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Familiar Views

2017-04-05

Flooded Vineyard at Sunrise

2017-04-01

Dogs

2017-03-31

There are two things that our current President is doing that more than justify impeachment.

First, he has been violating the emoluments clause of the Constitution since the day he was inaugurated with the hotel he runs in Washington, DC at the Old Post Office, a historic government building.  Every day, members of foreign governments stay at that hotel and his company receives the profits.  There is even a clause in the contract he holds to manage the hotel that states specifically that no member of the American government can participate in running it.

Second, he colluded with the Russian government to corruptly and illicitly influence the presidential election.  There was a direct computer connection between Trump Tower and the Alfa Bank in Moscow that was shut down the day it was discovered, in September.   The Russian government, following long standing procedure, used fake news and hacking to spread disinformation among the American public before the election, and they were strongly biased against Hillary Clinton.  The Russians wanted Donald to win, and he cooperated with them.  Just the fact that he denied the existence of Russian hacking when he was confronted with the evidence shows that he was already aware of it and did not intend to do anything to stop it.  In fact, his former aide Mike Flynn is known to have discussed ameliorating Obama’s sanctions against Russia for the hacking as soon as Donald was inaugurated, with Russia’s ambassador over the phone– and Donald approved of his saying that.

Thus, the House would be fully justified on the basis of publicly available information in impeaching, and the Senate in removing, Donald Trump.  On the same grounds, the same impeachment proceedings are fully justified in the case of the Vice President.  Under the circumstances, a new presidential election should be held.

This is why I have had nothing to say for the past month.  Our current political system is completely rotten and there is little or no possibility of remedying the situation before the 2018 Congressional elections.  Under the circumstances, I feel justified in going into hiding.

Almond Trees on a Cloudless Morning, with Dog

2017-03-28

Fully Leafed Almond Trees

2017-03-26

The blossoms have fallen, the leaves are fully developed, and small almonds already can be seen.

Flower, Saturated

2017-03-17

The Dog Drinks From an Unusually Full Irrigation Canal

2017-03-16

Sunrise, Blooms and Post-Full Moon but No Comments

2017-03-16

I’m still reading about the political news, but I refuse to comment anymore.

Blooming Tree at Dawn

2017-03-15

Yesterday Morning

2017-03-14

Taken at 7:08 AM PDT on March 13, 2017.  The apparatus at left is a diesel well pump.

Taken a minute later.  Our house is in front of the two palm trees at left.