RANDOM THOUGHTS THIS SUMMER -- 2023

If the economy continues to grow, inflation continues to subside, and Joe Biden continues to rack up legislative wins, I will join the minority of Americans who consider Biden an excellent president . . .

But wonder what the majority who don't are smoking.

If Congress passes some version of the Supreme Court Ethics Act, which requires the US Judicial Conference to adopt a Code of Ethics for the Court, I will conclude that Congress saved the Supreme Court from itself . . .

But wonder why the Court couldn't get there itself.

On second thought . . .

Given that Justice Alito thinks hundred-thousand dollar plane trips to Alaskan hunting excursions paid for by a litigant who has had multiple cases before him raised no appearance of impropriety . . .

And Justice Thomas thinks the same about hundred-thousand dollar gifts from a Republican megadonor in the form of tuition payments for a nephew and the purchase and rent-free lease back of her home to his mother . . .

And Justice Gorsuch thinks the same about the head of a law firm with business before the Court purchasing the Justice's two-years-on-the-market Colorado property nine days after the Justice's  confirmation . . .

And Chief Justice Roberts thinks the same about his wife's $10 million in commissions for matching lawyers with elite firms who have business before the Court . . . 

And Justice Thomas does not think his wife's pressuring GOP state legislators to substitute Trump electors for Biden's in states Biden won creates a conflict of interest . . . 

I will stop asking.

If Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. celebrates Thanksgiving this year . . .

Many of his relatives will be missing.

If he celebrates Christmas this year . . .

They will still be missing . . .

But in church praying.

If the Mets do not make the playoffs this year, I will know once again that money . . .

Does not buy happiness.

If the Padres don't make it either . . .

I will have company. 

If Fran Drescher succeeds in winning striking actors and writers the pay equity they deserve . . .

The words “nanny state” will have new meaning.

If Alabama's Sen. Tommy Tuberville continues his hold on military promotions because the Pentagon has told enlisted service members it will respect their Constitutional right  to travel to states where they can procure legal abortions . . . 

I will conclude that either . . . 

Tuberville does not understand Constitutional rights . . .

Or . . . 

Brett Kavanaugh was naive in thinking he would . . .

And . . .

If the Pentagon and the greater (and bipartisan) numbers of Senators and Representatives are correct that Tuberville's hold is both unprecedented and adversely effects military readiness . . .

I will also conclude that GOP embryology . . . 

Has now hijacked America's national security.

If House Republicans realize that America cares about Hunter Biden leveraging his last name for dollars as much as it (or they) cared about Ivanka and Jared doing the same . . .

I will know hell froze over.

If Marjorie Taylor Greene realizes America cares about Hunter's naked selfies with strippers as much as it (or she) cared about Trump's romp with Stormy Daniels . . .

I will know that happened twice.

If Republicans listen to Chris Christie,  "stop hiding from the truth", and realize Donald Trump "is obsessed with the mirror, . . . never admits a fault, . . . will always find someone else . . . to blame" and has been "indicted" not -- as Trump claims -- "for [them]" but rather, as Christie notes, "for his outrageous conduct"  . . . 

I will forgive Christie for Bridgegate.

But . . .

If 37% of Americans continue to believe Biden did not win the 2022 presidential election . . . 

And . . .

If, following the Florida Board of Education's announcement of new standards, students in that state are actually taught that slavery enabled "slaves [to develop] skills which, in some instances, could be applied for their personal benefit" . . .

I will conclude that America is capable of turning artificial intelligence . . . 

Into real stupidity.

All, however, is not lost.

Because . . .

If there is a heaven . . .

Tony Bennett is now in the choir.