Month: June 2019

Sure They Were Faked. So What?

It’s a big photo, well-shot and finely detailed.  Blow it up a little and you can clearly see:  This is to the side of an open vehicle gate.  It is, as we can see from other photos, at a secure parking lot.  Not only does this section of fence hold nobody inside, there’s a great big wide-open hole right next to the cameraman.

If you’re unfamiliar with the subject matter, this is AOC on a promotional photo shoot from when she was first running for office.  She’s seen here weeping crocodile tears for the camera outside a temporary tent city set up for the processing of migrant asylum-seekers.

The Internet is making fun of her for having posed for the pictures.  Her office has issued indignant denials; that’s real emotion, they say.

And I say:  So what? (more…)

Contested Elections and a Constitutional Crisis

Several times in the past few weeks, by several different people, I’ve been asked the following question in one form or another:

“What’s to stop Donald Trump simply refusing to accept the results of an election where he’s voted out?”

Several potential justifications or complex scenarios were presented for my consideration.  In one, Trump would challenge in one or more states (such as California) on the grounds that illegal immigrants make up enough of the electorate to invalidate the results.  Others, less (more…)

Why Won’t They Impeach?

In point of fact, I rather think they will.  Just… not now.

Let us leave aside all discussion about whether Mr. Trump deserves impeachment.  There’s a widespread public belief that he does, and the present House was elected at least partly in order that he might be removed from office.  In the Mueller Report, the suggestion of obstruction is enough on which to base a charge — if not in court, then at least in Congress.  This plus a majority opposed is all that is necessary for him to be impeached, and any discussion of whether or not he deserves it is beside the point. (more…)

Dropping Out In 2020

CNN informs us that four in five Iowans want some of the Democrats presently running for president to drop out of the race before they caucus in February.  That’s fair enough; last I heard, there’s somewhere between 170 and 230 Democrats with active campaigns right now, and only half a dozen are polling above 1%.

And it’s reasonable from the standpoint of the average voter.  After all, who has the time to get to know even the major candidates?  Besides, it’s not as though there aren’t at least two championing every unique position.  For my own reference, I’ve been maintaining a 2020 candidate guidebook to help me keep track of the top thirty or so; I’m quite happy to share it with you. (more…)

The Case For Oligarchy

One of the many reasons Hillary Clinton lost in 2016 was the common perception that the DNC had stacked the deck, fixing the primaries against Bernie Sanders so she could win them.  Sanders wouldn’t have won anyway, but nobody seems to care; people focus on the wrongdoing.

Which is another thing; there’s nothing unethical or illegal about having SuperDelegates.  It’s ironic that the party that labels themselves “Democrats” uses an oligarchic system (more…)

Why Won’t People Admit The Truth About Russia?

Frankly, it’s because the real truth is hard to admit:

Russia didn’t cost Clinton the election and give it to Trump.

It’s possible you did.

What did Russia do? They stole information — true information — and leaked it to the voters. They did so at the most effective moment and in the most damaging way. They did it less to sway voters than to create hatred and division between the parties. Looking out there today, you can see they were successful. (more…)