Lou

President Joe Biden was joined Thursday by two of his Democratic predecessors for a star-studded fundraiser at Radio City Music Hall that his campaign said brought in more than $26 million.

Actor and comedian Mindy Kaling hosted the program, which ended at around 10 p.m., and late night host Stephen Colbert moderated a conversation with Biden, Clinton and Obama. Special guests include celebrities like Queen Latifah, Lizzo, Ben Platt, Cynthia Erivo and Lea Michele.

During the nearly hourlong moderated conversation, Colbert joked that the moment was historic because “three presidents have come to New York, and not one of them to appear in court,” taking a jab at former President Donald Trump’s criminal indictments and civil trials.

Clinton also took a swipe at the presumptive GOP nominee, arguing that “Trump had a good couple of years because he stole them from Barack Obama.”

“You’re all part of an incredible team we’re building, and we’re just getting started,” Biden said in his closing message during the discussion. “So let’s keep going. Let’s win this November.”

Trump’s historic criminal trial in the New York hush money case against him will begin with jury selection on April 15, Judge Juan Merchan said Monday, after a dispute over the late production of documents caused the judge initially to push back the start date. Barring another unforeseen hiccup, the former president will face a jury on criminal charges for at least one of his trials before the November election.

Finally, one of the judges is holding Trump to account and not indulging his constant motions whose only purpose is to delay. Does anyone including his MAGA cult really think that Trump is innocent of any of the charges against him. He certainly doesn’t act as a person who wants to clear his name.

So buckle up, the highlight will be when Trump takes the stand. Can he possibly not lie? We all know the answer to that.

Finally!!

Wow! Give ’em hell, Joe!

President delivered a fiery, terrific speech at the State of the Union. He owned the room from the time he entered the chamber until he left after seemingly talking to everyone in the chamber on the way out. (Rumor is that at midnight they had to flick the lights to encourage the President and others to leave.)

Maybe not noticed but President Biden, after giving a copy of the speech to VP Harris and Speaker Johnson, immediately started his speech, not allowing Speaker Mike Johnson do the traditional introduction. There was no slow introduction in the speech, he immediately went after the Republicans on not supporting Ukraine and bowing to Putin, not supporting democracy after January 6 and for taking away women’s rights.

Any concern by Democrats that Joe Biden was losing his edge was put to rest last night. He was on point and had command of all the issues. He took on the Republicans directly, seemingly baiting them to shout at him and then turning and making their views look foolish. He adlibbed about 30 times.

He turned the immigration issue around on the Republicans. He made clear that the strongest border bill ever was being held because Trump wants it as a campaign issue. He continually urged the Republicans to act and pass the Senate’s border reform bill. He cited what was in the bill with Senator Langford nodding mouthing, “it’s true”.

He took on the Supreme Court justices directly over Roe v. Wade. He said IVF banning is due to the court’s decision to overturn Roe v Wade. He informed them that they will see women political power in the election.

President Biden gave what very much seemed like a campaign speech as he mentioned his predecessor 13 times highlighting Trump not supporting NATO, bragging about Roe v Wade, citing the insurrection etc.

He cited the success of the economy calling it the best story never told while recognizing home prices were still high and announced a plan to help first time buyers. He cited his success with more jobs, lowering inflation, lowering prescription prices, increasing taxes on the wealthy etc. The seemingly inevitable recession has turned to a soft landing.

Also addressed war in Gaza and issues within the party, relating the history of the conflict and announcing that the US will be establishing a port in Gaza to deliver aid by ship.

Dems were so excited, VP Harris got her exercise getting up applauding throughout the speech. Whereas Speaker Johnson looked very uncomfortable not knowing when/if to stand, when/if to applaud or ever applaud. Obviously, afraid that any incorrect applause would cause MTG to initiate a vote to remove him.

A big, successful night for President Biden, Democrats and the country.

The Republican response was by Sen. Britt of Alabama. It was weird and awful. First the Republicans had her give it in her kitchen which is where Republicans evidently think women belong. Her response focused almost entirely on the border citing a story of a woman repeatedly raped crossing the border and how this was Biden’s fault. Except… She didn’t say it was in 2005 when Bush was President and it was in Mexico. The woman in the story has since responded angrily for Sen. Britt using her story without permission. Sen. Britt also didn’t mention that she was on the committee negotiating the border bill and then didn’t vote for it. More disinformation, no solutions but lots of you should be afraid of. Bobby Jindal must have liked it as it was worse than his historically bad response speech.

A great night for President Biden and Democrats. Let’s keep it up!

Nikki Haley suspended her campaign this morning after a disappointing Super Tuesday. Haley won the state of Vermont but was far behind in red states. She did better in blue states but I suspect that this was due to Independents and Democrats crossing over to vote against Trump.

President Biden pretty much swept through all the primaries. Challengers were hard pressed to get above 3 -4 % but the “uncommitted” votes in some states was significant as Dems want to show their displeasure with Joe Biden’s support of Israel and Israels’ actions in Gaza. Of course, if you are dealing with Netanyahu, who is largely responsible for the war and keeping it going keeps him from facing charges (hmmm. sounds familiar), it is a difficult task.

So it’s “game on”. We have 8 months to save our democracy from arguably the most vile man in the country and his MAGA disciples.

In other news, Senator McConnell joined the ranks Lindsay Graham, Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio etc. of the truly pitiful. All people that Trump mocks and embarrasses but they still kiss the ring (or other parts…). I fully expect that Haley will join this pitiful crew.

Don’t agonize… Organize.

We will be discussing how we can support Biden and the Dem ticket.

Here we go!!

The Danvers Senior Center bid a fond farewell Friday to longtime Director of Senior and Social Services Pamela Parkinson, who is retiring after more than 18 years of dedicated service.

Whether it’s providing people in need with food, helping them to find housing, starting new programming to address a specific need in the community, or working on an individual basis to advocate for seniors, Parkinson created a reputation in Danvers and beyond as someone to count on in times of need.

“We do take for granted what a wonderful seniors program we have. It does not happen by accident. Over (Parkinson’s) more than 18 years of service to the town of Danvers as the director of senior and social services, (she has) enriched the lives of countless elders in our community, not just from Danvers,” said state Rep. Sally Kerans, D-Danvers, who presented Parkinson with a citation from state lawmakers.

“You all are doing the work of supporting not only elders, but anyone in our community who needs a helping hand — and I’ve never seen such need. I’ve never had so many potential eviction cases of men and women in their 70s, unsure of where they’re going. So thank you all for all of that,” Kerans added.

The biggest item on the list: Housing.

“We have people calling us all the time who are literally packing an apartment up because they’ve been evicted. It’s dire,” state Sen. Joan Lovely, D-Salem, said. “We are woefully behind in our housing units.”

Governor Maura Healey unveiled a $4 billion plan in October to build 40,000 new homes, including 22,000 homes for low-income households and 12,000 for middle-income households. Called the Affordable Homes Act, it would also rehabilitate 12,000 homes for low-income households.

The proposal, which includes 28 new policies and two tax credits, is still before state legislators. If passed, the bill would be the largest single investment in housing by a governor in state history,according to Healey’s office.

The bill would also allow accessory dwelling units less than 900 square feet by right in single-family zoning districts throughout the state.

Such accessory units also allow more older residents to sell their homes while still being able to age in-place, said Lovely and state Sen. Brendan Crighton, D-Lynn, who also represents Marblehead and Swampscott. “That was an important piece that I was excited to see in there,” Crighton said. “There’s protections for public housing tenants and a number of other good provisions, so I’m really excited for us to tackle housing this year.”

CTE programs, science and the economy

State Rep. Jerry Parisella, D-Beverly, is the chair of the House Economic Development Committee and expects the governor to file an economic development bill in the near future. The bill will likely help prepare the state for an economic downturn if one arises, provide more support for residents looking to go back to college and support green technology jobs, he said.

Some of this is already playing out on the North Shore. In Salem, the city is preparing for an offshore wind terminal yard to start up on its harbor.

This is a major piece in a regional move to bring sustainable power into Massachusetts, Lovely said. A new career and technical education program at Salem High School will also teach students how to work in the wind energy industry, creating a pipeline of local workers for the new facility.

Salem High and Peabody Veterans Memorial High School are looking to grow their CTE programs now that both schools are in the process of being rebuilt, Lovely said. With more room and better technology for these programs, and a growing demand for CTE classes, these projects will hopefully decrease the annual pool of applicants to Essex Tech.

“Not everyone can get into the Tech,” Lovely said. “Of 1,400 applications, 1,000 won’t get in. We’re not going to build a bunch of new voke schools, but we can offer these programs in our other schools.”

Safety on Route 114

In Peabody, legislators are pushing to make roads safer for both drivers and pedestrians through two proposed bills. State Rep. Tom Walsh, D-Peabody, filed a bill last year to prohibit car carriers from unloading vehicles on public ways in Massachusetts.

Offloading cars has been a dangerous trend seen on Route 114’s middle two-way turn lane, dubbed the “suicide lane” by some local officials, on Andover St reet in Danvers and Peabody. That bill has seen support from Lovely and state Rep. Sally Kerans, D-Danvers, who are also pushing alongside Walsh for the state to allow cameras on the sides of school buses to catch drivers who pass buses that are stopped with a stop sign out.

With sex trafficking an issue in hotels off Route 1 in Peabody, Walsh hopes to pass a bill requiring training for Massachusetts hotel workers in identifying signs of sex trafficking, along with hotels and motels being required to post signs with hotlines and other information for sex trafficking victims in multiple languages.

Similarly, Kerans and Lovely are supporting the proposed “Sex Trade Survivors Act,” a bill that would partially decriminalize the sex trade in Massachusetts by protecting sex trafficking victims from being charged with prostitution.

A New York judge orders former President Donald Trump to pay $355 million and cease running any businesses in the state for three years as punishment for fraudulently inflating his net worth to obtain favorable treatment from banks and other lenders. Additional penalties against Trump’s two adult sons and an associate brought the total in the civil case to $364 million.

Trump, who built his reputation as a real estate titan, also was barred from serving as an officer or director of any New York corporation for three years.

The crushing penalty — which may top $400 million once interest is factored in — could cost Trump all of his available cash. But because most of his wealth is tied up in real estate, it would not leave him bankrupt.

Last month, Trump was fined $83 Million for defaming woman he sexually assaulted. This month Trump’s fined $355 million for committing fraud for virtually his entire business career.

Engoron’s harsh punishment will hit Trump where it hurts — in the pocketbook and in public perceptions of his business acumen. But a drawn-out appeals process could dull any immediate effect.

In NY hush money to a porn star case, the judge ruled in 2 minutes that the Trump objections weren’t based on the law and the trial will begin on March 25.

In Georgia, the hearing as a result of Trump lawyers attempt to disqualify DA Fani Willis is into its 2nd day. It’s a pretty salacious hearing which fits in with Trump but appears that the Trump team is not proving that DA Willis got a financial gain.

Hard to keep up with the Trump court cases without a scorecard.

Republicans continue to support this corrupt, terrible man.

I don’t usually editorialize in the posts but today was such an extraordinarily bad day for the Republicans (and our country), I just have to summarize their dysfunction.

1. Appeals Court rules President does not have immunity. So, an Appeals Court had to rule that a President cannot order the Navy Seal team to murder his opponent and subsequently any Senators that would vote for impeachment and not be held accountable in a court of law. Only in Trump’s mind (and the Republican Party) would this not be obvious but here we are.
2. GOP House of Representatives doesn’t have the votes to impeach Secretary Majorkas. For month’s the GOP Congress led by Trump puppy, Speaker Mike Johnson, have been working on impeaching Majorkas. The sole reason appears to be that because Trump was impeached and they cannot find anything on President Biden, Trump says they have to impeach SOMEONE. But a funny thing happened on the way to the vote, weak and obviously not able to count Speaker Mike didn’t have the votes to impeach. Again, the GOP demonstrated how screwed up they are.
3. Republican Senators will not vote for immigration bill. Republicans insisted that strong border laws be enacted before they would approve aid to Ukraine and Israel. Bipartisan team of Senators developed a bill which Lindsay Graham said is the strongest bill ever. Democrats gave Republicans everything they wanted regarding stopping the current chaos at the border. A funny thing happened on the way to getting a vote on the bill. Donald Trump told all Republicans not to vote for this bill as it is too good and he will not have anything to run on. They must reject the bill. So the GOP demanded stronger laws on the border, they got stronger laws on the border, they are voting against stronger laws on the border.
4. GOP House of Representative doesn’t have the votes to approve aid to Israel. Because they are now not voting for the immigration bill they asked for, weak Trump puppy Speaker Mike Johnson separated the aid on Israel vote and didn’t have the votes to pass this either.
5. GOP Nevada Primary and a Caucus. The GOP had a primary yesterday which doesn’t count. Yes, people are going to vote in the GOP Republican Primary and it does NOT count. The GOP is having a caucus tomorrow that will count. Trump is not on the primary ballot and Haley is not in the caucus. Of course this makes sense in the GOP Trump led party. (Should be noted that Haley lost to “None of the above” 60% to 30%.)
6. Thursday the Supreme Court will listen to arguments to decide if someone who incited an insurrection against the United States of America can run for President. This seems as ridiculous to me as the immunity claim but here we are. Unfortunately, the expectation is that the Trump nominated judges will find some way to wriggle out of this although the 14th Amendment is quite clear

A bad day for the GOP. A bad day for all of us.