Obviously, many events are happening in Minnesota. Today I will restrict my thoughts to fraud.
First, fraud is wrong and should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. The investigation of fraud in Minnesota, first initiated when Biden was president, should continue to completion.
Second, the widely viewed “documentary” in Minnesota by Nick Shirley contains misinformation. I am not saying fraud did not occur. I am saying that his claiming the daycare centers were empty is misinformation.
Third, self-righteous finger-pointing at Democrats while ignoring Medicare fraud by Republican Senator Rick Scott’s company is selective self-righteousness. I repeat–any fraud with taxpayer’s money is wrong. https://www.miaminewtimes.com/news/remember-rick-scotts-massive-medicare-fraud-scandal-40512411/
Fourth, those who would claim Governor Waltz should have known I would ask you to think about the following: Rick Scott co-founded the Columbia Hospital Corporation and was the CEO until 1997. The U.S. Department of Justice secured 14 felony convictions against Columbia/HCA, and the company was fined $1.7 billion for Medicare fraud — at the time, the largest health care fraud settlement in U.S. history. Reportedly in 2000, Scott invoked the Fifth Amendment 75 times during a civil deposition about his role at the company. His excuse for the crimes was “no one ever told me.”
Fifth, White collar fraud is wrong whether it involves government money or the money of ordinary people. People who commit fraud should make restitution and be punished not pardoned. For example, tax evasion meets the definition of fraud. Charles Kushner was convicted of tax evasion. The prosecuting attorney was not Joe Biden. It was Chris Christy, a well-known Republican.
Kushner was pardoned and is currently an ambassador. For those who would claim the Minnesota fraud and a single person are not comparable I would reply that he was not the only person committing fraud who has been pardoned. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trumps-pardons-fraudsters-white-collar-criminals/
Sixth, Worrying about political opponent’s fraud while going easier on fraud by proponents is wrong.
I will end as I started – fraud is wrong.
A reader made a point about my last blog. He believed it was important for context to note that the person who was pardoned for assaulting Carolyn Andrews had served four years before recieving a pardon.
As always, I welcomed his thoughts. My response was that I could understand a sentence reduction. An argument that he had served long enough is understandable. In other words, clemency would be understandable. A pardon is a form of clemency that involves forgiveness. While I can forgive him at a personal level, I cannot forgive him in the legal sense that he was a patriot and did no wrong.
The matter is similar to the situation with Tina Peters the Republican election clerk in Colorado, convicted of election interference. Clemency could be administered for time served, good behavior, age, health and other factors. A pardon says more.
Alexandria Ocosio Cortez, Mayor Mamdani, and New York Governor Hochul have policies that are left of my preferred political policies. They also often present their positions in a manner I do not like. I hope that makes my following observation be more meaning.
All three commented about a protest that occurred in support of Palestine. At the protest the crowd started chanting, “We support Hamas.”
All three gave very forceful rebukes of the chant as well as questioning the location of the protest. As you know I give a lot of credit to people who critique proponents. Criticizing opponents is easy. Criticizing proponents takes integrity.
New York Democrat leaders slam Hamas support, chants in Jewish neighborhood | Fox News
This and That
Within hours of the shooting in Minnesota and AI written post claimed Renee Good had a police record. That is a lie.
Tuvalu island is going under water because the sea level is rising. To the people of Tuvalu, climate change is not a hoax. Entire countries may need to evacuate in the future | The Week
Good News
Heroism
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Kindness
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Peace
Jerry
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