Thursday, January 21, 2021

From Facebook

 In his first day on the job, China Joe Biden did virtually nothing that the American people wanted. He signed a bunch of highly symbolic executive orders which collectively don’t really amount to much.

#1. Mask Requirement – In order to fight the spread of COVID-19, Joe Biden has issued an executive order that “requires the use of the use of masks and social distancing in all federal buildings, on federal lands and by federal employees and contractors. This is a largely symbolic token gesture and will do nothing to contain the spread of COVID.
#2. Rejoining World Health Organization – Joe Biden has issued an executive order directing the government to rejoin the World Health Organization. The W.H.O. validated Chinese propaganda about the outbreak of COVID-19. The organization declined to call the outbreak in China a public health emergency of international concern on Jan. 22, at the same time there were confirmed cases in Taiwan, Australia, Japan, Thailand, and South Korea. After the WHO finally declared the emergency, it proceeded to drag its feet on declaring a pandemic, waiting until March 12.
#3. Rejoining The Paris Climate Accord – Joe Biden has issued an executive order directing the government to rejoin the Paris Climate Accord. The poorly negotiated Paris climate accord imposed unfair, unworkable and unrealistic targets on the United States for reducing carbon emissions. As the climate deal punished America’s energy producers with expensive and burdensome regulations, it gave other countries U.S. taxpayer-funded subsidies and generous timelines. Countries like China got a free pass to pollute for over a decade.
#4. Reviewing Trump Rollbacks – Joe Biden has issued an executive order that revokes the permit for the Keystone XL oil and gas pipeline and imposes a temporary moratorium on oil and gas leasing in ANWR. The 1,700-mile Keystone pipeline carries roughly 800,000 barrels of oil a day from Alberta to the Texas Gulf Coast, passing through Montana, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas and Oklahoma. Tens of thousands of jobs would be eliminated to placate environmental extremists.
#5. Student Loan Debt – Joe Biden has issued an executive order “to extend a pause on federal student loan payments through at least Sept. 3.” Loan payments were paused in the CARES act.
#6. Housing Foreclosures – Joe Biden has issued an executive order delaying housing evictions and foreclosures until at least March 31, 2021. What about property owners?
#7. Ending the Muslim Ban – Joe Biden has issued an executive order that ends the so-called Muslim ban. It actually was a travel ban on travel from countries that have terrorism. The countries currently affected by the travel ban are Eritrea, Sudan, Iran, Kyrgyzstan, Libya, Myanmar, Nigeria, North Korea, Somalia, Syria, Venezuela, North Korea, Tanzania and Yemen. This increases the risk of terrorism in the U.S.
#8. DACA – Joe Biden has issued an executive order to preserve DACA. The Supreme Court already said they could not be deported.
#9. Border Fence – Joe Biden has issued an executive order to suspend construction of the Trump border fence. More people are now in the caravans headed to the U.S. than were at Biden's inauguration.
#10. Census – Joe Biden has issued an executive order to reverse a Trump plan to exclude illegal aliens from being counted in the 2020 Census. The difference between citizen and non-citizen is being blurred.
#11. Comprehensive Immigration Reform – Joe Biden is sending a bill to Congress to grant amnesty to all illegal aliens in the country.
Sleepy Joe wants everyone who was in the U.S. since January 1st to have a pathway to citizenship.
#12. Racial Equity – Joe Biden has issued an executive order to launch a “a government-wide initiative directing every federal agency to review its state of racial equity and deliver an action plan within 200 days to address any disparities in policies and programs. Race and identity politics will be front and center in his administration.
#13. Underserved Communities – Joe Biden has “created an equitable data working group to make sure federal data reflects the country’s diverse makeup and direct the Office of Management and Budget to allocate more federal resources to underserved communities. Political correctness.
#14. Rescinding Trump’s 1776 Commission – Joe Biden has scrapped Donald Trump’s 1776 Commission. Patriotic education takes a backseat to the 1619 project.
#15. LGBTQ Workplace Discrimination – Joe Biden has signed an executive order “prohibiting workplace discrimination in the federal government based on sexual orientation and gender identity and directing federal agencies to ensure protections for LGBTQ people are included in anti-discrimination statutes.” Symbolic.
#16. Revoking Trump’s 2017 Interior Enforcement Executive Order
– Trumps order encouraged states and localities to enforce federal immigration laws.
17. Protecting Liberians Who Fled Civil War – Joe Biden will extend the Liberian deportation deferral until at least June 2022. Donald Trump created a path to citizenship for them by signing the 2020 NDAA.

Portland rioters damage ICE building; police declare 'unlawful assembly'

 Portland rioters damage ICE building; police declare 'unlawful assembly'

The so-called J20 protest was a demonstration against Biden and law enforcement
https://www.foxnews.com/us/anti-biden-antifa-portland-police

Labor Pick Paid Biden-Linked Firm Tens of Thousands Prior to Nomination

 Labor Pick Paid Biden-Linked Firm Tens of Thousands Prior to Nomination

Boston's Marty Walsh has paid Anita Dunn's firm $90k since September

Describing Jews as ‘Privileged,’ Ethnic Studies Curriculum Sparks Backlash

 Describing Jews as ‘Privileged,’ Ethnic Studies Curriculum Sparks Backlash

Victory Lap Dance: Hunter Biden to Host ‘Late Night’ Inaugural Ball at Renowned D.C. Gentlemen’s Club

 Victory Lap Dance: Hunter Biden to Host ‘Late Night’ Inaugural Ball at Renowned D.C. Gentlemen’s Club

Strippers for Biden

Biden Moves for Mass Amnesty in First Day as President

 Biden Moves for Mass Amnesty in First Day as President

Republicans, immigration expert blast bill
Excerpt: President Joe Biden on Wednesday will send legislation to Congress that would offer amnesty and a path to citizenship to the bulk of the 11 million illegal immigrants currently in the United States, teeing up a potentially momentous struggle with Congress. Biden's proposal would substantially overhaul the immigration system, loosening key restrictions to dramatically increase legal immigration alongside its amnesty provisions. At the same time, it contains only a few gestures at enhanced border security, a sign of the Democratic Party's turn away from the compromise approach that characterized previous immigration reform efforts.


Wednesday, January 20, 2021

Lies, damn lies, and statistics....

 Lies, damn lies, and statistics....


Explaining in detail how statistics can be misused, by accident or on
purpose, would take a while, but this short video does a nice job in
broadening understanding of how this can happen.  I recommend it just for
general background knowledge.

Del

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bVG2OQp6jEQ

Videos: Huge explosion tears downtown Madrid, Spain apart

 Videos: Huge explosion tears downtown Madrid, Spain apart

Wow, Politico Is No Longer Covering Up Biden's Cognitive Decline

 Wow, Politico Is No Longer Covering Up Biden's Cognitive Decline

SUSPECTED OF BEING A CONSERVATIVE. By M.D. Kittle

 SUSPECTED OF BEING A CONSERVATIVE. By M.D. Kittle

Monday, January 18, 2021

Why Conspiracy Theories Can’t Be Ignored. By JIM GERAGHTY

 Why Conspiracy Theories Can’t Be Ignored. By JIM GERAGHTY

CNN Pushes to Close Down Newsmax TV

 CNN Pushes to Close Down Newsmax TV

The next step in cutting off free flow of information has arrived
already.... I thought they'd wait a couple of weeks for the screaming to
die down about what's already gone on, but I underestimated their
arrogance. --Del

Incoming White House Climate Team Blames ‘Systemic Racism’ for Climate Change

 https://freebeacon.com/2020-election/incoming-white-house-climate-team-blames-systemic-racism-for-climate-change/


Incoming White House Climate Team Blames ‘Systemic Racism’ for Climate Change

A pair of top incoming White House environmental aides has blamed "systemic racism" as a driver of climate change in an attempt to justify a government-led economic overhaul.

Harris

 https://noqreport.com/2021/01/18/seven-months-ago-kamala-harris-bailed-out-criminal-rioters-now-she-wants-to-punish-capitol-insurrectionists/

Seven months ago, Kamala Harris bailed out criminal rioters. Now she wants to punish Capitol ‘insurrectionists.’
(Barb-John Sullivan, Antifa/BLM, was arrested and then released without bail. Show me your shocked face! Recorded murder of AF vet with CNN reporter…and bragged.)

China Ties Raise Questions for Biden’s Pick for Top Defense Post

 China Ties Raise Questions for Biden’s Pick for Top Defense Post

Give Biden's china ties, this is probably a plus for appointing him. ~Bob

Sunday, January 17, 2021

Civil War Book Recommendations

 

For Cause and Comrades: Why Men Fought in the Civil War by James M. McPherson

https://smile.amazon.com/Cause-Comrades-Why-Fought-Civil/dp/0195124995/ref=sr_1_1?crid=YHW7LTZ9UUC7&dchild=1&keywords=for+cause+and+comrades+james+mcpherson&qid=1610927748&s=books&sprefix=For+Cause+and+Comrades%2Caps%2C186&sr=1-1

As a history buff, I am an admirer of McPherson’s work on the Civil War, so I requested this book for Christmas from my wife. It didn’t disappoint. The author draws on the letters and diaries of common soldiers, not published memoirs which tend to spin the truth to show the writer in a favorable light. It is a valuable addition to Civil War literature that I highly recommend. My great, great grandfather, Sergeant Oliver Vernal, fought through the war, and was one of the three-year men who reenlisted. He had a 30 day leave from that, married my great, great grandmother, and returned to battle. He was badly wounded twice, once at Deep Bottom when the Sixth broke and fled. There he was shot through his tin cup into his hip. I assume it was on his belt behind him and he was running with the rest. Good thing too, because he had no children at the time. The Sixth had good days. They went into Battery Wagner next to the famous 54th Massachusetts, but didn’t get a mention in the movie Glory. My one disagreement with McPherson is when he says the Civil War soldiers were volunteers, unlike those who fought in Vietnam, who were draftees or career regulars. I wrote to McPherson and said that two-thirds of those who fought in Vietnam were, like me, volunteers who did not make careers of the military, while two-thirds of the soldiers in WWII were draftees. He wrote back and said he would fix that if there was another addition. This book offers great insight into human motivation, and I highly recommend it.

 

Marching Through Georgia: The Story of Soldiers and Civilians During Sherman's Campaign by Lee B. Kennett 

https://www.amazon.com/Marching-Through-Georgia-Soldiers-Civilians/dp/0060927453/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=marching+through+Georgia&qid=1610928644&s=books&sr=1-2

The book focuses not so much on generals and strategy (except where necessary to illustrate events) but on how Sherman’s campaign to “Make Georgia howl” effected the average person, the soldiers both blue and gray, and the black and white citizens of Georgia, who suffered this terrible tragedy. I am not a sympathizer with the “lost cause.” My great, great grandfather, Sergeant Oliver Vernal, fought through the war, and was one of the three-year men who reenlisted. He had a 30 day leave from that, married my great, great grandmother, and returned to battle. He was badly wounded twice, once at Deep Bottom when the Sixth broke and fled. There he was shot through his tin cup into his hip. I assume it was on his belt behind him and he was running with the rest. Good thing too, because he had no children at the time. The Sixth had good days. They went into Battery Wagner next to the famous 54th Massachusetts, but didn’t get a mention in the movie Glory. So I have been a unionist all my life, and thing the March to the sea was justified and needed. That doesn’t stop me for feeling pity for those who suffered during it. I learned many things I didn’t know from this book and highly recommend it.

QAnon Is Destroying the GOP From Within

 QAnon Is Destroying the GOP From Within

Fascism Comes to the U.S

 Fascism Comes to the U.S

Deroy Murdock: Final, fair look at Trump presidency

 Deroy Murdock: Final, fair look at Trump presidency

Excerpt: One hundred years from now, a fair-minded assessment of Trump’s presidency will recognize his abundant domestic and international accomplishments. Liberals unborn may be appalled. Conservatives unconceived may applaud. But both should agree that Trump was a consequential president whose sleeplessness achieved significant things, often while astonishing foes and friends alike. [A very fair assessment of what was accomplished during the Trump years, in spite of the never ending vitriol of the left and the unfortunate outbreak of the pandemic. It’s enough to make you weep for the lost chances, but life isn’t fair. Ron P.]

Saturday, January 16, 2021

The Physics Behind Freedom

 The Physics Behind Freedom

Excerpt: Everything in the universe, from trees to electrical wiring to the evolution of animals to human society, is shaped by the constructal law. In order for things to persist and survive, they must be free to adapt and optimize. That process often leads to similar results throughout all of nature.  Dr. Bejan was kind enough to send me his latest book Freedom and Evolution after reading my article comparing Communism to Capitalism. In the article, I talk about how capitalist reforms in communist countries like China and Vietnam drastically improved quality of life. My initial reaction was why is an influential physics professor so interested in my work about political economy? To which he explained that my observation about free markets vs authoritarian command control demonstrated how the Constructal Law applied to human society. That there is an optimal manner in which society can organize itself to evolve and progress. When society is free then it can make these necessary changes, but when it is not free it cannot. Because the constructal law is essentially a law of nature. That is why without economic and social freedom, societies are doomed to starvation and stagnation. Think of it this way: In free-market capitalism people naturally organize themselves to become more efficient and productive; as the constructal law dictates all things in nature follow. That is why freer countries are far richer, healthier, and more technologically advanced than those that are not. Getting in the way of free markets is essentially getting in the way of nature. [This really does make sense. Ron P.]

Our Faustian Bargain

 Concerted suppression of free speech and intimidation by cancel culture are the exact same kinds of tools that totalitarian regimes use to hold power.  We are seeing far too much of these tactics being employed right here, right now.  It's not subtle, and it's just increasing the frustration and anger of many millions of Americans.  That's like poking the grizzly again and again, and you really don't want to have him come out of his den at you with teeth and claws.  No rhetoric about healing and unity can counteract the major actions that people can see going on right in front of them.

 
Del
=============================================================
 
Our Faustian Bargain

Thursday, January 14, 2021

Most Illegal Immigrants Arrested by ICE in 2020 Had Average of Four Criminal Convictions or Charges

 In a truly amazing statement, Joe Biden has said that illegals convicted of drunk driving cannot be deported, because he doesn't consider that to be a felony.  He's also said that illegals are better than Americans because they do well in school.  (No data on that, of course.)  He's very clearly in the corner of illegals and I can't wait to see what his idea of comprehensive immigration reform is.

 
And then we have actual data about illegals and crime.  No, not every single illegal is a career criminal, yes, lots of them are poor people fleeing terrible social conditions back in their own dysfunctional countries.  But a very significant fraction of them do break our laws, all the way from driving without insurance up to murder, and it's the job of ICE to find and expel them, in service to our own society.  Whether the illegal is from South America or China or Bulgaria makes no difference, although of course the huge majority of them are from South America.  It's not where they are from that gets them arrested and expelled, it's what they have done.
 
Check out the numbers below, and see how impressive they are.  ICE is doing their job, wherever they can, in the face of rising hampering by idiot local authorities who value being PC over the protection of their own citizens.  What we need are for some victims of illegal immigrant crimes in those areas to sue the authorities who would not cooperate with ICE, since they really bear responsibility for the crime occurring by not helping get rid of the perpetrator before the crime took place.  I'd love to see that.

 Del
==========================================================

Most Illegal Immigrants Arrested by ICE in 2020 Had Average of Four Criminal Convictions or Charges

Wednesday, January 13, 2021

Turley: Swift new impeachment would damage the Constitution

 Turley is a distinguished Law professor, has been called on to testify as an expert in front of Congress.  He is a Liberal, a severe critic of Trump, but a rational and objective expert on the law and also on the Constitution.  He has no axe to grind, and is one of the few remaining principled men with wonderful qualifications whose inputs can be accepted pretty much at face value.  They won't interview him on ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN because he won't provide the inputs they want.

 
The law is clear and the definitions of incitement and sedition are not complicated.  As stupid as Trump's whole rally was, and foolish as he was to tell people to march down to the Capitol (which only a fraction of his rally attendees did), he didn't say the words or even make implications about invading the Capitol.  The assorted accusers are clamming he "as good as" did so, but that's now how the law works, you cannot claim to know what the hidden meaning is in someone else's words.
 
Turley is the kind of expert that is really needed in these times of screaming emotionalism and rampant partisanship.  They got this through the House of course, but it will go into a trial in the Senate that will bring on all kinds of screaming but hopefully enough Senators will stick to the rules of evidence and the rule of law, he won't be convicted.  If he is, as Turley says, the precedent will be horribly destructive for the future.
 
Del
=====================================================

Turley: Swift new impeachment would damage the Constitution

Biden Pick For Civil Rights Chief Promoted Racism and Anti-Semitism at Harvard - Washington Free Beacon

 Biden Pick For Civil Rights Chief Promoted Racism and Anti-Semitism at Harvard - Washington Free Beacon

SHOCK VIDEO: Black Man Kicks Random White Woman Gardening In The Face In Seattle

 SHOCK VIDEO: Black Man Kicks Random White Woman Gardening In The Face In Seattle

Tuesday, January 12, 2021

PBS Chief Counsel Caught On Camera Demanding ‘Re-Education Camps’, Child Confiscation, And Molotov Cocktails Thrown At Trump

 https://thenationalpulse.com/breaking/pbs-veritas/

BREAK: PBS Chief Counsel Caught On Camera Demanding ‘Re-Education Camps’, Child Confiscation, And Molotov Cocktails Thrown At Trump A new Project Veritas video reveals Michael Beller, PBS Principal Counsel, celebrating the death of Trump supporters and calling for their re-education while admitting he’d participate in violent acts if Joe Biden lost the presidency.

LIBERAL ACTIVISTS ASSAULT PORTLAND'S MAYOR WHILE HE'S ON A DATE

 LIBERAL ACTIVISTS ASSAULT PORTLAND'S MAYOR WHILE HE'S ON A DATE

Excerpt: There's a lot of chatter about political violence throughout the country. It would be a shame if this story out of Portland slipped through the cracks. Not when Portland is known as the capital of political violence. Actually, no. Let me fact-check myself there. Portland is said by some to be the capital of peaceful protests. That may or may not be anti faradium on the Periodic Table. Democrat Mayor Ted Wheeler keeps learning an unfortunate lesson. When you give in to activists' demands, they just demand more. Mayor Wheeler realized his mistake and made a New Year's resolution to push back. As you'll see in this video, the people he is pushing back against are not amused.

Monday, January 11, 2021

Did Trump Incite Insurrection?

 Did Trump Incite Insurrection?

Cause and Effect from Last Wednesday’s Chaos

 Cause and Effect from Last Wednesday’s Chaos

Excerpt: Five: As the afternoon progresses, the angry mob invading the halls of the U.S. Capitol Building chanted “hang Mike Pence.” At least three protesters specifically told media present that they intended to hang Pence from a tree. You saw the gallows that the crowd assembled and the zip-ties carried by masked invaders. You heard about the pipe bombs police found. You may not have heard the report of the Molotov cocktails.

The Horror of Socialism (1/7)

 The Horror of Socialism (1/7)

Sunday, January 10, 2021

Comparison

 This article is too long and with too many images and links to copy and send as I often do.  I can only recommend it highly.  It's a great collection of over two dozen major incidences of Democrat leaders, news anchors, and others totally defending all kinds of violent protests.

 
I find what happened at the Capitol objectionable, unfortunate, but in part understandable.  And it'd be nice to keep at least a little perspective, they weren't all wearing disguising masks, helmets, body armor, spraying graffitti all over, setting the building on fire, or shooting fireworks and slingshots at the police.  There is no remotely serious comparison to the mobs besieging the federal courthouse in Portland.
 
Send this to your liberal friends who are still twitching in horror at what is being represented as the worst thing that's ever happened in the last 50 years.
 
Del
 

Saturday, January 9, 2021

Republicans’ Fight Isn’t in Congress

 Crenshaw comes through again with facts and logic and a clear vision of what's important. Del

Republicans’ Fight Isn’t in Congress
The rioters, and those challenging the electoral count, misunderstand how America elects presidents.
By Dan Crenshaw

china

 Really great discussion of China and US professional sports, extremely

informative and thought provoking.

Del

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_yljRiUv1wI

Dan Crenshaw really lays it out.

 Dan Crenshaw really lays it out. A short but intense message from him that I think is important. He's my candidate for the Oval Office in 2024. --Del

Friday, January 8, 2021

The ‘Q Shaman’ on Why He Stormed the Capitol Dressed as a Viking

 The ‘Q Shaman’ on Why He Stormed the Capitol Dressed as a Viking

No, Antifa Wasn't Behind the Capitol Riot

 No, Antifa Wasn't Behind the Capitol Riot

The people who smashed windows and stormed the building were sincere pro-Trump protesters.

China Calls D.C. Riot ‘Karma,’ Celebrates ‘the Fall of the Beacon of Democracy’

 https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2021/01/07/china-calls-d-c-riot-karma-celebrates-the-fall-of-the-beacon-of-democracy/

China Calls D.C. Riot ‘Karma,’ Celebrates ‘the Fall of the Beacon of Democracy’

Nikki Haley Slams Trump: Actions ‘Will Be Judged Harshly By History’

 Nikki Haley Slams Trump: Actions ‘Will Be Judged Harshly By History’

The Logical Consequence of Lies. By Erick Erickson https://www.creators.com/read/erick-erickson/01/21/the-logical-consequence-of-lies

 The Logical Consequence of Lies. By Erick Erickson

Capitol Police Officer Brian D. Sicknick Dies After Suffering Injuries During U.S. Capitol Riot

 Capitol Police Officer Brian D. Sicknick Dies After Suffering Injuries During U.S. Capitol Riot

Wednesday, January 6, 2021

Live Updates: Chaos engulfs DC as protesters storm Capitol; one person shot (DEAD), Trump urges 'peace'

 Live Updates: Chaos engulfs DC as protesters storm Capitol; one person shot (DEAD), Trump urges 'peace'

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/live-updates-pence-has-power-to-block-certification-trump-says

The GOP’s Avoidable Defeat in Georgia

 

The GOP’s Avoidable Defeat in Georgia
Excerpt: When George H. W. Bush lost in 1992, NR commented that his graciousness in taking full responsibility for defeat should not be permitted to obscure the fact that what he said was entirely correct. President Trump has not taken any responsibility for the Republican loss of the Senate, or even acknowledged his own defeat. But what he has not said is entirely correct in this case, too. When Bill Clinton beat Bush, Democratic voters were celebratory and Republicans (and independents) concerned, and the Republicans won the Senate runoff in Georgia a few weeks later. This normal partisan dynamic should have been enough to carry even two mediocre candidates, David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler, to victory. Trump did everything in his power to keep it from setting in. He encouraged Republican voters to believe that his presidency would continue and that their votes would not count if they showed up. He gave a megaphone to Lin Wood — who seems either to be mentally ill or imitating the condition — who told voters to punish Republicans for not doing enough to indulge the fantasy of keeping Trump in office. And at the same time he alarmed Democratic voters that he would use extraconstitutional methods to retain power.

At Least One Person Shot after Trump Supporters Breach Capitol

 At Least One Person Shot after Trump Supporters Breach Capitol

Excerpt: At least one person was shot by police in the capitol building Wednesday afternoon, according to multiple reports, after thousands descended on the hill following a “Stop the Steal” rally in which President Trump again claimed the election was stolen from him.

American elite declares independenc

 American elite declares independence

EXCERPT: "Beijing didn’t force Washington to sign a climate agreement that demanded more of American consumers and industry than it did of China. That was Barack Obama’s decision. He chose to do it for the same reason that the Biden administration plans to reenter the Paris Climate Accord and has prioritized returning to Obama’s nuclear agreement with Iran. The American political establishment uses international agreements to force the people they govern to do things against their will." (Paranoid? Conspiracy? Lee Smith is a pretty good reporter. --Bill)

Tuesday, January 5, 2021

No charges against Wisconsin officer who shot Jacob Blake

No charges against Wisconsin officer who shot Jacob Blake

https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/teen-charged-wisconsin-protest-shootings-plea-hearing-75055107

China calls Biden admin ‘new window of hope’ for US-China relations

 China calls Biden admin ‘new window of hope’ for US-China relations

While Obama Was President, Your Tax Dollars Went to Al Qaeda-Linked Group

 While Obama Was President, Your Tax Dollars Went to Al Qaeda-Linked Group

Today, Georgia Decides Which Party Controls the Senate

 Today, Georgia Decides Which Party Controls the Senate

Monday, January 4, 2021

UK Ecologist: 'Wind Farms Driving Birds, Bats to Extinction'

 UK Ecologist: 'Wind Farms Driving Birds, Bats to Extinction'

The Babylon Bee's Predictions For 2021

 The Babylon Bee's Predictions For 2021

Satire. I hope. ~Bob

Why Those Who Claim To ‘Follow The Science’ Are More Likely To Ignore It

 Why Those Who Claim To ‘Follow The Science’ Are More Likely To Ignore It

We'll be able to have more productive and honest conversations with one another the sooner we realize that while morality takes sides, science does not.

VIDEO: ‘My baby is in the back:’ Camp Pendleton Marine rescues baby from burning car

 VIDEO: ‘My baby is in the back:’ Camp Pendleton Marine rescues baby from burning car

All 10 living fmr. SECDEFs: Involving military in election disputes would be ‘dangerous, unlawful and unconstitutional’

 All 10 living fmr. SECDEFs: Involving military in election disputes would be ‘dangerous, unlawful and unconstitutional’

The President Could Sabotage Georgia and Get Indicted. From Erik Erickson

 The President Could Sabotage Georgia and Get Indicted. From Erik Erickson

Excerpt: Whether you think it is a big deal or not, understand that Georgia Republicans are apoplectic today. The call itself is not the problem for Republicans (oh, but it is a problem). The problem is that the Republican Secretary of State chose to leak it before the President’s rally in Dalton, Ga. The Republican early vote finally arrived last week, but it put them a bit behind compared to the general election. They need a big Election Day turnout and they need it from North Georgia. That part of the state has the most GOP vote and it has lagged behind the rest of the state. It is probably not a coincidence that this is also where the loudest “the race was stolen” voices come from. The GOP has suppressed itself up there.

Sunday, January 3, 2021

Study Highlights Blinding Moral Bias Against Questioning Lockdowns

 Study Highlights Blinding Moral Bias Against Questioning Lockdowns

Excerpt: If you’ve read my work, I often compare the manner in which skeptics of the prevailing narratives surrounding Covid-19 are treated to something akin to the Salem Witch Trials or the Spanish Inquisition. Those who try to make a good faith and well-reasoned argument questioning the efficacy of lockdowns or the overall manner in which Covid has been handled are immediately condemned. It’s as if they spoke out against the church, not made a contribution to an important discussion. Oxford Professor Sunetra Gupta shares her experience with such attacks in her article here. (...) Clearly, none of this is productive at all. The entire idea of the scientific method and a free democratic society, in general, is rigorous debate, not orthodoxy. (...) A press release from the University of Otago in New Zealand puts it more eloquently, “A collaborative study led by the University of Otago has shown that COVID-19 containment and elimination efforts have become moralised. As a result, people are more likely to accept collateral damage from these efforts, such as social shaming, lost lives and illnesses, and police abuse of power. This moralisation was so strong that people reacted negatively even when COVID-19 restrictions were merely questioned.” (...) Rather than treating the Covid-19 pandemic like any other policy concern such as building a road, where the tradeoffs and expenses are weighed with a steady hand, many people have opted to treat it like a religion. This is problematic because policy decisions have real-life consequences and they ought to be made with proper discussion, not dogma and fervor to cleanse. [Once we admit emotions to the equation, reason leaves the blackboard and flies out the window. Ron P.]

Friday, January 1, 2021

Disgrace After Defeat. By Richard Lowery & Remesh Ponnuru

 Disgrace After Defeat. By Richard Lowery & Remesh Ponnuru

The Courts Hold The Line. By Andrew C. McCarthy

 The Courts Hold The Line. By Andrew C. McCarthy

It must have been stolen. By Dan McLaughlin

 It must have been stolen. By Dan McLaughlin

Ten Remarkable Financial Events of 2020

 Ten Remarkable Financial Events of 2020

Excerpt: Uncertainty about the policy response to Covid-19 initiated the cascade of financial market extremes, but expansionary monetary policy was a profound accelerant as lockdowns took hold. The US government spent roughly $7 trillion in 2020, with the Fed having committed between $3 and $4 trillion to programs intended to keep markets functioning. It also lowered the Fed Funds rate to zero, gave forward guidance indicating that it would keep rates low until inflation materially exceeded the 2% level, opened international swap lines, reopened some 2008 Financial Crisis programs, and embarked upon a Main Street Lending Program reminiscent of Great Depression-era policies. On the fiscal side, the US budget deficit was approximately $865 billion in June 2020 alone––an amount exceeding the entire debt incurred by the United States government between 1776 and 1980. Beyond representing curiosities and the awesome distorting power of central bank largesse, each of the aforementioned extremes demonstrates that however well-designed a particular market is, and however carefully a regulatory oversight structure may be crafted, the sometimes-unpredictable nature of human action can and does lead to unintended consequences. And when, on those rare occasions, confusion and fear reach an apex, unforeseen events do not only occur, they cluster together. [Neither having a significant portfolio nor much expertise in financial workings, I was largely unaware of these happenings at the time they occurred.  It sounds as if we were much closer to total financial disaster than I realized. I think I’m glad I didn’t know–it would’ve scared the crap out of me. Ron P.]

Feelings Over Facts Is Dangerous to Human Liberty

 Feelings Over Facts Is Dangerous to Human Liberty

Excerpt: The book is centered around one quite ridiculous notion: that no difference exists ‒ neurologically ‒ between words and physical harm, that we’re constantly in a “nervous state,” not quite at war but never fully at peace. This seems odd and irrelevant for most things until we realize what Davies has taken aim at: the essence of the premise that supports Western liberal democracies. In a pop-culture phrase, it’s “Live and let live” ‒ or “You do you, girl,” while I do me (Legal scholars may recognize that same idea in “An Englishman’s home is his castle.”) Contrary to almost every civilization that came before it, the West’s legal and political foundation holds this to be true and has followed the ‘harm principle‘ of John Stuart Mill: “The only purpose for which power can be rightfully exercised over any member of a civilized community, against his will, is to prevent harm to others.” With Nervous States, Davies has mobilized an ingenious challenge to this doctrine: if we redefine “harm” to mean whatever we want it to mean, we can rule over others. If your speech causes me discomfort, that’s harm. If your clothes offend me, that’s harm. If your moral or political opinions are different from mine, you’re harming both me and everyone else that I am angelically trying to help. If you’re objecting to my spending of the public money, you’re harming the people I say I intended to help. [Worth reading! It explains a lot of things we see and hear daily. Ron P.]

Latest MN shooting of a Black man.

 Latest MN shooting of a Black man. Which hit the headlines big time of course, but will now die out swiftly. Why? Read the article below. Short form is the guy was a career violent criminal who, when his car was blocked in by several police cruisers, opened fire on the cops. As shown in the police body cams. And actually he was supposed to still be in prison for other offenses, but somehow was released, they're still checking on that. But who knows, maybe they'll make a hero out of him too....Del