Trump, Russia and the Democrats. A 2017 Dreyfus affair, but without any espionage. A “scandal” looking for an act. The cause? Childish and churlish behavior from a President and Senators and Congressmen. In one corner tweets the petulant president. He agitates and provokes with no discernible or conceivable advantage to the interests of our country or its people. A president who would do himself a world of good to study the life of George Washington. There was a man revered and respected by friend and foe alike because he lived and breathed honor and virtue. But not this President, version 45.
And in the other corner a sanctimonious group of opposers who fire at every decoy and launch aimless attack waves. They’ve formed a phalanx to battle every twitch. They shrill for resignations and special prosecutors but come to the public’s court with nary a scintilla of evidence or basis in fact. They too care not for the deep wounds they inflict on the country, harms they will never appreciate so long as it all furthers their selfish interests. Oh, they plead that they do it for us. Balderdash!
McCarthyism is not dead. Now it’s called the Putin-scare. Republicans beware. If any of you spoke with a representative of Putin’s government at any time during or since the presidential election cycle, you’d better tell us now. We will find out anyway. And in either case, we know you and Putin are coordinating efforts to undermine our government. You’re a Putin lackey even if you just thought about meeting with anyone who was ever associated with the Russian government. Because we’ll find that out too. If you can just point to Russia on the map, well that’s enough; turn yourself in. Anyone wearing red – we know what that means. Reds fans, and we don’t mean from Cincinnati, will all wind up on the gallows. We’ll be photographing anyone attending Red Sox opening day, too.
We’re gonna convene hearings. Lots and lots of hearings. And it’s going to go on for at least the next four years; maybe eight if that red party is still in the White House. We’ll be on every corner and in every alley. You know we are recording every conversation everywhere in the country. We’ve got a program for that too.
Republicans Beware!
Republicans beware! We’re better at this than you think. We’ve gotten rid of Flynn. Boy was that easy! We’ve got Sessions out of the way. All we had to do there was check his appointments log. That was easy too. That Sessions, he’s not too bright. Imagine, a brief conversation with the Russian ambassador after leaving a podium. Yes, perhaps there were a few other ambassadors around, and Sessions may have spoken with them too. But that doesn’t matter! He spoke to that Russian in public, of all things. God only know where this trail leads!
Russian Ambassador (spy!) Kislyak
Yes, we know that the Washington Post is telling us that this Russian ambassador “shows up everywhere and tries to talk to everyone.” We know that’s what diplomats do. But this guys a spy! Why the heck would the Post tell us that this Ambassador Kislyak “is not considered especially close to Russian President Vladimir Putin”? That’s really not helpful, you know. The Post wouldn’t even stop there. They brought up the old “current and former U.S. officials” telling us stuff, that “[f]or Kislyak to have sought contacts with . . . Flynn and . . . Sessions . . .should come as no surprise.” Memo to the Post – please stop printing that kind of stuff!
And it would be better if ex-Obama people like Michael McFaul wouldn’t make comments like this: “[The Russian Ambassador] doesn’t get as much credit as he should, in my view, for being savvy about developing relationships with people all over [Washington].” Geez, McFaul was Obama’s guy in Russia. Somebody better tell him, no more interviews until we’re finished.
McFaul, pay attention. We need more guys out there like Obama’s ex-CIA director John McLaughlin. He got the memo. Take a listen to his comment that “it does strain credibility” that Sessions could’ve forgotten meeting with Kislyak. After all, Kislyak is “a hard guy to forget if you’ve met him.” Now that’s more like it!
Republicans beware! Better fess up now, you Russian sympathizers. Turn in your Senate keys. Turn in your Congressional keys. And most certainly turn in your White House keys. We’re gonna get all of you. And don’t forget. We are everywhere. We’re trolling every website and every blog . . .
Should presidential candidates be required to disclose their federal income tax returns? A recent push comes from Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, a critic of President Trump, with the latest Congressional effort to require candidates to do just that. But is forced disclosure of candidates tax returns a good idea? On balance, we think not. Tax returns are poorly equipped to inform the public regarding legitimate issues involving a candidate’s qualifications for the presidency. Furthermore, the informative value of tax return data is outweighed by its inflammatory impact. We explain. Continue reading “Presidential Candidates Tax Returns: Is Forced Disclosure A Good Idea?”
When we make a promise, our integrity is on the line. A man is no more than his word, right? Especially when the promise made is part of a mutual agreement. We promise to do X and you promise to do Y. And if we don’t live up to our promise, then we lack honor and integrity. If you then insist that we honor our promise and we refuse, well then our virtue is further diminished. We demean ourselves. All of which brings us to the President of the European Union, Jean-Claude Juncker. It’s time that NATO nations keep their defense spending commitments. Instead, President Juncker insists that American taxpayers foot the bill. And go into further debt to do so.
Governmental attacks on free speech cannot be tolerated. This time, it comes in the form of a new Arizona statutory assault on the rights to peaceful assembly and free speech. The Arizona Republican party launched the in the state Senate. Incredibly, the Senate passed a bill sanctioning criminal racketeering charges against anyone who either participates in, or helps organize, a protest that ultimately turns into a riot.
Incredibly, the statute also permits Arizona to seize the assets of any person who either planned or participated in a peaceful protest that turns into a riot. Furthermore, criminal conspiracy laws typically require proof that the accused actually took a step (participated in an act) to implement the subject of the conspiracy. But under this amazing statute the state can gain a conspiracy conviction to riot without any proof that the accused actually took any steps to implement the conspiracy. Continue reading “Arizona Statutory Assault on the First Amendment – More Irresponsible Legislation”
A Trump-China deal with North Korea may now be possible. The stars are apparently aligning for a joint U.S.-China approach to North Korea. And perhaps much sooner than conventionally believed. With respect to North Korea, it appears that the Chinese have finally taken U.S. concerns seriously. President Trump may have a clear opportunity to work along side China and consummate a meaningful agreement with North Korea.
The President had signaled during his campaign that he was open to direct negotiations with North Korean President Kim Jong Un. He had also suggested that the Chinese were not pushing hard enough on the North Koreans. China’s new actions show that this dynamic has changed. It is time for a joint Trump-China deal with North Korea. We explain. Continue reading “A Trump-China Deal With North Korea? The Door is Now Open if Trump Will Walk Through”
We live in interesting times. They are times of uncertainty and danger. They are times that threaten our core principles of freedom and the fabric of our society. It is time to make a defense of free thought.
Illiberalism and a Defense of Free Thought
A growing tide of illiberalism surrounds us from both sides of the political spectrum. An illiberalism that burns in our hearts, that forces us further apart. An illiberalism that seers our conscience and spreads through our communities. Some on the right lead it. They promote social inequalities and class vitriol that threaten the left. Some on the left also lead it. They repudiate tolerance and free expression and seek to muzzle and silence those with whom they disagree. Both sides seek to use government – force – to impose their views on others. Both are unwilling to lay down their arms and compete in the open marketplace of ideas. Continue reading “Defense of Free Thought in the Face of Illiberalism – The Pillars of Free Thought”
There is enough information in the public domain to conclude, with a high degree of confidence, that there is no illicit relationship between President Trump and the Russian government. Similarly, there is very likely no relationship of any consequence between associates of the President and the Russian government. We now believe that political motivations and agendas drove these suspicions. These suspicions are not supported by facts.
We examine in detail the bases for these critical conclusions. We review the events surrounding the Democratic National Committee (DNC) hacking affair, the major arrests inside of Russian intelligence and what those arrests tell us, and the circumstances surrounding U.S. intelligence and Michael Flynn. It’s a long story to tell, but it leads to a critical conclusion contrary to the oft-repeated claim of an untoward relationship between the President and the Russians. It’s a story that screams for further analysis.
Yet again our most revered news organizations let us down. We must read between, over and above their written lines to try to get to the truth. Reporters no longer take photographs of what they see, or simply record and report what they hear. Instead, they paint pictures with broad brushes, using shades and color to reveal their personal portraits. They weave a web instead of knitting a stitch. The “stories” of former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn, and of “contacts” between persons involved with the Trump administration and Russia, are just the latest sorry watercolors. The media distortion of Michael Flynn is another sad tale of truth taking a shot to the jaw.
That didn’t take long. It’s time to impeach President Trump. So says California Congresswoman Maxine Waters. She is ready for articles of impeachment barely three weeks into his presidency. Now we may or may not be fans of the President. Staying faithful to the rules of our blog, we take no side on this one. At least not yet. But Congresswoman Waters does a disservice to herself, her constituents, and the country, with talk of impeachment. There is no constitutional basis for it. The Congresswoman would do well to bury herself in the constitution that she took an oath to uphold.
Maxine Waters
So we will take a look at the impeachable offenses, according to Congresswoman Waters. We see four possible counts, according to the Congresswoman. And we also turn to the Constitution, and history, for a little guidance on what’s required to impeach a president. Is Ms. Waters right? It is already time to impeach President Trump?
