Friday

We enjoyed a beautiful sunny day with temperatures in the mid 70s. On our morning causeway walk, we got stopped on the drawbridge by workers replacing the crossing gates. The gates were removed in preparation for the storm, since they are long and thin and in a vulnerable position.

We saw dolphins swimming around while we were waiting.

We got a close look at the unmoored sailboat. Someone tied it to the bulkhead to keep it from battering the bridge.

It took months to have a sailboat removed after the hurricane that stayed out in the gulf when it passed by two years ago.

I’ve heard that removing a derelict boat is legally complicated and expensive.

After lunch, we took Toby in his go cart downtown. I think he wanted some ice cream so we had to distract him while we were walking near Salty Paws.

Kisses all around.

Late afternoon, we took Toby in the car to Highlander park and then picked up takeout from Con Sabor.

Political Thoughts on Character and “Doing the Right Thing”

There are many reasons to dislike DeSantis, the current governor of Florida. Here's one from today's New York Times:

As a freshman congressman in 2013, Ron DeSantis was unambiguous: A federal bailout for the New York region after Hurricane Sandy was an irresponsible boondoggle, a symbol of the “put it on the credit card mentality” he had come to Washington to oppose.

“I sympathize with the victims,” he said. But his answer was no.

Then Hurricane Ian hit Florida a month or so before his reelection as governor:

“As you say, Tucker, we live in a very politicized time,” Mr. DeSantis, now Florida’s governor, told Tucker Carlson on Wednesday night, outlining his request for full federal reimbursement up front for 60 days and urging the Biden administration to do the right thing. “But you know, when people are fighting for their lives, when their whole livelihood is at stake, when they’ve lost everything — if you can’t put politics aside for that, then you’re just not going to be able to" [do the right thing].

I call bullshit.

Character is shown when a politician does the right thing when it’s not politically popular. 

There are Republicans with verifiable character: 10 in the house voted to impeach the former president, and 7 senators did the same. 

Mitch McConnell flirted with doing the right thing after the insurrection when he said, “If this isn’t an impeachable offense, I don’t know what is.” Alas, he lacked the character to follow through. 

Liz Cheney is a profile in courage because she did the right thing when it was unpopular in her party and she has been clear and consistent, even saying that she will support Democrats over election deniers this fall. She’s a true patriot because she’s willing to choose her country over her party. 

The other Republican office holders who repeated the lie of a stolen election or remained silent and voted “no” on impeachment are cowards and do not deserve to be re-elected. They have betrayed their own country. A sweeping Democratic victory in the fall elections may be America’s last chance not just to save the Republican Party from itself, but to save democracy.

Miles walked: 8.4

Miles biked: 5.36

For the month

Miles walked per day: 8

Total walking miles: 240

Miles biked per day: 5.73

Total bike miles: 171.92