Adjourning Congress is Straight out of a Dictator’s Playbook

A democracy does not become a dictatorship overnight. That process entails a series of steps in which democracy is slowly squeezed out and replaced by a dictatorship.

One of the first crucial steps is the removal or adjournment of the governing body that represents the voting public. Yesterday, you know who made the following statement:

“If the House will not agree to that adjournment, I will exercise my constitutional authority to adjourn both chambers of Congress,” Trump declared. “The current practice of leaving town while conducting phony pro forma sessions is a dereliction of duty that the American people cannot afford during this crisis. It is a scam what they do.”

To completely understand his statement, it has to be put in context. Due to Covid-19, Congress has adjourned until May. While it is true that the Constitution does give the President this power, it is only “in Case of Disagreement between them, with Respect to the Time of Adjournment.”

The problem is that he is take advantage of this time to force the approval of judges and political appointees who would benefit his administration. This is straight out of a dictators playbook. Once a governing body, like Congress, is dissolved and a political leader is only surrounded by yes men and women, there is no stopping them.

I have to wonder when the Republicans are finally going to get their heads out of the sand? Where is Mitch McConnell and the rest of the Republican leadership who have spent the last three years kissing you know who’s behind? This man is a threat to our democracy and our country.

He MUST be voted out in November.

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Grantchester Character Review: Mrs. Chapman

*For the foreseeable future, some Character Review posts may not be published every Thursday as they have in the past.

*Warning: This post contains spoilers about the characters from the television series Grantchester. Read at your own risk if you have not watched the show.

There is something to be said about a well written, human character. They leap off the page and speak to us as if they were right in front of us, as flesh and blood human beings, instead of fictional creations.

There is a perception that as one gets older, they become more conservative. They cling to the values of the past and seem unable to accept that some things have changed. On Grantchester, Mrs. Chapman (formerly Mrs. Maguire, played by Tessa Peake-Jones) is that character. Working initially as the housekeeper for Sidney Chambers (James Norton) and then for Will Davenport (Tom Brittany), she is loyal, loving and hardworking. But, she can also come off as old fashioned and disapproving of the world around her.

This comes into play in two distinct narratives. The first was when she married again. Her new husband, Jack Chapman (Nick Brimble) is a wealthy man who is happy to spoil his wife. Though she loves her husband, Mrs. Chapman is not used to being spoiled. The second is when she discovers that Leonard Finch (Al Weaver) is gay. It a shock to her and makes her question if her relationship with him can ever be the same.

To sum it up: Though Mrs. Chapman may appear to be the old lady who yells at the neighborhood kids to stay off her lawn, she is much more than that. She has a heart and staunchly believes in what she believes in, even if it conflicts with the changing times.

Which is why she is a memorable character.

Flashback Friday-The Great Food Truck Race (2010-Present)

Innovation comes in many different forms. When it comes to food, food trucks represent innovation in it’s purest form.

The Great Food Truck Race has aired in Food Network since 2010. Hosted by Tyler Florence, the show follows several food truck teams as they drive across the country and try to out cook each other. As in any competition reality program, the winning team receives a cash prize and the glory of winning their season.

I can understand the appeal of The Great Food Truck Race. Any television program, regardless of genre or content does not last ten years without having a loyal and eager fan base. While this is not my favorite show on the Food Network, I can understand its appeal.

Do I recommend it? Maybe.