tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30466284932836082332024-03-15T22:01:10.705-04:00Right-Side-of-Lowell“You have to join the side you’re on.”<br>
Midge DecterUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger10249125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3046628493283608233.post-44706073984119410102024-03-11T15:10:00.002-04:002024-03-11T15:12:15.883-04:00Stopping The Donald<br /><FONT COLOR=BLACK><b><A HREF="http://world.std.com/~crk/BLUF.html">For John, BLUF</A></b>: <I>There are a noticable number of Democrats who are exploring ways to thwart Former President Donald Trump from regaining the Oval Office. Nothing to see here; just move along.</I><P><hr /><br />
<div align="center"><a href="https://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/biden_administration/most_democrats_don_t_want_congress_to_certify_election_if_trump_wins"><h2>Most Democrats Don’t Want Congress to Certify Election if Trump Wins
</h2></a></div><br />
From <I>Rasmussen Reports</I>, on 11 March 2024.<p>
Here is the lede plus three:
<blockquote>After the Supreme Court rejected attempts to disqualify former President Donald Trump from the ballot, a majority of Democratic voters now support another way to block Trump’s possible return to the White House.<p>
A national telephone and online survey by Rasmussen Reports and The National Pulse finds that 35% of Likely U.S. Voters say, if Trump wins this year’s election, they would support Democrats in Congress refusing to certify the election results, including 20% who would Strongly Support such a move. However, a majority (55%) would oppose Congress members refusing to certify a Trump victory, including 44% who Strongly Oppose the idea. Another 10% are not sure. (To see survey question wording, <a href="https://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/questions/questions/march_2024/questions_election_certification_march_5_7_2024">click here</a>.)<p>
Before the Supreme Court ruled against Colorado’s effort to bar Trump from the ballot in that state, it was suggested that <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/media/house-democrats-could-vote-against-certifying-trump-hes-elected-writes-atlantic">Democrats in Congress could stop Trump from being certified</a> as the election winner.<p>
Fifty-seven percent (57%) of Democratic voters would support such a maneuver, including 34% who Strongly Support it. However, the idea of Congress blocking Trump from office is opposed by majorities of both Republicans (78%) and voters not affiliated with either major party (67%).</blockquote>
One wonders if they would be willing to show up, and demonstrate on Capitol Hill, ahead of the vote come januasry 2025. <i>Mais non Monsieur</i>. Good, America loving Democrats would never do such a thing. Or would they?<P>
Perhaps the old saw applies—What goes around comes around.<P>
Stopping Donald J Trump, through means fair or foul, seems to dominate the thinking of Democrats. Or is it just the Progreswsives?<p>
Regards — Cliff<br />
<small></small><P></FONT>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3046628493283608233.post-90728454193529546062024-03-10T18:26:00.001-04:002024-03-10T18:31:11.994-04:006 Jan Issues Again Surface<br /><FONT COLOR=BLACK><b><A HREF="http://world.std.com/~crk/BLUF.html">For John, BLUF</A></b>: <I>Some wish to make 6 january into a terrible tragedy and a threat to our way of Governmnent. I am not sure they are convincing. Nothing to see here; just move along.</I><P><hr /><br />
<div align="center"><a href="https://www.theblaze.com/news/liz-cheney-jan-6-committee-suppressed-key-evidence-of-trump-pushing-for-10000-national-guard-troops-to-protect-capitol-report?utm_source=theblaze-breaking&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=New-Trending-Story_WEEKEND%202024-03-10&utm_term=ACTIVE%20LIST%20-%20TheBlaze%20Breaking%20News&tpcc=email"><h2>Liz Cheney, Jan. 6 Committee suppressed key evidence of Trump pushing for 10,000 National Guard troops to protect Capitol: Report
</h2></a></div><br />
From <I>Blaze Media</I>, by Reporter Paul Sacca, 10 March 2024.<p>
Here is the lede plus six:
<blockquote>Former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) and the January 6 Committee suppressed key evidence that former President Donald Trump pushed for 10,000 National Guard troops to protect the U.S. Capitol building ahead of the riots, according to a report.<p>
Cheney and the Democratic-led House Select Committee on January 6 contended that there was "no evidence" to support Trump officials' claims the White House had pressed for 10,000 National Guard troops ahead of the protests in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 6, 2021.<p>
However, a transcribed interview conducted by the committee from January 2022 appears to show evidence that Trump urged Democrat leadership to bring in thousands of National Guard troops to prevent any widespread violence on Jan. 6, according to a new report from The Federalist.<p>
Then-Deputy Chief of Staff Anthony Ornato was interviewed by the committee on Jan. 28, 2022. The transcripts show that he told Cheney and other investigators that he overheard White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows urge Democrat D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser to request as many National Guard troops as she needed to protect the city before the demonstrations centered around the results of the 2020 presidential election.<p>
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Ornato testified that Meadows "wanted to know if she need[ed] any more guardsmen."<p>
"And I remember the number 10,000 coming up of, you know, 'The president wants to make sure that you have enough.' You know, 'He is willing to ask for 10,000.' I remember that number," Ornato told the January 6 Committee. "Now that you said it, it reminded me of it. And that she was all set. She had, I think it was like 350 or so for intersection control, and those types of things not in the law enforcement capacity at the time."<p>
Mollie Ziegler Hemingway wrote, "Not only did the committee not accurately characterize the interview, they suppressed the transcript from public review. On top of that, committee allies began publishing critical stories and even conspiracy theories about Ornato ahead of follow-up interviews with him. Ornato was a career Secret Service official who had been detailed to the security position in the White House."</blockquote>
President Biden's <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2024/03/07/state-of-the-union-2024-transcript/72890173007/">State of the Union</a> characterization of our political ssituation is dire:
<blockquote>Not since President Lincoln and the Civil War have freedom and democracy been under assault here at home as they are today.</blockquote>
Do we believe that, aside from the persecution of Donald Trump by a form of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lawfare">Lawfare</a>,<font COLOR=BLACK><small><b>♠</b></small></FONT> that our political system is in trouble? I am not so sure. How does it compare to the Palmer Raids or the 47,000 who showed up for the Bonus March? What about the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1954_United_States_Capitol_shooting">shoot-up of the House of Representatives</a>, wounding four Congressmen, back on 1 March 1954, just over 70 years ago?<P>
A for the 6 January 2021 event itself, there is too much hand waving to satisfy me. For example, the murder of Ashley Babbitt. The pipe bombs. The Capitol Police waving in visitors. The failure to release hours of video. The fact that arrests in the wake of of 6 January <a href="https://www.npr.org/2024/01/06/1223331945/jan-6-investigations-update">are increasing today</a>, rather than decreasing.<font COLOR=RED><small><b>♥</B></small></FONT> However, there are certain time limits. U.S. Attorney for D.C. Matt Graves s<a href="https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/3-years-jan-6-numbers-1200-charged-460/story?id=106140326">ays the statutes of limitations for many of the charges used by prosecutors will expire on 5 January 2026</a> – "on the eve of the riot's five-year anniversary."<P>
If then Speaker Nancy Pelosi has not appeared to stack the Special Committee I would be more trusting of the cohnclusions. As it is, it appears tainted and that is on Ms Pelosi.<p>
Regards — Cliff<br />
<small></small>
<font COLOR=BLACK><small><b>♠</b></small></FONT> The thing most glaring to me is the way DoJ has passed over Preside4nbt Biden's mishandling of classified information from when he was a Senator and Vice president, but prosecution of President Trump for like offenses, from when Mr Trump was President, when he had vastly greater powers. while some don't see it, it screams at me.</ br>
<font COLOR=RED><small><b>♥</B></small></FONT> Is this some form of political intimidation?<P></FONT>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3046628493283608233.post-68951898901955699362024-03-07T11:06:00.000-05:002024-03-07T11:06:21.398-05:00Fighting Trump All the Way<br /><FONT COLOR=BLACK><b><A HREF="http://world.std.com/~crk/BLUF.html">For John, BLUF</A></b>: <I>I expect Democrats to fight a Trump Second Term through Inauguration and beyond. Nothing to see here; just move along.</I><P><hr /><br />
<div align="center"><a href="https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/essays-and-commentaries/if-trump-wins-in-november-expect-a-real-insurrection-from-democrats/"><h2>If Trump wins in November, expect a real insurrection from Democrats
</h2></a></div><br />
Here is the sub-headline:<p>
<div align="center"><h3>Hostile to freedom, fair elections, and America itself.</h3></div><p>
From <I>Behind the Black</I>, by Blogger Robert Zimmerman, 6 March 2024 3:29 pm.<p>
Here is the lede plus five:
<blockquote>The reaction by Democratic Party politicians and pundits to the Supreme Court ruling on March 4, 2024 — voiding the effort by Colorado to throw Donald Trump off its ballot — reveals some very fundamental realities that must be faced by all Americans. To put it bluntly: These Democrats have no intention of accepting a victory by Donald Trump in the upcoming election, even if he should win by a majority so vast that no amount of election rigging can disguise it.<p>
The first reaction to that decision was a major tell. Jean Griswold is the secretary of state of Colorado who had taken Trump off the ballot, claiming he was an insurrectionist even though that was merely her opinion as Trump has not only never been convicted of that crime, he has not even been charged with it. Immediately after the court rejected her actions unanimously, she tweeted the following:
<blockquote>I am disappointed in the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision stripping states of the authority to enforce Section 3 of the 14th Amendment for federal candidates. Colorado should be able to bar oath-breaking insurrections from our ballot.</blockquote>
Spurred by her blind hatred of Trump, Griswold’s refusal to deal with reality here is disturbing, to say the least. First, the court made it very clear, unanimously, that the states don’t have this authority when it comes to federal elections. That she as a lawyer could not recognize the plain legal arguments here that were agreed to by even the most radical leftists on the court indicates how blind she has become to reasonable disagreement.<p>
Second, Griswold clearly thinks she by herself, based on nothing but her opinion, has the right to determine who is or is not an insurrectionist. In a country where by law and a very long tradition all people are innocent until proven guilty, by what law does she think she has that right?<p>
The bottom line is that Griswold reveals the mindset of the Democrat Party. They are mentally unprepared to accept a Trump election victory, no matter what, and will do anything to block his victory.</blockquote>
I think Mr Zimmerman may be underplaying the hostility of Progressives to Mr Trump and his reelection. I have been reading about a broad range of people, with a broad range of ways of thwarting the election and inauguration of Mr Trump. Then there are the <a href="https://www.newsweek.com/legal-experts-gearing-feared-military-takeover-donald-trump-1860586">eg,</a>) of the nation talking about thwarting Mr Trump if he makes it to the Oval Office.<P>
It would appear that the Progressives have adopted as their motto <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Bến_Tre">"We had to destory the village in order to save it."</a>. that is a pretty stark view of the situation. I winoder wht the villagers thought?<P>
Hat tip to the <I>InstaPundit</I>.<P>
Regards — Cliff<br />
<small></small><P></FONT>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3046628493283608233.post-88560482099329372582024-03-02T06:30:00.001-05:002024-03-02T06:30:00.129-05:00Getting to the Truth<br /><FONT COLOR=BLACK><b><A HREF="http://world.std.com/~crk/BLUF.html">For John, BLUF</A></b>: <I>It takes Mr Kruiser a while to get to his point. But, it is an important one. Governments are not the best way to deal with false information. They have a bad track record in that area. Nothing to see here; just move along.</I><P><hr /><br />
<div align="center"><a href="https://pjmedia.com/stephen-kruiser/2024/02/29/msnbc-legal-lunatic-frets-over-americas-deep-commitment-to-free-speech-n4926889"><h2>MSNBC Legal Lunatic Frets Over America's 'Deep Commitment to Free Speech'
</h2></a></div><br />
Here is the sub-headline:<p>
<div align="center"><h3></h3></div><p>
From <I>PJ Media</I>, by Reporter Stephen Kruiser 29 February 2024, 2:48 PM.<p>
Here is the lede plus nine:
<blockquote>In the ever-leftward marching world of the erstwhile American political party known as the Democrats, assaults on our most cherished constitutional freedoms are the cornerstone of their efforts to fundamentally transform the Republic.<p>
We're all used to them making a lot of noise about their disdain for the Second Amendment. The right to keep and bear arms is one of the few freedoms that they're at least a little bit honest about wanting to take away. They may not admit to their gun-grabbing fantasies, but many of them now don't say "no" when asked if that's the end game. <p>
The assault on due process is mostly denial-based. They've been using college campuses to test market their gulag/kangaroo court approach to justice for years now. That approach was put into public practice with their treatment of the J6 defendants. When any of the Democratic elite are pressed about the J6 victims of injustice, however, they get the kind of blank stare that Joe Biden would if someone told him to find the exit on his own after a speech.<p>
The Democrats' assault on the First Amendment has always been the most complex of their anti-American initiatives for a couple of reasons. One is that they love to cherry-pick the First Amendment when needing justification for their war on religion or their right to riot and burn everything to the ground peaceably assemble. The other is that they need to avail themselves of the very right that they seek to destroy.<p>
Awkward.<p>
Leftists come at free speech from a variety of euphemism-laden angles, the most popular one of late being a concern about "disinformation." Caterwauling about disinformation was key to the Democrats' political weaponization of the COVID-19 pandemic.<p>
They had so much success with it that they're not letting it go.<p>
<i><a href="https://nypost.com/2024/02/29/us-news/msnbc-legal-analyst-says-first-amendment-makes-us-vulnerable-calls-for-common-sense-speech-restrictions/?utm_campaign=nypost&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter">The New York Post</a></i>:
<blockquote>MSNBC legal analyst Barbara McQuade argued Monday that the United States’ “deep commitment to free speech” makes Americans uniquely susceptible to disinformation campaigns.<p>
McQuade, a University of Michigan law professor, went on “The Rachel Maddow Show” to promote her new book, “Attack from Within: How Disinformation is Sabotaging America.” She said her “goal” with the book was to spark a “national conversation about truth and our commitment to it.” </blockquote></blockquote>
Professor McQuade sounds like that Army Spokesman from the Viet-nam War: "We had to destroy the village in order to save it."<P>
We have been sorting through misinformation and disinformation since we got here. And think of the Vikings, with that whole Iceland/Greenland thing.<P>
For over two hundred years we have been well served by freedom of information. This era is no more fraught than others in our history. We can deal with it. Give us access and let us sort it out. After all, that is what Voting is all about.<p>
Hat tip to the <I>InstaPundit</I>.<P>
Regards — Cliff<br />
<small></small><P></FONT>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3046628493283608233.post-36606669127608971112024-03-02T06:00:00.001-05:002024-03-02T06:00:00.343-05:00Except When Inconvenient<br /><FONT COLOR=BLACK><b><A HREF="http://world.std.com/~crk/BLUF.html">For John, BLUF</A></b>: <I>A Federal Judge has decided that press freedoms don't apply in his courtroom. Sad. Very sad. Nothing to see here; just move along.</I><P><hr /><br />
<div align="center"><a href="https://www.theblaze.com/news/judge-holds-catherine-herridge-in-contempt?utm_source=theblaze-breaking&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=The%20Blaze%20PM%20Trending%202024-03-01&utm_term=ACTIVE%20LIST%20-%207%20Day%20Engagement&tpcc=email"><h2>Judge holds Catherine Herridge in contempt, fines her $800 per day for protecting source. But where is the media outrage?
</h2></a></div><br />
From <I>The Blaze</I>, by Reporter Chris Enloe, 1 March 2024.<p>
Here is the lede plus one:
<blockquote>federal judge held veteran investigative reporter Catherine Herridge in civil contempt of court on Thursday for upholding journalistic ethics and not revealing her confidential sources.<p>
Federal district Judge Christopher Cooper ordered Herridge to pay a fine of $800 per day until she divulges the information the court wants.</blockquote>
I would say $800 a day is serious money. In a month that is $24,000. In less than a year it is a nice home in some suburb. And, it is outrageous.<P>
What is happening to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freedom_of_the_press">Freedom of the Press</a>?.<P>
Yes, the media is a mixed bag, but we still need press freedom so we are somewhat informed and able to have insight into wat the government, at whatever level, is up to.<P>
Regards — Cliff<br />
<small></small><P></FONT>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3046628493283608233.post-59134667406715838562024-02-26T13:58:00.003-05:002024-03-02T03:26:04.906-05:00The End Game for Mr Hur<br /><FONT COLOR=BLACK><b><A HREF="http://world.std.com/~crk/BLUF.html">For John, BLUF</A></b>: <I>DOJ Special Prosecuter Robert K Hur concluded that the Federal Government should not prosecute President Joe Biden for the mishandling of classified information. He did it in a way to protect Special Prosecutor <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smith_special_counsel_investigation">Jack Smith's</a> case againt Donald J Trump for a similar activity. Nothing to see here; just move along.</I><P><hr /><br />
<div align="center"><a href="https://dailycaller.com/2024/02/25/byron-donalds-kristen-welker-clash-robert-hur-report-conclusion-joe-biden-donald-trump-meet-press/"><h2>‘No, No, No, No, No’: Rep. Byron Donalds, NBC Host Kristen Welker Clash Over Hur Report’s Conclusion
</h2></a></div><br />
From <I>The Daily Caller</I>, by Reporter Hailey Gomez, 25 February 2024, 2:42 PM ET.<p>
Here is the lede plus one:
<blockquote>Florida Republican Rep. Byron Donalds and NBC host Kristen Welker clashed Sunday over the conclusion from special counsel Robert Hur’s report which investigated President Biden’s handling of classified documents.<p>
Donalds appeared on “Meet the Press” to discuss his support of former President Donald Trump for the upcoming general election. During the interview, Welker questioned the congressman on a claim from Biden campaign co-chair Cedric Richmond calling a recent comment from Trump over his criminal charges “plain racist.”</blockquote>
My interest is further down, where Host Kristen Welker tried to say that Special Council Robert K Hur didn't have enough evidence:
<blockquote>“Hold on, I have to hit the pause button for one minute, Congressman, because the Hur report was very clear that there was not enough evidence to bring charges against President Biden and that ultimately there was not —,” Welker stated before Donalds cut in.</blockquote>
It would seem Ms Welker missed this sentence in Mr Hur's report:
<blockquote>Our investigation uncovered evidence that President Biden willfully retained and disclosed classified materials after his vice presidency when he was a private citizen.</blockquote>
That seems pretty straight forward. As someone who has handled classified information I would take that as saying Mr Biden broke the rules. If that sentence had been written about one of my Brothers i would recommend they hire a lawyer immnediately. Handling classified information is serious business.<P>
Perhaps Ms Welker was mislead by the first paragraph of <a href="https://www.justice.gov/storage/report-from-special-counsel-robert-k-hur-february-2024.pdf">Mr Hur's Report Executive Summary</a>:
<blockquote>We conclude that no criminal charges are warranted in this matter. We would reach the same conclusion even if Department of Justice policy did not foreclose criminal charges against a sitting president.</blockquote>
Yes, and the Report goes on:
<blockquote>However, for the reasons summarized below, we conclude that the evidence does not establish Mr. Biden's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Prosecution of Mr. Biden is also unwarranted based on our consideration of the aggravating and mitigating factors set forth in the Department of Justice's Principles of Federal
Prosecution. For these reasons, we decline prosecution of Mr. Biden.
</blockquote>
This is where the "diminished faculties and faulty memory" came in:
<blockquote>Mr. Biden's memory was significantly limited, both during his recorded interviews with the ghostwriter in 2017, and in his interview with our office in 2023.</blockquote>
The more expanded version <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/joe-biden/special-counsel-says-evidence-biden-willfully-retained-disclosed-class-rcna96666">is</a>:
<blockquote>We have also considered that, at trial, Mr. Biden would likely present himself to a jury, as he did during our interview of him, as a sympathetic, well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory, Based on our direct interactions with and observations of him, he is someone for whom many jurors will want to identify reasonable doubt. It would be difficult to convince a jury that they should convict him — by then a former president well into his eighties — of a serious felony that requires a mental state of willfulness.</blockquote>
I would suggesst that in order to prevent long term libility for the President, Mr Hur had to fuzz up the ability to obtain a guilty verdict. If he did not, then his efforts to exonerate President Biden would then be turned against DoJ in terms of its efforts to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_prosecution_of_Donald_Trump_%28classified_documents_case%29">prosecute President Trump</a>.<P>
I suggest that a conclusion was drawn that the easiest way to protect President Biden from prosecution, while not getting in the way of the prosecution of Mr Trump for similiar activites, was to suggest a jury would view Mr Biden sympathetically, due to his age and faulty memory. He would remind them of a beloved Grandparent.<P>
At the same time the President would need to be able to show his strength, so as to avoid removal from office under the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twenty-fifth_Amendment_to_the_United_States_Constitution">Twenty-Fifth Amendment</a>. Or be removed from the Democratic Party 2024 ticket.<p>
Meanwhile, the prosecution of Mr Trump could proceed.<p>
It worked. The report came out. Mr Biden held a Press Conference where he did pretty well, showing himself fit to be President. And, Mr Trump is still under indictment.<p>
The down side is that this will increase the cynicism of a portion of our Citizens and lead to even more distrust of the Department of Justice. If this group is merely from the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basket_of_deplorables">Basket of Deplorables</a>, then it may be an acceptable outcome for Democrats.<p>
Regards — Cliff<br />
<small></small><P></FONT>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3046628493283608233.post-44902542085946391222024-02-21T09:15:00.002-05:002024-02-21T09:15:34.852-05:00Farewell NYC<br /><FONT COLOR=BLACK><b><A HREF="http://world.std.com/~crk/BLUF.html">For John, BLUF</A></b>: <I>Did the Empire State shoot itself in the foot by going after Mr Donald Trump? Nothing to see here; just move along.</I><P><hr /><br />
<div align="center"><a href="https://thehill.com/business/4477608-kevin-oleary-says-he-will-no-longer-invest-in-loser-new-york-after-trump-verdict/"><h2>Kevin O’Leary says he will no longer invest in ‘loser’ New York after Trump verdict
</h2></a></div><br />
From <I>The Hill</I>, by Reporter Miranda Nazzaro, 19 February 2024, 8:17 PM ET.<p>
Here is the lede plus one:
<blockquote>“Shark Tank” investor Kevin O’Leary ripped into what he called “loser” New York and vowed to no longer invest in the state, when asked about a New York court’s $355 million verdict against former President Trump last week.<p>
Trump, his business and his top executives — including the former president’s sons — were dealt a major blow last Friday when Judge Arthur Engoron ordered him to pay more than $355 million for conspiring to alter his net worth to receive tax and insurance benefits. The order also blocks Trump from participating in New York business for three years.<p>
“This award, I mean, just leaving the whole Trump thing out of it and seeing what occurred here … And I’m no different than any other investor, I’m shocked at this,” O’Leary said in an interview Monday with Fox Business. “I can’t even understand or fathom the decision at all. There’s no rationale for it.”<p>
The award was part of New York Attorney General Letitia James’s (D) lawsuit against the former president, the Trump organization and his executives based on more than a decade of fraud and capped off a months-long civil fraud trial in the state.<p>
O’Leary, the chairman of O’Leary Ventures, argued New York was “already a loser state,” citing policy, high taxes and uncompetitive regulation as primary reasons.<p>
“It was already on the top of the list of being a loser state. I would never invest in New York now,” O’Leary said. “And I’m not the only person saying that.” </blockquote>
Here is the <a href="https://www.theepochtimes.com/us/businessmen-say-they-will-no-longer-invest-in-new-york-after-justice-engorons-trump-ruling-5590942?utm_source=goodeveningnoe&src_src=goodeveningnoe&utm_campaign=gv-2024-02-20&src_cmp=gv-2024-02-20&utm_medium=email&est=AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAbOAqZxoCzuHF6f0NsWgNMr6RbaWT3VoASWdQDSSz"><I>Epoch Times</I></a> report on the same srory. And, <a href="https://notthebee.com/article/kevin-oleary-says-the-business-world-is-scared-after-trump-verdict-i-would-never-invest-in-new-york-now-im-not-the-only-person-saying-that"><i>Not he Bee</i></a>.<P>
Remember Mr Trump's signature catch phrase. "Thet're not after me. They are after you? I am just in the way." I think for a lot of voters that rings true.<P>
Time will tell if Mr O'Leary's prediction comes true. In the mean time, I don't see how the levied fines can not have an impact on Mr Trump's businesses. In the mean time, where does Mayor Eric Adams turn the next time he needs an ice skating rink rehabilitated.<p>
Regards — Cliff<br />
<small></small><P></FONT>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3046628493283608233.post-82279126404816008132024-02-20T09:55:00.000-05:002024-02-20T09:55:53.937-05:00Faux Pas While Telling the Truth<br /><FONT COLOR=BLACK><b><A HREF="http://world.std.com/~crk/BLUF.html">For John, BLUF</A></b>: <I>Beneth the talk of Candidate Trump trash talking some of our allies is the question of if alliances like NATO are still worth the effort. Nothing to see here; just move along.</I><P><hr /><br />
<div align="center"><a href="https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/7d420cd1-68e9-4960-aa31-613e7947ea1f?shareToken=4efd2993936fefad8d0f10dbf6c9284f"><h2>Whether it’s Donald Trump or Joe Biden, Nato’s in trouble
</h2></a></div><br />
<i></i>
Here is the sub-headline:<p>
<div align="center"><h3>Alliance cannot count on a Trump-led America to join it in repelling Putin or a Biden-led America to free up social funds for the nation’s military</h3></div><p>
From <I>The Sunday Times</I>, by <a href="https://www.thetimes.co.uk/profile/irwin-stelzer?page=1">Dr Iarwin Stelzer</a>, Sunday 18 February 2024, 12.04am GMT.<p>
Here is the lede plus four:
<blockquote>Donald Trump did it again. The 450 senior decision-makers gathered at the Munich Security Conference this weekend had Trump and more Trump on their minds. Which is what Trump, for whom attention is the oxygen he breathes, had in mind when he invited Russia to “do whatever the hell they want” to any Nato member that has not met its informal commitment to spend 2 per cent of its GDP on its military.<p>
Embarrassing Germany was undoubtedly an added attraction to the man who never forgets a slight, which Angela Merkel dished out more than once when she was chancellor.<p>
Eighteen of the 31 European alliance members will hit the 2 per cent target this year. So will the alliance taken as a whole. Germany will not. Relatively rich, with a GDP per capita of more than $50,000, Germany spends a mere 1.4 per cent of its GDP on defence.<p>
In 2022, the head of the Bundeswehr admitted: “The army that I am allowed to lead is more or less empty.” Experts reckon it would take four-to-ten years of enhanced spending to create a military that would be able to defend the nation from a Russian attack.<p>
Poland, with a GDP per capita of only slightly more than $18,000, devotes 3.9 per cent of its GDP to its defence, and has about twice the number of active-duty personnel as Germany. History and proximity to Putin does that to a nation’s priorities.</blockquote>
From <i><a href="https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/2858485/trump-is-right-about-nato-burden-sharing/">The Washington Examiner</a></i> we have a similar view, but from <i><a href="https://www.wsj.com/world/can-loose-lips-sink-an-alliance-c7625f3d?mod=Searchresults_pos2&page=1">The Wall Street Journal</a></i> we have a voice saying "As Trump sows doubt about U.S. commitment to NATO, allies warn deterrence is fraying." .<P>
we have two questions to ask ourselves:
<OL><LI>Does having allies enhance our national security?</LI><LI>Is the cost of any particular alliance more than the cost of providing equivient capabilities ourselves?</LI></OL>
Given our own limitations in terms of available personnel and the value of forward basing,<font COLOR=BLACK><b><small>♠</small></B></FONT>, I would say allies are a benefit. However, allies who increase our risk of involvement in a regional war, but bring little to nothing to the fight<font COLOR=RED><b> <small>♥ </small> </B></FONT> are of dubious value.<P>
Mt Trump's problem is he has a tendency to say the silent part out loud. It makes him a poor diplomat. But, perhaps, it makes him a good negotiator.<P>
Regards — Cliff<br />
<small></small><P><font COLOR=BLACK><b><small>♠</small></B></FONT> And the risks.<br>
<font COLOR=RED><b> <small>♥ </small> </B></FONT> Perhaps increasing the risk of such a fight.</FONT>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3046628493283608233.post-19649248116690417612024-02-19T20:55:00.005-05:002024-02-19T20:55:43.344-05:00Disappointed Shopper<br /><FONT COLOR=BLACK><b><A HREF="http://world.std.com/~crk/BLUF.html">For John, BLUF</A></b>: <I>I was disappointed by the merchandise selection at Staples this afternoon. Nothing to see here; just move along.</I><P><hr /><br />
<div align="center"><a href=""><h2>
</h2></a></div><br />
I went to the Staples in Chelmsford, Massachusetts, today, to buy a package of printer paper (a ream).<P>
Along the way I picked up a fountain pen, to replace my <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Lamy-Safari-Fountain-Pen-Charcoal/dp/B0002T401Y/ref=sr_1_4?crid=PROTY5A02W8U&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.IfzMWOGuXnJ-p0As1AfNTy6w8H7ZGIy0PoVIo9diUPFanyNSNyCuN_rN4HSNV1QmvbRZoxd3oTTeTA2bF094WO5egl90Yhtw-V-2V0COtd_kd_yTpcR-7U137xaUBxA49XLPp5AZCbQ4DaydmkCf5RGIJz8zM1I0lcsFtYv5gjuAVaDZHC8QWoFk6i-PKiANSrrYMYrczDGZYtIdCyzKprj8-s97U5js5N0PP_LZMq9Ip4Vh7tpPP4nDGpAFIDqeU6JzqPDXSA7rVNYPefbQDtbnSubVb2D1MCRHKAShit0.vieP5UW2aVCPJW8KhLy1dIbHoGJ2ReiMxJEZOnseP8E&dib_tag=se&keywords=fountain+pens+for+writing+Lamy+Safari&qid=1708391313&sprefix=fountain+pens+for+writing+lamy+safari+%2Caps%2C172&sr=8-4">Lamy Safari</a>, which is not working, even after I put in a new cartridege and ran the tip under the fauct. However, when i looked around, i could find no replacement cartridges in the aisle. I asked a clerk and he said they did not carry spare cartridges. Does it make sense to sell a pen without additional cartridges. Is the Lamy, at $24.99 (as I recall), a disposable pen? Or does Staples want me to buy <a href="https://www.amazon.com/LAMY-Black-T10-Cartridges-LT10BKB/dp/B000FA5E7E/ref=sr_1_2?crid=1OTV9UD2QM8GM&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.h5EiMdzTeZ-o3C8j450bUhNP2XB9ugaaq2zsCKY0SuLh3tm-3dOLRjN_sEE3Yfmx9Wh2ad2OzaNNS42dn4y5bgdIU2bIbLuWjli44QmhbFt0Yrv3yrUk1TlBijzXCCPe40_srESYdQj6HK-TySmbt6SmSE-JFjNDxP_w_ZxILJo2mKNWrKdbCtYbe4jfWD01UrVNZifn5Yd3C4RLDkPiDky9BMk6f3X0c9EQ8p7Ih_V--iEoPjsuRKb8yiFE6RViLP10vz7YOOkDPNBxpG9qFzRj85Q7RRRgD60l1eURkac.iAlRImJFq8vAgMQfC0qy-S2weR_U9Ntin0RavuhnNcs&dib_tag=se&keywords=lamy%2Bsafari%2Bfountain%2Bpen%2Bink%2Bcartridges&qid=1708391986&sprefix=lamy%2Bpen%2Bcart%2Caps%2C147&sr=8-2&th=1">ink cartridges from Amazon</a>? I find that poor customer support.<P>
Then I asked about clam clips. I am looking for a <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Portable-Handheld-Dispenser-Reusable-Stainless/dp/B0BDRP6RBR/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3W4FT1U5GTOS8&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.3pNJOupNI0wnZXJwAVBsDW4e8J7c5brq3Lp3TkzgaS4Po1jacMRvgX_nCJj33ubho6hjGYiIzsnIPz4ME4CSXmAIoK-hNe83BNTOZgx0tKQmmaTCg5ME0zipBcvQ3kzSSsgqhz8CfEh1hJbi73nSw1ApOsM1gVMOq-F7MtKpZ0qfkWV3gV2aLxQSTPT5wq37QIyJq7oEq5H2RRoiCb6FQS_JJThcgaDkpbUMSiH1tHTbmSNczlexQfpZypXMNjnlfNxTlQA2ghTmBtLRirOjsMdURB5pkTzOAtZdvrZ6eP8.J9mv1CXfmCPkLSoQkJowekoRqm1mB3F0H8aPMzuYDvk&dib_tag=se&keywords=clam+clips+for+paper&qid=1708392128&sprefix=clam+clips%2Caps%2C188&sr=8-1-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&psc=1">clam clip dispenser</a>. "Never heard of it," I was told. Shouldn't an office supply store know about clam clips and other such items? Apparently not.<P>
When I went to check out I entered my phone number, as I always do, to receive some sort of a discount. It failed. It worked a couple of weeks ago. What happened? According to the checkout clerk they are moving to a telephone App, and some of us are not being grndfathered until we get the App installed.<p>
In addition, the snack selection, at checkout, is beyond the cash register, and it is not a very broad selection.<p>
If Staples is looking for a part-time hire to help them manage what they stock, I am available [crkrieger@icloud,com]. Having a good office supply store in the neighborhood is important to me, and should be to you.<p>
Regards — Cliff<br />
<small></small><P></FONT>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3046628493283608233.post-85577821786417517962024-02-19T13:18:00.000-05:002024-02-19T13:18:25.296-05:00First in the Hearts of His Countrymen<br /><FONT COLOR=BLACK><b><A HREF="http://world.std.com/~crk/BLUF.html">For John, BLUF</A></b>: <I>If we are to become a better nation, it needs to be based on something—I recommend the efforts of the founding fathers. Nothing to see here; just move along.</I><P><hr /><br />
<div align="center"><a href="https://donsurber.substack.com/p/its-george-washingtons-birthday?utm_source=post-email-title&publication_id=1115457&post_id=141757938&utm_campaign=email-post-title&isFreemail=true&r=20pihz&utm_medium=email"><h2>It's George Washington's Birthday
</h2></a></div><br />
Here is the sub-headline:<p>
<div align="center"><h3>He was the greatest American. Don't settle for less.</h3></div><p>
From <I>Don surber Substack</I>, by Reporter Don Surber, 19 February 2024.<p>
Here is the lede plus three:
<blockquote>“First in war, first in peace and first in the hearts of his countrymen. He was second to none in the humble and endearing scenes of private life; pious, just, humane, temperate and sincere; uniform, dignified and commanding, his example was as edifying to all around him, as were the effects of that example lasting.<p>
“To his equals he was condescending; to his inferiors kind; and to the dear object of his affections exemplarily tender: Correct throughout, vice shuddered in his presence, and virtue always felt his fostering hand; the purity of his private character gave effulgence to his public virtues.”<p>
— Henry “Light Horse” Lee.<p>
In that first sentence, Lee summed up the the life of the man who transformed America from a collection of British colonies to independent states that formed what is now called the United States. I saw a meme on Twitter the other day. It showed Trump: Make America Great Again. Above him was Lincoln: Make America Great. Above him was Washington: Make America. Only the Lord stood above him with the simple word: Make. How true.</blockquote>
Yes, he is.<P>
We are a nation of humans, and thus a nation with flaws, Yet, George Washington stands out in striving to form <a href="https://tourosynagogue.org/history/george-washington-letter/">a more perfect union</a>, to bring all of us together. Not that it was perfect. Nor is it yet perfect, but he lead those who put us on the path.<P>
Stay on the Path.<P>
Regards — Cliff<br />
<small></small><P></FONT>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3046628493283608233.post-91667970187256804122024-02-17T12:39:00.004-05:002024-02-17T12:39:45.615-05:00Desiring a Polite Society<br /><FONT COLOR=BLACK><b><A HREF="http://world.std.com/~crk/BLUF.html">For John, BLUF</A></b>: <I>we are no longer a polite society, but one where everyone is a possible enemy. Nothing to see here; just move along.</I><P><hr /><br />
<div align="center"><a href="https://www.conservativewoman.co.uk/diversity-and-the-death-of-polite-society/"><h2>Diversity and the death of polite society
</h2></a></div><br />
From <I>The Conservative Woman</I> (UK), by Commentor Frederick Edward, 16 February 2024.<p>
Here is the lede plus four:
<blockquote>TRYING to enter a Boots the other afternoon I had to wait to be buzzed in. According to a sign on the door this was because of a recent spate of aggressive behaviour towards its employees: as such, after 5pm, entry into the shop was controlled.<p>
This was not, may I add, in some inner-city slum, but in an average retail park in an average town.<p>
Similar trends are visible elsewhere. Petrol stations near me – though it tends to be the nicer ones with an M&S or Little Waitrose bolted on – have started employing security guards. These shops, which previously had no bouncers, have for the last few years had two on duty at any time.<p>
Obviously this is necessary owing to a rapid increase in both scummy behaviour towards its employees and an increase in theft (or, as it is euphemistically called in retail, ‘shrink’).<p>
It is a sad token of society’s general direction, and one borne out by statistics. Reported recently was that violence and abuse against shop workers had risen 50 per cent year-on-year, and that the total lost to shoplifting has reached an all-time high of £1.8billion. Such are the records that are broken in 21st century Britain.</blockquote>
When I was youbg we were taught it was an honor to live in these United States. Yes, you could assert that it was that wy for Caucasians, but I would suggest World War Two showed that it was so for other folks also.<font COLOR=BLACK><small><b>♠</b></small></FONT> All being happy to be here<font COLOR=RED><small><b>♥</B></small></FONT> we treated each otherr with rewpect.<P>
Today, with the division of the natoin into oppressors and the oppressed, and with gradations therein, we are not one people, but a swrl of bickeering sub-nations. I had hopes that President Obama would begin the healing process, but it didn't advance past his Attorney General <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eric_Holder">Eric Holder</a> saying "We need to have a conversation," Surprisingly, President Trump seemed to make some small progress., Candidate Biden promised to bring us together, but there has been no follow-through.<P>
The person who will lead us out of this morass is the one who will show respect to all and build trust between groups, offering the American Dream to all. someone who will build a concensus on what we owe to help marginalized groups their own opportunities and fair share. Someone who will support the idea that respect goes in all directions and that the sins of the past are for historic review and lesson learning and not a way of creating new groups to be eschewed.<p>
Hat tip to the <I>InstaPundit</I>.<P>
Regards — Cliff<br />
<small></small><P>
<font COLOR=BLACK><small><b>♠</b></small></FONT> Just for example, the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Code_talker#Navajo">Navajo Code Talkers</a>, the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/442nd_Infantry_Regiment_%28United_States%29">442nd Regimentsl Combat Team</a> (Go For Broke) and the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tuskegee_Airmen">Tuskeegee Airmen</a> (thank you Mrs Roosevelt).</FONT><br />
<font COLOR=RED><small><b>♥</B></small></FONT> Not everyone who immigrated to the United States was happy to be here. A surprisingly large number returned to their home countries, and that is fine.<p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3046628493283608233.post-81456268961375640072024-02-16T18:42:00.001-05:002024-02-16T18:42:23.490-05:00New York Finds Donald Trump Guilty<br /><FONT COLOR=BLACK><b><A HREF="http://world.std.com/~crk/BLUF.html">For John, BLUF</A></b>: <I>This kind of thing makes us look like a banana republic, or Russia. Nothing to see here; just move along.</I><P><hr /><br />
<div align="center"><a href="https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/2827712/trump-ordered-364-million-civil-business-fraud/"><h2>Trump and associates ordered to pay $364 million in civil business fraud case
</h2></a></div><br />
From <I>The Washington Examiner</I>, by Reporter Kaelan Deese, 16 February 2024, 3:18 pm.<p>
Here is the lede plus one:
<blockquote>Former President Donald Trump and his associates were found liable by a New York court on Friday for committing decades of business fraud through his real estate empire, the Trump Organization, and a court ordered them to pay roughly $364 million in penalties.<p>
New York Supreme Court Justice Arthur Engoron’s ruling ordered Trump and his companies to pay millions of dollars to the state, while his adult children and other associates under the Trump Organization were ordered to pay additional fees in the millions. Engoron barred Trump from “serving as an officer or director of any New York corporation or other legal entity in New York” for three years, according to the ruling.</blockquote>
Of course it wil be appealed.<P>
In the mean time, to whom does the New York City Mayor turn when he needs <a href="https://nypost.com/2017/01/22/saving-wollman-rink-made-trump-a-new-york-city-hero/">the next ice skating rink</a>, or like facility, rehabilitated?<P>
Hat tip to the <I>InstaPundit</I>.<P>
Regards — Cliff<br />
<small></small><P></FONT>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3046628493283608233.post-71312402800360868842024-02-13T20:04:00.000-05:002024-02-13T20:04:55.444-05:00President Cranky is Wrong<br /><FONT COLOR=BLACK><b><A HREF="http://world.std.com/~crk/BLUF.html">For John, BLUF</A></b>: <I>President Joseph Biden, a forgetful, cranky old man, is failing to lead the nation to fix the border wall and also help friends currently engaged in war. Nothing to see here; just move along.</I><P><hr /><br />
<div align="center"><a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/biden-ukraine-israel-aid-senate-house/"><h2>Biden urges House to take up Ukraine and Israel aid package: "Pass this bill immediately"
</h2></a></div><br />
From <I>CBS News</I>, by Reporter Kaia Hubbard, Updated on 13 February 2024, 2:52 PM EST.<p>
Here is the lede plus one:
<blockquote>Washington — President Biden urged House Republicans to "immediately" take up a $95 billion foreign aid bill that includes assistance to Ukraine and Israel after the Senate passed the measure early Tuesday, saying that "there's no question" that it would pass if brought to the House floor.<p>
"I call on the speaker to let the full House speak its mind and not allow a minority of the most extreme voices in the House to block this bill even from being voted on," the president said in remarks at the White House, which came hours after the Senate's 70-29 vote to approve the measure. "This is a critical act for the House to move."</blockquote>
Later in his talk the President said:
<blockquote>"History is watching. Failure to support Ukraine at this critical moment will never be forgotten."</blockquote>
As is his wont, the President repreated himself with regard to that sentence, for emphasis.<P>
I fully support our efforts to support Ukraine in its fight against Russia. I believe the United States must support the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Budapest_Memorandum">Budapest Memorandum</a>. I am even willing to talk about restoring nuclear weapons to Ukraine, in light of Russia's violation of the Budapest Memorandum.<P>
President Biden, in his talk, seems to be ignoring two considerations.<P>
<OL><LI>A large portion of the American Public thinks illegal immigration should be our first priority. A prioity ahead of Ukraine. The Republican (thin) majority in the House of Reprsentatives thinks it should use its political power to fix the US Southern Border. In this belief it believes it is reflecting the will of the American People.</LI><LI>
Given the way the US Government works, a party that commands only one House of Congress may use that power to force a President of another party to move in their direction, thus forcing a compromise. The President is deeming this normal, contitutional, interaction as unpatriotic, It is not and he is wrong.</LI><LI>
As an aside, today, on his WRKO Afternoon Program, Reporter Howie Carr suggested that a bill such as the Ukraine funding bill should originate in the House of Representatives, per the Constitution.</LI></OL>
The President is not only wrong on this issue, he is also being irascible. And, he is further failing to keep his campaign promise to bring us all together.<p>
Fix the border and then aid, Ukraine, Israil, Taiwan, and other allies and friends in trouble.<p>
Regards — Cliff<br />
<small></small><P></FONT>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3046628493283608233.post-18549410725674623502024-02-09T21:10:00.000-05:002024-02-09T21:10:20.789-05:00Reading the Room<br /><FONT COLOR=BLACK><b><A HREF="http://world.std.com/~crk/BLUF.html">For John, BLUF</A></b>: <I>If you didn't think this Bill was DOA, you didn't realize President Biden wants his cake and to eat it too. Nothing to see here; just move along.</I><P><hr /><br />
<div align="center"><a href="https://www.theepochtimes.com/us/heres-why-the-senate-border-security-bill-was-dead-on-arrival-5582523"><h2>Here’s Why the Senate Border Security Bill Was ‘Dead on Arrival’
</h2></a></div><br />
Here is the sub-headline:<p>
<div align="center"><h3>Illegal immigrants by the millions are entering the United States, as Congress is unable to fix loopholes, and President Joe Biden refuses to do so.</h3></div><p>
From <I>The Epoch Times</I>, by Investigative Reporter Mark Tapscott, 8 February 2024, Updated 9 February 2024.<p>
Here is the lede plus four:
<blockquote>On Feb. 6, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-La.) said that a border security bill created by a bipartisan group of senators was “dead on arrival.”<p>
When Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.) announced on Feb. 4 that he and two colleagues had agreed on a comprehensive border security bill, he lauded it as a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity” to stop the flood of illegal immigrants entering the United States that began in 2021 at the beginning of President Joe Biden’s term.<p>
Mr. Lankford said he thought that he, Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), and Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.)—after four months of arduous closed-door negotiations—had done something that recalled the great compromises that once defined the Senate, pleasing conservatives and liberals alike.<p>
But two days later, Mr. Johnson said the bill was even “worse than expected.”<p>
Going by their comments, it was as if the Sooner State’s senior senator and Mr. Johnson were reading two entirely different bills.</blockquote>
The US Southern Border is like a seive, and has been since January 2020. In Fiscal Year 2023<font COLOR=BLACK><b><small>♠</small></B></FONT> we had 2.8 million <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2023/09/30/how-many-migrants-crossed-the-border-2023-mexico-venezuela-2022/70979085007/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2023/09/30/how-many-migrants-crossed-the-border-2023-mexico-venezuela-2022/70979085007/">illegal immigrants</a>. In December of 2023 it was 302,392 <a href="https://www.fairus.org/biden-immigration-border-policy/december-2023-sets-historic-record-illegal-immigration">illegal immigrants</a> (or 3,628704 over a year, not counting the "got aways").<p>
The reform bill has issues. <a href="https://www.lee.senate.gov/2024/2/senator-lee-releases-dirty-dozen-disasters-in-so-called-border-deal">Here is a list</a>, from Senator Mike Lee of Utah. Taking an example, the proposed bill would provide emergency action if we logged 5,000 illegal immigrants for seven days in a row. One person short of 5,000 would provide 1,824,635 illegal immigrants a year. That is almost 2 million that we don't have a plan to house, education, and assimilate. We can tell there is pain by <a href="https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/chicago-residents-file-lawsuit-to-stop-using-public-buildings-to-house-migrants/3243213/">listening to the Mayors and Citizens of major Cities</a> in the Northern part of the nation.<P>
Regarding the building of a wall, this proposed bill would put that building off until 2028. Why? We need a wall now, not in four years.<P>
President Biden and the Democrats on Capitol Hill do not want to fix the illegal immigrant problem. They want a cloak to hide their goal of free and open immigration for all. It is a sad commentary that they think this cloak will hide their abandonment of our national borders.<p>
Some, like our Senior Senator from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Elizabeth Warren, claim opposition to the Bill is just President Trump playing politics. She must not be reading the polls. The American Voters are not happy with the nation's immigration policies. President Trump is just doing a better job of reading the room.<p>
Regards — Cliff<br />
<small></small><P>
<font COLOR=BLACK><b><small>♠</small></B></FONT> A Fiscal Year runs from 1 October to 30 September.</FONT>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3046628493283608233.post-36780331188175398142024-01-30T13:24:00.001-05:002024-01-30T13:24:21.605-05:00Don Surber on Illegal Immigration Reform<br /><FONT COLOR=BLACK><b><A HREF="http://world.std.com/~crk/BLUF.html">For John, BLUF</A></b>: <I>This is a different person's take on illegal immigration and the Biden Administration sham effort at reform. Nothing to see here; just move along.</I><P><hr /><br />
<div align="center"><a href="https://donsurber.substack.com/p/turning-the-border-against-trump?utm_source=post-email-title&publication_id=1115457&post_id=141176696&utm_campaign=email-post-title&isFreemail=true&r=20pihz&utm_medium=email"><h2>Turning the border against Trump
</h2></a></div><br />
Here is the sub-headline:<p>
<div align="center"><h3>Democrats and RINOs desperately try to wipe the open borders off their shoes</h3></div><p>
From <I>Don Surber Substack</I>, by Reporter Don Surber, 30 January 2024.<p>
Here is the lede plus six:
<blockquote>If President Trump wins in November, he can thank Texas Governor Greg Abbott for the win. No one has done more to change public opinion about Biden’s Open Borders policy than Abbott. He shipped the invaders to sanctuary cities and lo and behold, black voters suddenly rose against Democrats who bent over backward for the illegal aliens.<p>
<a href="https://www.wsj.com/politics/how-the-democrats-lost-the-working-class-on-immigration-834ceac4">In November, the<i> Wall Street Journal</i> reported</a>, “By championing legal and illegal immigrants and largely ignoring border security, the Democrat Party has alienated key voting groups—including Hispanics.”<p>
Hispanics? It us worse than that because the invasion of illegal aliens puts the black vote in jeopardy for Democrats. Black voters provide one out of four Democrat votes.<p>
<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/06/us/politics/biden-trump-black-voters-poll-democrats.html"><i>The New York Times</i> chimed in</a>, “Black voters are more disconnected from the Democrat Party than they have been in decades, frustrated with what many see as inaction on their political priorities and unhappy with President Biden, a candidate they helped lift to the White House just three years ago.<p>
“New polls by The New York Times and Siena College found that 22% of black voters in six of the most important battleground states said they would support former President Donald J. Trump in next year’s election, and 71% would back Mr. Biden.<p>
“The drift in support is striking, given that Mr. Trump won just 8% of black voters nationally in 2020 and 6% in 2016, according to the Pew Research Center. A Republican presidential candidate has not won more than 12% of the black vote in nearly half a century.”<p>
The black vote is only part of the problem. Most Americans oppose Biden’s refusal to enforce immigration laws.</blockquote>
President Biden is in a bit of a bind. He, along with a big chuck of his Party, want an open border. Some see it as the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Die_Lösung">"<i>Die Lösung</i>"</a> policy. However, a significant portion of the Party is opposed to free and open borders, and the resulting influx of peope (<a href="https://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/national-media-release/cbp-releases-december-2023-monthly-update">302,034 last month</a>).<font COLOR=BLACK><small><b>♠</b></small></FONT> For President Biden, and his handlers, the question is how to appease both factions of the Party, without sending voters to the Republican side in November.<P>
The solution, for the Democrats, seems to be to have Congress pass an immigration refor4m bill that appears to limit the number of illegal immigrants, but only slightly throttles the flow. Under the bill, as Mr Don Surber points out, the President would be forced to act if the number of illegal immigrants exceeds 5,000 per day. However, that is a large number. Granted, in December the aversge was 9,743 per day, but still, 4,999 (under the limit) is 1,824,635. That is 36,492 per state.<font COLOR=RED><small><b>♥</B></small></FONT><P>
For President Trump to oppose the supposed compromise bill being drafted behind closed doors in Congress is not just smart politics. It is smart policy. The bill is a clock behind which the Biden Administration wishes to continue to conduct business almost s usual, while being able to say it has control of the Border Crisis. I am with President Trump on this.<font COLOR=RED><small><b>♦</B></small></FONT><p>
Regards — Cliff<br />
<small></small><P>
<font COLOR=BLACK><small><b>♠</b></small></FONT> For some opposed it appears to be an issue of allocation of resources, The illegal immigrants are not only consuming tax dollars, but are also overrunning physical facilities that take time to build, like schools and recreation centers.<br /.>
<font COLOR=RED><small><b>♥</B></small></FONT> While Alaska, Hawaii and Rhode Island will receiver fewer illegal immigrants to settle, California and Texas, for example, will receive more.<br />
<font COLOR=RED><small><b>♦</B></small></FONT> There is the issue of funding for Israel and Ukraine, which Republicans in the House have used as leverage to gain reform on the Southern Border. This is not the reform they are looking for. I would suggest they provide the funding for Israel and Ukraine and look to fix the border crisis in January of 2025, or before, if the opportunity presents itself for real reform, rather than sham reform.</FONT>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3046628493283608233.post-18837356524121310362024-01-30T12:32:00.001-05:002024-01-30T12:33:38.406-05:00The Immigration Bill in Congress<br /><FONT COLOR=BLACK><b><A HREF="http://world.std.com/~crk/BLUF.html">For John, BLUF</A></b>: <I>President Biden and his fellow Democrats, up on Capitol Hill, and, to a lesser extent, the Media, are scsmming us with regard to illegal immigration reform. The solution is, as it has always been, in his hand, but he is trying to pull a fast one on the American Public. Nothing to see here; just move along.</I><P><hr /><br />
<div align="center"><a href="https://www.theblaze.com/news/kristie-noem-dana-bash-border-crisis?utm_source=theblaze-dailyPM&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Daily-Newsletter__PM%202024-01-29&utm_term=ACTIVE%20LIST%20-%20TheBlaze%20Daily%20PM&tpcc=email"><h2>Awkward silence hits CNN airwaves when Gov. Kristi Noem confronts host for defending Biden on border crisis
</h2></a></div><br />
From <I>The Blaze</I>, by Writer Chris Enloe, 29 January 2024.<p>
Here is the lede plus four:
<blockquote>South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem (R) beclowned CNN anchor Dana Bash on Sunday for defending President Joe Biden over the border crisis.<p>
On CNN's "State of the Union," Bash asked Noem about ongoing negotiations to pass a controversial border bill that Republicans believe will do little to stymie the border crisis. Biden, over the weekend, committed to shutting down the border only if Congress passes the bill.<p>
The bill, however, is unlikely to pass the Senate because an increasing number of Republican lawmakers oppose the bill. That opposition is giving Democrats a talking point to use against Republicans, and Bash deployed it in her interview with Noem.<p>
"Why not take 'yes' for an answer?" Bash asked, referring to Biden's willingness to sign the bill.<p>
In response, Noem correctly pointed out that Biden doesn't need the bill to fix the border crisis. Congress, she explained, has already given the president authority to enforce immigration law. Instead, she argued that Biden's policies need to change.</blockquote>
President Biden is trying to pass off the situation by saying once Congress passes a bill he can act. That is false. It is in need of "fact checking", if that is a real thing in the Main Stream Media. President Biden, and his Secretary of Homeland Security, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alejandro_Mayorkas">Alejandro Mayorkas</a>, brought us to this point by executive actions reversing the program being conducted by President Trump and his Administration. If President Biden was able to vitiate all of President Trumps efforts by executive orders, why can President Biden not reverse course and reinstitute those previous rules? What does he need from Congress?<P>
Well, it turns out, per the rumors, that he needs Congress to allow him to keep the flow of illegal immigrants going. The word on the street is that Congressional Democrats want to give President Biden a trigger level of illegal immigrants for controls to be implemented. And what is that trigger level? It is 5,000 illegal immigrants a day. That is just shy of 2 million people a year (1,825,000) coming across our borders. That is not <u>fixing</u> the problem. Just ask the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Man_on_the_Clapham_omnibus">Man on the Clapham bus</a><p>
What the Democrat plan does is somewhat stretch out the arrival of illegal immigrants. Asuming that the Democrats and the Cartels don't become greedy, and bring only 4,500 illegal immigrants a day over the border,<font COLOR=BLACK><small><b>♠</b></small></FONT> when my youngest Great-Grandchild reaches thirty-five we wikl have drained 63,236,250 people out of Latin America. That is a 10% reduction in their population. It would be a 20% increase in our population today. How is that fixing our immigration problem?<P>
The United States needs immigration. Legal immigration. Our treatment of illegal immigrants is a slap in the face to legal immigrants, the ones who do it the right way,<p>
Frankly, the President, Joseph R Biden, Jr, is being dishonest in his presentation of the situation with regard to illegal immigration.<p>
Further, he is failing in his responsibiliity to lay out how we are going to absorb those millions of people, how we are going to house them, educate them, get them jobs and assimilate them. How we are going to make them good US Citizens. And, he is whistling past the graceyard when it comes to the question of terrorists coming across our border, with the intention to do us grevious harm.<p>
Kudos to Governor Kristi Noem, and to Governor Greg Abott.<p>
Hat tip to the <I>InstaPundit</I>.<P>
Regards — Cliff<br />
<small></small><P>
<font COLOR=BLACK><small><b>♠</b></small></FONT> That is not conting the "got aways".</FONT>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3046628493283608233.post-7153819844979734422024-01-29T13:29:00.001-05:002024-01-29T13:29:50.701-05:00Misunderstanding the Holocaust<br /><FONT COLOR=BLACK><b><A HREF="http://world.std.com/~crk/BLUF.html">For John, BLUF</A></b>: <I>The <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Holocaust">Holocaust</a> killed 12 million people during World War Two. The death of six million Jews has the Hebrew name of Shoah. Nothing to see here; just move along.</I><P><hr /><br />
<div align="center"><a href="https://thefederalist.com/2022/02/01/whoopi-goldbergs-ignorance-about-the-holocaust-is-what-happens-when-intersectionality-rots-peoples-brains/"><h2>Whoopi Goldberg’s Ignorance About The Holocaust Is What Happens When Intersectionality Rots People’s Brains
</h2></a></div><br />
Here is the sub-headline:<p>
<div align="center"><h3>The Holocaust was not, as Goldberg put it, about ‘man’s inhumanity to man.’ It was about man’s genocide of Jews.</h3></div><p>
From <I>The Federalist</I>, by Ms Eve Barlow, 1 February 2022.<p>
Here is the lede plus one:
<blockquote>It’s a chilling concern that corporate media repeatedly get matters of Jewish life and identity wrong. What happened on “The View” Monday morning was a perfect capture of the absolute ignorance about the Holocaust of American non-Jews with captive audiences in major media.<p>
In a panel segment, host Whoopi Goldberg began, “the Holocaust isn’t about race.” She said it four times: “It’s not about race.” When asked to explain what it was about, Goldberg responded: “It’s about man’s inhumanity to man.”<p>
She continued, “These are two white groups of people.” This is the version of the Holocaust that Goldberg and her cohorts agree children should be taught. A butchered, ahistorical, Americanized, watered-down, downright incorrect version of the Holocaust, in which white people were being – I guess – unkind towards one another.</blockquote>
What Ms Goldberg seems to have not learned in school was about the story of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eugenics">eugenics</a> and the fact that German Furher Adolf Hitler, looking to the United States, saw Jews as an inferior race, lesser than the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nazi_racial_theories">German Aryans</a>.  And then he acted on that theory, killing about six million Jews in various death camps.<font COLOR=BLACK><small><b>♠</b></small></FONT><P>
We are looking at a failure of Ms Goldberg's teachers, duirng the 1960s, at St Columba's Catholic school and Washington Irving High School failed to teach her the history of our larger culture, much of which we inherited from Europe. This is a major FAIL. I sure hope we are doing better today, but I have my doubts. Look at the antics by Harvard University Students after 7 October events in Israel lat year. You could check the Pioneer Institue's book <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CJSXLJRL?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details"><i>Restoring the City on a Hill: U.S. History & Civics in America's Schools</i></a>, by Mr Chris Sinacola, released in September of last year.<P>
Hat tip to the <I>InstaPundit</I>.<P>
Regards — Cliff<br />
<small></small><P>
<font COLOR=BLACK><small><b>♠</b></small></FONT> And, he killed another six million people he saw as inferior (e.g., <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romani_people">Romani</a>) or otherwise bothersome</FONT>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3046628493283608233.post-24022103595687796952024-01-26T22:18:00.001-05:002024-01-26T22:18:09.783-05:00He's Back<br /><FONT COLOR=BLACK><b><A HREF="http://world.std.com/~crk/BLUF.html">For John, BLUF</A></b>: <I>Former New York Governor <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Cuomo">Andrew Cuomo</a> resigned over allegations of sexual abuse. But, at 66, he has time for one more term in public office. Nothing to see here; just move along.</I><P><hr /><br />
<div align="center"><a href="https://nypost.com/2024/01/26/opinion/andrew-cuomo-plots-comeback-with-border-attacks-on-biden/"><h2>Andrew Cuomo plots comeback with border attacks on Biden
</h2></a></div><br />
From <I>The New York Post</I>, by Columnist Bob McManus, 26 January 2024, 5:17 p.m. ET.<p>
Here is the lede plus four:
<blockquote>Here he comes. To save the day?<p>
Andrew Cuomo, always intrusive and never in doubt, just tucked into Joe Biden and the Democratic Party on America’s self-inflicted border-hopper crisis.<p>
“The migrant issue is creating mayhem across the country and showing the ineffectiveness and schisms in the Democratic Party,” writes ex-Gov. Bigfoot for <i>The Hill</i> — a policy-wonk-centric, Washington-based venue.<p>
That is to say, a site watched closely by political pros from sea to shining sea: Cuomo sent a message not likely to be missed — on two levels.<p>
“President Biden’s administration has not been able to solve the migrant problem,” he continued, “primarily because of the divided opinion within our own party.”</blockquote>
This is an opinion piece and as such, it is a little tart about former Governor Cuomo. Plus, the Newspaper itself is not in the Progressive Camp.<P>
The above notwithstanding, I am not surprised that Governor Cuomo is making a bid to come back. And, he couldn't have picked a better topic. Given the apparent lack of depth on the Democratic Bench, he is, in my mind, a possible replacement for President Biden some time before the November Election.<P>
For sure illegal immigration is a major issue at this time. Further, the Administration is not using the authority available to it to solve the problem. I am very doubtful that the mystery bill<font COLOR=BLACK><small><b>♠</b></small></FONT> being developed on Capitol Hill will provide the relief teh American People are looking for.<p>
Hat tip to the <I>InstaPundit</I>.<P>
Regards — Cliff<br />
<small></small><P>
<font COLOR=BLACK><small><b>♠</b></small></FONT> Here is <a href="https://www.npr.org/2024/01/20/1225788314/election-year-politics-threaten-senate-border-deal">a take by <i>NPR</i></a>. However <i>NPR</i> does not present up front the concerns about rumored high number of illegal immigrants required to trigger action.</FONT>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3046628493283608233.post-18885153365642258842024-01-24T07:07:00.000-05:002024-01-24T07:07:00.401-05:00Put Down the Cheeseburger<br /><font color="BLACK"
><b><a href="http://world.std.com/~crk/BLUF.html">For John, BLUF</a></b
>: <i>Be affraid. Our betters, the bien pensant are coming for your meat consumption. Nothing to see here; just move along.</i>
<p></p>
<hr />
<br />
<div align="center">
<a
href="https://pjmedia.com/kevindowneyjr/2023/11/28/klaus-schwab-and-the-un-now-pushing-to-purloin-your-sirloin-n4924270#google_vignette"
><h2>
Klaus Schwab and the UN Still Want to Purloin Your Sirloin to Make the
Weather Gooder
</h2></a
>
</div>
<br />
From <i>PJ Media</i>, by Opinion Writer Kevin Downy, Jr, 28 November 2023, 1:05 PM.<p>
Here is the lede plus one:</p>
<blockquote>
Klaus Schwab and his flunky buds at the United Nations (UN) are, as
advertised, attempting to remove meat from our diet to make the clouds more
tolerant.
<p>
This isn't surprising since the World Economic Forum (WEF) has, like many
<a
href="https://www.amazon.com/Hitlers-Mein-Kampf-Geschichte-Buches/dp/3455503950/ref=sr_1_2?crid=6SWYN49OH5QC&keywords=mein+kampf&qid=1701185340&sprefix=mein+kampf%2Caps%2C88&sr=8-2"
>tyrants</a
>
<a
href="https://www.amazon.com/Little-Red-Book-Mao-Tung-ebook/dp/B07QWFR5WV/ref=sr_1_5?crid=1YCBBMT3AWC5A&keywords=mao+red+book&qid=1701185368&sprefix=mao+red+book%2Caps%2C144&sr=8-5"
>before</a
>
them, given us their evil playbook.
</p>
</blockquote>
Who is
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Klaus_Schwab">Klaus Schwab</a>?
The head of the Anti-Western
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Economic_Forum"
>World Economic Forum</a
>.
<p><i>Wikipedia</i> sums up the World Economic Forum this way:</p>
<blockquote>
The Forum suggests that a globalised world is best managed by a
self-selected coalition of multinational corporations, governments and civil
society organizations (CSOs), which it expresses through initiatives like
the "Great Reset" and the "Global Redesign".
</blockquote>
Like a
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matryoshka_doll">Matryoshka Doll</a>,
there are layers here. The important one is
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Reset">The Great Reset</a>.
This is the plan to take away the power of the electorate and give it to
various non-governmental agencies..
<p>Hat tip to the <i>InstaPundit</i>.</p>
<p>
Regards — Cliff<br />
<small></small>
</p>
<p></p
></font>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3046628493283608233.post-57839431143221639002024-01-23T17:29:00.000-05:002024-01-23T17:29:00.615-05:00Countering the Trump "Dictatorship"<br /><FONT COLOR=BLACK><b><A HREF="http://world.std.com/~crk/BLUF.html">For John, BLUF</A></b>: <I>Some, like Ms Mary B McCord, thinks it is close to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reichstag_fire">27 February 1933</a>. Nothing to see here; just move along.</I><P><hr /><br />
<div align="center"><a href="https://pjmedia.com/rick-moran/2024/01/14/hysteria-on-the-left-grows-that-trump-will-use-the-military-in-dictatorial-ways-if-hes-elected-n4925472"><h2>Hysteria on the Left Grows That Trump Will Use the Military in 'Dictatorial Ways' If He's Elected
</h2></a></div><br />
From <I>PJ Media</I>, by RICK MORAN | 1:16 PM ON JANUARY 14, 2024.<p>
Here is the lede plus five:
<blockquote>Every time I read an article that imagines a dystopian world if Donald Trump is elected, I say to myself, "Well, surely they've reached the limit of anti-Trump hysteria, right?"<p>
Not by a long shot. And don't call me Shirley.<p>
This one on the NBC News website took four leftists to write. "Fears grow that Trump will use the military in ‘dictatorial ways’ if he returns to the White House" is a fantasy worthy of Tolkien. It's Trump teams up with Sauron; all that's missing are some orcs.<p>
Peter Nicholas, Katherine Doyle, Megan Lebowitz, and Courtney Kube all work for NBC News and are fearful that because all the adults in the room who made sure that Trump didn't blow up the world and do very bad, very un-American things during his first term are gone and Trump wouldn't have any adult supervision in a second term, he would therefore establish a military dictatorship...or something.<p>
RUN FOR YOUR LIVES!<p>
The premise of this fantastical thesis is that even though Trump didn't even try to do unconstitutional stuff in his first term, it's guaranteed that Trump, the authoritarian, will do it this time because...because...because the left says so.</blockquote>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/dec/06/donald-trump-sean-hannity-dictator-day-one-response-iowa-town-hall">Yes, Candidate Trump did say, in a jocular manner that on Day 1 he would be a dictator</a> and close the border and restart energy independence. He then said that after that we would proceed in natural order.<P>
In my mind I find the current occupant of the White House to be fringing on Dictatorship. For example, he seems to be ignoring the Constitution in waiving student loan debt. Washington State Democrat Representative Pramila Jayapal has recently accused President Biden of <a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/1/12/did-biden-violate-the-us-constitution-in-bombing-yemens-houthi-sites">violating the Constitution</a> in his attacks on Houthi units attacking shipping in the Red Sea. Then there is the question of if President Biden is turning us into a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banana_republic">Banana Republic</a> by conducting Lawfare against a likely opponent in the 2024 Presidential Race.<P>
Candidate Trump did say that winning would be his best revenge.<p>
On the other hand, thre is a theory out there amongst the supporters of Candidate Trump that Alex Soros, son of the wealthy George Soros, Tweeted out <a href="https://www.dailydot.com/debug/the-atlantic-alex-soros-threat-donald-trump/">a suggestion that Mr Trump needs to be assassinated</a>. Ugh!<p>
Hat tip to the <I>InstaPundit</I>.<P>
Regards — Cliff<br />
<small></small><P></FONT>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3046628493283608233.post-29164229915801060932024-01-22T22:36:00.003-05:002024-01-23T17:01:38.470-05:00Legal vs Illegal Immigration<br /><FONT COLOR=BLACK><b><A HREF="http://world.std.com/~crk/BLUF.html">For John, BLUF</A></b>: <I>The issue of immigration is heating up in this Presidential Primary Season. Nothing to see here; just move along.</I><P><hr /><br />
<div align="center"><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/17/briefing/immigration-policy-democrats.html"><h2>A 2024 Vulnerability
</h2></a></div><br />
Here is the sub-headline:<p>
<div align="center"><h3>The Democrats are out of step with public opinion when it comes to immigration.</h3></div><p>
From <I>The Old Gray Lady</I>, by Columnist David Leonhardt, 17 January 2024.<p>
Here is the lede plus one:
<blockquote>The first thing to know is that views on immigration aren’t static. During Trump’s presidency, Americans became more favorable to immigration, evidently in reaction to Trump’s opposition to it. Consider this: By the end of his presidency, the number of Americans who favored increasing immigration exceeded the number who favored decreasing it for the first time in six decades of Gallup polling.<p>
That trend has since reversed, as you can see in the chart. The biggest reason seems to be a surge of illegal immigration during President Biden’s term. One cause of that surge has been the Biden administration’s approach. Many would-be migrants now believe — correctly — that so long as they can reach U.S. soil, they will be able to stay for years.</blockquote>
I think I missed the part where the poll looked at the difference between legal and illegal immigration.<p>
I favor increased legal immigration. Don't you?<p>
On the other hnd, I deplore illegal immigration.<p>
<OL><LI>In makes a mockery of the work of those coming legally. I know a Canadian, retired on US Social Security, with Daughters born in the US (thus Daughterscould be President—just the risk they have to take), who is spending several thousand dollars and a lot of time doing it legally. What a slap in the face to her for illegal immigrants to be walking free in the US, flying on airliners without IDs.</LI><LI>
While we endured the ever-changing demands of Dr Fauci and company, for public health reasons, illegals come in lacking tests and shots. The picture in my mind of legal immigrants is a long line of individuals holding chest Xray folders outside the US Embassy in Manila. My above mentioned friend spent $300 for a chest X-ray to help satisfy the US legal requirements. Illegal immigrants, maybe never, but if required, for free.</LI><LI>
Illegal immigration is about human trafficking, which should be abhorrent to decent people. And, some of it is sex trafficking, including under age girls.</LI><LI>
Illegal drugs and fentanyl overdose deaths.</LI><LI>
The Cartels use illegal immigration to reach into US towns and cities, for corrupt purposes, while we weaken police forces.</LI><LI>
The danger of terrorists infiltrating our nation, so they can give us a dose of 7 October, as a way of weakening support for Israel. That would be an affront to God, which is a thing I like to avoid.</LI></OL>
So, yes, views change over time. Rep Jerry Nadler wants the bracero program back. I guess. But, I want a steady stream of immigrants, at a pace our infrastructure (including schools) can absorb. People coming here not just as economic migrants, but as believers in our concept of freedom. That should be rewarded.<P>
As to the last para of the article, it reminds me of the Bertolt Brecht<font COLOR=BLACK><small><b>♠</b></small></FONT> poem, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Die_Lösung"><i>The Solution</i></a>.
<blockquote>After the uprising of the 17th of June<br />
The Secretary of the Writers Union <br />
Had leaflets distributed in the Stalinallee <br />
Stating that the people Had forfeited the confidence of the government <br />
And could win it back only <br />
By redoubled efforts. Would it not be easier<br />
In that case for the government<br />
To dissolve the people<br />
And elect another</blockquote>
Which reminds me of Ms Joy Reid's comment about the Iowa Caucuses and results, noting parts of Iowa are too White and too Evangelical. Does she wish for them to be redistributed, or just diluted?<p>
Hat tip to my Middle Brother.<P>
Regards — Cliff<br />
<small></small><P>
<font COLOR=BLACK><small><b>♠</b></small></FONT> It the name Bertolt Brecht does not ring A bell, think <i>Three Penny Opera</i>, and in particular the Bobby Darin classic <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Qrjtr_uFac"><i>Mac the Knife</i></a>.</FONT>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3046628493283608233.post-52853625529491152912024-01-10T19:34:00.001-05:002024-01-10T19:34:26.914-05:00Is Michelle Obama the Eventul Candidate?<br /><FONT COLOR=BLACK><b><A HREF="http://world.std.com/~crk/BLUF.html">For John, BLUF</A></b>: <I>For me one of the most interesting question for 2024 is who will be the Democratic Party Candidate for President. If not Ms Obama, who? Hunter Biden? Nothing to see here; just move along.</I><P><hr /><br />
<div align="center"><a href="https://nypost.com/2024/01/10/media/megyn-kelly-says-if-michelle-obama-launches-2024-bid-its-a-whole-new-ballgame/?utm_source=twitter&utm_campaign=nypost&utm_medium=social"><h2>Megyn Kelly says if Michelle Obama launches 2024 presidential run, ‘it’s a whole new ballgame’
</h2></a></div><br />
From <I>The New York Post</I>, by Shannon Thaler, 10 January 2024, 9:49 a.m. ET.<p>
Here is the lede plus four:
<blockquote>Megyn Kelly said that if Michelle Obama launches a candidacy for the 2024 presidential election, “it’s a whole new ballgame.”<p>
“There’s no question she’s more talented than Joe Biden is politically. No question,” Kelly added during Tuesday’s episode of her SiriusXM podcast, “The Megyn Kelly Show.”<p>
Though Kelly said she’s unsure whether the former first lady would vie for the commander-in-chief role, she called Obama “a powerful Democratic weapon” during her husband’s two terms in the White House.<p>
“Whether it works this time, as a pundit, I remain skeptical,” Kelly said.<p>
The former Fox News personality pointed to Obama’s appearance on Jay Shetty’s “On Purpose” podcast as a hint that she could launch a presidential bid.</blockquote>
My Wife fully agrees with Megan Kelly.<P>
My expectation is that President Joe biden will not be the candidate for President on the November Ballot. Which leaves us with two questions: Who and When?<P>
Hat tip to the <I>InstaPundit</I>.<P>
Regards — Cliff<br />
<small></small><P></FONT>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3046628493283608233.post-82262077372983181482024-01-10T19:20:00.002-05:002024-01-10T19:20:25.458-05:00Goodbye President Gay<br /><FONT COLOR=BLACK><b><A HREF="http://world.std.com/~crk/BLUF.html">For John, BLUF</A></b>: <I>What will be the long term consequence of Dr Claudine Gay stepping down from bzeing President of Harvard. Nothing to see here; just move along.</I><P><hr /><br />
<div align="center"><a href="https://instapundit.substack.com/p/claudine-gay-has-gone-away?r=9bg2k&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web"><h2>Claudine Gay Has Gone Away
</h2></a></div><br />
Here is the sub-headline:<p>
<div align="center"><h3>Is this the dawn of a new day?</h3></div><p>
From <I>InstaPundit</I>, by Professor Glenn Harlan Reynolds, 2 January 2024.<p>
Here is the lede plus two:
<blockquote>Harvard President Claudine Gay has resigned. She follows Penn’s president Liz Magill, and leaves only MIT President Sally Kornbluth surviving among the three university presidents who disgraced themselves in their testimony over campus antisemitism.<p>
So what’s next? And what should be next?<p>
I’ll approach those in reverse order. Kornbluth should resign too. Her performance was just as bad as the other two, and the plagiarism charges against Gay, while apparently well-founded, aren’t why Gay resigned. She resigned because she sounded like a gray bureaucrat when confronted with the bloody reality of terrorism and antisemitism abroad, and shameless support for terrorism and antisemitism at home. Kornbluth sounded no better. University presidents are supposed to be leaders, and you don’t lead by retreating, squid-like, behind a cloud of gray technicalities and evasions.</blockquote>
I agree, 7 October may be the day DEI took a fatal blow. But that does not mean the Faculty and Administrators at Harvard have seen the light. The are probably still teaching the old lines (Prof Reynolds mentions in the article Frantz Fanon and Hebert Narcuse).<P>
Only when our betters, such as the staff at Harvard, realize what our two and a quarter centuries have done for the world, and acknowledge its progress, will we be able to move on in the direction of progress, acknowledging our problems, but thankful for those who went before us and hopeful for the future.<P>
Hat tip to the <I>InstaPundit</I>.<P>
Regards — Cliff<br />
<small></small><P></FONT>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3046628493283608233.post-81626056095454282822024-01-10T19:17:00.002-05:002024-01-22T21:47:03.440-05:00Honoring and Learning from History<br /><FONT COLOR=BLACK><b><A HREF="http://world.std.com/~crk/BLUF.html">For John, BLUF</A></b>: <I>Our inability to learn from history is only exceeded by our unwillingness to learn history. Nothing to see here; just move along.</I><P><hr /><br />
<div align="center"><a href="https://freebeacon.com/latest-news/under-fire-biden-admin-scraps-plan-to-remove-william-penn-statue-from-philly-park/"><h2>Under Fire, Biden Admin Scraps Plan To Remove William Penn Statue From Philly Park
</h2></a></div><br />
Here is the sub-headline:<p>
<div align="center"><h3>‘No changes to the William Penn statue are planned,’ National Park Service says</h3></div><p>
From <I>The Washington Free Beacon</I>, by Jessica Costescu, 9 January 2024.<p>
Here is the lede plus one:
<blockquote>The Biden administration scrapped its plan to permanently remove a statue of William Penn from Philadelphia’s Welcome Park, claiming the controversial proposal "was released prematurely and had not been subject to a complete internal agency review."<p>
President Joe Biden's National Park Service announced the reversal Monday evening, just days after it unveiled its "rehabilitation proposal" for the park. That proposal called to remove the Penn statue and replace it with "an expanded interpretation of the Native American history of Philadelphia," which the agency said would bring "a more inclusive experience for visitors."</blockquote>
One would think a park would have a theme, an idea around which the visitors can gather. In my mind this park and the surrounding environs represent the founding of William Penn's Woods, with its new burst of freedom and the events flowing from it, inclusing the Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution. Where was all that history going to be represented if the park was repurposed?<P>
It is important to remember and celebrate those cultures that went before us. We need an appropriate location. However, this was not the appropiate place.<P>
If we lose the history of these United States, how soon after will we lose the nation and its institutions? Who will the survivors blame? The oppressors, the colonists, the old caucasians males from Europe, of course.<p>
In the mean time we confront several crises around the world (Israel/Gaza, Ukraine/Russoa, Houthi/Yemen and Saudi Arabia, ROK/DPRK, China/Taiwan, China/South China Sea Neighbors), crises where reconciliation is needed. Yet we just tore down a monument in Arlington Cemetary that symbolized and actuated reconciliation between the North and South (Union and Confederacy) in our own Civil War. Not perfect reconciliation, but a start. Have we dilligently mined that history or just dismissed it as too racist to bear?<p>
Hat tip to the <I>InstaPundit</I>.<P>
Regards — Cliff<br />
<small></small><P></FONT>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3046628493283608233.post-2689253655332468942024-01-10T18:36:00.002-05:002024-01-10T18:36:35.015-05:00LA National Cemetery Protest<br /><FONT COLOR=BLACK><b><A HREF="http://world.std.com/~crk/BLUF.html">For John, BLUF</A></b>: <I>When you protest, is nothing sacred? Nothing to see here; just move along.</I><P><hr /><br />
<div align="center"><a href="https://twitter.com/libsoftiktok/status/1744229555852718558"><h2>Protest in LA
</h2></a></div><br />
Here is the sub-headline:<p>
<div align="center"><h3></h3></div><p>
From <I><b>X</b></I>, by Libs of TikTok, 8 January 2024, 12:28 AM.<p>
Here is the post:
<blockquote>Pro-Palestine protesters vandalize and deface a US Military Cemetery in Los Angeles where 85,000 war veterans are buried.<p>
They need to be arrested and the non citizens need to be deported. This is completely unacceptable. Where are the police?<p>
<a href="https://twitter.com/libsoftiktok/status/1744229555852718558">Video at the Link</a>.</blockquote>
Something like 85,000 of my fellow vets are buried in that Cemetary and it is being defaced? For what?<P>
And I agree with the ideas of arrests and deportations.<P>
Hat tip to a friend of mine, a Veteran, like me, unhappy with this kind of disrespectful action.<P>
Regards — Cliff<br />
<small></small><P></FONT>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0