UNDERSTANDING IMPEACHMENT

  As the process of Impeachment proceedings, which seems likely, we should understand what is this drastic step that was initiated to only three Presidents during the entire history of the United States. 

  In all these cases the process was not approved by the Senate. A fourth President, Nixon, resigned before the House acted.

  Consider the House of Representatives as a “Grand Jury” in the process. If a simple majority considers that there is merit in the charge it can vote to approve impeaching the defendant who does not have to be a President. Thus,        Impeachment is in effect an INDICTMENT which is then sent to the Senate that acts in a role of a Court as both Jury and Judge.

  The Senate needs a 2/3^rd Majority to “convict” the individual. As you can imagine that may be impossible if even a simple majority of members belong to the subject’s party. Even if the majority of Senate members are of the “opposition party there must be enough other members to join in to reach that 2/3^rds majority.   

  It should be obvious that Trump could be “Impeached” by the House, but found “Not Guilty” by the Senate.     
 From an opinion article of interest.

The Constitution says “Judgment in Cases of Impeachment shall not extend further than to removal from Office, and disqualification to hold and enjoy any Office of honor, Trust or Profit under the United States: but the Party convicted shall nevertheless be liable and subject to Indictment, Trial, Judgment and Punishment, according to Law."

But what does “shall” mean? Is there wiggle room on that? Typically the Senate has taken one vote to impeach someone and remove that person from office, but a second vote to disqualify them from further office, says Josh Chafetz, a constitutional law professor at Cornell University. “There have been 8 impeachment convictions in American history (all of them have been of federal judges), and of the 8, only 3 were disqualified from future officeholding,” he said in an email.

Remember this above all else: Because no president has ever been removed from office through impeachment, we don’t know for certain what would happen.

         

ANIMALS SUNDAY OCT. 6

I am composing a posting on IMPEACHMENT. Meanwhile this post will be devoted to a request from Tom Kaercher which should of interest to all. First though is part of his letter to me.

"I have been following your blog posts. I am sorry health issues have been taking so  much of your time.  Your posting the other day on racism was on point about being a racist can be shaped in the times in which we live. Yet at the same time the many advantages of white privilege in this country which have been gained by institutionalized racism, which many of  white people benefit from without being aware of need to be rectified consciously if we ever hope, as people and a country, to get past the racism that has been part of this country since its inception. Thanks as always for teeing up the important issues of our day."

Plainfield Celebration of Animals Sunday October 6 at 1:30 PM

The Animal Initiative Committee is holding the 20th annual Plainfield Celebration of Animals on Sunday October 6, 2019 at 1:30 PM at Leland Avenue Park, (next to Cook Elementary School, 739 Leland Ave.)  Plainfield, New Jersey.  The event is free and open to everyone, with or without pets, to celebrate the importance of animals in the lives of human beings.   “Anatole France’s quote ‘Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened,’ says it best,” said Maryellen Chanda, Celebration event chairwoman. Held in conjunction with the Feast of St. Francis, the patron saint of animals, leaders of local religious and spiritual traditions will offer blessings for all animals. Three horses will also participate in the celebration. “We invite everyone to bring their pets to receive a blessing,” said Ms. Chanda. All animals must be properly restrained. Pets uncomfortable around other animals should be left at home and photos can be brought to receive a blessing for them. This year’s theme is ‘First Do No Harm’ to raise people’s awareness of how-to live-in harmony with the animals in our area. Water will be available for the animals and light vegan refreshments provided by Ester’s Treats and The Coffee Box will be served after the blessing. For more information please email Plainfieldaic2000@gmail.com.

The Animal Initiative Committee (AIC), formed in 2000, is an all-volunteer organization dedicated to increasing people’s awareness of their responsibility for the well-being of all animals, “Wildlife and companion animals are being needlessly killed due to inadequate facilities and lack of education programs,” said Mrs. Chanda.  The AIC focuses on the problem of overpopulation of dogs and cats, especially community cats. It implemented a very successful trap, neuter, and return (TNR) program for the latter. “We emphasize the importance of the use of available spay/neuter programs in controlling dog and cat populations, which can only succeed with the active support of everyone in the community,” Ms. Chanda stressed. “Volunteers are always needed to help with this important effort”, she concluded. For more information about the Animal Initiative Committee, please email Plainfieldaic2000@gmail.com.

RACISM

 I started writing this blog days before the news about Trump and the Ukraine broke. The question of impeachment is another subject which must (will be?) addressed.

 Who and what is a racist? Any discussion of this subject is going to be controversial and I will be considered a racist and bigot for expressing my opinion.

  First, one must make the distinction in relationship with the era Time. As an example, the radio show Amos and Andy were considered just a most popular radio comedy with white actors playing the roles from the early 30s until about 1950 when it switched to TV with black actors and the NACP began to object.

  Am I a racist because I too enjoyed listening to it in its 7pm time slot? I don’t think so, nor was the fact that I went to the University of Virginia, a segregated college in 1946.That was the first time that I experienced and accepted segregation as the way of life.

  Nor did the fact that I lived for four years in the East Range, original part of Jefferson’s University in a room that had been build (unknown to me) by slave labor.

  During the Battle of the Bulge in WWII I thought that the segregated Black Tank unit attached to our battalion consisted of one of the best group of soldiers and I felt happy that they were the ones protecting us.

  As a physician in Plainfield I asked Jack Gardner Plainfield’s first Black physician with “boards” to be my substitute when I was on vacation. If any of my patients didn’t go to him so be it.

 Why this long dialog? To make a point that the place and era rather than base convictions does not make a person a racist or bigot.

  However, a sexual crime is a criminal act at any time. Gang Bangs occurred many times during my college days but I did not participate so I will hold no brief for anyone who did.

  Recently Virginia’s Gov, Northam was branded a racist because of photos-blackface or white robed- found in his 1984 Medical School Yearbook.

  Similarly, year 2000 photos of Trudeau the Canadian Prime Minister in Blackface as Aladdin as well as some with “colored” skin from perhaps a Minstrel have surfaced.             

  Minstrels  are probably the one worldwide entertainment of American origin  and often were done in Blackface.

  Participating in a role does not mean that the person is a racist. They may just have been consistent with the times and location. It is their actions today that should make them guilty of the label.

LOCAL ECONOMY

  When I was a youngster with a driver’s license some 84 years ago Snuffy’s in Scotch Plains was a great place to go to obtain one of the state’s longest hot dogs; 1 foot long. Over the years it had changed becoming a restaurant with a quick food stand across Park. Ave. Pantages bought it years ago and gradually its appeal drifted away. Now it will be replaced by an Aldi competitor, Lidl, also German owned.

  Another item of interest relating to Plainfield’s “improving economics” along with replacing of the 3 restaurants on the south side of South Ave. east of the not completed apartment complex is the closing of the White Castle hamburger joint.

  Will the planned Wawa with drive through gas station be a plus? I doubt it.

   This transparent Administration has not informed us about the impact of the various PILOT programs plus that of the redevelopment plans for the area south of the Train station  bound by 4the Street the  east side of Park Ave to 7^th St. east to the west side of Watchung including the YMCA and. and those planned for the business  district will actually have on the tax structure and the taxpayers of the city. True numbers not pie in the sky.

  Since my blogging has been few and infrequent with the result that few read it, I am posting a comment to my Sept 8 Blog by Bill Kruse that I thought addressed the subject.

“Doc Some time ago I read that annually the Council members are assigned a City Department for the purpose of reviewing the Department's operations. Whether this devolves into a perfunctory meet, greet and swap stories event, or results in a serious "get under the sheets" examination and critique, I don't know. What better mission could there be than to examine the results of the operative PILOT programs? Are they producing the anticipated revenue? Assuming there were income stream forecasts how does the anticipation compare to the reality? What would the tax revenue have been if the developed properties had remained as they were contrasted to the current income? Was the income stream from tax revenues on the condemned or purchased properties, adjusted for anticipated annual rate escalations over the duration of the PILOT obligation, when compared with the predicted income from the PILOT development? If the Developer defaults anywhere along the way what are the consequences for the City? In consideration of all the projects completed, under construction, or approved with construction yet to begin, when will the revenue stream result in a reduction of property tax rates? I don't know these answers. I doubt if anyone expects me to know the answers absent a detailed study. What is scary is that I don't think anyone on the Council, or in the Administration, or very possibly anyone in the world does either. If I am wrong show us the figures. Bill Kruse”