One Citizen Speaking

AMAZING IRONY: COMMITTED LEFTISTS TO INVESTIGATE TRUMP AND RUSSIA

It is not so much unbelievable as it is ironic … some of the most progressive socialist democrats who hate the current President of the United States, Donald Trump, but thought nothing of supporting a corrupt, lying Marxist like Hillary Clinton, have formed a non-profit organization to investigate Russia. 

About Us The Russian Active Measures campaign aimed at the United States has been exposed. Using hacking, Twitter armies, and fake news, the Kremlin engaged in an aggressive effort to subvert the American democratic process. Now, only months into his term of office, the President and his staff are facing multiple investigations in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives and by a Special Counsel for the Department of Justice.   The Committee to Investigate Russia is a nonprofit, non-partisan resource provided to help Americans recognize and understand the gravity of Russia’s continuing attacks on our democracy. All relevant information is aggregated in one place to provide context and allow users to see the full picture of what Russia has done and will continue to do unless we start paying closer attention. For generations, people have fought to protect democracy. Now it is our turn.  Advisory Board Max Boot Military Historian and Foreign Policy Analyst James Clapper Former Director of National Intelligence Norman Ornstein American Enterprise Institute Resident Scholar Rob Reiner Director, Actor, and Activist Charles Sykes Conservative Commentator Fellow Americans, On January 6, 2017, America’s intelligence agencies shared a declassified report concluding Russia had attacked our nation with the express goal of disrupting the presidential election and ultimately weakening our democracy. To this day, that destabilizing effort continues. Historically, when the United States has come under attack, Americans of all stripes have united in our country’s defense. Today, however, too many Americans and too many of our elected officials are ignoring or not understanding Russia’s attacks against our country. If we are to preserve the democracy our founding fathers envisioned and for which so many Americans fought and died, we must be vigilant and we must act. That requires information about and comprehension of the threats we face. To that end, we pledge our support as Advisory Board members of the Committee to Investigate Russia, a non-partisan, non-profit effort designed to help Americans understand and recognize the scope and scale of Russia’s continuing attacks on our democracy. <Source>

Who are some of these schmucks?

Let us start with the former Director of National Defense, James Clapper, who is either the most clueless man in intelligence or a stone-cold liar. This is the man who lied to Congress and the American people as he assured us that the intelligence agencies were not conducting unlawful surveillance on American citizens. He was the one to testify before Congress that no FISA-court warrant was ever issued and he was in a position to know. In both instances, he could have said: “No comment” or the subject involved national security. And yet he chose to apparently perjure himself.

Director of national intelligence James Clapper, who resigned rather than serve under President-Elect Donald Trump  is now certain, where he wasn't so certain before, that sophisticated Russian hackers were behind the revelation of the DNC's and John Podesta's emails.  This is the John Podesta whose password was "password."  Clapper now says "we assess" that the Russians hacked the John Podesta and the DNC under direct orders of Vladimir Putin for the purpose of releasing information damaging the credibility of Hillary Clinton and helpful to Donald Trump.

Clapper did not address why the Russians would want to help Trump, who has pledged to rebuild our military, modernize our nuclear arsenal, and drill like there's no tomorrow for oil, the only thing of value the Russians have to sell.  Nor did he address the fact that the emails detailing the corruption, bigotry, and collusion among the media and the Democrats and Hillary Clinton were all accurate and true. <Source>

Funny, the one person who should know and has never been caught in a lie, Julian Assange, said it wasn’t the Russians and suggested it was a disgruntled insider. And,  Edward Snowden may be a traitor, but he certainly did not lie about the NSA’s domestic surveillance of Americans. Both men, despicable as they are, have more credibility than James Clapper who was clueless about a terrorist attack and the arrest of 12 terrorist suspects that was playing on most screens in the television studio where he was being interviewed. And, others with more credibility that Clapper published a report that said that the DNC’s investigation into hacking was flawed. Remember, the DNC denied the FBI the opportunity to forensically examine the hacked server.

Then there is Rob Reiner who, in spite of his success as a director, will forever be known as “Meathead,” Archie Bunker’s clueless radical son-in-law from the iconic television program All In The Family. Reiner, a barking dog progressive, was accused of misusing funds to advance his political agenda.

Actor and director Rob Reiner was charged with using millions in taxpayer money to fund a partisan initiative for universal preschool in California. The money in question paid for commercials supporting the initiative, which is coming up for a vote in June. Reiner has refused to resign as chairman of the state commission that supplied the money.

After Reiner’s eventual resignation, the progressives declared that his group had the lawful authority to spend the money. His preschool measure collapsed at the polls – and millions that could have been directed to more worthwhile causes were flushed down the drain.

Charles Sykes may be self-identified as a conservative, but he is a progressive socialist democrat, having been a member of the “Young Democrats,” a Board Member of the ACLU, and running as a Democrat for the Lt. Governorship of Wisconsin. Plus he is an ardent never-Trumper. And, he is hawking his book, “How the Right Lost Its Mind.”

Bottom line …

This is the first time in American history that an opposition party did not accept the election results and attempted to overthrow the legitimate leadership – if not the government – of the United States.  It appears that with the progressive socialist democrats, RINOs, and the useful idiots, the best defense is a good offense. Especially as they attempt to protect Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, and their cadre of radical supporters from being held accountable for various high crimes and misdemeanors – some of which carry criminal penalties.

Remember, the scandals, malfeasance, and criminal activities all happened on Barack Obama’s watch and were associated with the Democrats – not the GOP. Why the GOP will not attack might be that they are being blackmailed by the high-ranking intelligence leaders who were placed in office by Barack Obama and who appear to be the source of significant leaking. Even the former Director of the FBI has admitted to the theft of government documents and arranging a leak to the media to bring about the appointment of a special counsel to investigate Trump and the Russians. This is the same man who wrote a memo exonerating Hillary Clinton before critical witnesses were interviewed. Clinton herself was never placed under oath during her questioning. Very smelly and suspicious. Certainly a cover-up.

Will it succeed depends on if the GOP can find its cojones and stand up for the Constitution and Country the swore an oath to protect?

We are so screwed.

-- steve

TRUMP TELLS THE UNITED NATIONS EXACTLY WHAT EVERY ORDINARY AMERICAN THINKS

It appears that this may be the first time that an American President has stood before the impotent and corrupt United Nations and has told the unvarnished and uncomfortable truth …

(Excerpted) Remarks by President Trump to the 72nd Session of the United Nations General Assembly Acknowledgement of our abused and beloved Constitution … In America, we do not seek to impose our way of life on anyone, but rather to let it shine as an example for everyone to watch.  This week gives our country a special reason to take pride in that example.  We are celebrating the 230th anniversary of our beloved Constitution -- the oldest constitution still in use in the world today. This timeless document has been the foundation of peace, prosperity, and freedom for the Americans and for countless millions around the globe whose own countries have found inspiration in its respect for human nature, human dignity, and the rule of law.  The greatest in the United States Constitution is its first three beautiful words.  They are:  “We the people.” Generations of Americans have sacrificed to maintain the promise of those words, the promise of our country, and of our great history.  In America, the people govern, the people rule, and the people are sovereign.  I was elected not to take power, but to give power to the American people, where it belongs. In foreign affairs, we are renewing this founding principle of sovereignty. Our government's first duty is to its people, to our citizens -- to serve their needs, to ensure their safety, to preserve their rights, and to defend their values.  Perhaps the President of the United States might wish to give this part of his speech on sovereignty to the progressive socialist Democrats in Congress to remind most of these corrupt, lying politicians that their sworn duty is to the Constitution and America – not to invaders who swear allegiance to another sovereign power and who do not wish to assimilate into our culture. Acting like a leader … As President of the United States, I will always put America first, just like you, as the leaders of your countries will always, and should always, put your countries first. All responsible leaders have an obligation to serve their own citizens, and the nation-state remains the best vehicle for elevating the human condition. The United States will forever be a great friend to the world, and especially to its allies.  But we can no longer be taken advantage of, or enter into a one-sided deal where the United States gets nothing in return.  As long as I hold this office, I will defend America’s interests above all else. Sovereignty … We must reject threats to sovereignty, from the Ukraine to the South China Sea.  We must uphold respect for law, respect for borders, and respect for culture, and the peaceful engagement these allow.  And just as the founders of this body intended, we must work together and confront together those who threaten us with chaos, turmoil, and terror. Yet, the progressive socialist democrats ignore our laws, have zero respect for our borders and represent the same type of clear and present danger to our “American culture” found in nations hostile to the United States. North Korea … No one has shown more contempt for other nations and for the wellbeing of their own people than the depraved regime in North Korea.  It is responsible for the starvation deaths of millions of North Koreans, and for the imprisonment, torture, killing, and oppression of countless more.  We were all witness to the regime's deadly abuse when an innocent American college student, Otto Warmbier, was returned to America only to die a few days later.  We saw it in the assassination of the dictator's brother using banned nerve agents in an international airport.  We know it kidnapped a sweet 13-year-old Japanese girl from a beach in her own country to enslave her as a language tutor for North Korea's spies. If this is not twisted enough, now North Korea's reckless pursuit of nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles threatens the entire world with unthinkable loss of human life.   It is an outrage that some nations would not only trade with such a regime, but would arm, supply, and financially support a country that imperils the world with nuclear conflict.  No nation on earth has an interest in seeing this band of criminals arm itself with nuclear weapons and missiles. The United States has great strength and patience, but if it is forced to defend itself or its allies, we will have no choice but to totally destroy North Korea.  Rocket Man is on a suicide mission for himself and for his regime.  The United States is ready, willing and able, but hopefully this will not be necessary.  That’s what the United Nations is all about; that’s what the United Nations is for.  Let’s see how they do. It is time for North Korea to realize that the denuclearization is its only acceptable future.  The United Nations Security Council recently held two unanimous 15-0 votes adopting hard-hitting resolutions against North Korea, and I want to thank China and Russia for joining the vote to impose sanctions, along with all of the other members of the Security Council.  Thank you to all involved. Iran … But we must do much more.  It is time for all nations to work together to isolate the Kim regime until it ceases its hostile behavior. We face this decision not only in North Korea.  It is far past time for the nations of the world to confront another reckless regime -- one that speaks openly of mass murder, vowing death to America, destruction to Israel, and ruin for many leaders and nations in this room.   The Iranian government masks a corrupt dictatorship behind the false guise of a democracy.  It has turned a wealthy country with a rich history and culture into an economically depleted rogue state whose chief exports are violence, bloodshed, and chaos.  The longest-suffering victims of Iran's leaders are, in fact, its own people. Rather than use its resources to improve Iranian lives, its oil profits go to fund Hezbollah and other terrorists that kill innocent Muslims and attack their peaceful Arab and Israeli neighbors.  This wealth, which rightly belongs to Iran's people, also goes to shore up Bashar al-Assad's dictatorship, fuel Yemen's civil war, and undermine peace throughout the entire Middle East.  We cannot let a murderous regime continue these destabilizing activities while building dangerous missiles, and we cannot abide by an agreement if it provides cover for the eventual construction of a nuclear program.  (Applause.)  The Iran Deal was one of the worst and most one-sided transactions the United States has ever entered into.  Frankly, that deal is an embarrassment to the United States, and I don’t think you’ve heard the last of it -- believe me.   It is time for the entire world to join us in demanding that Iran's government end its pursuit of death and destruction.  It is time for the regime to free all Americans and citizens of other nations that they have unjustly detained.  And above all, Iran's government must stop supporting terrorists, begin serving its own people, and respect the sovereign rights of its neighbors. The entire world understands that the good people of Iran want change, and, other than the vast military power of the United States, that Iran's people are what their leaders fear the most.  This is what causes the regime to restrict Internet access, tear down satellite dishes, shoot unarmed student protestors, and imprison political reformers. Oppressive regimes cannot endure forever, and the day will come when the Iranian people will face a choice.  Will they continue down the path of poverty, bloodshed, and terror?  Or will the Iranian people return to the nation's proud roots as a center of civilization, culture, and wealth where their people can be happy and prosperous once again?  He actually said, “radical Islamic terrorism” … We will stop radical Islamic terrorism because we cannot allow it to tear up our nation, and indeed to tear up the entire world.  We must deny the terrorists safe haven, transit, funding, and any form of support for their vile and sinister ideology.  We must drive them out of our nations.  It is time to expose and hold responsible those countries who support and finance terror groups like al Qaeda, Hezbollah, the Taliban and others that slaughter innocent people. We must come to terms with our alleged friends, like the Saudis and the Pakistanis who fund terror through the back door; whether to prevent the overthrow of their regimes or as a religious exercise. Other nations need to take responsibility for refugees and resettle them in their native regions …  The United States is a compassionate nation and has spent billions and billions of dollars in helping to support this effort.  We seek an approach to refugee resettlement that is designed to help these horribly treated people, and which enables their eventual return to their home countries, to be part of the rebuilding process. For the cost of resettling one refugee in the United States, we can assist more than 10 in their home region.  Out of the goodness of our hearts, we offer financial assistance to hosting countries in the region, and we support recent agreements of the G20 nations that will seek to host refugees as close to their home countries as possible.  This is the safe, responsible, and humanitarian approach. The cost of unchecked immigration … For decades, the United States has dealt with migration challenges here in the Western Hemisphere.  We have learned that, over the long term, uncontrolled migration is deeply unfair to both the sending and the receiving countries. For the sending countries, it reduces domestic pressure to pursue needed political and economic reform, and drains them of the human capital necessary to motivate and implement those reforms. For the receiving countries, the substantial costs of uncontrolled migration are borne overwhelmingly by low-income citizens whose concerns are often ignored by both media and government. ‘' Like a hoard of locusts, illiterate, impoverished, diseased, and unskilled illegal aliens have destroyed our social safety systems and overtaxed our benevolent social programs. They have decimated the markets for unskilled labor – and even some artisanal industries such as construction. They have overwhelmed our emergency rooms and many have committed unspeakable criminal acts. Yet, the progressive socialist democrats embrace them as potential voters and the GOP sees a source of cheap labor. In this case, I would posit that it is the corrupt politicians and their respective parties that are out of control and should be checked. Blunt talk … In some cases, states that seek to subvert this institution's noble aims have hijacked the very systems that are supposed to advance them.  For example, it is a massive source of embarrassment to the United Nations that some governments with egregious human rights records sit on the U.N. Human Rights Council.  The United States is one out of 193 countries in the United Nations, and yet we pay 22 percent of the entire budget and more.  In fact, we pay far more than anybody realizes.  The United States bears an unfair cost burden, but, to be fair, if it could actually accomplish all of its stated goals, especially the goal of peace, this investment would easily be well worth it. Intervention in Venezuela … We have also imposed tough, calibrated sanctions on the socialist Maduro regime in Venezuela, which has brought a once thriving nation to the brink of total collapse. The socialist dictatorship of Nicolas Maduro has inflicted terrible pain and suffering on the good people of that country.  This corrupt regime destroyed a prosperous nation by imposing a failed ideology that has produced poverty and misery everywhere it has been tried.  To make matters worse, Maduro has defied his own people, stealing power from their elected representatives to preserve his disastrous rule. The Venezuelan people are starving and their country is collapsing.  Their democratic institutions are being destroyed.  This situation is completely unacceptable and we cannot stand by and watch. As a responsible neighbor and friend, we and all others have a goal.  That goal is to help them regain their freedom, recover their country, and restore their democracy.  I would like to thank leaders in this room for condemning the regime and providing vital support to the Venezuelan people. The United States has taken important steps to hold the regime accountable.  We are prepared to take further action if the government of Venezuela persists on its path to impose authoritarian rule on the Venezuelan people.’ Many people might ask why, after all the talk about sovereignty, the United States would consider intervening in Venezuela? Venezuela has one of the largest reserves of oil in the world and that if this wealth were to be harnessed by a regime hostile to the United States it would not be a good thing. Socialism … The problem in Venezuela is not that socialism has been poorly implemented, but that socialism has been faithfully implemented. From the Soviet Union to Cuba to Venezuela, wherever true socialism or communism has been adopted, it has delivered anguish and devastation and failure.  Those who preach the tenets of these discredited ideologies only contribute to the continued suffering of the people who live under these cruel systems.  Yet, this is exactly what the progressive socialist democrats, especially Bernie Sander, Elizabeth Warren, and the despicable Hillary Clinton want to implement in the United States.  Patriotism/Nationalism … In remembering the great victory that led to this body's founding, we must never forget that those heroes who fought against evil also fought for the nations that they loved.  Patriotism led the Poles to die to save Poland, the French to fight for a free France, and the Brits to stand strong for Britain.  Today, if we do not invest ourselves, our hearts, and our minds in our nations, if we will not build strong families, safe communities, and healthy societies for ourselves, no one can do it for us.  If we forget that the greatest danger to America, its constitution, and the American way of life does not come from external sources, but from those who do not wish us well and have infiltrated our government, our institutions, and our lives and use our laws against us, we are surely doomed. The greatness of the United States … The United States of America has been among the greatest forces for good in the history of the world, and the greatest defenders of sovereignty, security, and prosperity for all.  Now we are calling for a great reawakening of nations, for the revival of their spirits, their pride, their people, and their patriotism.  Thank you.  God bless you.  God bless the nations of the world.  And God bless the United States of America.  Thank you very much.  (Applause <Source: Remarks by President Trump to the 72nd Session of the United Nations General Assembly | whitehouse.gov>

The Bottom Line …

This was Trump’s best speech yet. But, as we saw with former President Barrack Obama, words are not action and intent is not commitment. Let us wait to see if President Trump has the power of his spoken convictions or will hell sell out and become the moderate RINO he appears to be.

We are just a little bit less screwed after the delivery of this address to the United Nations.

-- steve

ENOUGH!

We are infinitesimally small and yet our politicians continue to blow everything up into an existential crisis that can only be solved by giving the politicians more money and more political power.

Money and power which they speed freely to purchase more political power and to raise more campaign funds. Sometimes creating an issue out of thin air so both sides can fundraise for and against.

There are few principled men in government today, and even they play the political game.

We are truly screwed.

-- steve

JANE FONDA AT THE 2017 EMMYS – STILL A TRAITOR

Progressive socialist Democrats Jane Fonda, Dolly Parton, and Lily Tomlin spoofed their 1980 movie Nine to Five as a way of not so subtly denigrating President Donald Trump …

FONDA: “Back in 1980, in that movie, we refused to be controlled by a sexist, egotistical, lying, hypocritical bigot.”

TOMLIN: “And in 2017, we still refuse to be controlled by a sexist, egotistical, lying, hypocritical bigot.”

Let us not forget that Jane Fonda provided material aid and comfort to our enemies during a time of war. In fact, her specific actions were alleged to have resulted in the continuing torture of some of the prisoners held at the so-called Hanoi Hilton where Senator John McCain was held and horribly tortured.

In July 1972, during the waning days of U.S. military involvement in Vietnam, actress Jane Fonda incurred the enmity of untold thousands of Vietnam veterans and their families (as well as service members for generations to come) when she arrived in Hanoi, North Vietnam, and began a two-week tour of the country. Fonda visited North Vietnamese villages, hospitals, schools, and factories damaged in the war, weaving her comments about what she observed at those sites with denunciations of U.S. military policy in recordings broadcast as propaganda to U.S. servicemen via Radio Hanoi; met with international visitors and reporters who were also in North Vietnam; spent about an hour chatting with seven U.S. POWs at a meeting arranged by her North Vietnamese guides; and posed for photographs at an antiaircraft emplacement set up in a rural area just outside Hanoi.

NEVER FORGET THAT THIS TRAITOROUS BITCH SHOULD HAVE BEEN TREATED LIKE THE TREASONOUS SNAKE SHE WAS AND IS.

PRIVACY: WHO WILL OWN YOUR SHOPPING LIST OR LIVING CONDITIONS?

 

Just as your “smart” television records user statistics about your viewing habits, is it so inconceivable that your refrigerator might record your purchasing habits?

I have often asked, do you own that computer if both the hardware and software vendors have almost unfettered access to your system under the guise of keeping you safe from hackers (even though you may have a third-party anti-malware program) or improving the so-called “customer experience.”

Now, with the emergence of the IoT (Internet of Things), we can ask the very same thing of those who make our appliances and other electronic devices.

It all comes down to three factors: privacy, convenience, and laziness …

Most people claim that they don’t care if their whiz-bang wonder device is collecting their information as long as they are entertained, educated, or euthanized. That is until they see how this information might be combined, manipulated, and re-purposed to affect your insurance premiums, credit interest rates, or even future rentals of apartments or vehicles. Or, in an extreme case, whether or not you will receive that life-saving medical treatment because you appear to have a sub-par lifestyle. What happens to the medical information accessed by their makers? With one device, comes a built-in cellular connection that allows the vendor or their representative to track your machine usage and data – to be used to demonstrate compliance with insurance requirements (both private and Medicare) and to collect research-quality data that can be sold to device-makers, universities, and other researchers. And, even more troublesome, the system has two-way communications that allow clinicians to adjust operational parameters that can have a significant effect on your wellbeing. You are not told, except in general terms, what data is being collected, when it is being collected, and what is being done with your specific data.

The real demon: that unilateral click-install contract and the unwillingness of heavily-lobbied politicians to put forth rational privacy laws …

Most people accept the unilateral conditions of those users’ agreements, terms of service, and privacy statements, all written in a curious form of readable English that absolves the vendor of an intentional or unintentional harm, and conveys the right to monitor your data for various and sundry purposes. Of course, you are assured that your privacy will be respected because your name and account number will not be included with any data being transferred or sold to third-parties. However, researchers have demonstrated that anonymous data with simple location information could be used to isolate and identify users when combined with other databases.

Hacked appliances …

Beyond the capture of user information lies the potential ability to manipulate device performance, possibly to the point of being able to weaponize your appliances. How many people would know that someone turned off their refrigerator for a long enough period to allow food to spoil and then turned on the power to hide the dirty deed? All the while knowing nobody was home by monitoring your home temperature and electricity usage. Or simply allowing a device to ignore its internal safeguards and operate beyond safe parameters where devices may overheat and burst into flame.

Is it possible for a device like the ubiquitous floor-cleaning Roomba robot to map the rooms of your home and transmit them to the iRobot company? Possibly containing sensors that identify other interment-enabled or Bluetooth-connected devices? The answer to the first question is “YES,” it is collecting data. The answer to the second question is “probably not yet.”

High-end models of Roomba, iRobot’s robotic vacuum, collect data as they clean, identifying the locations of your walls and furniture. This helps them avoid crashing into your couch, but it also creates a map of your home that iRobot could share with Amazon, Apple or Google. That prospect stirred some alarm when Reuters quoted iRobot’s chief executive, Colin Angle, saying that a deal could come in the next two years. But iRobot disputed that account, saying in a statement on Tuesday: “We have not formed any plans to sell data.” Reuters issued a correction, saying Mr. Angle was hoping to share the maps free with customer consent, not sell them. <Source>

Can you imagine the police subpoenaing the information to check if there might be any contraband? Or an insurance company to verify your claim after an alleged loss?

Protecting the government first …

Internet of Things (IoT) Cybersecurity Improvement Act of 2017  Specifically, the Internet of Things (IoT) Cybersecurity Improvement Act of 2017 would: Require vendors of Internet-connected devices purchased by the federal government ensure their devices are patchable, rely on industry-standard protocols, do not use hard-coded passwords, and do not contain any known security vulnerabilities. Direct the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to develop alternative network-level security requirements for devices with limited data processing and software functionality. Direct the Department of Homeland Security’s National Protection and Programs Directorate to issue guidelines regarding cybersecurity coordinated vulnerability disclosure policies to be required by contractors providing connected devices to the U.S. Government. Exempt cybersecurity researchers engaging in good-faith research from liability under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act and the Digital Millennium Copyright Act when in engaged in research pursuant to adopted coordinated vulnerability disclosure guidelines. Require each executive agency to inventory all Internet-connected devices in use by the agency. The Press Release  The Proposed Legislation

Bottom line …

Will opening that box serve as a unilateral contract that will allow the manufacturer to collect data from your appliances “with your consent” and which could be available to anyone with a court order or subpoena? Or even worse, can an ill-engineered device open a direct pathway into your home network that exists behind a protective firewall.

How far will people allow the digital age to intrude into their private lives is unknown? But, it appears that most people are lazy enough not to care unless disaster follows.

We are so screwed.

-- steve

CLIMATE CHANGE: NO ARGUING WITH THE MAN WHO HAS ALREADY MADE UP HIS MIND ...

I have often wondered how someone can be made to believe that the science of climate change has been settled when there are so many faults with the climate data, the models used to predict the outcomes of climate change, and the near-religious zeal with which clueless people insist man can prevail over natural law.

Enter Leo Tolstoy, one of the greatest writers of all time …

And from the teachings of behavioral economists and anthropologists …

It appears that many a scientist would rather select a research project that garners the respect and admiration of his peers, rather than selecting a research project that may not be funded for challenging the orthodoxy of the day and risking being disinvited to the important conferences and functions in his field. That many would rather be among the herd in being wrong than be individually right and forced to defend their position.

Bottom line …

I cringe every time I hear someone claim that 97% of scientists agree and that there is a consensus that global warming is a planetary emergency requiring us to surrender our freedoms and the fruits of our labor for the greater good – which appears to be little more than the destruction of capitalism in favor of socialism.

First of all, science is not a process of consensus. Secondly, you do not count scientific papers as being valid science – especially when the majority of funding is provided to those institutions, projects, and scientists who support the politicians who are seeking increased and perpetual political power; and a method of manipulating billions of unaccountable tax dollars. Thirdly, if you falsify only one thing in a theory, you need to provide an alternative theory.  Many of the assumptions and manipulation of the data and programs have been falsified – but as long as they can be spun by politicians and a complicit or ignorant media, the misinformation or even disinformation will continue to be disseminated.

We are so screwed.

-- steve

A NEW NAME FOR POLITICAL CORRUPTION: "PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS"

There is little or no doubt in my mind that Elon Musk is a genius, especially when it comes to keeping his companies afloat using government contracts, grants, subsidies, and tax breaks. It also appears that Musk is both agnostic and apolitical when it comes to lobbying and contributions – everyone with influence can get a piece of the action, no doubt scientifically managed so that the campaign contribution correlates with and is proportional to the amount of influence you wield as a candidate.

How many people know that Musk’s SpaceX Corporation could be given a virtual monopoly over space launches?

It appears that hidden in the bowels of House Resolution H.R.2810, known as the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018, is Sec. 1615. Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle modernization and sustainment of assured access to space.

SEC. 1615. Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle modernization and sustainment of assured access to space. (a) Development.— (1) EVOLVED EXPENDABLE LAUNCH VEHICLE.—Using funds described in paragraph (3), the Secretary of Defense may only obligate or expend funds to carry out the evolved expendable launch vehicle program to— (A) develop a domestic rocket propulsion system to replace non-allied space launch engines; (B) develop the necessary interfaces to, or integration of, such domestic rocket propulsion system with an existing or new launch vehicle; (C) develop capabilities necessary to enable commercially available space launch vehicles or infrastructure to meet any requirements that are unique to national security space missions to meet the assured access to space requirements pursuant to section 2273 of title 10, United States Code, with respect to only— (i) modifications to such vehicles required for national security space missions, including— (I) certification and compliance of such vehicles for use in national security space missions; (II) fairings necessary for the launch of national security space payloads to orbit; and (III) other upgrades to meet performance, reliability, and orbital requirements that cannot otherwise be met through the use of commercially available launch vehicles; and (ii) the development of infrastructure unique to national security space missions, such as infrastructure for the use of heavy launch vehicles, including— (I) facilities and equipment for the vertical integration of payloads; (II) secure facilities for the processing of classified payloads; and (III) other facilities and equipment, including ground systems and expanded capabilities, unique to national security space launches and the launch of national security payloads; (D) conduct activities to modernize and improve existing certified launch vehicles, or existing launch vehicles previously contracted for use by the Air Force, including restarting a dormant supply chain, and infrastructure to increase the cost effectiveness of the launch system; (E) certify new, modified, or existing launch vehicle systems; or (F) develop, design, and integrate parts for new launch vehicle systems to the extent such parts are developed primarily for national security use. (2) PROHIBITION.—Except as provided in this section, none of the funds described in paragraph (3) shall be obligated or expended for the evolved expendable launch vehicle program, including the development of new launch vehicles under such program. (3) FUNDS DESCRIBED.—The funds described in this paragraph are the funds authorized to be appropriated by this Act or otherwise made available for fiscal year 2018 for research, development, test, and evaluation, Air Force, for the evolved expendable launch vehicle program. (b) Other authorities.—Nothing in this section shall affect or prohibit the Secretary from procuring launch services of evolved expendable launch vehicle launch systems, including with respect to any associated operation and maintenance of capabilities and infrastructure relating to such systems. (c) Notification.—Not later than 30 days before any date on which the Secretary publishes a draft or final request for proposals, or obligates funds, for the development under subsection (a)(1), the Secretary shall notify the congressional defense committees of such proposed draft or final request for proposals or proposed obligation, as the case may be. If such proposed draft or final request for proposals or proposed obligation relates to intelligence requirements, the Secretary shall also notify the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of the House of Representatives and the Select Committee on Intelligence of the Senate. (d) Assessment.—Not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in coordination with the Director of Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation, shall submit to the congressional defense committees, the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of the House of Representatives, and the Select Committee on Intelligence of the Senate a report containing an assessment of the most cost-effective method to meet the assured access to space requirements pursuant to section 2273 of title 10, United States Code, with respect to each of the following periods: (1) The five-year period beginning on the date of the report. (2) The 10-year period beginning on the date of the report. (3) The period consisting of the full lifecycle of the evolved expendable launch vehicle program. (e) Rocket propulsion system defined.—In this section, the term “rocket propulsion system” means, with respect to the development authorized by subsection (a)(1), a main booster, first-stage rocket engine (including such an engine using kerosene or methane-based or other propellant) or motor. The term does not include a launch vehicle, an upper stage, a strap-on motor, or related infrastructure.

What Section (2) appears to do is to prevent the United States Air Force and other entities from developing any “new launch vehicles” for ten years by curtailing its funding for such development.

I can understand the government’s distaste for the optics of using Russian RD-180 engines in Atlas V launch vehicles as well as relying on a hostile foreign power to meet national defense needs. But, I also understand that it would not be cost-effective to re-design and re-fit a brand new engine into the aging Atlas V launch vehicle.

Which apparently leaves Musk’s SpaceX Falcon 9 as the single alternative to a more expensive engine design and refit of the Atlas 5. Hence, an implied monopoly for ten years – and a disastrous limitation of our national defense posture. For those who point out that SpaceX’s competition, the United Launch Alliance, may also represent a viable solution, consider that their Delta IV launch vehicle is obsolete and may not be upgradable.

Musk, crony capitalism and government favoritism? …

From the Daily Caller … Since 2003, political chameleon Musk has contributed $258,350 to Democrats and $261,300 to Republicans, public records show. Musk was a contributor this past election season to Marco Rubio and Lindsey Graham, besides contributing to Hillary to the max. But crony capitalist political favoritism can involve more than taxpayer-funded grants, special interest tax breaks, discounted loans, and tax credits and rebates to customers of the favorites. On June 28, 2015, one of Musk’s SpaceX rockets blew up two minutes after take-off, destroying millions in cargo payload headed for orbit. When an Antares rocket launched in October, 2014 by Musk competitor Orbital, it experienced a catastrophic failure causing destruction of a NASA payload worth $51 million, NASA conducted an investigation into the cause of the failure, and issued an executive summary report within one year. But after the June 28 failure of the SpaceX flight, NASA announced that it “is not required to complete a formal final report or public summary” of [of the Space X failure] since the rocket was on “an FAA licensed flight.” But the Antares launch failure also involved an FAA-licensed flight. It was also part of the same NASA Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) program as the failed 2015 SpaceX launch.

Bottom line …

It would be insane for our government to restrict the development of space vehicles and propulsion systems in favor of a restrictive so-called public-private partnership with any company that appears to be built on the basis of political favoritism.

Elon Musk is the quintessential chameleon, using his lobbyists and consultants to conger up new, wonderful, and magical things with fanciful predictions and projections. Considering that Musk’s Tesla outfit never returned a profit – with the exception of selling government pollution indulgences, and bailed out his cousin who ran SolarCity, I see nothing that would recommend giving Musk and SpaceX a virtual monopoly on space launches for the next ten years.

Pentagon contracting and program management is riddled with waste, fraud, and abuse – but in the end, they represent the only viable alternative to Musk’s operation. I say remove this restrictive section from this appropriations bill and let all military and civilian contractors compete for the business.

We are so screwed.

-- steve

JERRY POURNELLE

On September 8, 2017, Jerry Pournelle died in his sleep at 84 …

Most people may recognize Pournelle as an award-winning master of science fiction, a technologist, and a futurist  And most are unaware that it really was Dr. Pournelle; having earned his PhD from the the University of Washington in political science in March 1964 and whose dissertation is titled "The American political continuum; an examination of the validity of the left-right model as an instrument for studying contemporary American political 'isms'". His undergraduate degrees, both his masters and his bachelor's degrees were in psychology.

A kind, entertaining curmudgeonly sort who did not suffer fools lightly but was gracious nevertheless. 

While I could go on-and-on about his awards, accomplishments, and his extraordinary life, I will leave you with a sample of his clear-eyed observation known colloquially as Pournelle's law of Bureaucracy …

“In any bureaucracy, the people devoted to the benefit of the bureaucracy itself always get in control, and those dedicated to the goals the bureaucracy is supposed to accomplish have less and less influence, and sometimes are eliminated entirely.” He formalized it somewhat later as … “In any bureaucratic organization there will be two kinds of people: those who work to further the actual goals of the organization, and those who work for the organization itself.” ~ Jerry Pournelle (August 7, 1933 – September 8, 2017)

The memorial service will be held at noon, Saturday, September 16, 2017, at St. Francis De Sales Church located at 13370 Valleyheart Dr, Sherman Oaks, CA 91423. All are welcome.

Bottom line …

It is a shame when great men pass without much fanfare or fuss. Jerry wasn’t a politician or a celebrity (unless you consider the smaller science fiction and techie worlds) deserving of wall-to-wall media attention, at least for a few days.

You might want to see some of Jerry’s work, wit, and wisdom at https://www.jerrypournelle.com/.

DONALD TRUMP: THE ART OF THE SCHLEMIEL (UPDATED)

UPDATE: TRUMP NOW DENIES STRIKING A DEAL WITH THE DEMOCRATS AND SAYS THAT THERE WILL BE A WALL.

President Donald Trump fired back at congressional Democrats on Thursday morning after Democrats said the two sides agreed Wednesday night to work together on a legislative package to address the status of young unauthorized immigrants.

Democrats claimed the agreement would include protections for the young immigrants called Dreamers and border-security measures, though not funding for a border wall. But press secretary Sarah Sanders immediately disputed that characterization of the discussion as did the president on Thursday morning.

The president tweeted Thursday that no agreement was reached on the Obama-era executive action, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), which Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced last week is being rescinded.  

 No deal was made last night on DACA. Massive border security would have to be agreed to in exchange for consent. Would be subject to vote.  Trump made special mention of his proposal to build a border wall with Mexico, one of his signature promises during the election.

Unfortunately, this is simply an illustration of why Trump is not a man of his word and you cannot take anything he says at face value.

Original post ...  

SCHLEMIEL: A Yiddish term for a stupid or backwards person.

Sometimes the truth is right before your very eyes and the emperor is indeed naked and has no new clothes …

In spite of the political pundits loudly claiming that President Donald Trump is playing multi-dimensional chess that is incomprehensible to mere mortals, I am of the mind that Donald Trump is managing his presidency like he managed the Trump Organization: loosey-goosey with a cast of questionable sycophantic characters who extoll his virtues and positions lest they find themselves being publicly attacked or worse, on the outside looking in at the people picking up their reward for going along to getting along.

How the hell can Trump embrace those who would be presiding over his impeachment for phony crimes if they held congressional majorities. Something they may well have if Trump keeps dancing with the devil and ignoring the campaign promises that got him elected? It just may be that the very people who elected him may decide that they will allow the progressive socialist Democrats to take power in the 2018 congressional election cycle and, if there is any vestige of our nation left, recapture Congress and the Presidency in 2020.

It appears that President Donald Trump has ignored the Constitution of the United States and is supporting the political position of the progressive socialist democrats. Looking more like Jeb Bush or Marco Rubio on immigration. You remember them: “Low-energy” Bush and “Small Marco” – two of the pro-Amnesty presidential candidates he campaigned against?

How could he?

BREAKING: Schumer, Pelosi announce deal with Trump on Dreamers

Democratic leaders emerged from a dinner meeting Wednesday night with President Trump to say they had worked out a deal to grant permanent protections to young illegal immigrants — without having to accept funding for the president’s proposed border wall.

Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi said Mr. Trump agreed to move quickly on a bill that would “enshrine” the protections of the Obama-era DACA program — a tentative deportation amnesty — into law.

The White House, in its own statement, said the dinner covered DACA, but it did not mention a final deal. Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders took to Twitter after the Schumer-Pelosi statement to deny that the border wall, a key promise from Mr. Trump’s presidential campaign, was sacrificed.

“While DACA and border security were both discussed, excluding the wall was certainly not agreed to,” she wrote on her Twitter account. Nevertheless, the Democrats said otherwise.

“We had a very productive meeting at the White House with the President,” Mr. Schumer and Mrs. Pelosi said in a joint statement after the dinner. “The discussion focused on DACA. We agreed to enshrine the protections of DACA into law quickly, and to work out a package of border security, excluding the wall, that’s acceptable to both sides.”

It’s also not clear what the DACA-like protections would mean. Democrats say it should include a full pathway to citizenship, while some Republicans counter that it should mean a legal status short of citizenship.

The deal, if it comes to fruition, would be the second major bargain Mr. Trump has cut directly with the two Democratic leaders, undercutting the negotiating position of his own party’s leaders in Congress.

Last week, he agreed to a large debt and spending bill that deepened the federal debt and sped relief money to victims of Hurricanes Harvey and Irma, adding the $15 billion price tag to this year’s deepening deficit.

Mr. Trump later reportedly raved to the Democratic leaders about the good press they got for striking a bargain — a noted change from the poor news coverage the president has received for working with Republicans early in his administration.

Read more: Chuck Schumer, Nancy Pelosi announce deal with Trump to protect young immigrants - Washington Times

Bottom line …

What about the definition of children – “To apply for DACA, immigrants have to have come to the US before 2007, and have been 15 or younger when they arrived and younger than 31 when DACA was created in June 2012. They had to have a nearly spotless criminal record and be enrolled in high school or have a high school diploma or equivalent.” But then again, under Obamacare, you are a child and can remain on your parent’s insurance until you are 26.

What about our children?

• Aren’t they dreamers?
• Don’t they deserve to be immune from the law?
• What about splitting up American families when one or more parents goes to jail for a crime they committed?
• But worst of all, what about the damages they suffered when entire school systems were reconfigured for those who did not speak English or who had no allegiance to the United States or who demanded that their culture be celebrated over American culture?

It appears that President Trump is following in the footsteps of that other populist Republican who claimed he was above political parties and represented the people. The one that continued the destruction of the formerly golden state of California. The one that gave us historic tax increases. The one who refused to place Republicans in positions of power – appointing for his chief of staff a long-term lesbian progressive socialist Democrat who served the previously recalled Governor as his chief of staff. The one that cut deals in order to generate some type of action that could be touted in the media. At least former Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger did not hold mass cultist rallies and was unafraid to shake hands. AND, WE ALL KNOW WHAT SCHWARZENEGGER DID TO CALIFORNIA. Even going so far to commute the sentence of a murderous thug who happened to be the son of a prominent progressive socialist Democrat as a political favor.

Trump has zero legislative successes – it is all done with the smoke and mirrors of executive orders which can be rescinded in a heartbeat by the next progressive that holds office.

The truth is that Donald Trump is winging it just like Barack Obama. Yes, he kept Hillary out of the White House and nominated a conservative judge to the Supreme Court, but those should not be the only credentials for the leader of the United States.

We are so screwed.

-- steve

-- steve

 

WHY IS NOBODY TAKING HILLARY CLINTON, JAMES COMEY, AND THE USUAL SUSPECTS BEFORE A GRAND JURY?

By most published reports, Attorney General Jeff Sessions is an honest man, a conservative man, a thoughtful man, and a patriot. But nobody appears to regard the former Senator as a person predisposed to take unilateral action to uphold his oath of office. A Senate-type man of collegiality, consensus, and respect for the opposition. A man unlikely to roil the waters and make waves. Already he appears to have been emasculated by the President, the media, and the evildoers.

Even if one can give him credit for recusing himself from the Russian investigation, there is no such credit to be found in not managing his department and the FBI. There is no credit for not ordering his minions to cooperate with Congress rather than continue the stonewalling and legal fights of the Obama era. ‘'

And, there is certainly no credit in not winding up those never-ending kick the can down the road allegedly “ongoing” investigations into real wrongdoing in the various scandals like Fast and Furious, where the Obama people provided guns to Mexican drug cartels to influence domestic gun control policy. Like the IRS scandal which denied tax-exempt status to conservative organizations that may have used their donations to mount opposition campaigns in a presidential election cycle. Like the Benghazi affair that allegedly was an attempt to cover-up illegal and unconstitutional covert gun-running scheme that armed Islamic militants with military-grade weapons at the behest of Hillary Clinton and her personal war in the region. And, so much, much more. But what puzzles me most, is why Attorney General Jeff Sessions is not investigating former FBI Director James Comey and the former Attorney General Loretta Lynch.

Consider the allegations against President Donald Trump and various members of the Trump organization …

(1)  The allegations of “collusion” with the Russians arose from a specious document commissioned and paid for by someone promoting the Hillary Clinton presidency. The document contains wild and unverifiable allegations that are prima facie false and almost unbelievable. Yet, this documents was used to commission an FBI investigation and was distributed to government agencies who leaked the document to the media. A corrupt and biased media whose spin was that candidate Donald Trump had colluded with the Russians to hack Hillary Clinton’s email server – which was unsecured, illegal, and whose use for classified information was a clear violation of our espionage laws – and the Democratic National Committee email server.

(2)  The allegations that the Russians “hacked” the DNC server was never an official finding because the DNC refused the FBI request to forensically investigate the server and its contents. The finding was produced by a private company whose allegiance was to the party paying the bills, the DNC. There are significant questions about the company’s competency in conducting a forensic investigation involving foreign state actors. Julian Assange, the visible head of WikiLeaks has never been caught in a lie suggests that the “hack” did not come from the Russians, but from a DNC insider.

(3)  Congressional Democrats are slow-walking any investigations into these serious issues and deficiencies, incredibility while pursuing an ongoing campaign against Donald Trump and his campaign associates.

(4)  Former FBI Director James Comey, himself guilty of leaking notes (created on government time, using government materials, and belonging to the government) on a meeting with President Trump is a clear red flag indicator. Comey has admitted to the leak in front of Congress and suggested that his motive was to bring about the appointment of a special prosecutor to investigate the Trump/Russia affair. Never once suggesting that a special prosecutor be named to investigate the serious Clinton violations of the Espionage Act, providing classified documents to people without the proper clearance, staff members who transferred classified information from secure sources to personal computers, the appearance of selling influence for donations to the Clinton Foundation, the wanton destruction of government documents and property, as well as various other criminal activities. 

(5)  Robert Mueller, the appointed special counsel, was the former Director of the FBI, acting Attorney General of the United States, and a mentor and good friend to James Comey; who should be classified, at the very least, as a person of interest or co-conspirator. One wonders why Mueller, whose apparent allegiance may be to the Department of Justice and the FBI rather than to the country whose constitution he swore to support and defend. Already Mueller is using the tactics of a mob boss – going after the families of those under investigation to pressure them into rolling over on others or pleading guilty to “some” technical or minor criminal violation to justify the purpose, time and expense of the special prosecutor. There appears to be few limits on the time, scope, or purpose of the Mueller investigation – either by design or Department of Justice malfeasance.

(6)  Then there is the curious matter of Debbie Wasserman Shultz. As the head of the DNC, it was she who prevented the FBI from investigating the DNC email server. It was Debbie Wasserman Schultz who was forced to resign her position when it was found that the DNC was providing assistance to Hillary Clinton and obstructing the efforts of candidate Bernie Sanders. It is Debbie Wasserman Schultz who is associated with rogue Pakistani computer people who had access to sensitive (including classified) data for a number of Congressional Democrats. It is Shultz that tried to coerce the Capitol Police Department not to investigate the contents of a laptop used by one of the Pakistanis – first claiming the computer belonged to her office and then denying that it belonged to her office. Perhaps, the Pakistani ISI spy network infiltrated the Democrats and was the complicit party in sowing chaos in the United States. After all, these are the “friends” who hid Osama bin Laden for years – tipping him off every time U.S. authorities were targeting him and his associates.

The whole matter stinks of government corruption, collusion, and self-dealing. All apparently with the purpose of providing some linkage between President Trump and the Russians that could lead to an impeachable offense. I find it terribly ironic that nobody in Congress suggested impeaching Barack Obama for treason for giving aid and comfort to the enemy in a time of war; specifically providing Iran with access to 150 BILLION dollars, cutting secret side-deals without Congressional approval, and not holding Iran accountable for violations of their nuclear agreements.

Which brings us back to the inaction and/or ineptitude of Attorney Jeff Sessions …

I am more inclined to wonder why Attorney General Jeff Sessions is not investigating Debbie Wasserman Schultz for her protection and/or cover-up of a Pakistani spy/fraud ring as well as her actions on behalf of Hillary Clinton while acting as the head of the Democratic National Committee.

Or why Attorney General Jeff Sessions is not cleaning the Department of Justice and the FBI of radicalized pro-Obama acolytes that have been shifted from being political appointees into the protective shield of the Civil Service?

And, why Attorney General Jeff Sessions is not investigating and prosecuting those around the Clinton Foundation and  Hillary Clinton for their lawless activities?

Incompetence? Malfeasance? Orders from the President?

Bottom line …

My suspicion is that it all leads back to the Democrat National Committee and the Hillary Clinton people pursuing that age-old adage: the best defense is a good offense. “Also known as the as the strategic offensive principle of war. Generally, the idea is that proactivity (a strong offensive action) instead of a passive attitude will preoccupy the opposition and ultimately hinder its ability to mount an opposing counterattack, leading to a strategic advantage.”

As for Jeff Sessions, perhaps he should do his job without fear or favor – or resign his office.

We are so screwed.

-- steve