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McCain’s funeral: The man he was and Trump has never been

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McCain’s funeral: The man he was and Trump has never been

~By Kenneth Tiven

John Sidney McCain III may have graduated at the bottom of his class at the US Naval Academy, but this namesake son and grandson of two famous Navy admirals did know a thing or two about military planning and counter-attacks.

McCain disinvited President Trump before he died.

Like all great State political funerals his was stage managed for maximum impact on the nation. The symbolism of the funeral for the 81-year old senator reminded America and the world of what was normal behavior before extreme partisanship set in threatening democracy. Obviously, others believe the lack of authoritarianism is a greater danger.

While the Rocky Mountains are geographically the Continental Divide, this conflict is the real continental divide.

Previously it would have been impossible to consider that a famous American politician, a Republican, twice a candidate for president, would lie in state in the Capital Rotunda. Then have a funeral service at the National Cathedral that would include eulogies from two past presidents, yet the current president was conspicuously off tweeting and playing golf at his own country club course.

McCain’s daughter Megan eulogized her father in contrast to Trump, “America of John McCain has no need to be made great again because it was always great.”

Despite decorum reserved for funerals the mourners burst into sustained applause.

She compared her father’s legacy with the “opportunistic appropriation” and “cheap rhetoric from men who will never come near the sacrifice he gave so willingly.”

There are enough back-stories in all of this for a Bollywood style mini-series, but first some prologue.

In 1967 McCain’s Navy fighter plane was shot down over Hanoi. Surviving massive injuries he then endured years of torture as a prisoner of war because the North Vietnamese knew his father was the Navy admiral commanding the Pacific fleet. Released in the1972 Peace Accord he retired as a Navy captain in 1981 and entered politics from Arizona as a Congressman a year later. After two terms he won election to the US Senate in1986.

Now, some serious back-story on why President Trump takes such pains to make his contempt for John McCain known to all.

For the next decade his war hero fame and Senate service increased respect for McCain as presidential timber. Through activities involved in funding for the Navy’s aircraft carrier Intrepid as a floating museum in New York City’s Hudson River he became friendly with Michael Bloomberg, a then young wealthy businessman who flies planes and helicopters. The two pilots relationship blossomed.

For his generous contributions to the Intrepid Museum the Navy rewarded Bloomberg some acrobatic flying time in a Blue Angeles two seat jet. Bloomberg later told McCain he would provide substantial financial support if John ran for president in 1990 and toned down or abandoned his position against abortion, an issue for a liberal Democrat, which is what Bloomberg then was. McCain said no, but it didn’t harm the friendship between two men who shared more personality traits than just flying.

However, McCain lost the South Carolina primary after the George Bush campaign team unleashed scurrilous attacks based on McCain having a black child in his family, an adoptee from Bangladesh. He lost, crushing his chance for the Republican nomination.

Two years later in the aftermath of the 9/11 terror attack in New York, Bloomberg switched parties and won election as mayor of New York, serving 12 years in all. Trump couldn’t bully or buy any influence with Bloomberg as he had for decades with prior mayors.

Although Trump dodged the military draft during the Vietnam War, he frequently mocked McCain’s status as a prisoner of war, tortured in Vietnam. After casting the deciding vote against repeal of the Affordable Care Act (“Obamacare”) Trump blasted McCain on numerous occasions.  In August  when Trump signed a defense appropriations bill titled in McCain’s name he refused to mention McCain or the Title of the Bill.  The fact that Senator McCain was known by everyone to be dying of brain cancer was ignored by the commander in chief.

Trump’s contempt for McCain and Bloomberg is psychological. Bloomberg became mayor of New York, a job Trump may have desired but could never win given his local reputation as a playboy and bigotry in renting property. Trump is pretend rich.  He doesn’t believe in philanthropy, while Bloomberg has donated billions of dollars to charitable causes around the world. .

Rightwing media sees it all differently, decrying McCain’s deathbed snub of Trump. The Eagle Report: “It wasn’t just President Trump McCain slighted in his last words and edicts. Sarah Palin, John McCain’s running mate in the 2008 Presidential race, was excluded from all of the memorials. Also banned were three of the most prominent members of his 2008 presidential campaign — campaign manager Steve Schmidt, senior adviser Nicolle Wallace and longtime strategist John Weaver.”

McCain is said to have never forgiven himself for letting the GOP pick Sara Palin, as his vice presidential mate. Republican leadership felt that a woman would offset the feared turnout of minority voters for Obama, the first black candidate. The mayor of a small town in Alaska was uniquely unsuited for the job. If Obama was a class choice, she was a crass choice. Obama’s slogan was “Yes.We.Can.” Palin represented people who interpreted it as “No.You.Won’t.”   Trump’s preparation for the job may be no more substantial than hers, but with a public relations image as a rich businessman and TV star, he built on the Tea Party mentality she helped ignite.

Former President Obama took this perspective,” So much of our politics, our public life, our public discourse, can seem small and mean and petty, trafficking in bombast and insult, in phony controversies and manufactured outrage,” Obama said. “It’s a politics that pretends to be brave, but in fact is born of fear. John called us to be bigger than that. He called us to be better than that.”

It was a difficult two weeks for Trump in court cases and in global politics. The tweet count is higher than ever and his threats to fire Attorney General Jeff Sessions continue. The assumption is that a new AG might speed up the end of the special prosecutor probe that started with Russian interference in American elections and seems to now include financial issues with Trump and his real estate company.

American national bi-elections are just eight weeks away and polling, if accurate, suggest Democrats might take control of Congress. That this haunts Trump was clear when he warned evangelical religious leaders to get their people to the polls or risk losing what many believe they gained.

New York Times reporter Peter Baker summed up the funeral: “They also came to mourn an ideal that McCain represented and a town that he once dominated with verve and humor and memorable flashes of temper. Like Mr. McCain, many of the Republicans who attended have found themselves deeply discouraged by their own party’s president. But unlike Mr. McCain, most of them do not say so out loud, for fear of rage by Twitter or retribution by the base. It was almost as if it were a meeting of Washington’s political underground, if the underground met in a grand cathedral with 10,650 organ pipes.”

India News

Parliament winter session: Government lists 15 bills, including Waqf bill

The session will kick off on November 25 and conclude on December 20.

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The government has listed five new ones and one to amend the contentious Waqf law out of 15 bills for the winter session of Parliament. The session will kick off on November 25 and conclude on December 20.

The government has introduced five new bills, including the Coastal Shipping Bill, 2024, which aims to promote coasting trade and increase the participation of Indian-flagged vessels owned and operated by Indian citizens for both national security and commercial purposes.

Another significant legislation that will be introduced by the government is the Indian Ports Bill, 2024. This bill is designed to implement measures for the conservation of ports, enhance security, and manage pollution, ensuring compliance with India’s international obligations and statutory requirements.

Additionally, the government plans to introduce the Merchant Shipping Bill, 2024, which aims to meet India’s obligations under maritime treaties and support the development of Indian shipping while ensuring the efficient operation of the Indian mercantile marine in a way that serves national interests.

Pending legislation includes the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, which is awaiting consideration and passage after the joint committee of both Houses submits its report to the Lok Sabha. The committee is expected to report by the end of the first week of the winter session.

Currently, there are eight bills, including the Waqf (Amendment) Bill and the Mussalman Wakf (Repeal) Bill, pending in the Lok Sabha, while two additional bills are in the Rajya Sabha.

Furthermore, the government has also listed the Punjab Courts (Amendment) Bill for introduction, consideration, and passage, which seeks to increase the pecuniary appellate jurisdiction of Delhi district courts from Rs 3 lakh to Rs 20 lakh.

The Merchant Shipping Bill, along with the Coastal Shipping Bill and the Indian Ports Bill, is slated for introduction and eventual passage.

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International Criminal Court issues arrest warrant against Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu over war crimes

The court accused Prime Minister Netanyahu and Defence Minister Gallant of crimes against humanity, including murder, persecution, inhumane acts, and the war crime of starvation as a method of warfare.

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International Criminal Court issues arrest warrant against Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu over war crimes

The International Criminal Court (ICC) today issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant over alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity.

The court accused Prime Minister Netanyahu and Defence Minister Gallant of crimes against humanity, including murder, persecution, inhumane acts, and the war crime of starvation as a method of warfare. The leaders allegedly restricted essential supplies such as food, water, and medical aid to civilians in Gaza, resulting in severe humanitarian crises and deaths, including among children.

Last year in October, Israel had launched attacks on Gaza in retaliation for the surprise attack by Hamas. The Israel-Hamas war has led to the death of thousands of civilians, while lakhs have been displaced. The major infrastructures in Gaza, including hospitals and schools, were also destroyed as Israel vowed to wipe out Hamas.

The International Criminal Court stated that it found reasonable grounds to believe the accused intentionally targeted civilians and limited medical supplies, forcing unsafe medical procedures, which caused immense suffering. This ruling was based on the findings from at least October 8, 2023 until at least May 20, 2024.

The court remarked that it has assessed that there are reasonable grounds to believe that PM Netanyahu and Defence Minister Gallant bear criminal responsibility as civilian superiors for the war crime of intentionally directing attacks against the civilian population of Gaza.

Furthermore, it also noted that the lack of food, water, electricity and fuel, and medical supplies created conditions of life calculated to bring about the destruction of part of the civilian population in Gaza, leading to death of civilians, including children due to malnutrition and dehydration.

Additionally, the International Criminal Court dismissed two challenges by Israel against its jurisdiction in the situation in the State of Palestine.

Notably, Israel had contested the ICC’s jurisdiction, claiming it could not be exercised without Israel’s consent. Nonetheless, the Chamber ruled that the Court has jurisdiction based on Palestine’s territorial scope, including Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem. It further noted that Israel’s objections were premature, as jurisdictional challenges under the Rome Statute can only be made after an arrest warrant is issued.

Reportedly, Israel had also requested a fresh notification regarding the investigation, started in 2021. Denying the request, the court stated that Israel had earlier declined to request a deferral, making additional notifications unnecessary.

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Yogi Adityanath accords tax-free status to Sabarmati Report film in Uttar Pradesh

Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah have also praised this film.

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Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday accorded a tax-free status to ‘The Sabarmati Report’ film, based on the train burning incident at Godhra in Gujarat in 2002, in the state.

The announcement was made after Chief Minister Adityanath attended the screening of Vikrant Massey and Raashii Khanna-starrer ‘The Sabarmati Report’ in Lucknow with the film’s cast.  

Speaking to reporters, actor Vikrant Massey thanked the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister for making ‘The Sabarmati Report’ film tax-free in the state. “I want to thank Yogi Adityanath ji. This is an important film and I appeal to everyone to go and watch this film,” he said.

Chief Minister Adityanath along with many of his cabinet colleagues watched the film ‘The Sabarmati Report’ under a special screening at a cinema hall in the capital, said a spokesperson of the state government.

Several people associated with the film unit were also present on the occasion. Later the chief minister announced to make this film tax-free in UP.

The BJP-ruled states have been praising the makers of The Sabarmati Report, claiming the team has tried to bring out this truth in front of the people of the country through the film.

The saffron party is appealing to people to watch this film and try to get closer to the truth of Godhra.

Uttar Pradesh becomes the sixth BJP-ruled state after Haryana, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat to declare lead actors Vikrant Massey and Raashii Khanna’s film tax-free.

Adityanath said along with identifying the faces of those who are conspiring against the country for political gains, there is also a need to expose them. The film team has discharged its responsibilities to expose the truth, he said, adding an attempt has been made to bring the real truth in front of the country in a big way through the film.

The Sabarmati Report is said to be based on the incident of setting fire to a train full of ‘karsevaks’ in Godhra on February 27, 2002, killing 90 devotees. After this incident, communal riots broke out in Gujarat. Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah have also praised this film.

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