One Citizen Speaking

WHY THE COMMUTATION OF ROGER STONE'S SENTENCE IS A GOOD THING

Several readers have asked my opinion on President Trump’s commutation of Roger Stone’s sentence…

First, there is little or no doubt in my mind that Roger Stone is one of those self-promoting sleazy characters that always manage to attach themselves to the periphery of power to earn a living and pursue their own self-serving agenda.

Second, there is little or no doubt in my mind that Roger Stone will say or do anything to enhance his reputation and standing with the powers that be or the media.

Third, there is no doubt in my mind that the President will be excoriated in the progressive mainstream media as being corrupt and pilloried in the court of public opinion.

However, if one reads the media release, you come away with justifiable reasons why Roger Stone’s sentence was commuted – rather than pardoned – and it is expected that Stone will continue to appeal his conviction.

From the White House…

President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Grant of Clemency commuting the unjust sentence of Roger Stone, Jr. Roger Stone is a victim of the Russia Hoax that the Left and its allies in the media perpetuated for years in an attempt to undermine the Trump Presidency.  There was never any collusion between the Trump Campaign, or the Trump Administration, with Russia.  Such collusion was never anything other than a fantasy of partisans unable to accept the result of the 2016 election.  The collusion delusion spawned endless and farcical investigations, conducted at great taxpayer expense, looking for evidence that did not exist. As it became clear that these witch hunts would never bear fruit, the Special Counsel’s Office resorted to process-based charges leveled at high-profile people in an attempt to manufacture the false impression of criminality lurking below the surface.  [OCS: Roger Stone was charged with witness tampering, obstructing an official proceeding, and five counts of making false statements. None of which speaks to any collusion between Trump, the campaign, or specific individuals and Russia. These are all process crimes that would never have existed if the investigators and prosecutors followed the law and required a proper predicate for an investigation.] These charges were the product of recklessness borne of frustration and malice.This is why the out-of-control Mueller prosecutors, desperate for splashy headlines to compensate for a failed investigation, set their sights on Mr. Stone.  Roger Stone is well known for his nearly 50 years of work as a consultant for high-profile Republican politicians, including President Ronald Reagan, Senator Bob Dole, and many others.  He is also well known for his outspoken support for President Donald J. Trump and opposition to Hillary Clinton. Mr. Stone was charged by the same prosecutors from the Mueller Investigation tasked with finding evidence of collusion with Russia.  Because no such evidence exists, however, they could not charge him for any collusion-related crime.  Instead, they charged him for his conduct during their investigation.  The simple fact is that if the Special Counsel had not been pursuing an absolutely baseless investigation, Mr. Stone would not be facing time in prison. In addition to charging Mr. Stone with alleged crimes arising solely from their own improper investigation, the Mueller prosecutors also took pains to make a public and shameful spectacle of his arrest.  Mr. Stone is a 67-year-old man, with numerous medical conditions, who had never been convicted of another crime.  But rather than allow him to surrender himself, they used dozens of FBI agents with automatic weapons and tactical equipment, armored vehicles, and an amphibious unit to execute a pre-dawn raid of his home, where he was with his wife of many years.  Notably, CNN cameras were present to broadcast these events live to the world, even though they swore they were not notified—it was just a coincidence that they were there together with the FBI early in the morning. Not only was Mr. Stone charged by overzealous prosecutors pursing a case that never should have existed, and arrested in an operation that never should have been approved, but there were also serious questions about the jury in the case. The forewoman of his jury, for example, concealed the fact that she is a member of the so-called liberal “resistance” to the Trump Presidency.  In now-deleted tweets, this activist-juror vividly and openly attacked President Trump and his supporters. Mr. Stone would be put at serious medical risk in prison.  He has appealed his conviction and is seeking a new trial.  He maintains his innocence and has stated that he expects to be fully exonerated by the justice system.  Mr. Stone, like every American, deserves a fair trial and every opportunity to vindicate himself before the courts.  The President does not wish to interfere with his efforts to do so.  At this time, however, and particularly in light of the egregious facts and circumstances surrounding his unfair prosecution, arrest, and trial, the President has determined to commute his sentence.  Roger Stone has already suffered greatly.  He was treated very unfairly, as were many others in this case.  Roger Stone is now a free man! <Source>

Bottom line…

President Trump, at great cost to his favorability ratings, expended political capital to do the right thing – regardless of the personal and political cost. It is precisely this quality that I seek in a President. A President willing to stand up to his advisors, fundraisers, and the media to do what is right, not just expedient. Another example of this behavior can be seen in the relocation of our Embassy to Jerusalem, a move that angered many, both inside and outside the government.

However, the final answer to those who believe the President acted inappropriately: BARACK OBAMA, ERIC HOLDER, HILLARY CLINTON, JOHN BRENNAN, JAMES CLAPPER, JIM COMEY, ad nauseam!

We are so screwed.

-- steve

TRUMP'S TAX RETURNS: WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN?

The rulings…

Trump v. Vance: “In 2019, the New York County District Attorney’s Office—acting on behalf of a grand jury—served a subpoena duces tecum on Mazars USA, LLP, the personal accounting firm of President Donald J. Trump, for financial records relating to the President and his businesses. The President, acting in his personal capacity, sued the district attorney and Mazars in Federal District Court to enjoin enforcement of the subpoena, arguing that a sitting President enjoys absolute immunity from state criminal process under Article II and the Supremacy Clause.”

Held: "Article II and the Supremacy Clause do not categorically preclude, or require a heightened standard for, the issuance of a state criminal subpoena to a sitting President." Votes: 7 – 2.  Opinion: Roberts, Ginsberg, Breyer, Sotomayor, Kagan, Kavanaugh, and Gorsuch. Dissent: Thomas, and Alito.

Comment: The Court has indeed violated the Constitution's Supremacy Clause because a county prosecutor cannot indict a sitting president. The law is clear, “…the Supremacy Clause prohibits state judges and prosecutors from interfering with a President’s official duties, any effort to manipulate a President’s policy decisions or to retaliate against a President for official acts through the issuance of a subpoena would be an unconstitutional attempt to “influence” a superior sovereign 'exempt' from such obstacles.” Justice Alito nailed it in his dissent. The presidency has been clearly damaged by these buffoons who do not seem to understand the Constitution – or perhaps, for personal and political reasons, want to ignore it.

The entire case hinges on whether or not payments under a non-disclosure agreement are considered “improper” or “hush money” and a campaign violation. If this is the finding, civil law in America has been severely damaged as these NDAs are used each and every day as part of court settlements. If justice prevails, Vance would be sanctioned by the Courts for engaging in frivolous litigation for political purposes.

Trump v. Mazars USA, LLP: “In April 2019, three committees of the U. S. House of Representatives issued four subpoenas seeking information about the finances of President Donald J. Trump, his children, and affiliated businesses. The House Committee on Financial Services issued a subpoena to Deutsche Bank seeking any document related to account activity, due diligence, foreign transactions, business statements, debt schedules, statements of net worth, tax returns, and suspicious activity identified by Deutsche Bank. It issued a second subpoena to Capital One for similar information. The Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence issued a subpoena to Deutsche Bank that mirrored the subpoena issued by the Financial Services Committee. And the House Committee on Oversight and Reform issued a subpoena to the President’s personal accounting firm, Mazars USA, LLP, demanding information related to the President and several affiliated businesses. Although each of the committees sought overlapping sets of financial documents, each supplied different justifications for the requests, explaining that the information would help guide legislative reform in areas ranging from money laundering and terrorism to foreign involvement in U. S. elections."

Petitioners—the President in his personal capacity, along with his children and affiliated businesses—contested the subpoena issued by the Oversight Committee in the District Court for the District of Columbia (Mazars, No. 19–715) and the subpoenas issued by the Financial Services and Intelligence Committees in the Southern District of New York (Deutsche Bank, No. 19–760). In both cases, petitioners contended that the subpoenas lacked a legitimate legislative purpose and violated the separation of powers. The President did not, however, argue that any of the requested records were protected by executive privilege.

Held: "The courts below did not take adequate account of the significant separation of powers concerns implicated by congressional subpoenas for the President’s information." Votes: 6—2.  Opinion: Roberts, Ginsburg, Breyer, Sotomayor, Kagan, Gorsuch, and Kavanaugh. Dissent: Thomas and Alito.’

Comment: There is no true legislative or oversight purpose in examining the President’s papers. This is a pretext as any legitimate examination is under the purview of the Internal Revenue Service, and any legislation putting conditions on the requirement to run for the presidency would be clearly unconstitutional.

What does it mean?

As for the Supreme Court, “they” can access the data, but not now and not without further proceedings in a lower court. Considering Trump’s litigious history and court maneuvering, nothing will happen before the election, and if the GOP regains a House majority, the subpoenas will likely be quashed.  In New York, Grand Jury proceedings are secret, and violators are punished harshly.

Litigation will continue!!!

So what do “they” really want?”

Put simply, to harass and distract the President of the United States and to provide the mainstream media with enough fodder to detract from the real issue: the Democrats are running a mentally-impaired candidate who is not fit to assume the Office of the President and that their platform is shocking and disgusting to most Americans.

Most people assume that the opposition is interested in the Trump tax returns to embarrass Trump over the apparent exaggerations of his net worth over the years. Considering Trump’s pattern and practice of public statements, many of which are verifiably untrue, it is unlikely that this is a matter of concern as are his sources of income and gifts to charity -- unless that charity could be shown to benefit Trump or his immediate family.

However, other than embarrassing tidbits to be exploited by the media, it is likely that it is not Trump’s tax returns per se that they are interested in.

They are more interested in the working papers behind the tax returns; hence they have actually subpoenaed information from Trump’s accounting firm and his lead bank.

First, to discover if Trump lied on any bank application about his income or made materially false statements, which may be a federal crime. Of concern is foreign income, undeclared accounts, and profits left overseas.

Second, to discover the decision-making behind his filings, which can reveal suspect justifications for the information filed with the state and the federal government. This could include the omission of gift taxes on transactions benefiting his family, such as the undervalued sale of a property, which was then flipped for a profit.

Third, to discover relationships between individuals and organizations that may have done business with Trump. Considering that Deutsche Bank was the only lender to offer a loan to Trump after his various corporate bankruptcies and the bank has significant dealings in Russia, the opposition may attempt to make a “guilt by association” case in the mainstream media -- even though there may not be a legal basis for further investigation or prosecution. There is also the issue of alimony, which may provide hints as to the nature of Trump’s divorce settlements, which remain under Court seal.

Fourth, attempt to discover filing omissions for individuals or companies that Trump has failed to list. Considering the complexity of the returns, the number of entities involved, and the methodology of consolidations, this may take an enormous amount of time.

And, of course, all of these factors can serve as a distraction and a deterrent should Trump win re-election.

Bottom line…

The majority of the Court has crapped its pants in pandering to the mainstream media as it overlooked fidelity to the Constitution.

It should be noted that the Supreme Court rulings about tax returns, especially those for years before an individual assumed office, are a two-edged sword as investigations into prior activities can cripple a president, make them vulnerable to impeachment, and possibly force a resignation.

Whatever is produced is likely to be a large Gordian-knot since almost all of the President's ventures involve limited liability corporations with their own books, income, deduction, and details.

It angers me that Michal Cohen, the President’s former attorney, and a known liar, has not been disbarred and sued for his unethical behavior in providing false testimony and privileged information.

We are so screwed.

-- steve

OBAMA ON MOUNT RUSHMORE: THE ULTIMATE ACT OF AFFIRMATIVE ACTION

It is outrageous beyond belief that former President Barack Hussein Obama deserves a spot on Mount Rushmore in the company of great men and presidents like George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Thomas Jefferson, and Teddy Roosevelt.

That one of CNN’s resident racists, Don Lemon, suggests that “efforts at “reshaping” the nation should include a conversation about putting former President Obama on Mount Rushmore” is abhorrent.

“If they are going to put someone on Mount Rushmore, considering the history of the country, the first Black president should be front and center.” 

Why?

Because he was Black? Well, that’s not actually true, President Obama’s mother was White.

Because he was a great American? Not exactly, Obama spent much of his time disparaging and apologizing for America, denigrating our allies and emboldening our enemies. Weakening our military and “leading from behind” like a coward. In fact, one might make the case that Obama was a traitor, providing aid and comfort to an active enemy and source of state-sponsored terrorism when he paid off Iran for the “Iran Deal” photo-op. The fact that he was missing, something never explained, during the ongoing attack on Americans in Benghazi, Libya says it all.

Because he did great things for African-Americans? Other than promoting racial divisiveness, Obama did nothing to improve the lives of Americans, especially those Blacks who lived in the Democrat-governed inner cities.

Because he attempted to nationalize healthcare into a single-payer system? If you haven’t noticed, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act did not protect patients, nor was it affordable. It caused a considerable disruption that almost gutted the existing healthcare system and lead to higher premiums, deductibles, and a reduction in care.

In fact, Obama’s sole accomplishment was to lead the most corrupt administration in the modern history of the United States. Interfering with a presidential election, spying on Americans, and fostering the conditions that lead to a silent coup d ‘état against a sitting president by top members of the Obama Administration who most certainly were acting with the full knowledge and permission of Obama himself. Indeed, Obama knew what Hillary Clinton was doing. Yes, he knew what Eric Holder was doing. And yes, Obama led the way in lying to the American people.

Bottom line…

Ironically, the progressive socialist democrats who scream about the desecration or destruction of the work of graffiti artists, have nothing to say about the work of Gutzon Borglum and his son Lincoln. Hypocrites all!

Historians will likely judge Obama to be the worst president in the history of the United States. A slacker who did little or nothing that stands out as a successful legacy accomplishment. And, unlike former Presidents, most likely the most un-American of the bunch. Say what you want about the other presidents, they did not have a racist, anti-white, anti-Semite as a “spiritual mentor,” they did not pal around with domestic terrorists, and they did not openly fete Marxists and communists.

Former President Obama is not only an aberration, in my mind, but he is also an abomination.

We are so screwed.

-- steve

YEAH! SUPREME COURT SAYS NO ROBOCALLS TO MOBILE DEVICES

On July 6, 2020, the United States Supreme Court rendered an opinion on Political Consultants v. American People which was a case designed to allow for unlimited robocalling to mobile devices, especially communications of a political nature…

In a victory for “We the People,” who are tired of constant interruptions on our mobile devices, the ban on robocalls to mobile devices stands. Not that it means much to the miscreants, fraudsters, and spammers operating outside our country and those who look at FCC/FTC fines as just another cost of doing business. Insulating an organization’s assets from seizure with a byzantine arrangement of corporate entities and trusts. Even previously permissible robocalls to collect federal debts are disallowed.

The ruling…

The court’s had six justices agreeing that an exemption for debt collection was impermissible as a “content-based restriction,” with seven justices agreed that the remedy was to sever the offending restriction and keeping the general restriction against robocalls to mobile devices intact. However, two justices, Gorsuch and Thomas, thought the entire robocall ban should have been struck down. “As a result, plaintiffs still may not make political robocalls to cell phones, but their speech is now treated equally with debt-collection speech. The judgment of the U. S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit is affirmed.” Like good liberals who want to keep and expand federal power, Justices Breyer, Ginsburg, and  Kagan dissented, saying they thought the government had justified special treatment for federal debt collectors. For those wish to read the Court’s opinion, it can be found at its <Source.>

Bottom line…

Look for Congress to create a new law allowing unlimited political robocalls in the future. For the 2020 election, look for robocalls from campaigns and PACs which will leave the political arena shortly after the campaign.

Of course, objectional texts will still arrive.

The original question…

WILLIAM P. BARR, ATTORNEY GENERAL; FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION, PETITIONERS v. AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF POLITICAL CONSULTANTS, INC., ET AL. QUESTION PRESENTED The Telephone Consumer Protection Act of 1991 generally prohibits the use of any “automatic telephone dialing system or an artificial or prerecorded voice” to “make any call” to “any telephone number assigned to a cellular telephone service.” The TCPA excepts from that automated call restriction any “call made for emergency purposes or made with the prior express consent of the called party.” In 2015, Congress amended the TCPA to create an additional exception for calls “made solely to collect a debt owed to or guaranteed by the United States.” Respondents wish to use an automatic telephone dialing system or an artificial or prerecorded voice to make calls to the cell phones of potential or registered voters to solicit political donations and to advise on political and governmental issues. The Court of appeals held that the government debt exception to the TCPA’s automated-call restriction violates the First Amendment. The Court further held that the proper remedy was to sever the government debt exception, leaving the basic automated-call restriction in place. The question presented is as follows: Whether the government-debt exception to the TCPA’s automated-call restriction violates the First Amendment, and whether the proper remedy for any constitutional violation is to sever the exception from the remainder of the statute.

We are so screwed, but not today. 

-- steve

BEHIND THE CANCEL CULTURE

They know what they are doing and do not care...

 

Why the progressive socialist democrats must erase America’s history and substitute their revisionist “truth…”

According to the social justice warriors in the Democrat Party, America used to be populated by cuddly bears, bison, and butterflies where the Native Americans, Mexicans, Africans, Arab Muslims, and others of color frolicked in harmony and freedom with their LGBQ+ brethren in meadows of fragrant weeds and sang songs of peace and love while riding on unicorns -- until the white people arrived from Europe and killed them all.

Some of their principal goals...

Ignore the provisions of the U.S. Constitution that limit or restrict the activities of the federal government unless those provisions can be used to advance their malignant political agenda.

Re-label Marxism, Socialism, and Communism to something more benign to remove any historical reference to the failures, deaths, and misery inflicted on hundreds of millions of human beings.

Corrupt educational institutions to indoctrinate rather than educate students so that formerly unacceptable thoughts and behaviors appear to be normalized and acceptable.

Corrupt the media to ensure that the failures and misdeeds of the elite ruling class are ignored or minimized and to continue the reinforcement of the political indoctrination started in educational institutions. Promise non-interference policies to the technological elites in return for compromising their platforms.

Disarm law-abiding individuals to remove the last protections against political tyranny and create a large victim pool susceptible to thuggery.

Empower thugs to create chaos and lawlessness to force citizens to demand a more powerful and authoritarian government to protect the citizenry.

Implement identity politics to divide Americans into individual groups based on class, race, sex, etc. to keep any group from achieving a critical mass of political influence, by promising to redress real or imagined grievances. All made possible only by ceding political power so that the elite ruling class can craft a coalition of victimhood to exceed the requirements to achieve a critical mass of political power.

More recently, provide more addictive electronic devices to capture and consume an individual’s attention and redirect their attention from the evil being perpetrated on the American people.

Does anyone want to challenge these assertions?

The truth is there for all to see…

Democrats claim there is institutional racism, yet they control, for the most part, the institutions in government, education, healthcare, technology, etc.

Democrats claim there is massive police brutality, yet they control, for the most part, the politics, policies, and police in the inner cities.

Democrats claim that President Trump screwed up the response to COVID-19 pandemic. Yet, it is the governors, for the most part, Democrat governors, who have grabbed power and destroyed much of their constituent’s lives and economy.

Democrats continue to scream about white privilege, yet most of the Democrat poohbahs are old, white guys and gals. Schumer, Pelosi, Biden, and Feinstein come immediately to mind. 

Democrats scream that the Republicans are liars, yet they control, for the most part, the majority of mainstream media where they support the radical Democrat agenda and refuse to tell the truth about GOP politicians and the GOP agenda.

Democrats point to failing school systems, which they control, and demand more and more money while ignoring school choice and testing teachers for teaching competency and subject-matter knowledge. Not a word about the unions that control the politicians that control education.

LeBron James, the billionaire Judas Goat…

LeBron James and Other Stars Form a Voting Rights Group “This is the time for us to finally make a difference,” the N.B.A. superstar said of the new group, which will aim to protect African-Americans’ voting rights. The N.B.A. superstar LeBron James and a group of other prominent black athletes and entertainers are starting a new group aimed at protecting African-Americans’ voting rights, seizing on the widespread fury against racial injustice that has fueled worldwide protests to amplify their voices in this fall’s presidential election. [OCS: Let LeBron fund more protection from gangs and thugs in the Black community that prey on the weak and unarmed. Let LeBron fight for school choice, especially in areas with substandard schools.] “Because of everything that’s going on, people are finally starting to listen to us — we feel like we’re finally getting a foot in the door,” Mr. James said in a phone interview on Wednesday. “How long is up to us. We don’t know. But we feel like we’re getting some ears and some attention, and this is the time for us to finally make a difference.” The organization, called More Than a Vote, will partly be aimed at inspiring African-Americans to register and to cast a ballot in November. But as the name of the group suggests, Mr. James and other current and former basketball stars — including Trae Young, Skylar Diggins-Smith and Jalen Rose — will go well beyond traditional celebrity get-out-the-vote efforts.< Source>

LeBron James is supporting the radical progressive socialist democrats who are shouting that Blacks need to elect Democrats to change the deplorable state of America. No member of the mainstream media will point out that it is the Democrat Party that has ignored Blacks for decades and that electing more Democrats will change nary a thing other than the decline of America.

LeBron is a classic example of a person who, through a combination of native ability, hard work, and luck, has risen to the top of the sports world. This does not make him qualified to tell the rest of us how to live – especially since his wealth and position isolates him from the consequences of his foolish choices.

Bottom line…

Watch as the radicals turn on their own kind for not being “woke” enough.

We are so screwed.

-- steve

OPUS UNITED: PROFITING OFF RACISM -- BLACKS SELLING BLACKS TO CORPORATE AMERICA?

It appears race-hustling has been elevated and thrust into the 21st Century. What started with a mention of Van Jones, one of former President Obama’s favorite communists, morphed into a blog post once I looked at the people behind his new project.

Branding and advertising our product...

ØPUS UNITED presents We The People, a series of conversations that advance the dialogue around race in America with prominent BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color) voices in business, sports, media, music, and entertainment.            [OCS: The graphic above represents my concept of “truth in advertising.] We The People is hosted by Van Jones, who will be joined by Elaine Welteroth, former Editor-in-Chief of Teen Vogue, Jemele Hill, writer for The Atlantic, Killer Mike, rapper / songwriter / visionary, and Lil Baby, a gifted hip hop musician. Van Jones and guests will be speaking about how to change systemic racism in media, culture and entertainment. <Source>

Who and what is Opus United?

Omar Johnson is an American marketing executive who has worked with Kraft Foods, Campbell Soup, Nike, and Coca-Cola. He is also the former CMO at Beats by Dre and former VP Marketing at Apple. His proprietary methodology, Culture-Centric Design™, sits at the intersection of data, cultural insights and big ideas, and is fueled by a team with diverse backgrounds, languages, and points of view. Culture-Centric Design™ powers his newest venture, ØPUS United, a modern brand management company consisting of a multi-disciplined collective of award winning executives, athletes, strategists, creatives, and musicians who understand the anatomy of world-class brands. <Source> [OCS: There is little doubt in my mind that Omar Johnson is an extremely capable and clever marketing executive and entrepreneur who appears to have discovered big money in corporate race hustling. Unlike Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton, Omar has real  talent and is a better corporate communicator.]

Excerpts from "the pitch"...

Dear white corporate America, I get it. I know you have the best intentions. ‍ I know you’re horrified and heartbroken by the killings of Ahmaud Arbery, George Floyd, Tony McDade, Breonna Taylor, and too many others to name. ‍ You want to take a stand against the racial injustice and anti- Black prejudice built into the very foundation of America. You want to do the right thing. But you just don’t know how. Is that about right? ‍ I know it is, because you’ve been calling me. For the past two weeks, several times a day, it’s been the same question: What can I do? ‍ Let me break it down for you. ‍ For starters, the fact that you’re only asking now is part of the problem. Companies have been profiting off Black culture and Black consumers for decades. ‍ Are you just now realizing that all Black lives matter, not just those of Black artists and athletes? Not just Black dollars? Ask yourself, truthfully. That’s step zero. ‍ Next, listen. Before you open your mouth, open your eyes and ears. Listen to your Black employees. They’ve been sounding the alarm for years. But don’t stop there. Dig into the cold, hard Black data. Learn where Black people exist in your company—and, more importantly, where they don’t. Count the too-few Black faces in meetings. Notice the muted Black voices in conversations where decisions get made. If you do that, you’ll see the problem clear as day. ‍ You’re not nurturing your Black talent. You’re not benefiting from Black experiences, relationships, perspectives, insights, and ideas. And most importantly, you’re not doing the right thing. ‍ But don’t feel bad about that. Now is not the time to beat yourself up, or to obsess about the ten ways you might get it wrong. That helps no one. What helps is fixing the problem. And you can do that. You can fix this. ‍ To me, this isn’t only a social justice problem or an equal opportunity problem. This is a business problem, too. And you fix business problems all the time. So, you got this. ‍ But just in case you don’t “got it,” let me help you out. Here’s the bottom line: This isn’t the time for another “diversity report,” or for any report at all. This is a time for action, inside and outside. This is a time for change: inside ourselves and our companies; across our communities and our country. ‍ No doubt, it’s daunting. You may feel pummeled, or paralyzed. I understand. But lean into the discomfort. It’s okay. I have faith in you, corporate America. Like I said, you can fix this. We can fix this. ‍ So, before you call me again—before you ask me what you should say, or what you should change—I’ll tell you my answer right now: Absolutely everything. ‍ See you in the room.  Sincerely, Omar Johnson Founder, ØPUS United <Source>

Pissed off…

I believe in an exceptional America, one of real diversity and inclusion; one that is color-blind and where a corporation sells its products on the basis of form and function, not one’s racial characteristics. A strong corporation that knows that it has a fiduciary duty to its owners, and to that extent, should treat its employees well and support the community – the entire community. I believe in merit and pursuing corporate goals, not the type of affirmative action that degrades the standards of excellence.

Virtue signaling and diversity advertising is divisive and promotes more rancor.

I believe that this is best said by Booker T. Washington – probably the next mob victim of the cancel culture.

“There is a certain class of race-problem solvers who don’t want the patient to get well.” “There is another class of colored people who make a business of keeping the troubles, the wrongs, and the hardships of the Negro race before the public. Having learned that they are able to make a living out of their troubles, they have grown into the settled habit of advertising their wrongs — partly because they want sympathy and partly because it pays. Some of these people do not want the Negro to lose his grievances, because they do not want to lose their jobs. Booker T. Washington (1856-1915) African American political leader, educator, and author

Bottom line…

This is the type of bullpucky the executives at big corporations like Nike, Disney, and Coca-Cola buy, not to promote diversity, but to keep their jobs, avoid negative press, and keep those Wall Street Wizards happy.

We are so screwed.

-- steve

WILL THE SUPREME COURT ALLOW AN AVALANCE OF ROBOCALLS FOR THE 2020 ELECTION CYCLE?

It appears that the so-called conservative Supreme Court Justice John Roberts is more concerned with the reputation of the Court and how the media perceive it than he is in following the “textual interpretation” of the Constitution.

Before the Supreme Court is a case known as Barr v. American Association of Political Consultants, but in reality, it should be known as the Political Consultants v. American People. The question before the Court is a simple one, the politicians, namely the Democrats, want unrestricted access to your mobile devices to send unlimited robocalls and text messages without restriction.

Since calling a landline for political purposes is permitted by law, the political consultants who generate much of the robocall traffic argue that the permission should be extended to mobile devices, which are rapidly replacing landlines. The first step in accomplishing this is to remove the existing law by declaring that the government debt exception violates the First Amendment. Thus preparing the stage to see the Court strike down the entire law. 

Because the telecommunications companies profit from increased phone and text traffic, look for their lobbyists to support the demise of this law.

WILLIAM P. BARR, ATTORNEY GENERAL; FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION, PETITIONERS v. AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF POLITICAL CONSULTANTS, INC., ET AL. QUESTION PRESENTED The Telephone Consumer Protection Act of 1991 generally prohibits the use of any “automatic telephone dialing system or an artificial or prerecorded voice” to “make any call” to “any telephone number assigned to a cellular telephone service.” The TCPA excepts from that automated call restriction any “call made for emergency purposes or made with the prior express consent of the called party.” In 2015, Congress amended the TCPA to create an additional exception for calls “made solely to collect a debt owed to or guaranteed by the United States.”  Respondents wish to use an automatic telephone dialing system or an artificial or prerecorded voice to make calls to the cell phones of potential or registered voters to solicit political donations and to advise on political and governmental issues.  The Court of appeals held that the government debt exception to the TCPA’s automated-call restriction violates the First Amendment. The Court further held that the proper remedy was to sever the government debt exception, leaving the basic automated-call restriction in place. The question presented is as follows: Whether the government-debt exception to the TCPA’s automated-call restriction violates the First Amendment, and whether the proper remedy for any constitutional violation is to sever the exception from the remainder of the statute.

Bottom line…

It remains to be seen what the Supreme Court does, but look for bi-partisan Congressional legislation from these self-serving politicians to enable such calls. 

You would think that Congress would pass a law that compels a communications carrier to compare the actual originating number with the number being displayed and sanctioning those who spoof telephone numbers, especially those who use “local area codes and prefixes” to trick you into answering the phone.

We are so screwed.

-- steve

THE DAY AFTER THE FOURTH OF JULY (2020)

To all of the virtue-signaling progressive socialist democrats in the Democratic Party of Orange County who passed a resolution calling John Wayne a “racist symbol and demanding that his statue be removed from the John Wayne Airport in Orange County, California...

If the video is missing, it can be found here.

It appears that the Duke, who was an ardent anti-Communist, knew something about the useful idiots like those in the Democrat Party of Orange County when he noted that Communists “were rotten and corrupt and poisoned the air of our community by creating suspicion, distrust, hatred.” It looks like he knew America’s enemy and had the guts to stand up for freedom, liberty, and American exceptionalism.

And as for another virtue-signaling asshat, Colin Kaepernick...

Here comes a washed-up former multi-millionaire football player who has transitioned his efforts from a declining mediocre football career into being one of the premier anti-America, anti-White race-hustlers while keeping his multi-million dollar endorsements as he waffles on-and-on about racial injustice and white supremacy. I was unaware that we still had slaves. Of course, Kaepernick would never take his cause to the inner city’ hoods, where Blacks are being slaughtered by the hundreds each month. And, Kaepernick can not explain why it is the American Blacks who have issues with literacy, poverty, disease, and crime, while most Black immigrants work hard and prosper.  

The disgusting news media after President Trump's patriotic message at Mount Rushmore...

New York Times: “Breaking News: President Trump delivered a dark and divisive speech at Mount Rushmore, leaning into the culture wars…”

LA Times: “At Mount Rushmore, Trump uses 4th of July celebration to stoke a culture war.”

Washington Post: “At Mount Rushmore, Trump exploits social divisions, warns of ‘left-wing cultural revolution,’ in dark speech ahead of Independence Day.”

Associated Press: AP story “Trump pushes racial division, flouts virus rules at Rushmore.”

How can these communist assclowns be trusted to report the "news?"

Bottom line...

We are being bombarded by those who are trying to destroy America from within. The idea that Americans in Portland, Oregon refuse to quell the insurrection in their city speaks to progressive socialist democrat elected officials who are down with the revolution and little more than useful idiots and enemies of the law-abiding citizens in their state.

We are so screwed.

-- steve

ONE CITIZEN SPEAKING WISHES YOU A HAPPY, HEALTHY, AND SAFE 4TH OF JULY

On this sacred day, I can only fear for our nation and its freedoms as the socialists, communists, and anarchists who have destroyed so many nations and their economies continue their rampage.

All with the willing acceptance of the Democrat Party who will do or say anything, no matter how false or damaging to this nation to gain political power.

Should the Democrats ever implement their energy bill, the industrial capacity of the United States and the entire economy will descend into chaos.

Consider the primary, secondary, and tertiary outcomes of a Democrat vote. Remembering, if you support capitalism, the end state is more capitalism; but if you support socialism, the end state is always an authoritarian dictatorship and fewer individual freedoms.

This is a magnificent country, let us hope it remains that way in the future.

-- steve

ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW (JULY 3, 2020)

As we approach Independence Day, here is everything you need to know about the progressive socialist/communist Democrats…

In the deeply divided America they created with their class, race, and identity politics, the Democrats still want to close the nation for political advantage, hoping to elect a senile puppet who will cede the Presidency to his Vice Presidential pick, a few days after the election – who will then appoint their own radical Vice President. Heaven forbid!

Perhaps someone should tell the truth: the Democrats are the party of slavery, segregation, Jim Crow, the old South, the Confederacy, the KKK, and anti-civil-rights legislation. Joe Biden and Barack Obama have done little or nothing for the Blacks when compared to President Trump’s efforts. Now the Democrat Party wants to be the USA’s Communist Party.

Let’s go back to being Americans, not hyphenated-Americans.

-- steve