I want to thank you for your patience following our trip to the dentist. Teeth are always important but when you reach my age sometimes the bite is all you've got.
I admire the lawyering on House side. I mean lawyer-to-lawyer. In a real court you don't want to face that.
I hesitate to call Trump's side lawyering but it was effective in its way. He basically appears pro se with the sledgehammer in one hand and talking points in the other.
They are this minute going to every person who was in the room with Trump for the McCarthy call, and everybody around Pence, and saying, "I understand this is difficult for you. It will become more difficult when this leaks and you can't get a job."
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In 1970 there were people who worked in the Congress -- doorkeepers, cleaners -- who had worked there when I served there or was Vice President. As President I still many by sight or by name. They and their current counterparts have recently been on my mind.
I think when a mob breaks in with clubs and guns and God knows what else it's reasonable to think they mean to kill whoever they find. Ocasio-Cortez had double the reason to think it, surely, but there aren't many in the complex who misunderstand her.
She related the experience with admirable coolness and detail and without sentimentality. That's all you can say about it.
President Nixon's letterhead is somewhat different. - RZ
One reason why people lose respect for Pete Rose is he does all that "Hit King" garbage. I know he needs the money, but the principle of it; Henry Aaron would shake hands at the supermarket, introduce himself as "Henry." A great man knows it and that's enough.
I think Rubio is so universally hated in part because everybody who's ever worked has met him. Quite breathtakingly stupid, but just arrogant, unctuous, and litigious enough to remain employed.
When Rubio leaves public life he cracks up within five years. Mark my word. Not out of duty or waste or anything like that; because then he's for lack of a better term alone with himself, and there's nothing there.
I mean, my God, go to Florida. I challenge you to find anybody who'll look you in the eye and say with gusto, "I'm a Rubio man!" It's like voting for a sack of warm meat.
I want to make clear some definitions and open questions regarding pardons. First, under Burdick v. United States, a pardon implies guilt, and acceptance of a pardon admits it. I wonder if this is the only thing that has so far prevented pardons of the family and inner circle.
Next, self-pardons are an open question. They are technically legal but as I said go against the basis of the Western legal system for a thousand years.
It is an open question as to whether he could pardon while impeached and facing trial. The pardon power is absolute “except in cases of impeachment” – a political act – but this probably extends to underlying crimes.
Recently I said Rubio is like watching a man with no arms try to thread a needle. I think that’s the best description.
As usual, Rubio’s game is five years late and a thousand dollars short. You can’t talk sense to people who won’t listen. Birchers long ago made up their minds I’m a traitor to this country, for example, and would sooner spit on me than have me for dinner. That’s fine.
The Constitution mandates that power over elections is vested in the States. In general this was both a check on Federal power and a tool of “discernment”; Hamilton insisted it would mostly result in candidates with broad appeal.
The States report election results to the Congress, where the President of the Senate tabulates the result. This is somewhat a vestige of the time when it took weeks for an envelope to get from Maine to Washington.
Article II, Section 1, Clause 3 says the President of the Senate “shall...open all the Certificates, and the Votes shall then be counted. The Person having the greatest Number of Votes shall be the President…”