Never wrestle with pigs. You both get dirty and the pig likes it. | |
― George Bernard Shaw | |
[Former President Donald Trump is a loser, an habitual liar, and a con-artist. He will never stop lying and his hard-core followers will never give up on him. It is a waste of time, energy and optimism to believe otherwise. It is time the networks let Trump speak, but broadcast it in tape delay mode AND rebut his lies as soon as they happen. It does little to no good to point them (the lies) out after a town hall broadcast has finished and you are left a list with more than one rebuttal for each moment the speaker lies. “Free Speech” means that even liars and fear (hate)-mongers cannot be banned from spreading lies / hate. It should not mean liars are rewarded by being allowed to continually / sequentially state lies in “real time,” particularly when statements are demonstrably untrue (a provable lie). ― kmab] | |
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On This Day In: | |
2022 | Threat Calculus |
7 (And 6) – 40 | |
2021 | Questioned By Life |
If There’ll Come A Time | |
2020 | Trying To Grow Pearls? |
2019 | Instantly Turned |
2018 | Sitting |
2017 | No Right Way |
2016 | Still Ticklish |
2015 | Maybe Sooner Than You Think |
2014 | The Path Of Mastery |
2013 | Love’s Ignorance |
2012 | Here’s To Enjoyment |
2011 | Not Just The Facts, Ma’am |
Posts Tagged ‘American Politics’
Inviting Dispute
Posted in Philosophy, Politics, Quotes, tagged American Politics, Disputes, Dissatisfaction, Free Speech, Ideas, Philosophy, Preconceptions, Prejudices, Quotes, Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas, Terminiello v. Chicago 337 U.S. 1, Unrest on February 21, 2023| Leave a Comment »
A function of free speech under our system of government is to invite dispute. It may indeed best serve its high purpose when it invites a condition of unrest, creates dissatisfaction with conditions as they are, or even stirs people to anger. Speech is often provocative and challenging. It may strike at prejudices and preconceptions and have profound unsettling effects as it passes for acceptance of an idea. | |
— William O. Douglas | |
From: Terminiello v. Chicago, 337 U.S. 1 | |
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On This Day In: | |
2022 | Beautiful Curves |
2021 | Life Is… |
Thank You Guardians (OTG)* | |
2020 | Why #DonTheCon Hates, Belittles And Fires Honest Government Employees |
2019 | What Do You Want? |
2018 | Wakanda Forever |
I’d Be Happy With Another Score (Or So) | |
2017 | In Defense Of A Free Press |
2016 | Lost Opportunity |
2015 | Are You Listening Ladies? |
2014 | Practice, Practice, Practice |
2013 | A Fist Full Of Confusion |
2012 | Teaching Faith |
2011 | The Heart Of Terror |
The Proportion Of Gravity And Probability | |
Restructuring Persistent Futility
Posted in Philosophy, Politics, Quotes, tagged American Politics, Dissent, Futility, Philosophy, Protests, Quotes, Society, Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas, Violence on January 24, 2023| Leave a Comment »
The truth is that a vast restructuring of our society is needed if remedies are to become available to the average person. Without that restructuring the good will that holds society together will be slowly dissipated… It is that sense of futility which permeates the present series of protests and dissents. Where there is a persistent sense of futility, there is violence; and that is where we are today. | |
— William O. Douglas | |
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On This Day In: | |
2022 | By Any Other Name (Or Description) |
2021 | Democracy, Pandemic, Economy And Climate Change |
Heaven Is… | |
2020 | Hoping For #46 In January 2021 |
2019 | Interesting, But Not Fascinating |
But Try To Eat The Low-Hanging First | |
2018 | Me, Too |
2017 | Apt Enough? |
2016 | Now Or Ever |
21, Pause, Restart | |
2015 | I Am Shocked, Sir, Shocked… |
Lucy & FSND-2 | |
2014 | Less Difficult |
2013 | The Spirit Of Liberty |
2012 | The Essential Freedom Of Aloneness |
2011 | A Problem Of Scale |
Fred Doesn’t Live Here Anymore | |
2010 | Another Book, Another Jog… |
No Implication Of Reasonableness
Posted in Philosophy, Politics, Quotes, Science and Learning, tagged American Politics, Carl Sagan, Human Nature, Philosophy, Pseudo-Science, Quotes, Science and Learning, Scientists on December 30, 2022| Leave a Comment »
Very few scientists actually plunge into the murky waters of testing or challenging borderline or pseudo-scientific beliefs. The chance of finding out something really interesting — except about human nature — seems small, and the amount of time required seems large. I believe that scientists should spend more time in discussing these issues, but the fact that a given contention lacks vigorous scientific opposition in no way implies that scientists think it is reasonable. | |
— Carl Sagan | |
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On This Day In: | |
2021 | Let Yourself Soar In 2022 |
Where You’re Concerned | |
2020 | The Most Dynamic Link |
Looking Forward To 2021 | |
2019 | A Proud Assertion |
2018 | Ask #45 About Anything |
2017 | Playing Makes Sense |
2016 | And Fathers, Sons |
2015 | My Suspect Confidence |
2014 | Disguised Blessings |
2013 | Be |
2012 | The Only Way to Win |
2011 | Honest Writing |
Civic Duty Completed – Awaiting Results
Posted in Politics, tagged 2022 - I Voted, 2022 Mid-Term Elections, American Politics on October 27, 2022| Leave a Comment »
I cast my vote via early drop-off earlier this week… (Here is my confirmation on the CA web site.) | |
Please complete your own civic responsibility and VOTE! (The democracy you save may be ours…) | |
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On This Day In: | |
2021 | Two Eff’n Right |
Is There A Notion For That Motion? | |
2020 | The Premium Few |
No Sympathy Here | |
2019 | Is That Why Love Hurts? |
2018 | And Honest Politicians |
2017 | Maya, Maya |
2016 | Give Value |
2015 | Believe In Substitution |
2014 | Pragmatic Religion |
2013 | How’s Your View? |
2012 | Giants Win Game 3 Of The 2012 World Series 2 To 0!!! |
Still Haven’t… | |
Accidental Me | |
2011 | What Is Your Ratio? |
2010 | Giants Win Game 1 With 11 Runs Scored – Repeat 11 Runs!! |
Ask Your Friends To Vote In November
Posted in Philosophy, Politics, Quotes, tagged 2022 Mid-Term Elections, American Politics, Mahatma Gandhi, Philosophy, Quotes, The Future, The Present, Voting on October 13, 2022| 3 Comments »
The future depends on what we do in the present. | |
— Mahatma Gandhi | |
[Ask them TODAY!! We are less than 30 days from the mid-term elections. — kmab] | |
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On This Day In: | |
2021 | What Matters To Me |
With The Slamming Of The Door | |
2020 | Make Voting A Habit |
You Ought To Hear Him Tell His Stories | |
2019 | 2019 49ers Season Starts 5-0!! |
Will Any Republican Senator Vote For Impeachment? | |
2018 | VOTE – We Need A Wave |
2017 | Soothe, Inspire And Recharge |
2016 | Aren’t We? |
2015 | Cold Embrace |
2014 | Delightful |
2013 | Apprenticeship |
2012 | Curtain Rods |
2011 | A Living Force |
2010 | BART Rides – A Tipping Point |
How To Begin
Posted in Philosophy, Politics, Quotes, tagged American Politics, Art, Drawing, Government, Pablo Picasso, Philosophy, Quotes, Society, Voting on October 5, 2022| 1 Comment »
To know what you’re going to draw, you have to begin drawing. | |
— Pablo Picasso | |
[To get the kind of society you want, you have to begin by voting for the kind of government which will support and promote it. — kmab] | |
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On This Day In: | |
2021 | Looking Up |
Shiny | |
2020 | #45: Or All-Consuming Greed |
You Could Have Told Me Yourself | |
2019 | Not Personal |
2018 | Preference For Irrationality |
2017 | All At Once |
2016 | One Of My Vices |
2015 | The War Lord |
2014 | Orange October (II) – Giants Win NLDS Game 2 In 18 Innings (2 to 1)!! |
Acknowledging Doubt | |
2013 | Fulfilled Acceptance |
2012 | Error Is Tolerated Here (So Far) |
2011 | In Defense Of Pain |
More Like 60 To 70 Years
Posted in Economics, History, Philosophy, Politics, Quotes, tagged 1%, 99%, American Politics, Economics, History, Money, Philosophy, Quotes, Taxes, Trickle Down, Warren Buffett on September 18, 2022| Leave a Comment »
The rich are always going to say that, you know, just give us more money and we’ll go out and spend more and then it will all trickle down to the rest of you. But that has not worked the last 10 years, and I hope the American public is catching on. | |
— Warren Buffett | |
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On This Day In: | |
2021 | Hold That Thought |
Got Love? | |
2020 | Everyone I’ve Ever Met |
A Secret Chord | |
2019 | A Big “IF” |
2018 | Silence Presence |
2017 | Feeling Small Standing In Front Of My Shelves |
2016 | Show Willing |
2015 | If He Only Knew… |
2014 | Dared To Love |
2013 | Strong Kung-Fu |
2012 | Two Tribes |
2011 | Made Any Assumptions Lately? |
Why Today’s “NO” Republicans Can’t Govern
Posted in Philosophy, Politics, Quotes, tagged American Politics, Philosophy, Quotes, Republicans, Robert M. Pirsig, The Radical Left, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance on September 1, 2022| 1 Comment »
It’s an old split. Like the one between art and art history. One does it and the other talks about how it’s done and the talk about how it’s done never seems to match how one does it. | |
— Robert M. Pirsig | |
From: “Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance“ | |
[If you aren’t willing to make “some” compromises, you are not able to govern in a democracy. We’ve known this since (at least) the Greek city states. This is why Republicans are better in opposition than they are when trying to run things. The same would be true for a “radical” left party, if the United States ever developed one. — kmab] | |
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On This Day In: | |
2021 | Back To Paying Dues |
Keep Rollin’ | |
2020 | Diets And Lifestyle Changes |
Pay Attention | |
Just Not Sure, And That’s Okay | |
2019 | The Right Questions |
Day 3: Still Difficult | |
2018 | A Thought For Those Continuing To Support President Trump |
Day 36: Pushing On | |
2017 | Imagining Humor |
2016 | So Go On And Deal With It |
2015 | From A Letter To A Friend |
2014 | Your Part (Here) |
2013 | Complements |
2012 | Sound And Light |
2011 | Two Politicians Visit A Farm… |
2010 | Labor Day And Honorable Men |
The Penalty For Sedition / Insurrection / Civil War
Posted in Education, Other Blogs, Philosophy, Quotes, Science and Learning, tagged #45 - The Loser, 18 U.S.C. § 2384, American Politics, Civil War, Conspiracy, Equal Justice Under Law, Former President Donald Trump, Insurrection, Law And Order, Mar-a-Lago, National Security, Sedition, Senator Lindsey Graham, The First Amendment, Treason on August 29, 2022| 3 Comments »
Over the last weekend, Senator Lyndsey Graham (R – South Carolina) was interviewed on TV and virtually assured that if former President Trump is indicted for taking classified government documents to Mar-a-Lago, there will be “riots in the streets”. | |
My response to Sen. Graham is: “Fine! Rioters will be arrested and prosecuted to the full extent of the law…” | |
Under 18 U.S.C. § 2384, “seditious conspiracy” occurs when two or more persons: | |
conspire to overthrow, put down, or to destroy by force the Government of the United States, or to levy war against them, or to oppose by force the authority thereof, or by force to prevent, hinder, or delay the execution of any law of the United States, or by force to seize, take, or possess any property of the United States contrary to the authority thereof. | |
NO ONE is above the law – particularly when it comes to the defense of National Security. This especially includes former Presidents! | |
If there is sufficient evidence to indict / convict Donald Trump, then he should be indicted, arrested and brought to trial. If found guilty, Trump should serve time. If found not guilty, Trump should be released. He IS presumed to be NOT guilty until he has been found guilty by a jury of his peers. | |
If individuals (or groups) wish to meet PEACEFULLY to object to / protest the indictment, trial, or results, they have their First Amendment right to do so. They DO NOT have the right to riot or interfere with the process of the lawful administration of justice. | |
Anyone found guilty of rioting and / or conspiracy to riot should be placed on a domestic terrorist watch list for the remainder of their natural lives. They should be reminded that – in the “good, old days” – terrorism, sedition and insurrection were punished by death. | |
If we – as a nation – accept the threat of violence (“riots in the streets”) as a reason to not prosecute ANYONE who would otherwise be subject to prosecution / trial, then we are no longer a country ruled by law. | |
The general public needs to be reminded former President Trump was not the only person in his Administration who was aware of the unlawful removal and possession of government documents (not just the “classified” documents), and they should ALL be indicted and prosecuted. This is the only way to ensure this does not happen again – by an Administration from either political party. | |
“Equal Justice Under Law…“ | |
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On This Day In: | |
2021 | How Learning Infections Begin |
Stay Young At Heart | |
2020 | Policies Not People |
Just Thinking To Myself | |
2019 | Should I Start With My Religion? |
2018 | Fear And Hope |
Day 33: Good News & Prep | |
2017 | Directions |
2016 | Handle With Care |
2015 | Nothing But Pride |
2014 | Go |
2013 | Well, Does It? |
2012 | Near Misses Aren’t Successes |
2011 | Uncomfortable Feelings |
2010 | San Francisco (favorites)… |
Bullets or Butter? | |
For An Extended Period
Posted in Philosophy, Politics, Quotes, tagged American Politics, Army, General William Westmoreland, Philosophy, Quotes on April 17, 2022| Leave a Comment »
Your Army can accomplish for an extended period only those missions that are accepted by our citizenry for whom the Army exists to support. | |
— General William Westmoreland | |
[And the same is true for our representative form of government, too. It (WE) cannot do anything over an extended period of time without continuous support by the public. — kmab] | |
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On This Day In: | |
2022 | For An Extended Period |
2021 | Surrender With Hope |
A Little Grace | |
2020 | Two Midway |
Invisible Hands | |
2019 | Speaking Of #45 |
2018 | A Higher Loyalty |
RIP – Our Silver Lady | |
2017 | Slowly Cutting Their Own Throats |
2016 | Man’s Advantage Over God |
2015 | Deeply |
2014 | Hi-Yo Silver, Away! |
2013 | Warning: |
2012 | Thinking About Beauty |
2011 | A Founding Father’s Argument Against Public Funding Of Religious Education |
Weekend Update | |
So Far, So Good | |
Modern Republicans Have Long Since Concluded…
Posted in Humor, Philosophy, Politics, Quotes, tagged American Politics, Conclusions, Humor, Philosophy, Quotes, Republican Party, Steven Wright, Thinking on February 4, 2022| Leave a Comment »
A conclusion is the place where you got tired of thinking. | |
— Steven Wright | |
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On This Day In: | |
2022 | Modern Republicans Have Long Since Concluded… |
2021 | Do Senate Republicans Believe In The Constitution And The Rule Of Law (Or Not)? |
With Your Red Dress On | |
2020 | Morally Treasonable |
2019 | Lost Again Or Still? |
2018 | Why #LazyDonald Starts Work At 11AM |
2017 | At Least Most Of The Time |
2016 | But Doctor, I Never Learned How To Read |
2015 | Punch The Keys, For God’s Sake! |
2014 | Ouch! |
2013 | Revelations |
2012 | Movies And Juicing |
Brady Gets #4 (Prediction) | |
Happy To Get Up | |
2011 | What About Good Blogs? |
2010 | Slowly, Slowly… |
Almost Never (These Days) In Politics
Posted in Philosophy, Politics, Quotes, tagged American Politics, Comparison, Judgment, Nature, On Political Change, Paradigm Change, Philosophy, Quotes, The Structure of Scientific Revolutions, Thomas S. Kuhn PhD on February 3, 2022| Leave a Comment »
The decision to reject one paradigm is always simultaneously the decision to accept another, and the judgment leading to that decision involves the comparison of both paradigms with nature and with each other. | |
— Thomas S. Kuhn, PhD. | |
From his book: “The Structure of Scientific Revolutions“ | |
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On This Day In: | |
2022 | Almost Never (These Days) In Politics |
2021 | Senate: Defend The Constitution – Convict Trump |
Can The Senate Find Truth? | |
2020 | All Foam And All Dreams |
2019 | Why #IncompetentDonald May Be The Most Successful President Ever |
Latina Fish Story | |
2018 | Blocking The Light And Air |
2017 | It’s Even Dimmer When You Don’t Have It |
2016 | Inconvenienced By Degree |
2015 | Sincerity |
2014 | Prayers For Junior |
Senseless | |
2013 | Interesting Drink |
Super Bowl XLVII Declared A No Bird Zone | |
2012 | Smile |
2011 | Come Forward |