Prophets or Charlatans

The following of "prophets" for political news and predictions is new to me. My friend Tom says it all started in 1999. Another friend, Jim, has being doing it since 1993.

Prophets to me are out of the Bible, or maybe ancient history; certainly not a real part of contemporary politics. But we are in "unprecedented times", or so they say, so maybe we need them to make sense of things. 

What is a prophet

The Merriam-Webster definition leaves a bit more room for consideration:

prophet noun

1: one who utters divinely inspired revelations: such as

a) often capitalized: the writer of one of the prophetic books of the Bible

b) capitalized: one regarded by a group of followers as the final authoritative revealer of God's will.

2: one gifted with more than ordinary spiritual and moral insight, especially: an inspired poet

3: one who foretells future events : PREDICTOR

4: an effective or leading spokesman for a cause, doctrine, or group

(As a poet, of course, I'm tempted to apply definition #2 to myself.)

Other than definitions #2-4, one does not simply declare himself to be a Prophet in the capitalized sense. But that's what this new crop of political prognosticators seems to be doing. Color me dubious.

Close to home, we have a certain Kevin Hoyt of Bennington, Vermont who has been putting videos out predicting the course of future political events as relates to Donald Trump retaining power. In one he declares "the raid" has happened, putting 100 prominent Democrats in handcuffs, including the likes of Nancy Pelosi, Andrew Cuomo, and Chuck Schumer. His source, he claims, was deep within British MI6. Does anyone really believe that, I asked Tom and Jim. No, of course not. And yet the videos keep getting sent around, especially by a third friend, Victor, who seems really taken in by all this. 

Then there's Bo Polney, disgraced predictor of gold prices, now resurrected as cryptocurrency salesman. Ten seconds of audio-only sampling of a video Tom relayed and I knew he was a charlatan. Asked point-blank by the interviewer if he still stood by his prediction that Donald Trump would remain in power he replied that to change one's mind was akin to going over to the dark side. His prophetic, God-based, biblical time read tells him Trump has a seven-year window in the light and that's that.

False prophets

Yet another friend, Donna, states a true Prophet must be right every time or he loses the much-vaunted designation. Applying such a seemingly common sense stricture to this crop of political prognosticators suggests that few of them fill the bill. In fact, if none of this comes to pass regarding Trump remaining in or returning to power, they must be regarded as false prophets indeed.

Hopes have been re-pinned on a March-April window for something happening, perhaps supernatural, to restore The Donald to the White House. I post this here as fair marker in advance of this new deadline so as to say, in my own way, "your prophecies must come true or you cease to be prophets."

#RenameSeattle

So We Don't Repeat It

Stay-at-Home Orders for Smallpox

Kill the Hysteria

"Leftism: a philosophy that begins and ends in absurdity."

MJF 

Where Does the Term "Deep State" Come From?

"The origins of the term Deep State are from the secretive Turkish network known as derin devlet. This group was founded in 1923 by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk with the purpose of undertaking clandestine acts to preserve the current governmental structure. These acts included coups and private assassinations of figures who were seen as hostile to the establishment; they were particularly targeted toward the press, communists, Kurds, and other dissenters."

Dictionary.com 

Atatürk

Determining a Winner in Virginia

A modest proposal for determining the winner in the 94th District Delegate race in Newport News* — which may affect the balance of power in the Virginia House of Delegates** — consists of an essay-writing challenge. 

Both candidates would be asked to provide their best answers to the following:

1) Virginia Founding Fathers — (33 points)

How will your actions as a representative in the Virginia House of Delegates for your district emulate the highest ideals of the Founding Fathers from the Old Dominion*** — as expressed in their writings, political debates, and contributions to our nation's founding documents?

JUDGES: Daughters of the American Revolution local chapter. 

2) Gas Pipelines Through Virginia — (33 points)

Describe how the two natural gas pipelines being proposed to run through the Old Dominion will help the state and your electoral district.

JUDGES: Chambers of Commerce from across the state.

3) Preserving Lives of Future Virginians — (33 points)

How will you apply the power granted to you in your position in the Virginia House of Delegates to preserve the lives of unborn Virginians, protecting them from dismemberment in their mothers' wombs — their baby parts being sold to the highest bidder — while preserving the physical, mental, spiritual, and moral constitution of future Virginia mothers?

JUDGES: Virginia Council of Churches.

RULES: Candidates shall have 24 hours two prepare answers to all three (3) essays; essay scores shall be based on composition, content, and construction; candidates shall receive one point each for signing their names; if the essay scores again result in a tie, the incumbent shall retain his seat.

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*The tie of 11,608 votes each to Democrat challenger Shelly Simonds and incumbent Republican Delegate David Yancey to the Virginia General Assembly David Yancey leaves it to the State Board of Elections to determine the winner by drawing names.
**A Simonds win makes it 50-50 Democrat seats vs. Republican.
***Jefferson?

Build the Wall of Perception: It's the Smart Move

U.S.-Mexico Border Wall

The big problems with the much-promised wall along the U.S.-Mexico border are that it:

1. Takes time to design, approve, and build.
2. Costs a bunch of money to build and maintain.
3. Spoils the scenery.
4. Disrupts natural flows.

Air, water, and wildlife have a natural flow, after all. One day it might even be necessary to move a number of human beings across the border (either way) for military or humanitarian reasons.

An extended physical wall is also difficult and expensive to update and upgrade over time. 

What a wall doesn't protect us against

Most importantly to this discussion, a physical wall along the Mexican border does not protect us against those who illegally:

1. Go around the wall.
2. Tunnel under the wall.
3. Fly high above the wall.

In fact, it encourages exactly this sort of evasion.

Enforcing existing laws creates a wall

We have prevailing laws that protect against illegal immigration — and protect us from related misbehavior. When properly enforced these laws create a "wall of perception" that says to those:

1. Thinking of entering the country illegally, "Don't!"; and
2. Who are already here illegally, "Leave!"

The effect of building this wall of perception is already clear. In the few months since the installation of a new president in the Oval Office in January 2017, a national leader intent on reducing illegal immigration and enforcing related laws, unwanted traffic across the Mexico border has dropped 70%. 

Enforcement protects us everywhere

A physical wall along one border does not. Instead, it encourages entry somewhere else along our many border miles elsewhere:

1. Our Lower-48 states share a 3,987-mile border with Canada to the north, and
2. A 1,538-mile border surrounding Alaska.
3. The length of all our shorelines totals 95,471 miles.*

These are exposed national border miles that a wall along the Mexico border does not protect — and which those deterred by such a wall are further encouraged to try.

Enforcement of the laws works on those who evade a border wall, while continuing to press on already-resident border jumpers. 

Technology adds to the wall

Instead of building a solid, unbroken border wall, towers packed with detection equipment might be spaced along the Mexican border:

1. The towers would be connected underground by above- and below-ground (tunneling) detection devices. 
2. At the top of each tower would be drone platforms (some tethered**) for continuous surveillance runs and immediate-response to alerts.
3. Detection devices would be positioned at top of towers for help with low-flying aircraft — including drones. 

Other robots can used to aid interdiction, too.

Protection that relies on technology can be upgraded easily as science progresses. And use of surveillance technology adds to the sense that somebody's watching at all times. Such technology can be developed and tested along one border and subsequently applied elsewhere.

The smart move

Build the Wall of Perception by enforcing prevailing laws and applying technology appropriately. It's the smart move.

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*The National Ocean Service reaches that enormous number by adding together all the inches of exposure around our Atlantic, Pacific, Hawaii, and other shorelines.
**Persistent Aerial Reconnaissance and Communications (PARC) drones stay up in the air indefinitely, and fly up to 500 feet from base, attached by a microfilament that transmits power and data.

Healthcare Alternatives That Might Really Work

Real alternatives for enhancing healthcare options in the U.S. include:

1. Extending "health care sharing ministries" function to any organization or association, while allowing health savings accounts to pay toward them.
2. Medicaid block grants directly to states, freeing them to manage the program funds without Federal approval.
3. Medicaid funds transmitted directly to the needy as HSAs.

And Americans can always purchase international health insurance and receive care through "health tourism" jaunts.

The Importance of a Well-Run White House (Without Leaks)

Ret. Marine Corps General John F. Kelly

The reasons for appointing a general to White House chief of staff in 2017 are the same for President Donald J. Trump as they were for Richard M. Nixon in 1973. Watergate and Vietnam raged then. Tight command was needed in the highest offices of the United States.

Constant media attack, continuous leaks, and pending foreign military action drive this president's choice.

The big difference is that active Army Major General Haig transferred over from his position as Military Assistant to the Presidential Assistant for National Security Affairs (Henry Kissinger), while retired Marine Corps General John F. Kelly comes to the White House from his role as United States Secretary of Homeland Security.

What does this say?

1. The Department of Homeland Security is not really all that important to our security.
2. Kelly wasn't doing such a great job over at DHS.
3. A well-run White House (without leaks) is more important to U.S. national security than a well-commanded DHS.

Perhaps this lets the secret out that the DHS is just a $50-billion layer of bureaucratic boondoggle that really doesn't enhance our "homeland security". A handful of highly-skilled sharpies in the West Wing could do a better job of coordinating the work of our various intelligence agencies (e.g., CIA, FBI, NSA, etc.).

Questions have been raised by those who view the closing down of illegal immigration in to the U.S. as to Kelly's commitment to this effort. Maybe it's better to put somebody at DHS who's fully dedicated to this aim.

With military action pending against North Korea and other hot spots around the globe, and the virulent and unremitting attacks on the U.S. president from the media, the argument that having a tight ship in the White House is critically important to our national security. 

And what about those leaks? We can only hope all the best minds in technology and security are brought to the task of tightening down on them as well.

Vickie Palladino Sets Bill DeBlasio Straight

Godfather in the White House

As a rather notorious Godfather freak, and one who believes the classic film from 1972 can be viewed as a Bible for life, I've watched with great interest to the cavalcade of references to it politically of late. To wit:

• "Fredo" — the name of the traitorous brother to Michael Corleone has been applied alternately to Jared Kushner and Donald Trump's sons.
• "Consigliere" — Anthony Scaramucci looked like Trump's new family advisor when he arrived at the White House; many quickly recognized that he might make a better "wartime consigliere" given all the ongoing war with the media and Deep State.
• "Sonny" — Scaramucci tweeted (or did he?) that when he finds the leakers he's going to make Sonny's assassination on the causeway look like a party.

Stay tuned for more references to this great Italian gangster film (that's obviously so much more).

Che Guevara, Mass Murderer

"We know from Ernest Hemingway – then a Cuban resident – what Che was up to. Hemingway, who had looked kindly on Leftist revolutions since the Spanish civil war, invited his friend George Plimpton, editor of the Paris Review, to witness the shooting of prisoners condemned by the tribunals under Guevara's control. They watched as the men were trucked in, unloaded, shot, and taken away. As a result, Plimpton later refused to publish Guevara's memoir, The Motorcycle Diaries."

Nigel Jones

Che Guevara, Leftist hero

Trumps in Paris

The first couple arriving at Orly airport

• The classiest First Lady in history heads directly to children's hospital: "First lady Melania Trump in rouge ensemble splits off from her husband after touching down in Paris to tour a children's hospital in the city center" DailyMail.com
• The classiest First Lady in history nails the proper fashion: "Melania Trump nails diplomatic first lady style with red Dior skirt suit in Paris" USAToday
• The French leader enhances his profile: "Donald Trump arrives in Paris for Bastille Day as Macron tries to boost world position" Express
• Reminiscent of JFK's line: "I'm the man who accompanied Jacqueline Kennedy to Paris . ."
• Trump must be enjoying the world spotlight.
• Another great speech?

PAGLIA: Chuck Schumer "Asserted Absolutely No Moral Authority"

"In an abject failure of leadership that may be one of the most disgraceful episodes in the history of the modern Democratic party, Chuck Schumer, who had risen to become the Senate Democratic leader after the retirement of Harry Reid, asserted absolutely no moral authority as the party spun out of control in a nationwide orgy of rage and spite."

Camille Paglia

PAGLIA: Hillary "Disastrously Wrong Candidate for 2016"

". . Hillary, with her supercilious, Marie Antoinette-style entitlement, was a disastrously wrong candidate for 2016 and . . she secured the nomination only through overt chicanery by the Democratic National Committee, assisted by a corrupt national media who, for over a year, imposed a virtual blackout on potential primary rivals."

Camille Paglia

PAGLIA: Democrats "Impugning Half the Nation As Vile Racists"

"How do Democrats imagine they can ever expand their electoral support if they go on and on in this self-destructive way, impugning half the nation as vile racists and homophobes?"

Camille Paglia

Leftism vs. American Conservatism

	LEFTIST	CONSERVATIVE*
Abortion	GOOD	BAD
Taxes	GOOD	BAD
Faith	BAD	GOOD
Liberty	BAD	GOOD
Business	BAD	GOOD
Tradition	BAD	GOOD
Technology	BAD	GOOD
Constitution	BAD	GOOD
Government**	GOOD	BAD

*American conservatism
**unlimited

SEE: Right-Wing Socialists, Not Conservatives, Right from Left, Political Spectrum Redrawn, and Conserving the Core.

Claiming Scalps With Fake News

When the Left decide they want to eliminate someone from relevance in the socio-political sphere, they use fake news. Here are the steps they use to destroy someone:

1) Spin something out of nothing

Start with a wisp of something that can be spun into something BIG. Spin it in such a way that it will predictably whip up an emotional storm. Best to:

1. Use a word that is an un-deconstruct-able flashpoint, one that can't be argued against without the arguer losing his position in society (e.g., pedophilia).
2. Label from the standard Leftist list: e.g., racist, sexist, homophobe. 
3. Ensure there be no actual, factual basis for the charge, that it's been spun into something completely, dimensionally out-of-touch with all reality.

In the latter phase of the scalping, when the emotional froth is winding down and cooler heads try to unravel the initial accusation, it is critical that they have no way of taking it apart factually—because no factual basis exists for it. With absolutely no factual basis to support the charge, denials add weight to it.

2) Foment an hystericalized tsunami of fake news

Whip up a frenzy in the public using the fake news media network—otherwise known as the Leftist Media Bloc—to create a fait accompli destructive force that not only can't be stopped. Make it appear so massively powerful, and moving at such a speed, that no thinking person would try to stop it.

3) Claim your scalp

By the time the hysterical tsunami recedes, and the flopping fish and sand and debris do not add up to a substantial basis for the initial charge—the job, position in society, and life contentment of the target has been irremediably destroyed. What was created without a factual basis cannot be turned back by checking facts, putting things into perspective, and considering the actual harm the target was guilty of. 

4) Repeat