I read the Detroit News report on the indictment of former Governor Snyder, former Director of Health and Human Services Nick Lyon and aide Rich Baird. Snyder was charged two misdemeanors, Lyon with 9 counts of involuntary manslaughter as well as a misdemeanor, and Baird with perjury and obstruction of justice.
After reading the charges, I double down on my comment from yesterday that this is a very slippery slope, especially for the manslaughter charges. I have no problems with charging people for perjury and obstruction of justice. However, if we start charging government officials because of deaths that result from their decisions we are not going to get any reasonable person to seek out a government position. There are many decisions made everyday by government officials that could result in death if things go bad. Think about the decisions our local police chiefs and fire chiefs make every day. Think about the decision to fast track the Covid-19 vaccine. If 8 people die because it was fast tracked, should the government officials be charged for involunary manslaughter. The state has agreed on a $680 million dollar civil settlement for the Flint Water Crisis, which is pending judge approval. That seems a much better solution than charging the director of health and human services for involuntary manslaughter when he was just trying to do his job to the best of his ability. He didn’t commit perjury, he didn’t cover-up anything. He was just trying to do his job by following the recommendations of his staff.
It is going to be interesting watching all the posturing that will be going on in the U.S. Senate during the next few weeks. The Republican senators are going to be deciding the future of their party based on how they vote on the second impeachment of President Trump. They have it their power to determine if President Trump can run for president in 2024 or if he can no longer hold public office. There will be a price to pay regardless of how they vote. It is a problem of their own making.
Earlier today I posted on my Facebook news feed an article from the Detroit News on newly elected and recently sworn-in U.S Congressman Peter Meijer, a Republican from western Michigan. Meijer, an Iraq veteran and former Army officer, noted he never wore body armor when he worked in Afghanistan as a safety adviser to humanitarian aid organizations. A day after he voted to impeach President Donald Trump, Meijer said he is buying body armor, changing his daily routines and taking other security measures in response to threats. “We are living in unstable times. There are 10 of us (Republicans) who voted for impeachment, and that puts a target on our backs both literally and figuratively,” Meijer told The Detroit News. It is a shame that it has come to this that an Irag war veteran feels more threatened in his first 12 days as a U.S. Congressman than he did during his tour of Iraq.
Like his fellow Republican Congressman Fred Upton, Meijer’s centrist politics and willingness to do what is right and not what will get him reelected is a breath of fresh air.
Today I ran into an aquantance of mine that I had not seen since the start of the pandemic. He knows that he and I are on the opposite ends of the political spectrum. It didn’t take long for him to begin a rant about Governor Whitmer which he followed up by ranting about how the election was stolen from Trump. I responded by saying I am sorry he feels that way and said my goodbye. It is a sad state of affairs that has been created.
There will be no blog on Friday as I will be traveling and not accessing my computer. Stay safe, social distance, wash your hands regularly and wear your mask.
Quote of the day: “If anything, both this and the Electoral College votes were probably the dumbest moves I could have made if I wanted to ensure a smooth reelection. I came out here to serve my country, to uphold my oath of office and that will be my focus —regardless of the cost or of the consequences to me personally or politically.” Peter Meijer, Republican’ Congressman from western Michigan.