Friday, December 30, 2016

IF TRUMP HAD BEEN PRESIDENT ON DECEMBER 7, 1941

I suppose the December 8, 1941 headlines, under a Trump Presidency, would have read something like this:

TRUMP FAMILY GETS PERMIT FOR 3 HOTELS IN TOKYO

EMPEROR HIROHITO APOLOGIZES FOR MISTAKENLY USING U.S. PACIFIC FLEET FOR TARGET PRACTICE AT PEARL HARBOR

TRUMP SAYS ITS TIME TO MOVE ON  

Thursday, December 29, 2016

ONE STATE, TWO STATE SOLUTIONS

 John Kerry's impassioned plea to keep alive the 2 state solution, to which all American President, since 1947, have backed, and Netanyahu's self-serving rationalizations for thievery, as rebuttal,  notwithstanding, the most cogent argument that I heard was that of a pundit who said that Israel had already made it a de facto single state, and that the issue between Israelis and Palestinians now was that of civil rights including the right to vote, for the Palestinians.

She compared the situation to that of South Africa where eventually the situation was eventually resolved in favor of those seeking suffrage.

If the pundit is correct, and it is too late, Bibi, once again, will be proven one of Israel's shrewdest men, but also one who was least wise.

OBAMA CLAIMS HE WOULD HAVE WON A THIRD TERM

I wish President Obama would avoid hypotheticals which Trump could grab upon to make claims.  There is nothing like a claim that cannot be fact checked, where Trump does not shine.

Even though simple mathematics would justify Obama's remark, as to his electability for a third term if the law permitted, since Obama
who not only had a high approval rate among the electorate, would have easily garnered Hillary's votes which gave her a 2.8 million more votes than Trump obtained, plus those of voters who wavered because of her emails.  A Trump claim to the contrary costs him nothing and can't be disproven to boot. 

Tuesday, December 27, 2016

WILL THERE BE ENOUGH HATRED TO GO AROUND?

Netanyahu is rallying the Israeli people against Obama for not vetoing a resolution before the U.N. Security Council.  The hate directed against Obama is not for an affirmative vote but for an abstention.  In the meantime, all of the remaining Permanent Members of the Security Council, France, U.K. , Russia and China, voted for the resolution.  To be fair, will Netanyahu be able to muster enough hatred to go around?

Monday, December 26, 2016

DISOBEDIENT PET POODLES

Israeli Prime Ministers are accustomed to keeping American Presidents as their pet poodles.  Pets that are expected to be loyal and obedient despite how badly they are treated by their owners.

It is small wonder that Netanyahu is livid that he has a disobedient pet poodle on his hands, in Barack Obama, who refused a direct order to veto an item before the Security Council.

Probably, even more troubling to him is that the incoming President
is, himself, the pet poodle of another President and will have to check first with him before doing anything for Bibi.

Sunday, December 25, 2016

DONALD'S 'TRUMP' CARD

Donald Trump holds a card which in a single stroke change the present partisan attitude, in Washington, and might start a healing process the nation sorely needs.  

If he were to renominate Merrick Garland, Obama's nominee for Scalia's seat, to the Supreme Court, there could be a sea change. Garland had support from both sides of the aisle before Repub- licans decided to politicize the nomination process. 

Additionally, his nomination may be the only way for Trump to actually have one of his nominees even get a vote through the Senate, unless Republicans go nuclear which could have extreme consequences, for them, 2 years hence.  

Friday, December 23, 2016

WHY DIDN'T PUTIN VETO THE U.N. RESOLUTION?

The question that should be asked is not why Trump and Netanyahu did not ask Putin to veto the U.N. resolution but why did he turn them down?  His reported reply was, "Do you think I'm crazy enough to have both of the largest Muslim sects unite against me?  What do you think I have Donald for?" 

U.S. ABSTAINS FROM VOTING AGAINST U..N. RESOLUTION

I wonder why neither Trump nor Bibi tried to put pressure on Putin to veto the U.N. resolution against more Israeli settlements on the West Bank, instead of on Barack Obama.  It certainly was in the power of Vladimir, their new found friend do do so, but instead wanted Barack to go against his long stated principles, indeed, the long stated principles of every U.S. President for the past 60 years for a 2 state solution, for the Israeli-Palestinian problem.

THE GOLDEN AGE

The Golden Age, that Donald Trump alluded to when he promised to "Make America Great Again", according to a tweet sent out this morning, appears to be the 1950s, when we were in a nuclear arms race with the Soviet Union.

It was a time when our schoolkids got more exercise just by hiding under their desks during frequent air raid drills and the construction trades were kept busy making fallout shelters.  We built an Interstate highway system.  Our young men didn't have to work for less than liveable wages, because we had a draft that could keep them off the street for four (4) years.

White Americans could exercise their God given rights to discriminate against all sorts of minorities without let or hinderance.  Americans could once again freely declare bankruptcy
to discharge their medical bills.

Of course, there were a few rough spots that Trump will eliminate, like a 90% marginal tax rate, for the "job creators", who will be allowed to rebuild our infrastructure, with tax payer money assistance but retaining rights to collect tolls for their use.

Oh those were the days all right, and Trump will make them even greater still, for America's owners! 


Thursday, December 22, 2016

ANGER AMONG THE WHITE SUPREMACISTS

White supremacists are incensed over remarks by Democratic Senators that they will obstruct legislation in the same way the Republicans consistently obstructed the Obama agenda.

They call such remarks eminently racist because they are threatening to treat Republican Senators as if they were blacks.

THE JOBS CAN'T BE BROUGHT BACK BECAUSE THEY ARE NO LONGER THERE EITHER.

As Trump supporters are learning, on a continuing basis, is that most of his campaign promises were, as he has freely admitted,  to win the election, which practice is now validated by that win, so no further action is required.

  Some of those promises would have been impossible to fulfill anyway.  Take Trump's promises to have companies bring back jobs that were taken overseas, or to keep U.S. plants from moving overseas to begin with so unemployment would be curtailed.  The first case was that presented by the Carrier company wanting to move a plant from Indiana. 

 The solution was to give the company State Government money to keep part of the plant operating in Indiana,  The company pocketed the money and kept the part of the plant that they had intended to keep anyway and applied the money towards the automation of the plant which only postpones the firing of the employees for a few years until installation of machinery is completed.  

The "Carrier solution" only demonstrates a much deeper problem for the U.S.  One which could bring this nation to it's knees.  While Carrier, by using automation to produce consumer goods, very cheaply, in large quantities, they are reducing the pool of consumers able to purchase the output of these machines.

Multiply the Carrier situation by thousands of companies, in the U.S., that, similarly, are investing in robotics to increase production at the same time the reduce personnel and one can see the problem of overproduction we may be facing.  In the past we expected this particular problem would be solved through a combination of wealth distribution through Public Works and a social net, which, however, today's corporations are reluctant to help finance through taxes even though the tax base is being eroded by increasing unemployment owing to work force reductions.

Mr. Trump may fail in his quest to bring back jobs because the jobs are being eliminated everywhere,    

  

Sunday, December 18, 2016

REAPING THE WHIRLWIND

Although Vladimir Putin seems to receive much adulation, from a segment of the American people, at least by comparison to the more circumspect approach of Barack Obama, the foreign policy of the latter may come to be more esteemed, by the people of their respective countries, than the former.

While both the West (U.S. and Europe) and Russia have been beset by terror attacks from groups that have arisen from the Sunni populations of Islam, they stem from different sources.  Terror attacks against the West results from the fallout of the Bush invasion of Iraq which unwittingly installed a Shia government in what was formerly a secular Baathist one, whereas Putin is faced with a breakaway nationalistic movement.

While Obama was trying to excise the bad actors with a scalpel, Putin has escalated the religious aspect of the conflict, in his country, by using brute force in Syria, to support a Shiite minority in a land having a Sunni majority.

The Sunnis outnumber the Shia by close to 3 to 1, in the world, and in addition, only Sunni Muslim nations have, at the moment, nuclear weapons. By attacking the majority Sunni natives of Syria, rebelling against a Shia minority represented by Assad, at the same time Sunnis are chafing at the Russian domination of Chechnya,  I fail to see how Putin is acting wisely; I think we, in the U.S. will reap the whirlwind if Trump leads us down the Putin path.

At a time when Obama's policies, were painstakingly clawing its way to reaching detente with the Sunnis, Trump looks hell bent on ruining those efforts by backing Putin in backing the Shia which makes us their enemies friend once again. 

Friday, December 16, 2016

WHEN THE FIT WILL REALLY HIT THE SHAN

One day, in the not to distant future, China will use its hackers to aid a Democratic candidate for the Presidency of the United States. Throughout the land, will be heard an uproar; a whining; a gnashing of teeth,as never has been heard before, emanating from the Republican Party,  who will label it as the worst betrayal ever to be inflicted, on the American public.

If that Democratic candidate wins the election, drums will sound, across the Continent, calling for action to nullify the election and ignoring the request to move on without a new election. 


Thursday, December 15, 2016

AMPLE PRECEDENTS

Although I hear loud criticism of the fact that the President Elect, Donald Trump is allowing his family, who are partners in his business ventures, to sit in on his official discussions with private sector interests, it should be remembered that there is ample evidence of Presidents blending private family business with Government functions.  For example, during the 20th Century, both the Trujillo family of the Dominican Republic and the Samozas of Nicaragua ran both countries as family businesses for many years, successfully, at least for the families. 

Saturday, December 10, 2016

UNINTENDED OTHER CONSEQUENCES

Recent reported collaboration between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin may bring a realignment among power blocs in the world. China and Continental Europe may draw closer, possibly along with Sunni Arab nations and possibly Japan, while at the same time Iran becomes closer to Russia and the U.S.  Israel may be forced to readjust its status with everybody.

In any event, it looks as if there is a possibility that 75 years of carefully crafted treaties and relationships may be out the  window as a result of the 2016 election.

ELECTIONS HAVE CONSEQUENCES

Elections have consequences,  That's why President Putin gets to nominate our Secretary of State.

REALITY STAYS REALITY

Reality remains completely unchanged by denial, by ideology, by fake news or by repetition.  Bumper stickers or clever slogans won't do it either  

Call reality a lie and it will remain reality no matter the number of times it is called untrue.  No matter the number of times global warming is called a Chinese hoax, sea levels will continue to rise.  Call evolution a lie, and microbes will, nevertheless continue to evolve, oblivious to a contrary opinion.

Fixing the facts to the ideology, doesn't change the facts an iota, or make a whit of difference to the eventual outcome.

Friday, December 9, 2016

"GOOD THING FOR DEMOCRACY, ISN'T IT?"

Donald J. Trump is certainly underappreciated in one area, and that is for being a champion for freedom, for billionaires, to participate in electoral politics.  

By changing precedents so that release of income tax returns is no longer required, of them. or even the divestiture of their business holdings to avoid conflicts of interest, many more zillionaires can be encouraged to run for office and that's a  good thing for democracy, isn't it?

Wednesday, December 7, 2016

GOD EXPUNGES THE SIN OF NINTH COMMANDMENT IF YOU WIN

I see where Donald J. Trump calls that "black Kenyan Socialist Usurper" , Barack Obama, a "Very good man".  Any day now, I expect to hear him call "crooked Hillary", Mother Teresa.  Having won the election, Trump feels shriven.

Monday, December 5, 2016

BACK IN THE OFFICE AGAIN

V.P.-Elect Pence, in commenting on a false Trump statement, described it as "refreshing".  He may have a point, when one considers the dearth of untruths, during the Obama Administration. 

It is easy to understand how people can become bored with being told only the truth, day after day, and, after 8 years,  why they might welcome having another Scammander-in-Chief back in the Oval Office.

Sunday, December 4, 2016

ALL FOR A FEW HOTELS IN TAIWAN

Yesterday evening, I posted an item titled "Big League Headaches" which dealt in part with our relations with China.  This morning I received an article, excerpting parts of last night's Rachel Maddow Show" about the China/Taiwan relationship and the way, dating even from the days of Richard Nixon, in which a mutually beneficial accommodation was reached between the U.S. and China which Trump's clumsiness is, either unknowingly or willfully, in danger of upsetting.  For those interested, the Rachel Maddow article may be reached at:

http://bipartisanreport.com/2016/12/04/rachel-maddow-drops-taiwantrump-truth-bomb-that-has-voters-screaming-impeachment/

I have received a reply to my post, from an old friend, reminding me that China had already informed us that they were aware of Trump's lack of understanding of these matters and would overlook it. I, on the other hand, although agreeing with my friend on the Chinese forbearance, with Trump the private citizen but not Trump the President and Head of Government.  Unless Trump is given a forced crash course in foreign affairs, China can and will retaliate.

When reviewing their options, which range from fomenting trouble between North Korea and South Korea to which we would have to respond, stretching our military forces occupied with fighting ISIS, to threatening Taiwan, itself, with conventional forces to which we would have to respond, again straining our military. too, if they chose to, reach a detente with Putin who would welcome the go- ahead to go after the Baltic States while the U.S has to cope with a possible 4 front war, spending trillions of borrowed dollars just to satisfy their President's desire for a few hotels in Taiwan 

"GIVE HIM A CHANCE"

I have lived through the Administrations of 15 Presidents and only once before did I hear the Presidents supporters plead "Give him a chance".  He, like the present President-elect was inexperienced in addition to having won with fewer popular votes than his rival.  His administration was a complete disaster and easily the worst, in my lifetime,  But the question remains, why are Trump's supporters pleading for us to "give him a chance"?  Trump surely has the Electoral College votes; both Houses of Congress are in Republican hands and shortly a majority of Justices on the Supreme Court will have been appointed by Republicans.  Why then are Trump supporters pleading "give him  chance"?  Do they feel the same foreboding as the rest of us and asking us to back up their political opinion to help them cope with their own dread? 

Saturday, December 3, 2016

BIG LEAGUE HEADACHES

To demonstrate the agility and  flexibility required by our next Secretary of State, let's take a look at at our current international situation after the General Election:

For the past two decades our military has been designed to be a strike force without real capacity to take and hold ground.  It is designed to hold off an aggressor for a time so that our allies can mobilize the needed land forces.  The new President Elect has, to a limited extent, even before taking office, destabilized our alliances. Not only has he shaken our allies, in Europe, by becoming close to Vladimir Putin, but now by nominating an Iran hawk to head the Department of Defense, rattled both Russia and Iran, on one hand but  Arabia and Israel on the other.  Syria is a client state of Russia.  at the same time, its Government is being propped up by the Shiite Government of Iran.  If hostilities breakout between Iran and the U.S. Russia will probably choose to back Iran.  An open alliance between Russia and Iran is sure to spook both Israel and Saudi Arabia.  Meanwhile, our amateur President-elect has touched a raw nerve, with China, by either taking a call or calling a potential client for a hotel in Taiwan, and may initiate aggressive actions against Taiwan which may require sending forces to Southeast Asia at the same time we are engaged in Syria fighting a Sunni ISIS.

Trump could pour additional fuel on a potential fire by rattling atomic sabers forgetting that both China and Russia  have sufficient weapons to warn us  of Mutually Assured Destruction in the event of nuclear war.  Our relationship with the Kurds who are supplying us with trained ground troops against ISIS is hurting our relations with Turkey whose air bases are essential, for us, in the Mid-East.  Into this complicated mess, we do not need bull-in-the China shop types like John Bolton or Mad Dog Mattis, Rudy Giuliani or our new President-elect. The only two Republicans I can think of who understand the game ar Kissinger, Colin Powell, and possibly Condoleeza Rice but there may be some experienced State Department hands who could fit the bill, as well, but a bad choice could be most dangerous.

During WW II when faced with a two front war, the U.S. made sure it had peaceful relations with Mexico and the rest of Latin America. At the moment, we may have fence mending, not fence building with those Mexican "rapists".  If Putin wishes, he can proceed to take over the Baltic States at a time when NATO has been shaken by prospects of a Trump-Putin Axis.  Putin can, likewise offer a pact with China, who now are really offended by Trump, and scare the pants off Japan and the rest of Southeast Asia who rely on the U.S umbrella for protection from China.

The guy hasn't even taken the Oath of Office and he has given us Big League headaches.

  

BLAME GAME

When Trump blames other countries for taking away jobs, he is really deflecting blame from American businessmen and entrepreneurs like himself.  It was they who first went to Japan and subsequently other countries looking for dealerships; it was they who inundated Southeast Asia with American buyers, with contracts in hand, to produce goods, at lower prices to market in the U.S.  It was they who invested in plants all over the world, all the while making sure that the American tax code allowed them to deduct their moving expenses from their U.S. taxes. It was American businesses themselves that benefited from moving their manufacturing plants, overseas.  How can Trump blame Japan and China for American investments?

TROUBLE IN RESERVE?

One of the unheralded pillars of the economy of the U.S. is that the U.S. dollar is the only currency fully accepted throughout the world.  It facilitates international trade ad allows our economy flexibility unmatched  by any other nation. The acceptance stems from a delicate mix of military might, civil stability, a defined code of conduct in international relations along with a reputation for rule of law.  

By electing Donald Trump to the Presidency, we have already weakened the basis on which our currency rests.  We have already started the process of eroding our international relationships with uncertainty and our reputation for rule of law.

When the potential Head of Government threatens jail for a political rival, even when an investigative body has cleared her and that same person upsets the established international order, he is setting the grounds for uncertainty that  will eventually threaten our currency.

INTELLECTUAL LAZINESS

In the late 1950s, business matters took me on frequent visits to Cuba thus saw Cuba before Fidel, during the time of the Dictator Batista, during the rebellion against him, and at the time of the triumphant arrival, after Batista fled the island, of Fidel, in Havana.

Let it be said that, despite being a rather vocal critic of Fidel, I have always been sympathetic to him.  I have always felt that he was sincere in trying to resolve the problems of Cuba, which were real and palpable, even as I disagreed with how he went about it.  I felt that he should have used, as a model, another island State, authoritarian Singapore, rather than swallow the completely alien, and unproven doctrine of Marxism-Leninism.  

When Fidel came down from the Sierra Maestra he had the complete and utter devotion of the Cuban people and he could have led them to an indigenous solution to the problem of reforming Cuba, while becoming a non-aligned nation and out of the Cold War.  Instead altar boy Fidel, though an intellectual, exchanged the Bible for another off-the-shelf  catechism, instead of writing his own. 

REAL REASON UPSETTING TRUMP

Since Trump signalled, prior to the election, that he would assume that any loss would be by "rigging" and he would request recounts, he surely knows that his opponents might go the same route if he won.  

The question is why is he so upset.  Perhaps, the reason is that after having declared 2 millions of votes in Hillary's favor, over Trump, to have been by illegals, he may have to go back and declare that it was actually 3 millions of illegals that voted for Hillary.  Trump really, really hates having to admit he was wrong.  

Tuesday, November 29, 2016

WHAT KIND OF A MAN?

For all of the macho tough guys who send me gleeful communications about the election of Donald Trump, along with veiled threats of future physical harm, I have  a question: What kind of a man is it that can vote his approval of a person who openly brags that, because he is a star, he can grab the genitals of your mother; your wife; your girlfriend; your sister without their objecting?  Now that Trump will be installed as Head of State, I suppose he will be granted "lus primae noctis"  by his adoring supporters.

Friday, November 25, 2016

THOUGHT EXPERIMENT

Although I personally believe that the prospect is dim, indeed, it is interesting to contemplate what might happen if current recount efforts were to prosper and Hillary Clinton would be declared President, after all.  Would all those Trump supporters, who are now telling the opposition to get over it and to give Trump a chance, respond that way to the new reality?  Something tells me that it wouldn't work out that way at all.

THE TROUBLE WITH THE F.B.I.

 When one see how relatively easy it is for computers to to compare and sort documents, it is hard not to help but feel that it was incumbent on the FBI  to have checked the emails, found on the Wiener computer, before releasing the news that they had found them.  What could have taken a matter of hours, may now be a source of months of misery.

The problem a major segment, of the population has, now, is how can we be certain that the FBI will now not be non-partisan in its approach to investigating possible illegalities in the Trump Administration.  There is a cloud over the FBI that, now, cannot be dispelled without the resignation of Dir. Comey 

WHITE SUPREMECISTS

The Neo-Nazis, who have reared their ugly heads, with the advent of Trump, would be well advised to learn some history lest  they have to repeat it.  

Prior to World War II and the rise of Hitler, Germany despite its economic problems, was the world's preeminent scientific nation. It's language was offered by almost every High School in the U.S. almost as a requirement to take  college courses in science.  It was necessary to do research in much original scientific literature.  Pre Hitler German science benefited from the input of what Hitler called "unter menschen"(sub-humans) such as Slavs, and Jews - for example atomic physics was considered, by Nazis, as a "Jewish science, the Nazis assured they would never be the first to get the atomic bomb", by forcing the flight of German and Hungarian Jews from Europe.  

When Hitler invaded the Soviet Union and conquered most of European part of the Soviet Union, it was the "unter menschen" of Soviet Asia, for the most part, who manned the Siberian factories that outproduced Nazi dominated Europe, not only in quantity but in quality of goods, but also supplied the fresh troops that  overwhelmed and destroyed an entire German army at Stalingrad.

The Nazi principle of "racial purity" brought the German people, among other things, destruction of much of their Homeland; the loss of 1/3 of their original territory; German became a backwater language in Science and was replaced by English.

When "racial purity" comes to America, there is no reason to expect a better outcome.




Tuesday, November 22, 2016

WORLD RECORD HOLDER BEFORE REACHING OFFICE!

Whatever one can say about Donald Trump, even before taking the Oath of Office he will hold the record of any candidate for number of campaign promises broken before having taken the Presidential Oath!

PITY FOR THE POOR INVESTIGATORS

A spokesman for Trump said, today, that the Donald felt that Hillary had gone through enough and he was not in favor of investigating her any further.  I think that that was pure spin.  Having seen the last of the umpteen televised investigations, where an array of Representatives were worn to a frazzle by 11 solid hours of questioning while Hillary coolly sat, unruffled, I see it as Trump having taken pity on the poor investigators.

Monday, November 21, 2016

THRICE IN A LIFETIME

If there is pessimism and gloom in the air, please forgive those senior citizens for whom, the coming Trump Administration, will be the third time in their lifetime, that Republicans have controlled all branches of the Government.  Twice before, they spelled disaster, both economic and natural, for our nation.  In 1929, not only did we have the Great Depression but 2 years later began what was called the Dust Bowl which devastated swaths of the Mid West During the George W. Bush Administration we had the Great Recession in addition to Katrina.

The fact that the coming Administration will be under a President who has not received a plurality of the vote, is equally foreboding considering the recent past.  Although we hope for the best, we are girding for the very worst.

Sunday, November 20, 2016

THE LAST TIME SOMEONE ASKED ME...

The last time somebody asked me to give an inexperienced Republican business man, with an M.B.A, who received less than a plurality of the vote, a chance was almost exactly 16 years ago.  We gave him a chance and got poor governance, 2 wars, trillions of dollars in deficits, the greatest single avoidable terror attack on the nation, the loss of a city, and the Great Recession, among other things.  No, I say hold this new one's feet to the fire.  Dick Cheney walked away with millions but the American people suffered; this time don't let it happen again!

Saturday, November 19, 2016

TRUMP TO RECTIFY THE GREATEST INEQUITY

To Donald Trump, the greatest inequity occurred in 2008, when the Bush administration bailed out the financial industry by creating $1 Trillion, in fiat money which it, then, loaned to them, at super low interest, and then borrowed the money back at higher interest. This spread not only allowed the financial industry to keep operating, without losing even a dollar in their year end bonuses, but to keep a trove of foreclosed real estate to liquidate, slowly, at enormous profits, as the economy improved.  The financial industry may be stronger, today as a whole, than it was at the time of the 2008 crash, resulting in what may have been the greatest transfer of wealth from the middle class to the wealthy in the history of the nation.

The great inequity, to Trump, is that while the financial industry benefited, his own industry, the construction industry, was not granted an equal opportunity to dine at the public trough.

Trump's new plan will correct this injustice by loaning the construction industry $1 Trillion with which to build new infrastructure which will then be operated at fees, to the public, in order to repay the Government loans.  This way the construction industry ends up with $1 Trillion in fungible assets and the Government gets repaid what it has loaned. 





   

RETURN OF THE CONCEPT OF 'LESE MAJESTE': MAKING AMERICA GREAT AGAIN

The other night, on Broadway, a group of American citizens petitioned, another American citizen, about their concerns. Although residents, of this nation, have a Constitutional right to petition their Government,  Donald J. Trump, wants an apology for their having done so to Mike Pence, probably on the grounds that a Vice President is equivalent in status to a Viceroy, and full rights apply even before he takes office.

Friday, November 18, 2016

TRUMP KEEPS A PROMISE

See, Trump did keep his promise to those Trump University enrollees. With his recent offer to settle their  law suit for tens of millions of dollars, he is making them rich!

GUEST POST

New post on The Octogenarians

The Most Powerful Man In ThevWorld

by daedal2207
There are three or four men in the world who can bring civilization to an end.None of them have Islamic names.Presumably this cannot happen without consultation with trusted and informed advisers but in fact the order to let loose nuclear hell can be given without advice and must be obeyed.If you trust the system of advisers take a look at who they are.We don't know the Russians,or the Chinese,England which has a woman in that position may not have the capability,maybe the French,Maybe Israel but probably not India (Pakistan is already an issue re its nuclear arms).We do know Trump and now we see some of his key advisers."You"re fired"could become "you're fried".
Nuclear devastation is overwhelming and hard to wrap one's mind around but giving consent for execution by drone is easier to comprehend.What is not easy to see is a precise,surgical,collateral damage minimized process.Look to escalation of the killing with increased collateral damage and enhanced recruiting by Isis.A cautious,cerebral Nobel peace prize winner had a heck of a time with it.The Trumpeter eventually unimpeded by lawsuits,will have no trouble with "You're fired".
Maybe we'll luck out and get to go extinct trough global warming,drought,the rape of natural resources(Sarah Palin for Secretary of the Interior?) or old fashioned riot.

VALIDATION

In a recent television interview, Trump said that even those things, he claimed during his campaign that were not factual, were validated by his election.

One might wonder, then, why he would entertain nominating Mitt Romney, as Secretary of State, after having called him a "loser" and a "choker".

In my opinion. like the young bully who pulls the wings off captive insects, Trump wants to savor seeing Romney grovelling  before him for a job that he would dearly love.  If he enjoys it, bigly, Trump might even give it to Mitt so that he can watch the grovelling on a regular basis.

Wednesday, November 16, 2016

PUTIN'S POODLE

Donald is a most misunderstood person and not, in the least, crude and disagreeable, as claimed.  All it takes is a kind word and a pat on the head, as Putin has found out.

REAGAN WON THE COLD WAR...

Reagan won the cold war, and then Trump lost it to Putin, or perhaps more appropriately, Trump gifted it to Putin.  Now Vladimir is free to contend with the Chinese, for hegemony of the Eurasian landmass, from Damascus to Harbin, without interference, from a third power.  See how simple it all could have been!

Thursday, November 10, 2016

THOUGHTS ON THE 2016 ELECTIONS PART I

Trump is no ideolog.  He has been, depending on circumstances, a Liberal pro choice Democrat, as well as a pro life Republican.  You need only look at the speeches of both Ivanka and Melania, at the Republican Convention, both of which could have been delivered to applause at a Democratic Convention (indeed Melania's speech was plagiarized from Michelle Obama) to get a glimpse of the transactional philosophy of the family.  You need only look at Trump's speech, yesterday, to see that Clinton is no longer "Crooked" Hillary, but a woman worthy of our respect.

I don't believe that it is lost on Trump, or his advisors, that not only did Hillary receive more votes than Trump but that the margins of the Republican majority, in both the House and the Senate, have been narrowed.  A net loss of 2  Republican seats, in the Senate, in the 2018 elections flips the majority back to the Democrats.  

They are aware that Trump came to power only because of the dissatisfaction of  a large part of the electorate with the pace of our economic recovery and inequity of wealth distribution.  The only remedies offered by Trump, stopping illegal immigration, halting relocation of factories overseas, and infrastructure investments without raising taxes have their own problems which i will deal with in a future post. 

  

Wednesday, November 9, 2016

OBAMA TO BLAME

In view of the overnight drop in the futures market, reacting to the Trump election,, the Wall Street Journal has come up with a preemptive blame shift with an editorial saying, "Obama's fiscal luck is about to run out".  What Obama accomplished was just luck and anything bad that happens is just a matter of luck and not Trump's future fiscal policies. 

The last President with an MBA, George W. Bush, a Republican with an unbroken series of one disaster after another, could blame his predecessor, Clinton for his problems, despite inheriting a fairly robust economy that had a budget surplus

Trump will have Obama to blame everything on, with the knowledge that, if he screws up the economy bad enough to require help, he can always pass the baton to a Democrat to straighten out the mess, again.   

Tuesday, November 8, 2016

VOTER SUPPRESSION

A minority that, faced with voter suppression, does not show up at the polls, as a protest, in effect is contributing to its own eventual disenfranchisement, and ultimately to its own subjugation.   In our society, a small minority that votes counts a whole lot more than a large minority that doesn't vote.   

Monday, November 7, 2016

BLAMING A RIGGED SYSTEM

I know that the Trump campaign is concerned about his standing in the polls, this day before the elections, because Trump, himself, has gone back to claiming that the elections were rigged, whereas the day before he wasn't sure, because his poll numbers were good.  th It would appear that blaming a rigged system is easier than actually getting votes.

TRUMP'S GENIUS SON

By his own admission, Trump has named his 11 year old son, Barron, "a computer genius".  I suggest that the Trump campaign immediately hire Barron, thereby keeping the cost of same, in the family, as a computer consultant.  Barron, I am sure, will be able to explain, to his father, and his advisors, how it is possible for the F.B.I., to sort through 650,000 emails, in less than 9 days,with using simple off the shelf computer programs.  

Sunday, November 6, 2016

GREAT DISSAPPOINTMENT

It is reported that one one of the great disappointments, for Donald Trump, in his campaign, is the failure of his critics to acknowledge and/or praise his efforts in improving criticism of his integrity.  No matter how hard he works to change his image, he can't seem to budge them when it comes to that particular trait.     

BUREAUCRATIC FORESIGHT


At the recent incident, where Secret Service agents, hustled Donald Trump off the stage because of a report of a gun, at a rally, there was a short  delay between resolution of the incident before Trump returned to the stage.  On his return, he expressed grateful thanks, to those agents, especially for their foresight in having brought a change of underwear to the event.

COMMITTED TO THE POLICY

FBI Director Comey has signaled that he too, is a firm believer that the F.B.I. has no business meddling in U.S. elections.  He says he is against releasing any statements, that could potentially affect an election, within 60 days prior to the date of the election.  Furthermore, he also agrees that no statements providing unproven  and speculative data should ever be made.  To prove his commitment to this policy, he will never, ever do so with any Republican political figure.

Friday, November 4, 2016

FATEFUL YEAR

The most consequential year, yet, in this Century, has been 2010, a year when, in response to unparalleled obstructionism by Republicans, more Republicans were elected to Congress. in the 
I trust that if Hillary Clinton is elected President, that what transpired, that year, is indelibly etched into her memory, and that she comes in to office prepared for 2018.

Since Republicans have already signified that they intend obstructing, as usual, while the infrastructure of the nation languishes,  I trust she will keep her campaign going through 2018 to make that election really costly for any would be obstructionists.


IS ANTI-CHRIST A BEING OR AN OFFICE?

Just as I was getting used to Barack Obama being the Anti-Christ, an FBI official has formally declared that Hillary Clinton is the new Anti-Christ.  

I have been caught off guard.  How did I miss the headlines about such a momentous occurrence?  I got so used the Obama being the Anti-Christ, I didn't realize he was replaceable.    

Tuesday, November 1, 2016

ISLAM & ISIS

95% of the armed forces moving to liberate Mosul, that was supposed to be future capital of the Caliphate which ISIS desires, are Muslims, the very people that Donald Trump would have chosen to alienate.  

If the Donald had his way, it would have been 100,000 Americans and/or nuclear weapons  It would have been American boots to occupy the land, after that, to face the I.E.D.s afterwards, just as they did after the Bush Iraq invasion.

THE MOMENT TRUMP FOUND OUT THE POLLS WERE RIGGED

Polls became a target, of Trump's charges, that they were rigged, upon receipt of an invoice, in excess of $700,000.00, from a pollster that he had hired.  It should be evident, to all, any system requiring payment for services, of pollsters, must be rigged!

Monday, October 31, 2016

PARTISAN POLITICS

The "unprecedented and unheard of" actions of FBI Director Comey, in what many believe to be partisan interference in an election, is not really without precedence in a previous case.  When Mr. Comey announced that the FBI had found no grounds on which to proceed legally against Hillary Clinton, he interjected a partisan opinion that Clinton had been "careless", in the handling of supposedly classified materials.

Despite the lack of a legal definition of "careless handling" and the absence of a law making it a crime or misdemeanor, by gratuitously offering his opinion, he was engaging in partisan politics.  In effect, he was throwing out a piece of raw meat, to compensate for his inability to do the bidding, to "lock her up", of his party's base.

In my opinion, the second incident, shows a pattern of behavior that disqualifies Comey as a free, impartial and independent Director and, therefore, really should resign his post. 

Sunday, October 30, 2016

PALING IN COMPARISON

The fact that one of the Presidential candidates, in the forthcoming election, is facing a criminal trial, in November, for fraud, and another, in December, for rape of a minor, pales in comparison to the possibility that emails, found on someone else's computer, whose contents are unknown, might somehow involve, the mentioned candidate's opponent in the race.  It would appear that actual criminal trials, whose dockets have been published, are less important than some nebulous, unknown and possibly unfounded conjecture about emails not yet read or analyzed.

It is possible that our electorate will give the former candidate a pass, and penalize the latter, his female opponent, which, indeed would be a travesty.  



  

GUEST POST

New post on The Octogenarians

Women And The Future: Survival When Referees Teke Sides

by daedal2207
Recent work with the skeletal remains of an archaic species Homo Nalidi,as reported by Carolyn Von Sickle Visiting Asst.Professor of Anthropology at Bryn Mawr,in the Nov-Dec 2016 issue of American Scientist,indicate a complex relationship between nutrition,social cooperation and the shape of the hominid pelvis.Apparently archaic traits and more modern traits are often intermixed in the hominid story.As best as I can understand,lacking knowledge in paleoanthropology,the bowl-shaped pelvis of the female hominid including homo sapiens(us) is needed to allow passage of a big brained fetus through the birth canal.The posture and ground covering capability associated seem linked more firmly than to predation and hunting.Paleoanthropology seems to suggest that the salience of homo depended on female pelvic adaptation.
In the same issue American Scientist Susan C.Alberts,Robert F Durden Professor of Biology and Evolutionary Anthropology at Duke U. Discusses the survival of wild infant baboons in the Amboselli basin of Southern Kenya.In this environment there is some possibility of survival for orphaned infants.S he points out that the availability of a lactating surrogate with enough milk for her own offspring as well as the orphan is unlikely and seems to require the assistance of a protective male.This complicated by the use of lower status males to use infants to deflect the hostility of other,often higher ranking males.This use adds to infant mortality and removes the protective behavior from confusion with human altruism.Again my apologies for ignorance about ethology and evolutionary anthropology!,but it appears that the survival of the most marginal and weakest members of baboon society is dependent on the females.(Sometimes resulting in their injury or death)
Switching(not pivoting)to the affairs of men and my presumption that Homo Sapiens is engaged in a struggle for survival against overpopulation,global warming,terrorism,and nuclear extinction.On this blog it has been suggested that female leadership may be the key to our survival on the planet.If models of governance ,reflecting national character,are competing to define the future.There appears to be little question that capitalism is the best way to make a bigger pie;within what framework is the competition issue.our bid is constitutional democracy.It is the opinion of most of our contributors that Hillary is our best bet to carry us forward.It is ironic but far from accidental that the abusive conduct of three men vis-a-vis women are bedevilling her candidacy.Those three are her opponent a self-confessed serial abuser,her husband,a charming philanderer,and a disgraced former representative an admitted exhibitionist and pedophile.
The release of information ( first to republicans) that examination of the email issue would be resumed on the basis of a computer shared by a top aide with her husband(Wiener)10 days before the election,and under scrutiny for his perverse content and incidentally to contain some emails sent to her server,is the reification of innuendo and surmise cannot be defended.A full disclosure of what is in FBI possession and what has been done with it is essential to Hillary and the rest of us.In the meantime the most vociferous of the innuendo accusers turn out to be men who have conducted themselves in less than chivalrous fashion with multiple ex wives two of whom were plagued with terminal illnesses.(Gingrich,Giuliani.)

Thursday, October 27, 2016

GUEST POST

New post on The Octogenarians

Serial Offender or Serially Lied About

by daedal2207
One doesn't need a degree in medicine or psychology to decide about the Trumpeter.He is condemned by his own words.Even a superficial reading of De Sade identifies the fascination with nubile feminine charms and the accompanying disgust and punitive rage when the call of nature has to be obeyed by the lust objects in De Sade's garden.Trump was "disgusted "by Hilary's ablutions and "not impressed" when she walked in front of him.His own wife identifies his talk as boy talk at an adolescent level.His problem is that he can't control the behavior.The puerile threat to sue the women who are pouring forth with accusations may be the equivalent of Sade's imprecations and abuse. Misogyny may be at an all time high as well as bigotry and hate crime.Assange's leaks about the deleted messsages can't compare despite the party rrhetoric
daedal2207 | October 25, 2016 at 11:20 pm | Categories: Uncategorized | URL:http://wp.me/p4Gt4f-eX
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Friday, October 21, 2016

PERNICIOUSNESS OR PATHOLOGY?

On watching Trump leaving the Al Smith dinner, after he was openly jeered during his speech, I could not help but feel some pity for him.  My mind went to recent memes which showed him denying that he had said certain things that videos, taken even just days before, proved otherwise.  Indeed, during the debate with Hillary, everything that Trump declared was "wrong" when he interrupted her speech, was  contradicted, subsequently, by videos of his saying the very things which he claimed was wrong.

I can not ignore the possibility that he has early onset of dementia with short term memory loss, in which case, mocking his disability would be just as wrong as his mocking a disabled person, and which he denies despite video evidence to the contrary.




Thursday, October 20, 2016

LACK OF STAMINA

Pundits have remarked that Trump appears to be "Presidential", in all of the debates, for the first 30 minutes, after which he appears to fade, becoming less and less Presidential, for the last hour of the debate.  

His critics should make allowances for the difference, in age, between Trump and Hillary.  Additionally, Hillary has not had to handle three spouses, in her shorter life time, which should account for something in judging their respective staminas.


Tuesday, October 18, 2016

RIGGING THE ELECTION

Under  the Electoral College system, as prescribed by the Constitution, the Presidential election is on a state by state basis.  Presidential elections are governed by each State and not by the Federal Government.  In order to "rig" the Presidential election, it would have to be done by somehow taking over the election process of  most of the governments of 50 different States.

Since most of the State governments are in the hands of Republican governors, when Trump complains that the election has been rigged against him, he is, in effect, indicting his own Party.

Since the Democrats have no dog in that fight, they should just butt out and leave the fight to Trump and  Priebus.   

Monday, October 17, 2016

COMPELLING ARGUMENT

There may be a compelling argument, in favor of the claim, that the media may be rigged against the G.O.P..  After all, it was the media that provided over a billion dollars in free air time, during the Primaries, that propelled Donald Trump to the candidacy of the Republican Party.

Sunday, October 16, 2016

PREDATOR OR PREVARICATOR?

Under questioning, about the 2005 Trump tape, by Anderson Cooper, Donald Trump has revealed the fundamental flaw in his character.  By denying that he ever did those things he boasted of, he leaves us with having to decide whether he is a serial sexual predator or a serious serial prevaricator.

Friday, October 14, 2016

"TALKING THE TALK"

At the last debate, under intense questioning of the moderator, Anderson Cooper,  Donald Trump admitted that whereas he, using locker room words, boasted of improper treatment of women, BUT unlike Bill Clinton, who actually acted improperly, he, Trump had never actually done any of the things he said.

In effect, the Donald said that while he 'talked the talk", only Bill Clinton actually "walked the walk".  Those macho white men looking for a "real man" to take over the Presidency, according to Donald, missed the boat in the 90s, when Bill Clinton was in power.  I wonder if Trump will apologize to that large group of his supporters who must be devastated by the news.

Wednesday, October 12, 2016

PUERILITY IN THE NARCISSISTIC

Yes, I have heard "locker room talk", but only among adolescents, rarely, if ever,  from a mature adult.  There certainly aren't many 60 year old men who engage in gossip about romantic conquests; those that do are usually demonstrating one of the symptoms of Narcissistic Personality Disorder, in that it appears as if their development was arrested in their teens.

All of us will be well served if we are spared the Administration of a narcissist. 

Sunday, October 9, 2016

CALLING THE KETTLE BLACK

If, as Donald Trump's tweets portend, he will make an issue of Bill Clinton's affairs, at the 2nd Debate, it will certainly be beyond my comprehension, as to logic.

If the import of Trump's comments on Bill Clinton are that Bill was a good President despite being a predator, Hillary Clinton will be able to say: "Donald, I know Bill Clinton; Donald, you're no Bill Clinton."

If Trump tries to impugn Hillary's character because of what Bill did, she can just say that Bill's name is not on the ballot and Trump is free to vote against Bill if he chooses.  She can also state she didn't approve of Bill's behavior any more than she does his.

If Trump says that she, Hillary, acted improperly towards Bill's "victims" she can assure Trump that she promises not to act badly towards Trump's victims, besides, "tomorrow morning, the fact-checkers may be advising you, once again, that the allegation is false".

Perhaps, someone will warn Trump that the pot takes its chances when calling the kettle black.





Saturday, October 8, 2016

LIBERAL BIAS OF THE PRESS

Nothing demonstrates the liberal bias of the press as much as as the current situation where the press chooses to highlight a twelve year old incident, that has just come to light, about the Republican Presidential candidate, instead of concentrating on, previously well publicized, 20 year old events that occurred in the life of the spouse of the present Democratic candidate.

The seriousness of the problem is further aggravated by the seeming  reluctance, of the press, to accept the fact that the 20 year old events exculpate those of the twelve year old event.  How biased can you get? 

Friday, October 7, 2016

TRUMPS LEAKED TAX RETURN

Sorry, but I believe that Trump's leaked tax return was leaked by the Trump campaign, itself, not to damage Trump, but as a red herring to relieve the pressure being exerted to release his tax returns.

Not only was the, supposedly, anonymously donated return incomplete with important pages omitted, but because it allegedly showed almost a $1 billion loss, an amount that only a tremendously wealthy businessman could sustain, which would fit into the persona that Trump tries to portray.  The other pages of the return might have revealed information less flattering to Mr. Trump.
                                                                                                            I have a sneaking suspicion that the results of the audit on this return might be of even greater interest than the partial return.









DISSENSION IN THE RANKS

Much dissension, in the ranks of Trump supporters, has been sown by Trump having used the wrong pronunciation, according to local usage, the name of the State of Nevada.  While both sides of the dispute agree that it is the fault of Hillary Clinton, they disagree on how she was able to accomplish the feat, some claiming supernatural powers and the other side saying she caused it through chemical means.  A resolution is expected prior to election day unless Hillary successfully blocks their efforts.

Monday, October 3, 2016

INDEMNIFYING BILLIONAIRES AGAINST LOSSES

Yes, by allowing a billionaire to deduct 100% of his losses from his income taxes, our taxpayers are, in effect, indemnifying him from any losses he may suffer, but what's the fuss?  

In 2008 we indemnified a whole group of billionaires from losses amounting to almost $1 trillion, and did it in one fell swoop so as not to inconvenience them by having to miss out on Winter vacations or Christmas bonuses.

This is what makes America great, again.

Sunday, October 2, 2016

WHAT WOULD THE HEBREW SAGES THINK?

What would the Hebrew sages have thought about the spectacle of three serial philanderers attacking the morals of a fourth?  If the women involved were not married at the time, why it would not be a sin, at all, not subject to any penalty.  On the other hand, for implying, without proof, that Hillary committed adultery, thereby violating the 8th Commandment, Trump would be considered among the vilest of people worthy of stoning to death.  Now if we can only find people without sin for the task. 

GAMING THE SYSTEM

It never fails to surprise me, that people who are proud of not paying taxes are, nevertheless, quick to make full use of services that are paid for through taxes.  Donald Trump, perhaps the most litigious person in our History, taking pride in his ability to avoid paying taxes, keeps the courts busy filing law suits against his adversaries, many of whom, do pay the taxes that maintains the very courts which Trump uses against them.

Saturday, October 1, 2016

COUNTER TO THE SPIRIT OF THE ADA

There is something disconcerting in Hillary's campaign against Trump , in that she is exploiting some of his weaknesses so effectively against him.  Knowing that the Donald shows signs of having a personality disorder, she has enlisted the assistance of psychologists to help plan her campaign.  

Now, while it may be meritorious to try to prevent such a person from  ever taking over the powers of the President, somehow it feels to be counter to the spirit of  the Americans with Disabilities Act. 

Thursday, September 29, 2016

TEMPORARY POWER

My head acknowledges that Obama was right to veto the Saudi 9/11 bill; it will only further complicate a Middle East that is already convoluted enough.  But, I must confess that, in a way, I am pleased that the Saudis, and hopefully, any others out there, learn that they cannot rely on the temporary power of  any American administration  to protect them forever, from the repercussions of perpetrating an action on U.S. soil even if at the behest of that administration. 

THE MEANING OF MAKING AMERICA GREAT AGAIN

A mere 8 years ago, the worst Presidency, at least in my lifetime, which has encompassed fourteen different Administrations, ended in the Great Recession. 

A recent statement of Mike Pence, to the effect that his role model, if elected Vice President, will be Dick Cheney, makes it abundantly clear that" making America great again" involves returning us to those halcyon days of the George W. Bush Administration when it was truly "beautiful".  It was a time that was really and truly beautiful for people in Trump's class.  It was a time when financiers could, unfettered by regulations, make their billions secure in the knowledge that the American taxpayers had their back, even if they didn't know it.

Now the Trump campaign says any outlandish thing, secure in the knowledge that the American electorate will not ask "for whom", when Donald says he will make America great again.

   

 

WHY NOT?

In response to Hillary Clinton's remark at her first debate with Trump to the effect that she was being made to blame for everything, by the Trump campaign, Trump interjected "Why not?"

One of the things that Trump tries to hang, like an albatross, around her neck, is NAFTA, the North American Free Trade Agreement.

This was a treaty that was wholly negotiated during the George H.W. Bush Administration.  It was a treaty that George H.W. Bush signed, during the last days of his term.  The treaty was ratified, by the Senate, during the term of the next President, Bill Clinton.

At the time of both the signing and ratification of the NAFTA treaty, Hillary was not only not in power but not an official of the Government, but as Trump aptly put it, "Why not blame (her for it)?"

Wednesday, September 28, 2016

TO SET A THIEF

Trump supporters are not only singularly unconcerned that their candidate may be  the most venal and corrupt man to ever run for the U.S. Presidency, but indeed, his experience in gaming the system and skirting the law is actually an asset.  Their support is based on the adage "Set a thief to catch a thief".  The only thing that they fail to remember is that both parties, in such a scenario, remain thieves. 

Monday, September 26, 2016

EVERYTHING WILL BE BEAUTIFUL!

To allay any fears that Trump's audience may have, with respects his call for the suspension of disbelief during the debates by banning fact checking, he promises that, if elected, he will hire nothing but the very best screen writers to script the scenarios of his administration.  In this manner he will ensure that everything will be beautiful!

Sunday, September 25, 2016

NO INTEGRITY? NO PROBLEM!

Last week Donald Trump provided prima facie evidence of his lack of integrity.  A mere 5 days after allowing that Obama was born in the U.S., he advised an audience of his supporters that he only said that to "get on with the election".  His supporters, relieved that their candidate showed no sign of having any integrity, raised the Donald's poll rating.

Saturday, September 24, 2016

A SOLITARY TEAR FOR THE HOUSE OF SAUD

They really could not see any advantage to going along with such a brash deal.  It took much pressure from the new U.S. leaders, the blandishment of billions of U.S. dollars in "fees", and the personal assurance of George Tenant, the C.I.A. Director that nuclear weapons would be found in Iraq to cover the operation, to get the Saudi rulers to allow the bin Laden family to begin the negotiations, with Osama, for the attack on the U.S.  This would be the "Pearl Harbor" type attack that neo conservative doctrine called for, in their plans.

The U.S. Administration agreed that Osama would be protected in the ensuing war and would be assured safe haven in Pakistan.  The U.S. also agreed that the bin Laden family would be granted free passage, in the U.S. and Pakistan, in the immediate aftermath of the attack.

Now, 15 years after the attack, the Saudis, who played a relatively minor role, is facing major liability claims, in the U.S. for abetting a rogue operation of the then U.S. government, while the master minds are now peacefully retired as well as enormously rich. 

REHABILITATING TED CRUZ

Ted Cruz promises to regain the trust and respect of his constituents by working even more diligently, in the future, on shutting down the Federal government.

Friday, September 16, 2016

DEFLECTING THE BLAME TO THE DEMOCRATS

Despite the fact that no one has, as yet, documented the birther claim that Hillary Clinton initiated the canard that Obama was not born in the U.S., they insist that this is the case, repeatedly, so it's not their fault.  

We can imagine a scenario, in a decade, or so, when the effects of climate change becomes more evident, the Republicans will likewise deflect blame to the Democrats, principally, Al Gore, for the problem of climate change, on the grounds that, unlike the Republicans, they knew what was to occur and did not work forcefully enough to make the necessary changes.

LET'S CHANGE THE FOCUS OF THE QUESTION!

Now that Mr. Trump has definitively  informed us, providing at least three different, sometimes conflicting reasons, it is time for the press to stop asking when he will release his tax returns and start insisting that he tell us what he is hiding. 

Wednesday, September 14, 2016

AUDITING THE MEDICAL RECORDS

The media is making a big deal out of Trump's postponement of the release of his medical records.  Mr. Trump has indicated that he will release them soon, immediately after they are finished with the audit.  

The impatience shown by the media is an indication of how corrupt it has become, according to Mr. Trump.

Monday, September 5, 2016

THE FINAL SOLUTION

Despite the fact that the ancestors, of Jewish residents of Nazi Germany, had been there there from before the arrival, from Asia, of the ancestors of modern Germans, the Nazis declared that Jews were foreigners and were to be deported.  

A large number were, indeed, sent out of Germany, only to be denied refuge, even in the U.S., and returned to Germany, to face death camps. 

If Donald Trump is  elected and is able to implement his plans to deport undocumented foreigners, just what happens if the country of origin refuses to accept the return of the deportee?  Do we have a final solution waiting in the wings?

BLATANT BIAS

Perhaps, one of the most blatant examples of the lop sided treatment of candidates, by the Press, is that being afforded to Hillary Clinton, in the matter of emails while she was a government official.  Clinton made an arrangement with her office to send her emails, that were not marked classified, to her server at home, probably so she could read them there when she got back from trips.  There were not supposed to be any classified material sent to that server.  Subsequently, some 180 of those emails, out of 30,000 were reclassified but we have not been told how many were reclassified while Clinton still was in office.  Additionally, 3 of those 30,000 bore the mark "c" on them.  According to the manual of the State Department, there is no mention of any meaning for the letter "c"; classified material must be clearly marked as such. Perhaps the people in the responsible department used the letter "c" to indicate that further research was needed before classifying the document.  In any event, that department was satisfied and released the document for relaying Ms. Clinton.  There is no evidence that her server was hacked, however, Hillary has been excoriated for  "carelessness" and endangering the security of the nation and  the matter may yet sink her campaign.

In stark contrast, in 2003, officials of the Bush Administration actually outed a covert CIA agent, an indubitably caused harm to other CIA agents, and the security of the U.S.  These officials were, subsequently, rewarded with reelection to public office.  




Sunday, September 4, 2016

MAKING A GRAVEN IMAGE

While I find nothing wrong with a person wanting to, voluntarily, show respect to a symbol, it should always be borne in mind that it is beyond our power to endow any material thing with religious or symbolic significance.  In the end, a flag, or an anthem, are cloth and and poetry, both made by man and cannot be sanctified.  To make them into anything more is analogous to making a graven image prohibited by a Commandment.  

ASYMMETRICAL WARFARE

A Mexican Senator is introducing a bill which would allow the Mexican Government to expropriate American companies, operating in Mexico, to compensate for levies made upon Mexico for the construction of a proposed wall.  Considering that it is American companies, that take advantage of lower costs, by operating in Mexico, that have the most assets at stake in any dispute of this nature, it just may not be very prudent for the U.S. to get involved in such a game.

Wednesday, August 31, 2016

OF WALLS AND MIGHTY EMPIRES

In 1803, Napoleon Bonaparte is alleged to have said, "China? There lies a sleeping giant. Let him sleep! For when he wakes he will move the world."  Perhaps, Napoleon was mindful of the fact that a few centuries before, China was the sole hyperpower in the world, much as the United States is today.

In the 16th Century, China began to build a virtual wall, around China, to seal themselves off from foreign influences.  By the 19th Century, relatively small European powers, using technologies, many of which originated in China, but refined in the rest of the world, were able to force the establishment of enclaves, in mainland China, where their laws prevailed and not those of China, to the humiliation of the Chinese people.

In history, walls have usually marked the limits of the power of a nation, not something that made a nation great.

Sunday, August 28, 2016

GUEST POST

New post on The Octogenarians

The Run-up to the Presidential Debates

by daedal2207
The Donald purports to be reaching for black voters saying that he will ensure their not getting shot down in their own streets."What do you have to lose" he bawls.To Hispanics he promises to reconsider his deportation position.His official platform has not shifted but the shape shifters are at work selling a more palatable image(Connoly,Ailles,Archer,Bannon)The media are consumed by presenting contrasting images of Clinton vs Trump,helping us to be myopic about the crippling issue of increasing inequity in the face of national refusal to act on tax and immigration reform, drug cost abuse,undermining of "affordable care"through the issuance of relatively inexpensive catastrophic policies depleting the eligible pool of payers,corporation inversion etc.Free enterprise cannot be unrestricted because greed cannot be limited.Hillary's tight and unappealing legalisms attract media attention but her program plans on view at her website do not.
When will the serious conversation begin?

Friday, August 26, 2016

DON'T GET ME WRONG

Hillary Clinton gave a sad speech, in Nevada, yesterday, detailing how a fringe group, taking advantage of the weakness of the Republican Party, was taking it over.  Don't get me wrong.  It was a great speech, but the sad part is that it had to come from a candidate and not from investigative journalism expected from a vibrant free Press.  For me, it demonstrates how weak the Press has become since the Reagan Administration allowed the consolidation of the media to fall into the hands of a small number of people.

WHAT CAME AS A SURPRISE TO ME

It comes as no particular surprise that Donald Trump is marching towards the center on immigration.  There is a post, in this, blog written months ago, that he would.  The flabbergasting surprize is that the etch-a-sketching is coming before Labor Day and not after.

Thursday, August 25, 2016

DONALD'S FLEXIBILITY

Now that Trump has fully embraced Jeb Bush's position on immigration, which he so viciously attacked during the primary campaign, why can't Jeb finally endorse him?  After all, Trump has proven his flexibility, with this change, and I'm sure that Trump can find it in his heart, to forgive Bush for having been his adversary, once, of course, Jeb gives his endorsement.

Wednesday, August 24, 2016

NO INTEREST IN ANY OTHER TYPE OF INFORMATION

During the Primaries, the Press began to clamor, almost incessantly for Hillary to release transcripts of her speeches to business groups, saying, "why not just release the transcripts if you don't have anything to hide".  Their requests for the transcripts came to an almost immediate halt when Hillary agreed to release the transcripts if Trump released his speeches before the same type of audiences.  There seemed to be no interest, on the part of the media, for Trump's transcripts, but only Hillary's.

The same media seems to have tired, quickly, in requesting Trump's tax returns, after he claimed that they were under audit and he could not release them, nor have they shown the same enthusiasm and intensity, to obtain them, now that we have learned that Trump will not release any of his tax returns, even those that have been audited.  I have yet to hear a single media organization ask Trump why he felt the need to lie about the reason for not releasing his tax returns.  I have yet to hear a single question asked of Trump, or his organization, as to the report of his son claiming that Trump would be foolish, to release his tax returns.

Wouldn't it be foolish for anyone not to take his campaign's words and actions as prima facie evidence that he certainly does have something to hide?  Why isn't the same question, "if you don't have anything to hide, why don't you release your tax returns?", with the same frequency and intensity as was asked of Hillary about her speech transcripts?

The answer, seems to be, that they have Hillary's tax returns and there's nothing there to use to attack her, and they really have no interest in any other type of information.