Former FBI Acting Director, Andrew McCabe, is on tour and on TV pushing his new book. Recall that we learned it was back in August, 2016, that a meeting was held in McCabe's office with McCabe, FBI counter intelligence chief Peter Strzok and FBI attorney Lisa Page. Recall that Page said to Strzok, also her lover, "I want to believe the path you threw out for consideration in Andy's office - that there's no way he (Trump) gets elected - but I'm afraid we can't take the risk. It's like an insurance policy in the unlikely event you die before you're forty..." Trump is "not ever going to become president, right?" Strzok: "No. No he won't. We'll stop it." Fast forward to May, 2017, after Trump in fact won and did become President. McCabe then authorizes an independent counsel to supposedly investigate Russian collusion in the 2016 election, although the true purpose seems to have been to investigate Trump and anyone associated with him.
Recently, McCabe said this: "Rod (Rosenstein, Deputy Attorney General) raised the issue (of the 25th Amendment) and discussed it with me in the context of thinking about how many other cabinet officials might support such an effort." According to McCabe, Rosenstein opined: "I never get searched when I go into the White House. I could easily wear a recording device. They wouldn't know it was there." Imagine, that two of the highest ranking people in our justice system were discussing the deposing of the President of the United States. I do no care if you dislike Trump. I do not care if you hate Trump. This should outrage everyone. Apparently, there was no discussion of the legal niceties of things like probable cause and the obtaining of a search warrant. And let's not forget the true purpose of the 25th Amendment. It allows the Vice President and a majority of the cabinet to declare that the President is "unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office."
"Unable to discharge" does not mean we don't like Trump, or we don't like his policies, or we don't like his demeanor. And it assuredly is not a substitute for the impeachment process, which does deal with misconduct by the President. If the FBI thought Russia was trying to gain undue influence over the Trump campaign, why not warn Trump? Maybe for the same reason Hillary got away with having a private email server as Secretary of State without being charged for violation of government secrecy laws, and with deleting 33,000 emails and not being charged with obstruction of justice, and for using Bleach Bit to destroy her hard drives. The DC crowd would do anything to help Clinton beat Trump, and charging Clinton just would not do. Just to make sure the fix was in, husband Bill "coincidentally" met with then Attorney General Loretta Lynch on the tarmac in Phoenix. Following that meeting, Lynch said she would abide by Comey's decision (which was not his to make), and Comey dutifully announced that there would be no prosecution of Hillary. (For more on this topic see the 3/12/17 post: "The Deposing of an American President." That's right, the desire to "get" Trump has been going on since he took office.)
In yet a further attack on Trump from a man who greatly dislikes him, comes the story of Jussie Smollett. After accusing two white men, wearing MAGA hats, and saying this is MAGA country, Smollett said they made racial slurs and threatened him with a rope around his neck, Chicago PD is now saying that it did not happen. But it made great fodder for the mainstream media, which already hates Trump. After all, Trump is always accused of setting the tone, of being a racist. One of the commentators on CNN concluded this: "He said his attackers hurled racial and homophobic slurs at him. And this is America in 2019." Is it though? Or is it typical of the Left's view that nothing has changed in race relations in America in the last 100 years?
But maybe not everyone has progressed. A friend and reader, and an alum of Dickinson College in Pennsylvania, forwarded to me a piece in the student paper. Said the writer: "I am so g-ddamned tired of listening to white boys. I cannot describe to you how frustrating it is to be forced to listen to a white boy explain his take on the Black experience in the Obama era...In what world would your understanding of my life carry more weight than my understanding? Unfortunately, it is this world, where white men debate the pain of other people for fun and then take away their rights." Where does a young black woman learn this kind of hatred? In the college/university system, where the overwhelming number of professors are left-wing.
And this from another student paper in another esteemed university, Washington University in St. Louis: "It's OK that conservatives don't feel welcome...we shouldn't...pretend, out of politeness, that there's anything valuable in the Republican policy agenda." After all, this student opines: conservative ideas don't "deserve equal consideration to that afforded liberal and left ideas." Imagine growing up in a society where everyone tells you that the world is flat - your public schools, the TV shows and movies you watch, the newspapers or online media that you read and your college professors. Then, along comes someone who tells you the world is round. How could that notion possibly "deserve equal consideration" to everything that you have ever heard, read or been told?
Minnesota Congresswoman Ilhan Omar made the news yet again with another antisemitic remark concerning Jewish money in politics buying support for Israel. Specifically, she had in mind AIPAC (the American Israel Public Affairs Committee). While AIPAC does lobby to support the continuing good relationship between the US and Israel, it does not donate to political campaigns. After being forced by the House leadership to apologize, Omar's non-apology was followed by this: "I reaffirm the problematic role of lobbyists in our politics, whether its AIPAC, the NRA or the fossil fuel industry." Well, Congresswoman Omar must not be opposed to all PACs; after all she received nearly $60,000 in PAC money, including $5000 from CAIR - the Council on American-Islamic Relations. And Omar is to be the keynote speaker at Islamic Relief USA on 2/23/19. That is a group with one official having "advocated for violence against Jews." (Per the Jerusalem Post) So, of course, I believe her apology for her umpteenth anti-Semitic comment was sincere.
Monday, February 18, 2019
Sunday, February 10, 2019
The March Towards Socialism
(Note: For newer readers, and for those who - shockingly - do not read every post, this post follows on the August 26, 2018 post titled "Socialism?")
Yesterday, Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren formally announced her candidacy for the office of President of the United States. Her speech could just as easily have been given by openly socialist Senator Bernie Sanders. And, reminiscent of Obama's desire to bring "fundamental change" to our country, Warren said: "Our fight is for big structural change." I am always surprised at how people cheer for fundamentally or structurally changing the wealthiest, freest country in history. As Warren told us, just tinkering with fixes is not enough. No, we need a complete overhaul of this great country.
Following up on the need for structural change, Warren told us that "over the years America's middle class has been deliberately hollowed out and families of color have been systematically discriminated against and denied their chance to build some security." Why would the wealthy seek to "deliberately hollow out" the middle class - the backbone of the country, the people who buy the goods and services - produced by the wealthy? Recall that Henry Ford knew he had to pay his employees enough so that they would be able to purchase his cars. And while there certainly was a history of systematic discrimination against blacks, Warren, like others on the Left, talks as if nothing has changed. After all, the key to getting their votes is to ensure that blacks always feel they are victims.
Warren told us that our country is based on "a rigged system that props up the rich and powerful and kicks dirt on everyone else." Warren then told the cheering crowd how, from her humble beginnings as the daughter of a janitor, and then going to a local community college, she was able to become a teacher, a law school professor, a United States Senator and now a candidate for President of the United States. In watching her and her supporters, it seemed that none of them appreciated the irony in the contrast between a "rigged system," and anyone, notwithstanding their humble background, being able to achieve great success if they work hard enough.
Warren told us that she wants to put workers in corporate boardrooms. And, noting that the US is the wealthiest country, says: "I am tired of hearing that we can't afford to make real investments in child care, college and Medicare for all." On the one hand, one could argue that this is nothing more than the longstanding "guns or butter" argument in politics. On the other hand, it appears that people such as Warren, and others on the Left, have no clue as to how and why the United States became the wealthiest country in history. Hint - it was not because of socialism.
Warren, along with other likely Democratic candidates for President such as Cory Booker (NJ), Kirsten Gillibrand (NY), Kamala Harris (CA) and Bernie Sanders (VT) all support Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's "Green New Deal." There are various Green New Deals that one can find online. The one proposed by the Green Party is essentially a call for communism. It would create a federal employment program, creating 25 million federally funded jobs. It would create publicly owned, non-profit banks at all levels of government. Obama had, before his candidacy, complained that the Bill of Rights only protected people from government action, it did not say what government must do for people. The Green Party's plan rectifies that by calling for a right to: a living wage, quality health care with single payer Medicare for all, free schooling from pre-school through college, the forgiving of college student loans, decent affordable housing with a halt to all foreclosures and evictions, accessible and affordable utilities and "fair" taxation. Quite a change from JFK's "ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country."
Ocasio-Cortez's plan, introduced in the House and Senate, is actually a non-binding resolution providing that the Federal Government has a "duty" to create a Green New Deal (GND). The GND includes "a 10-year commitment to convert '100 percent of the power demand in the United States' to 'clean, renewable and zero-emission energy sources,' to upgrade 'all existing buildings' to meet energy efficiency requirements, and to expand high speed rail so broadly that most air travel would be rendered obsolete." (As reported on page 1 of the 2/8/10 New York Times.) Air travel become obsolete?
In case you are wondering how the Left proposes to pay for all their new ideas, there is a plan for that. Sort of. The Federal Reserve can extend credit, as can new public banks. "Extend credit" sounds like forcing people into debt, poverty and bankruptcy in order to pay for everything. I recall an interview given by Ocasio-Cortez a while ago wherein she explained how she would pay for her Medicare for all plan: "You just pay for it." Yet another example of how the Left is clueless about wealth creation or monetary policy. They certainly do understand fiscal policy - tax and spend, tax and spend, and tax and spend some more.
Of course, Senator Warren has her own plan - a new "wealth tax." Households with a net worth of $50 million would pay a 2% "tax" on their wealth, with those having $1 billion or more paying 3%. The truth is this is not a "tax" at all. It is government confiscation of people's money. There is no economic activity or transaction involved, which might justify a tax. It is merely having accumulated "too much" in the eyes of the Left. It is one of the reasons that this blog opposed Obamacare - it placed a "tax" on inactivity - a failure to buy health insurance. This idea of taking away people's wealth reminds me of a scene (often discussed by a friend) in the movie Dr. Zhivago. After Dr. Zhivago goes off to treat the revolutionary Bolsheviks in their fight against the Czar's army, he returns home to find that his large family home is no longer his. Rather, with Lenin in power, the home has been converted to multiple dwellings for "the people," with the Party now owning the property.
Of course, no left-wing plan is complete without acknowledging the oppressed, victim class. Ocasio-Cortez's plan refers to the need to "stop, prevent and repair the historic oppression of"...fill in the blank. "Indigenous peoples, communities of color, migrant communities, deindustrialized communities, depopulated rural communities, the poor, low income workers, women, elderly, unhoused, people with disabilities and youth." Pandering to identity politics is a tactic that the Left sees as the path towards electoral success - never mind that it divides people into groups, rather than unifying us all as Americans.
Yesterday, Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren formally announced her candidacy for the office of President of the United States. Her speech could just as easily have been given by openly socialist Senator Bernie Sanders. And, reminiscent of Obama's desire to bring "fundamental change" to our country, Warren said: "Our fight is for big structural change." I am always surprised at how people cheer for fundamentally or structurally changing the wealthiest, freest country in history. As Warren told us, just tinkering with fixes is not enough. No, we need a complete overhaul of this great country.
Following up on the need for structural change, Warren told us that "over the years America's middle class has been deliberately hollowed out and families of color have been systematically discriminated against and denied their chance to build some security." Why would the wealthy seek to "deliberately hollow out" the middle class - the backbone of the country, the people who buy the goods and services - produced by the wealthy? Recall that Henry Ford knew he had to pay his employees enough so that they would be able to purchase his cars. And while there certainly was a history of systematic discrimination against blacks, Warren, like others on the Left, talks as if nothing has changed. After all, the key to getting their votes is to ensure that blacks always feel they are victims.
Warren told us that our country is based on "a rigged system that props up the rich and powerful and kicks dirt on everyone else." Warren then told the cheering crowd how, from her humble beginnings as the daughter of a janitor, and then going to a local community college, she was able to become a teacher, a law school professor, a United States Senator and now a candidate for President of the United States. In watching her and her supporters, it seemed that none of them appreciated the irony in the contrast between a "rigged system," and anyone, notwithstanding their humble background, being able to achieve great success if they work hard enough.
Warren told us that she wants to put workers in corporate boardrooms. And, noting that the US is the wealthiest country, says: "I am tired of hearing that we can't afford to make real investments in child care, college and Medicare for all." On the one hand, one could argue that this is nothing more than the longstanding "guns or butter" argument in politics. On the other hand, it appears that people such as Warren, and others on the Left, have no clue as to how and why the United States became the wealthiest country in history. Hint - it was not because of socialism.
Warren, along with other likely Democratic candidates for President such as Cory Booker (NJ), Kirsten Gillibrand (NY), Kamala Harris (CA) and Bernie Sanders (VT) all support Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's "Green New Deal." There are various Green New Deals that one can find online. The one proposed by the Green Party is essentially a call for communism. It would create a federal employment program, creating 25 million federally funded jobs. It would create publicly owned, non-profit banks at all levels of government. Obama had, before his candidacy, complained that the Bill of Rights only protected people from government action, it did not say what government must do for people. The Green Party's plan rectifies that by calling for a right to: a living wage, quality health care with single payer Medicare for all, free schooling from pre-school through college, the forgiving of college student loans, decent affordable housing with a halt to all foreclosures and evictions, accessible and affordable utilities and "fair" taxation. Quite a change from JFK's "ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country."
Ocasio-Cortez's plan, introduced in the House and Senate, is actually a non-binding resolution providing that the Federal Government has a "duty" to create a Green New Deal (GND). The GND includes "a 10-year commitment to convert '100 percent of the power demand in the United States' to 'clean, renewable and zero-emission energy sources,' to upgrade 'all existing buildings' to meet energy efficiency requirements, and to expand high speed rail so broadly that most air travel would be rendered obsolete." (As reported on page 1 of the 2/8/10 New York Times.) Air travel become obsolete?
In case you are wondering how the Left proposes to pay for all their new ideas, there is a plan for that. Sort of. The Federal Reserve can extend credit, as can new public banks. "Extend credit" sounds like forcing people into debt, poverty and bankruptcy in order to pay for everything. I recall an interview given by Ocasio-Cortez a while ago wherein she explained how she would pay for her Medicare for all plan: "You just pay for it." Yet another example of how the Left is clueless about wealth creation or monetary policy. They certainly do understand fiscal policy - tax and spend, tax and spend, and tax and spend some more.
Of course, Senator Warren has her own plan - a new "wealth tax." Households with a net worth of $50 million would pay a 2% "tax" on their wealth, with those having $1 billion or more paying 3%. The truth is this is not a "tax" at all. It is government confiscation of people's money. There is no economic activity or transaction involved, which might justify a tax. It is merely having accumulated "too much" in the eyes of the Left. It is one of the reasons that this blog opposed Obamacare - it placed a "tax" on inactivity - a failure to buy health insurance. This idea of taking away people's wealth reminds me of a scene (often discussed by a friend) in the movie Dr. Zhivago. After Dr. Zhivago goes off to treat the revolutionary Bolsheviks in their fight against the Czar's army, he returns home to find that his large family home is no longer his. Rather, with Lenin in power, the home has been converted to multiple dwellings for "the people," with the Party now owning the property.
Of course, no left-wing plan is complete without acknowledging the oppressed, victim class. Ocasio-Cortez's plan refers to the need to "stop, prevent and repair the historic oppression of"...fill in the blank. "Indigenous peoples, communities of color, migrant communities, deindustrialized communities, depopulated rural communities, the poor, low income workers, women, elderly, unhoused, people with disabilities and youth." Pandering to identity politics is a tactic that the Left sees as the path towards electoral success - never mind that it divides people into groups, rather than unifying us all as Americans.
Sunday, February 3, 2019
New Year Reflections, Part II
Claim: President Trump has alienated our allies and seeks to undermine NATO. Here's the Secretary General of NATO, Jens Stoltenberg: "President Trump has been very clear. He is committed to NATO...he has clearly stated that NATO allies need to invest more...and now we see the results..by the end of next year, NATO allies will add...100 billion extra US dollars toward defense. So we see some real money and some real results. And we see that the clear message from President Donald Trump is having an impact." Clearly a result that will not please Putin.
Trump has announced his intention to have the US withdraw from a Nuclear Arms Control Treaty dealing with intermediate range missiles. Russia has been in violation of the treaty for years. China has not been bound by the treaty. The result has been the US is needlessly falling behind the two major powers whose interests are opposed to ours. Said Nancy Pelosi: "Russia's brazen noncompliance with this treaty is deeply concerning, but discarding a key pillar of our nonproliferation security framework creates unacceptable risks." More evidence of Russian collusion by Trump? Hardly. But it is evidence of the dream world in which the left operates. Pelosi opines that the treaty is a key pillar of our security - notwithstanding Russia's "brazen noncompliance." Pelosi wants the US to comply with a treaty that de facto does not even exist anymore.
In South Carolina, a man called the police after someone broke into his home and assaulted him. The perpetrator did not get away with any of the man's possessions or valuables. The police did, however. You see, the police found, and confiscated, one ounce of marijuana in his home, along with $1800 in cash. They charged the man with intent to distribute. The charges were dropped, but the police kept the money anyway under civil forfeiture laws; with many police departments using forfeiture as a fund raising mechanism for their departments. The man could not pay his rent, and the reporting on it said he was forced out. These civil forfeiture laws have no place in the United States of America.
One of the top Democrats negotiating with the Republicans over immigration, has declared that there will be no border wall. Of course, Speaker Pelosi has frequently said that, even declaring a wall to be "immoral." But this Democrat has indicated that they may agree to "some sort of enhanced barrier." I do not know what that might be. The current chief of the US Border Patrol said: "We certainly do need a wall. Talk to any border agent and they will tell you that." But don't just take his word for it. Here's Obama's chief of the Border Patrol: walls "absolutely work."
I'm a little confused about Virginia Governor Northam's comments about a photo in his 1984 medical school yearbook. The photo shows one person in blackface standing next to someone wearing a KKK hood. The Governor first admitted he was in the photo, but the next day denied that he was in the photo. Here's my question - what was such a photo doing in any yearbook in the year 1984?
The lead editorial in the 2/3/19 Los Angeles Times is titled "Trump's border 'emergency.'" The Times is concerned about Trump acting to build a border wall without Congressional authorization. I get it - separation of powers, three branches of government. But you may recall this from Obama: "We're not just going to be waiting for legislation...I've got a pen and I've got a phone...and I can use that pen to sign executive orders and take executive actions and administrative actions." And this from Obama: "We can't wait for Congress to do its job, so where they won't act, I will."
One letter writer to the USA Today does not want to see another millionaire (I think he meant billionaire) in the White House. "It does not work, they do not understand or care about middle America." Really? After Trump cut taxes and regulations, we have seen record low unemployment numbers for many groups. We saw Trump renegotiating NAFTA in order to help keep jobs here. We see Trump pushing for better border security, which keeps people from coming here illegally and taking jobs from Americans. But the writer just repeats the left-wing mantra that Trump is an uncaring billionaire, who just cars about his wealthy friends.
The 2/3/19 New York Times had a lengthy article on page 6 titled "As Attacks by Jewish Settlers Surge, Israel Stays Silent." The article talks about increasing attacks by Jews against Palestinians in the West Bank. After noting recent Palestinian attacks on Jews, the Times does reference an "expert" saying "violence is endemic around settlements deep in the West Bank, and Jewish attacks often follow Palestinian ones." The gist of the article is that Israel is not being aggressive enough in prosecuting criminal attacks on Palestinians, hypothesizing that Netanyahu does not wish to upset the right wing with an election coming up soon. Let me be clear - attacks by either side on unarmed civilians are unacceptable, and should be punished accordingly. However, not surprisingly to this writer, the Times neglects to say what the Palestinians do about their criminals (terrorists) who kill innocent Jews. They reward them. They are idolized, with schools and parks named after Palestinians who kill Jews. The PA provides financial support to the families of those who are killed in the process of attacking Jews. It would have been nice if the Times had provided that balance to their story.
Finally, we now hear from the left that the MAGA hats are threatening. One guest on CNN said the hats are "just as maddening and frustrating and triggering for me to look at it as a KKK hood." Alyssa Milano also referred to the MAGA hats as the new white hood. To say that the left makes outrageous comparisons about what "offends" them is an understatement. The implication is that if you "support" Trump then you are a racist. If this sounds familiar, just think of Hillary's "basket of deplorables." The left's argument does not change.
Trump has announced his intention to have the US withdraw from a Nuclear Arms Control Treaty dealing with intermediate range missiles. Russia has been in violation of the treaty for years. China has not been bound by the treaty. The result has been the US is needlessly falling behind the two major powers whose interests are opposed to ours. Said Nancy Pelosi: "Russia's brazen noncompliance with this treaty is deeply concerning, but discarding a key pillar of our nonproliferation security framework creates unacceptable risks." More evidence of Russian collusion by Trump? Hardly. But it is evidence of the dream world in which the left operates. Pelosi opines that the treaty is a key pillar of our security - notwithstanding Russia's "brazen noncompliance." Pelosi wants the US to comply with a treaty that de facto does not even exist anymore.
In South Carolina, a man called the police after someone broke into his home and assaulted him. The perpetrator did not get away with any of the man's possessions or valuables. The police did, however. You see, the police found, and confiscated, one ounce of marijuana in his home, along with $1800 in cash. They charged the man with intent to distribute. The charges were dropped, but the police kept the money anyway under civil forfeiture laws; with many police departments using forfeiture as a fund raising mechanism for their departments. The man could not pay his rent, and the reporting on it said he was forced out. These civil forfeiture laws have no place in the United States of America.
One of the top Democrats negotiating with the Republicans over immigration, has declared that there will be no border wall. Of course, Speaker Pelosi has frequently said that, even declaring a wall to be "immoral." But this Democrat has indicated that they may agree to "some sort of enhanced barrier." I do not know what that might be. The current chief of the US Border Patrol said: "We certainly do need a wall. Talk to any border agent and they will tell you that." But don't just take his word for it. Here's Obama's chief of the Border Patrol: walls "absolutely work."
I'm a little confused about Virginia Governor Northam's comments about a photo in his 1984 medical school yearbook. The photo shows one person in blackface standing next to someone wearing a KKK hood. The Governor first admitted he was in the photo, but the next day denied that he was in the photo. Here's my question - what was such a photo doing in any yearbook in the year 1984?
The lead editorial in the 2/3/19 Los Angeles Times is titled "Trump's border 'emergency.'" The Times is concerned about Trump acting to build a border wall without Congressional authorization. I get it - separation of powers, three branches of government. But you may recall this from Obama: "We're not just going to be waiting for legislation...I've got a pen and I've got a phone...and I can use that pen to sign executive orders and take executive actions and administrative actions." And this from Obama: "We can't wait for Congress to do its job, so where they won't act, I will."
One letter writer to the USA Today does not want to see another millionaire (I think he meant billionaire) in the White House. "It does not work, they do not understand or care about middle America." Really? After Trump cut taxes and regulations, we have seen record low unemployment numbers for many groups. We saw Trump renegotiating NAFTA in order to help keep jobs here. We see Trump pushing for better border security, which keeps people from coming here illegally and taking jobs from Americans. But the writer just repeats the left-wing mantra that Trump is an uncaring billionaire, who just cars about his wealthy friends.
The 2/3/19 New York Times had a lengthy article on page 6 titled "As Attacks by Jewish Settlers Surge, Israel Stays Silent." The article talks about increasing attacks by Jews against Palestinians in the West Bank. After noting recent Palestinian attacks on Jews, the Times does reference an "expert" saying "violence is endemic around settlements deep in the West Bank, and Jewish attacks often follow Palestinian ones." The gist of the article is that Israel is not being aggressive enough in prosecuting criminal attacks on Palestinians, hypothesizing that Netanyahu does not wish to upset the right wing with an election coming up soon. Let me be clear - attacks by either side on unarmed civilians are unacceptable, and should be punished accordingly. However, not surprisingly to this writer, the Times neglects to say what the Palestinians do about their criminals (terrorists) who kill innocent Jews. They reward them. They are idolized, with schools and parks named after Palestinians who kill Jews. The PA provides financial support to the families of those who are killed in the process of attacking Jews. It would have been nice if the Times had provided that balance to their story.
Finally, we now hear from the left that the MAGA hats are threatening. One guest on CNN said the hats are "just as maddening and frustrating and triggering for me to look at it as a KKK hood." Alyssa Milano also referred to the MAGA hats as the new white hood. To say that the left makes outrageous comparisons about what "offends" them is an understatement. The implication is that if you "support" Trump then you are a racist. If this sounds familiar, just think of Hillary's "basket of deplorables." The left's argument does not change.
Sunday, January 20, 2019
As the Attacks on Israel Accelerate, Where Do You Stand?
I understand that Israel is not the biggest issue for most Americans. I do not understand how Israel is not any issue for many American Jews. It bears repeating that 71 years ago Jews around the world celebrated the emergence of the new State of Israel. No one needed to explain to them the importance of having a Jewish homeland. Following the Holocaust, Jews could no longer live under the assumption that "it can't happen here." Not after it happened in the modern, industrialized country of Germany, with other European countries aligned with them. But here we are a single lifetime later and much has changed.
In a 1/19/19 Op-Ed in the New York Times, Michelle Alexander asserts that it's "Time to Break the Silence on Palestine." She claims that elected officials, many civil rights activists and many students fear expressing support for Palestinian rights, with fear of being labeled "anti-Semitic." This allegation is pure nonsense. The 11/28/18 Washington Examiner reported that "over 1,500 faculty at more than 250 U.S. universities have publicly supported the boycott of Israeli academics and institutions." On many major university campuses there is a yearly "Israel Apartheid Week," with a symbolic wall displayed with anti-Israel literature handed out. What is true is the increasing anti-Semitism on many college campuses across the country. What is true is that many Jewish students are fearful of openly supporting Israel. It has gotten so bad that the Algemeiner, an online Jewish paper, listed "The 40 Worst Colleges for Jewish Students, 2017." These are major colleges and universities on the list.
Alexander lauds the election of two new members of Congress, both Democrats (Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib), openly supporting the BDS (Boycott, Divest, Sanction) movement against Israel. Tlaib has called Israel a "racist" country, not worthy of receiving US aid. Tlaib wants to see a one-state solution between Israel and the Palestinians, expecting the Palestinians to be in the majority. That amounts to a call for the end of the one Jewish state in the world. Nancy Pelosi has deemed it appropriate to put Omar on the very important House Foreign Affairs Committee. Omar: "Israel has hypnotized the world, may Allah awaken the people and help them see the evil doings of Israel." As the left takes increasing control of the Democratic Party, we will see how long it takes for Israel to be considered unacceptable as an ally. Tlaib has hosted an anti-Israel activist who has praised Hezbollah and said "Israel does not have a right to exist." If you are waiting to hear any condemnation of these members of the House from the Democratic leadership - don't. However, House Republicans joined in the condemnation of Rep. Steve King for speaking well of white supremacy; and House Minority leader Kevin McCarthy stripped King from his senior committee assignments. But these leftists are now an essential part of the Democratic party.
Which brings us to the anti-Israel, anti-Semitic leaders of the Women's March. Linda Sarsour has said that "a Zionist cannot call herself a feminist." On PBS' "Firing Line," Tamika Mallory was asked if Israel has a right to exist. She refused to answer, saying that "people" have a right to exist. While claiming that Palestinians are native to the land of Israel, she would not acknowledge that Jews were. No acknowledgement of King David or King Solomon or the First Temple or the Second Temple. Sarsour has referred to Louis Farrakhan as the GOAT - Greatest of All Time. Farrakhan is likely the most outspoken anti-Semite in the country. Mallory and Carmen Perez allege that Jews have a "collective responsibility as exploiters of black and brown people."
Less than 74 years after the end of the Holocaust, how are the Jews in Europe faring today? The European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights polled 16,500 Jews in 12 European countries. The Jews in those countries constitute 90% of the Jews in the European Union (as reported in the 12/12/18 Wall Street Journal article by David Schwammenthal). 85% reported that anti-Semitism is a problem in their country. A third, 34%, actually avoid going to Jewish events or Jewish locations, presumably out of fear. As the Muslim population in Europe has increased, and as the left has increasingly aligned themselves with the Muslims, hatred of Israel is often expressed as an attack on all Jews. 51% of those polled said they frequently or always hear that "Israelis behave like Nazis" towards the Palestinians. And a third said they hear frequently or all the time that "The world would be a better place without Israel."
In the UK, Jeremy Corbyn is the head of Labour, one of the two largest political parties. Currently, the head of the conservative Tory party, Theresa May, is the Prime Minister. Should Corbyn become Prime Minister, he has promised to recognize "Palestine" his first day in office. Corbyn welcomed members of Hamas and Hezbollah to the Parliament as "friends." He was seen laying a wreath at a memorial ceremony for the members of Black September, the group responsible for the murder of Israeli athletes at the 1972 Munich Olympics. Muslims far outnumber Jews in the UK, with the 2011 census showing 261,282 Jews and 2,660,116 Muslims. It is a story that is being repeated throughout Europe. And it's coming to the United States. Pew estimated there were 3.45 million Muslims in the US in 2017, with a record number being admitted in 2016 under Obama. Am I anti-Muslim? Not if they believe in "live and let live." Not if they believe in government under the Constitution and not Sharia law. And not if they believe that Israel has a right to exist.
But I'm not the problem. The Palestinian Authority wants the UN General Assembly to reinstate a 1975 resolution (later repealed in 1991) stating that "Zionism is a form of racism and racial discrimination." There is a fifth grade textbook used in Palestinian schools as of 2017, that discusses the importance of heroes. As noted in an article in the Jerusalem Post, the heroes mentioned were not artists or athletes, not scientists or doctors; no, they were combatants, including the terrorist Dalal Mughrabi, responsible for killing 25 adult Israelis and 12 children, in an attack on a bus. The book tells Palestinian students that people like her are the martyrs, the heroes - "Bravo to the heroes, scorn to the cowards." At least 5 schools were named after Mughrabi, as the PA continues to support the families of those "martyrs" who kill Jews.
In the 1/6/19 New York Times was another Op-Ed about Israel: "American Jews and Israeli Jews Break Up." The article, by a Jonathan Weisman, tells us that, while 75% of American Jews voted for Democrats in the recent midterm elections, 69% of Israelis have a positive view of the US under Trump. Weisman tells us that "...for most American Jews, it is now accepted as a tenet of their religion: building a better, more equal, more tolerant world now, where they live." Weisman concludes: "Now many American Jews, would say, Israel is Israel's problem. We have our own." As I said, what a difference a single lifetime can make. As previously noted in this blog last year, were it not for Republican support for Israel, the US attitude towards Israel might resemble that of many European countries. But the January, 2018 Pew poll showed overwhelming support for Israel by Republicans - with 79% favoring Israel over the Palestinians. Not so for the Democrats, who showed 27% support for Israel over the Palestinians, with Independents coming in at 42% for Israel. The numbers are far worse in the UK.
Back to Ms. Alexander's Op-Ed. What was so blatantly missing from her blame Israel hit piece, was any discussion of the Palestinians' responsibility for their situation. There was no mention of the various wars launched against Israel in an effort to wipe the country off the map. No mention of the multiple opportunities the Palestinians had to have a state of their own, dating all the way back to the 1947 UN partition plan. There was no mention of Ehud Barak offering a state to Yasser Arafat in 2000, when they met at Bill Clinton's White House. Arafat walked out without making any counter proposals; rather, he returned to Ramallah to start the Second Intifada, when Palestinians wearing "suicide/homicide" vests blew up Jews on buses, in cafes, at malls, and even at a Passover Seder. Ms. Alexander made no mention of the state offered to PA President Mahmoud Abbas by then Israeli PM Ehud Olmert in 2008. Another rejected offer with no counter proposal. There was no mention of over one million Arabs living in Israel, with Abbas saying that not a single Jew may live in any future Palestinian state. And there was no mention of the endless terrorist attacks on Jews, and the teaching of Palestinian children that killing Jews is heroic.
So, where do I stand? If I truly had a reason to believe that giving the Palestinians a state would mean peace and the saving of lives, I would be in favor. But that would mean no more wars, no more terrorist attacks, no more trying to demonize Israel around the world. I have no reason to believe that would happen. I have every reason to believe that, as the Palestinians claim, they will not stop until they have all the land from the (Jordanian) river to the (Mediterranean) sea.
In a 1/19/19 Op-Ed in the New York Times, Michelle Alexander asserts that it's "Time to Break the Silence on Palestine." She claims that elected officials, many civil rights activists and many students fear expressing support for Palestinian rights, with fear of being labeled "anti-Semitic." This allegation is pure nonsense. The 11/28/18 Washington Examiner reported that "over 1,500 faculty at more than 250 U.S. universities have publicly supported the boycott of Israeli academics and institutions." On many major university campuses there is a yearly "Israel Apartheid Week," with a symbolic wall displayed with anti-Israel literature handed out. What is true is the increasing anti-Semitism on many college campuses across the country. What is true is that many Jewish students are fearful of openly supporting Israel. It has gotten so bad that the Algemeiner, an online Jewish paper, listed "The 40 Worst Colleges for Jewish Students, 2017." These are major colleges and universities on the list.
Alexander lauds the election of two new members of Congress, both Democrats (Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib), openly supporting the BDS (Boycott, Divest, Sanction) movement against Israel. Tlaib has called Israel a "racist" country, not worthy of receiving US aid. Tlaib wants to see a one-state solution between Israel and the Palestinians, expecting the Palestinians to be in the majority. That amounts to a call for the end of the one Jewish state in the world. Nancy Pelosi has deemed it appropriate to put Omar on the very important House Foreign Affairs Committee. Omar: "Israel has hypnotized the world, may Allah awaken the people and help them see the evil doings of Israel." As the left takes increasing control of the Democratic Party, we will see how long it takes for Israel to be considered unacceptable as an ally. Tlaib has hosted an anti-Israel activist who has praised Hezbollah and said "Israel does not have a right to exist." If you are waiting to hear any condemnation of these members of the House from the Democratic leadership - don't. However, House Republicans joined in the condemnation of Rep. Steve King for speaking well of white supremacy; and House Minority leader Kevin McCarthy stripped King from his senior committee assignments. But these leftists are now an essential part of the Democratic party.
Which brings us to the anti-Israel, anti-Semitic leaders of the Women's March. Linda Sarsour has said that "a Zionist cannot call herself a feminist." On PBS' "Firing Line," Tamika Mallory was asked if Israel has a right to exist. She refused to answer, saying that "people" have a right to exist. While claiming that Palestinians are native to the land of Israel, she would not acknowledge that Jews were. No acknowledgement of King David or King Solomon or the First Temple or the Second Temple. Sarsour has referred to Louis Farrakhan as the GOAT - Greatest of All Time. Farrakhan is likely the most outspoken anti-Semite in the country. Mallory and Carmen Perez allege that Jews have a "collective responsibility as exploiters of black and brown people."
Less than 74 years after the end of the Holocaust, how are the Jews in Europe faring today? The European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights polled 16,500 Jews in 12 European countries. The Jews in those countries constitute 90% of the Jews in the European Union (as reported in the 12/12/18 Wall Street Journal article by David Schwammenthal). 85% reported that anti-Semitism is a problem in their country. A third, 34%, actually avoid going to Jewish events or Jewish locations, presumably out of fear. As the Muslim population in Europe has increased, and as the left has increasingly aligned themselves with the Muslims, hatred of Israel is often expressed as an attack on all Jews. 51% of those polled said they frequently or always hear that "Israelis behave like Nazis" towards the Palestinians. And a third said they hear frequently or all the time that "The world would be a better place without Israel."
In the UK, Jeremy Corbyn is the head of Labour, one of the two largest political parties. Currently, the head of the conservative Tory party, Theresa May, is the Prime Minister. Should Corbyn become Prime Minister, he has promised to recognize "Palestine" his first day in office. Corbyn welcomed members of Hamas and Hezbollah to the Parliament as "friends." He was seen laying a wreath at a memorial ceremony for the members of Black September, the group responsible for the murder of Israeli athletes at the 1972 Munich Olympics. Muslims far outnumber Jews in the UK, with the 2011 census showing 261,282 Jews and 2,660,116 Muslims. It is a story that is being repeated throughout Europe. And it's coming to the United States. Pew estimated there were 3.45 million Muslims in the US in 2017, with a record number being admitted in 2016 under Obama. Am I anti-Muslim? Not if they believe in "live and let live." Not if they believe in government under the Constitution and not Sharia law. And not if they believe that Israel has a right to exist.
But I'm not the problem. The Palestinian Authority wants the UN General Assembly to reinstate a 1975 resolution (later repealed in 1991) stating that "Zionism is a form of racism and racial discrimination." There is a fifth grade textbook used in Palestinian schools as of 2017, that discusses the importance of heroes. As noted in an article in the Jerusalem Post, the heroes mentioned were not artists or athletes, not scientists or doctors; no, they were combatants, including the terrorist Dalal Mughrabi, responsible for killing 25 adult Israelis and 12 children, in an attack on a bus. The book tells Palestinian students that people like her are the martyrs, the heroes - "Bravo to the heroes, scorn to the cowards." At least 5 schools were named after Mughrabi, as the PA continues to support the families of those "martyrs" who kill Jews.
In the 1/6/19 New York Times was another Op-Ed about Israel: "American Jews and Israeli Jews Break Up." The article, by a Jonathan Weisman, tells us that, while 75% of American Jews voted for Democrats in the recent midterm elections, 69% of Israelis have a positive view of the US under Trump. Weisman tells us that "...for most American Jews, it is now accepted as a tenet of their religion: building a better, more equal, more tolerant world now, where they live." Weisman concludes: "Now many American Jews, would say, Israel is Israel's problem. We have our own." As I said, what a difference a single lifetime can make. As previously noted in this blog last year, were it not for Republican support for Israel, the US attitude towards Israel might resemble that of many European countries. But the January, 2018 Pew poll showed overwhelming support for Israel by Republicans - with 79% favoring Israel over the Palestinians. Not so for the Democrats, who showed 27% support for Israel over the Palestinians, with Independents coming in at 42% for Israel. The numbers are far worse in the UK.
Back to Ms. Alexander's Op-Ed. What was so blatantly missing from her blame Israel hit piece, was any discussion of the Palestinians' responsibility for their situation. There was no mention of the various wars launched against Israel in an effort to wipe the country off the map. No mention of the multiple opportunities the Palestinians had to have a state of their own, dating all the way back to the 1947 UN partition plan. There was no mention of Ehud Barak offering a state to Yasser Arafat in 2000, when they met at Bill Clinton's White House. Arafat walked out without making any counter proposals; rather, he returned to Ramallah to start the Second Intifada, when Palestinians wearing "suicide/homicide" vests blew up Jews on buses, in cafes, at malls, and even at a Passover Seder. Ms. Alexander made no mention of the state offered to PA President Mahmoud Abbas by then Israeli PM Ehud Olmert in 2008. Another rejected offer with no counter proposal. There was no mention of over one million Arabs living in Israel, with Abbas saying that not a single Jew may live in any future Palestinian state. And there was no mention of the endless terrorist attacks on Jews, and the teaching of Palestinian children that killing Jews is heroic.
So, where do I stand? If I truly had a reason to believe that giving the Palestinians a state would mean peace and the saving of lives, I would be in favor. But that would mean no more wars, no more terrorist attacks, no more trying to demonize Israel around the world. I have no reason to believe that would happen. I have every reason to believe that, as the Palestinians claim, they will not stop until they have all the land from the (Jordanian) river to the (Mediterranean) sea.
Sunday, January 6, 2019
New Year Reflections, Part I
In the last post I mentioned an individual who wanted to see President Trump impeached and indicted and spend the rest of his life in prison because of "the insanity he has wreaked upon our nation." Would that include the incredible job growth of adding 312,000 jobs in December, which virtually doubled expectations. With the cuts in taxes and regulations, and renegotiated trade deals, our economy is doing exceedingly well. CNBC reported that the "manufacturing industry posts the biggest annual job gain in 20 years." Is that part of the "insanity wreaked upon our nation?" Remember when Obama mocked Trump's claim that he would bring back manufacturing jobs, asking if Trump had a magic wand? The magic wand is a man who knows business versus a community organizer who never ran or understood any business.
Nancy Pelosi refuses to fund a border wall, claiming that "a wall is an immorality, it's not who we are as a nation." But she did vote for a fence in 2006, so I guess a fence is not an immorality. Are all walls immoral? How about walls around prisons? If any members of Congress have walls around their property or live in gated communities, should all such walls and barriers come down? The Israelis built a wall/barrier between themselves and the Palestinians. The result has been their wall has saved Israeli lives. So while Israeli leaders are protecting their citizens, Nancy Pelosi and the Democrats are protecting illegal aliens.
Pelosi did tell the USA Today that Trump was "being a fear monger." Pelosi: "He (Trump) talked about terrorists coming in over that particular border, which wasn't so. He talked about people bringing in diseases and all the rest of that, which wasn't so." And this: "He's using scare tactics that are not evidence-based, and it's wrong." You have to love the mainstream media. Each and every word out of Trump's mouth is vetted, but Pelosi can spew whatever nonsense she wants without a single challenge. No diseases brought in? In June, 2017, for just one example, the CDC reported that the rate of TB in Mexico was five (5) times greater than the US rate. But Pelosi somehow knows that not a single one of the thousands, no, millions who have entered illegally have carried any TB or other diseases. And the media does not think to ask how she knows the unknowable. It used to be knowable, because people were required to have medical exams either here at an immigration center or in other countries before being allowed to enter the US.
As for bad guys coming into the country, the Deputy White House press secretary reported in July, 2018, that in the fiscal year 2017 48,000 criminal aliens were arrested for assault, 12,000 for sexual offenses, and 2000 for homicides. Anybody really willing to bet their safety that terrorists are not coming in illegally as well as all the criminals? Maybe Pelosi can tell the family members of Newman, California police Corporal Ronil Singh, 33 years old with a wife and 5 month old son, why his life was less important than that of the illegal alien accused of murdering him. Singh, who was a native of Fiji, dedicated his life to helping people. His accused murderer had apparently been arrested twice, but given the State's sanctuary law ICE was never notified of his presence here, allowing him to then allegedly murder Cpl Singh. I wonder if anyone in the media might yet have any questions for Pelosi.
California, in addition to being a sanctuary state, passed some rather interesting legislation. As of the end of this year, publicly traded companies must have at least one woman on its Board of Directors; and must have two by 2021. Other than Hawaii, California likely has the highest percentage of Asians - about 15% of the population. So, shouldn't every Board with at least 8 members be required to have one Asian on the Board? This is not only more identity politics, but government mandated quotas based on identity. Every Jew should be very wary of that, assuming they are familiar with the way quotas were historically used to deny entry to Jews to colleges and universities, for instance.
California is also requiring public utilities to develop plans for renewable energy. 60% of the state's electricity is to be from wind, solar, and other renewable/clean energy by 2030, with 100% required by 2045. Don't get me wrong - I am certainly not opposed to clean energy. But one friend regularly emails me articles about the number of flying species killed by these windmills. Not to mention just how unsightly these windmills are. I would ask if the California legislature considered the economic consequences of this law, but let's not be silly.
Nancy Pelosi refuses to fund a border wall, claiming that "a wall is an immorality, it's not who we are as a nation." But she did vote for a fence in 2006, so I guess a fence is not an immorality. Are all walls immoral? How about walls around prisons? If any members of Congress have walls around their property or live in gated communities, should all such walls and barriers come down? The Israelis built a wall/barrier between themselves and the Palestinians. The result has been their wall has saved Israeli lives. So while Israeli leaders are protecting their citizens, Nancy Pelosi and the Democrats are protecting illegal aliens.
Pelosi did tell the USA Today that Trump was "being a fear monger." Pelosi: "He (Trump) talked about terrorists coming in over that particular border, which wasn't so. He talked about people bringing in diseases and all the rest of that, which wasn't so." And this: "He's using scare tactics that are not evidence-based, and it's wrong." You have to love the mainstream media. Each and every word out of Trump's mouth is vetted, but Pelosi can spew whatever nonsense she wants without a single challenge. No diseases brought in? In June, 2017, for just one example, the CDC reported that the rate of TB in Mexico was five (5) times greater than the US rate. But Pelosi somehow knows that not a single one of the thousands, no, millions who have entered illegally have carried any TB or other diseases. And the media does not think to ask how she knows the unknowable. It used to be knowable, because people were required to have medical exams either here at an immigration center or in other countries before being allowed to enter the US.
As for bad guys coming into the country, the Deputy White House press secretary reported in July, 2018, that in the fiscal year 2017 48,000 criminal aliens were arrested for assault, 12,000 for sexual offenses, and 2000 for homicides. Anybody really willing to bet their safety that terrorists are not coming in illegally as well as all the criminals? Maybe Pelosi can tell the family members of Newman, California police Corporal Ronil Singh, 33 years old with a wife and 5 month old son, why his life was less important than that of the illegal alien accused of murdering him. Singh, who was a native of Fiji, dedicated his life to helping people. His accused murderer had apparently been arrested twice, but given the State's sanctuary law ICE was never notified of his presence here, allowing him to then allegedly murder Cpl Singh. I wonder if anyone in the media might yet have any questions for Pelosi.
California, in addition to being a sanctuary state, passed some rather interesting legislation. As of the end of this year, publicly traded companies must have at least one woman on its Board of Directors; and must have two by 2021. Other than Hawaii, California likely has the highest percentage of Asians - about 15% of the population. So, shouldn't every Board with at least 8 members be required to have one Asian on the Board? This is not only more identity politics, but government mandated quotas based on identity. Every Jew should be very wary of that, assuming they are familiar with the way quotas were historically used to deny entry to Jews to colleges and universities, for instance.
California is also requiring public utilities to develop plans for renewable energy. 60% of the state's electricity is to be from wind, solar, and other renewable/clean energy by 2030, with 100% required by 2045. Don't get me wrong - I am certainly not opposed to clean energy. But one friend regularly emails me articles about the number of flying species killed by these windmills. Not to mention just how unsightly these windmills are. I would ask if the California legislature considered the economic consequences of this law, but let's not be silly.
Saturday, January 5, 2019
"We're gonna go in there and we're gonna impeach the motherf...er"
So said Rashida Tlaib, newly elected Democratic Congress member from Michigan. Tlaib is a Palestinian American and is a Muslim. Her comment was made to a group of her supporters, telling them that is what she told her son. Nice way for a mother to talk to her son, especially about the President of the United States. And, I am told that someone I know opined that he wanted to see Trump indicted, impeached, forced to forfeit all his property and spend his life in prison "for the insanity he has wreaked upon our nation." Lest anyone think those are just the rantings of an inconsequential person and a freshman left-wing congresswoman, I am telling you that far more important people are of the same mind. Long term Congressman Brad Sherman (D-CA) has already introduced Articles of Impeachment against Trump. Why take a chance on Mueller not finding any Russian collusion. Congressman Adam Schiff (D-CA) will be the Chair of the House Intelligence Committee. Schiff: "There's a very real prospect that on the day Donald Trump leaves office the Justice Department may indict him, that he may be the first President in quite some time to face the real prospect of jail time."
Schiff would not make such a comment without wishing it to be so. You see, politicians, such as Schiff, exemplify that with which our Founders concerned themselves - the use of their office for personal or political gain. The Founders understood human nature. They understood that future leaders of their country could not necessarily be trusted to do what was right for the common good. For that very reason the Founders made sure to put numerous checks and balances into our governing document. They knew there would be politicians such as Schiff and Tlaib. The Founders understood the lust for power. Having been shocked by Trump's election victory in 2016, the Democrats do not want to take the chance that Trump might win again. Therefore, they will do whatever they can to stop Trump, and to stop the "deplorables" from being able to vote for him again.
In the event impeachment does not work (the Dems in the House can easily impeach, but conviction and removal in the Republican controlled Senate is unlikely), House Oversight and Government Reform Chair Elijah Cummings has another approach. He has sent 51 letters to the White House asking for information on 51 different subjects. Just imagine all of the subpoenas the Committee might issue in pursuit of getting Trump. It appears that the Democrats believe they were elected to get Trump, not to govern. Clearly, everything the Dems do over the next year will be done with one goal in mind - victory in 2020.
As evidenced by one letter writer to the USA Today, the elites of the left do not trust the American people. This letter typifies the left's attitudes towards Americans: "As much as I would love for Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., to run for president and win, I don't think she can. As evidenced by the last election, America will not vote for a woman, even though she is the most qualified, intelligent and experienced. Basically, the American electorate seems to be ignorant, puritanical and small-minded." Funny, I heard essentially identical comments about why Obama, a black man, could not win - Americans were ignorant, small-minded and racist. Obama then won twice. But that is what the Dems think of the American people.
But, Mike, the Democrats want to eliminate the electoral college in favor of direct election of the president by the people. Doesn't that mean that they trust the people? No. It means the Democrats felt cheated in both 2000 and 2016 after having won the popular vote but losing the electoral college vote. It means that the Dems support whatever they believe will benefit them at the moment. That is why Harry Reid, when Senate Majority leader, used the so-called "nuclear option" allowing a simple majority of votes, rather than the the traditional 60 votes, for approving lower court judges. (Mitch McConnell then did the same for Supreme Court justices.) Additionally, Democrats remain confident in their ability to buy votes. Allow felons to vote. Allow people to enter the country illegally and then give them the right to vote. And, offer an ever increasing amount of "free" stuff to voters - free health care, free education, a guaranteed wage. No doubt you can buy votes. Whether doing so bankrupts the country or has other negative consequences for the common good is of no concern. It is all about gaining power. The Founders were very wise people; not so much this current batch of leaders.
Schiff would not make such a comment without wishing it to be so. You see, politicians, such as Schiff, exemplify that with which our Founders concerned themselves - the use of their office for personal or political gain. The Founders understood human nature. They understood that future leaders of their country could not necessarily be trusted to do what was right for the common good. For that very reason the Founders made sure to put numerous checks and balances into our governing document. They knew there would be politicians such as Schiff and Tlaib. The Founders understood the lust for power. Having been shocked by Trump's election victory in 2016, the Democrats do not want to take the chance that Trump might win again. Therefore, they will do whatever they can to stop Trump, and to stop the "deplorables" from being able to vote for him again.
In the event impeachment does not work (the Dems in the House can easily impeach, but conviction and removal in the Republican controlled Senate is unlikely), House Oversight and Government Reform Chair Elijah Cummings has another approach. He has sent 51 letters to the White House asking for information on 51 different subjects. Just imagine all of the subpoenas the Committee might issue in pursuit of getting Trump. It appears that the Democrats believe they were elected to get Trump, not to govern. Clearly, everything the Dems do over the next year will be done with one goal in mind - victory in 2020.
As evidenced by one letter writer to the USA Today, the elites of the left do not trust the American people. This letter typifies the left's attitudes towards Americans: "As much as I would love for Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., to run for president and win, I don't think she can. As evidenced by the last election, America will not vote for a woman, even though she is the most qualified, intelligent and experienced. Basically, the American electorate seems to be ignorant, puritanical and small-minded." Funny, I heard essentially identical comments about why Obama, a black man, could not win - Americans were ignorant, small-minded and racist. Obama then won twice. But that is what the Dems think of the American people.
But, Mike, the Democrats want to eliminate the electoral college in favor of direct election of the president by the people. Doesn't that mean that they trust the people? No. It means the Democrats felt cheated in both 2000 and 2016 after having won the popular vote but losing the electoral college vote. It means that the Dems support whatever they believe will benefit them at the moment. That is why Harry Reid, when Senate Majority leader, used the so-called "nuclear option" allowing a simple majority of votes, rather than the the traditional 60 votes, for approving lower court judges. (Mitch McConnell then did the same for Supreme Court justices.) Additionally, Democrats remain confident in their ability to buy votes. Allow felons to vote. Allow people to enter the country illegally and then give them the right to vote. And, offer an ever increasing amount of "free" stuff to voters - free health care, free education, a guaranteed wage. No doubt you can buy votes. Whether doing so bankrupts the country or has other negative consequences for the common good is of no concern. It is all about gaining power. The Founders were very wise people; not so much this current batch of leaders.
Tuesday, January 1, 2019
My Personal Reflections on 2018
2018 started out well for our family. Our son was the last of his siblings to get an advanced degree, but the first with a Ph.D. Shortly thereafter he proposed to his girlfriend, and became engaged. Both of them grew up in Southern California, but they had to move across country in order to meet. The religious will tell you that it was no coincidence that they never knew each other when they lived only a few miles apart from one another, and only met when both were living across the country. Rather, it is G-d's way of remaining anonymous. They then moved back to Southern California, and our family was all together again. It looked to be a promising year. We made plans for a trip back east in early October to visit "the boys" in Jersey. One of the boys always puts us up - it saves on hotel expenses, and we have a great time together. Then there's the added benefit of being able to rant about politics one on one with our hosts. I am sure they love it. :\
At the beginning of the year, our miniature Schnauzer became ill. Neither the vet nor the specialists were able to get a handle on it. But his "Mommy" cooked special meals for him, and nursed him as best as anyone could. I believe, and the vet agreed, that he would not have survived his last six months but for my wife's efforts. In July, Trooper died at only 10 years old. It was a painful loss for our family. This pup worked his way into everyone's heart with the love and affection shown to us all.
As we all know, our plans do not always work out. There is said to be a Yiddish proverb: "Man plans, G-d laughs." Come September, my family was not laughing. (Many of you know this next part, but with my email issues I am not sure how many got the story. Also, I have added some details.) What started on September 1 seemed to be a cold; although a few days later it felt like a flu. Then I was unable to keep anything down - for days. Two trips to an emergency room resulted in no improvement in my condition. On September 7 my family had to call an ambulance - I had a 104.5 degree fever and was unresponsive. My daughters were so concerned that each of them called for an ambulance, not knowing the other had. I have no recollection of the ambulance coming nor of much of my week in the hospital. Our planned October vacation had to be canceled.
With a diagnosis of meningitis, the doctors needed to determine if it was viral or bacterial. The test would be a spinal tap, but that failed as they were unable to penetrate through the spinal fusion I had at age 17. So the doctor ordered that a picc line be put in and that I get 10 days of antibiotics through the picc line, just in case it was bacterial meningitis. Although their suspicions were that it was viral. The picc line was actually a blessing as my arms were starting to look like a battlefield with all the IVs and constant drawing of blood. Everything could go through the picc line, and blood could be drawn through it as well. So, the IVs came out and the poking for blood stopped.
During my hospital stay my fever came down from the extremely high 104.5 degrees to mostly normal. My blood pressure, however, remained exceedingly high, with my systolic readings regularly being in the 180s. I do not recall what additional medications they were giving me beyond my usual ones. I had lost so much weight, about 15 pounds in 10 days, and was so weak, that I was unable to walk unassisted. While the doctor said I was ready to be discharged from the hospital after a week, he did not want me discharged to home. Rather, he thought that I should go to a rehab facility. I admit it - I panicked. I simply was not comprehending what that would entail or how long I would be kept there. Fortunately for me, our son's friend's wife works in that hospital and came to speak with me. I just wanted to go home, but she explained why that was not a good idea. My irrational fear that I might not be released for a month or more was eased when she explained it would be two weeks maximum, but likely one week.
One week it was, as I made good progress with the help of my therapists. I continued physical therapy through the end of the year. My left leg still feels weaker than the right, so I do use my cane for walking longer distances. Some of you know that I had about a 90% hearing loss in the hospital, but thank G-d the hearing has returned. The blood pressure came back to normal, or at least my normal of slightly elevated. My severe fatigue lasted for over two months, but then my energy returned. However, my endurance for lasting all day, including working after dinner, is not yet the same. Of course, I am not exactly a young guy, either.
The comfort that my family felt in my coming home was then tempered by the death of my wife's Aunt, the only sibling of my mother-in-law. It seemed as if we were destined to continue with bad news.
During my combined two weeks in the hospital and the rehab hospital, my wife put in her own extraordinary efforts. Once I was out of danger, she was again working daily in my office, while visiting me nightly, regardless of her level of exhaustion. She also spent weekends with me, and I cannot thank her enough. We discussed getting another dog, knowing all along we would eventually do so. While there were mixed feelings about the timing, on October 13 my wife visited an animal shelter with her sister, and brought home a little 13 pound cutie. Our vet estimates that she is two years old. We think that she is a Schnauzer/Shih Tzu mix. The shelter said she was a stray, but it was immediately clear that she had lived with people before. She knew to sit, shake and do her "business" outside. Her first day with us she was very nervous, even shaking. I do not think she spoke (barked) for a full week. A couple of times I bent forward to pet her and she backed away. Our suspicion is that some person of the male persuasion was mean to her and maybe hit her. But she knows she is loved here.
My wife has always done the baby naming in our family. I give my input, but if she disagrees... With this little addition to the family, it took her about ten days to settle on a name - Ruby. But with all the nicknames already I wonder if she knows her name. Rubis. Rubic. Rubala. And "Little One." I loved this pup from day one. In mid-October I was still going to bed between 8:00 and 8:30 pm as a result of the fatigue. Ruby just knew something was amiss, as she would jump up onto the bed (she is quite the jumper) and stay with me. Now, she waits to go bed until her Mom does. But she did that for me for weeks.
Only a few weeks after Ruby came home to us we were evacuated because of the Woolsey fire. The smell of smoke permeated our entire house. The sheriff drove down our street using their bullhorn/loudspeaker to tell everyone to get out. It was the only way I was able to convince my wife we had to go. We packed, put Ruby in the car with us, and headed off for our youngest daughter who lives in a one bedroom apartment. She is very sweet and let us sleep in her bed (for four nights) while she slept on the couch. She loves Ruby and Ruby loves her so Ruby had a good time on her big adventure. But we were heartbroken by the number of people who lost their homes, while being sad, yet grateful, that the number of deaths was kept to three. It could have been far worse in such a fast moving fire. We love our firefighters!
While the only long term side effects for me are the left leg weakness and lack of staying power, I continue to worry about and pray for a number of friends. One of the boys in Jersey, the one we stay with and my dearest friend, is on dialysis and needs a kidney. One of my college buddies had his own serious infection resulting in multiple complications, from which he is still recovering. And another friend has just completed his 12 sessions of chemotherapy following a third bout with cancer, but with good test results. Yet another had a major heart attack. I know, we are not getting any younger. But I thank G-d that all of us are alive. And I continue to thank G-d for each day - for myself and for these friends.
At the beginning of the year, our miniature Schnauzer became ill. Neither the vet nor the specialists were able to get a handle on it. But his "Mommy" cooked special meals for him, and nursed him as best as anyone could. I believe, and the vet agreed, that he would not have survived his last six months but for my wife's efforts. In July, Trooper died at only 10 years old. It was a painful loss for our family. This pup worked his way into everyone's heart with the love and affection shown to us all.
As we all know, our plans do not always work out. There is said to be a Yiddish proverb: "Man plans, G-d laughs." Come September, my family was not laughing. (Many of you know this next part, but with my email issues I am not sure how many got the story. Also, I have added some details.) What started on September 1 seemed to be a cold; although a few days later it felt like a flu. Then I was unable to keep anything down - for days. Two trips to an emergency room resulted in no improvement in my condition. On September 7 my family had to call an ambulance - I had a 104.5 degree fever and was unresponsive. My daughters were so concerned that each of them called for an ambulance, not knowing the other had. I have no recollection of the ambulance coming nor of much of my week in the hospital. Our planned October vacation had to be canceled.
With a diagnosis of meningitis, the doctors needed to determine if it was viral or bacterial. The test would be a spinal tap, but that failed as they were unable to penetrate through the spinal fusion I had at age 17. So the doctor ordered that a picc line be put in and that I get 10 days of antibiotics through the picc line, just in case it was bacterial meningitis. Although their suspicions were that it was viral. The picc line was actually a blessing as my arms were starting to look like a battlefield with all the IVs and constant drawing of blood. Everything could go through the picc line, and blood could be drawn through it as well. So, the IVs came out and the poking for blood stopped.
During my hospital stay my fever came down from the extremely high 104.5 degrees to mostly normal. My blood pressure, however, remained exceedingly high, with my systolic readings regularly being in the 180s. I do not recall what additional medications they were giving me beyond my usual ones. I had lost so much weight, about 15 pounds in 10 days, and was so weak, that I was unable to walk unassisted. While the doctor said I was ready to be discharged from the hospital after a week, he did not want me discharged to home. Rather, he thought that I should go to a rehab facility. I admit it - I panicked. I simply was not comprehending what that would entail or how long I would be kept there. Fortunately for me, our son's friend's wife works in that hospital and came to speak with me. I just wanted to go home, but she explained why that was not a good idea. My irrational fear that I might not be released for a month or more was eased when she explained it would be two weeks maximum, but likely one week.
One week it was, as I made good progress with the help of my therapists. I continued physical therapy through the end of the year. My left leg still feels weaker than the right, so I do use my cane for walking longer distances. Some of you know that I had about a 90% hearing loss in the hospital, but thank G-d the hearing has returned. The blood pressure came back to normal, or at least my normal of slightly elevated. My severe fatigue lasted for over two months, but then my energy returned. However, my endurance for lasting all day, including working after dinner, is not yet the same. Of course, I am not exactly a young guy, either.
The comfort that my family felt in my coming home was then tempered by the death of my wife's Aunt, the only sibling of my mother-in-law. It seemed as if we were destined to continue with bad news.
During my combined two weeks in the hospital and the rehab hospital, my wife put in her own extraordinary efforts. Once I was out of danger, she was again working daily in my office, while visiting me nightly, regardless of her level of exhaustion. She also spent weekends with me, and I cannot thank her enough. We discussed getting another dog, knowing all along we would eventually do so. While there were mixed feelings about the timing, on October 13 my wife visited an animal shelter with her sister, and brought home a little 13 pound cutie. Our vet estimates that she is two years old. We think that she is a Schnauzer/Shih Tzu mix. The shelter said she was a stray, but it was immediately clear that she had lived with people before. She knew to sit, shake and do her "business" outside. Her first day with us she was very nervous, even shaking. I do not think she spoke (barked) for a full week. A couple of times I bent forward to pet her and she backed away. Our suspicion is that some person of the male persuasion was mean to her and maybe hit her. But she knows she is loved here.
My wife has always done the baby naming in our family. I give my input, but if she disagrees... With this little addition to the family, it took her about ten days to settle on a name - Ruby. But with all the nicknames already I wonder if she knows her name. Rubis. Rubic. Rubala. And "Little One." I loved this pup from day one. In mid-October I was still going to bed between 8:00 and 8:30 pm as a result of the fatigue. Ruby just knew something was amiss, as she would jump up onto the bed (she is quite the jumper) and stay with me. Now, she waits to go bed until her Mom does. But she did that for me for weeks.
Only a few weeks after Ruby came home to us we were evacuated because of the Woolsey fire. The smell of smoke permeated our entire house. The sheriff drove down our street using their bullhorn/loudspeaker to tell everyone to get out. It was the only way I was able to convince my wife we had to go. We packed, put Ruby in the car with us, and headed off for our youngest daughter who lives in a one bedroom apartment. She is very sweet and let us sleep in her bed (for four nights) while she slept on the couch. She loves Ruby and Ruby loves her so Ruby had a good time on her big adventure. But we were heartbroken by the number of people who lost their homes, while being sad, yet grateful, that the number of deaths was kept to three. It could have been far worse in such a fast moving fire. We love our firefighters!
While the only long term side effects for me are the left leg weakness and lack of staying power, I continue to worry about and pray for a number of friends. One of the boys in Jersey, the one we stay with and my dearest friend, is on dialysis and needs a kidney. One of my college buddies had his own serious infection resulting in multiple complications, from which he is still recovering. And another friend has just completed his 12 sessions of chemotherapy following a third bout with cancer, but with good test results. Yet another had a major heart attack. I know, we are not getting any younger. But I thank G-d that all of us are alive. And I continue to thank G-d for each day - for myself and for these friends.
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