Presidents Day

For John, BLUF:  There are Presidents to celebrate and Presidents for whom we shouold have distain.  But, overall, oour Constitution has allowed us an Executive who can lift us up, but not drag us down too far.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

---

Happy Presidents Day!

I am so old I can remember when we had both a Washington's Borthday and a Lincoln's Birthday, both in February.  Then we got a consolidated holiday.  Which is not a bad thing.  And now someone comes along and tries to make it better.

Congresswoman Tenney Moves to Make President Trump’s Birthday a Federal Holiday

A Congresswoman Claudia Tenney Press Release 14 February 2025.

Here it is:

Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-24) today introduced the Trump’s Birthday and Flag Day Holiday Establishment Act to officially designate June 14 as a federal holiday to commemorate President Donald J. Trump’s Birthday and Flag Day.

Born on June 14, 1946, President Donald J. Trump’s birthday coincided with Flag Day, which is observed annually and recognizes the anniversary of the adoption of the Stars and Stripes as the official US flag in 1777. This legislation would permanently codify a new federal holiday called “Trump’s Birthday and Flag Day” on June 14 to honor this historic day.

“No modern president has been more pivotal for our country than Donald J. Trump. As both our 45th and 47th President, he is the most consequential President in modern American history, leading our country at a time of great international and domestic turmoil. From brokering the historic Abraham Accords to championing the largest tax relief package in American history, his impact on the nation is undeniable. Just as George Washington’s Birthday is codified as a federal holiday, this bill will add Trump’s Birthday to this list, recognizing him as the founder of America’s Golden Age. Additionally, as our nation prepares to celebrate its 250th anniversary, we should create a new federal holiday honoring the American Flag and all that it represents. By designating Trump’s Birthday and Flag Day as a federal holiday, we can ensure President Trump’s contributions to American greatness and the importance of the American Flag are forever enshrined into law,” said Congresswoman Tenney.

I thought it was clever of the Congresswoman to tie the two items together, Flag Day and President Trump's Birthday.  I don't think it will make it out of committee, or if it does, if it will pass through Congress.  But, a clever idea.

I do think it is possible that President Trump will have a major impact on the nation.  His DOGE is one big opportunity.  For sure, to clean up the swamp of Federal Appropriations would be a big deal, especially if he was able to add to that getting the budget under control.  Then there is hihs efforts to bring peace to the Ukriane and in the Holy Land.

Hat tip to my Wife, who noted this to me.

Regards  —  Cliff

Is Elon After Granny's Social Security Check?

For John, BLUF:  Cynicism about Democratic Party cynical efforts to fight President Trump.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

---

The Babylon Bee on Elon Musk

From The Babylon Bee, by The Bee, 10 Februry 2025, 2:22 PM.

Here is the post:

Democrats Uncover Devious Billionaire Plot To Spend Billions Buying Social Media Company To Get President Trump Elected In Order To Access The Treasury Database And Steal Grandma's $695 Social Security Check

It is The Bee.

I think the concerns of Democrats about Mr Elon Musk using his position to steal from taxpayers is a little over the top.

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

A billion dollars of fraud every week

For John, BLUF:  The Bureaucrats at Treasury, and perhaps elsewhere, slowly slipped into a routine of no checking on the Peoples' money.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

---

The Machine Fights Back

Here is the sub-headline:

Inside Treasury's War Against Its Own Reformers

From EKO Loves You, by Blogger EKO, 9 February 2025.

Here is the lede plus one:

When DOGE found empty fields in Treasury's payment system, they uncovered more than missing data.

They found a mechanism.

Simple things were left blank:

• Payment categories
• Payment rationales
• Basic audit controls

The kind of fields any small business would require.  The kind that let you track where money goes.  The kind that stop a billion dollars of fraud.  Every week.

Here's what Treasury didn't want exposed:

Over $100 billion flowing annually to accounts without Social Security numbers.  No temporary ID numbers. No verification. Nothing.

When Musk asked Treasury officials how much was "unequivocal and obvious fraud," the answer revealed decades of corruption: HALF

Let that sink in.

$50 billion per YEAR.

A billion dollars every SINGLE week disappearing into accounts that shouldn't exist.

It is like the Federal Bureaucracy had become an ever growing, self serving mechanism, immune from oversight.

And, it appears the Federal Courts are in sympathy with this jaugernaut, and willing to shield it from scrutiny.

Hat tip to the Citizen Free Press.

Regards  —  Cliff

The Courts Begin to Awaken

For John, BLUF:  The Democrats are battling President Trump by employing law suits.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

---

Judge leaves intact a ban on DOGE access to Treasury records pending a hearing Friday

From the Associated Press, by Reporter Larry Neumeister, 11 February 2025 at 1:50 PM EST.

Here is the lede plus four:

A federal judge on Tuesday made some clarifications but left intact a ban for now that prevents Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency from accessing Treasury Department records containing sensitive personal data for millions of Americans.

Judge Jeannette A. Vargas in Manhattan issued an order to continue a ban prior to a hearing Friday. The ban was put in place last week by another federal New York jurist in response to a lawsuit that 19 Democratic attorneys general brought against President Donald Trump.

Justice Department attorneys told Vargas in a filing on Sunday that the ban was unconstitutional and needed to be immediately reversed.

They made additional arguments in a written submission on Tuesday, saying the ban limits Trump's “ability to give direction to his subordinates” to ensure that annual outlays of $5 trillion by Treasury's Bureau of the Fiscal Service are being handled with efficiency.

Vargas made changes to the ban to clarify its reach. For instance, she said Treasury Department officers nominated by Trump and confirmed by the Senate can access the records, making it clear that Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is not subject to the ban.

This is a step in the proper direction by Judge Jeannette A. Vargas, allowing the Secretry of Treasury Scott Bessent to actually manage his department, a job for which he was confirmed by the US Senate.  The idea that a Cabinet Secretary was not allowed ot manage the civil Servants within his or her department, or manage the systems therein makes a sham of the job of management and responsibility.

While Friday may bring further clarity and common sense, I fear it will require the involvement of the US Supreme Court.

Hat tip to the Citizen Free Press.

Regards  —  Cliff

Letitia James Strikes Again

For John, BLUF:  One cannot deny that New York Attorney General Letitia James is out there slugging away at Donald Trump and his attempt to be a President for all Americans.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

---

US judge temporarily blocks Musk's DOGE from accessing payment systems

From Reuters, by Reporter Nate Raymond, 8 February 2025, 7:50 AM EST.

Here is the lede plus four:

A federal judge early Saturday temporarily blocked billionaire Elon Musk's government efficiency team and Trump administration political appointees from accessing government systems used to process trillions of dollars in payments, citing a risk that sensitive information could be improperly disclosed.

U.S. District Judge Paul Engelmayer in Manhattan issued the order after a coalition of 19 mostly Democratic-led U.S. states filed a lawsuit late Friday arguing Musk's Department of Government Efficiency has no legal power to access the U.S. Department of Treasury systems.

The lawsuit said Musk and his team could disrupt federal funding for health clinics, preschools, climate initiatives, and other programs, and that Republican President Donald Trump could use the information to further his political agenda.

DOGE's access to the system also "poses huge cybersecurity risks that put vast amounts of funding for the States and their residents in peril," the state attorneys general said. They sought a temporary restraining order blocking DOGE's access.

. . .

New York Attorney General Letitia James, a Democrat whose office is leading the case, welcomed the ruling, saying nobody was above the law and that Americans across the country had been horrified by the DOGE team's unfettered access to their data.

I am of two minds about this.

On the one hand, she might be dilusional about what is happening in these United States.  Her assertion that "Americans across the country had been horrified by the DOGE team's unfettered access to their data", may represent some small portion of the popultion, but I am doubtful it is a widespread feeling.  A lot of folks voted for Donald J Trump and JD Vance (and Elon Musk and Big Balls).  And a lot of us are dubious that our data on Federal Computers is safe from hacking by China, North Korea or other computer hackers.  Or from leaking by Civil Servants.

On the other hand, it could be that New York Attorney General Letitia James is getting money on the side from graft that could be exposed by the actions of DOGE.  I would like to think that such is not the case.  I would like to think that my tax money is not being spread amonst a corrupt group of politicians and non-governmental agency members.  Early reports suggest I will be disappointed.

To reference Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman and his statement that the Democratic Party is a "'toxic' brand built on years of 'shaming and scolding' voters," this is what General James sounds like.  Frankly, it is not a good look.

Hat tip to the Citizen Free Press.

Regards  —  Cliff

LGH

For John, BLUF:  A nice EMail about our Community here in Lowell.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

---

Here is an EMail I received late this week:

As the champion of a greater Lowell, I just wanted to mention a big plus.  Today I had an MRI under a general anesthetic at LGH.  What a pleasant experience.  Very caring folks there right down to one of the volunteers, a lady who spent 48 years working at LGH.  Now THAT is community.

To appreciate this EMail, it helps to know that the author, Neal, started his 30+ year Air Force career as a Medical Technician at the Regional Medical Center at Clark Air Base, in the Philippines.  His is an informed opinion.

And Kudos to the people at LGH.

Regards  —  Cliff

Holding a Grudge

For John, BLUF:  My "edition" of The Boston Globe was short of what I considered important an interesting news this morning.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

---

? ? ? ? ?

From The Boston Globe.

At 0502 this morning The Boston Globe sent out their daily EMail of the articles in the paper.  Missing, however, was anything on the airplane crash in North Philly last evening, which took at least six lives.

Is this an indicatino that their Lordships at The Boston Globe have not yet forgiven Dr Benjamin Franklin for decamping from Boston at a young age and estblishing himself in Phalidelphia.  And thank God he did, so he could be available to help guide the Founding Fathers during the American Revolution..

Regards  —  Cliff