Fasting

I have eaten my last solid meal until (presumably) Tuesday evening. I have a colonoscopy scheduled for Tuesday, so on Monday I will be allowed to drink white cranberry juice and white Gatorade (that’s what I have bought in preparation); on Tuesday, I will be on Nothing By Mouth starting four hours before the appointment.

This won’t be much fun, but it is probably better than letting an incipient tumor of the colon develop unobserved.

What an Appalling Rogue

There is much to dislike about Nicholas Maduro, and a case to be made for intervention to remove him from power, and install the candidate who won Venezuela’s 2024 presidential election. Unfortunately, that is not what our would-be caudillo proposes to do; instead, Dishonest Donald speaks of choosing other people to run the country, and of having American companies exploit Venezuela’s oil resources. It is also unfortunate, and unconstitutional, that he launched a war of choice without seeking a declaration or war or other authorization from Congress.

I can picture Venezuelans who are not fond of Maduro rallying to his side, or his vice president’s, in response to such blatant Yanqui imperialismo, and I can sympathize with them. If Trump proceeds with his plans, I can see people waging guerrilla war against occupying U.S. forces, and sabotaging attempts to extract and transport oil. Imperialism may well be rendered unprofitable as well as disgraceful. Some Republican congressmen are pro-Trump; others, whatever their private opinions, are afraid of being primaried, and afraid of what MAGATs may do to them or their families; otherwise, Trump would be impeached, convicted, and removed from office in short order. Vance could be given a blunt message that he can govern in accordance with the Constitution, or be removed in turn. If only.