Like Maria Said Paz: Charlie Rangel

Wednesday, May 28, 2025

Charlie Rangel

Charlie Rangel. He was a member of the US Congress. I met him and spoke with him many times over the years. I believe he had just been elected to Congress when I met him. He was someone who cared about the issues. C.I. and I worked with him on the push to end apartheid in South Africa -- among many other issues.

He was a complex person and his hands were not clean but he always had an ear and he always had a smile and was never anything but kind to me. I can remember one time feeling like a complete failure because an action had failed and it didn't seem like anything was going to happen. C.I. is not a Pollyanna by any means. But, as Charlie pointed out to me, "It's okay to grieve a loss." He noted C.I. doesn't. That she was like a ball that bounces back. This road is blocked. Okay, two seconds later, she's going down a different road. I wish I could think and act that way. But, like he said, it is okay to grieve.

AP notes, "Former U.S. Rep. Charles Rangel of New York, an outspoken, gravel-voiced Harlem Democrat who spent nearly five decades on Capitol Hill and was a founding member of the Congressional Black Caucus, died Monday at age 94." At THE DAILY BEAST, Janna Brancolini writes:

Throughout his tenure he sponsored 40 bills and resolutions that became law, including former President Barack Obama’s Affordable Care Act. His other legislative achievements included the Low Income Housing Tax Credit, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, and the “Rangel Amendment,” which helped usher in the end of apartheid in South Africa. Even after he left Congress in 2017, Rangel remained politically active. He was the last surviving member of the “Gang of Four,” a group of Black elder statesmen from Harlem who ascended to top political posts. He is survived by two children and several grandchildren. His wife Alma, whom he met in the 1950s on the dance floor of Harlem’s legendary Savoy Ballroom, died in October, also at age 94.

"The Snapshot" (THE COMMON ILLS):

Tuesday, May 27, 2025. Donnie Dementia's cognitive decline grows more and more obvious.

It was a long and tough weekend for Donnie Dementia as he embarrassed himself in public over and over.

Saturday, Chump dragged his fat ass to West Point. He basically crapped himself in front of the young cadets. Hillary Hanson (HUFFINGTON POST) notes:

President Donald Trump went on a tangent about “trophy wives” during his commencement address at West Point Military Academy on Saturday.

Speaking to graduating cadets, Trump told a story about William Levitt, the real estate developer who pioneered mass-produced homes in suburban developments known as Levittowns.

Trump brought Levitt up as an example of someone who had “momentum” in his career and then lost it. While discussing the life of the “great, great real estate man,” Trump made a point to comment on his marital history.

“He ended up getting a divorce, found a new wife,” Trump said. “Could you say a trophy wife? I guess we can say a trophy wife. It didn’t work out too well, but that doesn’t work out too well, I must tell you. A lot of trophy wives, it doesn’t work out. But it made him happy for a little while at least. But he found a new wife.”

None of that had anything to do with reality or West Point or the cadets. We did note that it had to do with racism. Chump's talking about himself and connecting himself with 'poor' Levitt. Levitt wasn't brought down by any of his three wives. He had a promising career up until his racism began to kill it in the early sixties. Does no one remember The Civil Rights Movement? That's what destroyed him. Racism wasn't going to be accepted and overlooked anymore. Refusing to sell homes to Black people was no longer acceptable.

That simple observation sent some MAGAs into a tizzy and they stormed the public e-mail account insisting Levitt wasn't a racist. He was. We judge people by their actions and by his actions? Levitt was a racist.

And that racism is still felt today. I'm sorry that MAGA is too lazy or stupid for a GOOGLE search. You can read David Kushner's LEVITTOWN: TWO FAMILIES, ONE TYCOON AND THE FIGHT FOR CIVIL RIGHTS IN AMERICA'S LEGENDARY SUBURB for starters. It will walk you through the 1957 Civil Rights case. Or you can just skip ahead to a 2019 report by Rachelle Blidner (NEWSDAY):

The current demographics of Levittown reflect its history, residents said. The developers of Levittown prohibited people of color from moving in through contract clauses, a common practice at the time. Restrictive racial covenants were recommended by the Federal Housing Administration to create homogenous communities. The U.S. Supreme Court struck them down in 1948, but William Levitt kept them.

Levittown’s restrictive racial covenant read: “The tenant agrees not to permit the premises to be used or occupied by any person other than members of the Caucasian race. But the employment and maintenance of other than Caucasian domestic servants shall be permitted.”

Levitt developed more than 17,400 partially prefabricated Cape Cods and ranch-style houses in planned communities with parks, pools and schools.

The media all ducked their heads on the racist being mourned by Chump. Even an article laughably entitled "Who Was William Levitt? Trump Recounts Real Estate Mogul's 'Trophy Wife' Story In West Point Speech" failed to note the racism Levitt trafficked in and profited from.

Chump connects with Levitt because he's a racist. And they both had three wives. And, like Leavitt, Chump is being brought down by his racism.

Apparently, the closest CNN has come to calling out Chump's praise for and defense of racist Levitt is to term the remarks a speech for "a political rally." Like the one he gave at Madison Square Garden?

Naomi LaChance (ROLLING STONE) reports:

Over and over again, courts have ruled that the Trump administration's actions are unlawful. Speaking before the West Point cadets, Trump expressed hope that judges will stop standing in the way and allow him to continue his lawless deportations, framing them as necessary to stop a criminal "invasion" at the border. "It's not easy, but hopefully the courts will allow us to continue," he said.

Trump separately praised his record so far as president.

Every speech is about Chump, every remark. There's never been a bigger self-promoter or anyone as vain as Chump. He demonstrated that on Memorial Day as well.

That's when Donnie Dementia spoke at Arlington National Cemetery. Graeme Demianyk (HUFFINGTON POST) reports:

President Donald Trump on Monday suggested that his two terms in the White House had moved in mysterious ways as he addressed thousands of veterans on Memorial Day.

Delivering remarks at Arlington National Cemetery, Trump mused on how he is only in the White House for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles and soccer’s 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America, as well as next year’s events to mark the U.S. signing the Declaration of Independence 250 years ago, because he “missed that second term.”

Andrew Gamble (IRISH STAR) adds:

United States President Donald Trump unashamedly used his Memorial Day address to boast about upcoming major sporting events coming to America.

On Monday, Trump took to the podium to give an interesting speech on Memorial Day. Rather than talking about the sentiment of the day as he visited the Arlington National Cemetery with Vice President J.D. Vance and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Trump took his opportunity to gloat about the World Cup and Olympics coming to American shores across his second term.

United States President Donald Trump unashamedly used his Memorial Day address to boast about upcoming major sporting events coming to America.

Benedict Smith (THE TELEGRAPH) observed, "Donald Trump told a Memorial Day ceremony attended by families of war dead that he had 'everything'." Jack Blanchard (POLITICO) offers this recap of the weekend:

On Saturday — as is traditional — the president delivered the annual commencement address at the United States Military Academy at West Point. Except most presidents would not don a baseball cap emblazoned with a political slogan and then veer off for the best part of an hour with a campaign-style rally speech attacking “drag shows” and “critical race theory,” complaining about their treatment by law enforcement and offering musings on — checks notes — “trophy wives” to the watching cadets.

On Sunday — less traditional, though becoming commonplace — Trump abruptly canned the 50 percent tariffs he’d announced barely 48 hours earlier on one of America’s closest allies, the European Union. (The two sides now have six weeks to cut a deal.) A few hours later, Trump was tearing into Russian President Vladimir Putin for killing civilians in Ukraine, insisting that “something has happened” to send his former friend “CRAZY” … while ignoring the fact Putin has been doing exactly this for the past three years.

Then on Monday — back to tradition — the president delivered a solemn Memorial Day tribute to the fallen at Arlington National Ceremony … except most presidents maybe don’t get quite as political as he did. And they certainly don’t precede the occasion with a 174-word ALL-CAPS social media post which starts “HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY TO ALL, INCLUDING THE SCUM THAT SPENT THE LAST FOUR YEARS TRYING TO DESTROY OUR COUNTRY …” and takes in “MENTALLY INSANE” migrants, “WARPED RADICAL” Democrats and “USA HATING” judges, among others.

Finally, Trump wrapped the long weekend … by pardoning former Sheriff Scott Jenkins, of Virginia, who was facing 10 years in prison after being convicted by a jury of accepting more than $75,000 in bribes. (Jenkins blames a Joe Biden-appointed judge for his plight, and it seems the current president agrees.) Despite the jaw-dropping nature of this move, it will barely register in the context of the past six months of American politics.

He covers so much but leaves out Donnie Dementia. Others were not so circumspect. Elle Griffis (IRISH TIMES) points out:

The aggressive tirade comes after a week in which his mental and cognitive abilities were called into question during public appearances.

On Saturday. Trump appeared to show his age during his commencement speech at the West Point Military Academy. Some observers felt he seemed uncertain about where to go after his wandering speech.

Social media users criticised also criticised his conduct at the prestigious event , as he didn’t stop to shake hands with or salute any of the graduates.

Then on Sunday he made a blunder during an interview about US steel. The Republican leader was asked about Nippon Steel’s $14.3 billion investment in US Steel.

The Japanese steelmaker will partner with US Steel, keeping its headquarters in Pennsylvania. However, the recent blip had him mixing up Nissan and Nippon Steel. He said: “But they're going to invest billions of dollars in steel. And it's a good company. Nissan is a very good company.”

Sabrina Haake (RAW STORY) explains:

To ensure that the United States will always be led by a coherent, functioning President, the Twenty-Fifth Amendment provides for the prompt, orderly, and democratic transfer of executive power in the event the president is incapacitated, physically or mentally. Trump’s tariff debacle, where he thrust out his chest, flung economic incoherence at the world, then flip flopped only two days later, was the strongest evidence yet- in a roiling sea of evidence- that he is mentally incapacitated.

Despite inheriting the strongest post-covid economy in the world, Trump keeps insisting that the US economy is broken and in need of saving.He insists global trading partners who sell us more than they buy from us- even countries that are a fraction of our size- are “taking advantage.”

Trump’s tariff drama was so asinine, he’s either self-dealing or insane. Frankly, although they are not mutually exclusive, I’d prefer the former. I only wish that rumors swirling in the media today, suggesting Trump’s tariffs were a hustle, an insider scheme meant to enrich his backers, were true. Trump being a self-dealing crook poses less danger to the world than him making than no sense at all.

Leaders of the EU are too intelligent to sneer out loud at Trump’s flip flop on tariffs. Aware of his deranged lust for revenge, they are reluctant to utter the truth about his economic ignorance. But the world is aware, even if Americans aren’t, that our president is deranged.

Because Trump’s administration hasrefused to release his medical records, other mental health professionals have come forward with their own assessments. The emerging consensus is that Trump, showing cognitive decline, is presenting signs of advanced dementia.

Dementia. Dementia Donald.

.Back to that pardon, Jared Gans (THE HILL) reports:

President Trump issued a full pardon Monday to a former Virginia sheriff who had been convicted of bribery, alleging that he was a victim of a “weaponized” Justice Department under the Biden administration.

Trump announced his pardon of Scott Jenkins, who was convicted in December of accepting more than $70,000 in bribes in exchange for appointing local businessmen as auxiliary deputy sheriffs in the office.

Why did he pardon him? Because Chump doesn't see it a crime. He's so corrupt and crooked that he thinks bribery is perfectly normal and doesn't give a damn that the he violated not just ethics, not just laws but the public's trust as well.

BLUESKY on the pardon.

We'll wind down with this from Senator Patty Murray' office:

Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, issued the following statement on the Government Accountability Office’s (GAO) decision released this morning, which concludes that President Trump is illegally impounding funding approved by Congress in violation of the Impoundment Control Act (ICA):

“This legal decision affirms what we’ve long known: the President is breaking the law to block funding Congress passed on a bipartisan basis and that is owed to the American people—simply because he disagrees with it. This plain fact is unacceptable—and it cannot stand any longer.

“Congress passed the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law by wide margins and specifically provided funding for every state to build out a network of chargers for the electric vehicles that families are increasingly turning to and that are being made right here in America. These investments should be getting out the door—creating new jobs and helping Americans get where they need to go without interruption—but President Trump has illegally choked this funding off.

“These bipartisan investments need to start flowing immediately—as do the hundreds of billions of dollars in other investments President Trump is holding up. I don’t care about Russ Vought’s personal interpretation of our spending laws; the Constitution is clear, and President Trump simply does not have the power of the purse—Congress does.”

Presidents do not wield the power to unilaterally withhold or block investments that have been enacted into law through what’s known as “impoundment.” This foundational principal has been affirmed time and again. The Impoundment Control Act (ICA) of 1974 makes this plain and establishes limited procedures the president can and must follow to propose delaying or rescinding enacted funding—procedures Trump has not sought to use.

The Impoundment Control Act also charges the GAO with the responsibility to investigate and report to Congress when the president illegally withholds funding—as it has done today. In recent testimony to the Committee, the GAO acknowledged that it has opened 39 impoundment investigations and counting. Today’s announcement marks its first decision in one of those investigations. The ICA also authorizes the Comptroller General to file suit when the president illegally impounds funding.

Since his first hours in office, President Trump has illegally blocked funding owed to communities across the country through a variety of different means. Senate and House Appropriations Committee Democrats have been tracking Trump’s illegal funding freeze and found that, as of April 29^th, President Trump is blocking at least $430 billion in funding owed to the American people. More information is available HERE.

In today’s decision, the GAO concluded the Department of Transportation (DOT) violated the Impoundment Control Act when it delayed expenditures for the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program that were required by law to be spent. Its decision states in part: “DOT is not authorized under the ICA to withhold these funds from expenditure and must continue to carry out the statutory requirements of the program. If DOT wishes to make changes to the obligation and expenditure of funds appropriated under the NEVI Formula Program, it must propose funds for rescission or otherwise propose legislation to make changes to the law for consideration by Congress. …. DOT’s withholding of NEVI Formula Program funds violates the ICA.”

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provided $5 billion in funding from fiscal year 2022 through 2026 for NEVI. The program provides funding to states to strategically create an electric vehicle (EV) charging network, which is critical to meeting new demand from American consumers. A 2024 study projected the U.S. would need 182,000 direct current fast chargers to accommodate the growing EV market—nearly triple the current capacity of just over 55,000. But President Trump has blocked all new obligations of funding for the program—blocking states from using these investments and hurting communities across America.

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Kat's "Kat's Korner: Bruce and Melanie -- a better music industry would be getting the word out" went up yesterday. The following sites updated over the long weekend: