Mattis' Farewell

Today is the last day of Secretary Mattis' tenure as Secretary of Defense.  As I've posted elsewhere, he is an American hero.  The letter he sent to DOD is a class act.  All the way.  Fair winds and following seas, Mr. Secretary.

A Providential New Year's Message

I'm occasionally called upon to read one of the lessons at our Episcopal Church.  There is usually an Old Testament reading and a New Testament reading.  New Testament readings are much more desired because they don't have all those unpronouncable names and because it's usually a little more relevant to the modern person.  At least it seems that way to me.  And so today, Dec 30th I was on the list to read.

My reading was from the New Testament and it was taken from St. Paul's Epistle to the Colossians.  Here it is:

As God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Now...not everyone who is reading this is a Christian.  But everyone reading can take this message in and think about it in general terms.  It's about how we treat each other, how we love one another, and how we live our lives, day by day.

If this isn't a great message as we move into the new year, I don't know what is.  And in 2019...I think we're gonna need it!  Happy New Year!

Friday Funnies

Festivus

Happy Festivus.   Another thing to take our minds off of the craziness around us!

Mattis

By now everyone who is interested (which seems to be everyone these days) has heard the story of Defense Secretary Mattis' resignation over President Trump's abrupt announcement that we will pull out our troops from Syria.  So what should we think about this?

First, the media narrative (which I didn't buy) from the beginning has been that Trump would be saved from his worst impulses by Gen Mattis, Gen Kelly, Gen Flynn and LtGen McMaster.  Well...so much for that.  They are all now gone.  And I can't see that their impact was so dramatic.  That's because Trump was the one who was elected.  He went through the months and months of pain and was never going to let his power go.  He listens to close advisors and considers what his team says.  But he fundamentally trusts himself more than anyone.  Just look at his ego and some of his statements.  So checking him is not in the cards.  But maybe educating him is.  Maybe he'll listen...sometimes and to a few people.  I think that is what Mattis was banking on.  He found out that is not in the cards.

So let's focus on Mattis.  There is not one little tiny shred of a doubt that he is a great American patriot and hero.  He is a legendary figure.  His accomplishments have been enormous and virtually no one would debate his importance on the national security scene.  I'm not so sure he ever really wanted to be Secretary of Defense, but he answered the bell when called.  I suspect he saw a neophyte in national security affairs and decided he could make a difference in helping to define our engagement strategy with the world.  I also am very sure he loves the troops and would do anything to make their lives better.  As the months unfolded it sounds to me like he became increasingly frustrated that Trump, while learning, wasn't listening.  Like I said, he was elected and he trusts himself.  The other thing about Trump is that because of the antipathy he has experienced with the media, he strongly feels that he needs to go direct to the people via Twitter.  That is about as alien to Mattis as anything imaginable.  If there is any knock on Mattis, and this isn't even a knock, it's that he's a product of and believer in the system.  By definition he is a believer of working within the system and adhering to generally accepted norms when it comes to developing national security strategy and engaging with allies.  He has found that isn't a priority with Trump.  Mattis developed what I consider one of the best, if not the best, national security strategies every produced by this country.  I've read that Trump didn't even read it.  I don't know if that's true, but it's believable.  Trump is his own national security strategy.  As the past two years unfolded there were successes and failures.  Maybe not so much failures as missed opportunities.  And on the international stage a missed opportunity is a failure.  So Mattis soldiered on trying to educate and get Trump to fit within the norms.  It was never going to happen.  The day of his resignation was going to happen at some point and the weird announcement, without consultation with his national security team and allies, that we were pulling out of Syria was literally the straw that broke the camels back.  So he resigned.

At this point let me say that I admire the resignation enormously!  How many times have we seen people in our government object to a policy under their breath and then go back to work.  All the while undermining the person they disagree with.  There is a huge breath of fresh air that Mattis resigned in the face of something he couldn't accept.  No drama.  No antipathy. Just here's why I'm doing it and here's my letter.  And oh by the way, no snarky excuses or sneaking around badmouthing the boss.  I'm resigning and here's 50 copies of the letter for all to see.  Class act!

Now, there are those who are gnashing teeth and lamenting that Mattis was the "adult in the room" and now Trump will be unconstrained to respond to his worse instincts.  I don't buy it.  There's always someone else.  There's an old saying....cemeteries are filled by indispensable people.  There's always someone else.  He will leave a hole, but the hole will be filled.

Here's another, more humerous way to look at it.  Cracks me up.  But there's a lot of truth between the lines.

As to the decision, I come down on the side of withdrawal.  I would have done it differently.  I would have consulted and taken some time and worked with both allies and NGO's.  But that's not Trump.  He did his thing and he's the elected President.  So the average person like me doesn't have to make a resignation decision.  If I were in Mattis' position, I might have focused on process vs. outcome.  But Mattis clearly objects to the withdrawal.  So be it.  He is now gone.

UPDATE:  The WSJ Opinion page has a good summation of this whole mess.  They are much more eloquent than me and express concerns that any of us should hold.  You can read it here.  Since it's off their site it might be locked so you'll have to find it somewhere else if you're interested.

I can't articulate my position better than one of the guys I read regularly.  IMHO CDR Salamander nails it.  You can read his post here.

In a larger context, this is a providential prelude to the next two years.  Trump is going to suffer greatly.  People will resign.  Policies will be challenged.  Nothing will get through the Congress.  He will be embattled on all sides.  I don't think there will be an impeachment challenge, but that could change.  People I respect don't think he'll be able to or be willing to weather it.  I'm not so sure.  He's proven to be a strong guy with a thick skin.  So I suspect he'll hang in there.  Whether he will have a shot at reelection is another story.  At some point in the past I would have said it was a done deal.  Now I'm not so sure.

Friday Funnies

SHUT IT DOWN

The drama of the week (which has been building for a while) is the impending government shut down over funding to build the border wall that President Trump has promised since he declared for the Presidency in 2015.  The numbers are all over the board but Trump essentially wants $5B from this Congress.  They have offered $1.2B.  The original request was for $25B but that seems like a long time ago.  There has been a dance going on between Trump and the Democrats for 2 years to get the wall funded.  And it's no longer about the wall.  It's clearly about hating Trump and denying him anything he wants.  So this is a preview of the next two years.

There are some interesting things about this whole sordid mess.

1. I think Trump made a tactical communications mistake from the beginning when he focused on the term "the wall".  I know it was about plaing to his base, but it's an easily misunderstood term that can be exploited.  Everyone knows it's not about a wall and that a wall won't be build along the whole Southern border.  It's really about border security.  But the term "the wall" both boxes him in and allows the Dems something that they can rail against.  They can disengenuously say they want border security but not a wall.  They can say it won't work (which is BS because there are walls in many places around the world that do work).  They can say they don't want to waste money.  And all the while the people who resonate with a wall is his base.  But most everyone else recognizes that funding is needed for a lot of things along the border, and a wall in some places is needed.
2. $5B is a rounding error in the U.S. budget.  It's chump change.  To say that they can't afford it is intellectually insulting.
3. It was in the news today that we are getting ready to send $10.6B to Mexico and Central American countries for foreign aid.  That's like adding insult to injury.  
4. There is a Continuing Resolution on the table that will fund the government until sometime in February so as to get thru the holidays and kick the can down the road a bit.  But a new Congress comes in next month that is a Dem majority.  So there is not even a remote chance that this will get done in Feb.
5. Virtually all of the Dems have advocated for and voted for increased border security to include a wall in certain places in the past.  It's the heighth of hypocracy to now be against it.  It is clearly just a tactic to shove it up Trumps ass.  
6. The shutdown is a "partial" shutdown.  Don't really understand that but as I understand it there will be a lot of functions continuing.  There will be some bureaucrats who feel the pain, but it won't be terrible.
7. The media are clearly hoping for a shutdown.  They want the show.  They want the ability to go out and find the sob stories to put on TV and show everyone what a heartless asshole Trump is. They are almost salivating over it.  They don't care about the human stories.  They just hate Trump and want him to squirm.

I'm usually moderate in most things.  I believe in seeking a bipartisan solution.  I think dialog between the parties should result in compromise.  But right out of the gate the Dems are signalling that they are going to war.  They have the majority and are going to beat him over the head with it.  There will be NO bipartisan work done in the next two years.  So the next few weeks are the end of his ability to exert leverage.  Why not use it.  If he's going to stand on principle and say enough is enough...

SHUT IT DOWN!

Motivation Monday

Friday Funnies

The Shopping Mall

Like many (most?) I've found myself doing most of my shopping online.  Whatever kind of site it is, it is just so much more convenient to shop online.  And if you are a member of Amazon Prime the shipping is free.  So what's not to love.

But it's Christmas.  Shopping at the mall is sort of a ritual at Christmas.  I'm not not sure if I've been to a mall since last Christmas, but if so it wasn't a memorable trip.  So even though we've done a lot of shopping online for Christmas gifts, last week we set off for the mall to pick up a few items, do some window shopping and a fair amount of people watching.  We have a mall fairly close that has been totally redone in the last few years and recently reopened with a lot of high end stores that cater to all different tastes.  There were a few things that struck me about the mall that I'd never thought of or observed before.

1. How in the world does a store stay in business and make money when it caters to a very narrowly focused clientele?  I saw 4 stores at the mall selling sunglasses.  And these sunglasses aren't the $10 drug store specials.  They were expensive.  Very expensive.  And in all the stores I saw very few people shopping. I also saw stores selling flipflops.  How can you support a whole store on flipflops?
2. Kiosks are rampant.  When did they become a thing?  There is a kiosk for everything.  And no matter how high end the mall, the kiosks (at least to me) generally sell cheesy stuff.  Who buys stuff from a kiosk?  I saw no one browsing a kiosk.  Wait. I take that back.  I saw a kiosk selling 2019 calendars and there were several people browsing around.  But I suspect it was to look at the photos.
3. When did women and girls wearing ripped jeans become a thing?  I didn't see just a few women with ripped jeans.  I saw a ton of them.  It caused me to scratch my head pretty hard.  And while I'm on it, how do some of them fit in those jeans.  I mean, they are skintight!  I was tempted to ask a few women how they got into and out of them but that probably wouldn't have ended well.
4. Where has Cinabon gone?  That used to be a mall staple.  No more Cinabon.  I never bought any but the smells were sure nice.
5. Why do women and girls put their cell phones in their rear pocket?  Doesn't it break when you sit down?  That seems to me the last place to put a phone.
6. I couldn't believe all the places to eat in the mall.  And not just foodcourt kinds of places.  How do these places make money other than at lunch?  Who goes to the mall for dinner?  Is that a thing now?  I wasn't there at dinner time, but I might go back just to check out the crowds.
7. There was a store in the mall called "Untuck It".  They sell shirts for guys that are regular shirts except apparently they are cut a little different so when they are worn outside pants they look good.  Another strange niche store.  
8. You can buy a Tesla at the mall.  A Tesla.  As in a car.  It's a storefront just like The Gap or Pottery Barn.  I guess you go in with your checkbook and come out with a car or something.  But I didn't see any back lot for checking out different colors.
9. There is a huge furniture store right in the middle of the mall called "ARHOUS".  Get it?  Our House.  A play on words.  I hate clever plays on words.  I was turned off before I even went in. But I have to admit the stuff was pretty cool.  But very, very expensive.  
10. Nortstrom is still Nordstrom.  Snooty and expensive.  When I was working I used to buy clothes there once in a while.  I was usually a Jos A Bank or Brooks Brothers guy.  But Nordstrom has some good suits.  The problem at Nordstrom is getting past the sales people.  I mean, they are sales people.  They act as if they own the store and are a little offended that you'd want to take some of their things out of the store.  The other interesting phenomenon are the women who work the cosmetics department.  They are scary.  They have clearly taken trying their products to heart.  They seem to have a permanent wide-eyed glare.  

There were others but those are a few off the top of my head.  It was a fun experience and we laughed about these and others.  Now excuse me while I fire up the computer.  I need to do some shopping in my jammies.

Tweets

I've been on Twitter for a few years now.  I heard about it several years ago and didn't really jump on board because it seemed so limiting and shallow.  But since I like to keep up on what's happening in this new social media world, I finally decided that I should jump in.  Around that time the Presidential election was gaining momentum and all of the candidates, especially Trump, were on Twitter and providing info direct to their constituents.  So it seemed like a good thing to try out.  I have to admit than when I first got on Twitter it was a bit addictive.  In a very short time you can scroll through a lot of Tweets and receive a lot of info.  You can easily choose who you want to follow so if you're a mind to validate your thoughts and not listen to people who you disagree with, then it's easy to just stay in an echo chamber.  Conversely, if you want to get really annoyed by people who you think are idiots, then you can find them and follow them.  It then becomes pretty easy to get in arguments with complete strangers over some subject that you both disagree on.  It's also pretty easy to mindlessly spout either good or evil on various things depending upon your frame of mind.  And most assuredly it's very easy to become a Twitter warrior and rant and rave over things that in real life is something you might take a few minutes to think about and then go about your day.  On balance, I've come to believe that the bad dramatically outweighs the good!  

After being on Twitter for a few years I've found myself turning away, largely with disdain.  Of course we all see our President tweeting on various things almost every day.  And I have to admit that it really is a good way for him to get his thoughts out directly to the people without the filter of the media, which clearly hate him and will put their own spin on whatever he says.  The problem though is that with someone in his position, I think people expect more.  They are turned off by the name calling and hostility he exhibits on Twitter.  How many times have you heard people who otherwise like many of the things that he has accomplished remark that they wish he'd just stop Tweeting.  But if you've been on Twitter for any length of time, you are aware that being active on Twitter results in a coarseness that many times doesn't reflect well on the user.  You almost can't help but react emotionally to the things you see there.  The other thing is that this form of social media allows people to have a voice who otherwise would be anonymous.  Do they need that voice?  Well, that's a whole other conversation but it seems that many want to engage on the issues of the day and see Twitter as a way to do that.

The other thing about Twitter is the recent phenomenon of the company (and don't forget that's what it is.  A company whose goal is to make money!) has engaged in pretty egregious suppression of many people who they don't agree with.  Read that as conservatives.  There are many, many examples of conservatives being censored or outright banned.  In what is supposedly a free society, it is at best concerning and at worst really disturbing.  Don't know where they are going with this but I don't see any solutions anytime soon.

And now we get to the latest dustup on Twitter.  Just last week Keven Hart was dumped from hosting the Oscars because of some tweets that were dredged up from several years ago that were supposedly offensive and homophobic.  Several years ago.  And the young Quarterback from Oklahoma, Kyler Murry who won the Heisman Trophy this week was confronted with tweets from when he was 14 that were supposedly Homophobic.  He was 14.  I say supposedly on both these cases becuase I haven't seen the tweets.  They were from several years ago and both are not remotely the peopole they were then.  These cases are tragic, maddening, and stupid.  And I think the average person believes that.  If this isn't a great lesson to any young person that whatever you put on social media never, ever goes away, I don't know what is.  I'm never going to be in the spotlight for anything, but I sometimes thank my lucky stars that Twitter wasn't around when I was a young dude.  Like most, I said a lot of stupid things.  I'm not the same person as the person who said stupid things in their youth.  Just like Kevin and Kyler.  Like I said, it's tragic.  

Motivation Monday

Cool Pic

USS GEORGE HERBERT WALKER BUSH

Friday Funnies

THE FIANCE'

A young woman brought her fiancé home to meet her parents.

After dinner, her mother told the girl's father to find out about the young man.

The father invited the fiancé to the living room for a talk.

"So, what are your plans?" the father asked the young man.

"I am a biblical scholar," he replied.

"A biblical scholar, hmmm?" the father said. "Admirable, but what will you
do to provide a nice house for my daughter to live in?"

"I will study," the young man replied, "and God will provide for us."

"And how will you buy her a beautiful engagement ring, such as she
deserves?" asked the father.

"I will concentrate on my studies," the young man replied, "God will provide for us."

"And children?" asked the father. "How will you support children?"

"Don't worry, sir, God will provide," replied the fiancé.

The conversation proceeded like that ... each time the young idealist insisted that God would provide.

Later, the mother asked, "How did your talk go, honey?"

The father answered, "another Democrat, He has no job, he has no plans, and he thinks I'm God."

President George H.W. Bush Funeral

It's been a special week.  As Americans we bicker and fuss and hate on each other constantly.  The political partisanship is almost intolerable.  Most of us who call ourselves moderates become sick and frustrated with it.  That's why the week has been special.  The death of President Bush has served to bring people together, even for a short time.  America has had 45 Presidents.  45 in 242 years!  When they die the country always comes together.  I remember when Reagan died the majesty and ceremonies were awesome.  Maybe because we've become so polarized and partisan, when a President dies, the bipartisanship seems even more special.  Add in that President Bush was probably the most decent man to hold the office in most of our lifetimes, and you get something to remember.

If you didn't see the funeral today at the National Cathedral, you missed an amazing event.  It was, quite simply the most beautiful, majestic, moving and fitting ceremony I've ever seen.  Ever!  I can't even describe all of the facets of the day, but it was truly special.  Maybe you don't have a couple hours to watch a replay, but the eulogies and homily are certainly worth some part of your time.  They all were magnificent.  So I'll link them here.

Historian John Meacham 

Former Canadian PM Brian Mulroney

Senator Alan Simpson

President George W. Bush

And here is the homily given by Father Levinson.  It was amazing!

Sully

The photo of President Bush's service dog, Sully lying in front of his casket is heartbreaking and inspiring.  It is no wonder that it has gone viral in both conventional and social media.  There will be a lot more images this week as President Bush is laid to rest, but I daresay none will be as poignant as this one.  RIP President Bush!

Motivation Monday

President George H. W. Bush

We lost a hero, a gentleman, a statesman, a President last night.  But he would say we lost a husband, a father and a grandfather last night.  He was many things, but certainly at the core was his humanity. RIP President Bush!

Friday Funnies

The Back Nine

A friend sent this to me.  Only those of us of, ahem, a certain age will get and appreciate it.  If you're in that category, enjoy.

THE BACK NINE

 
I FIRST STARTED READING THIS EMAIL & WAS READING FAST UNTIL I REACHED THE THIRD SENTENCE. I STOPPED AND STARTED OVER READING SLOWER AND THINKING ABOUT EVERY WORD. THIS EMAIL IS VERY THOUGHT PROVOKING. MAKES YOU STOP AND THINK.
it's so true.
 
You know .. Time has a way of moving quickly and catching you unaware of the passing years. It seems just yesterday that I was young, just married and embarking on my new life with my mate. Yet in a way, it seems like eons ago, and I wonder where all the years went. I know that I lived them all. I have glimpses of how it was back then and of all my hopes and dreams.

But, here it is..  The back nine of my life   and it catches me by surprise...How did I get here so fast? Where did the years go and where did my youth go?

I remember well seeing older people through the years and thinking that those older people were years away from me and that I was only on the first hole and the back nine was so far off that I could not fathom it or imagine fully what it would be like.

But, here it is...my friends are retired and getting grey...they move slower and I see an older person now. Some are in better and some worse shape than me...but, I see the great change....Not like the ones that I remember who were young and vibrant..but, like me, their age is beginning to show and we are now those older folks that we used to see and never thought we'd become.

Each day now, I find that just getting a shower is a real target for the day! And taking a nap is not a treat anymore... it's mandatory! Cause if I don't on my own free will.. I just fall asleep where I sit!
 
And so...now I enter into this new season of my life unprepared for all the aches and pains and the loss of strength and ability to go and do things that I wish I had done but never did!! But, at least I know, that though I'm on the back nine, and I'm not sure how long it will last...this I know, that when it's over on this earth...it's over for here. A new and better adventure will begin!
Yes, I have regrets.   There are things I wish I hadn't done...things I should have done, but indeed, there are many things I'm happy to have done. It's all in a lifetime.

So, if you're not on the back nine yet...let me remind you, that it will be here faster than you think. So, whatever you would like to accomplish in your life please do it quickly! Don't put things off too long!! Life goes by quickly. So, do what you can today, as you can never be sure whether you're on the back nine or not!

You have no promise that you will see all the seasons of your life....so, live for today and say all the things that you want your loved ones to remember...and hope that they appreciate and love you for all the things that you have done for them in all the years past!!
 
"Life" is a gift to you.   The way you live your life is your gift to those who come after. Make it a fantastic one. LIVE IT WELL! ENJOY TODAY! DO SOMETHING FUN! BE HAPPY ! HAVE A GREAT DAY   ! Remember  "It is health that is real wealth and not pieces of gold and silver .
 
LASTLY, CONSIDER THIS:
~Your kids are becoming you......but your grandchildren are perfect!
~Going out is good.. Coming home is better!
~You forget names.... But it's OK because some people forgot they even knew you!!!
~You realize you're never going to be really good at anything like golf.
~The things you used to care to do, you aren't as interested in anymore, but you really don't care that you aren't as interested.
~You sleep better on a lounge chair with the TV 'ON' than in bed. It's called "pre-sleep".
~You miss the days when everything worked with just an "ON" and "OFF" switch..
~You tend to use more 4 letter words ... "what?"..."when?"... ???
~You notice everything they sell in stores is "sleeveless"?!!!
~What used to be freckles are now liver spots.
~Everybody whispers.
~You have 3 sizes of clothes in your closet.... 2 of which you will never wear.

~~~But Old is good in some things: Old Songs, Old movies, and best of all, OLD FRIENDS !!

Stay well, "OLD FRIEND!" Send this on to other "Old Friends!" and let them laugh in AGREEMENT!!! It's Not What You Gather, But What You Scatter That Tells What Kind Of Life You Have Lived.
 
TODAY IS THE OLDEST YOU'VE EVER BEEN; YET THE YOUNGEST YOU'LL EVER BE, SO ENJOY THIS DAY WHILE IT LASTS
GOD BLESS All THOSE THAT READ THIS   .

Motivation Monday

Rules For Daughters

A few weeks ago I saw a great list of rules for Sons and had a post on them.  Now, providentially I saw a similar list over on FB that a great friend posted.  So I'll provide them here.  Lots of great things to think about.

1. It’s okay to cry when you’re hurt. But, wash your face, and get up off the floor when you’re done. You don’t belong down there.
2. You are a woman, you do not need a man, but you can absolutely enjoy your life with a good one.
3. Happiness is not a permanent state. Wholeness is. Don’t confuse these.
4. Never walk through an alley alone.
5. ‘Can’t’ - is a cop-out.
6. Hold your heroes to a high standard. Be your own hero.
7. If you can’t smile with your eyes, don’t smile. Insincerity is nothing to aspire to.
8. Stay true to yourself always.
9. Your body, your rules.
10. If you have an opinion, you’d better know why.
11. Practice your passions.
12. Ask for what you want. The worst thing they can say is no.
13. Wish on stars, and then get to work to make them happen.
14. Stay as sweet as you are.
15. Say Please, Thank You, and Pardon Me, whenever the situation warrants it.
16. Reserve “I’m sorry” for when you truly are!
17. Question everything ... except your own intuition.
18. You are amazing! Don't let anyone ever make you feel you are not. If someone does....walk away. You deserve better.
19. No matter where you are, you can always come home.
20. Be happy and remember your roots, family is EVERYTHING.
21. Say what you mean and mean what you say.
22. Be kind; treat others how you would like them to treat you.
23. If in doubt, remember whose daughter you are and straighten your crown. 👑

A Bounty of Riches

I don't know...maybe it's the time of year.  Maybe it's that I'm getting older and more appreciative.  Maybe experience teaches us something.  Lately, I've been almost overcome several times by things that are just routine.  Today we had to go to the grocery store for some items, and while walking up and down the aisles, the goods on the shelves almost took my breath away.  I mean, literally there is no other place on the planet that have the routine, normal, everyday "stuff" that we have.  We had to go to Costco for some things and once again walking up and down the aisles was almost overwhelming. Where else is this replicated?  I've been around the world to almost every conceivable modern city and desperate shithole (yes...they do exist).  Everywhere has stores and economies that support the population, but nowhere has the consistent bounty of riches available to anyone who walks in the door.

And then I turn on the TV or search the Internet and see the hate and discontent.  Everyone is at everyone's throat.  Political disagreements become mortal wars.  One comment can make the Twittisphere explode.  Insults are common.  And yet...we can do that.  We are free to do that.  And the truth is that in the general population it isn't as bad as the media makes it out to be.  In the history of mankind, this experiment called America is unique in allowing all kinds of dissent.  I was discussing this with my 8th grade Granddaughter and the more I talked the more I realized (and I hope she realized) that recognizing that citizens have God-given rights is just so unique.  And precious.  I hear everyday people lamenting that the country is going to hell.  But as long as we have that Constitution and adhere to it's principles, we'll be okay.

Especially as the economy improves, I see opportunities increasing for everyone.  I know there is still desperate poverty and crime and haves and have nots.  But the guarantee that the country gives to every citizen, an opportunity, is becoming more of a reality for more people.  There is no guarantee of success but there is a guarantee of opportunity.  As long as we can expand opportunity, people can achieve better circumstances.  The hallmark of every generation in America has been for people to improve their lives through seizing opportunities so that the next generation will have a better life.  I think we're seeing this continuing.

So don't get me wrong.  Problems abound.  Issues are polarizing.  Poverty and racism is still too common amongst our citizens.  Violence is too pervasive in squashing dissent.  But, for me anyway, the good news vastly outweighs the bad.  And if you look around, you might feel the same.

Migrant Caravan or Alien Invasion?

It's like so, so many things in our culture.  Words matter.  Depending upon where you are and what venue you're speaking in, you have to be careful.  The politically correct culture has become pervasive and now has been embedded in almost every aspect of our lives.  I can't even document all of the crazy PC attacks on language that we see every day.  And one of the things that has happened is that we are inundated with PC language through the media.  Since the vast majority are left wing sympathizers, they embrace the PC culture and pass it on to the rest of us.

Which brings me to the latest thing in our language that irks me.  So we know that there are thousands of people who have been talked in to, coerced, paid, cajoled or whatever to undertake a trek of thousands of miles North to the U.S. These people come from all parts of society and since the society is corrupt and poor, most of them are from that stratum.  They are supposedly escaping a terrible situation and seeking a better life.  Of course, Mexico offered them that but most decided to keep going to try and reach the U.S.  And who could blame them I guess.  But Trump is having none of it.  He will secure the border against these people at all costs.  They are portrayed as simple, poor people just looking for a better life.  They are together and traveling.  Hence the name "caravan".  They are supposedly itinerant workers.  Hence the name "migrant".  But any logical, thinking person should be able to see that this is an invasion.  They see an opportunity to get to the promised land and are willing to risk a lot of try it.  And while they want work, there are clearly all kinds of people in the group.  So I can't see them as anything other than an Alien Invasion.  That's not remotely PC, but that's how I see it.  You will never hear that term on the news, but that's what it is.  And if your home and land is being invaded, shouldn't you do something about it?  Or want to do something about it?  Most can see that but there is a big segment of the population that believes that we should open the borders and let anyone in who wants to come.  But we've seen that movie before.  Europe has done just that and they are reaping the consequences right now.  It's a mess, they know it's a mess, and there isn't anything they can do about it.

Book Recommendations II

Back in Nov, 2017 I had a post in which I provided a few boodk recommendations.  You can read it here.  It's not something I normally do but I've read a few good books since posting those recommendations and thought I'd do it again.  As before, not everyone has the same tastes so you might not be interested.  That's okay.  Different strokes for different folks.

1.  The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

This book is really a teenage book.  I saw that our youth group at Church is reading it so thought I'd give it a try.  I'm glad I did.  It's the story of a young black girl who comes from a very poor and dysfunctional family living in the projects.  But her parents are smart enough to realize that for her to make something of herself she needs a better education than she can get at the local school.  So they scrape enough money together along with scholarships, use an uncle's address in the suburbs, and she transfers to an all white (or mostly white) school away from her surroundings.  She blossoms and does well but still lives in 'the hood' so she is surrounded by violence, temptation and danger.  One night at a party, she accepts a ride with a gang-banger and in the course of the evening he is killed by a cop.  The rest of the book tells the story of her coming to terms with this event, with herself, and with her environment while living in two different worlds.  It is a fascinating and well told story.  I have to admit that it really made me think about the plight of people living in a world so very different and more dangerous than mine.  It also made me evaluate how I think about people and wonder about that old adage, "walking a mile in their shoes".  

2.  The Coldest Winter:  America and the Korean War by David Halberstram

Oh no...not another Korean War book!  This was recommended by a friend and it was very good.  It not only told the story of this horrific war, but it diverged to tell the story of some of the most important politicians and military officers who directed the war.  The battlefield scenes and descriptions are gruesome but eye opening and are necessary to tell  the story.  But that doesn't make them any easier to swallow.  The descriptions of the men involved in the war are interesting and provide an insightful window into their thinking and actions.  It must be said that Gen MacArthur doesn't come off very well and is consistent with other accounts of him that I have read.  While depicted as larger than life, he seemed disengaged, distracted and plain wrong much of the time.  It's a book that you will enjoy if you're interested in the subject.  Otherwise, it might be a struggle.

3.  Grant by Ron Chernow

Ron Chernow is a great biographer and he has done a great job with President Grant.  I learned a lot about him and came to respect his capability and contributions much more than I had previously.  He has been given a bad rap about drinking over the years but I think, if the book is to be believed, that the truth is a lot different.  Did he have a drinking problem at various points in his life?  Yes.  But he was able to fight it and largely conquer it.  That he was a brilliant General and perhaps our most brilliant in history cannot be disputed.  He absolutely understood the nature of the fight he was in and did what was required to win.  But he was gracious in defeat.  He was not a person you would expect would ascend to the Presidency but circumstances wound up thrusting him into the job.  He perhaps did more with less support than anyone in history.  Over the course of the book I came to admire him greatly and genuinely feel he has not been given his due in the history books.  If you like biographies, you'll like this.

Shooting Yourself in the Foot

Saw this cartoon and my first reaction was...Yep.  And the second was...why does he do that?  I mean, he's done a lot of very good things.  Many of his policies I can really get behind.  The chopping of regulations, securing the border, the tax cut, judicial appointments, tearing up the Iran deal, exiting the Paris Accords, approving ANWAR, and on and on.  There is a lot of good news.  But he just keeps shooting himself in the foot.  Not with his base.  His base is his base and they will stick with him.  But his base only gives him about 35-40% of the people at most.  He's losing the middle.  He's losing the independents.  He's losing women.  He's losing Dems who are middle-left and had an inclination to vote for him over Hilary.  And he's losing guys like me.  In short, he's losing those that he needs to win in 2020.  He has long been an obnoxious Tweeter.  How many times have you heard that someone will comment that they wish he would stop the Tweets.  But that's not going to happen.  He is combative and has an ego rarely seen.  He's a New York street fighter and will never, ever turn the other cheek. If someone hits him, he hits back.  Hard.  If someone comments about something that he perceives as a threat or an affront (even if it's not) he hits back.  And clearly that's what his base loves.  But that's not going to be enough.  His ego is off the charts.  He really believes (I think) that he is very popular across the board.  And his war against the press is unwinnable.  What's the old saying?  Don't get in an argument (let along go to war) with someone who buys ink by the barrel.  But he thinks he's winning.  And he is...with his base.  Most Americans cherish the First Amendment and want an independent press.  Now don't get me wrong.  The press generally hates Trump.  But he largely made that bed.  Now he has to sleep in it.  They aren't going to be fair.  They are going to slant, smear, and sling mud every single day.  They are going to do everything in their power to destroy him.  So he goes to war.  An unwinnable war.  Stupid.  But he can't help it.

Recently he has gotten in fights he didn't have to fight and made comments he didn't have to make.  You've seen them.  Going after ADM McRaven for not getting Osama Bin Laden fast enough was stupid.  I mean, the guy is enormously respected and a war hero.  It reminded me of when he went after John McCain.  Stupid.  Remember who won that little battle?  Remember McCain's vote on Health care Reform?  Yep.  The Saudi Arabia thing is an unwinnable situation that requires a deft and nuanced touch.  But he doesn't have a nuanced bone in his body.  You've heard the story.  This journalist, Kashoogi was murdered in the Saudi Embassy in Istanbul and there are finger prints of the Crown Prince all over it.  First, if it wasn't about a journalist and if the media/press didn't hate and loath Trump, then it wouldn't have made headlines.  But they sensed blood in the water.  So there are all kinds of leaks and he ultimately decides that this one incident isn't worth upsetting the relationship between the U.S. and a key ally.  But he casually dismisses it without any apparent recognition of how the story has exploded in the press and that it will continue to dog him.  No matter..."maybe he did, and maybe he didn't".  Tone deaf.  And he goes after a sitting judge who didn't rule in favor of the new asylum rules.  And by extension went after the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.  So Justice Roberts pipes up and defends his judges and Trump has to hit back.  Has to.  And it's stupid.  There are people out there decrying this move as dangerous because it's not just going after a person but an institution that is one of the three branches of government.  Undermining our checks and balances is said to be very dangerous and I tend to agree.  Today, he's in Mar-A-Lago with his family enjoying Thanksgiving.  And every day he doesn't visit the troops in a forward location he is losing guys like me.  And I don't know what genius arranged the staged phone call to some selected service members overseas, but it was stupid.  And again he couldn't help himself and started spouting his successes to sooth his ego.  

It seems like there is something every week.  Multiple things.  Sometimes every day.  It's distressing. It's tiresome.  And at some point (at least for me) its unacceptable.  Because it's exhausting.  I really don't think that the country wants to be exhausted by the shenanigans of their President.  And even keel is called for.  

There is a slight glimmer of good news for him.  There really is no one on the Dem side who is in the stable of people who might run for President who I could support.  And (as of today) no one who I think a center-right country like ours would elect.  Will there be someone who emerges as a challenger on the Republican side?  That's  not something usually done but we don't live in usual times.  There are a few folks who, if they ran, I could support over him assuming he doesn't change and continues his combative and ego-driven ways.  And I think that's a safe assumption.  Are you listening Nikki Haley and Ben Sasse?

Friday Funnies

Friday Funnies

Motivation Monday

RULES FOR SONS

Saw this over on FB.  It's really good!

1. Never shake a man’s hand sitting down.
2. Don’t enter a pool by the stairs.
3. The man at the BBQ Grill is the closest thing to a king.
4. In a negotiation, never make the first offer.
5. Request the late check-out.
6. When entrusted with a secret, keep it.
7. Hold your heroes to a higher standard.
8. Return a borrowed car with a full tank of gas.
9. Play with passion or not at all…
10. When shaking hands, grip firmly and look them in the eye.
11. Don’t let a wishbone grow where a backbone should be.
12. If you need music on the beach, you’re missing the point.
13. Carry two handkerchiefs. The one in your back pocket is for you. The one in your breast pocket is for her.
14. You marry the girl, you marry her family.
15. Be like a duck. Remain calm on the surface and paddle like crazy underneath.
16. Experience the serenity of traveling alone.
17. Never be afraid to ask out the best looking girl in the room.
18. Never turn down a breath mint.
19. A sport coat is worth 1000 words.
20. Try writing your own eulogy. Never stop revising.
21. Thank a veteran. Then make it up to him.
22. Eat lunch with the new kid.
23. After writing an angry email, read it carefully. Then delete it.
24. Ask your mom to play. She won’t let you win.
25. Manners maketh the man.
26. Give credit. Take the blame.
27. Stand up to Bullies. Protect those bullied.
28. Write down your dreams.
29. Always protect your siblings (and teammates).
30. Be confident and humble at the same time.
31. Call and visit your parents often. They miss you.
32. The healthiest relationships are those where you’re a team; where you respect, protect, and stand up for each other.

Friday Funnies

Given our times...this seems appropriate.

Motivation Monday

This seems sorta appropriate as the mid-term elections approach on Tuesday.  It's going to be an interesting day...

New Ad

This just hit the airwaves a couple of days ago.  I'm sure one side thinks it's inflammatory, racist, unreasonable, stereotyping, and every other perjorative that you can think of.  And the other side just thinks it's reality.  Whatever you think one thing is for sure, it's hard hitting.

Which leads to the real message.

PLEASE VOTE!

Friday Funnies

Poison

We just returned from an idyllic 3-week vacation in France.  It couldn't have been better.  We did two Viking river cruises.  One from Paris to Normandy and back and one originating from Lyon and floating through Southern France.  And we finished with 3 wonderful days in Nice exploring the Cote de Azur.  That we did it with another couple who are old and dear friends made it that much better.

During our time away we tried to unplug (except for Facebook posts of photos of our trip).  It was great to let all the poison, anger, paranoia, vitriolic hatred, and stress that we experience every day fall away.  Of course, upon our return we were hit in the face with the Kavanaugh mess, the crazy idiot from Florida sending fake pipe bombs in the mail, the gruesome shooting today of 11 innocents in a Synagogue in Pittsburgh, and the frenetic and disgusting ramp up to the mid-terms.  The contrast between our 3 weeks away and our 1 week back has been dramatic.

So I got to thinking, what is healthier?  How does all this hate and angst impact my daily demeanor and long term prospects?  And of course the answer is that the more I can remove all the craziness and the poison produced by the media, the better off I'll be.  So I've unfollowed and unfriended a ton of people on FB.  Basically I'm keeping track of family, friends, and Rotary.  I've walked away from Twitter.  I've started restricting my TV exposure so that I'm not being inundated by the talking heads who want me to believe certain things.  And as for the blog, I'm not sure where it's going.  I think that if I try to unplug from other areas of social media, maybe I won't have much to say.   And maybe I won't be as fired up about things.  And honestly, I think that's healthy.

A lot of stupid people say we're in dire straits.  That the country is going down.  That if one side doesn't win, the world as we know it is coming to an end.  They demonize and destroy and predict doom and gloom.  Well, I'm not buying it.  I'm a pretty good student of our history.  We've been in way worse places than today.  But we've never had to deal with the crazy conventional media and social media structure that is tearing everything apart.  So in my little way, I'm going to try and minimize my exposure to the craziness.  And by doing that, I may retain a bit of sanity.

Motivation Monday

If you hold a permanent view of yourself as a victim...

you become your own oppressor!

A Balanced View

I've shared the writings of a good friend and Episcopal Priest on other occasions and what we've witnessed in the last few weeks in the Senate seems to call for it again.  He is a wise man who always causes me to think about important subjects.  As usual, his writing is reflective of my views.  It's not an easy subject and I think he treats it fairly.  The only way I would differ with him is that I believe that beyond all of the issues he discusses, the fundamental truth is that the Dems are opposing Kavanaugh based on his being nominated by Trump.  Hatred of Trump is the underlying theme and cause of all that has happened.  They made up their minds the day he was announced and there is nothing that will change them.  So here is his article.

She Said…He Said:

The Quest for Truth and the Pursuit of Justice

This is a controversial article because it deals with a controversial topic: the recent Senate Judiciary stand-off between Dr. Christine Blasey Ford and Judge Brett Kavanaugh. I have thought long and hard on whether to write this article because I don’t want to offend my friends, some of whom are males who attended a prep school like Judge Kavanaugh, while others are females who have been the victims of sexual, physical or verbal abuse, mostly from their partners but in some cases not. I, myself, have gone to a Catholic prep school, much like Georgetown Prep where Judge Kavanaugh was a student. I am fully aware of the drinking that occurs among the students in these all-male bastions of patriarchy. Perhaps for that reason, St. Francis Prep, where I went to school, is now co-ed and a much healthier place. 

Whatever your opinion of Dr. Ford or Judge Kavanaugh, I hope you will agree with me that their testimonies was one of the most heart-rending spectacles in American politics. Two people, each apparently sincere and obviously feeling deep pain presented polar-opposite testimonies before the Judiciary Committee. Dr. Ford said that she was 100% certain that 17-year-old Brett Kavanaugh attempted to rape her when she was 15-years-old. Judge Kavanaugh was equally insistent that no such event ever happened. He categorically denied, under oath and penalty of perjury, that he had ever sexually assaulted Dr. Ford or any other woman.

One needs the Wisdom of Solomon to discern which of them is telling the truth. But this does not mean that the other is necessarily a liar. It could be that Judge Kavanaugh, who has admitted drinking and enjoying beer, sometimes in great quantities, was so drunk that he has no recollection of the incident. Or, it could be that Dr. Ford is so mentally and emotionally fragile (she had a very troubled past) that with the help of psychological counseling she has come to believe her assailant was Kavanaugh, even if that is not the case. These scenarios are only speculation, I know, but my point is that you need not believe one is lying for the other to be telling the truth. 

Moreover, both Judge Kavanaugh and Dr. Ford appear to be flawed individuals – as we all are. By his own admission, Judge Kavanaugh drank, sometimes quite heavily, at social gatherings. And although up to last Thursday he appeared to be a mild-mannered and gentle person with a formidable intellect, we saw a different side of him at the hearing – angry, petulant, indignant and brimming with fury against his detractors. The New Yorker, perhaps unfairly, referred to him as having an “adolescent aggression of conservative masculinity.” However, in all fairness to Judge Kavanaugh, if your reputation was attacked unjustly and detractors tried to destroy you with false, horrific claims, would you not be angry, even furious? His reaction to the allegations is perfectly understandable.  

Then there is the testimony of Dr. Ford. She claimed definitely that Brett Kavanaugh assaulted her, but she doesn’t know when, where, or who took her to the house, or picked her up (she was 15 and could not drive). She has no facts, no corroboration, no medical report, no police report, and no psychological records detailing her memories (she has not released them). There is nothing but a claim from a perfectly nice, sympathetic woman with a bad memory and a story contradicted by all her own witnesses, including her best friend. In fact, there is no evidence that she was at the party at all, much less that Kavanaugh was there or that anything happened between Kavanaugh and her.

We all hope the FBI investigation will resolve these discrepancies and get to the truth of the matter, but I doubt it. Unless there is some kind of corroboration for Dr. Ford’s testimony, we are going to be left where we were last Thursday – an allegation with no evidence. It is simply her word – 36 years after the fact. Judge Kavanaugh has at least produced a calendar that shows his schedule and whereabouts throughout the summer of 1982, but that is not conclusive evidence. He also can claim to have had six FBI background checks and the highest security clearance in the country. During his time in the Bush White House he had access to the nuclear codes. So, what will the FBI discover in interviewing relevant witnesses, all of whom have already given sworn statements under penalty of perjury? My guess is nothing that we don’t know already. 

I do hope the FBI investigates the claims of Deborah Ramirez (reported in The New Yorker) and Julie Swetnick who is the client of notorious porn lawyer Michael Avenatti. Their allegations seem incredible, but both women should be heard. If either of their claims is corroborated, that would deal a fatal blow to Judge Kavanaugh ever becoming a Supreme Court Justice. On the other hand, at this juncture, Judge Kavanaugh has extensive support from female friends and colleagues dating back to his time at Georgetown Prep to his time now on the federal bench. Hundreds of women claim he has treated them with the utmost respect and courtesy, and that includes his many female law clerks. If there had been some allegation against Judge Kanavaugh as an adult, or during his time in either the Bush White House or on the Appellate Court, the charges against him now would have more weight. 

By all accounts Dr. Ford has been a competent and respected professor at both Palo Alto College and Stanford University. If Dr. Ford would release her medical and psychological records, that may shed light on how she is so certain that Judge Kavanaugh assaulted her. For example, if she came to certainty through hypnosis, drugs or auto-suggestion, that may call into question the accuracy of her claim. As of now, her records have not been released.

So how do we discern who is telling the truth in this matter? I suppose if you are a political progressive or a radical feminist, you instinctively side with Dr. Ford. As Senator Hirono of Hawaii said, “Women should be believed” and men “should shut up.” On the other hand, if you are a conservative, you instinctively side with Judge Kavanaugh, see deep flaws and inconsistencies in Dr. Ford’s testimony, and view what is happening to Judge Kavanaugh as similar to what happened to Robert Bork and Clarence Thomas - a partisan last-minute attempt to prevent a brilliant conservative jurist from having a seat on the Supreme Court. If Judge Kavanaugh were a liberal committed to upholding Roe v. Wade, none of this would probably be happening. There would be no high priced lawyers representing Dr. Ford pro bono, including paying for her lie detector test. Yes, I know, this is a cynical view, but in the ruthless highly partisan world of Washington, D.C., I suspect it may be true. 

If you are like me, you are torn between the heart and the head. My heart is with Dr. Ford but my head is with Judge Kavanaugh – at least until there is corroborating evidence for Dr. Ford’s testimony. I am fully aware that people reading my blog are on both sides of this issue: Who to believe? I can’t offer a full-proof formula to answer the question, but let me make a few salient points for reflection that move us beyond simplistic slogans and mindless platitudes.

First, there have been other times in the history of the Senate when witnesses have given sworn testimony contrary to one another. The most notable example was in 1948 when Whittaker Chambers testified against Alger Hiss, a high ranking State Department official with impeccable academic and professional credentials. Chambers, an unassuming and disheveled writer, claimed that Hiss was a member of a Communist cell back in the 1930s. Hiss denied it categorically, but eventually the evidence showed that Chambers was right and Hiss was lying. In January, 1950 Hiss was found guilty of perjury and sentenced to five years in prison. To his dying day, Hiss claimed his innocence, but the evidence against him was overwhelming. Every attempt to exonerate Hiss has concluded that he was indeed guilty. 

In the Hiss-Chambers testimonies, investigators were able to discover evidence that corroborated Chambers’ testimony. Can the FBI discover corroborating evidence in the Ford-Kavanaugh matter? I doubt it. Unless there are credible witnesses who come forward, or some corroborating evidence is found from Ramirez or Swetnick, we will never be sure who is telling the truth.

Second, even in sex crimes, there is a presumption of innocence. Although a Senate hearing is not a criminal trial, the presumption of innocence is at the heart of American jurisprudence – as is due process, fundamental fairness and the right of an accused to confront the accuser, with the burden being on the accuser to prove the allegation and not the accused to refute it. 

We need to keep in mind that at the time of the writing of the American Constitution, the Spanish Inquisition was still in effect, and thousands of innocent Spaniards suffered horrific tortures and even death because of their religious and political beliefs. Following in the path of the medieval Inquisition, the Spanish Inquisition had no presumption of innocence. A person was deemed guilty until proven innocent. The allegation was enough to convict the person of a crime. It was the burden of the defendant to disprove the charges rather than for the prosecutor to prove anything. The accused always spoke first, followed by the accuser. The founders of our country wanted no part of that kind of judicial system. As I learned in my criminal law class, Americans believe it is better for 100 guilty persons to go free than for one innocent person to go to jail.

Moreover, the presumption of innocence does not only pertain to criminal matters. It pertains in civil law as well. You cannot, for example, fire an employee based on a mere allegation alone. There needs to be some corroborating evidence to back-up the allegation. I would argue the same is true even in government appointments, including to the Supreme Court. While you do not need proof “beyond a reasonable doubt” as in criminal cases, you do need at least “a clear preponderance of the evidence.” In other words, it has to be much more likely than not that the allegation is true.

Third, I must respectfully disagree with Senator Hirono that “women are to be believed” and men are to “shut-up.” Neither women nor men are to be believed – only the evidence is to be believed. There are simply too many instances in American history of women making false charges against innocent people who, as a result, suffered prison and even death.

Think of the Salem Witch Trials between February 1692 and May 1693. The trials were started after people had been accused of witchcraft primarily by teenage girls such as Elizabeth Hubbard, 17, as well as several other girls who were younger. More than 200 people were accused, nineteen of whom were found guilty and executed by hanging (fourteen women and five men). One other man was pressed to death for refusing to plead, and at least five people died in jail. 

Or think of all the black men who have gone to their deaths, some by formal execution and others by lynching, because white southern women claimed falsely they were raped or sexually assaulted. There are hundreds of black men in America who have suffered the ultimate consequence by the false testimony of white women. 

I recommend that everyone see the movie Marshall, a 2017 film about the early years of Thurgood Marshall, the black civil rights attorney who would go to become the first black man on the Supreme Court. The film focuses on one of Marshall’s first cases of his career, State of Connecticut v. Spell. 

In 1940, Thurgood Marshall, a NAACP lawyer, went to Bridgeport, Connecticut to defend Joseph Spell, a black chauffeur accused of the rape of his white employer, Eleanor Strubing. Sam Friedman, an insurance lawyer, was forced to become Spell’s lead counsel because Marshall was not a member of the Connecticut Bar. The two of them had the formidable task of defending Spell against Strubing’s allegation that he tied her up in the back seat of her car after raping her and then throwing her off a bridge. Thanks to brilliant lawyering, the charges were proven false and Spell was found not guilty. 

I suppose America is filled with those types of stories of black men getting lynched for having sex with white women. Think of Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, for example, where Atticus Finch defends Tom Robinson, a black man who has been accused of raping a young white woman. Atticus establishes that the accusers – the woman and her father – are lying, but Tom is still convicted by the all-white jury.  Sometimes justice is not done even when the evidence screams for it.  

None of this is to say that we shouldn’t support the women who have been victims of rape or sexual abuse. Of course, we should – and we should thank the “#Me Too” movement for calling our attention to widespread sexual abuse in our culture, from media moguls, TV personalities, movie stars, business executives, and people in every profession and occupation. There has been enormous injustice against women, and it is time to make things right. But making things right for women does not mean making things wrong for men. We should not believe women because they are women. We should believe them because of the evidence. It is the evidence that convicts, not the allegation. To do otherwise would be a terrible injustice.   

Fourth, people accused of sexual offenses are not always guilty. This seems obvious by what I just wrote about black men being lynched for having sex with white women. But sadly, we are living in a time when we no longer want to give people the presumption of innocence, even when the evidence is flimsy or unsubstantiated. 

The perfect example of hasty judgment is the case of Cardinal Joseph Bernardin, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Chicago from 1982 to 1996. Cardinal Bernardin was one of the wisest and most beloved religious figures in the United States who taught a “consistent ethic of life” from womb to tomb – an ethic that appealed to both liberals and conservatives. And yet, Bernardin was accused of sexual misconduct in the late 1980s. Former seminarian Stephen Cook claimed to have been abused by Bernardin in the 1970s. Cook was articulate, persuasive and believable in his certainty that Bernardin was an abuser. Bernardin denied the allegations, even as the press had already convicted him. Fortunately, Cook later admitted that his memories, which had emerged while he was under hypnosis, were inaccurate. Cook later said that he relied on people who told him things that were not true, and asserted that he is now “absolutely convinced of Bernardin’s innocence.”

Oliver Cromwell, writing to the Scottish Assembly declared, “I beseech thee, from the bowels of Christ, think that ye could be wrong.” We need that kind of humility today. We are too quick to condemn, too hasty to judge, too impatient to listen, probe and discern the truth. From my experience, truth is rarely black or white, but much more highly nuanced, requiring an incisive mind and critical thought. Sadly, too few have those qualities.    

Fifth, what is happening in the Senate confirmation process today was predicted back in 1959 by Alan Drury is his political novel Advise and Consent. The novel was made into a film starring Charles Laughton, Walter Pidgeon, Henry Fonda and other notables. It is the best political novel I have ever read, and I commend either the book or the film to you because it shows how ruthless and vile the political confirmation process can become in America. 

In Drury’s novel, it is not a Supreme Court Justice but a Secretary of State nomination that causes contentious political maneuverings. The President nominates prominent liberal Robert Leffingwell as his next Secretary of State, but the Senate must “advise and consent” to it. Leffingwell is viewed by conservatives as too liberal, an appeaser, and too friendly to the Soviets. He, in fact, did have a communist past which he has tried to conceal. But Leffingwell has his supporters, the most zealous being Senator Fred Van Ackerman, who is willing to do anything to insure that Leffingwell is confirmed by the Senate. He and his cronies blackmail Senator Brigham Anderson from Utah who had a homosexual affair when he was in the Army. They threaten to make the news public unless Senator Anderson votes for Leffingwell. Devastated and depressed by the revelation of his affair, the Senator commits suicide. Anderson’s death and the exposure of the truth about Leffingwell’s lies regarding his communist past set in motion a chain reaction that ultimately rejects Leffingwell as Secretary of State. 

Granted, there have been no suicides yet in the Senate, or with Judge Kavanaugh, or Dr. Ford. But I wonder… are we getting to the point where the politics of personal destruction and a “means justify the ends” mentality are corroding our government to the point that good people and their families are now expendable? Does anyone really care about Dr. Ford or Judge Kavenaugh, or is it only political power at stake? Do we now destroy our opponents – smear and tarnish their reputations, or use them as pawns in a political chess game – in order to further an agenda? 

Frankly, I am appalled by the state of American politics today. It is one thing to vote for or against someone based on their political or legal philosophy. It is quite another to destroy a person, to tear them down and tear them to pieces, in order to win. Have we no shame? No conscience? No moral compass? I hope I am wrong, but I fear I am right. Pray for America.

Motivation Monday

The End Game

I saw this article over on Powerline and it reflects my thinking exactly.  We are at an ugly moment.  I continue to hope that the Dems will somehow walk back their actions, but it's becoming increasingly obvious that this is the new normal.  And it's scary.  Scary for today and scary for tomorrow.  I'm an old dude and probably won't see the ultimate result of the actions began in the last few weeks.  But my kids and grandkids will.  We are entering the twilight zone.  Buckle up.

"WHY THE BRETT KAVANAUGH SMEAR?

One question I have pondered over the last few weeks is, why are the Democrats so determined to block Judge Brett Kavanaugh’s nomination to the Supreme Court? Realistically, he is the most moderate nominee they are likely to see from the Trump administration. If his nomination fails, the president will most likely appoint Amy Barrett, who is secure against #MeToo allegations and is both more conservative and younger than Kavanaugh. So what is the point?

To some extent, the Democrats’ bizarre smear campaign against Kavanaugh is explicable on short-term political grounds. The Democrats’ crazed base demands that they #Resist, so resist they will, whether it does any good or not. But I think there is something deeper and more sinister at work.

Brett Kavanaugh enjoys one of the most spotless reputations of anyone in American public life. He has been enthusiastically endorsed by those who have known him all his life–by girls he knew in high school and college, by judges he has served with, by professors and students and Harvard and Yale law schools, by judges who have worked with him, by his judicial clerks–most of whom have been women–by the American Bar Association, by sitting Supreme Court justices. In short, everyone who has ever known or dealt with Brett Kavanaugh endorses him.

I think that Judge Kavanaugh’s pristine reputation is one reason why the Democrats have unleashed against him a smear campaign unparalleled in American history. This is the message they are trying to send: If we can do this to the Boy Scout Brett Kavanaugh, we can do it to anyone. Are you thinking of serving in a Republican administration? Or accepting an appointment to the federal judiciary from a Republican president? Think twice, and then think again.

Because our smear machine will reach back to middle school if necessary. If we can’t find any dirt on you, we will manufacture some. There is no depth to which we will not stoop, and your honesty, integrity and spotless reputation are no match for our control over the media and our determination to dredge up ridiculous allegations against anyone who stands in our way.

Really, the more ridiculous the better. If we can accuse Brett Kavanaugh, one of the most respected lawyers and judges in America, of gang rape, we can accuse anyone of anything! And our insane accusations will dominate the news.

That is the Democratic Party’s message. And we have learned from the Christine Ford fiasco that accusations don’t require corroborating evidence. A single wacky, false allegation will negate decades of hard work on behalf of the American people.

By smearing the ultimate Boy Scout, the Democrats signal that they are determined to go lower than anyone has ever gone in American history. They intend to deter normal people from serving in Republican administrations, or accepting appointments from Republican presidents, or, ultimately, from identifying themselves with the Republican party. Given that strategy, the fact that they are smearing a man of obviously sterling character on absurdly flimsy grounds is not a bug, it is a feature. The fact that the Democrats’ smears are so patently false is ultimately their main point.

The Democrats are telling us: Republicans, beware–if this can happen to Brett Kavanaugh, it can happen to anyone. You’d better go quietly and cede power to us."

One More Week

Once again, I won't provide the background because if you're reading you have to know about Senator Flake's 'yes' vote for Kavanaugh out of committee but with the caveat that the FBI is given a week to investigate.  He has apparently gotten a few of the fence sitters to agree that it would be a good thing to delay for a week while the FBI looks into the allegations.  So one week from today this will be over.  One week.

I'm pretty convinced, having listened to everything that is out in the open, that it will make no difference.  The facts will remain the same and it will continue to be a 'he said, she said'.  But I make two predictions.  First, some on the Dem side will still not be satisfied and claim to need something else.  Because after all, this is about hating Trump and wanting to delay the confirmation...nothing else.  And second, there will be no apology from Feinstein or any of the other low-life Democrats who caused this whole charade.

So one week.  Let them do what's already been done.  And then let's see who still objects.  If there's still nothing there, then I think the vote will be in the 52-48 range.

The Hearing

You know what I'm talking about.  Today's Judiciary hearing to receive the testimony of Christine Ford and Brett Kavanaugh.  If you don't...well then stop reading because you won't have the context and background to understand.  I don't want to get into a big, long analysis because so many have.  And as so many have said, this comes down to "he said, she said".  I was able to watch or listen to much of it today.  At various times it was inspiring, boring, maddening and sickening.  But at the end of the day it truly comes down to "where you stand depends on where you sit".  So here are a few of my own takeaways from today:

• Christine Ford was said to be credible.  Okay, I guess.  She came off as believing what she said.  But for me, she had clearly been coached to play the unsophisticated, scared, innocent woman who just wanted to tell her story.  I was very struck by some of her answers that showed a very intelligent woman (2 Masters and PhD) who could recite impact on sections of the brain of sounds from 3+ decades earlier and yet couldn't remember what happened within the last few months.  Someone who can be a professor at a major university and yet can't figure out what to do with important information about a Supreme Court nominee without advice from "beach friends".  Someone who doesn't know who's paying for what during this whole ordeal.  Someone who professes a fear to fly and yet is documented to fly all over the world for work or recreation.  Someone who has a manner of speaking that is designed to make the listener believe in the "poor me" syndrome.  Someone who can be attacked one night and smile and say hi to her attacker a few weeks later.  Someone who wants to get her story out and yet professed to not know that Grassley offered to send investigators to California to interview her.  Unless she was living under a rock, this is totally unbelievable.  Someone who has hired the most partisan Democratic lawyers in the country.  Someone who has a GoFundMe sight that as of this afternoon is approaching $1M.  So no...I'm not buying it.
• And beyond all that crap above, I'm not buying it because there is NO evidence and all of her corroborating witnesses have refuted her claims.  Her details are so sketchy as to be laughable.  
• Kavanaugh was pissed.  As anyone would be.  He was emotional, angry, determined and protective.  He probably was too strident in his own defense.  I say that in the context of the critiques that he will get, but I don't blame him one bit.  His defenses to me are credible.  But for me I think even if he was an obnoxious 17-year old kid, that is irrelevant.  
• At first I thought that the Republicans made a mistake in hiring a prosecutor to ask the questions of Ford.  But on retrospect, that was a smart move.  The idea of all those Senators asking her probing questions wouldn't have resulted in any positive results.
• When it came to her, the Dems wore kid gloves.  They "believed her" even in the light of no evidence and no credibility.  When it came to him, the Dems were obnoxious, insulting and not remotely credible.  The worst was Blumenthal.  He is the "stolen valor" guy.  He claimed to have served in Viet Nam and was found to have lied about it.  He is scum.  
• There has been a continual hue and cry for an FBI Investigation.  If you're someone that believes that an FBI investigation is warranted, you're either ignorant or a left-wing partisan.  The Senate Judiciary Committee has all the investigative powers of the FBI.  They have professional investigators.  They can take sworn testimony.  They investigated every case in minute detail.  And the Dems didn't participate.  So shame on them.  
• This sordid episode lies squarely in the lap of Diane Feinstein.  It is a shameful legacy that will haunt her long career.  
• Lindsey Graham was a rock star.  His impassioned speech may have tipped the scales.  Whatever you have thought of him in the past, he certainly put a marker down today.  
• This really needs to be recognized for what it is.  The Dems desperately don't want him on the court.  The Dems hate Trump with a passion.  The Dems will do anything, stoop to anything, tell any lies, and take up any tactics to thwart this appointment.  When they saw that the hearing wasn't going to achieve their goal, they decided to play hardball.  It was a serious erroro.  I don't think that they believed he would fight back.  It also has to be said that the other low-life moves to bring out other accusers who have been discredited as nothing more than partisan attacks have served to undermine their frontal attack using Ford.  These other claims were a serious tactical error that hasn't helped them.  And make no mistake, they orchestrated them.
• I hope this one is true but am not sure.  I think that a lot of Republicans are pissed.  I think this is going to bring them out to the poles in droves.  I think the Dems seriously overplayed their hand and have done great damage to their prospects in the mid-terms.  We'll see if I'm right, but everything I read tells me that this has been a turning point for Republicans.  Especially those like me who like to view ourselves as moderate and willing to consider both sides.  This episode has largely driven many of us off the fence in the middle and solidly to the Republican side.

There are others but it's late and there has been a lot of emotion.  Personally, I hope he is confirmed.  She has no evidence.  He is a good man who doesn't deserve what has happened to him.