Note: Each block of text actually is a link to a story or a web page that I am commenting on. Click on that text and it will take you to the page being referred to.
Seems like hellzipoppin on the news front today … where to start … anywhere, I guess. Lots of food for thought … and lots of wondering where all this stuff is going to lead … and what, if anything, any individual can do about it. I hope you find some thought provoking stuff in this list that gets you to expand your mind and think: What if?
Very unfortunate for the young man ... I hope these wounds don't set his recovery from his previous wounds back very much ... he seems to be a good man. However, it raises a question since the police are saying that the attack was alcohol related at a bar (or just outside it), it would seem that this happens far too often and too many people are getting hurt or injured. I propose that, like guns, we license drinkers of alcohol and subject them to background checks at the bar before they get served any drinks. Either that or we can try banning all alcohol again ... but I think we tried that once and it didn't work out too well. Then of course, we could require background checks and licensing of all knives ... just to be on the safe side.
Interesting criticism of the outsiders in the Republican primary field ... it makes the case for having the current crop of the political elite to continue to run the show. Unfortunately, that was not what was intended when the constitution was written - a permanent political class really was not seen as the ideal. I guess my question is: can they do any worse than a freshman Senator from Illinois?
It is interesting that there is all this clamor about trying the US for "war crimes". I am sorry, I don't buy that. Why? Because and until all the evidence is in, I am willing to bet dollars to donuts that this was not a deliberate preplanned (an essential element for qualifying as a war crime) attack on the MSF hospital. Secondly, unless and until I hear a large drumbeat for trying the Taliban for its ruthless slaughter of Afghan teachers and Afghan medical personnel, then I don't see where the MSF or any other group has a leg to stand on. Third, if the evidence shows that there were, indeed, Taliban militants taking cover behind the walls of the compound and using that cover to fire on Afghan forces, will the MSF apologize to the US, the Afghans, and admit its culpability in what is definitely a war crime. Nope, I don’t see that happening anytime soon. The MSF hates the United States because it has the military force to fight people like the Taliban and ISIS and they are devoted pacifists … only problem with that is they don’t attack publically or condemn with equal vehemence those non-state armies that kill so many people because where they operate they know those non-state armies would slaughter them if they did.
An Aljazeera analysis of how to solve Syria. Interesting take by four "experts" ... well worth the read.
President Obama takes a few licks here for his Cuban initiatives ... for not understanding the Castros and what they stand for and what they have done. Not a kind article.
Centrifugal forces continues to play out against the existing nation states of the world ... this story is about Catalonia and Spain (I spent some time in Barcelona when I was in the Navy. Didn’t forget or leave anything there, so I have no hankering to go back. But I did get to walk the decks of a floating, sailable, replica of the Santa Maria – it was a tiny ship). Syria, Iraq, Somalia, Ethiopia, Eastern Europe, all are examples of this effect.
I have no problem with prosecuting people, instead of corporations or companies, for violations of the law. In fact, it is what I think should be done, because it is the individuals who committed the crime, not the company. It is just that corporations have deeper pockets than individuals and that is what it is all about: the money from the fines.
The blame game and culpability game continues to play out with Hillary's e-mail accounts. You know, of course, if she had just followed the rules and protocols, none of this would be happening.
It seems there was a line of countries that queued up to hack Hillary Clinton's various e-mail servers ... gee ... and we want this person to be our president?
With the crew lost and ship gone ... now comes the hard part: Figuring out what happened ... that involves an expensive search nearly 3 miles down from the surface to find the wreck and recover its data box.
And the wagons begin to circle in Asia Minor as allies agree to start sending in reinforcements ... what a wonderful world we live in.
This is, in the words of the wife, extremely frightening. It is a product of the lawlessness, in my opinion, endorsed by those in our political elite and various local government officials who take pride in ignoring the law.
Strange post clock-work review of the father's political view of the world
Thomas Sowell does a very good job at illustrating the power of social and cultural expectations. All discrimination or disparities are not due to wealthy people denying others benefits or racists barring the doors to advancement. Sometimes, but not always. Often it is a choice made based on the cultural environment a person lives and is raised in. Some value education, among other attributes, and some don't and that is a bigger determinate of outcomes.
Victor Hanson's take on Putin's objectives and methods ... warns us to learn a lesson from history when dealing with the Russian leader.
Interesting treatise on the power of words ... and how their use shapes the discussion. In this case, it is subtle, yet effective ... if you stop and think about it.
Another article on the power of words ... and how they are used, or misused ... and how those who control the words, control the discussion.
Andrew Napolitano's exposition on the right to self-defense ... and how Hillary Clinton apparently has forgotten all that law training she got ... especially the part about federal officials swearing to faithfully uphold and enforce the Constitution as interpreted by the Supreme Court.
Rather clever (I hope it was trying to be clever) parody of the need for more background checks.
Paul Greenberg is not in a very optimistic mood today ... not that I blame him ... and yes the road is very dangerous ahead and yes we no longer seem to have leadership that is up to the task.
Eh-yup ... here are the five easy steps to create a gun-free America
This story shows how the Obama Administration has been sending the absolutely wrong and worst message to the troops.
The sad thing is that this needs to be done at all ... but it does. It also is sad that it has to come right now, when the rest of the world seems bent on going to hell in a hand-basket.
Ok folks, where are the MSF people screaming about war crimes? Where are the UN people screaming about war crimes? Where are the other nations in the world, who line up to trash the US, screaming about war crimes here? The silence is stupefying.
This quote in the last paragraph sums up why Putin is doing what he is doing: “I think there is a bizarre kind of grudging respect in parts of the Arab world for what they see as Russian steadfastness and decisiveness in contrast to what they perceive as the dithering of the United States.” Nuff said.
More information on the insecure nature of Hillary's e-mail setup ... again: And why do we want this woman as our president?
This is a rather bleak assessment of the US Constitution. As a historian, I could take issue with many of the points here ... but I would point out that it is very selective in what writings it likes to accept. One must remember that not only the US Constitution written by those evil white males, but so was the Declaration of Independence. Reject one, then by logic you should reject both. But in the end, this is an open call for violence ... I allow it because I value the freedom of speech higher than this person does. He sees the world through certain filtered blinders ... and that is his right ... even when I believe that view is distorted if not flat out wrong.
Gender neutral insanity ... the law of unintended consequences
Oil in Israel ... not so fast ... it is in the disputed Golan Heights ... yet another reason for the war in Syria to spill over.
Assuming the quotes, etc., are accurate, this woman is very perceptive. It all begins with the individual and how they do what they should do.
If there is money to be made, insiders always will try to use their knowledge to their benefit ... it is called human nature. All you can do is hope that they play by the rules or punish them for their transgressions
I am sorry liberals and progressives, but where the heck do these places get the right to ignore federal law and to violate it with impunity? You get all up in arms when people you politically disagree with advocate telling the feds to stick it, but you turn a blind eye when this happens. Do you have any understanding how this undermines the rule of law ... and the concept that all are equal before the law? I don't think you even think about that.
OK, MAJOR CHAOS inside the House of Representatives ... it seems the rank and file want change. Of course, the fly on the wall in me would really like to know why Kevin McCarthy bailed out of the speakership race. Still, who really would want to try to herd that bunch of cats in that insane asylum? A glutton for punishment, I suppose, or somebody so drunk on power that they want to ram their solutions down everyone else's throat. Still, the next few weeks will be VERY INTERESTING as Artie Shaw used to say on Laugh In
I agree with this commentator: Who cares if the next president is a woman? I sure as heck don't care ... as long as the person tries to uphold the US Constitution and faithfully try to execute its mandates and the laws passed by Congress ... and doesn't try to end-run Congress and make a few laws on his or her own.
Interesting list of casualties of late in Israel ... sort of glorifies the idiots who bring knives to a gunfight ... but note who initiates the majority of the incidents.
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