The continuing independence of Taiwan is an offense to the Chinese Communist Party. (As the independence of Ukraine is an offense to the Kremlin. As the existence of Israel is an offense to Hamas, Iran, and others.) I begin my Impromptus today with the issue of Taiwan and the “People’s Republic.” I also have U.S. politics, foreign affairs, and music. And Staten Island (including the ferry to and from). If this floats your boat, here it is.

Let’s have some mail.

Jay,

I read Jeffrey Blehar’s article on the NR website about the clown show that the House of Representatives has become. It reminded me of a story about two Texas House representatives fighting on the House floor. A veteran political journalist was in the gallery with a friend who was there for the first time. The friend commented on the disgusting scene below and the journalist answered, “If you think these guys are bad, you should see their constituents.”

Which leads to my questions for you: In light of the two major-party nominees for president this year, are We the People of the United States getting exactly what we deserve? As one who has followed the American political scene for some time, do you know of politicians of character who deserve to be more widely recognized?

(1) To a degree, the individuals who hold office in a democracy are reflections of the people at large. (2) Frankly, no — I can’t think of a meritorious politician who deserves to be more widely recognized. I do think some politicians are underappreciated (e.g., Mitt Romney). (For a piece of mine on him, published last October, go here.)

Another reader writes,

Jay,

I hear you when you say you were a Republican. I have never been one, but have generally voted with them. Where else is a Buckley conservative to go?

I spend a lot of time in Nebraska because I was stationed there for more than two decades. The kids and grandkids are there, and I still have a house there.

After January 6, 2021, I was dismayed to learn from friends in the Nebraska GOP that the state party was in full support of Donald Trump. The party even went so far as to censure Ben Sasse, one of the few sane people then in the Senate, for speaking the truth about January 6 and voting to convict an impeached Trump.

The Nebraska GOP censured Sasse in March 2016 for having had the temerity to criticize Trump — who would not clinch his first nomination until May.

Here is a report from February 28, 2021:

Nebraska Republicans reprimanded U.S. senator Ben Sasse for his work in Washington, D.C., but stopped short of censuring him Saturday for his outspoken criticism of former president Donald Trump.

For that full report, go here.

Here is what Sasse had said when his party was considering censuring him (again): “Personality cults aren’t conservative. Conspiracy theories aren’t conservative. Lying that an election has been stolen — it’s not conservative. Acting like politics is a religion — it isn’t conservative.”

Sasse continued, “You are welcome to censure me again, but let’s be clear about why this is happening. It’s because I still believe, as you used to, that politics isn’t about the weird worship of one dude.”

(To read a news account that contains these remarks, go here.)

In January 2023, Sasse left the Senate to become president of the University of Florida. The original aim, I imagine, was to be president of the United States. But in what party could he compete for the nomination?

Back to reader mail:

Dear Mr. Nordlinger,

I wish for you to read up on Shreveport, La., and then come pay us a visit. It’s a different kind of town. It has been struggling for quite some time but might be seeing a renaissance soon. It’s about to get hot here — Dallas heat with New Orleans humidity.

Please accept my offer to visit soon. My wife and I would love to host you.

By the way, remember Oksana Baiul? She lives here and loves her new hometown.

Our reader attached a photo of himself with Ms. Baiul — the great Ukrainian figure skater who won the Olympic gold medal (1994).

Finally, Hans Goeckner, our physicist-photographer in Chicagoland, happened on a fight between a green heron and a group of tree swallows. What were they fighting about? Hans could not be exactly sure. But he snapped several pictures, including the below. What drama.

Thank you to all readers and correspondents. And birds.