should Be Allowed to Limit Muslim Population

    Perhaps Israel should be allowed to keep the percentage of Muslims in that country from growing. Currently, only 18 percent of the population is Muslim, but the number is growing by 2 percent each year. The question becomes whether the Muslims, if they become the majority, will evict the Jews or persecute them with unfair laws. 

   All the Jews want is a homeland, a place of their own to live. They are not racists. They just want to be left alone. Give them that land for their own. 

Israel Should Just Do What is Right

    Israel's government has been dissolved for the fifth time in three years. That means it is looking at its fifth government in that time frame. The nation just should just do what seems to be the right thing to do. Let the Palestanians stay. Let them vote. Let the cards fall where they may. 

My Story was Wrong

 CORRECTION to anyone who might have read the story I posted last night. It is incorrect. It is fake news. The churchgoer did not come to the church armed, but scuffled with the shooter and took the gun away from him.

I am not finding a story in the main media about the scuffle and of the scuffle between the churchgoer and Smith, but here's this. It is from the New York Post, which is a tabloid. It is a conservative tabloid, however. Since arming the populace is a conservative belief, it is not likely the New York Post was lying.

https://nypost.com/.../alabama-church-shooter-robert.../    

And, there is this, also verifying that my story below is false. 
https://heavy.com/news/robert-findlay-smith/

Gun Advocates are Right on Citizens Curtailing Mass Shootings

CORRECTION to anyone who might have read the below story. It is incorrect. It is fake news. The churchgoer did not come to the church armed, but scuffled with the shooter and took the gun away from him.

I am not finding a story in the main media about the scuffle and of the scuffle between the churchgoer and Smith, but here's this. It is from the New York Post, which is a tabloid. It is a conservative tabloid, however. Since arming the populace is a conservative belief, it is not likely the New York Post was lying.

https://nypost.com/.../alabama-church-shooter-robert.../    

And, there is this, also verifying that my story below is false. 
https://heavy.com/news/robert-findlay-smith/

Many gun owners have long argued that citizens with guns can deter mass shootings. This time, it happened. This time, it was true. A 71-year old who occasionally attended services at the church pulled a gun to stop Robert Findlay Smith from killing more people at a shooting this week at a church outside Birmingham, Alabama. Smith killed three people before the churchgoer stopped the gunfire. Police then arrived to arrest Smith.

   The churchgoer's heroics give credence to the notion that one way to reduce mass shootings is to arm the public. If wouldbe shooters know there will be guns there to stop them, they will be less likely to try to carry out their scheme. And, when they do open fire at a public gathering, someone will shoot them down before they kill as many as they otherwise would. 

In a Democracy, Safety is Demanded

   Fires have broken out in a chemical plant in Shanghai, China. In the past, China has been accused of being lax in safety. There have been a number of fires at chemical plants, so this one in Shanghai is not the first. 

   Authoritarian governments are prone to being lax in safety. In a democracy, the citizens would demand safety. 

Tidal Power Awaits the World

 Tidal power -- harnessing beneath-the-sea tides to create energy -- is one of the best renewable energy sources. The world needs to wake up to it's benefits and utilize its for a sizeable chunk of energy needs. The U.S. has no commerical power plants at all, but Japan is ready to lower one in the ocean. Many of the drawbacks to tital energy can be overcome. Marine life getting killed by the turbines? Can't we place a screen in front of the turbines that shields marine life. Such a screen would also prevent the marine life from jamming the turbines. 

(Index -- Climate change info)

Southern Border Apprehensions at an All-Time High Thanks to Biden

    Joe Biden and Kamala Harris can take credit for this: Apprehensions along our southern border are at an all-time high. Certainly one factor contributing to the high numbers is that the Biden Administration is friendly to immigration.  

Accusations Against Utah County Attorney Draw Glenn Beck's Attention

    Glenn Beck has wandered into the accusations against Utah County Attorney David Leavitt, thus giving the case national exposure.

    Leavitt gained some of his fame by opposing the practice of plea bargaining, suggesting the Constitution requires trials by juries. He also pushes for quick trials, saying the Constitution also requires quick and speedy trials. 

   But an office worker who quit -- saying she is the 25th to do so and morale is low -- said it takes a long time to determine if cases shall be filed -- and more than 1,000 cases are awaiting decisions. Others swear by by Leavitt, saying he is exactly what is needed. 

  Add to all the existing tension a dispute between Leavitt and Sheriff Mike Smith, in which Smith is investigating charges that Leavitt raped and ate children. A few weeks ago, as the race for county attorney ramped up, Smith held a press conference to announce the accusations against Leavitt. Given Leavitt's good reputation and apparent high character, the charges against him are most likely ludicrous.

  Beck hosted Smith and then speculated that he was tied to George Soros. 

 

   

U.S. Should Condemn Russia's Moving Alexei Navalny

    Alexei Navalny, Putin's greatest opponent, has been moved from one prison to another one. He may be in Melekhovo, a harsh prison where tortures include having their fingernails pulled out. 

   The United States should be condemning this. It isn't and it won't. We can only wonder why. Condemning the move could help save Navalny's life. The Russians do not want negative publicity. So, they will not kill him as long as it would become public knowledge. 

 You'll walk in fields of failure if you plant seeds of doubt.

(Quotes)

Canada Should have been Invited

    Some of the measures called for in the Summit of the Americas agreement will need Congressonal approval. With the Senate as Republican as it is, That means those provisions in the agreement will not be realized. 

   Another worthy thing to notice from the Summitt of the Americas was that Canada was the only Democratic country not invited. Canada came down and signed the agreement, anyway. Yes, issues being covered were more specific to the southern hemisphere countries, still, since Canada was the only odd-man out, it should have been invited.

Will it be Peace or Freedom in Taiwan?

    China is warning the U.S. that any attempt to make Taiwan's independent will result in military action from Beijing. 

  Exactly what is China saying? The U.S. already maintains a cultural office in Taiwan, but it does not have a consulate or ambassador. Some months ago, top U.S. military officials suggested the U.S. needs to bolster Taiwan's defenses. China might be referring to that.

   Whatever it is that China is referring to, the question becomes: should the U.S. increase efforts to aid Taiwan. Do we say we should not be intimated and should seek freedom for Taiwan? Or, do we say avoiding war and the loss of lives that comes with it is more important? Do we say peace is the thing that matters most, so we will not involve ourselves in Taiwan?

Trouble Brewing in the Middle East

   Battling between Israel and Iran threatens to break out into an all-out war. Tensions between Israel and Palestine are pitched. The tensions in the Middle East remind us of the run-up to the Ukrainian War. What is going on there, in the Middle East, holds the potential to become as severe as the war Ukraine. Russia is monitoring Israel's conflicts with its neighbors, lashing out today at Israel's attack on the Damascus Airport. Israel maintains civilian flights are used to transport weapons to Iran's allies.

Excluding Venezuela, Cuba and Nicaragua was a Mistake

    While we will wait to see what comes out of Biden's Summit of the Americas, it is a failure from the standpoint of Venezuela, Cuba and Nicaragua being excluded. Those are key countries in terms of refugees and crime. You want all players on board supporting actions that are made. Having them there gives you the opportunity to persuade them. It is also an opportunity to get their input. America believes in democracy. We wouldn't exclude candidates for public office simply because they disagreed with us. It is the same here. We should not exclude countries just because they disagree with us.

Biden Snubs Venezuela's Juan Guiado

   Baffling. President Joe Biden has refused to invite Juan Guaido to the Summit of the Americas. Guaido who is pro-democracy, is the contested president of Venezuela, trying to unseat Nicolas Maduro. Guaido was elected by the National Assembly.

   Biden should explain why he hasn't invited Guaido and explain why he hasn't.  

Child Refugee Graduates Should be Allowed to Stay Regardless

    For the first time since DACA ( Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) was created in 2012, the vast majority of non-documented immigrant graduates will not be eligible to remain in the U.S. since they came to the U.S. after June 15, 2007. The law requires them to arrive before that date.

   Congress should update the law. These graduate refuges should always be allowed to stay. Congress should make it so regardless when they arrive, these graduates should be allowed to stay. the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program  

Here are Some Gun Law Possibilities

    Too often, discussion of gun restrictions is left at an open-ended "Let's do something. Kids are dying, People are dying. It's past time we do something."

   Give me specifics on what gun laws we should have. There are those who discuss specifics, let's join them. I'll throw out some thoughts, which are subject to change.  

   Up the age limit for kids to own or carry guns. Some have suggested 21. I'll say 23, just to be pressing the issue.

   Punish parents who are aware their children bought guns illegally.

   Do not allow assault weapons at all.

   Have background checks. I've seen figures showing that as many as 90 percent of Americans favor background check.

   Have everyone who buys a gun go through training on when they should not use the gun. Don't use it in rage. Do not use it if there are other alternatives that will work just as well. Don't use it just because someone has committed a crime and are running away. Don't bring guns to places where you know you won't need them.

   If a person says they are going to use their weapon to kill someone, immediately take it away from them. Give them a hearing to verify they made the threat, but do not wait to take the weapon from them.

   Open-carry permits gained in one state should not be good in every state. Each state should be allowed to say if it wants open-carry.

   I do not favor gun registration. I have not heard of one killer being captured as a result of the law. 

The Undercard

 The Israel-Palestine conflict is the undercard to the war in Ukraine. But, while eyes are on the Ukrainian conflict, the Israeli conflict might be just as critical. In Ukraine, you have a country fighing for its soveriegnty. In Israel, you have two countries that have been at odds for centuries.  

There's No Immediate Need to Sign Kaepernick

   The Las Vegas Raiders have no immediate need to sign Colin Kaepernick. Training camp is yet six weeks away. The regular season doesn't open until Sept. 11 against the San Diego Chargers. You know the Kap will be working out, getting in better shape on his own. Let the Raiders consider their options. Maybe they will decide against signing Kaepernick. 

   If the Raiders do sign the Kap, he will be Derek Carr's backup. Carr is a solid quarterback, completing 65 percent of his passes. He led the Raiders to an 10-7 record last season. It would take Kaepernick playing to the level he played early in his career for him to take away the starting job from Carr.  

100 Days In

    Today marked the 100th day of the Ukrainian War, and the pundits and newspersons have been showering us with their assessments of how things are going:

   More than 16 million people have fled Ukraine, including half the population of Kyiv. 

   More than 4,100 civilians have been killed, including at least 260 children. 

   More than 30,000 Russian servicemen have died. More than 2,000 Ukrainian troops have lost their lives.

   Russia has captured a fifth of Ukraine 

No Weapons Were Allowed at NRA Convention

    The NRA may believe guns should be allowed in public meetings, but they weren't allowed at the NRA convention this year. With President Trump speaking there, the NRA says the Secret Service banned guns at the convention. It would seem if Trump wanted, he could have intervened and told the NRA that guns would be allowed. Also, what happened to the "If you want my gun, you'll have to pry it out of my cold dead hands"? The convernce-goers set that motto aside. One wonders if guns and other weapons were allowed, but just not when Trump was speaking. 

 Home is never a farewell, but always a welcoming. Even when you are away, it sends its greetings. 

(Quotes) 

For a Few Hours, Palestinian and Israeli Flags Waved Together

   The flags of Palestine and Israel were raised together in Ramat Gan, Israel, Wednesday. The phrase "We were meant to live together" was written above the flags. Such an effort to bring peace between the two countries is wonderful. However, it didn't last long. The Palestinian flag was removed hours after it went up.