1776 🇺🇸 2024

Our elderly America turns 248 this Thursday

Sunday greetings, this last day of June — and a new month’s rabbit-rabbit-for-luck after midnight tonight.

We’re probably going to need it.

The news-cycle since Thursday night is one for the record books.

Dramatic aftermath of the presidential campaign-debate has only begun.

And on top of its issued term-end rulings, the U.S. Supreme Court’s unprecedented one-day extension moves the traditional closing to July 1. So Monday is when the Court is to issue its long-delayed, history-making decision on Donald Trump’s claim of immunity against federal criminal charges and prosecution for former presidents.

If enacted by his hand-picked-majority Court, such a new ruling would apply — and for the first time be needed — for himself: U.S. President Number 45. The ruling has enormous implications in Trump’s legal accountability for his part in efforts to overthrow the 2020 election, scheme to empower “fake electors” and the thoroughly and widely disproven lie that Trump, not Biden, won the race.

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today’s edition

The newShrink week, too, effectively began with my return home Thursday night just in time for the debate.

The previous midweek days had been in Asheville, for some “Camp-Tishie time” at the pool and other activities with 8-year-old grand Miz E. Both of her professional parents’ work fortunately allows them to work remotely from the house, and most summer weeks she’s doing cool camps she has chosen. From last week’s, for example, she reportedly brought home tasty whole meals she had cooked. (So I am flattered to be on her calendar!)

There’s much news material, fast-changing events and limited time. For future discussion the priority focus for this headlines-and-quotes notebook is a sampling of factual stories and varied opinion viewpoints. Some clinical- and depth-psychological perspectives are included as space and bandwidth allow.

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The multi-faceted Biden-Trump election debate story is compelling, if not heart-stopping. But impacts from some of this Supreme Court’s decisions also are far-reaching, even monumental.

Breaking down Supreme Court decisions on Jan. 6 cases, homeless camps and agency power (PBS News Hour Friday; video or transcript versions linked here)

With just one day left in its term, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a trio of major decisions Friday.

The long-reverberating impacts are a reason the visual pun in today’s lede illustration merits top-center placement.

Chevron

Literally, the popular design-pattern of a chevron is defined as:

• a figure, pattern or object having the shape of letter Vs or inverted Vs;

• in heraldry, two diagonal stripes meeting at an angle usually with the point up;

• a sleeve badge that indicates the wearer’s rank and service.

In “Chevron Deference” Case Justices Limit Power of Federal Agencies, Imperiling an Array of Regulations (The New York Times)

See the 2025 plan (linked in the NYT articles) for context of how this directly serves the Heritage Foundation’s drastic, detailed and articulated plan for dismantling federal government if Trump were to be elected.

To readers and friends who are moderates, anti-Trump former Romney/McCain Republicans who are still-vacillating about how, or even whether, to vote for president in November: I urge a close reading of Trump and Heritage Foundation’s 2025 plan. It’s one of the scariest, largely irrevocable if executed, prospects I have seen or imagined. And ours is a binary system; we aren’t a prime minister/coalition-government democracy like France, Britain Canada, Scandinavian countries. The most frequent and likely effect of not voting, write-ins and third-party votes is to the benefit of your least preferred or desired candidate.

Here’s What the Court’s Chevron Ruling Could Mean in Everyday Terms (NYT)

Justice Elena Kagan’s scathing Chevron dissent highlights the US Supreme Court’s disregard for precedent in The Guardian:

“A ruling of legal humility gives way to a ruling of legal hubris…”

There are profound ironies in the overturn of Chevron. In an Oregon Public Broadcast interview, Craig Green, a professor at Temple University’s Beasley School of Law said:

”Federal judges will now have the first and final word about what statutes mean.. That’s a big shift in power.″

Many conservatives who now attack Chevron [as empowering a so-called liberal “deep state” of highly skilled specialty experts in complex disciplines important to public policy-making] once celebrated it. The late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia was among those who hailed the original ruling as a way to rein in liberal laws.

"Conservatives believed in this rule… until they didn't.''

Also ironically, it was Justice Neil Gorsuch's mother, former EPA Administrator Anne Gorsuch, who made the original Chevron decision that the Supreme Court upheld in 1984. (From Oregon Public Broadcast affiliate on Friday.)

As Kagan’s dissent points out, the sweeping decision, affecting huge numbers of case citations across the justice system, marks the third time in recent years that canonical precedents of 40 years or longer duration (eg abortion rights and affirmative action) have been overturned.

In my view the overturning of “chevron deference” puts control over ensuring clean air, water, food safety, public health and healthcare, animal rights, gun safety etc. under completely ill-equipped judges. Or it empowers even less capable, politically driven members of Congress with no shared knowledge and guidance from politically neutral public-servant experts in their relevant fields.

As with education at all levels, it’s an example of the further dumbing-down of America by disregarding and dismantling expertise of scientists, doctors, historians, etc. in the solving of complex issues that are challenging even for those whose educational and professional lives are devoted full-time to them.

Justices strike obstruction charge for Jan. 6 defendant, likely impacting some others (The Washington Post)

As a practical matter this is limited to only about 20 affected, who are still serving sentences. The ruling narrowly applies to actual involvement with documents, and according to legal experts has limited impacts on Trump’s federal legal charges as well.

Supreme Court says cities can ban homeless from sleeping outside (WAPO)

The court was reviewing laws from Grants Pass, Ore., at a time when states and localities are struggling to deal with a growing number of unhoused individuals.

Supreme Court’s Abortion Rulings May Set the Stage for More Restrictions (The New York Times)
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Now, the first and earliest-ever Thursday night presidential campaign-debate between incumbent President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump:

Coverage has of course been exhaustive, and that will continue. In case you didn’t watch (or couldn’t bear to), this New York Times link includes related side stories with frequent updates.

The White House Brushed Off Questions About Biden’s Age. Then the Debate Happened. (NYT)

“I’m NOT a Trumper, BUT…”

This timely share on Saturday is from a good friend and reader, whose point of view tends toward thoughtful representation of the never-Trump position of many moderate former Republicans. The op-ed is by a former Republican political consultant who is now an advisor to the Lincoln Project.

Democrats: Stop Panicking (NYT)

Now, it’s been awhile since I could sit through a whole riff from HBO comedian Bill Maher. (His utterly juvenile narcissism finally offset his not-small intellect and comedic gifts for me several years back.) But I’m told he repeated on his Friday night show what he said in this March Newsweek interview.

It’s facetiously stated. But at least for now I think it succinctly sums up the option(s?) for a lot of sane and rational people who care about continuing to have an American democracy:

“I’ve said this many times. If it is Trump and Biden, I would vote for Biden’s head in a jar of blue liquid versus Donald Trump.” (HBO iconoclast-comedian Bill Maher.)

some psychological perspectives

“the Gish Gallop” (from political-historian Heather Cox Richardson)

Richardson’s whole post on the debate is the best, calmest and most sane thing I’ve read. (heathercoxrichardson.substack.com, June 27, 2024. She posted at 4:43 a.m. Friday.) Notably from newShrink perspectives, Richardson demonstrates results of a priority she described awhile back for deepening and broadening her expertise beyond history and current politics. Here her focused study and collaboration with professionals has turned up this spot-on description of what we all — or those of us who could bear to watch — saw Thursday night in the debate:

“It went on and on, and that was the point. This was not a debate. It was Trump using a technique that actually has a formal name, the Gish gallop, although I suspect he comes by it naturally. It’s a rhetorical technique in which someone throws out a fast string of lies, non-sequiturs, and specious arguments, so many that it is impossible to fact-check or rebut them in the amount of time it took to say them. Trying to figure out how to respond makes the opponent look confused, because they don’t know where to start grappling with the flood that has just hit them.

It is a form of gaslighting, and it is especially effective on someone with a stutter, as Biden has. It is similar to what Trump did to Biden during a debate in 2020. In that case, though, the lack of muting on the mics left Biden simply saying: “Will you shut up, man?” a comment that resonated with the audience. Giving Biden the enforced space to answer by killing the mic of the person not speaking tonight actually made the technique more effective.

There are ways to combat the Gish gallop—by calling it out for what it is, among other ways—but Biden retreated to trying to give the three pieces of evidence that established his own credentials on the point at hand. His command of those points was notable, but the difference between how he sounded at the debate and how he sounded on stage at a rally in Raleigh, North Carolina…”

To Richardson’s apt — and to me fascinating — description here, I would additionally tap from depth-psychology’s attention to the unconscious as well as conscious dynamics in a situation: The relevant concept of projective identification. Most simply this is when we are bombarded or targeted so intensely by another or a group (or the masses) with their view or definition of us — especially when a lot of it is projection of unconscious, unexamined or unclaimed stuff by the other(s). We absorb it and begin to act, feel, speak like it or be paralyzed into inaction by it.

Projective identification is a lot like, and related to, self-fulfilling prophesy. That’s where, for example, we try so hard to comfort and relieve our child or loved one’s anxiety and fears, that we unconsciously/unintentionally reinforce and exacerbate them. In these terms Biden’s debate performance and dynamic was to me a lot more former 8-year-old stutterer frozen by the bombardment and taunts of every schoolyard bully experienced everywhere, than the doddering lapses into 82-year-old dementia — each of which, especially the latter, I have sat with extensively.

In previous editions I have written about psychologically maturing/individuating adulthood throughout the life cycle, clinical and neurological aspects of cognitive functioning and Biden specifically. Especially relevant is the rigorous intentional-thinking/cognitive capacity required for dealing since young childhood with a profound stutter. This President exercises this discipline and skill every time he opens his mouth to speak. Beyond Joe Biden, presidential politics or any news cycle these have been my areas of scholarly professional expertise, clinical practice and personal life experience over decades.

newShrink 10.15.21, “A Neuroscientist, The Brain and Our Soul-Speaking Memory”

newShrink 3.10.24 “Lions in Winter”

calls on Biden to “pass the torch”

By Friday, citing Biden’s seeming decline in mental acuity the editorial board of The Times, along with that of The Atlanta Journal and Constitution and some other news organizations called on President Biden to withdraw from the race.

To Serve His Country, President Biden Should Leave the Race (NYT)

Similarly painful to read (and to have experienced watching in the moment), this represents a point of view that thinking, caring American voters (and many who aren’t) are struggling with this weekend.

For the president to reckon with his disastrous debate performance, he needs to hear the truth from the person he trusts the most. (The Washington Post)

For me there is an inherent contradiction in all of these righteous and rational calls for Biden to withdraw from running for a second term. It may be a contradiction inherent in democracy with our selecting and nominating and voting… for someone to lead us.These calls are for Biden’s handlers, his campaign, his White House staff, his wife and family — to convince him to “do the right thing,” ie, to do what I/we think he should and want him to. Yet almost without exception they also conclude with a nod to the decision to step down — or not — being Biden’s alone to make.

My sense of this is a little different: That especially since son Beau’s death and his deeply considered return to politics for the 2020 election Biden decides, is coming from — and leads us from the inside-out, from an interior life and Self. In this context whether he stays in the race or goes, he is leading us. Among much else, he’s taken on the giant task of demonstrating authentic psychological elder-hood to a nation notoriously, at times hilariously, unable to either make peace with older leaders and candidates… or leave them alone and quit electing them.

George Washington… and Moses

I have no desire to see Biden pressured off the ticket; I greatly fear the ensuing chaos of Democrats jockeying for position in that case increases the risk of a Trump win.

However, I can also envision his making what I call the deeply considered, personal “brave-heart move” of real leadership here. In any context those can be inspiring for many if not game-changing. (A part of me pictured, if not slightly hoped, this last fall when Biden was pondering whether to run again.)

Several in the past two days have mentioned George Washington as an apt model and metaphor, with his having insisted his be a single term. (But more biblically and poignantly, I can also envision a more Moses and the Promised Land scenario.)

“I know how to tell the truth…I know how to get things done.”

Much can unfold in the 127 days until the election, 50 until the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. As of this Independence Day holiday week, here is the President’s position — stated early Friday after the debate in strong voice with fist-pumping energy, to a raucous supportive Raleigh crowd’s chants of “four more years!!!”:

“I know I’m not a young man. I don’t walk as easily as I used to. I don’t talk as smoothly as I used to. I don’t debate as well as I used to, but I know what I do know: I know how to tell the truth. I know right from wrong. And I know how to do this job, I know how to get things done. And I know what millions of Americans know: When you get knocked down, you get back up.” (U.S. President Joe Biden)

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Meanwhile, a change of tune and tone in word and images from a

“Fearless” 🎵 Grand Miz E

Among scenes from Camp-Tishie days:

At center in one of Asheville’s sublime bookstores, this soul-child of a Jungian grandmother heads straight to the big, beautiful and intricately illustrated volume about… mythology. After that selection she could have parlayed my delight into a lot more stuff. In her usual thoughtful-shopper form with me, she didn’t.

In the remaining photos here, think Taylor Swift meets Harry Potter and various other literary characters in a one-model fashion show. The child lip-synched every word of the Fearless album.

This week’s tongue-in-cheek title theme around elder-hood in the news surfaced there with her too, especially at the pool. Miz E is more accustomed to me in the lake with her, in life jacket wearing ball-cap and sunglasses keeping a close eye on her, not underwater. So the all-wet slicked back hair look in the pool is clearly a shock to her. Last time we were in pool awhile back, she exclaimed that I look like “a little OLD MAN!!” (At the time I was glad it was a least a little, not humongous, one.) This trip it was “AN ALIEN!”

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Briefly next, a quick snapshot of 28 Lake Norman July 4ths

like lobsters boiling in a pot…(how did we get HERE?)

From the mid-90’s (at top right), the still-partly rural/suburban recreational lake and many natural habitats were just-right place for a blending family and still-small boy whose time here could be in the woods and tubing on the water vs all shopping malls and amusement parks. That, the location and beauty were well worth the long daily commutes to the bank in center-city Charlotte. I had colleagues there who felt and did the same.

Photos at center right column depict The Point, a late 90’s understated Nantucket-style Greg Norman Lake and Golf Club community on the sole main road to our neighborhood. Late in the great recession, the golf club branch of Trump companies (managed largely by Eric) bought and refurbished much of the club and especially the golf course. After Donald Trump ran for, then won the presidency in 2016, it became and has been a site for tourists seeking selfies.

At bottom right are a couple of samples of what the lake and our backyard cove can look and feel like before and during Trump campaigns — now the third. Many upscale homes in the area display similarly huge Trump and MAGA flags. The additional giant “eff Biden” ones went up and lingered long after Biden won the 2020 election. Etc. etc. etc. There is by now a lot of this stuff, which has utterly changed the culture and vibe here.

Thankfully, the lure back to hometown center-city living is gaining a little real-life-prospect traction, at least for part-time and perhaps initially renting in the sweet-spot area. There’s also inch-by-inch progress on seemingly never-ending sole legal/financial thing to settle my mom’s estate.

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In this year’s extra-turbulent time for our nation, reflecting on Independence Day I’m especially glad to again share this perennial favorite holiday-themed piece. About American founder-couple Abigail and John Adams, it has become a tradition I value.

“Dearest Friend, Summer of Soul (from newShrink 7.2.21)

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Finally, about the song-lyric themes in each of today’s illustrations: Yes, they’re again from Leonard and arrived quite late in the process.

Cohen kept waking me up with “Anthem” in the wee-dawn hours of a Saturday morning thunderstorm. Then he nagged for most of the day along with the sun, long after this disparate assortment of items was gathered. (I like, but hadn’t thought of, the lines or the song in months.)

Warmest wishes to you and yours for a happy and safe Independence Day weekend,

And, that is all I have! Talk to you soon.

🦋💙 tish

… it is important that awake people be awake,
or a breaking line may discourage them back to sleep;
the signals we give — yes or no, or maybe —
should be clear: the darkness around us is deep.
— William Stafford, “A Ritual to Read to Each Other”

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