Trusting the Election

For John, BLUF:  There has been controversey about the 2020 election, from President Donald Trump saying it was stolen to Democrats saying it was perfectly clean.  I expect the truth is less absolute.  I also expect the average voter thinks there were some problems, and thinks it is rubbish to deny it.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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More believe in cheating in 2020 election, hit ‘Zuckerbucks’

From The Washington Examiner, "Secrets" Column, by Columnist Paul Bedard, 23 December 2021, 10:46 AM.

Here is the lede plus two:

Angered by growing reports that Facebook billionaire Mark Zuckerberg steered vote-generating donations to pro-Biden counties, more voters believe that cheating occurred in the 2020 elections.

Shoving aside repeated liberal media dismissals of cheating claims, those who believe it occurred increased from 56% in October to 59% in the latest Rasmussen Reports poll previewed for Secrets.

Asked “How likely is it that cheating affected the outcome of the 2020 presidential election?” just 36% said unlikely. What’s more, the largest group, at 40%, said that cheating was “very likely.”

To dispose of the background question, I believe that President Biden won sufficient Electoral Votes to become President of the United States.  Or, in an old expression, "Close Enough for Government Work."

At the same time I believe there was hanky-panky, as in Phildelphia and Atlanta.♠  Enough to swing the election?  I am doubtful.

I expect that, in reality, the average voter believes there is a certain level of corruption in voting.  When they are told the voting is totally clean they become doubtul of that claim to purity.  That is what happened in the 2020 November Election. The People reverted to that old Groucho Marks line:  "Who are you going to believe?  Me or your lying eyes?"  The more the Media and the Democratic Party doubled down on the cleanness of the election, the more the average Citizens began to doubt.♥

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

♠  My concern is the way "Poll Watchers" were excluded from the vote counting process.  Why exclude the Poll Watchers?  It could be the vote counters were just irritated with the Poll Watchers.  However, that is petty and looks like the existence of petty dictatorships in some locations, something that brings to mind Tammeny Hall.
♥  I think we see the same thing with regard to COVID-19.  The Federal Government made pronouncements early on that did not pan out.  Rather than acknowleding the early mistakes, "scientists" just changed the story.  However, the average Citizen became a little dubious, and some became very dubious.  This argues for being open and honest and trusting the citizens to understand that things evolve as new information becomes available,

Michael Flynn Pushes Back

For John, BLUF:  And why shouldn't he, after the way he has been treated by the DC Establiahment?  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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The Morning Briefing:  Michael Flynn vs. Granny Boxwine—Make Extra Popcorn

From PJ Media, by Columnist Stephen Cruiser, 22 December 2021, 2:39 AM ET.

Here are three key paragraphs:

It’s been a slog watching Granny Boxwine preside over her revenge-porn January 6 kangaroo trial. Some of the higher-profile people she’s harassed have pushed back a little, which has just made her want to play the strongarm game even more. The whole thing was getting a little stale. Enter one Michael Thomas Flynn. Flynn introduced a little spice into the proceedings on Tuesday by filing a restraining order against Nancy Pelosi, which Robert [Spencer] wrote about:

No, she isn’t stalking him, but it is almost as bad: Gen. Michael Flynn, who knows a thing or two about witch hunts, is taking action to stop the latest one.  Naming all the members of the House Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol as defendants, he has filed a complaint intended to stop a subpoena from that committee.  At the same time, according to the Western Journal, Flynn “filed a motion for a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction specifically” against House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Smirnoff).  It is always refreshing, and far too rare, to see someone fighting back against this latter-day American version of the Stalinist show trials.

Remember: Flynn served as Trump’s National Security Adviser for less than a month before he resigned under a cloud in Feb. 2017, having become a central focus of the Russian collusion hoax. He wasn’t serving in the Trump administration in any capacity on Jan. 6, 2020, and had not done so for nearly three years.  But that didn’t stop the rabid partisans of the Jan. 6 committee from trying to rope him into something he had absolutely nothing to do with.

Yes, it looks like a fishing expedition.

Then there is this, from Rasmussen, on the 22nd.

Most Voters Think Capitol Riot Committee Is ‘Partisan’

While Democratic voters strongly support the House Select Committee’s investigation of the January 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol, most Republicans and independents believe the committee has become a partisan weapon.

A new national telephone and online survey by Rasmussen Reports finds that 59% of Likely U.S. voters believe the congressional investigation of the riot at the Capitol by supporters of former President Donald Trump is important, including 43% who say it is Very Important.  Thirty-nine percent (39%) don’t think the investigation is important, including 21% who say it is Not At All Important.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)

I would think that part of the proble3m for the House Select Committee on 6 January is that the term "insurrection" has been used in a fairly indiscriminate way.  Only one person was shot and killed in the incident, and that ws a rioter, who was deliberately shot by a Capitol Policeman.♠  At this point there doesn't appear to have been a plan to take over the Governent.  This was not Oliver Cromwell replacing the king.  This was not the Long Parliament, which was a precident to the American Revolution.  This was a bunch of rambuctious Citizens, tired of being lied to by politicians and media that the November election was "perfect".  What might have caused it not to happen might have been a little humility, which was, unfortunately, in short supply on the Democratic side, and the Republican.

Regards  —  Cliff

♠  Fortunately, for the shooter the victim was Caucasian and he is Black.  I expect there would have been quite a hue and cry had it been otherwise.

Variety of Choices

For John, BLUF:  This is about meeting the needs of the customers.  When customers don't have options, service can suffer.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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Yesterday I went to Staples in mid-afternoon, to pick up printer paper and to retrive some green constructioin paper my wife had left at the Copy Center desk.  The construction paper was just as my wife had described it and the two Ladies at the Copy Center were most helpful and willing to help.

Up until checkout it waw a high quality experience.  I enjoy stationary stores and Staples, on a large scale, is a stationary stores. a very good stationary store.

However, there is a glitch at checkout.  As it was mid-afternoon, i was approaching a sugar low and wanted to small snack.  Unlike pre-COVID-19, the snack selection at checkout had been shrunk in size and all squeezed into the last rack in the checkout line.  And the selection left something to be desired.  There was only one kind of Hershy Bar, and that was the large size.  There are no odd ball's, such as a Clark Bar or a Fifth Avenue Bar.  Are those other nick-nacks on the racks such great sellers that anfternoon snack pickups are squeezed out?

And at the end of the checkout line, past all the cash registers.  After one has checked out.  It seems counter-intuitive.

I guess they are trying to drive customers to C-Stores.

Regards  —  Cliff

Food Availability

For John, BLUF:  We are facing a number of food issues, from not enough stores, to not enough fresh food, to, in some places, high prices.  However, food providers need to make a profit, to engage in selling food.  With existing margins, there isn't much profit, notwithstanding the concerns of Senator Karen.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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BIG GROCERY?  SERIOUSLY?

From Powerline Blog, by Blogger John Hinderaker, 21 December 2021.

Here is the lede plus two:

I’m not saying that Elizabeth Warren is the dumbest person in public life–there is a lot of competition for that title–but let’s just say she is having the worst week. First she accused Elon Musk of being a tax freeloader, just before he disclosed that he will pay $11 billion in taxes this year, more than any American in history, to Warren’s slush fund the federal government. Next she blamed skyrocketing food prices on “Big Grocery.” Seriously:

Giant grocery store chains force high food prices onto American families while rewarding executives & investors with lavish bonuses and stock buybacks. I'm demanding they answer for putting corporate profits over consumers and workers during the pandemic.

This is almost beyond belief. The grocery store business is notoriously competitive and relatively unprofitable. David Harsanyi writes that “average margins [come] in at a little over 2 percent,” one of the lowest margins of any industry.

I would say, based upon what my wife tells me, Mr Arthur T. Demoulas is not running up prices to pad his bank account.  He is working to help his customers.  I would think Ms Warren should get out of Cambridge and see how things are in the Hinterlands.

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

Protecting the Federal Attorney

For John, BLUF:  Government officials should feel safe while executing their duties.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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Federal marshals won’t provide a security detail for confirmed US Attorney Rachael Rollins despite recent threats against her life

Here is the sub-headline:

Recent e-mail to prosecutor:  “You’ll probably die.”

From The Boston Globe, by Reporter Andrea Estes, 17 December 2021, 6:15 pm.

Here is the lede plus three:

Federal marshals have declined a request from newly confirmed US Attorney Rachael Rollins for a full-time security detail, rejecting her arguments that recent threats show she could be in danger, according to two people with direct knowledge of the security discussions.

Rollins, the first Black woman to serve as US attorney for Massachusetts, has said threats against her have grown more vicious since her Senate confirmation vote earlier this month during which Republicans attacked her as a dangerous, pro-criminal prosecutor. A blatantly racist e-mail sent to the Suffolk district attorney’s office on Dec. 9 warned that “SOMEONE, SOMEWHERE IS PLOTTING TO PUT ONE IN YOUR FACE OR HEAD!!!

“You’ll probably die ... I don’t have the (nerve) to outright kill someone ... but keep going and you will find one (who does have the nerve) ... I hope,” said the e-mail, which Rollins turned over to the US Marshals Service for investigation.

But the Marshals Service, which protects federal officials, declined to provide Rollins with a security detail after investigating the threats, the two people said. One author of a threatening e-mail apologized, the two people said, and marshals concluded Rollins was at low risk.

I szympathize with Ms Rollins having to deal with death threats.  However, there are some 30,000 federal officials who could receive protectoin from the US Marshal Serice. On the other hand, in its infinite wisdom, the US Congress has only authorized 3,067 marshalls, plus 4,700 Court Security Officers.  I pray that none of those threatening Ms Rollins have the courage, or stupidity, to try to kill or injure her.

The other thing I noted in the article was that Ms Rollins is taking a pay cut to move up to being the Federal Attorney for the full state of Massachusetts.  As the Suffolk district attorney she earned $191,000 pa.  Plus, a car, a driver and a security detail.  As the Federal Attorney she will earn $172,500, and will lose the car, driver and protection unit.  Is this a comment on Suffolk county and profligate ways, or a comment on the Federal Government, deep in debt?  Or does it mean that the Federal Government should have different pay scales for different parts of the nation?

In the mean time, regardless of our political leanings we should counsel our friends and neighbors not to use inflamtory language about our elected officils.  It is OK to call for impeachment or to circulate recall petitions.  It is not OK to threaten elected or appointed officials or their familites with physical violence.

It doesn't matter if you follow Émile Loubet or Émile Zola, one needs to have some moderation in one's approach to politicians.  Remember, the most stiupid remark of the Twentieth Century was by a member of the Frankfurt School, Professor Herbert Marcuse:  "Tear down the Weimar Republic.  Whatever replaces it has to be better."

Let us not tear down this Republic.  Whatever replaces it will likely be worse.

Regards  —  Cliff

Occupy Capitol Hill

For John, BLUF:  I suspect this scab will be picked at a lot between now and the Anniversary, in a couple of weeks.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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Another Lawsuit Holds The Key To Trump’s Best Defense Against The Jan. 6 Committee

Here is the sub-headline:

Because House Speaker Nancy Pelosi failed to appoint the requisite number of members, the Jan. 6 committee is arguably invalid under its own authorizing resolution.

From The Federalist, by Reporter Margot Cleveland, 10 December 2021.

Here are the four key paragraphs:

House Resolution 503 created the January 6, 2021, Select Committee, Meadows’s argument begins, then stressing that Section 2(a) of that resolution requires House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to “appoint 13 Members to the Select Committee, 5 of whom shall be appointed after consultation with the minority leader.” But “Speaker Pelosi has appointed only nine members to the Select Committee: seven Democrats and two Republicans,” the complaint alleges.  “None of these members was appointed from the selection of five GOP congressman put forth by Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy,” Meadows’s lawsuit continues.

Because Speaker Pelosi failed to appoint the requisite number of members, as mandated by House Resolution 503, it was “not a duly constituted Select Committee,” Meadows’s lawsuit argues.  Without establishing a duly constituted Select Committee, as mandated in the Resolution, the nine members lack the authority to act under House Resolution 503, the argument continues, including by issuing subpoenas under Section 5(c)(6) of House Resolution 503.

The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals ignored the problem caused by Pelosi’s unprecedented refusal to seat Republican Reps. Jim Jordan and Jim Banks, which led to only two representatives with Rs behind their names, Liz Cheney of Wyoming and Adam Kinzinger of Illinois, agreeing to serve on the committee.

Further, while House Resolution 503 provides for business to be conducted by a quorum of members, the problem here is not the number of members participating but the number of congressmen appointed to the committee.  Also, because House Resolution 503 requires the appointment of 13 members, Pelosi’s failure to appoint the requisite number of committee members means the select committee was never properly constituted.  That failure, Meadows’ lawsuit argues, renders the Select Committee invalid and without the authority to issue subpoenas.

This whole House Select Committee strikes me as more therater than factfinding.

I hope that all of us can focus on protecting our Republic and retain a little trust in our fellow Americans.  All of them.

One thing we can do iseschew the use of Insurrection.  If that was an insurrection, then the riots of 2020 were also an attempt to bring down the US Government.  A sense of proportion would be good.

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

Star Chamber?

For John, BLUF:  Whixh should be controlling when it comes to social/cultural issues, the welcoming nation or the culture of the immigrants coming in?  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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Denmark’s Ex-Immigration Minister Gets Jail Sentence for Ordering Separation of Child Brides From Their ‘Husbands’

Here is the sub-headline:

BBC:  “The verdict cannot be appealed and the jail sentence is unconditional, meaning that it must be served.”

Freom Legal Insurrection, by Blogger Vijeta Uniyal, 14 December 2021, 11:30am.

Here is the lede plus one:

On Monday, Denmark’s high-power court convicted Inger Stoejberg, who served as the country’s immigration minister between 2015-19, for ordering the separation of refugees couples if the woman was under 18.

Stoejberg’s 2016 order, as she argues, was aimed at stamping out the practice of child brides who were being imported into the country in the wake of the migrant wave. “A total of 23 couples were separated, with the wives ranging in age from 15 to 17 years,” Germany’s DW News reported.

Here is the really disturbing part of the story, which is why the title of this Blog:

The so-called Impeachment Court, specially set up for Stoejberg’s trial, “agreed that the order had violated Danish law and the European Convention on Human Rights,” the TV network Euronews reported.

It seems to me that if a nation has age restrictions on marriages they should be enforced on everyone.  Otherwise they should be changed to reflect what is being allowed for some.  A two tiered system is inherently unequal.

Considering that in the West young teenage bridges were accepted several centuries ago it might be the way to go, except that in our current culture education suggests that 18 is a reasonable marriage age for all.  Our culture expects youth to stay in school until graduation from high school.  It is a reasonable expectation for society today.

A special court for Ms Stoejberg seems fishy to me.

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

Nancy For Ever

For John, BLUF:  I thought she had earlier decided to retire, not that I think she is too old.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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Now We Know What Nancy Pelosi's 2022 Plans Are

From PJ Media, by Reporter Matt Margolis, 13 December 2021, 4:33 PM ET.

Here is the lede plus three:

Rumors have been going around for months that Nancy Pelosi was planning to retire.

Back in October, she refused to confirm to CNN’s Jake Tapper whether she would seek reelection, saying she had to have that conversation with her family first.

Well, I suppose she’s had the conversation, and if you were hoping Nancy would retire, I hate to break it to you, but according to CNN, she plans to stay at least until after the 2022 midterms.

“And sources familiar with Pelosi’s thinking say she isn’t ruling out the possibility of trying to stay in leadership after 2022, despite her original vow to leave as the top House Democrat,” CNN reports. “She’ll devote much of next year to raising money for Democrats as they try to hold their narrow majority, those sources tell CNN, adding to the nearly $1 billion her office calculates she has already raised for Democrats in her time as leader.”

While Speaker Pelosi is likely going to be reelected from her California District, I am doubtful the Democrats will hope a majority in the House in January 2023.

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

Very Bad, But Not a Trend

For John, BLUF:  The issue is the tornadoes that touched down along a 200 mile corridor in the US Midwest, killing over 100 people overnight between Friday night, the 10th, and Saturday morning, the 11th of December.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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Meteorologist responds with data after Joe Biden seemingly blames climate change for deadly tornados

From The Blaze, by Reporter Chris Enloe, 13 December 2021.

Here is the lede plus nine:

Meteorologist Joe Bastardi fired back at President Joe Biden for seemingly blaming the devastating tornado outbreak that struck multiple states last week on climate change.

What did Biden say?

When a reporter asked Biden on Saturday whether climate change contributed to the deadly tornados, Biden pointed to climate change allegedly increasing the intensity of storms.

"All I know is that the intensity of the weather across the board has some impacts as a consequence of the warming of the planet and climate change," Biden said. "The specific impact on these specific storms, I can't say at this point."

"I'm going to be asking the EPA and others to take a look at that," Biden continued. "But the fact is that we all know everything is more intense when the climate is warming. Everything. And obviously, it has some impact here, but I can't give you a quantitative read on that."

Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Deanne Criswell was more direct. During an interview on CNN's "State of the Union," Criswell said the extreme weather "is going to be our new normal."

"The effects we are seeing of climate change are the crisis of our generation," Criswell said.

How did Bastardi respond?

The famed meteorologist accused Biden of weaponizing tornados and shared data showing that severe weather this year has not been as severe compared to previous years.

"Clueless Joe Biden In action again with his weaponization of Tornados. 1) Violent tornadoes not increasing. 2) this year tornados, hail and wind all together near-record low," Bastardi said. "Mindless media should do their dang job and call him on it, I called Trump out on Dorian jibberish." The data Bastardi included, coming from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, directly contradicts claims from Biden and Criswell that severe weather is more intense because of climate change.

Meteoroligist Joe Bastardi?  Yes, Wikipedia has described him as a Climate chsange denier.  That seems a little harsh.  How can anyone, looking back over tens of thousands of years deny climate change?

I do think that President Biden and FEMA Director Criswell took the easy way out, appealing to their base, but the data suggests they were specifically wrong, although there may be some larger climate shift.  If you read the whole article it will suggest this is not a particularly active period for tornados.  Or huriccanes.

Regards  —  Cliff

Abolishing Math

For John, BLUF:  A little perdictability in how we measure (describe) things is good.  Two plus two must always equal four or mathematics loses its ability to convey information.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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Major News Outlet Asks if Math is Racist

By Alex Parker | Dec 10, 2021 12:15 AM ET.

Here is the lede plus four:

Have you ever considered a numerical concept and then suspected it was judging you by your color?

If so, USA Today has an article for you.

A piece published Tuesday asks, “Is math education racist?”

“Debate rages,” it claims, “over changes to how (the) U.S. teaches the subject.”

The current title is a tweak: As relayed by Fox News, the original headline posed more profoundly, “Is math racist?”

I blame people from the Indian subcontinent, for intorducing the concept of zero, and the Arabs, for giving us our znumber system, which replaced the klunky Roman Numeral system.

I, for one, like the predictability of the math I leared in K thruogh 12.  When I go to the store and buy buy watermellon and cottage cheese I feel I can depend on the numbers to always work out the same. The price may chnge, but the addition of the two items on the cash register will be consistent.  Without tht consistence, life woould be much more complex.

As for Math Eduction, that is on the Teachers' Unions.

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

Contested Races

For John, BLUF:  Dean Tran is someone who might give Republicans a shot at winning the Massachusetts Third Congressional District Seat.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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TRAN VS TRAHAN:  A CHANCE TO END THE MADNESS

Here is the sub-headline:

Former State Senator and Fitchburg City Councilor Seeks Third District Congressional Seat

From IZON GOP, by First Middlesex Mass GOP Committeeman Dennis Galvin, 10 December 2021.

Here is the lede plus one:

In a meeting today with Republican State Committeewoman Kathleen Lynch and Republican State Committeeman Dennis Galvin, former State Senator and Fitchburg City Councilor Dean Tran announced his intention to challenge Democratic Congresswoman Lori Trahan for the Third Congressional District Seat.  Tran brings energy, experience, organization and fundraising ability to the effort making this race potentially the most competitive in the Commonwealth in 2022.  Tran is a great "nuts and bolts" campaigner, who knows the game and plays hard to win.  He has assembled a great team to fill out his staff, and is poised to offer a formidable challenge to the incumbent.

Pointing to the economic, border and national security disasters of the Biden administration, Tran indicates, that he will try to return some sanity to Washington.  Energy Independence, better security and screening protocols at the border, particularly for Covid19, and improving military readiness, in the face of a rising Communist threat from China are among his top priorities.  Looking at the map, he thinks he has more than an even chance.  The newly reorganized third congressional district now extends from Haverhill to Gardner, and south to Concord Action and Clinton.  Tran is confident that he will be very competitive particularly in the district’s cities of Gardner, Fitchburg, Lowell, Lawrence and Haverhill.

Recent polling suggests that Democrats in Congress are in trouble.  Their plans seem to be rooted in a wrong understanding of the economy and what it takes to get it turned around.  There is a good chance that Republicans running for the House and the Senate will offer up ideas that will capture the voters.

This means that local Republicans need to "Get ready to get to work!".

Regards  —  Cliff

Julian Assange Coming to America

For John, BLUF:  This is a saga that has gone on for too long a time.  It should have been ended under the last administration.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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Julian Assange Loses Appeal:  British High Court Accepts U.S. Request to Extradite Him for Trial

Here is the sub-headline:

Press freedom groups have warned Assange's prosecution is a grave threat.  The Biden DOJ ignored them, and today won a major victory toward permanently silencing the pioneering transparency activist.

From Greenwald Substack, by Reporter Glenn Greenwald, 19 December 2021.

Here is the lede plus one:

In a London courtroom on Friday morning, Julian Assange suffered a devastating blow to his quest for freedom.  A two-judge appellate panel of the United Kingdom's High Court ruled that the U.S.'s request to extradite Assange to the U.S. to stand trial on espionage charges is legally valid.

As a result, that extradition request will now be sent to British Home Secretary Prita Patel, who technically must approve all extradition requests but, given the U.K. Government's long-time subservience to the U.S. security state, is all but certain to rubber-stamp it.  Assange's representatives, including his fiancee Stella Morris, have vowed to appeal the ruling, but today's victory for the U.S. means that Assange's freedom, if it ever comes, is further away than ever: not months but years even under the best of circumstances.

This is not a good turn for press freedom, either in the UK or the US.  I wonder what they are afraid of.

As an aside, I did think that Mr Greenwald was a bit snarky about the UK being subservient to the US in the area of national security.  However, the issue of press freedom should be paramount for both nations.

Regards  —  Cliff

Mass and Cass Crime

For John, BLUF:  When the local news starts reporting on crime in areas where the homeless congregate it is a sign that action needs to be taken.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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‘I’m unnerved by it’:  Attorney calls for change after he says he was attacked while driving through Boston

From WHDH (7 News), by Reporter Nick Emmons, 9 December 2021.

Here is the lede plus three:

BOSTON (WHDH) - A local attorney says he feared for his life after he was attacked while driving in Boston.

After meeting with a client at the South Bay jail, Hassan Williams said he beeped at a man for blocking traffic near an intersection in the area of Massachusetts Avenue and Melnea Cass Boulevard — an area plagued by homelessness and drug use.

That is when he said another man came forward and began swinging a broken piece of a wheelchair at his car.  The discarded footpad shattered Williams’ windshield and passenger side window and ended up on the floorboard among scattered shards of glass.  Another person allegedly threw some food at the car as well.

“I have food and bodily fluids all over my car because I couldn’t get out of the car, because I have a mob sitting outside the car.  I couldn’t stay in the car because I have a guy smashing my car,” he explained.  “I’m like, what the heck am I gonna do?”

The first lesson to be learned is that one should avoid locations where the homeless congregate.

The second lesson to be learned is that if in an area where homeless congregate one should not call attention to oneself, nor should one irritate the homeless milling around.

That said, this is about policing in cities.  There need to be minimum standards of behavior, enforced.  There needs to be mental health help for those who need it.  Open drug markets need to be suppressed.  Safe spaces to walk zre needed.  This is local government.  Stte Government can help, but it is about local government setting and enforcing stndards.  And it is about local residents getting out and voting.  Nothing gets the attention of politicians like a strong voter turnout

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

Pearl Harbor Day

For John, BLUF:  thanks to the Greatest Generation for doing its duty.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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VICTOR DAVIS HANSON ON PEARL HARBOR

5 Minute, 55 Second video

This is a good overview of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, why it happened, why it both succeed and failed and the eventual cost of the war in the Pacific.  Worth the six minutes to click and view.

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

Pueblo Indian Society Overcomes Disaster

For John, BLUF:  There was history in North American before the coming of the British.  Here is an example of a society that coped well for several centuries.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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One American Culture Actually Benefited From 'The Worst Year in Human History'

From Science Alert, by Reporter Mike McRae, 3 DECEMBER 2021.

Here is the lede plus two:

As far as years go, you could do a lot better than 536 CE. By some historians' standards, it may have well been 'the worst year to be alive in human history'. Depending on where a person lived around the globe, those cold, bleak times kept on truly sucking for many years to come.

Now, it seems it might not have been the worst thing, at least for the Ancestral Puebloan communities who occupied the southwestern US. In fact, the darkness of this brief, global ice age might have heralded a bright new day for their culture.

A study conducted by a team of archeologists and anthropologists from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), and Colorado State University in the US has uncovered signs that the population spread across the Four Corners region not only recovered from a catastrophic climate shift in the mid-6th century – in some ways they came back stronger than ever.

To understand the climate issue, consider that reports were of a sun performing like the moon, due to an atmosphere obscuring the sun due to volcanoes:

Today, it appears this sun-shielding fog had its origins in a series of volcanic eruptions across the Americas, which spewed enough ash into the atmosphere to turn summer into winter across much of the Northern Hemisphere.

Just five years later, a good chunk of the Roman population would fall beneath a plague like no other. Oh, and another colossal volcanic event, this time in El Salvador, churned out even more ash to top it all off.

Life in North America wasn't much better. Measurements of tree rings from northern Arizona reveal a drop in temperature and precipitation that lasted for decades.

Yet archaeological records show that in spite of these challenging times, the Ancient Puebloans would go on to develop a rich, complex culture that would thrive for centuries.

So, are we as a society ready to meet the new social challenges that would be posed by a rapid climate change or some other environmental or economic change?  Not some gradual climate change, but rather a rapid onset, one that included major challenges in food production and in other activities, including new diseases and a gloomy atmosphere?

I am not sure the Biden Administration and the "Green New Deal would be what we would need in such a crisis.  I suspect we would benefit most from decentralized empowerment.

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff