House Reps and Dems Join in Opposing Rep. Andy Ogles' Hanging a ‘Wanted Poster’ For Judges Outside His Office

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After Further Consideration, I Will Attend the 'Hands Off Our Democracy' Rally this Saturday.

by Rod Williams, April 3, 2025- A few days ago I posted about the big anti-Trump rally planned for this Saturday here in Nashville and said that I would skip it. I have reconsidered. I plan to attend. 

Here was my reasoning explained in my initial post as to why I would not take part:

The protest is organized by a group called Indivisible. Their mission statement says: "We’re a grassroots movement of thousands of local Indivisible groups with a mission to elect progressive leaders, rebuild our democracy, and defeat the Trump agenda." 

If you go to Indivisible's website, you learn, "Indivisible was founded in response to Trump’s election - but we know that Trump is a symptom of a sick democracy, not its cause. We face two fundamental problems: first, our democracy was rigged from the start in favor of the white and wealthy. Second, in the last few decades, an alliance of white nationalists and the ultra-rich have been actively working to further undermine democracy and cement their hold on power permanently. That’s how we ended up with Trump. " They also speak of, "Defeating a multi-decade right-wing takeover of American government."

I don't buy that. That does not reflect by view. I do not believe our democracy is rigged to favor the White and the wealthy. I support our democracy; I don't want to overthrow it.  I do not want to march under a progressive banner. I do not want to elect progressive politicians. 

Since then, I have had a change of heart. I still agree with all I said above. However, Trump is a threat to world peace, is talking about staying in office past the end of this term, has started a trade war that may lead to a global depression, is trampling the Constitution and the rule of law, is talking about taking Greenland by force, and is destroying NATO and the collective security arrangement that maintained the peace, defeated Communism and ended the cold war.  And he is acting as if a Russian asset. 

In my view Trump is a dangerous man and desires to turn America into his dictatorship. In times like these one may have to ally with people with whom you disagree in order to advance the greater good. Sometimes compromise is necessary. 

I did vote for Kamala Harris in the last election. It was not easy.  I had to hold my nose to do so, but I voted for the lesser of two evils.  Others, who are friends of mine and who share my values, chose to write in a name, skip voting for president or voted for a third party. I don't fault them for doing so. If like me, you are a life-long Republican and an ideological conservative, it is hard to know how to respond when the Party to which you have been welded morphs into an authoritarian nationalist-populist party and abandon the things for which it as always stood. Different people will respond differently, and I respect that. I see attending rallies led by progressives much the same way.

My friend Bill Bernstein commending on my previous post helped me clarify my thinking and change my mind. He wrote on Facebook:

Rod, I've given this one some thought. Yeah, I would probably hate about 70% of the people involved this thing, and disagree with about 95% of whatever they stand for (we might agree Scotch needs a little cold water and nothing else). But strength comes from building coalitions, and coalitions mean joining with people you otherwise would oppose. The Civil Rights coalition brought together Blacks, labor organizers, Northern liberals, intellectuals, Jews, and probably others. The coalition did not outlast the 1960s. But the tremendous urgency of the task called for a united front. So too here. I would probably go.

So, I am attending. I don't want to save the Department of Education. I want a smaller government. I don't want to elect progressives.  I oppose abortion on demand. I don't want Medicare for all. On a whole bunch of issue, I will disagree with the people organizing this rally. However, the biggest threat to a free and stable world and democracy and freedom at home is Donald Trump. 

I'm going!

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Congress Can Stop This Tariff Madness Right Now

 By Charles C. W. Cooke, National Review, March 4, 2025 - ...  Congress can stop this right now. Literally right now. Today. This morning. Before lunch. In a matter of hours. The Constitution gives absolute control over tariffs to Congress. As such, any power that the president enjoys must be delegated. With one bill — passed by veto-proof majorities — Congress could take back some (or all) of that power.

The law that President Trump is using to cause such havoc is known as IEEPA. It’s supposed to be for emergencies, but, given that it gives the president free rein to determine when an emergency is in force, it’s effectively a non-justiciable enabling act. Congress can repeal it, amend it, or pass a separate law that supersedes it, and there’s nothing that anybody can do to stop it. Such a law could exempt Canada and Mexico from its provisions, or make clear that other tariff deals involving those countries (like the one Trump signed in 2019) have precedence, or do anything else that Congress wants it to do, because — again! — Congress has plenary power over tariffs. Heck, if Congress passed a law that simply read, “All delegation of the legislature’s Article I, Section 8 tariff powers is hereby rescinded,” that would immediately be the law of the land.

I understand that Congress does not want to do this because, despite their protestations when their guy is out of power, both parties like the imperial presidency. (read it all)

Rod's Comment: It is unfortunate and shameful that Republicans in Congress are in such fear of the President and their own voters that they will not stand up to Trump on this issue. What is baffling is that none of them will do so.  One would think that there would be a few brave souls who would challenge Trump on this. 

Free trade has been a foundational plank in conservative ideology since at least the end of World War II.  Free trade was preached by the scholars of the conservative movement. Not only has it been a conservative principle, but the benefits of free trade have been accepted as an economic truth. It is hard to find an economist of any strip who does not tout the benefits of free trade. Not only has free trade been a Republican believe and not only is free trade accepted as beneficial by almost all economist, but there has pretty much been a free trade consensus. If anything, when any politician advocated tariffs, it was more likely to be a Democrat attempting to placate union supporters who would do so, but the majority of Democrat politicians believed in free trade also. There has been a wide bi-partisan consensus on the benefits of free trade pretty much since the Great Depression.

While I find Republicans failure to stand up to the President on this issue unfortunate and shameful, I fine the Democrats refusal to do so simply baffling.  Democrats have been playing dead. Democrats have nothing to lose by pushing back against this economic insanity.  If Democrats would introduce a bill to restrict the President's authority to set tariffs, maybe they would find a few brave Republicans who have not completely abandoned their believes who would join them. If not, Democrats could at least say, "we tried." They could voice an opposition and let people know that this is nuts. They could at least push back and make the case instead of just acting like they have no say in the matter. If Democrats are picking their battles and keeping their powder dry, now is the time to engage. This is the issue when the nation needs to see push back against Trump madness. 

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Happy Liberation Day -The Day Trump Imposes One of the Biggest Tax Hikes in American history.

by Rod Williams, April 2, 2025- Today is the day President Trump has dubbed "Liberation Day," the day in which a massive new tax is imposed on the American people.  This is Orwellian in which a new tax on the American people is called a tax cut, but that is America in the age of Trump. 

Trump supporters will believe anything Trump tells them. They believe appeasement is peace through strength. They believe the victim of aggression is the aggressor. They believe trampling the Constitution is saving the Constitution.  They still believe the 2020 election was stolen and that somehow those who tried to prevent the peaceful transfer of power are patriots. If Trumps says day is night they will believe it, so why would one not expect them to believe a tax increase is a tax cut. 

Today is the day, Trump imposes massive new taxes on imports. He has convinced many of his supporters that somehow it is the exporting country that pays the tax. For those people, there is no hope. They want to believe lies. They are like Jim Jones cult members who will drink the Kool-Aid. US-imposed tariffs are paid by American businesses and consumers in the form of higher prices on imported goods; not paid by foreigners. If people cannot grasp that simple fact, they are hopelessly stupid. It is a waste of breath to argue with them. This is not something about which there can be an honest different of opinions. This is fact. 

This new round of tariffs Trump is expected to announce today will make foreign and domestic goods more expensive for consumers. It will upend supply chains, weaken demand for U.S. products abroad, compel bailouts of damaged industries, drive allies into the arms of enemies, and possibly trigger a recession. 

The new tax is expected to raise $6 trillion. That is 600 billion dollars coming out of the American consumer's pocket. Not only is this one of biggest tax increases ever imposed on the American people it is also one of the most regressive taxes ever passed. Various economists estimate the new tariffs will cost the average American household about $1250 a year. If you buy a new car, it may cost you an additional $6,000. 

Happy Liberation Day!

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Why is outgoing Metro General Hospital CEO Dr. Joseph Webb Leaving with a $1 Million Severance.

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Rep. Andy Ogles Outlines Constitutional Process for Trump’s Third Term As President Says ‘There Are Methods’

link to the video

by Tom Pappert, Tennessee Star, March 31, 2025 - President Donald Trump on Sunday confirmed he is seriously considering running for a third term in the White House, prompting U.S. Representative Andy Ogles (R-TN-05) to share a video released last Friday in which he describes the process of amending the Constitution to allow the president to seek a third term.

Trump on Sunday told Kristen Welker at NBC News regarding a third run for the White House, “A lot of people want me to do it,” before adding, “we have a long way to go, you know, it’s very early in the administration.”

Still, the 45th and 47th president reportedly told Welker he was “not joking” about the chances he will seek a third term in office, telling her, “There are methods which you could do it,” before reiterating, “it is far too early to think about it.” (link)

Rod's Comment: 

I am not overly concerned about Trump running for a third term. For one, he is old and may die before he completes this term or office or may have declining health by the end of this term and may hang it up. Also, his popularity may have plummeted by then and he would know he could not be reelected. 

Secondly, the Constitution would have to be amended in order for Trump to legally serve a third term, and it is hard to amend the Constitution. The Constitution provides that an amendment may be proposed either by the Congress with a two-thirds majority vote in both the House of Representatives and the Senate or by a constitutional convention called for by two-thirds of the State legislatures. None of the 27 amendments to the Constitution have been proposed by constitutional convention. If a proposed amendment passing congress or is proposed by a constitutional convention, it then must be ratified by three-fourths of the States (38 of 50 States). I see no way that can happen. It will never get 2/3rds vote majority vote in either the House or the Senate. Even if it did, it is unlikely to be ratified by 38 of the states.

What concerns me more than the prospect of the Constitution being amended to allow Trump to serve a third term is that Trump will engineer a crisis, declare martial law, and delay elections. Or, that Trump will run as J. D. Vance's vice president and then J. D. will resign, and Trump will assume the office of president. Both of these scenarios would be unconstitutional, but I don't think that would deter Trump if he really wanted to stay in office past the end of this term. 

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Missing Middle Housing - What it is and proposals to build in Nashville

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Housing Planning Study Released

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by Rod Williams, March 31, 2025- The Metro Planning Commission has released its Housing and Infrastructure Study summary and preliminary recommendations.

If you recall, last year several Metro Council members, led by Councilmember Quin Evans Segall, introduced legislation to substantially overall Metro's zoning structure to allow more housing density. Among things the proposed legislation would have done is replace single-family lots with quadruplexes in some cases. 

The proposal was met with anger and went nowhere. The Council then commissioned a comprehensive study to examine Metro's zoning policies to see how zoning changes could lead to more affordable housing. 

The Housing and Infrastructure Study recommends a change in codes regulations and zoning rules to allow more dense housing on Nashville's main transit corridors and nearby streets. We can expect more study and neighborhood meetings before any proposal goes before the Metro Council.

I am pleased to see this development and a recognition that the way we zone property is a problem leading to unaffordable housing and segregation, long commutes, and urban sprawl.  This recognition is not only taking place in Nashville but across America.  

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There is a lot of hypocrisy among people about a lot of things, and that certainly applies to affordable housing. A lot of people say we need more affordable housing, but they do not want it in their neighborhood. They say they oppose urban sprawl, but they oppose more density in the city. You can't have it both ways; you can't logically oppose sprawl and also oppose greater urban density. 

There are several things I would like to see. I think neighborhoods should have different size lots within the same subdivision, so different people of different incomes could live in the same neighborhood. I want more density generally. We should expand the places where people can build DADUs, that is detached dwelling units, often garage apartments build behind the main house and facing an alley. I think we should make it easier to build mobile home parks and allow more manufactured housing and mobile homes. I want more neighborhood scale commercial throughout the city. While it may be wise to prohibit commercial developments in residential areas, a corridor zoned commercial should not preclude residential. 

For those interested in the issue of urban development and the role zoning plays in making housing unaffordable and contributing to segregation and urban sprawl, I recommend the book Arbitrary Lines. 

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I think I will skip the April 5th protest.

by Rod Williams, March 31, 2025- On April 5th there will be anti-Trump protest across the county, including a protest here in Nashville at Centennial Park. I have been anxious to take part in such. I probably do more to resist Trumpism than many; I blog, I engage in social media, I fly a Ukrainian flag outside my house, and I subscribe to media outlets speaking out against Trumpism. It seems so anemic, so pointless and ineffective. I want to do more. I just don't know what one can do. I have been itching to vent my anger as our nation slides into authoritarianism. I am not even sure a street protest would do much good, but venting would make me feel better.

When I first saw that there was going to be an anti-Trump protest here in Nashville, I immediately said to myself, "Yes, I will attend."

After looking a second time, I am now unsure. The protest is organized by a group called Indivisible. Their mission statement says: "We’re a grassroots movement of thousands of local Indivisible groups with a mission to elect progressive leaders, rebuild our democracy, and defeat the Trump agenda." 

If you go to Indivisible's website, you learn, "Indivisible was founded in response to Trump’s election - but we know that Trump is a symptom of a sick democracy, not its cause. We face two fundamental problems: first, our democracy was rigged from the start in favor of the white and wealthy. Second, in the last few decades, an alliance of white nationalists and the ultra-rich have been actively working to further undermine democracy and cement their hold on power permanently. That’s how we ended up with Trump. " They also speak of, "Defeating a multi-decade right-wing takeover of American government."

I don't buy that. That does not reflect by view. I do not believe our democracy is rigged to favor the White and the wealth. I support our democracy; I don't want to overthrow it.  I do not want to march under a progressive banner. I do not want to elect progressive politicians. While I would like to take part in a massive anti-Trump protest, I would like to do so as part of broad pro-democracy coalition, not as part of a movement to elect progressives and promote a progressive vision of democracy.

I think I will skip the April 5th protest. 

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Maybe It Wasn’t Such a Great Idea to Support a Larger, More Extensive Federal Government for 100 Years

By Rich Lowry, National Review, March 27, 2025 - President Donald Trump is using every tool he has to challenge woke practices in America — and he has a lot of them.

Notably, none of the mechanisms that the president is using were put in place by conservatives for leverage against progressive institutions.

No, Trump is simply availing himself of the vast federal apparatus created by liberals on the assumption that an ever-more powerful and extensive federal government was synonymous with righteousness. 

Now that someone is in charge who doesn’t agree with them and who is willing to use all the influence that the progressive state affords him, they are vulnerable to the centralized power that they’ve eagerly built up over decades.

Expanding the federal government has been a progressive priority since the time of Woodrow Wilson, and now its tentacles — via federal funding and a skein of rules — reach practically into every corner of American life. (read more)

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