Seasonal changes

     We crossed the North Country gardener's seasonal rubicon last week.   The autumnal equinox is particulary relevant in this area because first frosts in mountain hollows such as Saranac Lake are probably happening as I write this.  Meanwhile, most of the mid-atlantic states are waking up to temperatures in the 60s.   Due to a quirk in the climate change scenario, this area will keep the temperature status quo for at least a few more years than many other regions around the world.  Instead we will be dealing with excess rain and periodic drought.  This of course will lead many to believe there is no "global warming".
     The fall bounty continues unabated.  This is the time of year when the brassicas really shine.  Broccoli, cauliflower, kale, collards and cabbage are at or near their peaks.   Many people say their flavor is improved by a little frost.  Unfortunately, in this area there is usually no such thing as a "little" frost.  When the killer arrives it is likely to damage the growing points of most crops.  Growth stops and the season grinds to a halt.  Occasionally we will have an indian summer, but you can't count on it.
     I harvested most of the winter squash and got them under cover ahead of the wet weather we are promised for later in the week.   As I said earlier, instead of the traditional dry fall growers count on, we are likely to have a wet cold season leading into winter.  Bah, humbug!

Come Together

     On the 50th anniversary of the Beatles' Abbey Road album, Americans should take John and Paul's advice and "Come Together right now.  However, instead of "me", make the last word in the line tRump.
     While many in the media decry the latest push toward impeachment of the president* based on the whistleblower's revelation of tRump's attempt to corrupt and enlist a foreign government in his re-election campaign, I think this is an opportunity to repair out tattered national dialogue.   As the seriousness of his latest crime becomes ever more apparent, at least a sizable fraction of his remaining fans will conclude their support is wasted on this walking, talking locus of bad.  There is a certain percentage of deplorables who would support the Antichrist if doing so would induce liberal tears.  Even after the Watergate tapes were revealed, 25-30% of the public still supported Nixon.
    If 65-70% of Americans can agree tRump and the Republican party as presently constituted are a danger to democracy, we can remake Congress and the presidency in the next election.  With a democratic House and Senate, president Warren can make the big, structural changes necessary to reduce inequality, combat global warming and make America the ideal we all want to believe it to be.  Who knows, maybe a significant chunk of tRump supporters may come to appreciate a country where even their voices are heard.  

Walking and Chewing

    The old saw states we should be able to walk and chew gum at the same time.   However, when it comes to politics, it seems we are either walking or chewing, but not both at the same time.  As the political press and cable news ramp up their coverage of impeachment to a numbing barrage, it is fair to ask if they are not sucking the oxygen from other, more important stories.
     As one blogger pointed out today, Greta Thunberg's anguished plea to the UN to take climate change seriously has already flamed out of the news cycle.  The increasing pace of change in our climate should be front and center every day unless and until all national governments around the world are mobilized to do something about it.  The shiny bauble of tRump's impeachment has overwhelmed most of the coverage Thunberg managed to generate.
     I understand the urgency many feel toward impeaching and removing Cheetolini.  Perhaps getting him off the world stage will help generate more support for tackling climate change.  Unfortunately, the potential replacement, Mike Pence is arguably even worse than tRump to the degree he is even marginally more competent in carrying out the dismantling of government.
     What we need to do and demand from the media is multifocused coverage of the major issues of the day in order to educate the average American to the dangers which face our society.  The corruption of our government by the president* is important, but our future hangs in the balance and is rapidly tipping against us.  We need to do better...

The big shoe just dropped

     Now, the republicans and their dear leader have something to worry about.  They just pissed off Nancy Pelosi.   Announcing she supports an impeachment inquiry going forward means the gloves are off and she now considers tRump's behavior so egregious she is going against her political instincts to support the rule of law in this country.
     Although I don't think Cheetolini knew or planned his actions with the expectation of the Speaker's forbearance, much of his lawbreaking, from flouting the emoluments clause to obstruction of justice, has depended on Pelosi's calculation that impeachment was politically fraught for democrats.  Her first duty of course is to protect and defend the constitution, but in order to do so, she obviously felt she needed to protect vulnerable members facing re-election battles in districts tRump carried in 2016.
     She now feels the weight of her responsibility to the founders either outweighs the political situation, or the latest revelations about the Ukraine will build public support to hold the president* accountable.   Either way, she came to the only viable decision under the circumstances.  Now it is time to let the chips fall where they may.

The Sounds of Silence

     Most of the news and accompanying punditry this week, and for that matter throughout the tRump presidency*, have focused on the fecklessness of top democrats.  The question of why Nancy Pelosi will not endorse Cheetolini's impeachment is somehow seen as cosmically important and an indicator of democrats weakness in the face of obvious wrongdoing.
      The flip side of the coin is why are there no republicans calling for at least an inquiry into the latest flagrant corruption of this administration.   The breathtakingly transparent call to the Ukrainian president four days after freezing nearly $400 million in military aid to argue the corruption of Joe Biden's son must be investigated by Ukrainian prosecutors is a classic case of extortion.  tRump's argument that it is legitimate is redolent of Nixon's protestation that nothing the president does is illegal.
      If even a handful of GOPers break ranks and call for an investigation of the whistleblower's complaint regarding this call and presumably others, there would be no question of impeachment.   Paul Krugman in today's NYT argues republicans have sold themselves as super patriots for the last 50 years.  Now it is time for them to prove it or lose the right to call themselves the protectors of American democracy.

Can it get worse

    While virtually admitting he asked a foreign government to interfere in US elections, Cheetolini also said he did nothing wrong.   This bit of flaming falsehood was seized upon by his supporters in Congress to assail democrats and the "deep state" presumably for bringing up an inconvenient truth.

     If the whistleblower complaint alleging tRump pressured the leader of Ukraine to investigate Joe Biden's son's time as a lobbyist in that country is true, there is no question the president* must be impeached.  If, in addition, he offered the Ukrainian president a quid pro quo, he should also be imprisoned.

    Many have said this latest episode is the culmination of a long process of lying, enriching himself at government expense and pursuing policies which benefit himself instead of the nation he is supposedly leading.  I think this incident stands alone and should be used to make the party which has enabled this lawless scumbag to take responsibility for him.  Any republican who votes to acquit him should own their complicity in the destruction of American democracy.

Weather is wierd

      It has been a roller coaster of a weather season in the North Country as well as in much of the rest of the US.   It started much as the last couple of years have; wet and cool.  Planting, except for the most well drained soils was delayed until nearly June as rainy weather continued.  Then, Mother Nature turned off the spigot.  The initial wave of dry, warm weather was welcome and plantings picked up.  Residual moisture in heavier soils kept growth on track, but by the middle of August I was cautiously wishing for rain.   A couple of showers late in the month helped with late brassicas and spinach, but once again it is a little too dry as I write this.
     If I was a younger man with hopes of growing mixed veg in this area, I would be looking for extremely well drained soils with ample water for irrigation.  In the short term, climate change in this area means cool wet springs, hot, dry summers and so far at least dry autumns.   This regime may or may not be long term, but as someone once said, in the long term, we will all be dead.