The men who create power make an indispensable contribution to the Nation's greatness, but the men who question power make a contribution just as indispensable, especially when that questioning is disinterested, for they determine whether we use power or power uses us.
— President John F Kennedy, a graduate of Harvard University, speaking at Amherst College in the autumn of 1963
Also on today’s menu:
Putin Announces Intention To Seek Another Term
Drunken Laconia Driver Nabbed Traveling 124 mph
Congressman Dean Phillips (D-Minnesota), a 54-year-old millionaire who is seeking the Democratic nomination for president, met with voters at the Belknap County Democratic Committee headquarters in Laconia on December 6, describing himself as the “thoughtful alternative” to Joe Biden Jr.
Saying he does not believe Democrats want to see another matchup between Biden and Donald Trump, Phillips said, “We need leadership, and I will not sit down and shush up and get back in line in the face of Donald Trump returning to the White House.”
Phillips said he wants to address the issues important to Americans, listing them as health insurance, housing, and education. He favors the enactment of national health insurance and the building of seven million housing units to address the shortage. He also would like to see wealthy Americans like himself who do not need Social Security benefits “return it to a pool that would be redistributed to the people who need it the very most.”
A Jewish-American, Phillips said he would seek to establish a Palestinian state, saying, “Hamas is the enemy of Israel, the enemy of Palestinians. I think they’re a horrific terror organization, and Benjamin Netanyahu is a problem. The settlement policy is a problem. The right-wing government of Israel is a problem.”
Discussion: Phillips claims to believe that Biden would lose in a contest with Trump, but that is far from a sure thing. At the same time, Democrats should not fall for the line that only Biden can win. The voters should determine their nominee for the general election and not listen to the Democratic National Committee, which has interfered with elections to place their preferred candidate in power regardless of the voters’ choices (I refer to their collusion with the Associated Press to sabotage Bernie Sanders’ campaign on the eve of the primary to make Hillary Clinton the Democratic nominee, a move that led to Trump’s victory in 2016). New Hampshire residents should choose the best candidate appearing on their primary ballots, and Joe Biden chose not to run in New Hampshire. That makes Phillips a possible choice, and he should receive due consideration.
Putin Announces Intention To Seek Another Term
With Russian elections scheduled to take place on March 15-17, President Vladimir Putin, 71, plans to seek a fifth term in office. He already has been in power longer than any Russian ruler since Josef Stalin, and re-election would keep him as president until at least 2030.
Russian media are completely under his control and most serious challengers are either dead, behind bars, or in exile.
Despite the challenges he has faced since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, which cast doubt on his ability to hold onto power, he has tightened that grip and announced his intention to run again at an informal gathering that took place after a Kremlin ceremony presenting the Hero of Russia medal to Ukraine war veterans.
Discussion: The prospect of Putin’s replacement as head of state appeared strong while members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization stood together in support of Ukraine, but that support is weakening as the war drags on, and US Republicans’ efforts to end support for Ukraine, as well as holding up appointments to military leadership in this country, have strengthened Putin’s hand.
Drunken Laconia Driver Nabbed Traveling 124 mph
Jacob Riley Hebert, 19, of Laconia is facing charges of aggravated driving under the influence of alcohol, reckless operation, transportation of alcoholic beverages by a minor, reckless conduct, and endangering the welfare of a child shortly before midnight on December 6, when State Trooper Tyler Griffin clocked him driving 124 mph on Interstate 93 in Concord.
Three other passengers were in the vehicle, including a child under the age of 16. Two of them were also arrested on charges of unlawful possession of alcohol, intoxication, and having an open container of alcohol.
Hebert and the two passengers were released on bail with an appearance to take place at Concord District Court in January.
Discussion: An increasing number of high-speed drivers has led to an increase in fatal motor vehicle accidents in the state, especially since the state opened some portions of the interstate highway to speed limits of 70 mph. Some years ago, during the gasoline shortage, the interstate speed limit had been lowered from 70 to 65 mph in effort to reduce gas consumption, and the number of fatal accidents dropped substantially. The state quietly raised the speed limit again, with a resulting increase in highway deaths. Perhaps that decision should be revisited, but it will not stop drunken drivers from recklessness.
Café Chatter
On Effective Ban On Most Abortions: This state is embarrassing! 15 days, BS
— Louise Tilton
By The Way…
Do you have a story to tell?
The News Café is a virtual meeting place where, each weekday, we discuss the news of the day: local, statewide, national, and international. Subscribers can share their knowledge, thoughts, and questions about any topic, and we may select some of those subjects for more in-depth analysis.
The News Cafe is a reader-supported publication. Although the posts are available to all subscribers at no charge, I appreciate the financial support for the time and resources it takes to do this work. Please consider “upsubscribing” to a paid subscription.
You also may donate to libertyindymedia@icloud.com through Zelle.
Either way, thank you for being here.
Also see our other Substack news site, By The Way.