Tuesday, July 19, 2016

To Quote Hillery...

To quote Hillary, "What difference does it make...?"  First, I don't think Melania "plagiarized" Michele Obama's speech.  I doubt she's ever heard it or read it.

I found the text of each on Javier Panzar's Twitter feed.  He was good enough to bold face the offending parts.  Similar?  You bet.  Even if she did study the speech for guidance, is really that big a deal?


If I were the Republicans, rather than demanding someone be fired, why don't they get their act together and quit acting like a bunch of spoiled brats in a snit because they didn't get their way?  It's bad enough how they've been behaving throughout the primary season but now it's getting in your face coverage around the world!  Nice impression.

The Democrats have their turn next week.  I'd like to say I can hardly wait but quite honestly I don't really care to watch the glorification of Hillary Clinton.

About 10% of registered voters participated in the 2016 primaries.  How did we let so few bring us to this?


Friday, July 08, 2016

In Defense of Comey - Sort Of

For months now we've been told Jim Comey, head of the FBI, is a real stand up guy and will do the right thing.  So what's the deal.  A few thoughts.

One, we didn't take into consideration the fact he is a Republican in a Democrtic administration.  Two, he knew that justice would not pursue a recommendation to prosecute or even call for a grand jury in the Clinton case.

We also don't known what he may have been threatened with if he went against the grain.  It's sad I'd even think our government might stoop to threats to keep their own employees in line but I do think it.  They extracted a pound of flesh from Mr. Comey. We just don't know how.

This is all assumption now.  That he is a patriot and he choked over his own words to not prosecute.

What he did do, however, is lay out the complete case against Clinton and gave the Republicans the facts they need to drive home the idea she is not suitable for the office of President.  She lied to Congress; Comey agreed.  That's perjury.  Plain and simple. She is a compulsive liar.  She is also protected by the rabidly faithful Democrats of which the Justice Department is a part.

Why, however, Comey chose to fall on his own sword rather than letting Lynch and Justice fall on theirs is beyond me unless there was some sort of coercion. We know various govenment agencies can be ruthless.  The IRS and the EPA are a couple of examples.

We'll probably never know why Clinton wasn't put under oath by the FBI nor why Comey wasn't present during the interview.  Hopefully the State Department's investigation will be enlightening but, again, I doubt it.

Back to my original point.  The facts of the investigation were laid out clearly and succinctly.  If the Republicans and Mr. Trump are smart they'll take them in context and put them to good use. Are they that smart?  They have yet to show it.

Tuesday, July 05, 2016

Justice Prevails? Only For The Privileged

Did any of you listen to or read James Comey's report on the Clinton e-mails today?  It was scathing.  He laid out in detail all that was done that should not have been. Then he ignored the most important part of the statute concerned - the one that doesn't mention intent, but rather the criminality of carelessness. Just carelessness.

For months judges and prosecutors have been articulating the rule of law concerning her actions.  She should be guilty under several counts. Never mind the constant lying about the number of devices she used and the markings or lack thereof on the documents under question.

Yet she's given a pass.  Obama said she did nothing wrong.  Well, by his standards that would be true.  He who picks and chooses which part of laws on the books he wants enforced and which parts not.  Or he takes executive actions bypassing Congress to advance his own agenda.

Then husband Bill has a little visit with Attorney General Loretta Lynch, the FBI finally interviews Hillary on Saturday and the result of that lengthy investigation is wrapped up by today.  They came to their conclusion that fast after so long.  Wow.

I think Mr. Comey is not the stand up guy he's been described as. I think he caved to Presidential pressure.  I think his career with the FBI is probably stained enough that it might as well be over.

But what I think matters not.  What does is that Hillary's mishandling of government classified, sensitive and top secret information were laid out with damning detail. And the FBI could see no reason to indite or even call for a grand jury to see if charges were warranted.  The FBI then became judge and jury going against the very essence of their findings.

You wonder why I'm having trouble doing this blog?  I just cannot get my head around what our government is doing or why.  The deceit, the lies - not as an exception to the rule.  It is the rule.

This is no longer the country in which I grew up.  It has become as foreign to me as so many other countries in the world that operate for the well being of those in charge rather than the well being of their citizens.

It's tough to write about when I can make no sense of it.




Monday, July 04, 2016

Sons of Liberty - What Manner Of Men?

I watched the last episode of Sons of Liberty last evening, the story of the men who came together to form our country.

In real life they were pretty ordinary looking folk.  Certainly not the good looking actors who portrayed them and in some respects raised them to super hero level.  No, they were men like my husband or father or brother.  But those ordinary men did indeed become super heroes.

I wonder if we shall ever see their kind again.  Oh sure, they are out there.  The military  who are pledged to our country in ways many of the rest of us seem to have forgotten.  Ordinary men from a multitude of backgrounds yet embracing one single vision.  Country. America.  All that it was meant to be.

How is it that out of 350 million people in this country we've chosen the most implausible candidates to choose from to be our President. Yes, the government has lost its focus.  It has become more ideological and party oriented than is acceptable.  Yes, things are not getting done and pettiness and nastiness has risen to new levels. It is painful to witness.

I can understand wanting change.  I do too.  But not the change theses two candidates offer.  Both are narcissistic and mean spirited.  Both exaggerate their accomplishments.  Both are integrity challenged.  Neither has the temperament to lead; only to strut and posture and whine.  Neither has any depth of character.

Why did we choose them?  Any one of the other candidates who ran in the primaries would have been far more acceptable if not exciting. We want change?  Not more of same?  Well, with either of these two you get exactly more of same.  Lying, obfuscating, patronizing empty suits who will do anything to elevate themselves rather than the country.

This isn't independence the way our founding fathers envisioned it.  It certainly isn't liberty. The people we're choosing today couldn't hold a candle to the original sons of liberty.  For that we should be ashamed.


Friday, July 01, 2016

Independent Thinking, By Jove!

With tongue firmly in cheek I think I've found the answer for floundering Republicans who want anyone other than Trump as their presidential nominee.

There are similarities to be sure, but when it comes to the finer points my suggestion is far superior. Who?

Boris Johnson.  The former mayor of London who was a leader in the Brexit movement.  It was thought he was a shoo in for Prime Minister after Cameron resigned  but was sabotaged by one of his own.  You might say he wasn't treated fairly. Hahahahahaha.

Here's the deal.  He is eligible since he was born in New York City and is over 35.  He's a Conservative by British standards.  Never mind that he'd be a moderate by our standards. Which to my thinking is good but never mind that too.  You can't have everything!

He's flamboyant.  Perhaps best of all he has actual political and government experience gained as mayor of London. He's not nearly as offensive as Trump can be. British manners, don't you know. Plus the accent is appealing.

Oh, wait, even more important might be they could slip him in and the Trumpsters would never notice.



What more could you want??  Turning to a Brit to bail them out would be the irony of ironies on this Independence Day week end.  Have a good one!