Opuscula Trump done in By own mouth, Foolish tweets

THERE IS AN OLD EXPRESSION: a foolish person “shot himself in the foot.”

In Donald Trump’s case, he shot himself in the tongue.

While the Yellow Pages — anyone remember THEM? — suggested to “Let your fingers do the walking,” Trump’s fingers were busy tweeting.

Unfortunately, both his unscripted spoken words and his often outrageous tweets ended his political career and damaged his professional life as well.

Fair weather friends — financing organizations — abandoned him like rats leaving a sinking ship.

The monster companies that control so-called “social media” have banned Trump, effectively silencing him and making a mockery of the Constitution’s First Amendment.

The media, which long ago gave up objective reporting for politically biased screeds, largely twisted everything Trump said or did to suit those opposing Trump.

 

TRUMP WAS HIS OWN WORST ENEMY, especially in his final days in office.

Even staunch supporters — this scrivener included — were embarrassed by him and for him.

Mike Huckabee (right), an ardent supporter of Trump since dropping his own 2016 Republican bid for the White House, has also criticized the president for his rhetoric in recent days.

The former governor told Just the News (https://tinyurl.com/yx8m73ee) last week, “We have to be honest, the last month has not been a good one for President Trump, he has sullied his own good reputation.

“Instead of using the last few weeks to celebrate the successes of his administration, and make the country really wish he was still going to be president, I think some of the rhetoric — and some of it wasn’t all his fault, but still, he’s being blamed, and the net result is people are going to be glad that he’s not on the stage, creating the kind of the discord.

“So he’s going to have to do some work of repair before he can come back and lead,” Huckabee continued. “Could he run again? I don’t know. Only if he can sort of show that he can be that above-it-all leader and not just deal with his hurts. And I have said to him personally, and I’ve said this about him, when he is at his best is when he’s fighting for the people. When he is at his worst, it’s when he’s fighting for himself.”

If the Democrats win the day and manage to convict Trump of something, anything in the now Democrat senate, he will be precluded from ever running for president again.

Trump has many accomplishments.

He would have had many more had his efforts not been blocked by the “progressives” of the Democrat party.

Is it “Democrat” or “Democratic” party? A quick search of “Democrat or Democratic Party” suggests that even they don’t know. Is it a noun (democrat) or a verb (democratic)?

Trump never was known for diplomatic speech. He is crude and pugnacious. But then, in private, most presidents, at least dating back to Harry S have had their “crude” and “impolitic” moments.

But, to be fair, the media in the days of Harry S, Ike, and JFK tended to turn a blind eye to presidential peccadilloes. Likewise, “important families” misdemeanors and felonies quickly went from “below the fold on Page 1” to being buried some place near advertisements for tvs and used cars. (How long did Chappaquiddick remain a Page 1 story? Does the name William Kennedy Smith ring a bell?)

It might be said that the media — both social and allegedly professional — turned on Trump after the 2016 election, but that would be untrue — “fake news.”

One would have thought ! that Trump would have been the darling of the liberal media when he told the Justice Department NOT to prosecute Hillary Clinton for her illegal server or her role in the death of four Americans in Benghazi during a “spontaneous” attack that evidence determined was well planned.

As I was searching for Clinton’s quote (ibid.) I stumbled across the Snopes entry (https://tinyurl.com/yyxtq4cs) about Mrs. Clinton claiming that we (the U.S.) "didn't lose a single person in Libya." Snopes ruled that the claim was Mostly False

Why was it “mostly false”? Because she “forgot” or “declined to mention” the four American’s murdered in the attack on the U.S. facility in Benghazi.

Snopes excusing Clinton’s faux pas about four murdered Americans in Benghazi Libya (https://tinyurl.com/yyxtq4cs)

I’M NOT SURE I would have managed my composure as well as Trump against the many proven false accusations, but then I am not POTUS (nor would I want to be). Likewise, I am sure my composure would have slipped when the crimes Trump allegedly committed were proven to be crimes committed by Biden et Fil for which there appears to be ample evidence, e.g., China, Ukraine.

For all that, Trump’s end-of-term histrionics are not just “unfortunate” but “deplorable.” Unpresidential.

As POTUS, Trump accomplished many things; things his predecessors repeatedly failed to even try.

Not only was Trump “robbed” of a second term in White House, he also was “robbed” of a well-deserved Nobel Peace Prize.

A “social worker” who became president got the Nobel (right) because the prize committee wanted to promote him (Politics in the Nobel committee? Never.) Trump, on the other hand, DID get a peace agreement between warring European nations (Serbia and Kosovo) and “normalization” agreements between Israel and several of its Muslim neighbors. He accomplished the Middle East agreements by ignoring the Democrat’s darlings, the terrorists PFLP and Hamas.

He moved the U.S. embassy to Israel’s capital to confirm with all other embassies. This move was authorized by Congress in October 25, 1995 but all president’s since were in bed with terrorists Arafat and Abu Mazen.

When it was obvious Iran failed to comply with international agreements, Trump pulled the U.S. out and instituted sanctions against the war-mongering country, a country whose leaders attacked U.S. “assets” with impunity prior to Trump’s election.

Trump seemed to make progress with North Korea.

Trump also had the “chutzpah” to insist European NATO members pick up more of the financial load.

Obama over two terms failed to do any of these things.

Trump also managed to draw-down the number of troops on foreign soil, unlike his predecessors.

ON THE OTHER HAND, Obama DID put juvenile illegal immigrants in cages (ignored by the media) and provided support to Mexico to shore up its southern border with Guatemala (yet he did nothing to halt illegal entry from Mexico nor did he propose laws to punish the people employing the immigrants, often at sub-standard wages). Again, nothing in the media.

Trump HAS a case against the media.

But Trump also is his own worst enemy. I hoped Mike Pence could mitigate Trump’s bellicose behavior. He either could not or would not control his boss. Because of this, Pence may have put “30” to his political career.

Trump DID accomplish a lot. He COULD have accomplished more in a second term.

Unfortunately, his lack of control has cost him the election and the support of many of America’s conservative majority.

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PLAGIARISM is the act of appropriating the literary composition of another, or parts or passages of his writings, or the ideas or language of the same, and passing them off as the product of one’s own mind.

Truth is an absolute defense to defamation. Defamation is a false statement of fact. If the statement was accurate, then by definition it wasn’t defamatory.

Web sites (URLs) beginning https://tinyurl.com/ are generated by the free Tiny URL utility and reduce lengthy URLs to manageable size.

 

Comment on Trump’s life

Opuscula Mike Pence Let me down

I VOTED FOR DONALD TRUMP BECAUSE I trusted VP Mike Pence to control Trump’s mouth and twitter finger.

He failed me.

 

PENCE (right), former governor of the Hoosier State, should have had a “calming” effect on Donald Trump.

We — voters — knew that The Donald was a loose cannon with his mouth and tweeter fingers.

Trump, to his credit, tried to fulfill his campaign promises. He was stymied by the same Democrats that allowed Trump’s predecessor to

Fund security on Mexico’s SOUTHERN border to reduce illegal entry from Guatemala
Build detention centers for illegal aliens’ children

The Democrats prevented him from improving the 2,700 page federal health care program his predecessor snuck through Congress by not allowing time for it to be properly reviewed.

UNLIKE his predecessor who gave millions to the terrorist PFLP on his last day in office, Trump

Cut off funds to the PFLP and other terrorists
Managed to achieve “normalization” agreements between Israel and at least four Muslim countries in the region (and arrange a peace agreement between Serbia and Kosovo in Europe)
Got the U.S. out of an Iran deal that was blatantly violated by the Iranians
Drew down troops in foreign wars
Returned jobs exported during the predecessor’s administration back to the U.S. and reduced unemployment to levels unheard of since World War 2
among other things.

Also unlike his predecessor, Trump — despite his accomplishments ! — he was denied the Nobel Peace Prize that his predecessor got for winning an election a few days after the results were counted.

BUT Trump responded badly to continuing attacks from the Democrats — even though he foolishly elected not to allow the Democrat presidential candidate to be prosecuted for her illegal server or her role in the “spontaneous” attack on the American consulate in Benghazi Libya in which four Americans were murdered.

Results of “spontaneous” attack on U.S. facility in Benghazi
(WashPost https://tinyurl.com/yxnb3df3)

Unlike almost all previous elections, the Democrats continued to demonize Trump at every turn.

Trump, unfortunately for American conservatives, responded with multiple unscripted talks and with non-thought-out tweets that offended not only the “progressives,” but many Republicans as well.

Trump may be a negotiator — a skill he proved many times over — but he is not a diplomat.

He did deal with North Korea’s despot and managed, for awhile it seemed, to lower the caustic rhetoric from that source.

He did not get the U.S. involved in any new foreign escapades that put American lives in danger.

But his words and his tweets.

Trump in Chinese finger cuffs (Bruce Plante, tulsaworld.com)

I really don’t care WHAT the Europeans think about his personality. Europe is a has been.

Of course, the leaders of the NATO nations are unhappy with Trump; he insisted that they start paying their fair share of the costs. Imagine!

Still, he is perceived as a buffoon, and Pence should have used whatever powers of persuasion he had with Trump and Trump’s family to moderate the president’s off-the-cuff remarks and his embarrassing tweets. For Trump, Twitter was “UNsocial” media.

Social media proved it and its “progressive” controllers were more powerful than the President of the United States by banning him from their services.

Trump is a racist. That’s obvious since he canceled a plan by the newly named POTUS to incarcerate black criminals, a plan that its originator now admits was a mistake. He also lowered minority unemployment and had more minorities in government that presidents before him. But he’s a racist; the Democrats say so. Truth is not allowed to get in the way of fabrication.

Trump is xenophobic. That’s why he allowed passengers from Asia and Europe into the U.S. even when there was strong evidence they carried the Chinese virus. The Democrats pilloried him for daring to demand that citizens of 11 predominately Muslim countries — out of 49 countries with a Muslim population of 50 percent or more (https://tinyurl.com/yam352ly) — be carefully vetted. Imagine, trying to protect American citizens. (https://tinyurl.com/yam352ly)

Islamic States

Even after moving the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem — approved by Congress on October 23, 1995 (https://tinyurl.com/y8wpy7ff) Trump managed to arrange “normalization” between Israel and several Muslim countries; it remains to be seen if, under the new administration in Washington, the trend will continue.

Trump was slow to get on the Chinese virus — oops, that’s not “politically correct” in “progressive speech” — bandwagon, but he did mobilize U.S. pharmaceuticals to develop, manufacture, and distribute vaccine. In a “damned if he does and damned if he does not” action, he allowed the U.S. firms to sell vaccine to foreign nations. Great foreign policy, lousy domestic policy and many seniors — this scrivener included — still are waiting to get on a list to be vaccinated! Not enough vaccine.

Meanwhile, the governor of my state is allowing snowbirds to be vaccinated in front of full-time residents who are 65 and more.

The incoming administration promised to do exactly what Trump already did — but that surely will earn the incoming president a Nobel Peace Price.

MEANWHILE the Democrats — with less than a week left in his administration — are trying to convict him of something, anything.

Trump’s main crime is being impolitic, of failing to be a gentleman and allowing the Democrats to railroad him with unfounded and, indeed proven to be sans value claims. Meanwhile, there are allegations that the new president (and his son) has committed felony-level crimes, crimes that likely will cause him to resign before his first year in office ends. Harris-Emhoff is waiting — impatiently? — for her chance.

If only Pence had reined in the president the Democrats undoubtedly would put aside their anger at losing in 2016.

Bottom line: It is all Mike Pence’s fault.

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PLAGIARISM is the act of appropriating the literary composition of another, or parts or passages of his writings, or the ideas or language of the same, and passing them off as the product of one’s own mind.

Truth is an absolute defense to defamation. Defamation is a false statement of fact. If the statement was accurate, then by definition it wasn’t defamatory.

Web sites (URLs) beginning https://tinyurl.com/ are generated by the free Tiny URL utility and reduce lengthy URLs to manageable size.

 

Comment on Blame It on Mike

Opuscula Trump-Biden debate: Barroom brawl reflects Mood of the nation

THE FIRST DEBATE BETWEEN presidential contenders was a disgrace. It was akin to a couple of kindergarten boys tussling on the playground.

It might have been seemly in England’s House of Commons where shouting down those with opposing opinions and calling each other names — “clown” was the Biden favorite — are common practices (ergo, House of Commons).

America showed its worst side.

 

Who won the debate?

That is open to debate.

Who LOST the debate is clear: the American people lost the debate.

I watched the fiasco.

Before the next debate

1. Equip the moderator with
a gavel to gavel the unruly opponents
microphone cut-off switch so the opponents won’t
(1) talk over each other
(2) their railings won’t be heard by the suffering audience

2. Get a moderator with authority.

Chris Wallace¹ seems a nice enough guy, but he was overwhelmed by the combatants.

3. Establish penalties for name calling and interruptions.

I’m not sure how this would work; perhaps a PENALTY SCORE on the front of each candidate’s podium.

4. Insist that before ranting off topic, the candidate answer the moderator’s question.

Both combatants were guilty of going off on tangents rather than addressing the question.

Ban “cheat sheets”

Biden was constantly referring to a “cheat sheet” and apparently checking off categories.

I believe Wallace when he said the two blusterers were not given a list of categories or questions in the categories, but it was painfully obvious that Biden used a cheat sheet as a crutch to form his responses to Wallace’s queries. Question: Is Biden ambidextrous? I noted he kept moving his pen from right hand to left and back again.

When Trump attacked him, Biden responded sans a peek at the cheat sheet — that, too, was obvious because he stumbled over his words, going off on several false starts.

Advice for Trump

Stop interrupting and behaving like a spoiled two-year-old.

The country already is suffering from a lack of civility.

Much of this can be laid at the feet of Hilary Clinton and her party.

But a goodly portion of the blame lies with Trump, particularly his knee-jerk tweets.

During the first “debate,” he continually interrupted Biden and frequently the moderator, too.

This is not the image a leader should present and it will do Trump no good at the polls.

Let Biden speak; his false starts will do Trump more good than Trump’s interrupting.

Advice for Biden

Stop the name calling and the personal attacks on the president.

Your loyalists might cheer you on, but your loyalists are not all the voters.

Attack Trump on his record. Attack Trump on his tweets and Executive Orders.

Stay away from attacks on his family — yours is highly venerable to a counter-attack.

You might want to avoid bringing up The Wall since Democrats are the ones who prevent it from being built.

Media: Fact check everything or nothing

I don’t recall which network I was forcing myself to watch, but the “fact checker” seemed — seemed — to give more “passes” to Biden.

One Biden “fact” that needed to be challenged was Trump’s taxes.

The former VP cited a New York Times article, since debunked multiple times, that Trump only paid $750 — not thousands or millions, dollars — in federal taxes.

Trump did counter that his benefits were gifts from Biden’s former boss. Trump also admitted that, as any businessman (or, I add, politician) would, he took full advantage of loopholes in the law.

Biden repeated said he intends to heavily tax anyone with an income in excess of US$400,000 and levy heavy taxes on Big Business.

An aside: The Trump administration did not put those loopholes into the tax law. Biden had 47 years to close them but did not.

Compare records

While Biden attacked Trump for what the challenger suggested was a late start to battle the pandemic, Trump countered that Biden objected to closing the doors to Chinese visitors and, Trump suggested, Biden did no better when facing H1N1 swine flu pandemic. Biden’s reaction as vice president was to hunker down, despite his president’s position that there “was no need to panic even as he declared a national health emergency.“²

Trump’s refrain of the evening was a challenge to Biden: “What have you done in your 47 years in office?” Trump’s challenge went unanswered.

Extremists

Biden challenged Trump to state that he does not support “white supremacist” and Trump failed to address the issue. The president reminded that, in his opinion, extremists are found not just in Antifa, but from the left as well.

Interestingly, Biden only was concerned with white extremists; people of color apparently get a pass from the former vice president.

A Trump insider later told one of the networks that Trump has often said he does not support white supremacists. Because certain people support Trump does not mean Trump supports them.

Family connections

Biden made a remark about Trump being in bed with Russia’s dictator.

Trump immediately denied any association and attacked Biden’s son, Hunter, for his connection to Ukrainian power bosses and tried to get Biden to admit his son made millions on the Ukrainian deals. Trump also chided Biden that this same son also worked closely with the Chinese.

Trump claimed Hunter Biden was dishonorably discharged from the Navy reserves. The Navy claims Biden received an “administrative” discharge. Perhaps the president peeked at the Navy files, but for public knowledge, Biden’s separation type is secret.

As a vice-president’s son, the separation probably was “for the good of the service.” A person sans “pull” probably would have received, at best, a Bad Conduct Discharge (BCD). This based on the author’s experience in the U.S. military.

Will Trump retire gracefully?

Biden asked Trump if he will go quietly if Biden wins the election.

Trump failed to answer the question (as he has dodged it before) and said he will see what the ballots decide. Trump then proceeded to challenge the way mail in ballots are being handled, citing cases where unsolicited ballots have been mailed to people with the wrong name or at the wrong address. ^{3, 4}

Some states, such as Florida, only send ballots to registered voters who request them; these are known as “solicited” ballots, and Trump has stated he has no issue with solicited ballots.

Biden mis-spoke when he said that all ballots must be delivered by election day. Overseas voters, e.g., U.S. military and ex-pat ballots must be received not later than 10 days after the election day and must be postmarked on or before election day.

Still, given the controversy about the way the ballots are being handled, it seems likely that it could be mid-December before the election is validated.

The LA Times⁵, a paper that already decided Biden will win, foretells how Trump will fight to remain in office. The paper never considers that Trump will defeat Biden even with the Democrats’ ballot stuffing efforts.

Only two more “debates” to go. At this point, is there anyone who has not decided for whom to vote?

I heard that at least one debate will take questions from the audience.

I think that is a mistake. The parties can pack the audience and the moderators, if the questions are written and submitted, can selectively ask questions to suit their political position.

Are you still beating your wife?

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Sources

1. Chris Wallace: https://tinyurl.com/z74ryzg

2. Biden and H1N1: https://tinyurl.com/yyfyq95n

3. The Hill: https://tinyurl.com/y7syk5gr

4. Washington Post: https://tinyurl.com/y4qhp6qw

5. LA Times: https://tinyurl.com/y9z8vx42

PLAGIARISM is the act of appropriating the literary composition of another, or parts or passages of his writings, or the ideas or language of the same, and passing them off as the product of one’s own mind.

Truth is an absolute defense to defamation. Defamation is a false statement of fact. If the statement was accurate, then by definition it wasn’t defamatory.

Web sites (URLs) beginning https://tinyurl.com/ are generated by the free Tiny URL utility and reduce lengthy URLs to manageable size.

 

Comment on First Debate

Opuscula Biden advertisements Mimic Trump promos: Old promises revisited

TRUMP AND BIDEN ARE KEEPING tv stations and the networks in the black — and that has nothing to do with the so-called “Black Lives Matter” rage .

We are inundated by political commercials from city council candidates to Biden and Trump.

The First Tuesday in November cannot come soon enough.

 

I AM AMUSED with Biden’s campaign ads.

They appear to be rewrites of Trump’s 2016 advertisements. I would have thought Biden’s handlers could do better, be a little original.

Biden’s Build Back and Build Back Better sounds a lot like Trump’s Make America Great Again (MAGA).

Listen to Biden’s Made in America spiel.¹

Biden: When we spend American taxpayers’ money, we should use it to buy American products.

Trump not only promoted “Buy USA” he also forced U.S. companies, e.g., Ford, to being back plants taken across the border. Before the Chinese virus, unemployment in the US was 3.6% In 2015, when Biden was vice-president, unemployment stood at 5%. The virus-related unemployment is not “party sensitive.
As an aside, when Biden’s former boss needed a bus or his campaign, he bought it not in the U.S. but in Canada!

Biden wants to support American workers. To that end, as a senator, he supported the Geo. W. Bush plan to build a fence along the U.S.-Mexican border². Who else voted with Biden?
Barbara Boxer, Barbara Mckulski, Chuck Shulman, Dianne Feinstein, Hillary Clinton, Richard Durbin, among others³. In the House, Nancy Pelosi voted No.⁴ Unlike the Senate, the House vote was mostly by party line.

Californian Pelosi, to her credit, or discredit, consistently votes for illegal immigration.

Biden wants to “enhance national security” by reducing the nation’s dependence on China.

Trump already is distancing the country from China; he’s raised tariffs to make American products more competitive. Trump also is closing Chinese consulates accused of spying on U.S. technology leaders and the U.S. government.

Biden wants to invest in small businesses — with whose money he prefers not to say.

According to Business.com⁵, some of Trump's plans have helped small businesses.
1. Tax policy reform: The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, reduced both the individual income and corporate tax rates, and doubled the standard deduction. More than 34 percent of respondents said their tax liability decreased under the law, while more than 21 percent plan on increasing capital investments as a result.
2. Association Health Plans: The Trump administration moved to offer employers a choice of AHPs in June 2018. These plans essentially allow small businesses to buy into group health plans together and are intended to offer small businesses a cost-effective way to offer more competitive benefits.
3. Trade policy and tariffs: The Trump administration's approach to trade policy has included the levy of have had no significant impact.

Biden wisely does not mention race or misogyny in his advertisements. In both these cases, he lives in a glass house. Trump also is known as a sexist. For the record, so was JFK and his brother Teddy. That, of course doesn’t make it “OK,” but it is interesting that when a Democrat is a cheater, the media is silent.

No good choice

Between Biden’s apparent senility and Trump’s lack of discretion, Americans are faced with a lose-lose situation in November, assuming that both “presumptive” candidates make it to Election Day.

If Trump keeps Pence as his VP, America will remain tilted to the right. Pence’s one failure since 2016 is not being able to rein in Trump’s bombasity. Trump can best be described as a person who has knee jerk reactions.

Cartoon by Bruce Plante in the Tulsa (OK) World July 6, 2017

On the other hand, Biden has shown there are time when he has no reaction even when a reaction is appropriate.

If Biden is elected, based on his appearances^{6, 7, 8}, his vice president will be acting president, if not formally but effectively. Depending on who the Democrats foist on Biden will determine how far left the country will tilt.

There does not appear to be civility nor compromise on the political horizon.

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Sources

1. Made in America ad: https://tinyurl.com/yxacmskk

2. Politifact and Fence: https://tinyurl.com/yxs48mhy

3. Secure Fence Act of 2006: https://tinyurl.com/zuf2tuv

4 House vote on fence: https://tinyurl.com/hpxhvgt

5. Small business: https://tinyurl.com/y5jff9o3

6. Biden at debate: https://youtu.be/4AYVwgcAOMY8

7: Sky News on cognition: https://youtu.be/aA-GoeFGyIc

8: Controversial racial comments:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BccgFmLUd6Y

PLAGIARISM is the act of appropriating the literary composition of another, or parts or passages of his writings, or the ideas or language of the same, and passing them off as the product of one’s own mind.

Truth is an absolute defense to defamation. Defamation is a false statement of fact. If the statement was accurate, then by definition it wasn’t defamatory.

Web sites (URLs) beginning https://tinyurl.com/ are generated by the free Tiny URL utility and reduce lengthy URLs to manageable size.

 

Comment on Biden’s ads

Opuscula Bad behavior Shames US Before world

CIVILITY IS A THING OF THE PAST for politicians.

At President Trump’s State of the (dis)Union speech he insulted House Speaker Nancy Pelosi by ignoring her extended hand as he handed Vice President Pence and Ms. Pelosi copies of his about-to-be-made speech.

Was it a deliberate snub or did he simply not see her hand? He already was turning when she offered her hand.

Even prize fighters “touch gloves” before proceeding to bloody each other.

Ms. Pelosi quickly hit back by introducing the president sans the normal high privilege and distinct honor terminology.

 

Trump & Pelosi: Who started first? Cartoon by Rick McKeem Augusta Chronicle 18 JAN 2019

 

Throughout Mr. Trump’s speech Ms. Pelosi could be seen — and she must have been aware of the cameras — mouthing comments about Mr. Trump’s words.

Perhaps there is a lip reader who can tell us what Ms. Pelosi was saying. THAT would be interesting. Did Mr. Pence hear her words; he seemed not to react to her comments so perhaps they were meant solely for the tv cameras.

Although Mr. Trump scored points with an award to a dying conservative commentator, a family reunion with an Army sergeant, and the promise to a little girl that funding was set aside for her to attend any school she wishes, Ms. Pelosi got the last hit.

She not only tore up Mr. Trump’s speech, but she divided it into three parts so that the media would be sure capture her contempt for the president. Petulant, petty, Pelosi.

 

 

Send her packing?

Ms. Pelosi violates the law by destroying government document (Dry Bones cartoon for 6 FEB 2020)

 

Did she, or did she not, violate the law.

According to Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk (https://tinyurl.com/vwglh6j), "Nancy Pelosi may have just committed a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2071, Section 2071 (a) when she ripped up President Trump’s State of the Union address. This violation is punishable by up to three years in prison."

However Heidi Kitrosser, a law professor at the University of Minnesota, Georgetown Law professor Victoria Nourse, and Douglas Cox, professor of law at the City of New York University School of Law, rule that what Ms Pelosi did was legal.

Bill McCarthy, PolitiFact Staff Writer, writes that There are probably countless copies of Trump’s address, such as the version the White House posted online. Pelosi’s action doesn’t preclude future generations from accessing one.

Perhaps the question needs to be decided by the Supremes.

 

Nazi salutes? Democrats and "Women in White" attempt to shout down Mr. Trump. (NYTimes, https://nyti.ms/2ukvYQO @ 2:340

 

Democrat women dressed in white (learned from Communist Cuba?) stood and tried to shout down the president claiming he allegedly abuses women’s rights. Many of the group, and a few men as well, seemed to be giving the nazi salute.

It is not clear if the women were members of the house or invited guests; the New York Times video did not specify. Either way, another attack on civility.

 

Interestingly, Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) who voted guilty at Mr. Trump’s trial was front-and-center for the State of the Union speech and sitting with fellow Republicans. Unlike his fellow Democrats, he stood and applauded Mr. Trump whenever the vice president stood.

Mr. Romney has long been a bitter foe of Mr. Trump, then the front-runner, and is famous for a speech he made in his home state, denouncing Mr. Trump and urging Republican primary voters to use tactical voting in the remaining primaries and caucuses to maximize the chance of denying Trump a delegate majority.

Mr. Romney was behaving like a Democrat even before the Democrats lost the election.

Bottom line:While the behavior of a president’s opponents to “sit on their hands” throughout the president’s State of the Union message, Ms. Pelosi’s behavior is beyond the pale as was the “Women in White” and their male supporters attempt to shout down the president.

Conversely, to the president’s credit, he did not mention the Democrats’ failed effort to remove him from office, not did he cite by name any of the blatantly anti-American representatives who seem to lack all respect, and who show disrespect for anyone who dares think differently.

While the Democrats behavior will win them points with the “progressives,” it may fail to garner votes in November.

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PLAGIARISM is the act of appropriating the literary composition of another, or parts or passages of his writings, or the ideas or language of the same, and passing them off as the product of one’s own mind.

Truth is an absolute defense to defamation. Defamation is a false statement of fact. If the statement was accurate, then by definition it wasn’t defamatory.

Web sites (URLs) beginning https://tinyurl.com/ are generated by the free Tiny URL utility and reduce lengthy URLs to manageable size.

 

Comment on Bad Behavior

Opuscula Bloomberg: A sensible Democrat?

PERHAPS BECAUSE MOST other Democrat contenders sound like fools, Michael Bloomberg seems a sensible person who thinks rationally.

With Trump’s Tweets in mind, I may have to rethink by 2020 decision. I like Trump, but his knee-jerk, petulant tweets are “off-putting,” especially to a voter who lacks blind party loyalty.

Contenders: Bloomberg, left; Trump,,right (KENA BETANCUR/AFP via Getty Images)

IN HIS ADS, the former this and former that (can’t he hold a job? 😊) makes a number of claims.

Because of time constraints, he fails to elaborate on the claims.

For example, in one tv ad¹ it is claimed that Bloomberg “created” “tens of thousands” of jobs.

• Where?
• What type jobs? Government? Productive?
• When; over how many years?
• How many jobs were lost during his terms as mayor of New York City?

According to the New York Times², Bloomberg Has Added Jobs, and Lost Some, Too. In an October 2009 article, the Times claimed

During much of his tenure, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg has taken credit for helping to create hundreds of thousands of jobs in New York City, from high-paying construction work to sales jobs at dozens of new big-box stores. Even as the city plods through the recession, the mayor has set a goal to “retain and create” an additional 400,000 jobs over the next six years.

Ergo a claim of having created 400,000 jobs — the caveat: just not yet.

The Times article noted that

“There’s been much more growth in lower-wage industries than in middle-wage industries,” said James Parrott, chief economist for the Fiscal Policy Institute, a liberal research group. “That’s a challenge for people struggling to maintain a decent livelihood in New York City, given the cost of housing and everything else.”

There is a big difference in pay between a manufacturing job and that of a hamburger flipper.

The candidate claims in the aforementioned tv ad that he has created “tens of thousands” of new housing units. (His ad men apparently like the ambiguous “tens of thousands” — gross numbers are hard to pin down. As the candidate states at the end of the message, he approved the contents of the advertisement.)

All candidates “fudge” the numbers. That’s pretty much Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) and Bloomberg should not be singled out.

The questions asked earlier about jobs can be asked again, this time about housing.

The tv spot brags that Bloomberg “took on” the NRA.

To what avail?

He takes credit for forming a Mayors Against Gun Violence group; what mayor in his or her right mind would claim to be for gun violence? Meanwhile, New York City with its strict gun control laws still has murders on an all too frequent basis.

The New York City police department’s statics for the last week of November 2018 and 2019³ shows:

Shooting victims: 2019=23; 2018=14 Shooting incidents: 2019=16; 2018=14 Murders: 2019=1; 2018=0

Those figures are just for ONE WEEK. So much for gun control.

To be fair, there are far worse murder counts elsewhere. Detroit is, according to the FBI, “the most violent big city.”⁴ In 2017 there were 267 murders in Detroit; in 2018, there were only 261 murders.

There are actually two (2) “bottom lines” to gun violence statistics:

1. Most guns used to murder someone are stolen; few are purchased legally.
2. NO NRA member, to the best of my knowledge, has been charged with murder with a firearm.

On a personal note, few gun owners with whom I am acquainted object to

• Background checks
• Magazine capacity limits
• Ban on automatic weapons for civilians

Some people like their “assault”-style weapons for home defense; a long-barrel hunting rifle can be a handicap in tight quarters.

Bloomberg promises to raise taxes on the rich and (presumably) lower taxes on the rest of the population.

That requires a change in the federal tax laws and while it could be popular with the voters, given the years Congress has ignored this taxing effort, it seems unlikely that a president — any president — could push it past the denizens of The Hill. Too many politicians and lobbyists would balk.

Still, it sounds good in an advertisement.

Bloomberg is not the first super-rich person to complain about the inequality of the U.S. tax code; equally wealthy Warren Buffett publicly has championed a code change.

The former mayor promises that everyone will have health care. Everyone will have insurance — those that currently have insurance can keep it; those who don’t will get it.

Shades of Obamacare, but will Bloomberg’s plan work? (One of the “kicks” against Obamacare was that while the premiums were (relatively) low, the co-pays and deductibles discouraged its use.) Having a national health plan that covers everyone could reduce healthcare costs by having people treated early for illnesses rather than wait until they need hospitalization (Medicare Advantage plans’ Big Plus). On the other hand, if the care America’s wounded veterans receive is an indication of government-run healthcare . . .

IF BLOOMBERG survives the Democrat primaries — or decides to run as an independent — I will want answers to the questions I have today and the ones I will have as time goes on.

Trump has kept his campaign promises — whenever the Democrats failed to block his effort — keeping, or at least trying to keep, campaign promises is a huge plus for the incumbent.

Both Trump and Bloomberg prove that running for president is a rich man’s game, but it is the Average Joe and Jane’s vote that will determine who lives in the White House.

Rhetorical question du jour: If BOTH the Democrats and the Republicans want to abolish the Electoral College — both having candidates who won the popular vote but lost in the “college” — WHY IS IT STILL THERE? Does ANY Congress do ANYTHING?

---

Sources

1. Tv ad: https://youtu.be/j_1T_xPpAwo

2. Jobs: https://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/15/nyregion/15jobs.html

3. NYPD stats: cn-en-us-city.pdf

4. Detroit: https://tinyurl.com/s3mqvua

PLAGIARISM is the act of appropriating the literary composition of another, or parts or passages of his writings, or the ideas or language of the same, and passing them off as the product of one’s own mind.

Truth is an absolute defense to defamation. Defamation is a false statement of fact. If the statement was accurate, then by definition it wasn’t defamatory.

Web sites (URLs) beginning https://tinyurl.com/ are generated by the free Tiny URL utility and reduce lengthy URLs to manageable size.

 

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Opuscula Whistle blower cites Unknown persons As “crime” witnesses

Pot calls kettle black and tv heads ignore facts they don’t like

I just watched the Democrat-controlled House attack a Trump appointee for nearly an hour.
The basis for the attack was a whistle blower’s letter that claimed President Trump threatened to withhold aid to the Ukraine unless Joe Biden’s son was investigated.

AS A FORMER NEWSPAPER reporter and editor I saw so much wrong with the hearing.

ATTRIBUTION

The whistle blower cited multiple unidentified sources for his information. It was pointed out to the Democrats that NONE of the whistle blower’s sources were identified. In a court of law, that information would be inadmissible; not accepted.

In a newspaper (from my day, at least), the information would be disregarded. Best case, the reporter would be chastised and told to attribute the claims or, alternatively, find supporting evidence. No attribution, no hard evidence, no story.

The whistle blower DID cite tertiary sources: various media outlets that also failed to attribute sources.

BULLYING BULLY PULPIT

The House Democrats tried, and generally failed, to bully the former Navy Seal into answering Yes of No to questions that could not be answered truthfully with a Yes of No answer.

When I was a kid, such a question was “Are you still beating your wife.” No matter what the response, the responder was guilty of beating his wife.

I have seen the Democrats at work before and today’s exhibition was no exception. (That is not to say Republicans would not badger Democrats given the chance.)

Circa 1500, A prisoner undergoing torture at the hands of the Spanish Inquisition. Monks in the background wait for his confession with quill and paper. Hulton Archive/Getty Images (http://tinyurl.com/yyk6owku)

THE CRIME

According to the whistle blower’s unsubstantiated letter, Trump allegedly asked the Ukraine’s new president to investigate a company in which Joe Biden’s son was involved. The Ukraine already investigated the company and had, on more than one occasion, fined it for its dealings.

The Democrats are making two claims:

1. That Trump was trying to influence the U.S. 2020 elections by giving Biden’s son a bad name, and by implication, involving Obama’s VP and possible 2020 Democrat candidate for the White House and

2. That Trump was threatening to withhold U.S. aid to pressure or “push” the Ukrainian president to investigate the younger Biden.

Democrats, of course never interfere in foreign elections. Obama never interfered with Israeli elections — although he tried really heard to get Netanyahu defeated.

Never mind that the U.S. has a very long record of interfering in others elections and even removing a head of government who failed to toe the U.S. line.

Trying to influence an election is “the American way.” Think of Chicago’s corrupt Democrat politics (and Obama); think of New York and the Democrats' Tammany Hall,

Trump also was accused of trying to hide a recording of the call to the Ukraine.

Shades of Hillary and her emails (which Trump allowed to slide).

AS REPORTED ON TV

Immediately after the grilling by Democrats, the tv talking heads gave their interpretation of what was said — or not.

Mostly it was a rehash of what the generally leftist media wanted to emphasize at the expense of the full story.

As King Solomon is alleged to have said: “There is nothing new under the sun.” (You didn’t know Solly spoke English?)

REPUBLICANS JUMPING SHIP?

According to the talking heads, a number of Republicans in the House and Senate are abandoning ship; 2020 is, after all an election year. They are betting that the Democrats will finally get SOMETHING on the president. So far they continue to come up empty.

What is likely to happen is that in the privacy of the voting booth, many Democrats will consider how well off they were under Obama and how well off they are under Trump and vote to give Trump another four years in the White House.

That won’t stop the remaining Democrats from hounding the president, nor will it stop Republicans from giving the same treatment to a Democrat if one ever gets into the White House.

Trump, unlike his predecessors, does not have D.C. credentials. Unlike LBJ, he doesn’t know “where the bodies are buried.” He is not charismatic a la JFK (although unlike JFK, Trump gets things done) or a relatively handsome actor a la Reagan (who Democrats said couldn’t do the job). Trump simply lacks the proper “school tie” and for that he is hounded. It will be interesting top see the outcome of the 2020 elections, although I think I’ll pass on most of the campaign lies.

Editorial cartoon by Gary Varval for 9/26, 2019

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PLAGIARISM is the act of appropriating the literary composition of another, or parts or passages of his writings, or the ideas or language of the same, and passing them off as the product of one’s own mind.

Truth is an absolute defense to defamation. Defamation is a false statement of fact. If the statement was accurate, then by definition it wasn’t defamatory.

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Opuscula Netanyahu And Trump: Mental twins

ISRAEL’S PRIME MINISTER Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. President Donald Trump are two of a kind.
They surround themselves with, take your choice, sycophants, toadies, lackeys, flunkies, minions, stooges, kowtowers, grovellers and other synonyms for “yes men” (and women).

IT A CABINET MEMBER disagrees with Trump, that Cabinet member is either allowed to resign or, as was the case of National Security Advisor John Bolton, is fired. (How Bolton left is open to debate.).

If a minister disagrees with Netanyahu, the prime minister removes the person from the post and assumes the ministry for himself.

Never mind the individual’s popularity and never mind that in some cases, the dismissal will come back to haunt the chief executive.

Netanyahu would be king, but he may be deposed by a woman, Ayelet Shaked (right), who was given short shrift by the PM. Shaked left the ruling Likud party and, with others, formed a new party that might end Netanyahu’s reign as PM. (It is unlikely it would keep him out of the Knesset.)

I do not expect John Bolton to form a new political party and a jump to the liberal Democrats is not going to happen — I suspect neither wants the other — but he could throw his support to one of the few brave Republicans willing to run against the incumbent, normally as foolish a thing to do as spitting into the wind. Still, with Trump’s knee-jerk tweets and what appears to be an “I’m ALWAYS right” attitude, there may be hope for challengers.

Netanyahu whines that anyone who is not with him must be against him, suggesting that Shaked and other right-wing politicians are liberals who want to surrender Israel to the PLO.

Trump is proving something similar.

Bolton (right) was a hawk who recommended that Trump act forcefully against America’s real or perceived enemies. Trump, who apparently sees himself as King of Negotiators — and he might be — took exception to the advice Bolton is said to have offered.

By the way, Bolton is — was — Trump’s third national security advisor.

My Way or the Highway

More and more we are seeing leaders around the world who operate with the “My way or the highway” mentality.

In the U.S. this seems relatively new.

President Harry S Truman (right) fired Gem. Geo Patton for in­su­bor­din­a­tion.¹ He had strong disagreements with his first Secretary of State, James Francis Byrnes, but kept him on. Byrnes resigned² and Truman appointed Gen. Geo. C. Marshall whom he later named Secretary of Defense, replacing Marshall with Dean Acheson.

Both Marshall and Acheson were against U.S. recognition of Israel but Truman prevailed. Neither man was dismissed by Truman.³

Before Bolton’s resignation/dismissal, Trump had replaced⁴

* Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen
* FBI Director James Comey
* Secretary of State Rex Tillerson
* Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin
* White House counsel Don McGahn

In the case of the VA boss, the dismissal came after multiple reports of mismanagement at VA facilities. While Shulkin may not have been responsible, as President Truman noted: “The buck stops here.”

Apropos of nothing

An amusing side note to the Bolton exit is a headline from Fox News.⁵

Tucker hails firing of John Bolton: He was 'fundamentally a man of the left'

Left? LEFT?

The Fox News report opened with:

Tucker Carlson hailed the firing Tuesday of White House National Security Adviser John Bolton, calling him a "man of the left" whose exit should be celebrated by young service members.

“It is great news for America. Especially for the large number of young people who would have been killed in pointless wars if Bolton had stayed on the job. They may not be celebrating tonight, but they should be," said Carlson, noting that oil prices dropped on the news of Bolton's firing, since global investors "knew for certain that Bolton planned on launching another Middle Eastern conflict that would inevitably spike energy prices."

Will Fox soon declare that Trump is a “man of the left” joining the likes to Pelosi, Tlaib, Omar, et al?

The Fox piece is worth a read, regardless of left, right, or in between.

---

Sources

1. http://tinyurl.com/y4tm6z9d

2. http://tinyurl.com/y4p7w7yp

3. http://tinyurl.com/yyecshef

4. http://tinyurl.com/y6n8hked

5. http://tinyurl.com/y4efjhbl

PLAGIARISM is the act of appropriating the literary composition of another, or parts or passages of his writings, or the ideas or language of the same, and passing them off as the product of one’s own mind.

Truth is an absolute defense to defamation. Defamation is a false statement of fact. If the statement was accurate, then by definition it wasn’t defamatory.

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Opuscula Dear TR, Petty Tyrant unafraid Of the Big Stick

THOSE OF US OLD ENOUGH to have read history in school know the story of Theo. (Teddy) Roosevelt and his Great White Fleet. (Lest anyone be offended, the ships were painted white; ergo “The Great White Fleet.” See http://tinyurl.com/bpwybcu)

Battleship USS Maine

Teddy — “TR” — sent the battle group around the globe to impress other’s with America’s naval might. The journey lasted a little more than a year. This was long before air power, Inter-Continental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs) and nuclear weapons. Unfortunately, America’s military might failed to discourage Austria-Hungary from decaling war against Serbia (July 28, 1914) and Germany following by declaring war against Russia (August 1, 1914), France (August 3, 1914), and Belgium (August 4, 1914) to start World War 1, the “war to end war.” (See http://tinyurl.com/y88765m7)

A BIT MORE THAN A CENTURY LATER, Kim Jung-on, South Korea’s dictator, following in his father’s footsteps, is starving his people in order to develop ICBMs that, armed with mini-nuclear warheads, threaten the U.S. and its interests (e.g., Guam).

In the so-called “Cold War” era, when the U.S. and the then Soviet Union threatened “mutual destruction” on each other — and not a few countries in the way — both government’s leadership knew it was better to pick up a “red phone” connecting D.C. to the Kremlin than to push the red button that could destroy much of mankind. Sanity prevailed.

Now, dealing with North Korea’s megalomaniac Kim, sanity has become a thing of the past. Unfortunately for Kim, he is not dealing with a weak Obama but a man who insists on “putting America first.” Fortunately, so far — and inspite of of Kim’s missile tests and photo ops with a sphere said to be a mini-nuclear bomb, the only war is a war of words.

While Varvel’s cartoon portrays Trump and Kim and as two little boys in a sandbox, it pays to remember that words too frequently turn into unacceptable actions, e.g., war.

The problem for the U.S. is China.

During the UN’s Korean “policing action” — not a “war,” understand, although thousands of Americans died — Gen. Douglas MacArthur wanted to invade China which was providing troops and materials to the North Koreans. The then Soviet Union ostensibly controlled North Korea.

President Harry S Truman, not prepared for World War 3, told MacArthur to cancel invasion plans. MacArthur insisted on going ahead and Truman recalled, and fired, MacArthur. Right decision? Wrong decision? Either way, Americans were tired of war. (The U.S. has been in some level of combat almost consistently since the end of World War 2, regardless of political party in power.)

China has, since World War 2, developed a modern military force on land, sea, and air. It has a global presence. Moreover, the U.S. is indebted to China; it holds billions of dollars of U.S. IOUs.

China is North Korea’s backer — possibly it’s only political friend.

If the U.S. attacks North Korea in a preventive strike — surely justified based on Kim’s rhetoric and actions— even if as surgically precise as Israel’s attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities, the question is: “How will China react?”

Unlike the Soviet era, and now the Russian Federation era, Kim’s actions, and the inaction of the Chinese to reign him in, indicate that a threat of “mutual destruction” a non-issue.

Realistically, what can the U.S. do to temper Kim’s bellicose behavior? Sanctions are in place — with UN (including China) support — but what impact will they have on Kim. By most accounts, his people already are starving. Kim, on the other hand, looks well fed and clothed. Sanctions? They only will hurt his people.

Will China really join in the sanctions? Time will tell.

Will the UN-approved sanctions be observed by other nations and the EU? Even before Obama backed off sanctions on Iran, some EU countries already were trading with the ayatollah. North Korea, not surprisingly, was trading nuclear information with Iran as if sanctions did not exist.

Who is crazier: the ayatollah or Kim? They both are cut from the same cloth?

President Trump’s blustering may — or may not — be appropriate. Certainly it is not “presidential” in the eyes of the leftists in the U.S. and around the world. But how else could Trump respond to Kim?

A pre-emptive strike?

Or be like Franklin D. Roosevelt (TR’s cousin) and ignore the threat until Japan attacked Pearl Harbor and thousands of American’s died, or behave, as Trump’s predecessor did with Iran, and pretend it will all go away?

With Kim, the U.S. is “between a rock and a hard place.” No action is not an option; sanctions don’t directly impact Kim so they are of little value.

China holds the answer. It has it within its power to prevent a disaster for not just North Korea and the U.S. but the world — nuclear fall-out respects no borders.

Trump’s blustering may only be for show while diplomatic language is used with China’s leadership.

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If the links fail to work, see http://tinyurl.com/y82lye4d to learn how to find/access them. It's a Google problem.

PLAGIARISM is the act of appropriating the literary composition of another, or parts or passages of his writings, or the ideas or language of the same, and passing them off as the product of one’s own mind.

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Opuscula Dear Donald, Where is your Sense of humor?

Dear POTUS-elect Trump:
LIGHTEN UP!

A sure sign that a politician, even a novice such as Mr. Trump, has “made it” is that comedians mock the politico.

Alec Baldwin, who happens to be a died-in-the-wool Clintonite, pokes fun at Trump and Trump lets it rankle him.

The POTUS-elect needs to
    (a) Get a thicker skin
    (b) Get some decent writers to fight back in kind

Soon to be ex-president Obama suffered the barbs of the few non-liberal comedians and cartoonists for eight years without showing half the umbrage POTUS-elect Trump is showing over Baldwin’s characterization on Saturday Night Live, a/k/a SNL.

ISRAEL BRIEFLY HAD a similar-to-SNL tv program in the mid-1970s called Nekui Rosh - roughly translated as Brain Wash that poked fun -– and Israeli “fun” could make SNL “fun” seem harmless — at the country’s politicians.

Like SNL, Nekui Rosh was a “must see.”

Then Menachem Begin finally was elected Prime Minister (head of government). Begin was PM from 20 June 1977 to 5 August 1981 and from 5 August 1981 to 10 October 1983.

During his tenure he accomplished a number things the opposition party — in power for 40-plus years — never managed to accomplish. Perhaps the most noteworthy and lasting thing Begin achieved was what has proven to be a lasting peace with Egypt — a peace that, sadly, cost Anwar Sadat’s life.

FOR ALL THAT Begin did one thing that — at least for me — tarnished his otherwise brilliant political career: he cancelled Nekui Rosh because it poked fun at him. The program — which I watched faithfully even with limited Hebrew — poked fun at everyone — left, right, and even those who didn’t know where they stood.

Meanwhile, in the U.S. of A. a tv program called Laugh-in (1967-1973) was poking fun at just about every politician, regardless of party.

During Richard Nixon’s term as president he frequently was the target of Laugh-in’s humor.

But UNLIKE POTUS-elect Trump and SNL, Nixon didn’t fight with the show; he joined it! One of the show’s trademark lines was “Sock it to me,” most often spoken by Judy Carne.

For Nixon’s appearance he got to utter the line; a line used today to promote reruns of the program. Nixon was not known for his sense of humor, but Laugh-in promos in late 2016 use Nixon looking into the camera telling everyone to “Sock it to me.”

I don’t know if POTUS, etc has a sense of humor or not, but he would do well to “meet the enemy on the enemy’s terms.” Trump HAS been on SNL before, as have a number of other political notables. Fight fire with fire — or in this case, comedy with comedy.

SNL, akin to Laugh-in and Nekui Rosh is an equal opportunity offender; as long as it pokes fun at everyone, it’s worth watching.

Come on, Donald, lighten up. Besides, you want to increase employment; as long as SNL can poke fun at you, Baldwin will have a job.

Opuscula Trump is new Teddy Roosevelt?

U.S. Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump vowed on Friday that any Iranian vessels that harass the U.S. Navy in the Gulf would be "shot out of the water" if he is elected on Nov. 8, according to numerous sources, including Reuters. (Other sources cited at end of blog.)

In his effort to “Make America Great Again,” presidential candidate Donald Trump told supporter in swing-state Florida that if Iranian boats continue to threaten U.S. warships, he will authorize the Navy to, paraphrasing U.S. Navy pilot Donald Francis Mason, “sighted ship, sank same.”

During his tenure as president, Theo. (Teddy) Roosevelt ordered the Navy to assemble a fleet of 16 battleships with various escorts to show the flag around the world, making certain the “world” knew that the U.S. was prepared to take its place as a world power. Roosevelt’s fleet sailed around the world from 1907 to 1909. This followed the Spanish-American War (1898).

The Spanish-American War was one of the several times the U.S. intervened in Cuba to provide Cubans with a U.S. type freedom.

While air power eventually overtook sea power to dominate combat, TR made his point.

I’m not sure giving a finger to sailors on a U.S. warship constitutes a threat, getting close enough to that U.S. ship should be considered a threat, especially keeping the USS Cole in mind.

The decline in respect for America is not new.

In 1983, when Ronald Reagan was president, both the U.S. embassy and the U.S. Marine barracks in Lebanon were bombed. A total of 259 Americans were murdered, along with 104 Lebanese and French citizens. The group Islamic Jihad, affiliated with Hezbollah and ultimately Iran, claimed responsibility for both attacks. (Source: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3403300454.html)

The attack on the Benghazi consulate that resulted in the deaths of "only" four Americans came as the result of the “Arab Spring” supported by the Obama administration, with candidate Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State.

America’s enemies believe that they can attack America (this is keyed on 9/11/2016, 15 years after the attack on the Twin Towers and the Pentagon, victims of Islamists) and Americans with impunity.

After the bombing of the Cole, then-president Wm. Clinton (ibid.) promised that justice would be done. “To those who attacked them we say: You will not find a safe harbor. We will find you and justice will prevail.” It didn’t.

Mashur Abdallah Ahmed al Sabri, one of the members of the USS Cole cell, already has been released by Barack Obama from Guantanamo Bay despite being “rated as a high risk terrorist who is ‘is likely to pose a threat to the US, its interests, and allies‘.”

The question is: Will U.S. ships fire on threats, a “stand your ground” situation if you will, and will U.S. military aircraft be allowed to defend themselves if other nations’ planes threaten them by flying dangerously close (e.g.,China and Russia). Indeed, if Trump is elected, will Russian pilots stop playing “tag” with U.S. aircraft due to the alleged Putin-Trump “friendship”?

The bottom line: Can Trump, if elected, make America great again in the eyes of other nations? If he can accomplish that, perhaps he can make America great again at home.

His opponent seems to think things are fine as they stand.

As an aside: The Washington Times reported that Bill Clinton vowed to ‘make America great again’ in 1992, now says slogan is racist

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Other sources

Note: A number of sources are more than a little biased.

Trump: I would shoot confrontational Iranian ships (The Hill)

Donald Trump declares he would shoot Iranian ships 'out of the water' if they bother American ships (Business Insider)

Trump in FL suggests shooting Iranian naval ships ‘out of the water’ over ‘inappropriate gestures’ (Twitchy)

Trump Favors Regime Change in Iran, Says He’ll Attack Them Over Rude Gestures (New York Media, LLC)

Donald Trump’s Crazy Idea To Bring Back Battleships Might Actually Be Possible (Foxtrot Alpha)

Trump threatens Iranian boats that make improper ‘gestures’ to U.S. vessels will be ‘shot out of the water’ (National Post)

Opuscula Hillary Clinton Dumb & dumber

IF, AS HARRY S TRUMAN famously said, “the buck stops here” (with the president) than Hillary Clinton must accept responsibility for her tv advertisements.

Proving, at least to this scrivener, that she is not qualified to lead the nation, she “approves” the message shown throughout the day, including “prime time” that shows her opponent setting a “terrible example for children.”

View the Clinton advertisement at http://www.thewrap.com/hillary-clinton-campaign-ad-donald-trump-not-good-role-model-for-children-video/

QUESTION: If Trump’s behavior is so bad children should not be exposed to it, why is Mrs. Clinton repeatedly putting it in front of the children she allegedly is trying to protect?

You can call it an oxymoron or, if your computer centric, you might say “it does not compute,” but either way, she is blatantly showing SHE cares nothing for the sensitivities of our children.

This is a person who wants to lead our country?

Unless her opponent actually is paying for this advertisement, the Democrat seems to be blind in one eye and can’t see out of the other.

It is an unfortunate truth that American voters in recent years have had to choose the lesser of two evils rather than the better of two good candidates. The 2016 elections will be a continuation of that sad state of affairs.

Mrs. Clinton, who already and repeatedly has shown very bad judgment, is in her attempt to damage her opponent, paying to air a commercial showing her opponent saying things she contends children should not see or hear.

It might be acceptable for late night television, but the commercials run in the afternoon and during so-called prime time; times when children are out of school and have access to the tv. (True they ought to be doing homework or, if too young, watching altogether too violent cartoons. I have a five-year-old grand-daughter so I have some firsthand knowledge of the cartoons’ contents.)

I’m not happy with much of Trump’s behavior, but in my opinion, he still would be a better president that Mrs. Clinton.

I thought Harry S was a pretty good – and honest – president. I liked Ike. LBJ was progressive where it counted. Nixon made too major mistakes: he opened up trade with China – and now China owns the U.S. – and he stuck by his people even when they acted without his knowledge (Watergate). Most presidents would have quickly distanced themselves from the burglars.

It should be clear to both left and right that when it comes to who resides in 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, I base my choice on the person, not the party.

Based on Mrs. Clinton’s “terrible example for children” tv advertisement, she is NOT fit to take up residence in the White House.

Perhaps Trump also is unfit, but he is less “unfit” than Mrs. Clinton.