On CNN Interviewing #45DonaldTheLiar

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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2012	Here’s To Enjoyment
2011	Not Just The Facts, Ma’am

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Another Reason I Won’t Support #45 In 2024

I like people who aren’t indicted.
—     Meghan McCain
[Before we all start getting carried away, let’s remember that everyone is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt and convicted in a court of law by a jury of one’s peers.
Of course our initial impression is that of guilt because instead of saying:  “I am not guilty!”, former President Trump and his team are saying:
“The judge in this case is biased!”  –  Ad Hominem fallacy:  they are attempting to discredit the sitting judge before the case has even been heard, implying he (Trump) cannot get a fair trial with this judge.
“The prosecutor is conducting a politically based witch-hunt and is an animal funded and supported by Soros!”  –  More Ad Hominem fallacy:  they are attempting to discredit the District Attorney before the evidence is presented to a jury and implying this is not a case of uniform enforcement of law, but rather a politically based, racially motivated case being pushed by someone who is supported by a Jewish cabal.
“You can’t believe Cohen because he’s a convicted perjurer!”,  More Ad Hominem fallacy:  although the descriptive assertion is true (Cohen is a convicted perjurer), but they are attempting to discredit a primary witness by ignoring the fact Cohen lied to Congress at the direction / instruction of his boss (Donald Trump);
and, finally, “What I did isn’t illegal!”  Interestingly, NOT I (Trump) didn’t do it;  but, it is not a crime.  This may be Trump’s ONLY valid argument so far.  We can’t say until we see the indictment and know the factual statements / charges.  Obviously, the Grand Jury found the laws valid and a reasonable probability that Trump had violated those laws.  Note:  the Grand Jury does NOT have to find a probability “beyond a reasonable doubt” to vote FOR an indictment of an individual.
I call this a:  “Snowflake:  Poor Me – I am just an unfairly accused victim” defense.
Only time will tell how much weight these “arguments” carry in a court of law.
In the meantime, let us remember the old legal adage:
If you have the law, hammer the law. If you have the facts, hammer the facts. If you have neither the law nor the facts, hammer the table.
—    kmab]
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2011	The Victory Of Life

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Inviting Dispute

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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2018	Wakanda Forever
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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
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Restructuring Persistent Futility

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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2020	Hoping For #46 In January 2021
2019	Interesting, But Not Fascinating
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2018	Me, Too
2017	Apt Enough?
2016	Now Or Ever
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2013	The Spirit Of Liberty
2012	The Essential Freedom Of Aloneness
2011	A Problem Of Scale
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2010	Another Book, Another Jog…

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No Implication Of Reasonableness

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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2020	The Most Dynamic Link
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2018	Ask #45 About Anything
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2016	And Fathers, Sons
2015	My Suspect Confidence
2014	Disguised Blessings
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2012	The Only Way to Win
2011	Honest Writing

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Of Course It Helps To Own The Business

Executives owe it to the organization and to their fellow workers not to tolerate nonperforming individuals in important jobs.
—     Peter Drucker
[Here’s looking at you #45-TheLoser…  How else do you explain bankrupting multiple casinos, an airline, a steak company, a vodka company, a bottled water company and a national political party (Republican MAGA’s)?    —    kmab ]
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2015	Curves Ahead
2014	Sitting?
2013	Misperceptions
2012	Essential Experience
2011	Lest We Forget Those Still In Harm’s Way
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Civic Duty Completed – Awaiting Results

I cast my vote via early drop-off earlier this week…  (Here is my confirmation on the CA web site.)
CA vote confirmation
Please complete your own civic responsibility and VOTE!  (The democracy you save may be ours…)
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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!!!
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2011	What Is Your Ratio?
2010	Giants Win Game 1 With 11 Runs Scored – Repeat 11 Runs!!

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Ask Your Friends To Vote In November

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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2018	VOTE – We Need A Wave
2017	Soothe, Inspire And Recharge
2016	Aren’t We?
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2014	Delightful
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How To Begin

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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2015	The War Lord
2014	Orange October (II) – Giants Win NLDS Game 2 In 18 Innings (2 to 1)!!
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2013	Fulfilled Acceptance
2012	Error Is Tolerated Here (So Far)
2011	In Defense Of Pain

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More Like 60 To 70 Years

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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2014	Dared To Love
2013	Strong Kung-Fu
2012	Two Tribes
2011	Made Any Assumptions Lately?

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Why Today’s “NO” Republicans Can’t Govern

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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2018	A Thought For Those Continuing To Support President Trump
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2017	Imagining Humor
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The Penalty For Sedition / Insurrection / Civil War

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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2016	Handle With Care
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For An Extended Period

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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2017	Slowly Cutting Their Own Throats
2016	Man’s Advantage Over God
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Modern Republicans Have Long Since Concluded…

A conclusion is the place where you got tired of thinking.
—     Steven Wright
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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
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Almost Never (These Days) In Politics

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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2017	It’s Even Dimmer When You Don’t Have It
2016	Inconvenienced By Degree
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2014	Prayers For Junior
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2013	Interesting Drink
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2012	Smile
2011	Come Forward

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