Decades … and Fearful

Mark Rubin

Forgive me for sounding old and crochety, please, but this decade thing torks me off. When people count off, they start with one and end with ten, right? Never, not ever, does a group start with zero and end with nine … except when we discuss decades, centuries, or … even worse, a millennium.

Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) does nothing for me, but I understand the inconoclastic perspective. For me, decades began with -01, -11, -21, etc. They end with -10, -11, and -20. So, the decades’ reviews leave me cold, plain and simple.

Numerical frustration aside, I know I’m fighting an uphill battle. The last millennium ended on 12/31/1999. I know because I

Politics, Poetry, and Prose

Elizabeth Warren

Mario Cuomo, who governed the state of New York for 12 years (and shouted a lot less than his son Andrew, who runs the place now), told us candidates campaign using poetry, and winners govern with prose. Governor Cuomo was a smart fellow, and someone whose life always seemed just a wee bit ethereal.

The poetry / prose dichotomy comes to mind often for this political aficionado. I know, though, that the words don’t resonate for everyone. So, here’s the lexicon: Poetry in this context is aspirational, high-minded, and reaching for the stars; prose represents reality, dealing with whipping votes, trade-offs, and getting stuff done.

Of late, of course, we have Senator Elizabeth Warren

Impeachment circa 2019

President Donald Trump

Impeachment. It’s on our minds, and I have thoughts about the process and how it’s playing out.

Words matter. So, let’s remember, straightaway, that impeachment represents step one in the process of removing someone from office. That’s it and that’s all!

The Constitution governs our country. And it says, concerning impeachment: The House of Representatives shall choose their Speaker and other Officers; and shall have the sole Power of Impeachment. See, U.S. Constitution Article 1, Section 5. There’s more, of course, about the Senate’s role as the trial court. But, for now, we’re only dealing with impeachment.

The United States Code includes no statutes which address the impeachment process. Further, the process belongs

September 14 – Happy Birthday

Mark Rubin

Birthday News

Who’ da thunk it? 62 years old today, and when I went to bed last night, I was 61. That’s 22,644 sunrises. 744 new moons. Lots of martinis, and a ton of fun times.*

I’m a very lucky guy, in so very many ways. I never miss a meal (except for lunch, which I avoid every day). I pay my bills. My daughter and my former spouse call often, and neither asks for money. My girlfriend / law partner loves me, and our blended family of Corgis and a Schnoodle love us.

(About Max the Schnoodle. He hates me right now. He’s on a diet, and for a dude who lives