There are many possible answers to that question.
I offer August 14, 1941 as the candidate for when we became great. That was the day President Roosevelt and Prime Minister Churchill met to sign the Atlantic Charter. The Atlantic Charter laid the firmest foundation for our system of alliances that won World War II. We built our structure of international security and prosperity on that foundation.
President Trump is demolishing that foundation.
Monday, December 24, 2018
Tuesday, December 4, 2018
Eternal Father, Strong To Save, Whose Arm Hath Bound The Restless Wave
The last few days, I have been thinking about the late George Herbert Walker Bush, an honorable man who served his country well.
He was a navy man. He had just turned eighteen when he enlisted.
He went into harm's way.
He flew aircraft off of aircraft carriers, and was nineteen years old when he was shot down over Chichi Jima in Japan's Bonin Islands.
He could have perished in the sea near Chichi Jima at the age of nineteen. But he survived to serve his country in many capacities until his death at the age of ninety-four.
He exhibited the modesty so characteristic of his generation.
He did not boast. He did not brag. He was not a bully.
A good model to follow.
Many commentators marvel at George Bush's youth at the time he enlisted. As I think back to that time in my own life, I realize I had turned seventeen four months before I entered the navy. So I don't see Bush as having been all that young.
It was a different time.
He was a navy man. He had just turned eighteen when he enlisted.
He went into harm's way.
He flew aircraft off of aircraft carriers, and was nineteen years old when he was shot down over Chichi Jima in Japan's Bonin Islands.
He could have perished in the sea near Chichi Jima at the age of nineteen. But he survived to serve his country in many capacities until his death at the age of ninety-four.
He exhibited the modesty so characteristic of his generation.
He did not boast. He did not brag. He was not a bully.
A good model to follow.
Many commentators marvel at George Bush's youth at the time he enlisted. As I think back to that time in my own life, I realize I had turned seventeen four months before I entered the navy. So I don't see Bush as having been all that young.
It was a different time.
Wednesday, November 28, 2018
I was sorry that Mike Espy lost the Mississippi runoff election for US senate, but not surprised. He got more votes than either Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton did, so I suppose we should celebrate that.
Even so, I wos hoping he would do even better.
I was disappointed at some of the commentary, which I thought was inaccurate.
I am an old white guy from Mississippi. I would like to set a few things straight about the state.
On a personal note, Espy is from Yazoo City, a place I know well. My paternal grandparents, my father and my brother were all born there. Many family members are buried in the cemetery.
I will work on trying to clear the record. It may take a while.
Even so, I wos hoping he would do even better.
I was disappointed at some of the commentary, which I thought was inaccurate.
I am an old white guy from Mississippi. I would like to set a few things straight about the state.
On a personal note, Espy is from Yazoo City, a place I know well. My paternal grandparents, my father and my brother were all born there. Many family members are buried in the cemetery.
I will work on trying to clear the record. It may take a while.
Friday, September 28, 2018
Brett Kavenaugh - Not Suitable For The Supreme Or Any Other Court
I watched yesterday's confirmation hearings for Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavenaugh, who already serves on the DC Court of Appeals - the next highest federal court to the Supreme Court.
I conclude from his angry tirade delivered during the hearing that he lacks a judicial temperament. He should not be confirmed.
The hearing was held to address credible charges by a serious accusation by Doctor Christine Blasey Ford that in 1982 when she was 15 years old and Kavenaugh was 17 he attempted to rape her. She told a moving and convincing story.
At the time of the incident, Kavenaugh was a student at an elite Jesuit prep school in the DC area. I have a strong bias against these institutions, especially regarding a pervasive attitude of misogyny regarding women.
I attended public coeducational schools. I first encountered the prep school phenomenon when I went on summer training cruises with Naval Academy midshipmen. Many of these midshipmen had graduated from Catholic boys schools. I thought some if not most of the young men from that background thought rather too much of themselves and had an immature attitude toward girls.
Doctor Ford was the only accuser allowed to speak, but other accusers told even more harrowing tales of the sort of thing Kavenaugh and his colleagues did. These tales reminded me of exploits that prep-school types of Naval Academy midshipmen bragged about. They claimed to have arranged to have a young women in a bedroom with young men outside the bedroom door standing in line to take turns having sex with them. That was in 1955.
I never personally witnessed any of these claimed exploits and I thought it possible they didn't actually happen. Empty bragging is not unknown among 19 year olds. But whether true or not, what they bragged about was pretty disgusting. Especially among people aspiring to lead our armed forces.
I encountered many of these prep school types later in my naval career who never matured.
On the evidence of what I saw during the hearing, Brett Kavenaugh is one of those. His misogyny was strongly evident in his responses to questions from women senators. I know they are used to this, but we citizens should not put up with it.
Twenty-seven years ago, just as Brett Kavenaugh was graduating from Yale (which he bragged about to Senator Amy Klobuchar as "the number one law school," clearly implying that this entitled him to a place on the Supreme Court). That same year, 1991, was the year of the navy's infamous Tail Hook scandal. Tail Hook was another example of misogyny by young leaders of America's elite.
I see Brett Kavenaugh as strongly in the same tradition. In my view, his confirmation should be strongly opposed.
I conclude from his angry tirade delivered during the hearing that he lacks a judicial temperament. He should not be confirmed.
The hearing was held to address credible charges by a serious accusation by Doctor Christine Blasey Ford that in 1982 when she was 15 years old and Kavenaugh was 17 he attempted to rape her. She told a moving and convincing story.
At the time of the incident, Kavenaugh was a student at an elite Jesuit prep school in the DC area. I have a strong bias against these institutions, especially regarding a pervasive attitude of misogyny regarding women.
I attended public coeducational schools. I first encountered the prep school phenomenon when I went on summer training cruises with Naval Academy midshipmen. Many of these midshipmen had graduated from Catholic boys schools. I thought some if not most of the young men from that background thought rather too much of themselves and had an immature attitude toward girls.
Doctor Ford was the only accuser allowed to speak, but other accusers told even more harrowing tales of the sort of thing Kavenaugh and his colleagues did. These tales reminded me of exploits that prep-school types of Naval Academy midshipmen bragged about. They claimed to have arranged to have a young women in a bedroom with young men outside the bedroom door standing in line to take turns having sex with them. That was in 1955.
I never personally witnessed any of these claimed exploits and I thought it possible they didn't actually happen. Empty bragging is not unknown among 19 year olds. But whether true or not, what they bragged about was pretty disgusting. Especially among people aspiring to lead our armed forces.
I encountered many of these prep school types later in my naval career who never matured.
On the evidence of what I saw during the hearing, Brett Kavenaugh is one of those. His misogyny was strongly evident in his responses to questions from women senators. I know they are used to this, but we citizens should not put up with it.
Twenty-seven years ago, just as Brett Kavenaugh was graduating from Yale (which he bragged about to Senator Amy Klobuchar as "the number one law school," clearly implying that this entitled him to a place on the Supreme Court). That same year, 1991, was the year of the navy's infamous Tail Hook scandal. Tail Hook was another example of misogyny by young leaders of America's elite.
I see Brett Kavenaugh as strongly in the same tradition. In my view, his confirmation should be strongly opposed.
Monday, September 17, 2018
Nominees And Explanations
Some years ago, Oriental's retired Superior Court Judge, Jim Ragan, wrote an entertaining political musical centered on a scandal that emerged at the last minute. When the scandal became public, the campaign manager sang: "he didn't do it - but if he did, there's nothing to it."
Judge Ragan has a good ear for political dialogue. If you don't believe it, just compare his song to that of Judge Kavanaugh and his supporters in the White House. Same lyrics.
Judge Ragan has a good ear for political dialogue. If you don't believe it, just compare his song to that of Judge Kavanaugh and his supporters in the White House. Same lyrics.
Monday, September 10, 2018
More Reflections On John McCain
I never liked the generational analysis of American History. X Generation was this way. Y Generation was that way. The Generation that lived through the Great Depression and won World War II were "The Greatest Generation." Thanks, Tom Brokaw, but maybe they weren't greater than all the others.
And yet.....
Last week the presidential historian Jon Meacham had an interesting thought about John McCain.
John McCain, he observed, was one of the last members of the World War II Generation.
If that's so, it explains a lot. It also means that I am also of the World War II Generation. In fact, John McCain and I received our Navy commissions on the same day in May of 1958. He flew airplanes and I drove ships, but it was the same navy.
John McCain was about eight months older than me. He was five years old when the Japanese attacked, I was four. Neither of us was surprised that war had started, because we had witnessed our fathers preparing for war.
My father had just returned to Tallahassee from the Carolina Maneuvers on December 5th. Earlier in the year, he was away at the Louisiana Maneuvers, a massive trial and demonstration of new military tactics. I had seen with my own eyes the two-lane US highways across the South clogged with enormous military convoys.
On that day of infamy in December of 1941, my dad grabbed his B-4 bag (always packed to go to war) and went to the air base. John McCain watched the staff car drive up to his house in New London and take his father away.He doesn't remember seeing his father again until after Japan surrendered.
If John McCain was the last of the World War II Generation, then so am I.
My head is filled with the sound track of World War II. Go into any cafe, and juke boxes were filled with tunes by Glen Miller, the Dorsey Brothers, Woodie Guthrie, Harry James and others. There were singles like "Praise the Lord and Pass The Ammunition," "Coming in On a Wing And a Prayer," nostalgic tunes like "I'll be Home For Christmas (if only in my dreams").
The war had not yet started when we heard ominous warnings that Democracies were weak and would not be able to stand up to the authoritarian dictatorships taking over the countries of Europe and Asia.
I didn't follow those discussions closely, but movie newsreels painted an ominous picture of the perilous state of affairs for the democracies.
Then, without much fanfare, Great Britain and the United States on August 14, 1941 signed the Atlantic Charter. Looking back on that event, I think it is not an exaggeration to say that that piece of paper laid the foundation for victory.
And yet.....
Last week the presidential historian Jon Meacham had an interesting thought about John McCain.
John McCain, he observed, was one of the last members of the World War II Generation.
If that's so, it explains a lot. It also means that I am also of the World War II Generation. In fact, John McCain and I received our Navy commissions on the same day in May of 1958. He flew airplanes and I drove ships, but it was the same navy.
John McCain was about eight months older than me. He was five years old when the Japanese attacked, I was four. Neither of us was surprised that war had started, because we had witnessed our fathers preparing for war.
My father had just returned to Tallahassee from the Carolina Maneuvers on December 5th. Earlier in the year, he was away at the Louisiana Maneuvers, a massive trial and demonstration of new military tactics. I had seen with my own eyes the two-lane US highways across the South clogged with enormous military convoys.
On that day of infamy in December of 1941, my dad grabbed his B-4 bag (always packed to go to war) and went to the air base. John McCain watched the staff car drive up to his house in New London and take his father away.He doesn't remember seeing his father again until after Japan surrendered.
If John McCain was the last of the World War II Generation, then so am I.
My head is filled with the sound track of World War II. Go into any cafe, and juke boxes were filled with tunes by Glen Miller, the Dorsey Brothers, Woodie Guthrie, Harry James and others. There were singles like "Praise the Lord and Pass The Ammunition," "Coming in On a Wing And a Prayer," nostalgic tunes like "I'll be Home For Christmas (if only in my dreams").
The war had not yet started when we heard ominous warnings that Democracies were weak and would not be able to stand up to the authoritarian dictatorships taking over the countries of Europe and Asia.
I didn't follow those discussions closely, but movie newsreels painted an ominous picture of the perilous state of affairs for the democracies.
Then, without much fanfare, Great Britain and the United States on August 14, 1941 signed the Atlantic Charter. Looking back on that event, I think it is not an exaggeration to say that that piece of paper laid the foundation for victory.
The eight principal points of the Charter were:
- no territorial gains were to be sought by the United States or the United Kingdom;
- territorial adjustments must be in accord with the wishes of the peoples concerned;
- all people had a right to self-determination;
- trade barriers were to be lowered;
- there was to be global economic cooperation and advancement of social welfare;
- the participants would work for a world free of want and fear;
- the participants would work for freedom of the seas;
- there was to be disarmament of aggressor nations, and a common disarmament after the war.
The truth is, the Charter sounded much like Woodrow Wilson's Fourteen Points of 1917. It proved to be a powerful incentive for other nations to join in a grand and eventually victorious alliance. As in 1917, the goal was to make the world safe for democracy, but also safe for commerce and prosperity.
The World War II generation did not accept authoritarian dictatorships. We did not accept the idea of a "Master Race."
To be sure, many Americans believed in White Supremacy. But the World War II generation changed all that. It was our proudest accomplishment.
Sunday, August 26, 2018
John S. McCain - The Last Republican Patriot?
John McCain was a genuine American Patriot. He will be sorely missed.
His life was a testament to what is meant by patriotism. It was also a testament to what it means to be a naval officer.
To some extent, the virtues John McCain displayed in his own life were not just his personal virtues, but the virtues of his chosen profession.
And any man who may be asked in this century what he did to make his life worth while, I think can respond with a good deal of pride and satisfaction: "I served in the United States Navy."
His life was a testament to what is meant by patriotism. It was also a testament to what it means to be a naval officer.
To some extent, the virtues John McCain displayed in his own life were not just his personal virtues, but the virtues of his chosen profession.
And any man who may be asked in this century what he did to make his life worth while, I think can respond with a good deal of pride and satisfaction: "I served in the United States Navy."
- Remarks at the U.S. Naval Academy (1 August 1963), Public Papers of the Presidents 321, p. 620
Thursday, August 16, 2018
John Brennan - American Patriot
Today Donald J. Trump announced he was revoking the security clearance of John Brennan, former Director of the CIA, who tracked Osama Bin Laden down and directed his elimination.
The reason? Brennan publicly criticized Trump.
John Brennan is a private citizen and had every right to speak his mind. A right protected by the First Amendment to the US Constitution.
Some thoughts:
1. This is not the act of a strong leader;
2. In fact, it is the act of a craven coward; an insecure bully; a weak leader;
3. The action weakens America;
4. The thought keeps crossing my mind - is there such a thing as a Republican Patriot?
There is at least one. His name is John McCain.
Recently the Congress passed a defense bill named in honor of John McCain. President Trump signed the bill at a ceremony without mentioning the name of the bill or mentioning John McCain.
No class.
The reason? Brennan publicly criticized Trump.
John Brennan is a private citizen and had every right to speak his mind. A right protected by the First Amendment to the US Constitution.
Some thoughts:
1. This is not the act of a strong leader;
2. In fact, it is the act of a craven coward; an insecure bully; a weak leader;
3. The action weakens America;
4. The thought keeps crossing my mind - is there such a thing as a Republican Patriot?
There is at least one. His name is John McCain.
Recently the Congress passed a defense bill named in honor of John McCain. President Trump signed the bill at a ceremony without mentioning the name of the bill or mentioning John McCain.
No class.
Sunday, August 12, 2018
Wild Fires, Drought, Hurricanes, What Hath Fossil Fuels Wrought?
Tom Brokaw called the generation that brought us through the Great Depression and World War II "The Greatest Generation."
I have often worried that they spawned the worst generation. Let's hope their great grandchildren don't become the last generation.
That sounds a bit apocalyptic until you read the New York Times account of how close we came to gaining control over the looming disaster of cataclysmic climate change: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2018/08/01/magazine/climate-change-losing-earth.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&clickSource=story-heading&module=photo-spot-region®ion=top-news&WT.nav=top-news
The generation that failed to act was arguably my generation.
I have often worried that they spawned the worst generation. Let's hope their great grandchildren don't become the last generation.
That sounds a bit apocalyptic until you read the New York Times account of how close we came to gaining control over the looming disaster of cataclysmic climate change: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2018/08/01/magazine/climate-change-losing-earth.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&clickSource=story-heading&module=photo-spot-region®ion=top-news&WT.nav=top-news
The generation that failed to act was arguably my generation.
Sunday, July 29, 2018
Take Their Clearance Away!
Donald J. Trump is annoyed that half a dozen of our best and brightest experts in intelligence and national security take issue with his statements. His solution: Take away their security clearances.
Dumb!
The reason that former officials sometimes retain clearances to access classified information is for the convenience of the government (so they can be consulted), not for the profit of the former official. This is another case of psychological transference - that is, when a person of limited imagination attributes a motive to someone else because "that is what I would want to do."
John Brennan, James Clapper, Susan Rice, James Comey, Michael Hayden and Andrew McCabe committed the offense of speaking the truth as they see it.
I have news for the president: there is no clearance for facts.
For many years I read Pravda and Izvestia to see what the Soviets were telling each other. Some of what they were saying were facts. Some weren't. I got to be pretty good at telling the difference. I can still tell the difference, and so can the targeted officials.
Even without a security clearance.
Dumb!
The reason that former officials sometimes retain clearances to access classified information is for the convenience of the government (so they can be consulted), not for the profit of the former official. This is another case of psychological transference - that is, when a person of limited imagination attributes a motive to someone else because "that is what I would want to do."
John Brennan, James Clapper, Susan Rice, James Comey, Michael Hayden and Andrew McCabe committed the offense of speaking the truth as they see it.
I have news for the president: there is no clearance for facts.
For many years I read Pravda and Izvestia to see what the Soviets were telling each other. Some of what they were saying were facts. Some weren't. I got to be pretty good at telling the difference. I can still tell the difference, and so can the targeted officials.
Even without a security clearance.
The Brilliance Of John Bolton
The Republican cognoscenti insist that John Bolton, the president's national security adviser, is "brilliant."
I have been unable to confirm that.
Long believed to be an anti-Russia hawk, more recently he has been friendly to Putin. Why this is so, I cannot tell.
When I saw a video clip of John Bolton giving a gun-rights speech to Russians, I laughed out loud.
Can Bolton be so ignorant or so gullible that he does not understand that there is no gun rights movement in Russia? His speech was a farce.
But it was of a piece with the insertion of Maria Butina into NRA activities to mobilize the gun rights movement on behalf of Russian goals. Maria Butina is clearly a spy.
The NRA has become a "fifth column" acting to further the objectives of a foreign government.
How do I know this?
I know a lot about foreign affairs and national security policy, especially about Russia. I have been following such matters closely since about 1956.
John Bolton knows little or nothing about it.
I have been unable to confirm that.
Long believed to be an anti-Russia hawk, more recently he has been friendly to Putin. Why this is so, I cannot tell.
When I saw a video clip of John Bolton giving a gun-rights speech to Russians, I laughed out loud.
Can Bolton be so ignorant or so gullible that he does not understand that there is no gun rights movement in Russia? His speech was a farce.
But it was of a piece with the insertion of Maria Butina into NRA activities to mobilize the gun rights movement on behalf of Russian goals. Maria Butina is clearly a spy.
The NRA has become a "fifth column" acting to further the objectives of a foreign government.
How do I know this?
I know a lot about foreign affairs and national security policy, especially about Russia. I have been following such matters closely since about 1956.
John Bolton knows little or nothing about it.
Wednesday, July 25, 2018
Occupied
Whatever else you watch on cable TV, make sure you see the drama "Occupied" on Netflix.
It takes place in the near future in Norway, and depicts the scenario of a ruthless takeover of Norway by Russia.
Be alert and pay attention to details.
There are brief scenes reminding us of Quisling.
Some scenes remind us of what must have happened in Norway during the occupation of 1942-1945.
There were degrees of resistance and degrees of courage.
The circumstances are worth thinking about.
What can patriots do when their country's leaders are loyal to another country?
It takes place in the near future in Norway, and depicts the scenario of a ruthless takeover of Norway by Russia.
Be alert and pay attention to details.
There are brief scenes reminding us of Quisling.
Some scenes remind us of what must have happened in Norway during the occupation of 1942-1945.
There were degrees of resistance and degrees of courage.
The circumstances are worth thinking about.
What can patriots do when their country's leaders are loyal to another country?
Tuesday, July 24, 2018
House Of Cards
A year or two ago in the TV program House of Cards, one of the characters observed that "the President Is the people around him."
I thought that was pretty prescient.
Most of the time, we know who the people are who surround the president. In the case of Hillary Clinton, you could find out by looking up her web site. But none of us knew the people around Trump. Furthermore, they seemed to have no experience or interest in actually governing, but were skilled at plunder. And at showmanship.
I knew many of the skilled people around Hillary personally, and most of them at least by reputation.
Not only was Secretary Clinton herself better qualified and prepared than most of those she surrounded herself with, they themselves were among the most talented and well-prepared of her generation and of the generation before her. It was tragic that these leaders did not get to lead.
Governing is hard. It is complicated. It is not best done by amateurs.
I don't understand what happened, but the last time our national leaders were this incompetent was after World War I, otherwise known as The Great War. It was Harry Truman who observed that in a democracy, countries get the government they deserve. I think that's a bit harsh. We deserve better than what we have.
I will have some thoughts about that.
I thought that was pretty prescient.
Most of the time, we know who the people are who surround the president. In the case of Hillary Clinton, you could find out by looking up her web site. But none of us knew the people around Trump. Furthermore, they seemed to have no experience or interest in actually governing, but were skilled at plunder. And at showmanship.
I knew many of the skilled people around Hillary personally, and most of them at least by reputation.
Not only was Secretary Clinton herself better qualified and prepared than most of those she surrounded herself with, they themselves were among the most talented and well-prepared of her generation and of the generation before her. It was tragic that these leaders did not get to lead.
Governing is hard. It is complicated. It is not best done by amateurs.
I don't understand what happened, but the last time our national leaders were this incompetent was after World War I, otherwise known as The Great War. It was Harry Truman who observed that in a democracy, countries get the government they deserve. I think that's a bit harsh. We deserve better than what we have.
I will have some thoughts about that.
Wednesday, July 18, 2018
The American Quisling; The American Fifth Column; The American Terrorist
Over the weekend, Donald J. Trump did his best to dismantle the Western Alliance, to destroy democracy, and to wreak havoc on the world economy.
To what end? The truth is, no one knows for sure. But we saw it coming.
It was clear from the outset of his campaign for the presidency, that he was really running for the office of dictator.
His supporters need to open their eyes.
And yet - it is not clear to me that Trump is really driving this train. It is the leadership of the Republican Party who have mounted a prolonged, sustained attack on Democracy.
I'm not sure exactly when the attack began, but I believe it was well underway at the time of Bush v. Gore.
The U.S. Supreme Court did not have to intervene in Florida's recount of the presidential election of 2,000. There was plenty of time left to determine who won.
To what end? The truth is, no one knows for sure. But we saw it coming.
It was clear from the outset of his campaign for the presidency, that he was really running for the office of dictator.
His supporters need to open their eyes.
And yet - it is not clear to me that Trump is really driving this train. It is the leadership of the Republican Party who have mounted a prolonged, sustained attack on Democracy.
I'm not sure exactly when the attack began, but I believe it was well underway at the time of Bush v. Gore.
The U.S. Supreme Court did not have to intervene in Florida's recount of the presidential election of 2,000. There was plenty of time left to determine who won.
Friday, June 29, 2018
Did Rod Rosenstein Recommend That Trump Fire Jim Comey?
When President Trump fired FBI Director Comey, everyone in the press read Rosenstein's memo as a recommendation to fire Comey. They were wrong.
Here is what I wrote at the time: "According to the Washington Post, Trump had decided to fire Comey ahead of time and then called Sessions and Rosenstein to the White House on Monday May 8th and directed them to put in writing the reasons for firing Comey. They complied.
"But Rosenstein, an experienced Justice Department official, DID NOT INCLUDE IN HIS MEMO A RECOMMENDATION TO FIRE COMEY!
"So Rosenstein had every right to object when Trump claimed in writing that he was only following Rosenstein's recommendation. He had carefully followed the president's direction and put in writing some reasons to fire Comey but he did not make the recommendation to do so.
"My reading is that Trump, unfamiliar and contemptuous of the ways of career government officials, totally missed the subtlety of Rosenstein's memo. Apparently Trump was in such a big hurry that he did not ask anyone familiar with government to review Rosenstein's memo.
"Anyone with experience in government would have spotted what Rosenstein did. More evidence that Trump is not competent to govern. But we already knew that.
Here is what I wrote at the time: "According to the Washington Post, Trump had decided to fire Comey ahead of time and then called Sessions and Rosenstein to the White House on Monday May 8th and directed them to put in writing the reasons for firing Comey. They complied.
"But Rosenstein, an experienced Justice Department official, DID NOT INCLUDE IN HIS MEMO A RECOMMENDATION TO FIRE COMEY!
"So Rosenstein had every right to object when Trump claimed in writing that he was only following Rosenstein's recommendation. He had carefully followed the president's direction and put in writing some reasons to fire Comey but he did not make the recommendation to do so.
"My reading is that Trump, unfamiliar and contemptuous of the ways of career government officials, totally missed the subtlety of Rosenstein's memo. Apparently Trump was in such a big hurry that he did not ask anyone familiar with government to review Rosenstein's memo.
"Anyone with experience in government would have spotted what Rosenstein did. More evidence that Trump is not competent to govern. But we already knew that.
What I fail to understand is how experienced national level journalists can have missed this. It isn't rocket science.
Quisling Is An Ugly Word
You may have to be of a certain age to know what "Quisling" means. It truly refers to a turncoat, a prominent person who is disloyal to his own country and works to undermine the interests of his own people. Vidkun Quisling was such a person. He was Norwegian.
I know Norwegians and admire the ones I know. Vidkun Quisling, though, aspired to be the dictator or at least puppet leader of Norway's Nazi government during the German occupation.
Quisling was not loyal to his own people.
He came to a bad end in 1945. You can look it up.
He may have genuinely admired Adolf Hitler - I don't know. But he bet on the wrong horse.
In most cases, betting against your own people turns out badly in the end.
Words to remember from the WWII era:
1. Fifth Column;
2. Quisling;
3. Collaborator.
I know Norwegians and admire the ones I know. Vidkun Quisling, though, aspired to be the dictator or at least puppet leader of Norway's Nazi government during the German occupation.
Quisling was not loyal to his own people.
He came to a bad end in 1945. You can look it up.
He may have genuinely admired Adolf Hitler - I don't know. But he bet on the wrong horse.
In most cases, betting against your own people turns out badly in the end.
Words to remember from the WWII era:
1. Fifth Column;
2. Quisling;
3. Collaborator.
Thursday, June 21, 2018
Trump Fears Toddlers and Babies
So how come our great leader is so afraid of toddlers and babies that he has to throw them in jail? Is this the mark of a leader who is so weak he has to surround himself with yes men in order to control these toddlers?
What gives?
Actually, I have known for most of my life that bullies are fearful and weak. I won't say exactly how I know, but I do.
And I know that is what we have in charge: A weak bully, surrounded by yes men.
We can do better, and we had better start on it right now.
What gives?
Actually, I have known for most of my life that bullies are fearful and weak. I won't say exactly how I know, but I do.
And I know that is what we have in charge: A weak bully, surrounded by yes men.
We can do better, and we had better start on it right now.
Wednesday, June 13, 2018
Save So Much Money By Cancelling "War Games" - Trump
First off, military exercises are not games of any kind.
By the same rationale, our hospitals and medical personnel could save a lot of money by cancelling mass casualty exercises. Mass casualties, after all, are very rare. Therefore there is no need to practice.
And there are other ways to save money. Calvin Coolidge, for example, was alarmed at the bill for US Army plans to purchase military aircraft.
"Just buy one airplane," he suggested, "and let the pilots take turns flying it."
By the same rationale, our hospitals and medical personnel could save a lot of money by cancelling mass casualty exercises. Mass casualties, after all, are very rare. Therefore there is no need to practice.
And there are other ways to save money. Calvin Coolidge, for example, was alarmed at the bill for US Army plans to purchase military aircraft.
"Just buy one airplane," he suggested, "and let the pilots take turns flying it."
Tuesday, May 29, 2018
Assets
Netflix is showing a TV drama about the CIA employee, Aldrich Ames, who spied for the Soviet Union and later for Russia, who revealed the identities of Russians who provided information to the CIA.
Ames was disloyal. He greatly harmed the US. It is clear from the drama that Russia continued to spy on the US long after the Soviet Union ceased to exist.
I thought the drama was well done and did a good job of revealing the techniques of espionage and counter espionage.
It is by now quite clear that Russia's effort to insure the election of Donald J. Trump as president and prevent the election of Hillary Clinton was a successful espionage effort. It incorporated skills developed in Russia over the centiries by Russian despotic regimes.
I don't claim to be an expert on Russia, though I speak the language pretty well and have studied Russian History, Government and military affairs since about 1957.
Are there any genuine experts on Russia?
Yes. One such expert is Christopher Steele. If I wanted to know what was going on, I would consult him.
Our own most noted home-grown expert on Russia was the late George Frost Kennan, who not long before his death advised against expanding NATO to the east.
He may have been wrong about that, but we should at least have listened.
Back to "Assets."
Over the past several years, it appears that Russia recruited many assets, including many in the Trump campaign.
To understand the dynamics, we need to resurrect some terms from World War II: "fifth column," for example, and "Quisling."
Ames was disloyal. He greatly harmed the US. It is clear from the drama that Russia continued to spy on the US long after the Soviet Union ceased to exist.
I thought the drama was well done and did a good job of revealing the techniques of espionage and counter espionage.
It is by now quite clear that Russia's effort to insure the election of Donald J. Trump as president and prevent the election of Hillary Clinton was a successful espionage effort. It incorporated skills developed in Russia over the centiries by Russian despotic regimes.
I don't claim to be an expert on Russia, though I speak the language pretty well and have studied Russian History, Government and military affairs since about 1957.
Are there any genuine experts on Russia?
Yes. One such expert is Christopher Steele. If I wanted to know what was going on, I would consult him.
Our own most noted home-grown expert on Russia was the late George Frost Kennan, who not long before his death advised against expanding NATO to the east.
He may have been wrong about that, but we should at least have listened.
Back to "Assets."
Over the past several years, it appears that Russia recruited many assets, including many in the Trump campaign.
To understand the dynamics, we need to resurrect some terms from World War II: "fifth column," for example, and "Quisling."
Saturday, April 21, 2018
Read Madeleine Albright
I recently bought a copy of Madeleine Albright's latest book: Fascism.
Like Albright, I lived through much of the Fascist era.
In 1937, it was still uncertain whether Western Democracies would prevail against authoritarian dictatorships.
By 1946 the results were clear! Democracies were stronger.
Historians still debate what was the turning point of World War II?
Was it the Battle of Midway that made victory inevitable? Was it the Battle of Stalingrad? Was it Normandy? Was it the London Blitz?
I personally like the Doolittle Raid on Tokyo, but really I believe it was none of these battles.
Instead, I believe it was the signature of the Atlantic Charter at Argentia, Newfoundland on August 18, 1941.
The Atlantic Charter laid the diplomatic foundation for the western alliance and for victory.
Diplomacy is critical.
Like Albright, I lived through much of the Fascist era.
In 1937, it was still uncertain whether Western Democracies would prevail against authoritarian dictatorships.
By 1946 the results were clear! Democracies were stronger.
Historians still debate what was the turning point of World War II?
Was it the Battle of Midway that made victory inevitable? Was it the Battle of Stalingrad? Was it Normandy? Was it the London Blitz?
I personally like the Doolittle Raid on Tokyo, but really I believe it was none of these battles.
Instead, I believe it was the signature of the Atlantic Charter at Argentia, Newfoundland on August 18, 1941.
The Atlantic Charter laid the diplomatic foundation for the western alliance and for victory.
Diplomacy is critical.
Tuesday, April 17, 2018
Nikki Haley Not Confused
With the possible exception of Jim Mattis, UN Ambassador Nikki Haley is emerging as the strongest member of Donald J. Trump's cabinet. On Sunday, she announced a strong set of sanctions on Russia, a set of sanctions obviously prepared by the administration. When the president apparently changed his mind, possibly after receiving a complaint from Putin. Trying to pick up thr pieces, Larry Kudlow (the president's economic adviser who is not an economist) declared that Nikki Haley just got confused.
Nikki Haley made it plain "I don't get confused."
The main conclusion I draw is that this White House would have difficulty organizing a two-car parade.
Nikki Haley made it plain "I don't get confused."
The main conclusion I draw is that this White House would have difficulty organizing a two-car parade.
Friday, April 6, 2018
Scott Pruitt is Really Not From Oklahoma - He's From Kentucky
Neither is James Inhoffe from Oklahoma - he's really from Iowa.
As a native of Oklahoma, who knows there are decent people there, I just don't want to be blamed for anything these fools do.
As a native of Oklahoma, who knows there are decent people there, I just don't want to be blamed for anything these fools do.
Tuesday, April 3, 2018
Russia Meddled: Let's Make Sure It Doesn't Happen Again
Let's be clear. Russia is a hostile power.
The Government of Russia opposes democracy.
Russian government interference in the 2016 US election was an intelligence operation.
Russia interfered in elections in Europe as well as the US.
Putin is a thug and an assassin.
Trump is weak.
Congressional Republicans are feckless.
Get out and vote.
The Government of Russia opposes democracy.
Russian government interference in the 2016 US election was an intelligence operation.
Russia interfered in elections in Europe as well as the US.
Putin is a thug and an assassin.
Trump is weak.
Congressional Republicans are feckless.
Get out and vote.
Thursday, February 1, 2018
The Girl In The Spider's Web
Stayed up late last night reading The Girl In The Spider's Web. The novel, written by David Ladercranz, a well known Swedish author, is the fourth volume in the saga of Lisbeth Salander, the girl with the dragon tattoo, a very peculiar young woman and experienced hacker. A good thriller series started by Stieg Larsson. Salander's hacker handle is Wasp. This volume reveals that the handle comes from a Marvel Comics female superhero admired by Lisbeth when she was a child.
Reminds me that I read Superman, for example, whose ideals were "truth, justice and the American way." Superman, Captain Marvel, Captain Marvel Junior and other superheroes of my generation fought for the betterment of mankind, not for themselves. They did not seek wealth or self aggrandizement, they fostered diversity and cooperation.
Those of us who went to Sunday School learned about the Sermon on the Mount.
We despised dictators and authoritarian figures and valued mutual cooperation.
Internationally, Roosevelt and Churchill laid the foundation for victory in WWII when they signed the Atlantic Charter in August, 1941. Other nations wanted to join in the effort and our alliance was victorious. We joined together to, in the words of Woodrow Wilson, "make the world safe for democracy." That laid the foundation for postwar peace and prosperity.
Keeping that peace was hard work.
Our American Dream was the same as Lincoln's: Government of the People, By the People, and For the People. All of them, not just the white people.
Now we are led by a president who thinks he was elected Dictator.
The Great White Hope.
How did we get to this place?
How do we get out of it?
One thing I know for sure - we can't rely on superheroes. Only we can fix democracy and we'd better start the job right now!
Reminds me that I read Superman, for example, whose ideals were "truth, justice and the American way." Superman, Captain Marvel, Captain Marvel Junior and other superheroes of my generation fought for the betterment of mankind, not for themselves. They did not seek wealth or self aggrandizement, they fostered diversity and cooperation.
Those of us who went to Sunday School learned about the Sermon on the Mount.
We despised dictators and authoritarian figures and valued mutual cooperation.
Internationally, Roosevelt and Churchill laid the foundation for victory in WWII when they signed the Atlantic Charter in August, 1941. Other nations wanted to join in the effort and our alliance was victorious. We joined together to, in the words of Woodrow Wilson, "make the world safe for democracy." That laid the foundation for postwar peace and prosperity.
Keeping that peace was hard work.
Our American Dream was the same as Lincoln's: Government of the People, By the People, and For the People. All of them, not just the white people.
Now we are led by a president who thinks he was elected Dictator.
The Great White Hope.
How did we get to this place?
How do we get out of it?
One thing I know for sure - we can't rely on superheroes. Only we can fix democracy and we'd better start the job right now!
Monday, January 15, 2018
Pentagon Papers
We have seen two excellent movies this week. Both are historical dramas.
Darkest Hour is about Winston Churchill becoming Prime Minister of Great Britain. What did Churchill do? In the space of a few days in 1939, he mobilized the English language to defend the British Empire and ultimately the western world against a tyrant. To see (and hear) how he did it, go see The Darkest Hour.
Note that he used language that was both powerful and clean. No obscenities. Not a single word you wouldn't want your children to hear. Masterful invective. Example: describing a member of his war cabinet as "a sheep in sheep's clothing." That language is powerfully contemptuous but clean as a hound's tooth. We can take lessons from him.
The most powerful weapons in Winston's strategic arsenal in addition to language: 1. imagination; 2. determination.
The second powerful movie: The Post. This is the story of a strong willed woman who took a gamble against great odds and powerful opponents and triumphed. The woman was Katherine Graham, owner and publisher of the Washington Post, whose lawyers and financial advisors counseled prudence. She rejected their advice and turned a local newspaper into a national and international force. If you want a lesson in what the First Amendment is about and how it works, go see this movie.
Darkest Hour is about Winston Churchill becoming Prime Minister of Great Britain. What did Churchill do? In the space of a few days in 1939, he mobilized the English language to defend the British Empire and ultimately the western world against a tyrant. To see (and hear) how he did it, go see The Darkest Hour.
Note that he used language that was both powerful and clean. No obscenities. Not a single word you wouldn't want your children to hear. Masterful invective. Example: describing a member of his war cabinet as "a sheep in sheep's clothing." That language is powerfully contemptuous but clean as a hound's tooth. We can take lessons from him.
The most powerful weapons in Winston's strategic arsenal in addition to language: 1. imagination; 2. determination.
The second powerful movie: The Post. This is the story of a strong willed woman who took a gamble against great odds and powerful opponents and triumphed. The woman was Katherine Graham, owner and publisher of the Washington Post, whose lawyers and financial advisors counseled prudence. She rejected their advice and turned a local newspaper into a national and international force. If you want a lesson in what the First Amendment is about and how it works, go see this movie.
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